Hello ATC staff and leadership,

One of the greatest joys of ATC leadership is to recognize and thank those who work so hard and give so much life to the ministry God has given them to steward and to serve those who are at the end of their hope.

Even in 2020, we have much to be thankful for. Our God has provided and protected, and we give thanks for His sovereign grace. I also recognize that your diligence, your sacrifice, your love for others, and your determination to see things through has carried this ministry in 2020. I am very grateful for the staff and leadership we have across North America and around the world. One family focused on bringing the Gospel (the Answer) to thousands every year. Thank you all very much. You are each truly a blessing to ATC.

Psalm 111:1-3 says Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation. Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.

What a magnificent reminder. We will give thanks to our Lord, our Savior and our Redeemer. His work in us continues forward, and He will not fail. He will complete it (Philippians 1:6). Nothing today can stop what God is doing. What an amazing time to live and lead. I believe God is going to use us mightily in 2021. All for His glory alone!

Below is the full proclamation from President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 (I kept it as is from the download so spelling may be strange in some places). I share because it’s a tremendous reminder on why this holiday was created:

Washington, D.C.
October 3, 1863
By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

With this as the backdrop, I humbly offer to our Lord praise and thankfulness for all He has done within ATC and for the gift found in each one of you as our staff and leadership. May He bless you and your families this holiday season and fill you with boldness, strength, tenacity and love to continue to fulfill the call He has for you.

I close with Aaron’s blessing (Numbers 6:24-26), and pray this specifically over each leader and staff member:

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance to you and give you his peace.

May each one of you have a blessed Thanksgiving holiday and wonderful Christmas. We love you and pray for you daily.

With much love and respect,

Gary & Debbie Blackard