The Witness. Annie Armstrong & North American Missions $ Passover Wednesday Evening April 1

Transcription

1 M T. O L I V E T B A P T I S T C H U R C H S P E C I A L P O I N T S O F I N T E R E S T : CARITAS guests will be visiting with us the week of May Contact Judy Sams, coordinator, to help with this important ministry to the homeless community. Donations can still be accepted for World Hunger. Daylight Saving Time begins March 8. I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E : New Members 2 The Witness V O L U M E 3 2, I S S U E 3 Annie Armstrong & North American Missions That is quite a statistic suggested by the North American Mission Board. And yet, we readily see a trend across our continent where fewer and fewer people are acknowledging God s gift of salvation as delivered through Christ Jesus, His only begotten Son. That trend translates into behavior that can be ungodly, uncivil, and inconsiderate of others. Paul writes in Colossians 3:12-14 Therefore, as God s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. The qualities mentioned in this passage come as a gift from the Holy Spirit who dwells within the heart of each believer. This is a message that needs to be proclaimed across the United States and Canada. F E B R U A R Y 2 3, Do we want to see America change into a country who loves God and respects others? Help our North American missionaries tell the story by praying for them, partnering with them, and supporting their work financially. Mt Olivet s Annie Armstrong Offering Goal for North American Missions $ Africa in August? Prayer Concerns Operation Christmas Child Alabaster Box Devotional Important Dates Making Disciples Christ in the Passover shows the link between the ancient Festival of Redemption and Christ as the Lamb of God your church members will never forget it! This sermonic demonstration is visual, so the congregation will actually see a table set with traditional Passover items and taste some of the elements. The missionary uses Scripture as well as the visual items to walk through a Jewish Passover Seder, weaving the story of the Exodus together with the life, death and resurrection of Christ. The words He spoke in the upper room come alive as each Hebraic item is carefully explained. We will conclude with communion being served at the dinner tables. Passover Wednesday Evening April 1 5:45 Dinner (Please RSVP) 6:15 Seder (Nursery provided for birth Age 3)

2 P A G E 2 Rick Slater Comes to Mt Olivet by transfer of letter. Rick joined on January 25. Clyde & Carolyn Greenwood The Greenwoods joined on February 15, coming from a United Methodist Church. They will be baptized by immersion. Noah Chapman Made his profession of faith on February 15 and awaits baptism. AFRICA in AUGUST? Special Speaker, Dr. Gordon Fort, on March 8, was raised as a Missionary Kid in Zimbabwe. His parents served as doctors at the Sanyati Hospital. Say YES and be a part of our Zimbabwe Mission Team and the Sanyati Makeover! Thinking of summer, what comes to mind? Hot. Thinking of August and what comes to mind? Sweltering hot! Well not in AFRICA, think cool and dry and the start of the peak season where days are often cloudless and game sightings continually increase (think Safari). Now think Zimbabwe and Sanyati Baptist Hospital where you can go and make a difference to the lives of others in the name of Jesus. Sanyati Makeover is part of a five-year renovation to refurbish Sanyati Baptist Hospital in Zimbabwe. Mission teams are being asked to volunteer to complete the makeover. This is the fifth and final year of the makeover, and Mt. Olivet is sending a team. Not only are simple skills such as laying tile and hanging cabinets needed, but even the unskilled will be able to assist in putting the finishing touches on the hospital. And there will be opportunities to pray and share Inside with inpatients Story Headline and outpatients at the hospital as well as in the community. Can you go? Will you go? Will you prayerfully consider how you can be a part of this effort? April 1st is the deadline for commitments and an 8 to 10 member team would be ideal. Come and learn more at an information meeting on March 1, 2015 at 12:00 noon in the Conference Room. ============================================================== Wanted: Mission Trip Photos Anyone having been on a group or individual mission trip, you are asked to look through your photos and provide one for each trip that would be considered for a permanent display at the church. Please try to include the people you were ministering to in your photo. Photos may be placed in the Missions Development mailbox and will be collected through March 1st. Original photos will be returned. Be sure and write your name on the back of the photo, along with any other information such as location and date. T H E W I T N E S S

