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September 2007

Hello!  (From the America side of the pond!)

After two months in England, I’m back in the USA (as of two weeks ago) for the continuation of deputation.  This includes three solid months of non-stop travel for conferences and missions-emphasis Sundays in churches from southern California to Florida to New York to Texas and several states in between!

Let me take this opportunity to thank you for helping me get a jump-start on the deputation process.  Your loving friendship, fervent prayers, and faithful support has already resulted in at least 26 young people placing their faith in Jesus Christ in the last two months!  That alone is reassuring to you that your ministry of prayer and monetary support has not been in vain.

Several individuals who began monthly support twelve months ago did so with a one-year commitment in mind; others just simply said, “Dale, we’ll support you each month.”  Either way, let me take this moment to do two things:

First, let me thank you for your support.  I know that you did so because you believe that you can help make a difference in Great Britain while there is still time to do so … by reaching the youth culture … through my ministry.  Your vote of confidence means more to me than you can know.

Second, and although I do not know your plans for future giving, would you seriously consider continuing your support for at least another year?  Let me explain why I ask you to do this.

I have been asking the Lord to help me to raise all of my financial support in one year.  If my ministry was taking me anywhere but Europe, I could go with what has already been committed.  However, Europe, especially Great Britain, requires double that amount … for two reasons.

First, the exchange rate remains at record highs, requiring over $2 to buy one British pound … so the exchange rate is hurting all Americans (financially) who minister there.  I recently had one young missionary tell me, “Dale, I cannot put my family through another year of furlough.  If I have to go home to raise more money, I will not be back.”

My heart aches for that man, his wife, and three children.  While he and many others need the encouragement and training that I offer, I’m in a similar situation … because of the exchange rate, and because …

Secondly, the cost of living in Great Britain is substantially higher than it is here in America.  One only has to pull up to the gas pump in England to discover that $3 per gallon gasoline would be a welcome relief.  The day before I flew back to the U.S., I paid just over $8 per gallon to fill up. 

Would you prayerfully consider continuing your financial support on a monthly basis?  With your support over the last several months, along with other friends like you, as well as a growing number of churches, I’ve been able to secure commitments of half the monthly support that is needed.

Several churches where I have ministered, presenting the need for support, were not able to offer financial help at this time, but are keeping me in mind.  One church will begin their support next month and another in January.  Each of those have pledged $100 per month, which will be a help, but is a very long way from the total needed.

A church in Virginia has pledged $125 per month, but has a policy that they will not release the support until I am actually “on the field.”  When the pastor learned that I was going this past June, he asked if he should begin sending the funds that they had been escrowing each month since last September.  I asked them to hold the funds in escrow until I return to England in mid-November.  (That’s a great savings plan!)

Thank you for believing in me … and thank you for prayerfully considering the continuation of your monthly support.

I’ll be in and out of town (more out than in) over the next three months.  Please pray for my safety as I travel, and that the Lord would stir in the hearts of His people to sense the urgency of reaching the young people of the United Kingdom.

Gratefully yours,

Dale

P.S.  Please remember that all support checks should be made payable to Central Missionary Clearinghouse, and mailed to P. O. Box 219228, Houston, TX  77218-9228.