Rock Standing - More Than Projects. They Are People.

Dear Friends and Faithful Partners,

 

“And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when he heard it, he said, ‘Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’”
— Matthew 9:10–13

 

Every day, we wrestle with the tension between the life we are called to live and the pull of the world around us. For me, that tension becomes especially real through the work of Heartland International Ministries.

 

I wake up in the morning and turn on the faucet without wondering if clean water will come out. I eat breakfast without questioning whether there will be enough food for my family. Then I travel to the HIM office, where our calling is to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through both words and deeds.

 

And there, the contrast can be startling.

 

On any given day, we hear from partners around the world who are facing extreme poverty, persecution, exploitation and circumstances most of us can hardly imagine. A family needs clean water. A woman needs an opportunity to earn an income so she can provide for her children. A child needs an education and a safe place to live. A pastor needs encouragement and resources to continue serving his community.

 

But the needs aren't only thousands of miles away. We also hear from donors and friends here at home who are walking through grief, illness, family struggles and uncertainty. Different circumstances, perhaps, but the same human need for hope.

 

That is what strikes me about Jesus' words in Matthew 9. Jesus did not distance Himself from people who were hurting or struggling. He sat at the table with them. He saw them. He loved them. And He offered them something the world could not give.

 

Mercy. Hope. Salvation.

 

On September 19, 2026, HIM will host our first Global Impact Vision Dinner in Kansas City. That evening, we will gather around tables and share stories from our partners around the world—stories of lives changed through nearly 25 years of ministry and through the extraordinary generosity of people who believed they could make a difference.

We will also share our vision for what comes next.

 

We envision businesses that create jobs and allow families to escape the desperation of poverty. We envision clean-water wells bringing safe drinking water to communities where women and children currently walk long distances just to survive. We envision women receiving education and vocational training that gives them dignity, opportunity and a sustainable future. And through it all, we envision local churches and ministry partners strengthened to share the hope of Jesus Christ.

 

These are more than projects and numbers. They are people. They are families. They are communities.

 

And perhaps that is one of the lessons of Matthew 9. Jesus reminds us not simply to see the need, but to move toward it with mercy.

 

As we look toward 2027 and beyond, I invite you to consider how you might join us. Whether through a monthly commitment or a one-time gift, your generosity can help bring clean water, education, economic opportunity, and, most importantly, the hope of Christ to people who desperately need both.

 

There will always be people who need a physician. There will always be people who need mercy. And there will always be an opportunity for us to pull up a chair, meet people where they are, and show them the love of Jesus.

 

To God be the glory.

Byron