I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
Philippians 2:19 NIV
Good News
On December 28, 1859, the first edition of The Nor’Wester, the Red River Colony’s (now Manitoba) first newspaper, was published. Founders William Buckingham and William Coldwell were Toronto Globe reporters who had its presses hauled by oxcart from St. Paul, Minnesota. Its offices were located in a small building near present-day Main Street at William Stephenson Way. A commemorative plaque on the exterior of the Federal Building marks the site. The Nor’Wester ceased publication in 1869 when it was seized by Louis Riel’s men.
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We live in a day of instant communication. Having been in global ministry now for over two decades, being able to hear from our partners around the world on a regular basis, with their encouraging stories and deep needs, is such a blessing. A couple of years ago, on Christmas morning, I had a video call come in on WhatsApp, and it was an African friend of mine, visiting his family village in western Kenya, just calling me to wish me Merry Christmas. Connecting with each other in the family of God hasn’t been that easy in the not-too-distant past. So, Paul says this to the Christians in Philippians 2:19: “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.” Whether in Paul’s day or ours, one thing remains the same – we need each other, and we need to keep in touch. There is nothing more encouraging than to hear from a Christian friend. It’s easy to keep in touch these days. Take time today to connect with a Christian friend, just to encourage them as they walk with Jesus.
These have been words from the heart.
Bob Beasley