November 2025
Dear Praying Friends,
I was 17 and in my first semester of Bible college when my pastor announced, “Mark, next Sunday evening, you’re going to preach.” The cold fingers of fear squeezed my heart and lungs as I squeaked out, “Me?” My pastor nodded his head and said, “God has called you to preach, it’s time you got started.”
All that week as I prepared my sermon, I prayed for the rapture or death. Either one was fine by me. But God didn’t answer my prayers and Sunday arrived. I stood with trembling hands and legs and crammed a 30-minute message into 17 minutes. But I survived!
Now, 48 years later, I just preached my 9,000th message. I have had the privilege of preaching the gospel on four continents in four languages and had hundreds and hundreds saved. Has this been because of me? NO! Only because of Christ!! I know that when I am carnal, He is holy! When I am impatient, He is longsuffering! When I am cruel, He is merciful! When I am weak, He is strong! When I am afraid, He is peace! I am still that terrified teenager as every time I preach, I have the same struggle with fear. The only
way that I can preach is by reminding myself of Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
So thankful for HIS strength,
Mark Hale
