At the end of the year our natural tendency is to reflect on the year that’s past and set goals for the year to come. 2011 was an awesome and humbling year for ministry here in Houston and I have YOU to thank for that. I cannot tell you how amazing your partnership has been, both in prayer and in the form of monetary support. Here are a few highlights from the year and some goals for 2012:

The Year in Review -

+Starting LBI’s Spring Semester as the LBI Director.

+Blogging and writing for the Houston Chronicle and Publishers Weekly as a religion newswriter and religion book reviewer.

+Leading students from Concordia University Texas through a multi-cultural urban mission experience.

+Visiting churches and partners in Texas, California & Arizona.

+Having 34 students enrolled in LBI’s mission training courses in the Fall 2011 semester.

+Together with you, fundraising $11,353 dollars for mission ministry in Houston.

The Year to Come -

+Expand into my new role at LINC not only leading the LINC Bible Institute but as media liaison.

+Have ano ther 30 s tuden t s enrolled in LBI’s mission training courses in the Spring semester.

+ T r a n s i t i o n L B I i n t o a congregational cohort community model with FIVE churches involved and over FIFTY students.

+Fundraise another $12,000 for mission ministry.

If you would like to help me reach these goals in 2012 please let me know by responding to th is newsletter. Drop me an e-mail with y o u r p r a y e r s u p p o r t (ken@linchouston.org), call me or send an end of year donation (Ken Chitwood 161 West Rd., Houston, TX 77037 or http://www.razoo.com/story/Ken-Chitwood-Missional-Training www.razoo.com/story/Ken-Chitwood-Missional-Training)

Dallas Missions Fest

LINKE

D IN

KEN CHITWOOD’SNEWSLETTER

TO PARTNERSIN MINISTRY

Reflecting on an Awesome Year - Looking Forward to What is to Come!

In the beginning of November I joined partners in ministry in the North Texas and Dallas area for a missions festival featuring ministry leaders reaching out to the over 20 ethno-linguistic groups that LINC Houston, LINC North Texas and its partners reach out to here in Texas. We had African, Arabic, Hispanic, Caucasian and Asian leaders share what the LORD is doing among their people, pray together, sing songs in many tongues and glorify God for his ministry to the nations here in Texas. In this photo I am eating brunch after attending Sunday services with Rev. Michael Fuchs (left) and Rev. David Kim (right) and their wives Susan and Rebecca respectively.

Missionaries of the Texas District from all over the world!

Other News:1. Preaching & Radio When I first moved to Houston I preached about once a month. Now I find myself preaching almost every Sunday in all types of contexts. In addition to preaching I also have the opportunity to share the Gospel via a Sunday night radio show on KKHT 100.7FM Houston. Recently I was invited to share on a show on technology and mission and joy in the midst of suffering. Visit www.elmhouston.org to download past shows and listen in!

2. Five Two West Houston As part of my missional training in Houston I am now a co-catalyst with Rev. Dan Hauser for a Five Two West Houston group that seeks to stimulate church planting in Houston. Five Two is an international mission “how-to” network connecting mission leaders so that they can share practical tips with each other for greater mission ministry. The goal of Five Two is to help plant 2,000 churches by 2017. Here in Houston we are hoping to plant at least 25. Please pray for us as we work to connect leaders for co l labora t ion and multiplication of mission.

PLEASE SEND YOUR SUPPORT TO LINC HOUSTON, MEMO: Ken Chitwood (161 West Rd., Houston, TX 77037) or

Visit http://www.razoo.com/story/Ken-Chitwood-Missional-Training www.razoo.com/story/Ken-Chitwood-Missional-Training

Possible Changes

The Houston Police Department’s “Blue Santa” helps LINC

Houston distribute toys for joy this Christmas

season.

For five years now the LINC Bible Institute has provided quality theological education for mission ministry in Houston. When I first arrived we started with only six students. This Fall semester, after a year of work, we had over thirty students enrolled in mission classes s tudy ing to enr ic h t he i r o u t r e a c h a n d m i n i s t r y capability. Despite this blessing we are currently exploring a more mobile, more contextual and more missional model for the LINC Bible Institute. While the Spring semester will offer the same format as always we are hoping to unveil a brand new congregation cohor t learning community model. Please pray for us as we discern this mission education model and as we continually seek to train followers of Christ for ministry today!

LINC Houston Delivers Joy and Toys this ChristmasWhat if I told you that LINC delivered 3,230 toys this year? What if I told

you that all across Houston there were families who did not know if they could provide a Christmas present for their kids and LINC stepped in with its partners, the Deacons of Deadwood Motorcycle Club and the Houston Police Department, to meet their need? What if I told you that in the last six years LINC Houston has brought joy to over 10,000 kids and that this was our biggest year yet? Wouldn’t that be exciting? Wouldn’t you want to thank Jesus for his generous provision and continual blessing of LINC’s community service ministry? It happened. This year. Thank God.

I was humbled to be a part of the team providing Toys for Joy this year and also helped distribute toys to Hispanic kids in Greenspoint and Asian Indian kids at University of Houston. No matter where I was or how many gifts we gave out one thing was clear - God provided the greatest joy this season by providing his very own Son for our salvation.

Thank you so much f o r y o u r 2 0 11 support. You are friends, family and partners with us in m i s s i o n . Y o u r s u p p o r t i s appreciated and humbling. Happy New Year!

-the Chitwoods