Day 30

Dear Carol, Michelle and Crew, Thank you for running Phil’s Friends out of the basement of my house while I was teaching your children 4th grade. Your creativity and commitment gave this mission legs in the early days. You organized the shelves, prepared for events, worked on cards and ensured the growing amount of care package requests were fulfilled. You did it all and even let the dog out! When Phil’s Friends took over the garage and spread to the first floor of my house it became apparent that giving out more keys to my house wasn’t the answer. Thanks for being the first faithful workers in my basement and helping to establish a presence in the local community. When I think of our time serving together I can’t help but smile! Thank you. 

“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

Day 29

Dear Family,
Thank you for being the first volunteers, the first employees and remaining steadfast through the many seasons of growth and change in this ministry. No one will ever know the extent of the sacrifices you have made to make this mission a reality. In the early days you emptied store shelves into carts and filled vans full of care package items. All along you actively fundraised, put on events and served thousands of hours. You are the army this mission has always counted on. Thank you for giving your time, treasure and talent.
Thank you.

“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.” Hebrews 6:10

Day 27

To Members of the Band, You sing your heart out in worship to the Lord at Phil’s Friends events and walk side by side with us into hospital rooms and homes to visit the sick. There are too many names to be mentioned here, but I’ll list a few: Matthew West, Casting Crowns, Big Daddy Weave, Meredith Andrews, Steve Curtis Chapman, Mark Shultz, Avalon, 33 miles, Mikes Chair, Superchick and more. Thank you for encouraging us with your music and faithfully supporting this mission! 

“Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” Psalm 100:1-2

Day 26

Dear Tope, I love that when God calls a person, more often than not, the entire family follows suit. Tope, when you got involved in this mission so did your entire family. Whether you are organizing an event in the Hope Center around Christmastime with your family from Nigeria or stopping in to pack a care package to be sent to a friend in Germany, you have been faithful. Thank you for serving and impacting lives one person at a time. Stay Strong Brother. 

“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy.” Psalm 47:1

Day 25

Dear Ed, The first time we met in the hallway of the concert venue you asked me to share my story. I remember feeling scared and wishing you would forget what you asked. But you didn’t. A few minutes before I walked on stage that night you told me I had two minutes. I remember praying and asking God to give me every word. As I grabbed the microphone and looked at the two-thousand people staring back at me I was confident the person in the back row could see my heart beating out of my chest. A few sentences into my story the crowd went silent. When I exited the stage you greeted me enthusiastically with a big hug and said “Phil, that was exactly two mintues! How did you do that?” I shrugged my shoulders and said, “Only God.” Ed, thanks for always believing in me. God sent you to stretch my faith and help me carry out my calling. 

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 

Day 24

Dear Beeta,
Your heart was always sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. How refreshing it is to find that in people at such a young age. At only 18 you were so young to hear that you have cancer. It was an honor to connect with you each week by phone for encouragement and prayer. So many people were praying for you in India and around the world. You had so many questions that could only be answered by someone who had been there. So much good came out of your battle. One thing God had in store was making a trip to India to visit cancer centers. How heartbreaking it was to visit the hospital and see people with cancer lying on concrete floors in the hospital because there were no beds. I know God saw each of these people’s needs as he did yours. Beeta, today we celebrate with you that you are cancer free! Thank you for sharing your journey with us. We came to encourage you but in the process you have encouraged us!

“The Lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusts in Him and he helps me.” Psalm 28:7a

Day 23

Dear Men of Phil’s Friends,
I know you all have heard the phrase, “if you build it, they will come.” That certainly is true for the thousands of volunteers who have participated since our founding in 2006. Men, when I speak of you and this mission it can be said, “if you need to build it, they will come.” Thank you for building out the Hope Centers at Phil’s Friends. The time you spent demolishing spaces with jack hammers, laying foundations, putting up walls, wiring electricity, connecting h-vac systems, plumbing, painting, and more give this mission a space to operate.
You matter!

“Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people.” Ephesians 6:7

Day 22

Dear Prayer Partner,
The work you do behind the scenes is arguably the most important work of all. Your hours spent in prayer bring healing to people and protection to this ministry. Thank you for praying for the patients we support, the medical workers, caregivers, volunteers and staff. Although many people will never meet you in person, you impact lives every day. Thank you for believing there is nothing our God cannot do!

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.” 1 John 5:14