Christmas Newsletter - 2016
Thank you for reading our devotional and being a part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. This is an update on what has been happening here during the last couple of months and I thank you for taking time to read it.
Last month, Sylvia and I flew out to Arizona for an interview during the Guideposts National Cabinet Meeting and then went on to visit her family in California during Thanksgiving. It was a very good time for us and we met some amazing people during the conference. We put a short video of the interview on Vimeo if you want to see it:
Interview with Pastor Dion Todd from Refreshing Hope Ministries on Vimeo.
We spent some time with Sylvia’s family and did live broadcasts from their backyard on Sunday mornings for the Refreshing Hope Live meetings. After Thanksgiving, we flew back home to South Carolina. It was a great trip, and it was great to get back home. Christmas will be here in a few days and we are at home by our fireplace, no place that I would rather be.
Sylvia and I with her family in California 11/2016
Refreshing Hope is working to spread the good news of Jesus around the world and we have readers in many nations. We are here for such a time as this. Never before has a generation been able to send a message around the world, but now I can send a devotional out and people in the United States, Canada, England, France, Australia, Africa, India and so many others can read it at the same time. Each day, we see and are blessed to be part of this international church community, who connect with each other, laugh together and pray for each other.
We can host live church meetings over the internet and people from several countries can be in the same meeting, at the same time, even while they are in their home. It is a church without walls, and God has prepared us for such a time as this. To reach people right where they are, and to bring them hope.
The Lord has faithfully taken care of us this year and each time that we have had a need, He has provided for it. I am happy to say that RHM is a debt-free ministry and that we are not driven by financial needs, but I do want to mention this:
As a supporter of RHM, you may have plans to contribute at year’s end. If that is the case, then we welcome your support. We would be glad to receive your year-end donation, which will allow you to “render a little less to Caesar and a little more to the Lord.” RHM is a non-profit organization and your donations are tax deductible. If you wish to send a year-end contribution, please be sure that your gift is made by December 31 to be credited in 2016. You can donate securely online here:
http://www.refreshinghope.org/pages/giving
During the Refreshing Hope Live meetings, We have been talking about the end time events and what I have learned in a series, called “What Time Is It?” Being this Sunday is Christmas day and the following Sunday is New Years, I plan to break from that and pick it back up after the holidays.
New Video Teachings Available:
What time is it? Part 1: Introduction
What time is it? Part 2: Surrounded by armies
What time is it? Part 3: The outcasts and the establishment
What time is it? Part 4: The beasts - Part 1
What time is it? Part 5: The beasts - Part 2
Online Church News: www.refreshinghope.org - We have grown to 3,563 members and 16,194 friendships. We have had 101 prayer requests and sent 346 replies to them. A big thanks to our ministry team, who faithfully visit the prayer page and lift up the needs of our members.
The Refreshing Hope live meetings are happening each Sunday morning at 11 AM Eastern Time. The attendance usually runs between 30 to 50 people. For those that cannot attend, the messages are recorded and placed on the website at refreshinghope.org. Click “Watch” on the menu. Many thanks to all those who have been participating in the live meetings. It has been a great experience and the whole group, praying together for each other is making a difference.
Santa Monica Pier - Los Angeles California 11/2016
Group and Member News:
In November, the Haven of Hope group and FAAD group hosted Thanksgiving events to express gratitude for all of God’s many blessings. This month, the Healthful Living group is hosting an event called “A Season of Joy”. Even as we celebrate the birth of our Savior with great joy, let’s all remember to pray for all who are lonely, and those who are grieving,
All are invited to join the weekly events at the Spiritually Single (Fast & Pray Friday) and Creation Photographers (their fun theme of the week)!
If you are in need of prayer, we are here for you! Just click on the Prayer link on the website menu (you will need to be logged in). Also, if you are interested in joining our prayer team, please do contact us.
Many thanks to each of you for being part of Refreshing Hope Ministries. You are family to us and we are grateful for each of you! May you have a wonderful holiday season with a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! From Sylvia and I with love,
Pastor Dion
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I enjoy and look forward to your daily devotionals. However, I must say I really enjoyed listening to the interview included in the December Newsletter 2016. Praying that you and Sylvia enjoy a Merry Christmas and a Blessed & Joyous New Year. God Bless You!
