November 22, 2016

The Agony and Ecstasy God has Entrusted us with . . . Being a leader is to embrace all the proverbial Agony and Ecstasy that goes with it . . . feeling the exhilaration of

victory and absorbing the pain of defeat. That is a good way to describe our last year.

The Ecstasy is an abundance of new staff on the field and in the pipeline. It is witnessing transformation

throughout our leadership trainings on various levels, including the miraculous work of God we experienced

personally during our July tour of our ministry projects in Africa.

The Agony was negotiating some painful transitions. Moving our offices was one of those. You all know the

agony of moving. Negotiating this unexpected move across town, with all the accompanied disruptions, was a

torture our office staff hopes to avoid for some time. The ecstasy is being established in a fresh, flexible high-

functioning environment with inspiring views. The

marathon – the hours spent digitizing 37 years of history

was accomplished with amazing grace so we can travel

light and more efficiently going forward. Come visit us if

you are in town!

That wasn’t the only change we were faced with. Some of

a leader’s greatest challenges are in being willing to

embrace every challenge and lead the organization

through the inevitable. This year was harder than most.

But it feels good to be on the other side, acknowledging

God’s presence and provision. I (David) am so thankful God has given us/me a partner with good experience in

handling tough issues and faith in God to take care of all we cannot. At such times we are especially thankful for

your prayers.

Now . . . more about the Ecstasy!

Nancy describes it this way. Imagine yourself on a mountain hike and you reach a “turning point” where the view is breath-taking . . . Nancy and I feel that way at Entrust right now. I remember a president of another mission telling us seven years ago how he felt after slow growing (7 years prior) . . . his hard work started to pay off and the ministry really started to move. We are there! To God be the glory! What are we looking at? People! See how God has provided! God is bringing us some remarkable new recruits this year. We will not inflict a series of pictures of people you don’t know so we will let Dustin, Miriam and Theo Combs be our poster family as they are now settling into their new ministry in Slovakia, and a new baby who will be born in Slovakia in May! And more from Nancy . . . lots and lots to thank the Lord for! (Sorry everyone if this is TMI . . . wish you could meet each of these recent new colleagues - it was hard to keep it brief! Just call me Chatty Nancy)

Dynamic . . . wife, mother of Eli and Maddie, is a new staff member, serving to equip women. Her vision and passion is compelling! “As the most educated, privileged, and free women in the world, how are we

preaching the gospel and making disciples? We have been entrusted with the greatest treasure in the world.”

Amazing woman joined our Women’s Ministry Leadership Team. She loves the loves the word of God, has published Bible Studies, now serving to guide our curriculum and more! Just finished facilitating full weeks of training in Texas and then in Thailand!

Recent Denver Seminary graduate, tri-lingual including Mandarin and Japanese, fantastic mentee – to intern – to staff member with a passion to serve on our East Asia Team! She whizzed through three weeks of training! One more to go, then she begins her co-facilitating!

Rockford couple – prayer, and then surrender – joined our mobilization team as recruiters, now trusting God for their support-raising. Thank you Lord for these new partners!

Beautiful sister in Christ – I cannot believe we have only known her a year . . . born in Nigeria to Lebanese parents, multilingual. Such deep faith and love for the lost, teaching in difficult places.

Wonderful, experienced couple who have been in ministry all of their lives . . . this is now a new chapter for them with Entrust and a focus on orality.

Another young talent and a heart to serve on our communications team! His gifts are in the areas of the arts and music, photography, creating newsletters and videos. He’s made several short documentaries for various Christian groups.

Volunteers – What would we do without our 4 faithful volunteers who edit, package and mail out materials, and always seem to love to do whatever is needed!

Our super faithful and supportive Board – so thankful for them – if you go to the NEW website you will understand why we enjoy our board gatherings twice a year . . . for prayer, deliberation, and encouragement (http://entrust4.org/basics/people/board). Say “WOW GOD!” ten times!

Also – several couples we are meeting and praying with about significant leadership positions. Excited about new leadership joining our team as we continue to prepare for future ministry expansion.

If you haven’t been on our new website (www.entrust4.org) please take a minute to look, listen and thank the Lord for His working!

The past four years Entrust has participated in Giving Tuesday, a national initiative on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. The idea is to encourage people to support charity through financial partnership, volunteering or becoming involved in some way with charitable causes that resonate with your passions. For Entrust, this can mean:

Supporting a goat project in Zimbabwe

Assisting a jobs training in Kurdistan

Equipping pastors in the Middle East

Providing translation work for Moldova

Or a special support gift to help us finish the year in the black Any gift given online or postmarked by Nov. 29th with a note “for Giving Tuesday” will count toward a generous matching grant up to $30,000 that benefits all of the projects of Entrust. To save the credit card fee you can give online via bank account, (EFT) or send a check as described above. (www.entrust4.org/GivingTuesday). Thank you!

You can mail gifts to: Entrust, PO Box 25520, Colorado Springs, CO 80936-5520

Attach a note “For the Goodmans”

Email: DGoodman@Entrust4.org or NGoodman@Entrust4.org Office: (719) 622.1980

Web: www.Entrust4.org