The other day Donna asked me, How was your day? I replied, Productively unproductive. Getting a “final product” off my desk and “out the door” makes me feel productive. On that particular day, I went through five years’ worth of downloads from my downloads folder, moving files to where they belong or trashing them. So, I was very productive—cleaned my downloads folder. However, I did not get any projects closer to going out the door. So it felt unproductive.

As you know from our last blog (All plans are tentative…), Donna postponed her trip to help receive and celebrate the gift of books from Christianbook International Outreach (CIO). The timing was incredibly providential as Donna’s mom, Mary, ended up in the hospital, and Donna accelerated the time frame for moving Mary into assisted living. Donna’s time (and to a certain extent, my time) has been full of hospital visits, rehab visits, doctor appointments, phone calls, packing, moving, figuring out assisted living, etc. So Donna has been very providentially productive with her mom; however, as far as things “out the door” go, not as productive as hoped.

In the past, we have mentioned that we are working with some colleagues on a book about culture that has been in the works for years (2025: Purposeful–doing what we do with purpose). The hope was to have a manuscript (or at least the first couple of chapters) submitted to a publisher in the first half of 2025. However, after consulting with a friend who has published books, we have decided to release a pre-publisher, pre-publication, proof for review and to evaluate interest. The ultimate goal of this proof is to secure a publisher by receiving comments to improve the book and, hopefully, find influencers and organizations who will commit to endorsing, helping promote, and buying copies (pre-sales) once we have a publisher. We have been productively preparing this proof. However, neither the submission to the publisher nor the proof is “out the door.” So it feels productively unproductive. By God’s grace, we will finish the proof by the end of August.

Praise God with us that Mary is settled in her new place. Pray with us for the timing of the books from CIO, and as we prepare our proof.

Mary and Donna

When visitors come to Africa, I, Paul, always tell them, “All plans are tentative until they happen.” This captures the fluid nature of things in Africa and the reality that everything does not always go to plan.

In our last blog, Donna talked about the donation of books from Christianbook International Outreach. In that blog, she said that the books would arrive at the Africa Theological Seminary last week. This timeframe was the information given to us. On Friday, we learned the books had not yet arrived in Kenya. The new and improved arrival date is August. So Donna’s trip to Kenya has been postponed.

Praise God with us that we found out about this before Donna got on the plane, and we received a travel credit for the full cost of the ticket to Africa. Pray with us for the speedy and safe arrival of the books, good relationships, and clear communication with all involved.

 

Grace and peace to you.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 1b-3

Paul and I often pray for you and are so grateful for your prayers and support for what God has called us to do. Thank you!

I leave for Kenya on Saturday, but not to teach. Here is the story:

Outdated textbooks at the Africa Theological Seminary (ATS) have been a struggle for many years. We often buy books and take them with us, but textbooks are expensive and heavy. Due to licensing restrictions, it isn’t easy to use electronic textbooks in Africa.

Back in November, a nonprofit organization, Christianbook International Outreach (CIO), approached Paul at a conference and asked if they could donate some books to ATS’s library. We had not even prayed about the need to replace the outdated textbooks. We compiled a wish list to replace some of our most obsolete textbooks. CIO came back to us asking if we could use more books, so we added more textbooks, commentaries, references, children’s books, and Sunday School resource books.

CIO is sending 1,306 new books. The retail value of these books, along with shipping and customs costs (also paid by CIO), makes this donation the single largest one-time gift that the seminary has received. We are so immensely thankful!

The books cleared the port in Kenya and will arrive at the seminary this week. I will help receive and process the books, as well as assist with a celebration to praise God for the gift of these books. Please join us in praising God for this gift!

First, forgive that this update is long overdue.

Corrie ten Boon once said, “Hold everything in your hands lightly. Otherwise, it hurts when God pries your fingers open.”   When I (Donna) sat down to write this update, this quote from ten Boon came to mind. Am I holding on to things too tightly? This is a question I often ask myself. My time, finances, care of our mothers, writing courses, and home are a few of the areas I have recently needed to hold an open hand for God to work.

In March, we changed from ICM to Allegro (for more information, see Change). Anytime someone changes servicing agencies, there is usually a financial setback. We planned for this and had some money set aside. However, when we returned from Kenya in late March, we discovered a hot water leak in the foundation. This leak was the second in less than a year, so we had to redo all the hot water pipes. We paid the plumber with the money we had set aside and much of our savings. We were a bit crushed and went on a spending freeze as we anticipated the financial setback of changing servicing agencies.

But, praise God, the transition to Allegro went better than we could have dreamed. We did not lose any support; in fact, we gained support. We are SO humbled. God abundantly provided, and we have put some money back into savings! A huge THANK YOU to all who support us both financially and prayerfully. Also, a huge thank you to ICM, who went above and beyond to help us in this transition.

We had less than a week to patch our walls from the plumbing work and regroup to spend time with Paul’s 94-year-old mother. She was in the hospital while we were in Kenya. We spent several days helping her. When we arrived home after the seven-hour drive, I called my mother to tell her that we had made it home, only for her to tell me she had fallen, hit her head, and that she didn’t feel well. I jumped back into the car and took her to the emergency room, where she was admitted for several days and then released to skilled nursing. We are now seeking assisted living options for her. If you have dealt with hospitals, doctors, nurses, and care for aging parents, you know that it is a full-time job advocating, keeping meds straight, and making a zillion phone calls and texts.

