Many Reasons to Give Thanks
In November, many of us take a little extra time to think about the things we are thankful for. I remember this time of year in the days before I was a Christian. It was hardly about being thankful. I was too preoccupied with myself and my wants to be thankful. But when I was won over by Christ, a whole new world was opened to me. I realized that I had the most precious thing that any human could ever possess: a relationship with God. And I’ve found that when a man has a relationship with God, he has an unlimited supply of things to be thankful for. Now, I must confess, I don’t always feel that way, but when I get away to that secret place and pray, and sing, and read the Psalms, I’m filled with a joy that is from another world. Often times tears will fill my eyes as I say, “Thank you, Lord! For you are good to me!”
This Thanksgiving season has been full for me. I thank God for the gift of His Son, for my wife, for my children, for my house, my vehicles, my wood-stove(!). And I’m especially thankful for you, my partners, who have joined with me in this ministry. It means so much that you have come alongside us. I thank God for you!
The Ministry Moves Forward
The Lord continues to do His work on the campus of the University of Delaware. About a week ago I talked to a young Asian man in whom the Lord was working. Although not yet a Christian, he had been reading the scriptures because of a Christian friend. I was able to speak into his life and answer many of his questions. We opened the Bible together there on the sidewalk and went through the scriptures. Pray that the Lord would continue to work in his life!
I also had a great encounter with a young Catholic couple at the University. They stopped to chat and we became friends. We had a wonderful conversation and they confessed that some of the students at the university had a complete misunderstanding of the type of people we were. They suggested that they would try to set up a meeting at the University for students to come ask questions. Please pray that the Lord would open up such a door! It would be a great opportunity to engage more students.
In another instance, I was preaching to several listening students and a girl approached
me afterward. She was not happy with me! She did her best to try to get me angry, but I know that it is a soft tongue that breaks the bone (Proverbs 25:15). She railed at me for my pro-life stance and insisted that a woman had the right to her own body. I told I her that I agreed! A woman has a right to her body, but not to someone else’s body—and that baby inside is someone else’s body! I wasn’t able to sway her at that moment, but the love of Christ was in my voice and demeanor, and she wasn’t able to stay angry! Pray the Lord would open her heart.
Ministry Update!
It is with great happiness that I can announce that Hal Chaffee Ministries, Inc. is now an official 501c3 non-profit organization! Yay! We decided to brave the idea of applying for this ourselves rather than pay thousands of dollars for someone else to do it. I’m glad we did. We were approved! Now that we are an official 501c3, every dollar you give to this organization can be deducted from your taxes at the end of your year. If you would like to give to this ministry or become a partner, Click Here.
God Bless you and thanks so much!
Hal Chaffee 