3 V O L U M E 3 2, I S S U E 3 P A G E 3 Prayer Concerns Willy Lipscomb Martha Loving John Axselle Jessie Bayne Don & June Beazley Kara Bowles Shelli Busby Micky Campbell Dawn Dill Betty Dye Brandon Germon Peggy Gravely Bobby Hall Mary Lee Hall Randy James Ami Kader Wanda Laing Brenda McAllister Brittany Melton Brenda Morrison Robin Nash Tim Pickle Evelyn Seay Rick Slater Eric, Sondra, Luke & Sara June Williams Kim Williamson Gayle Wingfield Assisted Living/Convalescent/ Homebound Bob Campbell Lin & Dean Carter Barbara Cosby Margaret Gray Ilene Henderson Richey Jewell Beverly Parrish Anne Puryear Neesie Stearns In the Military Michael Thurston Sympathy is extended to Anthony Chapman in the loss of his uncle, Jimmy Chapman. Operation Christmas Child The Homebound Deacon Ministry Team would The Ruth Evening Circle is collecting cups/bowls/utensils for Operation Christmas Child during the month of March. We re finding some great deals as we shop for Operation Christmas Child ALL YEAR long. Do you know you can get 10 bars of Ivory soap for $2.98 and 18 washcloths for $3.00 at Walmart? Or how about Bible themed coloring books at Ollies Discount Store for 59 cents? Do you canvas the clearance shelves right after a holiday to see what you can stock up on that will fit in a shoebox? And how about those school supplies that are almost free in July and August are you thinking about OCC when it is 95 degrees outside? How about you? What great deals have you found or OCC secrets that you would like to share so we can maximize our packing this year? I d love to hear your ideas: janice.igou@hotmail.com Get ready it s almost Shoebox time! welcome additional team members so each homebound person could have a person assigned to them. Contact Alabaster Box Devotional Sunday, March 8 from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m., youth are invited to our Alabaster Box devotional. Lunch will be provided. Males and females will be separated and discussions on what the Bible says about purity and marriage will be discussed. This program involves a building project. Megan Dill and Jimmy VanRiper, along with other adults, will be leading the program. Youth are encouraged to invite a friend. Bootsie Stanley. Dear Mt. Olivet Friends, Thank you again for your continuing care and concern for Tom and I. We appreciate your prayers and cards and are so thankful for a loving church family. Maybe we can join all of you one of these days and share in your wonderful ministry in God s Name. God s blessings to all of you. Tom & Evelyn Seay

4 Every Member A Minister Non Profit Org. Postage Paid Permit No. 6 Beaverdam, VA Mt. Olivet Baptist Church Coatesville Road Beaverdam, VA Phone: Fax: Website: Church Staff Dale F. Ashley, Pastor Felicia G. Taylor, Children s Minister Claudia M. Phillips, Music Minister Cindy C. Weston, Youth Minister Shirley S. Mills, Secretary March 1 March 15 March 15 March 29 Dates to Remember! Joint meeting with youth, youth parents, and youth committee after 11:00 worship service Deadline to sign up for RAM Mission Trip Sunday School Workers Luncheon & Meeting following the 11:00 worship service. Dessert Auction (after 11:00 worship service to raise funds for the Annie Armstrong Offering for North American Missions) Why Is Making Disciples Important? Making disciples is important because it is the Lord s chosen method of spreading the Good News of salvation through Jesus Christ. Though they could not comprehend it, Jesus made His disciples this astonishing promise: I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father (John 14:12). Jesus also promised to send His Spirit to be with them forever (John 14:16-17). As promised, on the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came with power on the believers, who then were emboldened to speak the Good News to everyone. The remainder of the Book of Acts gives the exciting account of all that was accomplished through them. Later, because of disciples such as Martin Luther and others, Europe was opened to the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the Reformation. Eventually, Christians emigrated to the New World to make Christ known. Though the world still is not completely evangelized, the challenge is as viable now as ever before. The command of our Lord remains Go and make disciples, baptizing them, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. The characteristics of a disciple may be simply stated as: (1) one who is assured of his salvation (John 3:16) and is activated by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26-27); (2) one who is growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior (2 Peter 3:18); and (3) one who shares Christ s burden for the lost souls of men and women. Read more: Jesus said, The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field (Matthew 9:37-38). Janice Igou, Discipleship Training

5 Mt. Olivet Children s Ministry News March 2015 Family Easter Celebration The Children s Ministry invites all to join us for this years Family Easter Celebration on Saturday March 28th from 1:00 2:30pm. The fun includes the Easter story, music, eggciting family activities, egg hunt, scavenger hunt, snacks, family raffle, fellowship and more! We are seeking donations of plastic eggs, small individually wrapped non-chocolate and chocolate candies for the egg and scavenger hunt. Also needed are cupcakes for snack. If you can donate, totes will be in the Children s hall for donations and a sign up sheet on the bulletin board for cupcakes. Thank you for helping us make this day a true Family Event. Children s Worship in March This month in Children s Worship we will spend each Sunday walking a journey with Jesus. Children will explore some of the key events in Jesus life as He moved closer to the Cross. Are you ready to take the journey? Vacation Bible School 2015 is just around the corner. This year we will take a Journey Off The Map from July 27th through 31st. Keep an eye out for more information about registration. If you would like to serve this year please contact Melissa Huckstep, Lisa Smith or Felicia Taylor. Upcoming Dates: March 3: Children s Ministry Committee Meeting March 8: Children s Choir sings during second 11:00am service March 8: Daylight Savings March 17: St. Patrick s Day March 28: Family Easter Celebration 1:00-2:30pm. The Children s Choir is looking for little voices to Praise the Lord! All children preschool through fifth grade are encouraged to join. Children practice each Sunday at 9:30am in Children s Worship room. Children will sing during the 11am Worship on the second Sunday of every month. For additional information contact Mt. Olivet Baptist Church at

6