Dear Friends and Family,
Blessed Christmas
Gary and Elvira hope that each of you has a wonderful Christmas
season that creates many delightful new memories with friends and
loved ones. And may the New Year be filled with many unexpected
blessings for both you and your family. Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year!
Changing Family
Legacies
Only four months ago we sent out the letter in which we announced
that Mourning Dove Ministries should be a full-time
counseling, coaching, and training ministry. The response to that
announcement has been incredible. Your investment in this ministry
has already changed the future for many marriages and families.
Together we have created new family legacies – replacing a legacy of
aloneness, hurt and divorce with one of intimate relationships and
healing.
As
Molly White, of Columbus, GA, wrote in September 2006:
“I
didn’t want to divorce; I simply felt there was no way to heal what
was left after years of us bungling up so many aspects of our
marriage. Escaping seemed the only way to find emotional and mental
peace.”
After opening their
hearts to the process, Molly and Ritchie went through a two-day
Marriage Intensive with us. She went on to write at the end of the
process:
“I know that this
has been a pivotal experience for our marriage. It really almost
feels like a new marriage, free from the weight of the past. …now
we know how to get there, and how to stay there no matter what
obstacles are put in our way. Our marriage is new in Christ, and
we are rejoicing!” (Her emphasis).
Through Molly and
Ritchie’s commitment and your partnership with this ministry, a new
legacy has been created for the White’s young son Elijah.
We’ve Only Just
Begun!
As we build on the
foundation of the past few months, we need you to partner with us to
save more marriages, to prevent more broken homes and to free
individuals from life-long hurt and pain. “We are inviting you
to invest yourself through the resources that God has given you –
your energy, your prayers, and your money – in this work to which
God has called us.” – Henri J. M. Nouwen. Please consider a
year-end gift or a monthly pledge to Mourning Dove Ministries to
sustain this work. The ministry needs you as an active, invested
partner!
What Your Investment
Does
The financial
investment you make into Mourning Dove Ministries impacts the
ministry and the lives of families and individuals in many ways:
·
Sustains the growth of
the ministry as we develop a solid base of clients and referral
sources.
·
Subsidizes counseling for
couples who cannot afford the costs of traditional counseling. The
ability to pay will never be a consideration when helping couples
create healthy, intimate relationships.
·
Provides Gary and Elvira
with the opportunity to speak to groups on God’s plan for marriages
and alternatives to divorce.
·
Supports other ministries
and benevolent activities. Since the creation of MDM in 2001, we
have tithed 10% of all gifts and income received by the ministry.
During the first eleven months of 2006, your contributions have
helped launch other new ministries, provided benevolent assistance
to two families, sent books to needy children in the Dominican
Republic and aided an organization for women fighting addictions. A
scholarship fund will be established in 2007.
Lawrence and Teresa
Bishop
Lawrence and Teresa Bishop made the decision that they wanted
deeper intimacy in their relationship and less tension in their home
– to create a different legacy for their five children. Excerpts
from Teresa’s letter:
“We were in a difficult place relationally. We had been to other
counselors and both felt misunderstood by the counselor of the
opposite sex. In the situation with the Delaplanes, there was no
hiding behind gender-misunderstandings. It truly was a wonderful
benefit to work with both Gary and Elvira.”
“Gary and Elvira also had credibility in our eyes, not so much
because of their formal training, although we value that too, but
because they have been down the difficult road themselves. They
weren’t a couple that already had it all together and couldn’t
relate to the struggles we were having.”
“Gary and Elvira both bring unique qualities to the counseling
situation for couples. Their individual personalities and life
experiences were a very helpful backdrop in their ability to really
hear each of us. Being able to see behind the obvious has been very
important for our healing.”
“Our marriage was at the very tippy edge of dissolution. Our
experiences at the Delaplane’s home and with their help we have
completely turned our marriage around. We will be forever grateful
for all of their deep and diligent care for us.”
Ben Franklin, 1730
The happy State of Matrimony is, undoubtedly, the surest and most
lasting
Foundation of Comfort and Love . . . the Cause of all good Order in
the World, and what alone preserves it from the utmost Confusion . .
."
The Mystery of
Marriage…
“God designed
marriage as a mystery. You may or may not know it, but you are
married to a living mystery. You may have lost sight of that
mystery and feel your marriage is simply a matter of choice or a
commitment. But Christ wants you to be yoked with Him to understand
the mysteries of God’s love and how that love can unlock the soul of
your husband or wife.”
“God wants you to learn
what He knows about your spouse. There are aspects of your spouse
that are so exciting and so intriguing, yet so hidden; it will take
a journey of a lifetime to discover them. Unveiling the mystery of
the person you are married to can infuse your love with an infinite
quality that touches the depths of a woman’s soul and captures a
man’s heart so completely it defines the very essence of who he is.”
“Think about this.
Your spouse has been called to remove your alone-ness as has no
other person. And of the six billion people on the face of the
planet, no one has been called to minister to your spouse’s
aloneness as you have. And God is in the midst of your relationship
wanting to impart His love through you, and receive pleasure out of
removing your partner’s aloneness. Aren’t you overwhelmed and
humbled at that thought?”
“God has called you to
a very special journey of removing the aloneness of the person you
most love. And He wants to co-labor with you on the journey.” –
David and Teresa Ferguson, More Than Married
Prayer
Team
One of the most important building blocks that we put in place this
year was the creation of a Prayer Team to cover the ministry and all
who are associated with MDM with prayer.
Brad Hubbard heads the Prayer Team and we have several dedicated
people who have joined the team. They have committed to pray daily
for the needs of the ministry and for the couples with whom we are
working.
We
have seen the impact of this powerful group in so many aspects of
the ministry. Every couple to whom we have offered the gift of
prayer cover has eagerly and emotionally accepted it. If you are
interested in joining the prayer team or have a specific prayer
request for a marriage, please send us an e-mail at one of the
addresses listed on the next page.
Year-End Statements
Mourning Dove Ministries is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. As
a result, all contributions and gifts to the ministry are tax
deductible. Every partner who has contributed to MDM will receive a
detailed summary statement by mid-January 2007 for tax reporting
purposes.
Financial Accountability
As
stated in our launch letter of August, our commitment to each of you
is to maintain the highest ethical standards to those served by this
ministry and open financial accountability for every aspect of
Mourning Dove Ministries.
Our financial records are always open and available upon request.
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