Quarterly Newsletter | Living by Design Ministries

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Hello, Friend!

Life hardly ever goes as planned, does it? As I think back on my life, I rarely end up where I think I'm going.

Somewhere along the way, there's always an unexpected detour leading me to uncharted territory.

The third quarter of 2021 was full of stop signs, potholes, and new destinations. As I think back on the past several months, I can't help but be grateful for the mystery of it all.

If we knew where God was leading us, we'd be tempted to decline Christ's request to deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow after Him (Mt 16:24-26).

But it's in the midst of our self-denial and our personal sacrifice that we discover Jesus Christ is worth it all.

Serving Christ is the only true source of satisfaction on planet earth.

The singular thing that has been my source of hope, confidence, and peace in this season is the character of God.

He is steadfast and sovereign. His plans and purpose never change, and His mercies are new every morning!

The months of September and October are always challenging for me. They often leave me feeling ragged and worn, uncertain of myself and unclear about what God is really doing in my life.

So I just put my head down, say a prayer, and press on—because I know that God's plan is not dependent on my feelings or limited resources.

Right now, as I look at the state of our ministry finances, I can't see a clear path to our desired destination.

But God knows where we are, and He knows where we are going, so I will actively trust Him to get us there—in His time, in His way.

I'm ready for another adventure. Are you?

In this quarterly newsletter, I look forward to sharing encouraging ministry highlights, uplifting reader testimonials, a financial snapshot, and prayer requests with you.

Sarah Koontz
President, Living by Design Ministries

P.S. If you have any questions or want more information on any of the topics discussed in this quarterly update, please don't hesitate to contact our team at info@livingbydesign.org.

Sarah Koontz invites you to join us for “Storyteller,” a free 4-week Bible study exploring many of Christ's parables. Each day we will sit at the feet of the ultimate Storyteller and soak up the wisdom and hope His words provide. Jesus Christ's practical illustrations will help us comprehend complex spiritual truths and equip us to respond in obedience.

5 Reasons to Study Christ's Parables:

● Parables invite us to listen, to gain insight, and to change course.
● Parables help us get past our presuppositions and fears.
● Parables challenge us to refocus our vision on the goals of the kingdom.
● Parables function as filters to help us grasp spiritual truth.
● Parables reveal the abounding wisdom of the counsel of Christ!

This e-mail based Bible Study consists of twenty lessons delivered over the course of four weeks (with two rest days each week). You will receive a welcome letter after subscribing and the first devotional will arrive in your inbox tomorrow morning.

Report of Gospel Crusade on 8-15 September 2021 in Tanzania, Africa: The crusade lasted five days, and in all those days, we witnessed God perform many healing miracles. We received various testimonies from people suffering from diseases and others attacked by demons, seeing complete recovery. Many people accepted Christ, and now they have a special class where they can learn new life in Christ every weekend. During the crusade, 24 adults and 32 children were born again. We are thankful to Sarah Koontz and Living by Design Ministries for sponsoring the crusade. Your donation helped us buy 50 Bibles to give to the new converts, as well as gospel tracts to hand out to attendees. We gave the remainder of your gift to the preachers and gospel singers who helped lead the crusade. I would especially like to thank God, believers, preachers and all those involved in one way or another to ensure the crusade was a success. - Pastor Sondus Siggalah

View All the Crusade Pictures

✔ Pray for our Fall Bible Study Participants: Please pray for every soul that chooses to participate in our new 4-week Parables study, that they would sit at the feet of the ultimate Storyteller and soak up the wisdom and hope His words provide. Pray that people would embrace the message of this study and share it with their friends. Pray that every Bible study e-mail we send gets received by the people who signed up to receive it. And pray that God would work powerfully to give our readers comprehend complex spiritual truths and respond in obedience.

✔ Pray for our Year-End Fundraising: November and December are important fundraising months for our non-profit ministry. In past years, up to 50% of our yearly income has come from the final months of the year. As many of our existing donors are facing financial uncertainty due to the extended Covid-19 crisis, we are asking God to provide for our free Bible study ministry in unexpected and glorious new ways. We are resting safe and secure in the shadow of His wings, and trusting Him to continue to sustain our ministry in these uncertain financial times.

✔ Personal Prayer Request from Sarah Koontz: My family has been sick for the past several weeks. Please pray that God would heal our bodies and protect our hearts and minds as we seek to serve Him, even in this! I have been trying to modify my work schedule and the kids' homeschool schedule to offer some measure of relief, but it's not been easy to keep up with everything that needs to be done. It seems as though our family is under attack from all sides, and we are asking for our community to join us in our spiritual fight against the enemy of our souls. Physical, financial, relational, and emotional challenges often accompany new Bible study launches, and we are asking God's people to cover us in prayer.