As I write I am sitting in a hotel room in Arkansas the day before Thanksgiving. Tonight is the last night of our crusade here hosted by the local Nazarene church in which we have seen some marvelous things happen. After the ministry tonight I’ll drive most of the night so I can be home with my family to celebrate and remember thanksgiving to God tomorrow. By Saturday morning though I’ll be on the way to my next ministry assignment and will spend most of the week preparing for a new video project we are going to record during the Christmas "break."

We’ve had a very productive year in every way. Our daughter Kellie had successful open-heart surgery in January for which we praise His wonderful name! We’ve produced several new teaching tools and many articles including the seminar videos, The MOST Dangerous Cult and Islam: The Deadly Doctrines. My latest book, Disarming the Powers of Darkness which outlines personal victory in Spiritual Warfare, is already getting great reviews and is being used by the Lord. And our website (www.ericbarger.com) continues to be a source of information, inspiration and reason aimed at touching the lost assisting Christians in their defense of the faith.

At this moment I have two new booklets nearly completed, a new video underway and am continuing to develop new material for the Take A Stand! Seminar series. Plus, David Benoit and I are working on two outlines that will eventually become books. (David is my coauthor on Entertaining Spirits Unaware and the new release, Disarming the Powers of Darkness.)

Besides all this I’ll be speaking in dozens of churches in 2003 and at least 7 conferences including stops in Peoria, IL, Akron, OH, High Point, NC, Spokane, WA and Los Angeles, CA. As always, the seminar ministry will continue to be the main focal point of the ministry.

Recently, Ruth chapter two has come to my attention and has really spoken to my heart. It is an inspiring picture of the provision of God to those on a mission from Him.

Here, Boaz blesses Ruth to "glean" in his fields and makes provision for her and her mother-in-law, Naomi. This typifies the way God provides for us in this ministry. You, like Boaz, see the need for and validity of the work we do. Knowing your capability to supply, God then opens your heart to allow us to "glean" in your fields.

Gleaning is done at the end of the harvest. It is God’s bounty that is to be gathered before the lean time of winter comes. Otherwise, its usefulness and provision goes to waste. As our ministry approaches what is traditionally the leanest time of the year, I am asking that you examine your "fields" to see if there is still yet a crop to be gleaned from.

In December and January, we are completely dependant on the gifts and offerings gleaned from the fields of those who believe in our ministry. There is no other source of income for us during this time as I am off the road due to the holiday service schedules of churches. Yet the work of planning and preparing goes on - as do the expenses.

I am asking individuals, families, business owners and churches to consider making an end-of-the-year missions gift for the support of the Lord’s work through Take A Stand! Ministries.

You know of our effectiveness and fruitfulness. You know of our dedication and of our longevity. Now we need to know that the select few who we have sent this letter to are standing with us monetarily.

Your gifts both large and small - gleaned in this, our most needy season of the year – are tremendously appreciated and will allow us to use this time off the road to concentrate on the task at hand – that is to make a difference and impact a darkened world for Christ!

In January’s Newsletter I’ll be announcing what is perhaps the boldest outreach we’ve undertaken in the history of our ministry. It is your gifts here in December that will allow us to move ahead into this outreach unfettered.

Thank you so much and may 2003 be the year of God’s richest blessings yet upon your life!