Reflecting on Growth & Gratitude: A Year-End Message from the Samson & Sarah Societies

 

Men of Samson Society and Women of Sarah Society: On behalf of our founder, Nate Larkin, and our Board of Directors, I come to you with good news – our societies are growing, marriages are being rescued, and the cause of Christ and His Kingdom is advancing. One week ago, at our annual Samson retreat our featured speaker, Andrew Bauman, drove home this point: as men and women in our society, we are vulnerable: We are vulnerable to the messages from our childhood. We are vulnerable to the influences of our peers. We are vulnerable to self-condemnation. We are vulnerable to the deceiver. We need each other. The Good News is we have hope, “because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) One of our goals for 2024 was Host training. We took a giant leap toward that goal at this year’s retreat. 51 in-person and online hosts attended a pre-retreat to discuss best practices for hosts. Led by Mike Moore, the conversation lively and engaging. Tons of valuable insights were shared and we can confidently look forward to more men hosting more meetings in 2025. Speaking of goals, one of our goals for 2025 is to bring the strengths of Samson Society to our churches. Toward that end, Patrick Peters is spearheading a prototype project in Dallas, Texas showcasing how Samson Society can help churches save marriages by helping men live in the freedom of authenticity. The good news doesn’t stop there. The Sarah Society currently has 761 members spanning several countries and 5 continents! Two members of the leadership team recently conducted a three-week tour of Australia where they were able to: hold three counselor/religious leader workshops, host one men's group, participate in 2 radio interviews and a podcast interview, conduct 3 women's intensives, and brainstorm with Salvation Army to understand the impact of porn on family and community. The ladies of Sarah Society also recently held an online auction, raising approximately $1800 in scholarship funds for their annual Gathering, which is occurring May 4-7 just south of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and featuring Aundi Kolber. Learn more! Tuesday, December 3, is GIVING TUESDAY and we have a HUGE OPPORTUNITY – a very generous donor has once again offered to MATCH OUR GIVING in November and December up to $50,000.00!! (current recurring gifts excluded) But wait, there’s more! If your company has a matching gift program that triples your gift. And if you’re on FaceBook, check out their matching gift program as well. Click the image below for a full summary of Samson Society financials: WAYS TO GIVE – It is Good to Give … Smart Giving is Great! Our giving portal A generous one-time gift A recurring monthly gift (this helps us to even out our monthly expenses) NOTE: you will receive a receipt from our contributions manager, New Horizons Foundation Text2give: Text to the phone number 719-722-3545, then enter a dollar amount and SamsonHouse in the text box. You will receive a reply text – simply follow the instructions to set up your text2give account (a one-time effort). You can make a recurring gift or make a simple 10 second gift at the end of each Samson Society meeting – “giving back.” Venmo - @SamsonHouse Major Gifts – feel free to designate your desired use of funds, email: tom@samsonhouse.org Tax-advantaged Ways to Give Appreciated securities (no impact on your lifestyle see this CBS article). This way of giving makes the most sense tax-wise. Avoid this year’s tax bite by giving this year and next year’s gift to a Donor Advised Fund and then directing the fund to give to Samson House Avoid taxes by giving from your qualified retirement plan (IRA). You can even name Samson House as a percentage beneficiary in your will. Matching Gifts – if your company will match your gift, double the pleasure! Giving Tuesday has become the answer to the commercialism of Black Friday. Please consider how you can participate by giving to your favorite charity: Samson House! You can make your one-time or monthly contribution below: DONATE As this year draws to a close, let us all pause to give thanks for the gracious hand of God on Samson Society / Samson House. Pray for your brothers and sisters who are in the heat of the battle, and above all remember you are never alone. Jesus said, “I am with you always, to the very end.” As He is with us, let’s be there for one another. Remember what Apollos wrote to the Hebrews, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” It is an honor to be on this mission with you.

Tom Moucka Samson House President Nate Larkin Samson Society, Founder

Keith Melton,  Mike Moore, Jeff Van Driel,  Eva Hunter, Mark Heinrich,  Roe Hunter, Rush Harrison,  Nate Larkin The Samson House Board