2009: Another Year of  Faithfulness!

     Sitting here at my computer I am so aware of the faithfulness of God to my family and me.  Today is Thanksgiving (Nov. 26^th).  Yesterday, Cori and I celebrated our 14^th wedding anniversary.  However, Cori was running a fever of 103.8 degrees.  The fever broke early this morning.  Thank you Jesus!  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” (Psalm 34:19)

     It is hard to believe that 2009 is almost over.  The United States of America has seen many changes during this year of 2009 (not all of them good).  Many people in this nation have struggled with foreclosures, job losses, increasing credit card interest rates, swine-flu epidemic, many fears and troubles, etc…  We have a new administration that is making decisions that don’t always coincide with God’s Word (keep praying for those in authority).  Be encouraged, God’s Word says, “The King’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.” (Proverbs 21:1)  

 

Hawaii Outreach:  January 2009

After returning from our outreaches on Oahu, we

jumped into printing gospel tracts which we do each February.  To date, we have printed and distributed over 3.4 million gospel tracts since 1993.  March was our annual College Spring Break Outreach.

 

                                             Franklin Graham and Bob Hanus                                

Jeff Gordon's Pit Crew                                            NASCAR Legend Bobby Allison                  Joey Lagano’s Pit Crew

      

NASCAR Driver Bobby Lebonte                            My friends at Coca-Cola                                  NASCAR Legend Kyle Petty

     

Me, Tommy, Jim, Buddy McBride                      Gold Medalist Shawn Johnson                   Medal of Honor Recipient Joe Marm

(Fireproof & Facing the Giants)

       

The biggest summer outreach is our Annual STURGIS RALLY Outreach which we have done since 1994.  The Lord blesses us with awesome co-laborers every year.  We took into the streets over 50 laborers to help pass out gospel tracts and Bibles, carry our evangelistic signs and our extra crosses, and to pray with the 500,000+ people that attend the rally from all over the planet.  The Sturgis Police Department again this year asked me to bring forth the benediction to the officers that work the rally.  These officers come from all over the nation to work the rally.  It has been awesome to build such wonderful relationships with these officers (many of whom I have prayed with over the years).  Keep praying for all of your local law enforcement officers as they continue to lay down their lives to protect and serve you and your families.

    September had us in Laramie, Wyoming for our annual outreach to the University of Wyoming.  Laramie is by far one of our favorite outreaches of the year.  Probably because we speak to so many youth groups in Laramie and Cheyenne.  We minister to 10 different Jr. High and Sr. High Schools just with Fellowship of Christian Athletes alone.  In addition to F.C.A., we are blessed to minister to various University groups also. 

All of this was in addition to our outreaches on campus 3-4 days a week.  Many jails, drug rehabs, juvenile detention centers, recovery group meetings, schools, bible studies, men’s meetings, youth groups, and churches were on our schedule as well this year.  God is so faithful! 

     Those of you, who have known us for many years, know that we would shy away from talking about finances (at the risk of offending anyone).  Yet, a year or so ago, God really started to encourage us to speak and teach the “full” counsel of His Word including finances.  We know the importance of sowing seed.  We found ourselves $53,000.00 in debt 6 years ago (car loans, credit card debt, etc…).  About that time, we started listening to Dave Ramsey.  He is a radio talk show host who teaches on dealing with your finances Biblically.  Approximately 4 years ago, we got serious about getting rid of all our financial debt.  This August, we became totally debt-free!  We do not use credit cards anymore.  We have increased our sowing into other ministries and various other needs of other people.  You can say we “gave our way out of debt.”  It is so awesome for Cori and me to see people with financial needs and be in a position to sow into their lives in a greater way.  It is important for you to realize that God’s Word works.  “But this I say:  He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.  As it is written: ‘He has dispersed abroad, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever.’  Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, supply and multiply the seed you have sown and increase the fruits of your righteousness, while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.  For the administration of this service not only supplies the needs of the saints, but also is abounding through many thanksgivings to God, while, through the proof of this ministry, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  (2 Cor. 9:6-15)

