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Hi Folks, It’s been 10 weeks now since I was evacuated from Syria after getting shot. I was very aware as they were taking me to Jerusalem that the kids and the families that are in that constant war zone remain behind. AS YOU JUST SAW, wars come in many different shapes and sizes. This will be my last PERSONAL update for this year. I’ve lost track of the emails, phone calls, messages that have been constantly coming through checking up on me, and for that, as I so often say; THANK YOU is never enough, but I can never say it enough! There are several things I want to go over with you in this email, so I want to get right to it.
As far as MY PERSONAL CONDITION, the right lung where there was the puncture wound has healed up pretty well. Still coughing some blood but getting better by the day. My fractured skull and concussion are, however, a different story. Many of you know after being in ministry field work for these 50 years, this is now my 5th concussion. I had another MRI last week and that seems to be the biggest concern of the doctors. There’s really not much anyone can do to expedite the healing so we’re just going to have to let it play out. As I often say, we either believe what we say we believe or we don’t. GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL. THE SECOND THING I want to go over with you is a quick update of HOW WE ARE DOING FOR OPERATION HOLIDAY HOPE. AS ALL OF YOU KNOW, THIS IS our biggest Evangelistic outreach all over the world of the entire year. I’m sure you know, Christmas celebrations happen at different times all over the world. Many have already started and the last ones are actually January 7th in Ethiopia. They work on the Julianus Calendar, where now, it’s only 2010 there, and Christmas for them is January 7th. So we’re going to be pushing hard right up to that January 7th date for Christmas Sunday school there! But I’m very excited to report that a very large number of Salvation experiences have been reported on a daily basis from big cities to small villages. Entire families are being affected by the Gospel, giving their lives to Christ, and that of course is what Operation Holiday Hope is all about. You’ll be getting a chance to see through our social media the results of what the commitment, the faithfulness, the sacrifice and the prayers, from and by all of you have played in making Operation Holiday Hope this year a reality. That’s the POWER OF PARTNERSHIP AT WORK.
THE LAST THING I want to mention is that we are now making preparations for the 2018 tours, that I’m going to do my best to continue to do. The theme for 2018 is “ONE CHILD, ONE CHANCE, YOUR CHOICE.” I hope to get the chance to see many of you in your city and in your country as we get out there again this next year to get more people involved and continue to start these Metro Sunday Schools in parts of the world where others just choose not to go. In 2018 there is actually going to be 2 major milestones in the ministry and in my life personally. This next year will mark 50 years of full-time ministry for me, and then of course in October next year, I will be turning 70 years old. We are already getting emails and messages on how folks think myself and our friends around the world should celebrate. So, if any of you have any ideas, I’m open for suggestions. I’ll be calling as many of you as I can on Christmas Eve. I’ll be sitting on the corner where my mother left me when I was a boy. I sit there all night making phone calls, praying for folks – reflecting. Its an important time for me. I hope I can catch you. If I can’t get thru or if you’re busy and can’t get to the phone, I totally understand. I’ll just leave a message. I just want you to know I will be praying for you and thinking about you, and certainly believing God with you for a great, productive and uplifting next year. It’s impossible for me to thank all of you that have encouraged me, prayed for me, sent in what I know to be sacrificial gifts of support to make Christmas happen for these kids, to give them a chance to know the real meaning of Christmas and certainly an opportunity to accept Christ as their personal SAVIOR. And working together, we’re almost there. If you have not had an opportunity to give, to be a part of these kids’ Christmas but want to, you see the little green button right underneath here, punch that. YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO. Share this email update with folks who are interested, and maybe some who aren’t but need to be. I’m going to do my best to keep moving forward in 2018, to keep all of you updated on me, the ministry, and this movement that is now the largest Sunday School in the world. So from all of those kids, all of our staff around the world, and especially from me, Merry Christmas folks. Love you, more than you’ll ever know. I’m still pushing forward. I know you are too. Together, the celebration of Christmas for these over 200,000 kids takes on a whole new meaning. Thank you, AGAIN. God bless you, AGAIN and Merry Christmas.
Your very, very grateful representative around the world, representing all of you, and our Lord and SAVIOR Jesus Christ! Bill Wilson
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