Mary Craig Ministries - Unto Us...A Child, A Son

March 5, 2008

Dear Friend of Mary Craig Ministries,

Jesus Christ came as a Kinsman-Redeemer to redeem a people for His Father, our Creator. (Leviticus 25) Jesus Christ died for individuals. He lived a life of perfect, personal, perpetual obedience, born of a woman, born under the Law, that He might give His life a ransom for many. For the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the cross, despising its shame. Jesus Christ died to pay the penalty for sin, to pay off the debt note of sin, to redeem a people enslaved to sin, self, Satan, and the world. Jesus Christ rose again from the dead by the power of an endless life. In doing so, He broke the power of sin, the power of the grave, the power of the curse, the power of Satan.

Jesus went after the one. In His parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the "lost" son, Jesus demonstrates the Godhead's love and concern for the lost, sinners who need to be found, to repent, and to return to the Father.

The mission statement of Mary Craig Ministries is:

To implore the broken, wounded, and lost of a fallen world to accept restoration and healing in the atonement of Jesus Christ that His own might terminate their hostility toward God and become what God has declared them to be through the transforming power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit with love, compassion, and grace.

Imploring the lost and broken means going after the one. Our desire should be each heart, every heart, for Jesus. Joy, its celebration and rejoicing, motivated Jesus just as the Father's will compelled Him. Joy motivated His actions, His obedience, and His love.

Paul understood God's heart and will for the ingathering of the elect.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy. (1 Thess. 2.19, 20)

Paul preached, persuaded, exhorted, encouraged, urged, reasoned, and poured out his life for God's elect. Joy motivated him. He wanted to rejoice, as he stated:

Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all. For the
same cause also do you joy, and rejoice with me. (Philippians 2.16-18)

Indeed, Paul's joy set before him motivated his actions of a love that could write:

My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you…(Galatians 4.19)

I think about such things. As we at MCM go about the business of ministry, generating Bible studies, planning events, writing manuals and prayers and messages, stuffing envelopes, standing in line at the post office…what motivates us? What compels so many of you who help this ministry of God in so many different ways? It is that joy, that rejoicing over people coming to Christ, repenting, turning, returning to God, being healed, saved, and delivered in Jesus' Name.

I read my mail. I read the letters and the prayer requests. I always pray for growth and expansion, but I also praise God that we are still small enough to be personal and yet large enough to make an impact internationally. Our overhead is comparatively low. Donations coming into MCM go right into outreach via publications, Craighouse®, the Barnabas Project, world missions, media ministry, mercy ministries, etc. We do not have a "monster" driving our appeals, demanding to be fed. Jesus remains the One compelling us, not the "budget" or "debt." We have no debt. We go as people give.

You make this possible by your obedience to the Holy Spirit's voice, faithfully giving as He directs you to give. We are completing our 15th year of ministry. Pastor Jim and I thank you for standing fast with us in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel, not in any way terrified by our adversaries.

Let's watch God work wonders. Let's have our joy fulfilled by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let's walk humbly with our God, loving mercy, proclaiming His grace. Let's endeavor to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

MCM has emerged as a ministry that transcends denominational lines. People like you have joined with me in MCM's strategic spiritual warfare missions. We know there's a war going on, a war in which all things work together for good only for believers in Jesus Christ, a way which has a clearly defined enemy declared to be such, a war with battles to be fought according to the Spirit's strategy. That's why we have a "world mission fund," a "war chest" if you will. When God says "GO!" we want to be ready to do as He says.

To date MCM world missions has been to 61 nations and all seven continents on 33 mission trips. In addition to myself, 28 people have participated, many more than once. The Barnabas Project has helped hundreds of families in South Florida. Craighouse® ministers to those truly seeking all that God has for them in Jesus. Our website, www.marycraig.org, ministers globally, with free materials. Mercy ministries extends MCM giving to orphanages, the persecuted church, the homeless, etc. Our publications and Bible studies transform lives as disciples are made, not born.

God is blessing MCM significantly. I'm glad for those of you who have been a part of what the Holy Spirit is doing through MCM. As the vision unfolds, so does your opportunity. God is spreading His Name and His fame among the nations. Compelled by the fullness of His joy, you can enter into this great move of the Holy Spirit as you give of yourself-your time, your prayers, your participation, your money, your labors of love. As you give, you have a growing sense of His pleasure for you and for His elect.

We are seeing great things accomplished for the kingdom of God. People are being touched by God's grace, by His gospel. Their lives are being transformed as God heals them, sets them free, and saves them to the uttermost.

Soon, Pastor Jim and I leave on a strategic spiritual warfare mission into Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, France, and Switzerland. A team is preparing to go into Israel, Egypt, and Jordan when that "war chest" is filled. We have the call, the commission, the commandments (our orders), and God's commitment. We need $25,000. Help us go!

As the Holy Spirit carries us forward into the Tabernacles anointing, I am thankful that the Lord Jesus has called you to stand with us. Many of you are receiving more from the Holy Spirit so that you can move to a higher spiritual level than that of just having your own personal needs met. You are discovering God's plans and purposes in your involvement with this ministry. Joining together, we have tremendous potential for the kingdom of God.

Rejoice with us over souls saved. Rejoice in Jesus our Redeemer. Rejoice!

In step with the Spirit,

Mary Craig

P.S. Order books from our Catalog section, using PayPal Worship with us 4:30 p.m. Sundays. Grow and flourish in small group ministry at Craighouse®, located in the Pompano Plaza at 114 E. McNab Road, Pompano Beach, FL 33060. Log on to www.craighouse.org for a map and more events and Bible studies. New studies include "Heaven: Beyond the Horizon" and "The Tabernacle: How to Enter the Holy of Holies and Establish God's Presence in Your Life." Reach MCM at 954-491-7270. Send in your prayer requests..

Going After the One