Cara and I first connected with the Spirit & Truth Fellowship community in the summer of 2002 when John Lynn came to spend a weekend with us. We planned the weekend for John to not only teach the Word, but also to hang out with us and share about the heart of the ministry.
Frankly, we were hesitant to become too involved with Spirit & Truth because of our past experiences with another ministry, but John made two great statements regarding this ministry.
First, he exhorted us not to change any of our beliefs until we were convinced from God and His Word. Second, he told us to look at the hearts of the leadership and what they were trying to do. This reminded us of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:14, "...for I seek not yours, but you..." What a refreshing biblical perspective – to be loved and supported by believers who expect nothing in return!
After the weekend, we began to purchase some books and classes. We became partners, not because we were totally convinced about being locked in with Spirit & Truth yet, but because the materials so ministered to us.
The following year, they announced a conference in our area, and we volunteered to help run it. This time, John Schoenheit, Dan Gallagher, and Billy Darr came to New England, and we began to really see the heart of this ministry. These men loved, served, and ministered tirelessly to bless our people and, needless to say, we were so thankful to be involved. What we saw was that this ministry was not just about serving people only to bless them, but also to inspire them to go as far with God as possible in serving the Lord Jesus Christ.
Our personal goals in life were to do just that, to serve God and our Lord Jesus Christ to the absolute best of our ability. We never wanted our lives and ministries to be just mediocre. The Lord Jesus Christ needs people who will go the distance for Him and lovingly serve to the max. We have always wanted to live life to the fullest, which means losing our lives for our Lord Jesus Christ, that we might find our truest fulfillment in serving him and our Heavenly Father.
Cara and I have long had it on our hearts to build a strong, unified community here in Rhode Island and throughout New England. What has so amazed and blessed us is how the leadership has supported us in our ministry. They have taught and inspired us not for their gain, but to truly help us move God’s Word with our people in our area.
Being partners with Spirit & Truth has allowed us opportunities to grow and serve in a much deeper, more spiritual way than ever before. We recently increased our partnership amount and allocated the additional gift to the research websites. After seeing what the ministry is doing through the Internet, it is exciting for us to help out in this way.
Today we serve God and the Lord Jesus Christ and watch them bless our family. We live each day for them. We are totally comforted in our God and in our Lord, knowing that there are saints who love and support us and who are there for us if we need anything at all. We rejoice knowing that, as the song says, "somebody is praying us through."
The saints of this ministry have blessed us both spiritually and personally. They have inspired us to reach up and out more than ever before. We count it an absolute joy to be able to give of our financial resources to promote God’s heart through this ministry that has so blessed our lives.
May God bless you richly!
We love you!
Dave & Cara Hanson
Wickford, RI
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