News from the Nest

Dear Friends and Family,

Allow us to introduce our newest grandson....Charles Elliott Bomgarnder! Little Charlie is named after both grandfathers (both of which have the first name of Charles). My Charlie is thrilled to have a namesake and has great plans to teach him all kinds of fun and wonderful things.

Two year old Oscar is leaning how to be a good big brother. He hates to hear Charlie cry and will pat him and say, "It's OK honey." Suzy is doing wonderfully well and I must admit I've enjoyed my time with both boys. Charlie is so little and lovable that I'm sure he will have chapped cheeks from all the kisses I've given him. Oscar is an incredible little person and definitely developing his own unique personality.

January promises to be a busy month. We have already shipped over a thousand boxes of winter clothing to a new partnering ministry. I believe that they will be going to North Korea. We are planning to ship a container of relief supplies for Haiti as well. We hope to finish gathering supplies and literacy materials for a shipment to Liberia next month. Please pray about these shipments.

I (Charlie) have been studying principles of grant writing while visiting the family here in New York. Please pray for me as I begin to seek ways to use what I have learned to find new resources of funding for ETS projects. There is so much we could do it we had the funds.

As always we want to thank each of you who so faithfully pray for us and give to our support to help us keep doing the work of the ministry.

Praise and prayer request for 2011

Praise

• Equipping the Saints is 20 years old this month. From a ministry that began in Keith Jones' basement, it has grown to serving 50-60 countries annually, providing over $ $600,000 in ministry aid to over 1000 missionaries and /or ministries.
• Good health for 2010 (and no major injuries!)
• Increased opportunities for service in our local church (Blue Ridge Church of Christ). We are leading a small group this winter, and I have been asked to serve as an elder this year as well.
• Consistent, faithful support from our ministry partners.

Prayer needs

• Wisdom in planning a God honoring 20th anniversary for ETS
• Wisdom in developing new sources of funding for ETS, through grants, corporate partnerships and individual donations.
• Strength and safety as we continue to do what we do, which involves heavy lifting and long hours
• New staff for ETS. The five of us are really stretched to meet the growing needs of the ministry.
• Wisdom in serving our church in the new leadership roles we will have. I will have shepherding responsibility for about 40 families and about 150 people as an elder. I am also burdened to help with our new men's discipleship ministry.
• Our finances. Our support has declined this last year as the economy got worse. Pray that we will make wise decisions in the use of what God provides.