Ascension Lutheran Church - Charlotte, NC - Dr Evelyn Davis Newsletter

Vol. 20 No. 4 - Winter, 2006

Dear Friends,

This is Advent-the season of preparation for the celebration of the birth of our Lord and Savior.

God At Work

Have you ever wondered if God is hearing your prayers? The Jews of the first century were familiar with God's silence. For 400 years after the prophecies of Malachi, God did not speak corporately to His people. During these years of silence, followers of the Torah gathered in synagogues weekly and entreated God with the same prayer: 'Speedily cause the descendant of David Your servant to flourish.' Yet they received no response.

Among those waiting for the Messiah were a priest named Simeon and a prophetess named Anna. We find their stories in the second chapter of Luke. This twosome spent decades hanging around the temple-the holiest place they knew-praying for a Savior. I can't help but believe that they wondered whether God would ever answer.

All of us have times like these: when we have no answers. And we may be tempted to give up on prayer. But before we do, we should consider a truth buried in the genealogies of Jesus in the gospels of Matthew and Luke. Yes, the genealogies-the seemingly interminable lists of names which cover not only the years of Israel's military triumphs and covenant faithfulness (when God's answers to prayer were obvious), but also the centuries during which worshipers persevered in their petitions for a Messiah while wondering if God would ever respond. It reminds us that, even in the midst of His apparent silence, God was working.

God was also working through individuals we might not have expected to be in the lineage of our Savior. Akianon Pina Handkerchief, one of our Wycliffe partners in the Philippines, expresses this in the following poem (from Matthew 1).

A Genealogy
A name in a list of names. Each name a story-a life lived out.
A heritage left of good and bad, of both happy and sad events.
A name: the Name above all names, comes last,
An outstanding genealogy should precede His birth, should it not?
Look Again:
Uriah's wife Bathsheba; Rahab, the harlot; Abraham, the liar; David, an adulterer; Ruth, a foreigner.
Knots and blemishes are everywhere-but look again, can't you see that God is there?
He pruned and grafted this genealogy, and it is my family tree.
It is a lineage of grace that comforts me!

And we know that like those in Jesus' lineage, we aren't perfect either. God doesn't call perfect people into His service. He calls faithful people with servant hearts in whom and through whom He can work to accomplish His purposes in the world. May we be counted in that number and help to bring about 'Joy To The World, the Lord Has Come!'

My Christmas Greetings to All of You

May our Lord grant you His peace and love at Christmastime and throughout the upcoming year! I would especially like to thank each individual, group, and church who gave gifts in support of my ministry this year-I am indeed grateful! I would not be able to continue my Wycliffe work without your financial support and your prayers. I particularly appreciated the special gifts that many of you gave regarding the unexpected repairs on my house in Charlotte that had to be completed before we could close, and the special prayers for my surgery on November 28 (it was successful).

My Wycliffe Work and Upcoming Schedule

The October Reflection and Prayer Training at Brookhaven Retreat in Texas went well, and some pictures are included. I will be doing the Reflection and Prayer Training for the Asia Area in early February, so please keep that in your prayers, especially as I spend most of January in preparation. I've enjoyed the bit of time I've been able to spend in my new home in Black Mountain (not a lot yet because of my busy schedule), and two pictures are included. My lower level apartment there now has a long-term rental contract, but there is a loft bedroom for weekend (or longer) rentals with a separate entrance, microwave and small refrigerator, etc. Please contact me if you are interested-and please just come and visit me (I have a guest bedroom on my level).

Thoughts for the New Year (Cross-Cultural Beatitudes)

Blessed are those who live each day with eternity in view, For in looking back on life there will be no regrets.

Blessed are those who embrace a vision greater than themselves, For what they give their lives to will endure forever.

Blessed are those who are passionate about the worship to come, For assembled will be every tribe, people, and language.

Blessed are those who pray for those who go, For with that support lives will be forever changed.

In Joy I Serve Him,

Seasonal Greetings from Evelyn Davis' Advisory Board

As we once again come to the end of a blessed year, we want to thank Jesus Christ for providing all things. Let us not forget to share with those who commit to missionary work throughout the world, throughout the year. As you consider your end-of-year giving, we would like to ask that you consider a special gift to Evelyn Davis' ministry. Listed below are some opportunities for sharing the blessings God has given you.

John Hrisak for the Advisory Board

Here Are Some Ways To Help:

Support for her regular, on-going needs should be sent to Wyclliffe Bible Translators (WBT), P.O. Box 62800, Orlando, FL, 32862-8200, and marked 'for Evelyn Davis.'
Gifts for travel, equipment, and other special needs should be sent to Wycliffe Bible Translators (WBT) at the same Orlando address and marked '990051 for Evelyn Davis' 44410 YTRC54 account.'
Contributions for medical and dental expenses, and to provide a stipend to persons assisting with the preparation of her training materials should be sent to Carmel Presbyterian Church, Attn: Director of Operations, 2048 Carmel Road, Charlotte, NC 28226-5098 and marked 'for Evelyn Davis."

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