is a great help to the residents of Siloam Missionary Homes, providing grocery and other items free of charge to the missionaries. Our missionary families stop there every day. This morning, I walked into the store and noticed that the shelves had several bare spots. I thought, “Lord, we really need some things here” (but not macaroni and cheese, green beans or corn!). God, of course, already knew the need, and about an hour later, I looked out of the window of the Family Center to see that a pastor had arrived in his church van with – that’s right – a cargo of canned goods, cereal, paper products and other things we needed.

How many times God has sent His blessings to SMH through His people responding to His leading. We praise Him and thank those who show us His love in so many practical ways.

– by Milton Wilder, SMH Pastor Missionary Care

This week, Joyce and I had the wonderful opportunity to visit with Scott and Naran Hollinger, missionaries with Trans World Radio (TWR) in Cary, N.C. It was our first visit to TWR and it was exciting to see how they are taking the gospel around the world.

Trips like these help remind us of the importance of Siloam Missionary Homes and of the tremendous need to provide homes for missionaries. God has a reason for all things and uses different circumstances to bring people together to reach the world for Him. When a missionary family arrives here, we never know what they have gone through. The reason for our visit to TWR was to get to know the Hollinger’s for this week’s radio show.

Scott met Naran in Guam, where he was serving as a single missionary with TWR. She had come to Guam with her sister, both of them having been from the “killing fields” of Cambodia. During this week’s radio show, the Hollingers will share how God took two single people from two totally different walks of life and brought them together to serve as missionaries. I must say this was a true eye-opener for me! I need to pray more that ever, that God will raise up more missionaries to share the gospel. Naran told us that she had never heard about Jesus or about the Bible until she left Cambodia. A missionary in Guam shared the Gospel with her and that is how she came to Christ.

It broke my heart to hear her talk about the lack of the Gospel throughout the world and it reminded me of the millions of souls that die every day without ever even hearing the name of “Jesus!” We must not delay in sending forth missionaries.

This is a program that we pray will challenge every believer to reach the world for Jesus Christ. You will not want to miss it – Saturday at 3:30 p.m.

Larry George, President

“But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, with men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”

Happy New Year everyone! I pray each of you had a wonderful Christmas. I praise the Lord for His birthday and the freedom we have in America to share this with family and friends. It was a great time with my children and our grandchildren. My sister, Linda, surprised us by coming in from Missouri with her husband, Dan. As is tradition, we started Christmas Eve with dinner at my mom’s house, and ended the evening at our home. Between the two, every year we meet in the Chapel for a Christmas Eve service with the missionary families. We sang and read the Christmas story – we had a wonderful time! The prayer chapel seats 34 people, and this year, it was overflowing!

I want to thank all off the churches and our partners in ministry for the outpouring of gifts and food for all of the missionary families that live here. What a blessing it has been! God is soooo good!

As we rejoice over the blessing of our Savior’s birth, and thank Him for yet another year of ministry, I look forward with anticipation to 2009. I praise the Lord for opening up our new radio program, “A Place We Call Home.” You can hear us locally on Truth Radio, am 830 each Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. It is also on several other stations across North Carolina as well as on the web at truthbroadcasing.com. I believe that the Lord is giving us a way to share the heart of missions to more people. This coming Saturday, January 3rd, Mike and Abbey will be joining us.

As I reflect over 2008, it has been a blessing to know that over 100 people have called Siloam “home” this year. These families have represented 17 different countries. I am so thankful to the Lord for providing every need.

The Bible gives me great comfort as we move into the New Year. Like you, I read the newspaper and watch TV. Funds are tight and we must rely daily on the Lord to provide. Not just for the needs of our families, but for the ministry. Even as I write, I am concerned that we can end the year in the black. But, Siloam Missionary Homes belongs to the Lord. And, God is Faithful! The Word of God tells us in Matthew 19:26, “But Jesus beheld them and said to them, with men this is impossible; but with God, all things are possible.” What a blessing and wonderful promise!

Please pray with  us:  

• as we minister to the missionary families
• for our new family moving in on Thursday
• for Siloam’s radio program – that God will provide sponsors
• for our meetings and conferences for 2009
• for our staff
• for our new budget
• for the completion of Papa’s Workshop
• for the Wilder’s monthly support
• for all of the missionary families that live here and those who will come in 2009

Our prayer for you in 2009 is that God will give you opportunity to share Jesus every day. I pray that God will bless each of you with good health. God is able, if we are willing. I covet your prayers for me and my family and the staff.

May the Lord bless you and protect you as we partner to reach the world for Christ.

