Dear Friends and family,
“Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it?…” (Is. 43:19 AMPC)
Our Christmas celebration has been very special, and we trust that you are able to say the same! We want to wish you a very Happy New Year and pray that you will experience God’s very best during 2026!!
By now, you know very well that the “new thing” going on with us will be retirement, which begins in just a few days. “What do you have planned?” you might ask. Good question! The past six months have been too busy to think about the next six months. So, we will just “ease” into 2026. We have been volunteers at our church in the First Impressions & Next Steps ministry and will continue in these roles. After the first worship service on Sundays, Mary Jo greets first-time visitors, getting their contact information and giving them a gift bag. Robert works as a decision counselor in the Decision Room. There he has the opportunity to share the Gospel with seekers, answer questions about baptism and pray with anyone who comes in with a prayer concern. He has also been called upon to provide orientation and training for new volunteers in the Decision Room. Mary Jo has worked in the Decision Room, too, and sometimes brings people from the greeting area into the Decision Room to share and pray with them. We both also serve every two months at a New Members luncheon, sometimes as table hosts and each time as decision/membership counselors at the end of the luncheon when the attendees must make a decision about becoming a church member, which for some will involve hearing an explanation of the Gospel, praying to receive the gift of eternal life and committing to following their new Lord and Savior in baptism. We are privileged to be able to serve our church and the precious people He sends our way and will appreciate your prayers for us in these roles.
Interestingly, considering the previous paragraph, we took advantage of an opportunity offered to us in September, October and November by Be One Together to take the Biblical Counseling Training Conference offered online by Faith (Baptist) Church of Lafayette, IN. The commitment was for 36 hours of online training, broken into one weekend per month, September – November. It could also be completed at one’s own pace on different days of the week, too, but within the three designated months. The course in biblical counseling for lay church members has to be one of the very best training courses that we have ever taken!! We could wish that we had heard about it sooner, but the Lord understands the timing of this recent opportunity presented to us. While we don’t aspire to be certified as counselors, which would be possible if/when other modules were completed, there’s always room in our “ministry toolbox” for practical suggestions related to discipleship! The course was so rich in content that it could easily be called a course in biblical, one-on-one discipleship! Check it out: https://bctconference.org/biblical-counseling-training-conference
Each year after Christmas, we have provided a recap of some deadlines and guidelines for those who give in the remaining days and hours of the year, sometimes for tax reasons. On the outside chance they will help someone this year, we decided to include them again. Please take note of the following details about any year-end giving for which you need a 2025 tax-deductible receipt:
- If you prefer to use the mail, there are three days left (Mon., Tues. & Wed.) to mail a check to Be One Together at the address below. The envelope must be postmarked on or before 12/31/2025, by determination of the IRS, in order to be counted in 2025 giving. The date of the postmark, not the date on the check, will be used to determine a 2025 tax deductible gift. IMPORTANT: You may want to consider Wednesday mid-afternoon (12/31/25) as your deadline to mail a donation, since there could be longer lines at the post office as closing time for the last day of the year approaches. Be especially alert to pick-up times posted on the box at your post office, or mailboxes in other public places.
- Secure online giving, using the #Online Giving link below, is available to help you more easily complete a donation up until the 11:59 (EST) (i.e., before midnight), Wednesday, December 31st deadline by using a debit/credit card or bank draft. Note that online donations that are completed/received at midnight and after must, by determination of the IRS, be considered for 2026.
We are filled with gratitude for your faithful support of our family and ministry during 2025!
Blessings in 2026,
Robert & Mary Jo Foster,
Missionaries with Be One Together, Serving Evangelism Explosion-Brazil
* Atualidades a Portuguese word that means news or up to date information. We want you to have the latest information in order to support us in prayer, as well as financially when the Lord leads/enables. Thank you!
#Online Giving Click on “#Online Giving” to the left to be taken to the Be One Together giving portal & website. You may also mail your designated check (“Foster Support” on the memo line) to: Be One Together, Inc. P.O. Box 112 Hiram, GA 30141