As we enter the new year with hope and anticipation of what is ahead, we would like to take a moment to reflect on the many things God accomplished for His Kingdom through The Tide® ministry in 2022 because of YOU.
Our first ever Your Soles ~ Their Souls shoe drive fundraiser kicked off the year with YOU donating more than 4,000 pairs of new and gently worn shoes. Because of the efforts of many local churches and the community, we raised enough funds to provide about 6 months of Gospel Outreach Literacy Classes in India. In addition, microbusiness owners in developing countries around the world were able to receive the shoes, allowing them to make an honest living to provide for their families.
In February, we were blessed to provide a Night of Worship, both in person and online, by hosting Piercing Word as they presented The One Story. Incorporating original orchestrations and other artistic elements they were able to bring beautiful clarity to the Scriptures, allowing the audience to experience the ultimate story of God’s plan for redemption. The script, framed around Jesus’ conversation on the Emmaus Road, is solely compiled of passages from Genesis to Revelation, showing us how all of Scripture points to Jesus.
Spring brought us the I Remember When interview with The Tide founder’s son, Nelson Byers, a fun bus trip to Sight and Sound Theater with many wonderful friends of The Tide ministry, and a Taste of The Tide event for area Pastors and The Tide Ambassadors at The Inn at Ragged Edge. God used these events to bring a greater awareness of the ministry and allowed The Tide staff to pour into the community as we served each of the participants.
God provided through many golfers and sponsors as we hosted our annual Golf Outings in June and September. Golfers enjoyed the day starting with coffee and donuts, followed by 18 holes of golf with a chance to win $10,000 at the official hole-in-one green, as well as other prizes along the course. Our Fall outing awarded one participant a smoker after getting a hole-in-one at a prize hole. Finally, the golfers ended the day with door prizes and lunch, and the anticipation of the next outing.
Our first annual Race to Share the Gospel Around the World virtual challenge saw 100 participants and 8 sponsors, including one youth group, and raised nearly $14,000 for our new Pashto language children’s radio program in Afghanistan. Racers set out to run, walk, bike, hike, or even swim 13 miles from wherever they were located around the world. A virtual map of Kabul was created, which included prayer suggestions for specific locations along the race path at each mile. The locations for the milestone markers were chosen months ahead of time, and just days before the race began, one of those locations was the target of a suicide bomber. Through God’s providence, racers virtually flooded the streets of Kabul and prayed for the people who were affected by this tragedy.
To end the year, local churches around the area hosted Taste of The Tide events for their congregation and the community. Each of these cultural events focused on one of the areas of the world where we work. The four locations included the Middle East, the Mediterranean, Nepal, and Southern Africa. Food was provided from these areas and the room decor and music helped enhance the experience. Dinner of traditional food from the focus region was served, followed by a presentation of what God is doing through the ministry in these areas.
What an exciting year! We would like to thank each person who helped make 2022 so memorable. Thank you to those who committed to pray for the ministry, and to those who generously gave through their time, talents, and donations. YOU are each truly appreciated!
As we look to the new year and whatever 2023 may bring, may you rejoice with the Lord in the good times, find comfort in Him through difficulties, and use each of your days to draw closer in your walk with Him!