| Our 20th year, issue Number 4 Columbus, Ohio |
December 2009 |
With the latest news from...
Walking for Moldova at Ohio State
There were close to 50 participants in the first Walk for Economic Empowerment held October 3 on the Ohio State campus—20 students and friends from several churches plus the 30 who "joined" us through their financial support. This participation was rewarded with a special
bonus of $1,000 from PEER Servants; this means that as a result of the efforts in Columbus over $3,000 will go to Moldova for
Christian micro-enterprise development!
According to PEER Servants, this 4th annual Walk for Economic Empowerment raised a total of over $80,000 for the materially poor. Besides Columbus and the original site near Boston, there were first time walks in Charlotte, NC and in the DC/Baltimore area. World Vision and Hope International also joined as participating organizations.
We are deeply grateful for all the support, including two OSU student groups—the Christian Graduate Student Alliance (CGSA) and Fisher Christian Fellowship, the MBA group—who helped us organize the Walk and worked with the university to obtain funding that helped cover our expenses.
Warm winter greetings to you all on
this cold and nippy day! I’m sure everyone is in the middle of
Christmas plans, and I hope enjoying this season of celebrating the
birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. I realize that Jesus was probably
not born in December, but isn’t it lovely to have a season that
brings His birth to many folks’ consciousness?
Life whirls on here in “cowtown”
Columbus. I am now eligible for Program 60 at Ohio State, which
allows me to audit (no tests – yay!) for free most undergrad
classes. So, for the first time since 1973, I enjoyed the company of
twenty 20-somethings this quarter, and my mind is one thing that is
whirling. My class was very eye-opening and enlightening, and just
what I needed to keep my brain from vegetating. Being on campus
enabled me to meet several times with the CGSA prayer group, too,
which was a real joy. The Lord has blessed CGSA with many new
students this year, and we are looking forward to making new friends.
We hosted our fourth annual Soup Dinner and Pumpkin Carving this
year, and can attest that graduate students are quite multi-talented
– it was really hard to pick a single winner!
Despite the weather man’s forecast of “cold and gloomy”, the day of the Walk for Economic Empowerment dawned sunny and seasonable, for which we are very grateful. I think all the walkers had an enjoyable stroll through campus, and I have to mention my wonderful women friends who supported me so generously while walking. I was blown away by your kindness. Thank you all!
We are thankful that the Lord has given us the energy for the “home missions” he has called us to: discipling folks, various service projects at our church, starting a book club (me), mentoring engaged couples and parents, entertaining, plus the various day-to-day responsibilities. We ask for your prayers that He will also give us the necessary wisdom to carry out what He has put before us. For sure, we don’t always act like Jesus, we don’t have a perfect marriage, nor were we perfect parents by a long stretch. We often have to confess to folks what NOT to do! But James 1 tells us, “if any of you lacks wisdom [yep, that’s us!], he should ask God, who gives generously to all….” So we’re asking, and we would appreciate your asking on our behalf, trusting God to give us the words and wisdom that we need in each situation.
Please stay in touch, and let us know how we can pray for you. We appreciate and need every one of you, our faithful friends. May the Lord continue to bless and keep you all in His love this New Year.
50 years later...
In October I (Gary) was in my hometown of Fullerton, California, for my high school 50 year reunion. We all were a little surprised at how old our classmates were, especially those of us who last saw one another in 1959!
For example, look at these four guys:
What do you think? Thankfully, we were given name tags with our yearbook photos on them, because that was the only way anybody knew who I was!
There were about 300 at the reunion (including spouses and other guests) and I had a chance to personally connect with about 60 classmates. It was an amazing experience to talk with someone for the first time in 50 years and see the same person I knew in high school...same but yet very different.
There was a wonderful spirit at the reunion...perhaps the influence of several classmates (including some on the organizing committee) who are committed followers of Christ.
The Sunday after the reunion the folks at Buena Park Christian Fellowship gave me the opportunity to speak after their monthly fellowship lunch. If you want to hear my "50 year reflections," a recording of the talk is online at Buena Park talk (scroll down to 10/18/09).
Prayer requests and looking to 2010
- Pray for Christian faculty at Ohio State who are "super-stressed" in their work and personal responsibilities.
- Pray for Luke and Kelly, who are getting married Dec 12. Luke is an OSU graduate and Kelly is still a student (Gary will be Luke's best man!).
- Pray for God's help in 2010 as we:
- Increase our commitment to Moldova and begin serving in a new role with PEER Servants as Relationship Manager with CAMED/Invest Credit, working closely with Executive Director Ghena Russu
- Create resources for international ministries interested in faith-based economic development
- Bring together people who care about changing the status quo
A Christmas Gift. Last night we had the privilege of hearing the Capital University Chapel Choir in concert. This hymn, which was new to us, touched us deeply. May it bless your heart this Christmas Season. (To hear the music, click here)
Where Shepherds Lately Knelt
Where shepherds lately knelt, And kept the angel's word,
I come in half-belief, a pilgrim strangely stirred;
But there is room and welcome there for me.
In that unlikely place I find Him as they said:
Sweet newborn Babe, how frail! and in a manger bed:
A still small Voice to cry one day for me.
How should I not have known Isaiah would be there,
His prophecies fulfilled? With pounding heart I stare:
A Child, a Son, the Prince of Peace -- for me.
Can I, will I forget how Love was born and burned
Its way into my heart unasked, unforced, unearned,
To die, to live, and not alone for me.
-Jaroslav J. Vajda
As you think about your year-end giving, would you consider a special contribution to the work of Second Fiddle?
Mentoring and encouraging a new generation in Moldova and at Ohio State...we need your financial support this month to make a difference in 2010!
To donate online
click here
Or mail a check to:
Second Fiddle Ministries
542 Blenheim Rd
Columbus OH 43214
If you wish to donate anonymously to Second Fiddle, mail a check payable to Second Fiddle Ministries to:
Mary Gustafson
3168 Rochfort Bridge Dr East
Columbus OH 43221
Mary can be relied on to make sure your donation is correctly deposited and your identity known only to her!
Links of interest:
Second Fiddle website
Second Fiddle musings (blog)
Buena Park Christian Fellowship
Contact us:
Phone
(614) 263-2429
secondfiddle07@gmail.com
Postal
Second Fiddle Ministries
542 Blenheim Rd
Columbus OH 43214