A CHRISTIAN MISSION
December 2025 Newsletter
Prayer Request: This month, we ask you to lift up family members, friends, and coworkers who have not yet come to know Jesus as their Savior. Pray that their hearts would be opened to the true meaning of Christmas. Also, ask God to work through your life and your words so that His love is clearly seen and draws them to receive Him.
Please call us if you have any questions about the Mission or how you can help. 432-337-8294
A Word From Our Director ~ Pastor Andrew Pistone
A Godly Legacy
During this Christmas season, I’m hoping to encourage you to leave a godly legacy for the ones you love. Our childhood memories of this season - often leave lasting impressions and I hope, as you participate in all the festivities that surround the Christmas season, that you will be intentional about creating an atmosphere in your home which emphasizes our Savior.
The Biblical Truth that my parents taught me, and the memories that we made, have been engraved in my mind since childhood.
I grew up in Argentina, in a family of nine children – plus my parents. Our home was always filled with activity and visitors. There were many visits from missionaries and friends from church – not to mention the friends of my older brothers and sisters. My memories are ones of peace, love, caring, nurturing, and – oh yes –
loving discipline.
During the month of December, there was a lot of anticipation for the actual day – Christmas Day. When Christmas Eve finally came, we had to exercise lots of patience, while waiting for Christmas morning – when opening presents would be the main event.
Oddly enough, my fondest memories come from those Christmas Eves, when Dad would read the Christmas story from Luke 2. After he finished the story of Jesus’ birth, we would pray – and then, as a family, we would all sing “Silent Night.”
To this day, I get emotional when I hear this song. I remember what a beautiful, warm, and loving moment it was – when our family sat together in the living room – with dimly lit lights – singing about the birth of Jesus. My Mom and Dad were intentional about directing our thoughts to the true meaning of our Christmas celebration: Our Savior entered our world, died for our sins, came to life again, and returned to heaven to prepare a place for those who will admit their sins, repent, and trust Him.
On Christmas morning, all nine of us would line up outside our parents’ bedroom, knock on the door of a very tired Mom and Dad, and go in to kiss them and wish them a “Merry Christmas.”
Then, we would all line up again outside the living room door, and wait for our parents to show up – so we could go inside to see what Santa (or “Father Christmas,” as my Mom called him) had brought.
One important part of our Christmas celebration was – that my parents would buy candy for the less fortunate in the neighborhood. They didn’t just TALK to us about helping others – they SHOWED us – in a practical way, that it’s more blessed to give than to receive.
My parents have been gone for many years, but their legacy lives on in my heart, and I’ll always cherish these memories and the Biblical Truth which they taught me. The peace in life comes from embracing Truth!
I’m sharing these memories from my childhood to remind you that you don’t need a lot of money or lots of gifts in order to make a lasting impression on your children or your loved ones at Christmastime.
Are You Going to Heaven?
The most important thing in life is your relationship with Jesus Christ – the reason we celebrate Christmas. We were created to glorify Him!
What will happen to you when you die? What legacy are you leaving for your loved ones?
First of all: Do you KNOW and BELIEVE the truths in the Bible? Then: Are you teaching your family the Truth from God’s Word and, more importantly, do they see you LIVING in a way that reflects that Truth?
Jesus came to earth in the form of a baby, lived a sinless life, died a horrific death – which paid for my sins - and then, He came to life again. He returned to heaven to prepare the place where I will spend eternity with Him – and the others I love, who have gone to heaven ahead of me.
God loves us so much that He turned His back on Jesus at the crucifixion. Even though God could have stopped the crucifixion, He chose not to stop it. Do you know why? It’s because – through His death, Jesus took the penalty of our sins, to SAVE us from eternity in hell. Jesus is the One and Only sacrifice that can wash our sins away and make us clean. It’s an overwhelming love!
If you’ve never received this free gift of salvation…Why don’t you take the step right now – to accept His gift that saves you from hell and separation from God?
It’s not enough to just believe that Jesus came to earth. (Even the devil believes that Jesus came to earth.) You can pause right now and say: “God, I realize that I have sinned against You, and I’m sorry. Please forgive me of ALL my sins. I believe that Jesus died in my place – and that His death was the payment for all of my sins. I open my life to You, so that You will make me clean in your eyes. I want to trust You to help me change my sinful habits. Make me new. I want to live according to the instructions you have given in the Bible. Thank you for your promise of eternal life for all of us who repent
and believe.”
As you read your Bible - read it with a sensitive, obedient spirit – and God will speak to you. We’re not perfect – but we’re forgiven, and if we follow His instructions in the Bible – we’ll have the tools we need to live pure lives. If you made the decision to be a follower of Jesus, please send us a note to let us know about your decision.
I hope you have a meaningful Christmas season!
Pastor Andrew
Thrift Stores
If you haven't had a chance to shop at one of our Thrift Stores, we hope you will do that soon. The proceeds from the store are a significant source of our support. You will find thousands of quality items at incredible prices, and you can shop with confidence that your dollars are helping to change lives.
Our stores are located at 1515 E. 8th St., Odessa & 1020H Andrews Highway, Midland
Our hours for shopping are Monday - Saturday from 9:00 am – 7:00 pm.
We continue to take ALL donations with grateful hearts. We could not do this without your help.
We will come to PICK UP any donations – call us at 432-337-8294 to schedule a pickup. You can also drop off your donation at the Thrift Store,
Please visit us on Facebook: www.Facebook.com/DoorOfHopeThriftStore
All donations are tax-deductible.
Please check out our latest post and like our page at https://www.facebook.com/DoorOfHopeMissionTX
Funds / Donations Needed
Your financial support will help us provide hot meals, a safe place to sleep and shower, and exposure to the truth of God's Word through Bible study and counseling to those who struggle with addictions. Many come to know Jesus as Savior because of the work God is doing here at the Mission.
There are a few ways you can give:
#1: PayPal Giving Fund:100% of your gift goes to the Mission. Paypal does not charge a processing fee when you use this service. If you would like to make a direct financial donation, you can go to PayPal using the link below.
https://www.paypal.com/us/fundraiser/charity/2432315
#2: Use our Website http://www.doorofhopemission.com/donate.html
#3: Mail a Check to Door of Hope Mission PO Box 1789, Odessa, TX 79760
#4: When you Shop on eBay, add us as your preferred charity, and a portion of your purchase will go to the Door Of Hope Mission.
With Ebay: You must add the Door Of Hope Mission to your favorites. Click the link to add us.
https://charity.ebay.com/charity/charity-name/2432315
If you have any questions, please call us at 432-337-8294.
The Door of Hope Mission is supported 100% by DONATIONS and our thrift store. We do not take money from the government because they would restrict us from preaching about the freeing power of Jesus to those we help.
All donations are tax-deductible.