Volume 57 : Winter 2006 : Number 4
   

Thank you . . .

Thank you, Thank you.

In Max DePree’s superb wisdom on leadership, he says that the last responsibility is to say “Thank You” to those who have enabled, supported, encouraged, and who actually have done the work. So, we say “Thank You” to you—you who are truly the IFMA*, the facilitators in the offices, the field directors, the financial donors, and the prayer supporters who sustain the IFMA foot soldier. As the sun rises over each of the twenty-four time zones across the globe, there is a continual wave of praise to God for people being saved, built up, and churches formed.

In particular, we say “Thank You” to the IFMA Official Board, to the hundreds of IFMA member mission board members who serve the individual agencies, to the LeaderLink team, to the IFMA Business Administration Committee and to the IFMA/EFMA Personnel Committee. The IFMA is not an office in Wheaton. The IFMA stretches all across the world. The IFMA is you.

This is the last IFMA News from Janet and me. As I review past issues I am filled with gratefulness for the many delightful times together—at the IFMA Annual Meetings, at the IFMA/EFMA Personnel Conferences, at LeaderLink in so many places (Ecuador, Spain, Turkey, Cyprus, Kenya, Orlando), at the IFMA CEO & Spouse Retreats, and at the IFMA Mission Administration Seminars. All of these helped sharpen our professional skills.

We had a missions prof at Philadelphia College of Bible, now Philadelphia Biblical University, who said over and over again, “Missions is people!” And—that is what we are saying, too. The IFMA is people—people serving God through missions. Janet and I shall miss you, truly miss you. It has been a great privilege to serve you these last sixteen plus years.

Our future is as bright as the promises of God. Janet and I plan to stay in the Wheaton area where God continues to open various ministries of teaching and service for us both through our church, College Church in Wheaton, through Wheaton College Graduate School and Moody Graduate School. We continue to be deeply involved with missionaries and others of God’s servants through the offering of hospitality in our home. Janet particularly enjoys being a shepherdess through the Women’s Bible Study at the church. And—we will simply be enjoying doing some things we have had to set aside in years past. We look forward to increased enjoyment of our children and grandchildren in the days to come.

Our calling is still to serve the Lord of the harvest; the harvest is still white; laborers are still few; we enjoy good health; we shall continue to serve as God opens doors and enables us. Thank you for allowing us to serve you as we have served Him through the ministry of the IFMA. May God bless you each one.

And lastly, and most importantly, we thank the Lord God Almighty for counting us worthy through the Lord Jesus to serve Him among you. "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord Who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful appointing me to His service." (I Timothy 1:12). He has enabled us, supported us, encouraged us. He has done the work for which we praise Him.

By grace,
John & Janet Orme

*IFMA is now CrossGlobal Link