China Missions

Hello Family and Friends!

I hope this finds you and your family doing well! The Lord has been doing absolutely incredible things in my life. I wanted to take some time and share with you a little of what I have been up to and about a wonderful opportunity that I have been given.

I graduated from the University of Alabama in May 2007 and began working at an advertising agency in Birmingham, AL, which is where I am currently. The Lord has constantly been stretching me and molding me into the person He has purposed me to be. I’m so grateful for His grace in my life and for the abundant blessings that He continues to provide. My prayer is that I am a “good and faithful servant” in that as He continues to pour into me, I then pour that out into the lives of others.

I’m actively involved with my church, Church of the Highlands, and find great fulfillment by serving and ministering to others through small group leadership. Believe it or not, a good friend and I lead a kickboxing small group! We have choreographed our own routines to Christian hip hop music and have such a blast doing it! Another friend and I lead a college/singles bible study and we’ve been studying the book of Ephesians. The Spirit continues to reveal new and exciting things through this study, for which I am most grateful. I’ve met some of the most amazing people, even some of my best friends, through this. God has richly blessed our time together and I know He will continue to do so.

The Lord has revived a passion in me to share the hope, joy, and peace that He alone provides, even when I least deserve it. I am confident of His promise in that “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil 1:6) I humbly, obediently, and expectantly wait for ways that my Heavenly Father will use me to bring glory to His name and to further His kingdom. After all, that is our purpose in this temporary place we call Earth.

One way the Lord is using me to do just this is by participating in short term missions. I have been given the unique opportunity to serve in Kunming, China for 2 weeks this summer. I will be traveling with a group of approximately 20 students and young adults as we embark upon this challenging journey. Our team will be leading small group seminars at what is called Sunshine International Camp, a leadership camp for the best and brightest students in China. Through this camp, we’ll be developing lifelong relationships with Chinese students that will allow us to share the love and hope of Christ with those who so desperately need it. What a treasure just to be part of this. I hope that my life is permanently changed because of it. I don’t want to come back the same Natalie. God is going to rock our world and I hope He does yours!

I am absolutely stoked about the opportunity and experience that lie ahead. As you can imagine, a great challenge lies before us in sharing about our Christian faith in a communist country. Would you like to be part of this mission and my team? First and foremost, I earnestly seek your prayer support to fulfill such a mission. Prayer is the fuel that will power this trip. It isn’t our abilities, our planning, or our church itself. It requires the power of the Holy Spirit coming alive in us and working through us. Prayer changes things as it is the offensive and defensive weapon against the enemy. We are merely a vessel in which the Lord chooses to use to exemplify His perfect grace, love, goodness, power, and hope. I need intercessors that will commit to praying for me during this time of preparation as well as while I am there. Will you join me in this? Below is a list of specific prayer needs:

*~*Divine protection of our spirit, mind, and bodies as we prepare for this trip and as we are there serving. (Ephesians 6:10-20, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)
*~*Willingness to listen to the needs of others and to have a heart for the lost. (Matthew 25, Ephesians 1:16-23)
*~*Proper financial support so as to be free from this distraction and a confidence that where God guides, He provides. (Matthew 6:25-34, Luke 11:11-13, Matthew 7:11)
*~*Safety, divine appointments, anointing, strength and sustaining power, group cohesion, and obedience.

Another way that you can be part of our team is by providing financial support. We are all called to live out the Great Commission, as presented in Matthew 28:19-20. However, we can’t always be the hands and feet that physically go. Whether you give of your prayers, tithes, and/or offerings, the Word says that this is an expression of thanks to God. The seeds you sow will not only “enlarge the harvest of your righteousness,” it will also supply the needs of God’s people, according to 2 Corinthians 9:6-15.

Know that through your prayer and/or financial support, you are sowing into the lives of every single person that we come in contact with on this trip. Better yet, you are sowing eternally into the Kingdom of the Most High God, who “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20). Praise the Lord for that! Just as I have prayerfully considered my role in this missions endeavor, I pray that you do the same. If you feel led to give, you may send all contributions to the following address:

Natalie S. Goodson † 807 Paradise Point Dr † Columbiana, AL 35051

My charge to you is that of Paul’s to Timothy, found in 1 Timothy 6:11-16. I pray that as you read this, you are encouraged and blessed! I pray that the Lord will shine His presence in you like never before, that your hearts will become overflowed with joy in His presence, and that His peace will indeed guard your hearts and minds forever.

Because of His Grace,
Natalie Goodson