The Power of 1

Dear Prayer Partners,

First of all, consider the number 147.

That’s how many broadcasts we’ve made into China. A year ago we hadn’t even started broadcasting. Now we’re closing in on 150 programs. Recently Mark told us that we’ve received hits on our Chinese website from virtually every province in China, including some in the far-western region that is predominately Muslim. We know that people are listening via shortwave radio, the website, and via the smartphone apps.

Second, think of the number 723,000.

That’s how many copies of An Anchor for the Soul have been printed by Moody Publishers since 2000. Over 600,000 of those copies have been donated to prison ministries, military ministries, rescue missions, and crisis pregnancy centers.

Third, think of the number 1.

That represents each individual person who visits our website, reads one of our sermons, receives a copy of Anchor, listens to a podcast, watches a video, reads the Lenten blog, attends a class, or comes to a conference where we are ministering. All the big numbers finally come down to just one person. We were reminded of that when we received this note a few days ago:

First of all, consider the number 147.

That’s how many broadcasts we’ve made into China. A year ago we hadn’t even started broadcasting. Now we’re closing in on 150 programs. Recently Mark told us that we’ve received hits on our Chinese website from virtually every province in China, including some in the far-western region that is predominately Muslim. We know that people are listening via shortwave radio, the website, and via the smartphone apps.

Second, think of the number 723,000.

That’s how many copies of An Anchor for the Soul have been printed by Moody Publishers since 2000. Over 600,000 of those copies have been donated to prison ministries, military ministries, rescue missions, and crisis pregnancy centers.

Third, think of the number 1.

That represents each individual person who visits our website, reads one of our sermons, receives a copy of Anchor, listens to a podcast, watches a video, reads the Lenten blog, attends a class, or comes to a conference where we are ministering. All the big numbers finally come down to just one person. We were reminded of that when we received this note a few days ago:

I find myself really struggling tonight with my unemployment, loneliness, and my divorce, just to mention a few, I got in my car and went out for a drive. I ended up at the local Salvation Army Store and I started browsing around through the used book section. I came across your book, “Keep Believing”. I think God wants me to read this. And I will. Thanks for writing it.

Think about that for a moment. We have no idea how that copy of “Keep Believing” (which is actually out of print) ended up in the Salvation Army bookstore. But it doesn’t matter because God knew that man was coming that night, and he made sure the book was there at just the right moment.

It’s not about the big numbers. It’s all about the number 1. 

Thank you for praying and for giving and for encouraging us because we can’t do what we do without your help. We want to help that “1” person in 225 countries around the world.

Please stay in touch and let us know you are doing. We love hearing from you.

God bless you!

Ray and Marlene