Great pictures! Glad you and Sylvia were able to get away for a while! Merry Christmas :)
Thank you so much for sharing! Have a Merry Christmas!
Hey Dion,
Every time I check out Refreshing Hope, I seem to learn more about you and your life. I really enjoyed your conversation on the video, I hope as the calender turns to 2017, we have the opertunity to get closer. We live so close and have met through the church. I do not understand all that I see, but time marches on anyway! I hope to talk soon!
Jim
God Bless you and Sylvia. Have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas. Your daily devotionals have helped me get through one of the roughest years that I can remember. You reminded me everyday that God is there and faithful, even when I thought he was absent.
Merry Christmas
I thank OUR LORD GOD for RHM family led by you Pastor Dion. GOD LOVES US ALL SO MUCH. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to my RHM family.
Merry Christmas Pastor and Sylvia and have a happy new year. I love your newsletters , so nice to know what is going on in the ministry , many many blessings
Nice! Merry Christmas pastor Dion and family.
Merry Christmas to you and Sylvia. Looking forward to the live service this Sunday
Nice picture Pastor Dion Merry Christmas to you and family
Amen thanx for the update God Bless you and RHM
Hi Pastor Dion and Sylvia. Thank you for your Ministry. Your daily devotionals have been a real blessing to me. I enjoyed your December newsletter and your interview was great. Good to see you had a much needed break with Sylvia's family and got home safely. To you both and the RHM family ...Have a Blessed Christmas and a fantastic New Year.
The picture of Sylvia and her family is beautiful and so is the picture of you and Sylvia together.
Have a very Blessed, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. God Bless You Both.
Thank you Pastor Dion and Sylvia for sharing your video and pics from Thanksgiving. I truly enjoyed watching the interview but more importantly I appreciate the work of God's calling you into this wonderful ministry by internet. I find it so inspiring on a daily basis when I read the devotions. I believe there is always hope in prayer with a relationship in Christ. I find it such a blessing to come across this ministry and I pray God continue to bless you in the years to come. Thank you!
Thank you for all your devotionals each and every day that are tilt inspirational God bless you Pastor Dion and Sylia Merry Christmas and Happy New year!
Hi pastor Dion and Sylvia, this is a beautiful picture, thanks for share it. God bless you and your family
Hello Dion and Sylvia,
I hope you have a blessed Christmas back home in S.Carolina. I thouroughly enjoyed the interview video and I wish I could travel just to visit and give you both a big hug.
Your Brother in Christ,Jay
Hiya Pastor Dion & Sylvia!
I'm so glad that y'all shared the video and pictures :) What a lovely way to get to know our church family. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!! Much Love to Y'all, Tracy (((hugs)))
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to my RHM family!!! Sending lots of love and prayers your way!
Glad that y'all were able to get a break and visit family. Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year.
Thanks for your daily devotional. I find inspiration in it several times a week.
Thank you Dion and Sylvia , it was great reading about the ministry. Down time is always needed to recharge, love the pictures of the family. Blessings to you and your family always.
Great letter and trip. What a blessing!
Amen. What a great interview. Brother and sister in Christ, may the Lord continue to use you and bless you in all that you do. May His love and mercy surround you. Thank you for all that you have done and will continue to do. Have a very Merry Christmas and another Happy New Year. We all love you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Thank you all so much for all of your wonderful comments and Christmas greetings :)! We love y'all so much and are blessed to have each of you as part of our family here <3!!!
Thank you all for the wonderful comments and taking a moment to encourage us. May you and your family be blessed this holiday season. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Thank you so much for sharing all this with us .It was a great interview.Love all your pictures.Glad you both had a good time away visiting.,and that all went well.Hope you all had a good and Merry Christmas.Sorry this is late. Have had a lot going on here,and Praise God for seeing us all through each situation.Always very grateful to you both for all that you do for so many.God is Good and has Blessed us all.Thanks be to God.