Thanksgiving 2013
Praise Service and Love Offering
Dear New Hope Church Family,
Warm fall greetings and encouragement to everyone as we begin to prepare our hearts for
the wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday soon to come. As Christians we have double reason to be
filled with thankfulness; first for the gift of salvation and forgiveness of sin through our Lord
Jesus Christ, and then for the gift and privilege of living in America, a noble and unique
country even with its flaws and shortcomings.
Thanksgiving Eve Praise Celebration
Wednesday, November 27, 7:30 p.m.
Giving thanks is a wonderful family tradition at New Hope Church, an opportunity for young
and old to publicly speak words of thanks to the Lord. Thanksgiving always ends up being a
choice, an attitude of our heart no matter what circumstances we may experience. So at NHC
we have chosen to set aside an hour on Thanksgiving Eve to declare our thanks before one
another and express our thankfulness through a special offering to the Lord.
As always, there will be open microphones from the floor for vertical praise and thanks to God
and encouragement to one another. Start a tradition. Maintain a tradition. Very informal. Our
celebration of thanks begins at 7:30 p.m., Thanksgiving Eve.
2013 Thanksgiving Love Offering Partners
Mercy House, Kenya
For 23 years we have joyfully shared 50% of our total Thanksgiving Love Offering with a
worthy Christ honoring ministry to those in great need somewhere around the world. Every
year we are blessed to be a blessing in this way.
This year we are humbly honored to partner with a quiet, direct ministry in Kenya, Africa,
serving as a refuge for women who are victims of the tyranny of sex exploitation. Mercy
House provides refuge and alternative options for young girls and women who have become
pregnant as the result of the bondage of forced sex trafficking. Through our generous gifts we
will enable victims of forced prostitution to find freedom, and help preserve the babies within
their wombs that are otherwise aborted at a 90% rate.
Mercy House is a local facility in the Mathare Valley of Kenya. The administrative, hands on
leadership of Rehema House (Swahili for “mercy”) is conducted by committed African
Christians. The vision and funding for Mercy House is led by Terrell and Kristen Welch of
Spring, Texas, as an outgrowth of their personal ministry trips to Africa for the cause and in
the name of Jesus. The Mercy House doctrinal statement, purpose and history of ministry is
completely consistent with the Christ loving, Gospel centered, people serving mission of New
Hope Church.
How to Give
Perhaps this can be our largest Thanksgiving Love Offering ever! Special envelopes are
provided in this mailing for our extra giving in addition to regular tithes and offerings for
ongoing ministry. Special designation can also be made on regular offering envelopes or
through online e-giving. Simply stipulate your extra giving “Thanksgiving ’13.” Special gifts
will be received throughout the month of November and on Thanksgiving Eve, concluding
Sunday, December 8.
Joyfully, together with the Elder Leadership Team,
Pastor Steve