Family and Friends,
I hope this letter finds you well! As you know, I will be graduating from Berry College in May. The past four years have been the most grueling and the most rewarding years and I have enjoyed them so very much. God has blessed me with amazing friends, an incredible church family, and the opportunity to be involved in so many different ministries and organizations.
I remember the cool fall Sunday morning two years ago when I attended my current church in Rome for the first time. Josh, our pastor, spoke on Joshua 3:5 and what it means to take an irreversible step for God. For God to move in our lives, we have to take a step in faith- a step we can’t take back. I walked out of church without shoes that morning after leaving them in a box to be donated to kids who had none. I still remember and sometimes miss those shoes, but I’ve never regretted leaving them. Since then, God has placed several opportunities in my life to make irreversible steps for the glory of His kingdom. One of those is coming in the very near future. After graduating, I will be leaving to do mission work with World Race, a mission program organized by Adventures in Missions.
The World Race is an eleven-month mission trip during which my team and I will visit eleven different countries in Central America, South Africa, Asia, and Europe. My team leaves in September and while on the World Race, we will be helping in orphanages, ministering to people of all age groups, helping plant churches, rebuilding communities, and carrying the name of God to those in need of restoration and encouragement in any way we can. We will be challenged to take irreversible steps daily, even if that means being broken inside and completely humbled. Sometimes that will mean no showers or food that we may not like, being emotionally and physically drained, and being tired. It sounds ironic, but this letter cannot begin to tell you how humbled I am to have this opportunity. My heart’s desire is to make His name famous and to serve “the least of these” as we are called.
I am a living example of how God continually provides in the lives of His people. I know right now is an economically challenging time for all of us and I believe whole heartedly that God has called me to this and will provide exactly what I need to make this trip. In fact, I know this to be true. He has provided continually for my family and He has funded my entire college career. I am writing to ask you to trust our Provider and support me and my team on this journey. This trip costs $15,500, which covers my expenses on the field – travel, lodging, etc – and I am also in need of $2,500 beyond that to cover expenses such as vaccinations, personal money, supplies, and other preparation costs. This is roughly half the cost of one year’s tuition at Berry. If God can provide that tuition, I am confident He will provide here as well. First and foremost, I ask you to get on your face before God – pray for our team to be prepared and strengthened, for us to meet everyone we encounter exactly where they are, for the staff at World Race and Adventures in Missions both here and abroad, for my family, and for your contribution.
Any support you can give is appreciated. You can give a one-time donation or a recurring monthly donation. Enclosed is a response card and pre-addressed envelope. Please make checks payable to Adventures in Missions and be sure to include the response card with your donation, which provides the necessary information to send you a receipt. Send all donations to Adventures in Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA, 30353-4470. You can also give online by clicking the “Support Me” tab at bethbarron.theworldrace.org.
I can’t possibly thank you enough for your generosity – both now and in the past. You have touched my life in such a way that it will never be forgotten.
Thank you for helping provide an opportunity for me to touch the lives of others and be the hands and feet of Jesus. I am excited to share my experiences with you over the next few months. I am confident that God will move in incredible ways in my life, the lives of my teammates, and in your life. Thank you for your financial support and for your prayers.
Beth (Ann) Barron
(478) 319-5317 [email protected]
