I'm Thankful!

I would like to wish you and your family a Happy New Year! I am so appreciative for the many friends who have stood together with me to share the message of our Father's amazing love and endless grace. This past year has been one of unprecedented opportunity to share the message of the grace walk around the world. I find 2007 ending with deep feelings of gratitude for those who work together with me to make the grace walk known.

We have a team of people who work with Grace Walk Ministries who are each solid gold. Those who work with our offices in the States,Canada, Mexico, Argentina, and El Salvador are being greatly used to share the message in their respective countries.

I am deeply grateful to Cheryl Buchanan, who is the Administrator for Grace Walk Ministries. This will be her tenth year working in Grace Walk and she has been a great gift from God. I'm a big-picture-person who tends to get lost in minutia. Cheryl, on the other hand, is a master of details. I would be lost without her administrative skills. I suspect that, when we all get to heaven, she may be recognized as the MVP of this ministry.

Gerardo Vasquez has been one of the greatest treasures of my years in ministry. He calls me his "father in the faith," but I have no doubt I've learned as much from him as he has from me. Gerardo encourages my heart like few people in my life can do. He is the Latin American Director for GWM and travels all over the Spanish speaking world to share the message. He and his wife, Gloria, are such wonderful examples of how God's grace can revolutionize families.

Craig Snyder directs the missions arm of the ministry and travels constantly. He has spoken in far more many places in Latin America than I have been. Craig is not only a dear friend, but a trusted co-laborer in ministry. Almost all of the Grace Walk offices we have launched in Latin America are a direct result of Craig's ministry in these places. He and Gerardo constantly plow new territory together, lay the foundation by training the leaders and then, when all the hard work is done, I simply go in and celebrate what God has done through them. There is no way Grace Walk Ministries would have seen the expansion we've known if it weren't for Craig.

Jose Colacilli leads Grace Walk Argentina. He is a humble man who exudes the sweet presence of Jesus. I've never been around him that I didn't sense the presence of Christ with us. I am so glad to have him lead our team in Argentina.

Edwin Castellano is a conduit of grace in El Salvador. His impact in spreading the message in his country is causing more and more people to know who they are in Christ.

Gerardo Soberanis is my "grandson" in the grace walk message. Gerardo Vasquez has discipled him for years. When I knew it was time to promote Gerardo Vasquez to the role of Latin American Director, there was never any doubt as to who our new Director for Grace Walk Mexico should be. Gerardo Soberanis is in his early thirties, but he is wise far beyond his years. He is a gifted teacher and is passionate about reaching Mexico with the message. He does a great job with our team in Mexico. He and his wife are a great blessing to their country.

Mike Zenker leads our Grace Walk Canada office. I've met few people who have greater potential than Mike has. The ministry of Grace Walk in Canada is growing faster than any country where we have ever established an office, including the United States. I anticipate great things from Mike in the coming years. (I think his wife, Lori, may be as gifted as he is!) I love Mike like a son in the grace walk. I am discipling him right now and am seeing "his insides." The more I come to know him, the more thrilled I am to have him on board with us in this ministry.

David Lesniak is the Manager for Grace Walk Radio. Dave launched the station three years ago on Christmas Day and has done an amazing job keeping fresh programming going 24 hours a day since then. Dave is an absolute goldmine in every way. He is passionate about making the grace walk message be known and quietly works behind the scenes networking with others and cranking out programs day after day. He is a valuable team player with Grace Walk. Only eternity will reveal the number of people he has reached with the gospel.

Mike and Julia Quarles lead Grace Walk Recovery Ministry. I was both thrilled and amazed a few years ago when Mike approached me about working with Grace Walk. He has had a strong ministry for many years, having worked with Neil Anderson and Freedom In Christ before coming on board with us. Mike was the first person I ever heard share the message of our identity in Christ and he had a great impact on me. He and Julia co-authored the book Freedom From Addiction with Neil Anderson. They are dear friends who continue to be a great blessing to my life and to this ministry.

Ken Blose works at a children's orphanage in Mexico, but has been an integral part of Grace Walk Ministries for many years now. I first met him when he produced my TV program at CTVN in Pittsburgh, PA. It wasn't long until he became a part of GWM and has been sharing the message ever since. He produced the Grace Walk Experience videos and teaches the message in churches and at the orphanage in Mexico. He is a dear friend and he and Juana are a real blessing to many people.

Forgive my rambling in this blog, but I wanted to make sure you know that what God is doing through Grace Walk Ministries is a team effort. It's true that the Holy Spirit is greatly using my books, but this ministry wouldn't be what it is without the joint effort of those who work together with me. In addition to these I've mentioned, there are many State Coordinators who work with us too. God is using the whole Grace Walk team greatly. They don't get the measure of credit they deserve, but one day the universe will celebrate them and all they have done before the throne of our God!

Finally, I want to say that I am thankful for those of you who stand with us to share the liberating message of the grace walk. Your prayers, encouragement, donations, and participation during 2007 made it a great year. The coming year promises to be even better. Our Grace Walk Team and I will speak on six continents during 2008. Please keep praying for us. Only eternity will reveal the impact of the gospel as Christ works through us together to spread this wonderful message!