Dear friends, good Monday morning.

Thank you for such a wonderful year of support for Five Talents. We ended 2017 with the most exciting outpouring of support we’ve seen in five years. This was only possible because of wonderful supporters like you.

I know some of the gifts we received were sacrificial, “the widow’s offering,” you could say:

The Widow’s Offering, Mark Chapter 12

[Jesus] sat down opposite the treasury, and watched the crowd putting money into the treasury. Many rich people put in large sums. A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which are worth a penny. Then he called his disciples and said to them, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on.”

*The Widow's Mite, Painting by James Christensen*

I saw a $50 gift right after Christmas from a young man who lives as a mission worker in a small, mountain community in Western North Carolina. He lives on very few funds that he has raised from others’ gifts for his work. And he believed in Five Talents’ work enough to give generously.

So, we have quite a responsibility to use these gifts wisely. We have cut our administrative costs, and we are joyful as we can send more funds directly to our partners. In 2018, we will be starting new savings groups in Burundi. We plan to work in new geographical areas in South Sudan. We hope to start work in a whole new country (more on that later). 2018 is going to be a very exciting year at Five Talents, and we are so grateful you are “walking with us” during this important time.

Until next Monday, blessings be with you,

Dale Stanton-Hoyle
Executive Director, Five Talents USA