Behind the Scenes with Better Life
December 2021

“I NEEDED A TRUCK BUT I HAD NO MONEY”
by Charlie Oliver,
Executive Director of Better Life

I was having a cart vs horse moment. I was in my 20s, taking a break from college and needing a job. I also needed reliable transportation to find and keep a job, but buying a car required money I didn’t have! Feeling more than a little overwhelmed, I considered my options knowing that I DID NOT want to ask my parents for help. 

I had called my credit union, BMCU in College Place, WA, and was filling out the loan application when I got to the employment section. Jobless, I knew I would surely have my application rejected. I left the section blank and wrote a letter explaining my situation, referencing two previous loans that I’d paid in full, and said a prayer as I dropped the application in the mail.

To this day I often reflect on what happened next. BMCU approved my loan and I was able to buy an inexpensive but very reliable used 1988 Ford Ranger, still one of the favorite vehicles I’ve owned. But how was it that I got approved? It wasn’t because of my letter, it was because of my name. You see, despite not wanting help from my parents, that’s exactly what happened. The loan committee knew who my father was, and HIS character and reputation became the deciding factor as they approved my loan. I bought the truck, found the job, and paid the loan off early.

This month, while much of the world is celebrating Christmas, we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. By virtue of His sacrifice, we take His name and call ourselves Christians. All heavenly benefits received are because of HIS name, and we best honor this gift by living lives that reflect His character rather than our own, and by sharing Him with others. 

God is so good, and in this Christmas season I am so thankful to be His child, daily joining with my brothers and sisters in sharing His love and grace with those we encounter. Merry Christmas! - CO

HE FOUND BETTER LIFE ON TV

The man on the line said that he had been raised in a conservative church of another denomination. He said that he had recently begun watching Better Life’s programming and had seen a program with Doug Batchelor and wanted the free offer, “Death in the Kitchen.” We were happy to give him the phone number for Amazing Facts so he could order that booklet. 

Now here’s where it gets interesting. It seems that he had been very active in his church, attending each Sunday. But when COVID hit, with the restrictions that came along with it, he found himself staying at home more and not attending his church. That’s when he discovered Better Life Broadcasting Network! 

Our new friend said that watching Better Life’s programming helped him understand the importance of the Sabbath and in fact had recently started keeping it! 

He also shared that he needed to change his eating habits so that his life would be more in line with God’s plan. He said that he was currently taking medication for his mildly high blood pressure but hoped to be able to get off the pills in the future by improving his health habits. Isn’t that fantastic?

We also got an email from a lady in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, saying, “I’ve been watching your Stories of Faith [programs] for a little while now. I love listening to them. I feel inspired. Thank you.”

Friends, it’s an honor to be living in these last days where we can help win souls for Jesus’ soon coming kingdom. God has given us a wonderful tool in the ministry of Better Life and we need to work to maximize it’s usefulness. 

If you’ve been reading our newsletters this past year you’ve seen that a lot of phone calls and emails have come in from around the world. I’m sure when Better Life was founded 31 years ago there was little thought about it reaching around the world, but here we are!

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers and financial support in 2021. As this year comes to a close we hope that you’ll remember Better Life in your end of the year donations. Your gifts are tax-deductible and they help the message continue to beam out day and night. 

We pray that you and yours receive many blessings in this coming new year. Just think, we are another year closer to when the work will end and we will be gathered home to live with the Lord forever. 

Thank you for supporting the outreach ministry of Better Life.

NEWS NOTES

BRAND NEW SERIES BEGINS AIRING IN JANUARY 2022!
Better Life is excited to announce a brand new program we’ve produced targeted especially towards the spiritual needs of women. It’s called Women in the Word and it’s hosted by our own Jeanette Stark. 

Look for it to premier in January. Watch for a special article about it in next month’s newsletter. It will have more details including the days and times that you can watch it.

A BIG THANK YOU!
We want to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support  this past year. Your generosity has allowed the gospel to beam out over the airwaves and internet during these troubled times.

The testimonies that come in each month reveal the wonderful power of God’s Word to touch lives as it’s delivered to the masses via Better Life.

For those of you thinking of your 2021 income tax filings we’d just like to remind you that Better Life needs to receive your year-end donations by Friday, December 31st for them to count towards your 2021 tax filings. 

Making a contribution is easy. You can do it by mail or phone using our contact info at the top of this page, or by simply visiting us online at BLBN.org. Thank you for all you do!

Just a reminder that Better Life is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and donations made to it are tax deductible.

Click HERE to go to our donation page.

A SPIRITUAL THOUGHT

It was early March, and it was snowing hard. I live near a boat ramp and as I passed the entrance at 6:30 am there was a truck pulling in. Hitched to the truck was a boat. My first thought was, “Now, that is dedication!”

Then I passed another truck pulling a boat. I just shook my head and smiled and thought “those guys are crazy, that they would love fishing so much, they would venture out on the water, in the snow!”

I pray that, like those fishermen, when we encounter unexpected events in our lives, that it does not deter us. 

In Matthew 4:19 Jesus called fishermen to follow Him and become Fishers of Men; to grow the gospel; to share the hope of eternal salvation; to give others hope and a knowledge of a Heavenly Father that loves us beyond understanding, and to accept the gift of His son who died in our place. Let’s go fishing!

Editor’s Note: You can read more of Jeanette’s devotional thoughts online at Facebook.com/BetterLifeNetwork.