Larry George, President

Brrr….Last week I was talking to my brother in Michigan and he was telling me about all of the snow he was getting. Here in North Carolina, we have been enjoying warm weather. I remember as a youngster, the snowy days of winter. I had a paper route and sometimes the snow was so deep that I had to walk my route. About supper time, in the distance I could see the lights of home. I would walk in the back door and peel off the icy scarf from around my face and go warm myself in front of the wood stove. Mom always had a hot meal ready for me.

I say all of this to remember that I believe that God provides many ways for us to stop and reflect. At times, it is the weather, other times it could be a visitor or circumstance. This morning during my time with the Lord, I stopped to reflect on the reason for Christmas. I thanked Him for sending His Son, Jesus, to be Salvation for me. I encourage you, my friend, to take time today to reflect on what Christmas means to you.

“Unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” Joyce and I and the rest of our staff  wish each of you a Very Merry Christmas!

I would also like to mention that God has provided a way for us to share again on the radio on December 27th at 3:30 p.m. Truth Radio, am 830. You can also catch us on the web at www.truthradio.comWe are praying that this will be another way for us to get the message out. The program will be called “A Place Missionaries Call Home.” The producers of the show believe that this will be a great program about Siloam Missionary Homes and the families that come here to stay. Of course, like all media, radio is expensive. This is something that only God can do, since we need sponsors for the program. We will  be interviewing missionaries and sharing about the lives of missionaries and our staff. We see the potential of reaching a listening audience of over 20-50,000 people. Please pray for Joyce and I as we host this program. We want God to be the “hero” and receive the glory. This is a “live” talk show, so make sure to call in with your comments!

We love all of you! Merry Christmas!

Larry & Joyce

The turkey is thawing in the refrigerator. Joyce has been cleaning house and preparing for Thanksgiving at our house. On Thursday, many of my family members will be here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us.

I praise the Lord for this past year. We have so much to be thankful for. I have been sick for the past several weeks and Joyce and I have been speaking in a lot of churches. I am grateful that we both well today!

Last Thursday, we celebrated Thanksgiving here with all of the missionary families and were so blessed to have Wake Chapel Christian Church join us. What a wonderful time of rejoicing together. The church group brought food for all of the families and provided special music and ate with us. Thank you, Church!

Sunday night we attended Freedom Baptist Church in Goldsboro and they weighed down my truck with food for all of us here at Siloam. We also praise the Lord for the socks Tony Kiser brought for all of the families. It is always great to have new socks! Yesterday, Harold and Patsy McBane surprised us by bringing crates of sweet potatoes. We have so much to be thankful for! It’s not even Christmas yet!!!

I would like to ask that you pray for all of the families here as they travel over the holidays. It has been such a blessing to see the price of gas fall. This has really helped all of us. We would like to thank you for your faithfulness in supporting us both financially and with your prayers. God is good and praise Him for you!

Our prayer is that you and your family have a wonderful and blessed Thanksgiving. Pray for our country and our men and women that are serving overseas – both in the military and for the Lord. May God always receive all the honor and glory as we reach the world for Jesus Christ through missionary housing.

 Rejoicing with Thanksgiving in our hearts!

Larry, Joyce and Siloam staff

To my praying Brothers & Sisters,

 Has the TV gotten you down and discouraged? The economy? Your retirement? Well, I have good news for you! I know Someone who can help and has the means. His name is Jesus! The other day, I was talking to one of my friends on the phone and he said, “Right now, because of the economy, we have a wonderful opportunity to help one another, to share who Jesus is. It’s resting in Him.” But, it is hard to rest, isn’t it?

I remember as a youngster, we raised chickens at home. I would watch the hens sit patiently on their nest for the eggs to hatch. After a couple of weeks, my mom would gently reach under the hen and take one of the eggs and examine it. She would check the egg for a small hole. This would indicate that the chick was trying to get out. One morning, while feeding the chickens, I head a peeping sound. I turned to see a small chick sticking her head out from under its mother’s wings. After a while, the chicken would leave her nest for water. I quickly inspected the rest of the eggs. A baby chick was working hard trying to peck its way out. My mother scolded me and told me to put the egg back. “If you keep handling them, the chick inside will die.” I was not very patient and wanted to help the baby chick out. So, I came back later and started to pick away at the shell. Of course, the baby died. It was not ready to be born. The pecking of the shell was God’s way of making the chick stronger and preparing it for the world.

The words “patience, endurance, and perseverance” are mentioned no less than six times in James 5:7-12. Patience is the quality that the Apostle Paul continually stressed as a requirement for a holy life.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.”

Please pray for us, that I can rest in Him, and that I don’t allow the cares of the world to take away my focus. Pray that we can encourage the missionary families here. Remember, in the end, WE WIN!

“Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle is read to all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” II Thess. 5:23-28

Praying for you today,

Your brother in Christ, Larry George

SPEED BUMPS – Stop & Pray

Dear Praying Friends,

Greetings in the name of the Lord.

As a child, I used to hear my mom say, “No news is good news.” I grew up in a time that the phone was only used for important information. We had a party line and shared our phone with several families. So, when the phone rang at our house, only dad or mom answered. We kept a pad of paper next to the phone and, of course, the one and only phone was in the living room.

Now, in 2008, the phone is everywhere. Most of us have a least two phones and of course, we all have cell phones. I was visiting my brother’s family last spring and I heard my sister-in-law walking through the house talking on her cell phone. She disappeared to the other end of the house. Then, I saw my niece laughing and talking on her cell phone in the kitchen. I suddenly realized that they were in the same house talking to each other! We laugh at this and realize that we have become a people that have to know what is going on all the time, even when we are in the car! Isn’t it funny that when we call a friend on their cell phone, the first words we say after “hello” are “where are you?”

The Lord has given us a direct phone line to Him. It’s called “prayer.” And He answers us with His Word, the Bible. Simple enough, but we seldom use this unless we are at the end. My life verse is Prov. 3:5-6, which is about trusting the Lord. I have a coffee cup that my daughter, Rachel, gave me that has verse 6 on it. “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” It sounds easy, doesn’t it? I wonder if the Lord would call us one day on our cell phone if He would say, “Larry I have been trying to return your call, but where are you?”

Over the past several months, we have all watched the TV and listened to the radio about the economy, the stock market, banking and the price of gas. I, too, have been troubled by what I see and have become concerned about the finances of Siloam. Then, this morning, the Lord calmed my heart when He said, “acknowledge me, call me and I will direct your path.”

I want to encourage you today, dear friend, to trust and rest, and lean on the Lord. We appreciate so much your prayers and financial support for Siloam Missionary Homes, and all the food that comes in daily for the missionary families. Thank you for faithfully supporting us.

Yesterday, as the bookkeeper was leaving the office, she said, “Thank the Lord, we have enough today to pay the bills. See you next week.” God is able to do the impossible if we keep the line of communication open to Him.

Please pray for the missionary families as they travel this summer. We have a work group coming Sunday night to put up the shell for the workshop next week. We also have a new family moving in next Friday. Pray for them as they are coming from a closed country and are excited about coming home.

We have been remodeling the mobile home next door. We moved a couple of walls and put in some new flooring. This will allow us to better accommodate a missionary moving in next month.

May the Lord continue to bless you today, friend. Click the radio off and open the phone lines to heaven. He is there and anxiously waiting to talk to you.

Because of Christ,

Larry George

President

This is an article from Milton and Betty Wilder, who will be joining SMH as Associate Missionaries in June. 

Entering a new field of ministry has given me a new appreciation for missionaries. Even before they get to the field they must have a deep commitment to their work in order to go through the process of getting to the field to do the work. I can now understand from a personal standpoint that contacting individuals and churches for support turns out to be heavy labor. I have to admit also that it is very difficult to continue to pastor a church and find time to raise support. Betty and I truly need your prayers as we try to do this. Two churches, one ministry agency and several individuals have begun or will begin monthly support when we move to our pastoral ministry to missionaries at Siloam Missionary Homes in June. That brings us to approximately 10% of our monthly goal for the two of us. As of this writing, we have scheduled presentations of our ministry in three other churches. We are very grateful for a number of one-time gifts that friends and family have sent to our account at SMH and for those who have promised prayer support.

We are so thankful to the Lord for providing a house and for the helpful Christian real estate agent, Linda Hagood, who has been working with us. Although the house needs a great deal of renovation, the location is ideal, being within walking distance of Siloam Missionary Homes’ campus. Not only did the Lord provide the best location, but the property was offered to us at less than half the tax value, which is a miracle in itself. This is an amount which is less than what any of us were praying for! Time and again God shows us that He truly “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). We will have to spend some dollars on construction and reconstruction, but a number of gracious and caring individuals have already promised that they will help with this labor and again we praise the Lord for His provision! He also knows where we will find the funds to accomplish all this.

I keep referring to a little card that our tax preparer, Ed Winslow, gave us last week, which says, “Where God guides, He provides,” with some verses from Isaiah 43. When the faith of any of us tends to weaken, this is a truth we need to remember. Please pray that our faith will stay strong; that God will supply our monthly support through His people; that He will enable us to make a clear and effective presentation of our ministry to churches and interested individuals; that He will continue to equip us to serve Him at Siloam Missionary Homes; that He will use us to minister to the needs of others and encourage them in their commitment and service to the Lord.