I know time passes quickly, but it doesn't seem possible this is the final issue of Harvest for 2005. But here we are, nearing the end of a year that has been very difficult for many people.

The natural disasters we have seen in the past twelve months are stark reminders of how drastically life can change in hours or even minutes. No one knows what lies ahead in the new year, but here is a promise from God's Word we can stand on in 2006 and beyond: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever" (Heb. 13:8).

Each of the stories on these pages is worthy of further comment. But I want to share something very encouraging the Lord did recently in relation to our ministry to HIV/AIDS sufferers and their families. This is a model of how missions can be done!

The story actually begins about two years ago, when I spoke at a church in Florida on Jesus' parable of
the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. I compared the Samaritan's response to the wounded man he encountered to the response the Church in America needs to make to the AIDS pandemic decimating Africa and other areas of the world.

As I'm sure you will recall, the Samaritan could have simply gone on his way, reasoning that the wounded man's needs were not his concern because the problem didn't touch him directly. But the compassionate Samaritan saw the man's need as his problem, not someone else's problem, and he ministered to the victim of the robbery.

Jesus then drove home His point that the neighbor we are called to love as we love ourselves is anyone who is in need.

Well, there was no measurable response to my message that night, and I speak in so many places that I had frankly forgotten about this particular service. But recently a man named "Sam," who lives in Florida, contacted SIM because he wanted to donate the bulk of his late daughter's estate to build housing for AIDS orphans in Africa.

We were deeply touched by "Sam's" compassion and heart for missions. When I called to thank him for his generosity, he told me how this gift came about. "I heard you speak about AIDS at our church two years ago. Your message touched me and opened my eyes to this need, and I have never been the same since. It changed my entire perspective on this issue, and I want to do something to help these suffering children."

This was, of course, the message I told you about, the one with seemingly no response! "Sam" is a wonderful example and encouragement to us to keep our hearts open to the Lord's leading and lift up our eyes to a world in desperate need of Christ.

You have been this kind of faithful and visionary friend to SIM during 2005. Please accept my deep gratitude for your prayers and for the ministry tools you helped provide to SIM by your generous gifts. We need your help to continue moving forward in 2006 as we seek to obey the Great Commission.

Thank you for your encouragement to me and for the life-changing ministry you help make possible.


An Important Message From Steve Strauss
I wanted to take this opportunity to encourage you to take advantage of the missions projects that are available in our new SIM gift catalog, Sharing Your Love.

This is a wonderful way to make a lasting difference in the lives of people who need your love and care, while also providing a blessing for yourself and a friend or family member you may choose to honor with your gift.

I trust you have received your personal copy of Sharing Your Love. You'll want to keep it close at hand not only during the upcoming holiday season, but throughout 2006 as gift-giving occasions arise.

But if your catalog did not arrive in the mail for whatever reason, please call SIM toll free at 1-800-521-6449 to request a copy. You may also view the catalog and give your gift online at www.sim.org.

It's a delight to provide you with this exciting way to touch people for the Lord by sharing the gospel and meeting tremendous needs. Thank you for standing with SIM to help fulfill the Great Commission and bring many people to the Lord!