"...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord...

"

Dear Friends of IFM, Awhile back Joe urged us to write to all of you before the end of the year, giving an update on the ministry and our hopes for the future. About that same time our personal circumstances went into a skid. I am right now sitting beside Joe who lies in a hospice bed in our family room. Hes bone thin, weak, and only completely awake from time to time but notably still fully Joe. We are waitingright here on the very threshold of death to see what the Lord will do next with him. Anything is possible. I remind myself of this all the time - the original Joe actually died 38 years ago. On that Death Day Joe surrendered himself to be crucified with Christ. And so he was. And because of the wrenching mercy of Lamb Jesus, it also became Joes New Life Day one that will stretch all the way into eternity. God delivered Joe, His dear child, to his new birth.and He lovingly powerfully mysteriously fatherly - breathed His own Breath into him. That is the life you all recognize to be Joes life: the one that is not really his at all. And all of that deep mystery within radiated through to the outside in Joe Hart flavor as he has led IFM all these years. What a wonder Gods ways are! And so I wait by his bedside, my warrior husband safely tucked in the arms of The Almighty One. Thank you for your prayers for him. They have been powerful and effective! We have both been humbled by the outpouring of the Body of Christ for us. Perhaps we have been bowed most low by the Mexican believers in Juarez who have just not let go of Joe these 3 1/2 years. They have held onto him through prayer like a pit bull and have cried out to God to bring him back to them. He is a friend of the poor. We need him, they say. They may have that prayer answered still. But if the Lord takes Joe to heaven now, we in IFM - and including you all as well - will continue to keep our eyes towards thembecause we still hold in our hearts what many of you have told them personally, The Lord has not forgotten you. Jesus, the One who will never forget them, is the True Friend of the Poor. And what is going on with IFM? We (board and staff) have continued to leave IFM in our opened hand before the Lord. A year ago we did not know what the Lord had in store for His IFM. With family trips to Juarez too dangerous, the US economy affecting us directly, and a string of personal traumas hitting my and Joes lives, would He tell us that the IFM chapter was now complete and done or tell us to press on in new ways?... What we did hear in prayer was be faithful with what you know to do, wait for Me, and watch. The waiting has been a tough discipline at times but it is where we have collectively found the very presence of the Lord. And as weve watched, this is what we have seen: He has sustained us and that pretty much against all odds and in jaw-dropping ways. We have even seen growth and progress in some areas of the business. Its all Him. He has brought fresh life in new and mostly young staff members. Several years ago in an IFM prayer meeting, Kevin Potter had a word for us from the Lord. Look to the young. We have seen that word come to pass. While seasoned IFM warriors and honored forever friends like Shirin Dietz, the Krejsas, the

1901 S. 120TH ST. - UNIT A

Phone: (303) 665-7635

P.O. BOX 309

Fax: (303) 287-7617

LAFAYETTE, CO
Web: www.ifmus.org

80026 [9578 / 0309]

E-Mail: ifm@ifmus.org

"...as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord..."

Pryors, and the Wolcotts have been directed by the Lord to move on to other ministry, the Lord has provided a sturdy undergrowth of newer committed staff members. Each feels called to IFM, and together they have had intense training. For awhile now Joe and I have been seriously sidelined, and they have had to jump in and carry more than anyone expected. Joe said once, Kathy, if they are the future of IFM they need to know how to trust God for the impossible. And indeed, without a lot of strong leadership from us, they have found new leadership in Ben and Kim Jones and have been s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d and have all seen for themselves the Lord do the impossible many times over. They have proven to be full of faith, goodhearted and steadfast in probably the most un-fun year in IFMs history. They are all quite a miraculous gift from God. There is fresh excitement for future ministry. We intend to stay faithful in Juarez, but the Lord has reemphasized to us that family missions is our DNA from Him. We will continue discipling believers and their families in Gods heart for the lost and needy through short-term missions as long as He tells us to. We are looking into other locations for that to occur. We have been reminded that IFM has a solid infrastructure, developed over the years like a sturdy tree, and we hope the Lord will continue to use it for His purposes reconciling the hopeless to Himself and expressing in a myriad of ways who He is the Holy God, maker and ruler over all, yet stunningly abounding in mercy and compassion towards us, His unworthy but loved ones.

The purpose of this letter is first to have you who have invested your hearts in IFM to rejoice in the faithfulness and awesomeness of the Lord with us. We have traveled difficult and painful roads, but they have all pooled up with the life and joy of His Living Water as Psalm 84 says. Secondly, this is a request for ongoing prayer - and certainly inter-active communication. If the Lord gives you a word for us, please let us know what it is! You can call the office or send it through email. Thirdly, we humbly request that if you have money sanctified for the Lords use, you would ask Him about supporting IFM with either a one time or monthly financial gift as we press through these days. Donations are tax deductible. Our needs continue to be great over our heads often and are met by His divine Hand.

Thank you. With great and deep love to you all,

Kathy Hart

For Joe Hart, Ben Jones (IFMs current administrator) and all of IFMs board and staff

1901 S. 120TH ST. - UNIT A

Phone: (303) 665-7635

P.O. BOX 309

Fax: (303) 287-7617

LAFAYETTE, CO
Web: www.ifmus.org

80026 [9578 / 0309]

E-Mail: ifm@ifmus.org