Ministry Newsletter

Dear Friends of the Mordecai Project:

Christmas is a notoriously busy time. It has been for us too, even though the pandemic slowed things down. I hope you have had time to meditate on the wonder of the Incarnation. If it weren’t for the miracle of Christmas, there would be no Savior. If the virgin birth didn’t happen, Jesus could not have paid for our sins. The manger in Bethlehem seemed insignificant when the baby Jesus was born, but the whole world revolves around that moment today. Deborah and I want to wish you and your loved ones a Merry Christmas!

We also want to thank you for believing in The Mordecai Project during this challenging year. When the COVID-19 pandemic started in March 2020 we weren’t sure what this would mean for our ministry and for my travel schedule. Even though all overseas travel stopped, our work thrived. We were able to send funds to our partners in multiple communities in eight countries where lockdowns prevented people from working. We also finished our girls’ dormitory in Kenya; purchased sewing machines for our women’s project in Masindi, Uganda; planted corn to feed a village in Kagoma, Uganda; helped destitute pastors in Guatemala; and brought needed relief to needy women on a Navajo reservation in New Mexico. In what seemed like a bleak year, God’s people were extraordinarily generous!

Even though some events were canceled, I was able to travel and preach in 10 states, some multiple times. I had planned a small men’s retreat in Pittsburgh for July. I was only going to invite 12 young men for the three days, because of social distancing restrictions. But when local guys found out about it, many more guys wanted to come. We ended up with 65 young men, as you can see in the photo below. We took temperatures, distanced the chairs and tried to comply with the rules. But that didn’t stop God from moving! Eleven of those young guys were filled with the Holy Spirit on the last night.

Below you can see me with two of the men who came to that Pittsburgh retreat. The guy on the left is Dante Grady, whom I led to the Lord four years ago. He is now officially serving as the youth pastor at his church, and he is making disciples—like the guy on the right, Phillip. I am so grateful that the work of Christ’s kingdom didn’t stop during a pandemic. Your gifts made events like these possible.

One of my greatest joys in training and mentoring the next generation. In 2020 I did this a lot, whether it was in El Salvador (January), with a group of Ethiopian men in Maryland (February), with a church full of passionate women in Michigan (also in February), at the Global School of Supernatural Ministry in Pennsylvania (March), at my Bold Venture retreats (February and July), or at a Slavic discipleship school in Jacksonville (below) in November. When I do events like these for young people the pay is not huge—but I know I am investing in future leaders, and the eternal reward will be great. Your support has also made events like this possible, and I am so grateful.

The two guys below are Roman Deshkin and Artur Maslyianskiy, two Russian-speaking guys who came to the Jacksonville school. Much of my year was spent with young people like this. They are hungry for mentoring and passionate to take the gospel to the world. Soon, when our women’s projects are completed, we plan to train and send dozens of ministry interns overseas to help run the ministry. Your gift to The Mordecai Project has supported hands-on training of future missionaries and church leaders.

I took many domestic ministry trips in 2020, even with a limited schedule due to COVID. Below you can see me with the leadership team of Bethel Church in Goldsboro, North Carolina. The pastor, Daniel, asked me to train in church in how to create a culture of discipleship and an openness to the Holy Spirit. Today Daniel says the church was transformed that weekend, and many people have been having encounters with the Holy Spirit since then.

Even though we only had two Bold Venture events in 2020, I went to Mobile, Alabama, twice to plan a retreat there in 2021. Below you can see some of the pastors who are eager to mobilize men for the retreat there in September. We are also planning a men’s event in South Dakota, and a women’s event in Georgia, assuming that the pandemic subsides. Please be in prayer for us as we make plans for the coming year.

As you know, our ministry is committed to bringing the healing of Jesus to women who have been abused and oppressed. I have learned over the years that the best way to stop the abuse of women is to train men to be lovers and followers of Jesus! This is happening in our men’s retreats. Men are discovering how to humble themselves, repent of macho attitudes and love their wives like Christ loves the church.

The pandemic did give me a bit more time to write in 2020, since I was not always on the road. I wrote an online Bible study on the Book of Acts, “Rekindle the Flame,” which is now featured on the YouVersion Bible app. I have also been working on my life message, a book on relational discipleship called Follow Me: How to Make Disciples Like Jesus Did. I believe this book will come out in 2021. It’s a practical book for anyone who wants to mentor others spiritually.

Finally, Deborah and I enjoyed time with our grandchildren during this difficult year. In August, our daughter, Margaret, and her husband, Rick, bought a house 15 miles from us. And the grandkids school is only two miles from our house! So we have Grady, Han and Judah over often. That means when the pandemic is finally over, and my traveling resumes, it will be a bit harder for me to go! But the plan is that when the grandkids get a little older they will go with me!

As you prepare to celebrate Christmas, please remember these words from Simeon, the old prophet who waited his whole life to see the promised Messiah. We often forget about Simeon because he is a “minor character” in the nativity story. But it was Simeon who confirmed what few people understood about Jesus when He was an infant. Simeon stood near the temple in Jerusalem, took the baby in his arms and said: “For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:30-32). May our eyes be opened to see Jesus Christ in a new way in 2021. And may we boldly bear witness of Him to all those around us.

Please pray with us as we step into the uncertainties of 2021. Our requests:

** Wisdom for Lee as he plans his travel schedule.
** Comfort and peace for Lee’s mother, Jean, who is still in a nursing home in our town.
** Funds to complete all of our current Phase One overseas projects.
** Doors are opening to new nations including Honduras, Congo, Ethiopia and places in the Middle East. We need God’s direction and protection.

If you’d like to make an end-of-the year donation to help us make a bigger impact around the world, please go to our website and donate today.

We love you so much, and we are praying that the Lord will hide you in His safe harbor during this turbulent time. We hope to see you in this coming year.

Lee and Deborah Grady

The Mordecai Project
P.O. Box 2781
LaGrange, GA 30241