We absolutely have seen God at work! We are blessed to have families that work together to care for our mothers! A huge THANK YOU to all who have supported us and our moms in this journey.

February and March were fantastic months of ministry. Donna taught Children’s Ministry Programs and did a Sunday School workshop, and I taught Pauline Epistles and Elements of Greek. All the classes went well. Donna and I took turns hosting the Vision Trip team between classes and returning stateside to care for Donna’s mom. The Vision Trip also went well. Those who came saw the ministry of ATS and what we do in Kenya.

Donna arrived a few days before me and jumped right into doctors’ appointments and other logistics for her mom. I arrived at the same time as the Vision Trip team, and we hosted some of them in our home until they could be on their way home.

The day after the Vision Trip team members were away, we discovered a hot water leak in our foundation—the second one in the last nine months. So, we replaced all our hot water lines. Some of the stuff in our closets has exploded into other rooms while we await Sheetrock repair. We are thankful we discovered the leak while it was small and hope we have avoided damage to our floors.

While we are thankful that February and March were great seasons of ministry, we are exhausted. Pray for rest and restoration.

More on the transition to Allegro next time…

March 1, 2025, will bring a change for Donna and me. We will remain at Africa Theological Seminary (ATS) but leave International Christian Ministries (ICM). Everything that we do at ATS and for ATS remains the same. However, we are changing the organization that handles our financial support. In short, the African side of our ministry is unchanged, but financial supporters will send checks (along with automatic withdrawals and credit/debit transactions) to Allegro Organizational Solutions (AOS).

Over the years, ICM has been through some changes. Through these changes, ICM has streamlined its processes to efficiently and effectively support ICM’s national partners throughout Africa (like ATS). Simultaneously, Donna and I have expanded our work at ATS. Donna started teaching again, doing Sunday School workshops and coordinating projects for the children’s library. Paul has continued his teaching, research, writing, and mentoring. In addition, he has started representing ATS in the broader academic world. Because of ICM’s streamlining and our expansion, ICM is no longer the best fit for us.

Starting on March 1, we will use Allegro Organizational Solutions (AOS) for financial donations. They are a reputable non-profit with extensive infrastructure that will help us minister effectively.

We are leaving ICM on good terms, and ICM will maintain an advisory role in our ministry at ATS.

Please find information on giving to our work at ATS through AOS below.

Here is a short video from Chrispine Juma, the President of ATS, discussing this change and a link to his letter about the change.

Link to Letter from Chrispine Juma

Giving Through Allegro
Organizational Solutions (AOS)

This link will redirect you to our giving page through Allegro Organizational Solutions:

cox-net.com/donate

To give by mail, make a check payable to Allegro Organizational Solutions and include a note with the designation code: NextGen-Cx.PDC.

Allegro Organizational Solutions
5535 Memorial Dr. Ste. F-811
Houston, TX 77007

Here is a link to a form you can print and use.

Giving Form

Thus far, the theme for 2025 has been to check off administrative projects. We have spent numerous hours at our desks multitasking, which is not our strong suit but necessary.

Some of the fruits of our labor:

• Updated webpage at the same old address. Check out cox-net.com
• Revamped and updated our Kenya Visitor’s guide.
• Plans, training, reservations, and details for those coming on the 2025 Kenya Vision Trip.
• Huge progress on a pocketbook on navigating culture in a diverse world (that the Vission Trip team will beta test).
• In the coming weeks, other administrative news will be announced.

Upcoming Travel:

Paul leaves this week for Kenya, and Donna will join him 12 days later. Paul will teach two courses; Donna will teach one and a workshop. While we are there, we will participate in the Africa Theological Seminary graduation and host the Vision Team.

Please Pray:

• Please pray for our courses and interactions that God will move in a mighty way!
• Please also pray for flights. It seems like a tenuous time to fly with both the weather and all that is happening with the airlines. Our routes this time are not as direct and/or flyer-friendly as we would hope for.

Martin Luther King Day

Presidential Inauguration Day

Last day to sign up for the Kenya Vision Trip and Safari
www.rpc.bz/2025-ATS-Vision-Trip.pdf

Africa Theological Seminary Vision Trip and Safari

This trip is for those who want to see ATS and the Coxes ministry there. It will take place from March 13 to 28 and cost $3,500 per person. Led by Paul and Donna Cox along with Duane Burton —Pastor of Calvary Chapel Garland. For more information, see www.rpc.bz/2025-ATS-Vision-Trip.pdf

January 20, 2025 is the Deadline to Register and remit $1,500.00 non-refundable deposit

As you end 2024:

• May you clearly see how the Lord was loving and kind.
• May the providential hand of the Lord be evident.
• May you have an eternal perspective on the struggles and trials of the year.

As you begin 2025:

• May the Lord give you health, not for your comfort or ease, but to serve Him with strength and vigor.
• May the Lord grant you prosperity, not so you can spend it on yourself, but to advance His kingdom.
• May the Lord bless you so you can bless others.
• May the Lord fill you with faith, hope, and love so you can be poured out to a parched world in desperate need of the Savior.

In case you missed it:

• • Our 2024 Top 10 Thankful List
  • Our (Lord willing) 2025: Purposeful–doing what we do with purpose
  • A Christmas Reflection and Prayer  (which is a prequel to this blessing)

Link to financially support us: secure.etransfer.com/ICM/SupporttheCoxes.cfm