     The Bible is very clear that the Tithe (your first 10% of every increase) belongs to God.  It is His.  It is not yours.  You cannot sow what you do not own.  “Will a man rob God?  Yet you have robbed Me!  But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’  In tithes and offerings.  You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation.  Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try me now in this, Says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.  And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, So that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, Nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field, Says the Lord of hosts;  And all nations shall call you blessed, For you will be a delightful land, Says the Lord of hosts.”  (Malachi 3:8-12)  Notice that the Word says man robs God in “tithes and offerings.”  We used to make the error of only giving our “tithe” expecting God to bless us.  We were wrong!  The “tithe” already belonged to God.  We were robbing God by not giving “offerings.”  You do not sow “tithes.”  You give God His tithe, but you sow “offerings.”  If you want God to bless you and rebuke the devourer for your sake, you need to sow “offerings” (Sow Seed) so He has something to work with and multiply on your behalf.  This is why He says, “Try Me now in this.”  Do you realize that God is presenting you with a challenge?  God wants to bless you!  However, He is also bound by His Word.  If you give Him nothing to “work” with, you will not receive the blessing.  We as Christians, should be sowing seed out of our need not just out of our excess.  When people come to us wanting prayer for finances, almost always, we ask them one question.  “Besides tithing, do you sow seed in offerings?”  You would be amazed at how many Christians are hurting financially because they are not sowing any seed.  They are only tithing.  When we received revelation of this truth, it really changed our whole realm of sowing and reaping.

     If you have not been sowing financially into various ministries, we would encourage you to do so.  Find ministries that are themselves sowing into people’s lives making a difference in this world for the furtherance of the Gospel.  Partner with them.  In doing so, you become a part of that ministry.  Your reward will be great in heaven.  Also, your reward will be great here in your lifetime also.  Ministries need your resources.

     Graduating college years ago, I had a plan on how to serve God in the business world.  It just so happened that God’s plan was different than my plan.  After being obedient to leave my career to serve Jesus full-time as a missionary, I have seen God’s tremendous faithfulness to me.  Not only in supplying all my need according to His riches in Glory, but in supplying all the need of my wife and son.  When Cori and I married, she left her career of 10 years as a speech therapist.  She gave up here home to serve God (living in an RV).  Here it is over 16 years since I answered God’s call to the ministry and He continues to show himself faithful. 

     Many of you have been faithfully used of the Lord in supplying for our physical needs (supplying seed to the sower) as we have faithfully evangelized this continent.  We are truly grateful!  It is humbling, yet very exciting knowing that you have a very rich reward in Heaven.  You have allowed us to go into the world bringing the Gospel to so many people.  We are so blessed in knowing that you will someday stand before the King of Kings with all the Hosts of Heaven as Jesus personally thanks you for sending the Hanus family to lost souls everywhere.  Every prayer for salvation, every gospel tract distributed, every person witnessing the cross along the road and at events, every inmate incarcerated, every addict in recovery, every student in the public schools, every disciple trained in evangelism, every outreach, every soul touched by the ministry of the Hanus family is a precious jewel in your crown.  Those of you who have sent us have the same reward as we do because you are truly the faithful ones supplying SEED TO THE SOWER. 

     We hope each of you have been blessed in 2009.  With 2010 around the corner, our prayer for you and your family is what the apostle John wrote in his 3^rd epistle as he wrote to the beloved Gaius, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.  For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.  Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church.  If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles.  We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth.”  (3 John 2-8)

The following pictures are out of our treasury, new and old:

Bob’s 1^st RV (1987 Toyota Pick-up)                           1973 Dodge (it made it to Alaska)                  Mile Marker #0 (Dawson Creek, BC)     

                 

We couldn’t find Sgt. Preston                                                      Timothy’s 1^st Cross                                    Timothy and Dad dirt-biking

        

  Timothy learns to fly                       Timothy preaching the Gospel             Kayaking with Timothy              Evangelizing Washington, D.C.

       

When I started in full-time ministry 16 years ago, I was living out of my pick-up truck (literally) evangelizing the continent of North America (see picture).  When Cori and I got married in 1995, the Lord gave us a scripture to hold onto.  It is  “Prepare your outside work, Make it fit for yourself in the field; And afterward build your house.”  (Proverbs 24:27)  Cori left her home and we headed to Alaska in our old 1973 Dodge motor-home (it was 19-ft long and always breaking down).  We worked hard to rehab that motor-home.  When we returned from Alaska, we were able to purchase a newer motor-home and bless someone with the 1973 Dodge.  Many of you know that Cori, Timothy and I have travelled and ministered the last 13 years living in our current motor-home.  God has given us a lot of GRACE as we have evangelized everywhere from Fairbanks, Alaska to Mexico City, Mexico and all points in between living with “piles of stuff” such as  gospel tracts, crosses, CD’s, DVD’s, boxes of jewel cases, laptop, printer, CD/DVD duplicator, home-school supplies, etc...  As a family, we have been blessed to evangelize the continent of North America, lead thousands of people to salvation, teach and impart evangelism into many Christians, and see a number of these people pursue a life of ministry.  (All from our “home-on-wheels” which is quite a bit smaller than most houses:  8 feet wide, 34 feet long, on 2 axles). 

