The Board of In Jesus' Name Ministries

In Jesus' Name Ministries

Meet the Board of In Jesus' Name Ministries

**Our 3 day board retreat two weeks ago:** Court and Sandy with the godly board of servants for In Jesus' Name Ministries. Seated front from left - India Director Pastor George Pulidindi, Vice Chairman Pastor James Bell, Chairman Elder Mack Whitley, Secretary/Treasure Artis Whitley, Second row from left Phil and Zina Kurt (guests), Sandy Wood, Dorothy Plummer, Tony Tona, Otis McQueen, Saundra and Darrell Townsend (guests); Back row from left Rayah, Esther, and Walt Hendrickson (our grand-daughter, daughter-in-law, and son), Court Wood, Roy Khan (guest), Pastor Danny Holton, Pastor Frank Plummer, Greg Campbell, our daughter Kim, and Elder Robert Frye.

Elder George Pasquet, Pastor Ron Ely, and Bill and Teresa Wiggins, below, were unable to attend the recent retreat.

Friends

It has always been the prayer of In Jesus' Name Ministries that the Lord Jesus Christ would be at the foundation of our lives, and whatever we do and say as a ministry.

The wonderful strength of the board of servants of In Jesus' Name Ministries is our shared resolve to hold to the testimony of Jesus Christ and the Word of God, and to love one another. The Lord graciously brought our lives together 24 years ago when we began distributing tractor-trailer loads of food for the poor, "in Jesus' name," first in the Washington DC area, and then throughout the United Sates. (see photos below.)

Soon, the Lord began to open our eyes and hearts to the greater sufferings in the Body of Christ in the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and Communist countries. The love of Christ, and the love we had for one another, began to compel us to embrace our Christian brethren living behind the "gates of hell," in countries "where satan has his throne."

As a board, we meet 3-4 times a year. Two or three of these gatherings are all day meetings and one meeting a year has become a blessed 3 day retreat. Our time together is spent in wonderful fellowship, eating together, much prayer and worship, and a time set aside for a detailed financial report, secretaries report, and discussion of matters concerning the ministry. We strongly believe that each of our our lives is a "ministry of reconciliation" and we spend considerable time praying for, and encouraging one another. For many on the board, our gatherings, and our long standing relationships with one another, are the closest many of us have experienced of New Testament worship, and the love of God which is our inheritance in Jesus Christ. It has been this precious life of "Christ in us" that has stirred us on to "good works" and to "laying down our lives for our brethren."

We are so grateful for those of you who have joined your hearts and hands with ours, in prayer, and in giving, to help our brethren, and to bring a growing awakening to the original intention and focus of New Testament giving: Helping God's people.

**Photo:** Twenty years ago, praying together in a church parking lot before unloading a tractor-trailer load of potatoes, "in Jesus' Name." The Lord Jesus joined our hearts then, and now, through Him, our arms, and yours, embrace our brethren around the world.

Thank you so much for standing in the gap with us.

Court and Sandy Wood

Note: Portions of the following verses have often been used to encourage giving for many causes. However, in context they are speaking of our helping fellow Christians who are in great need during times of famine and persecution, and of the gratitude that would be forthcoming from their hearts. May it encourage you as it is intended to. May the Holy Spirit help us to properly understand, and apply, the Word of God, to our lives.

"Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!" 2 Corinthians 9:10-15 (NIV)