The new year has started with an abundance of blessings. Although we are only two months into the new year, God has already done some truly amazing things. Here are a few of the headlines in which we are praising God:

Child Sponsorship -

The 6:8 Ministries staff had the privilege of distributing school uniforms and supplies to over two hundred children! Many of these children would not have had the opportunity to attend school without these sponsorships. Thank you to everyone who made this possible through sponsoring a child. 

2012 Child Sponsorship Distribution

Children's Ranch -

We have made some great progress on the Children's Ranch Project. Last week I was able to return to Costa Rica to close the deal on the land. We now own fifty acres of some of the most beautiful land on earth! We also formed a corporation in Costa Rica, which allows us to work as a legal entity in Costa Rica.

6:8 Ranch

Church Plant -

The church plant continues to grow and thrive under the leadership of Pastor Miguel. They are at 110% capacity and considering expanding into a second service. They have 18 new believers signed up for baptism next month! We are also in the process of setting up an online giving account which will allow donors in the United States to support the church.

Mission Teams -

We have hosted five mission teams in the first two months 2012. These mission teams have blessed the local people through building homes, ministering to children, distributing medicines and medical care, as well as prayer and the love of Christ.

Please join us in praising God for everything He is doing in and through 6:8 Ministries. It's such and honor and blessing to part of such a fruitful ministry. I thank God daily for the privilege of serving with 6:8 Ministries.

Thank you for all the prayers and support!

Spencer

On an administrative note:

Duke's Resignation - 

After serving faithfully for five years, Duke Hammond has resigned as the president of 6:8 Ministries. Duke not only served as the president for the past five years, but he and his wife Candy were an instrumental part in founding 6:8 Ministries. I'm certain that this ministry would have never launched or grown in the way it has if it weren't for his hard work, wise counsel, and personal sacrifice. God used Duke's time with 6:8 Ministries to lead and shape this ministry in many powerful ways. He truly modeled what it means to be a servant leader, a Godly man of authority, and a man of great integrity. I'm eternally grateful to God for calling Duke to build and lead this ministry, as well as using him to lead and build me. He is a dear friend and I will miss not having him in the ministry.

New Assignments -

The 6:8 Ministries Board of Directors has appointed me to serve as the new president of 6:8 Ministries. They have also asked Steve Gill to fulfill the role of Executive Director.  

As another year passes I find myself reflecting on God's work in and through 6:8 Ministries. Over the past year there have been moments of tremendous joy and harrowing sorrow, times of celebrating success and moments of recovering from failure. However, the one constant was God's powerful presence and blessing upon 6:8 Ministries. I would like to recount some of these amazing blessings to encourage you to join us in praising the awesome God we serve. 

Over the past year we have experienced tremendous growth. God allowed us to host 52 mission teams, from 39 different churches. Many lives were blessed through these mission teams. He used these mission teams to build His local church. These teams constructed over twenty new homes and one playground for a local school. He also sent three medical teams to host free clinics, and one veterinary team to host a free animal clinic.  

   
God also expanded the feeding center program as we now have two churches hosting feeding centers. We also partnered with a third church to host mobile feedings. He provided us the means to  serve over 24,000 meals to the hungry. What a joy it is to be able to serve "some of the least of these".
    
The Celebration church plant continues to bless and serve the local people. The church recently incorporated live worship, and conducted over 40 baptisms last year. The greatest part is that the local people are learning the blessing of leading a "God-first Life".

    
The child sponsorship ministry has grown and we hope to provide 200 educational sponsorships in 2012. It's our hope that through providing the opportunity for these children to go to school, and equipping them for success, these children will be able to escape a life of poverty.  
 

     

The new Children's Ranch project is underway! We have found a piece of land, had it surveyed and are preparing to sign a contact to purchase the land. You can keep up with the progress and news regarding the children's ranch project at www.68Ranch.com.   

Finally, the 6:8 Ministries staff is growing both numerically and spiritually. It's not always easy living and serving in a foreign culture, but when you can experience God working in and through you, it's totally worth it! Please continue to pray for and support our missionary families, and the work God has called us to in Costa Rica. 

In closing, we would like to thank you for all the prayers and support. We are excitedly anticipating what God is going to do in and through 6:8 Ministries in the coming year.

In Christ,

Spencer

Add "hope" to your Christmas shopping list!

Dear friends,

I would like to make you aware of two very special opportunities to give this Christmas season. This truly is an opportunity for you to give a gift that will make a significant difference in the life of a child.

We are still in need of sponsors for the child educational sponsorship program. Over the past five years the 6:8 Ministries Child Sponsorship program has provided hundreds of children the opportunity to get an education. This year we have increased our goal to two hundred sponsored children. We are still in need of sponsors to reach our goal.

We are also accepting donations for the new Children's Ranch project. We are not only passionate about Educational Sponsorships, but we also want to care for the fatherless and orphaned. We believe that God has called us to start a 6:8 Ministries Children's Ranch. This ranch will provide a safe and loving environment for children who are currently living in abusive and destructive conditions.

Please prayerfully consider how you might be able to give and make a difference this Christmas season.

Child Sponsorship Update

As you know we have moved back to the States for a time.  I have left the sponsorship program in capable hands (Thanks Casey, Renee, Keisa and Laine!).  As a result, there is a new site for all the sponsorship information.  You can find it here: 6:8 Ministries Child Sponsorship.  You can also follow what's going on by following the ministry on Facebook.  Excited to see how the ministry will explode this year!

Child Sponsorship

It is time! Please consider sponsoring a child through 6:8 Ministries. Click on the picture above to check out the new site for sponsorship info, including almost 40 kids, like those pictured below, who need a sponsor.

Uniform Distribution 2010

This year a team from Celebration Church Jacksonville came to help pass things out. I'm still distributing a few things here and there, but so far 110 kids were sponsored this year.


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

Uniform Distribution 2009

*sigh* After working two weekends to get the uniforms out we are officially finished. (unofficially however, we have some website updating, loose ends and new sponsorships, to tie up...)

Here is a glimpse of what we accomplished: (I know there are a lot of pictures, I don't expect you to sit through them all, but it may give you an idea of the task :o)


Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

A special thanks to Cathy and Shellie who made a special trip to help with the distribution!