 

We have continued to believe God for a “home-base” all these years.  After evangelizing all 50 states and crosswalking the longest highway in the entire United States ocean-to-ocean (while living in a box on wheels), we believe it is time to purchase our “home-base.”  We have desired a place where we can come and go between our outreaches; a place we can actually call home (this side of Glory).  We need a place larger than the motor-home after 16 years.  With all the Evangelism Workshops we have given and all the youth groups that we minister to every year, our desire is to start a quality School of Evangelism.  We can train up many more youth to “go into all the world” winning their generation to Jesus.  (Please enjoy the enclosed Evangelism Workshop DVD to see a sample of our ministry in training up the church in evangelism.)

 

Cori, Timothy and I have found the perfect “home/ministry base.”  Actually, it is a house we looked at 6 years ago.  We made an offer on it then but before the “closing,” God spoke clearly to us and said that it wasn’t His timing yet.  So we walked away from the deal.  Now, it is 6 years later and that same house and property is for sale again.  We truly believe it is now God’s timing.  Not only do we have the peace that passes all understanding, but we have excitement in knowing God is all over this move.  Last year, we evangelized our 50^th state, our 1400^th outreach, and the longest coast-to-coast crosswalk.  We have put Utopia, Texas on the altar many times over the years.  Our desire is to stay in God’s perfect will.  We have been willing to go anywhere on the planet to evangelize and train up many Christians in evangelism.  Yet, God always brings us back to Utopia.  This year I was given the precious opportunity to become the full-time Chaplain of the Sturgis, South Dakota Police Department.  About the same time, a church in that area offered to put us on staff.  Also, in other areas of the country similar offers have been made to us.  We put it all on the altar again this year asking God to confirm His perfect will (not His permissive will).  When we arrived back in Utopia just last month, the 3 of us all had the same confirmation:  We are home!  We want to start the new ministries that God has ordained for us.  We want to see Jesus glorified in our lives.  We want to hear those 7 precious words:  Well Done Thy Good and Faithful Servant.  Utopia, Texas is it.  It is time to train up youth in evangelism, organize more outreaches, and win this planet for Jesus!  Will you join us?

The house we are looking to acquire is 1800 square feet on 1 acre in the town of Utopia, Texas (see picture).  It has room for our motor-home and all the ministry equipment.  The asking price is $185,000.00  We need $156,000.00 to get into this house.  We know in our spirit that God has ordained this house for us to use for the ministry.  There have been so many confirmations to this very fact.  We had someone willing to finance a mortgage at a 15-year fixed rate.  We prayed and asked God to show us clearly if this was the way to go.  Immediately, the following morning, God closed that door.  After 16 years in a motor-home and wonderful clarity of the ministry yet to happen, we know God wants us focusing on the ministry at hand (not on a mortgage).  God will provide for this house.  Tonight, as we finish this newsletter, we know that God has the perfect plan.  Being full-time ministry, we want to focus on winning souls not on struggling with a mortgage.  God is not broke!  We know that He will provide all the money necessary to purchase this house.  How exciting is that?  It is awesome!  We are all going to see another miracle, the continued faithfulness of God.  Our goal is to reach the full $156,000.00  If you would like to be part of this miracle and contribute to the purchase of our very first ministry base, we would be so thankful for the seed sown.  You will find a stamped envelope enclosed with this newsletter for your convenience.

 

If you would need a contribution receipt, please call and we will be happy to set that up for you.

 

May God richly bless you and your family this Christmas season as you worship the Lord Jesus Christ. 

We are looking forward to serving the Lord with you all in 2010.  Believe God for a huge harvest of souls.

 

Love, your servants in Christ Jesus,

 

 

 

 

 

The Hanus Family (Missionaries to the World)                                        Future Ministry Headquarters

     

Also, if you are not currently a financial supporter (seed sower) to this ministry, we would love for you to partner with us in reaching the lost.  You may do so by becoming a monthly support partner. 

Please pray about partnering with us. 

 

P.S.  Enjoy the Evangelism Workshop DVD

 

Bob and Cori Hanus  P.O. Box 146  Utopia, TX 78884