A NEWSLETTER FOR FORCEY BIBLE CHURCH - JULY Inside this issue: A Definition. The Character. of God T h e s t a n d a r d o f.

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1 A NEWSLETTER FOR FORCEY BIBLE CHURCH - JULY 2016 Inside this issue: Faithfulness 1 TOGETHER Soul Winning 3 Perspectives Class 3 Faithfulness (con t) 4 Backpacks/School Supplies Faithfulness (con t) 5 Summer Missions 6 Apples of Gold 7 Day Camp 8 Robotics Camp 8 4 The pay of a cowboy was barely enough, the hours were long, the work was hard, and the dangers were many. Eating trail dust behind a herd did not bring fame or wealth, but men of the old west devoted their lives to the ranch and the range. To take pay meant you rode for the brand. It was a commitment of allegiance to the outfit. To ride for the brand meant reliability, faithfulness. A Definition Faithfulness is a necessary characteristic of a Christian who is empowered by the Spirit of God (Gal 5:22). Originally the word-group of pistis indicated conduct that honored an agreement or bond. It expressed conviction, fidelity. Faith is seen in an unwavering confidence in the Word of God despite all appearances to the contrary (Hab 2:4; 3:18-19). As a result, a person of this quality is himself true, unwavering, reliable. He not only has faith, but he will not disappoint the faith of others. To be faithful is to be one on whom others can rely. The Character characteristics, and it is at the heart of His relationship with His people. When we give praise to God, it is often His faithfulness that evokes our deepest praise. He is The Rock, the quintessential certainty for all creation (Deut 32:4). All that Yahweh does is perfect and just, for He is a God of faithfulness, without even a shadow of injustice. He has no hidden agenda, no failures, no irrational mood swings or fickleness. He only and always does what is righteous and good (James 1:17). He will always keep His covenant promises for Israel to every generation (Deut 7:9). Even their rejection of Him will not nullify the faithfulness of God to keep His word (Rom 3:3). He is also faithful to His child, to never test beyond the capacity for endurance, and to always provide the way of escape along with each test so that endurance may run its course (1 Cor 10:13). I became God's child because of His initiative. He called me to share in His glory. And that calling will only be fulfilled because of His faithfulness (1 Thess 5:24). I know my own heart; it will never happen if it depends solely on me. So in the race and crawl of life, I can be assured that my Rock will continue to strengthen me and protect me from Satan because He is faithful (2 Thess 3:2). of God T h e s t a n d a r d o f faithfulness is God. It is one of His essential (Continued on page 4)

2 JESUS CHANGES EVERYTHING Our generation is the most cause-driven in history. But our causes are pulling us apart. Even religion doesn t unite. We believe only Jesus can bring us together. July 16, 2016, is the day our generation will meet on the National Mall to come together around Jesus in unified prayer, worship, and a call for catalytic change. If successful, Together 2016 will become the largest Christian gathering in American history. The event will be free to the public and will feature a lineup of more than 40 speakers, pastors, artists, and leaders from various backgrounds including Pope Francis (who will be delivering a video message), Hillsong United, Kari Jobe, Francis Chan, Lecrae, Passion, and Crowder, to name a few.

3 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief (I Tim 1:15). Some sinners believe that they are beyond redemption; that even if they made a profession of faith in Christ, they would be insincere and soon return to their old sinful habits. In these cases, the soul winner needs to show them the sufficiency of God s grace both to save them and keep them. Experience "Perspectives" at Forcey A Unique Class with Global Impact For Christ This fall Forcey will be hosting Perspectives on the World Christian Movement, a discipleship and e d u c a t i o n a l m i n i s t r y o f F r o n t i e r Ventures. Perspectives has influenced the lives of over 100,000 alumni worldwide. Now is your chance to become one of them! The course has 15 inspirational and motivational lessons, taught by a different instructor each week expert in cross cultural ministry. In the course you will be exposed to powerful On a recent hospital visit, a Forcey member met Felix, an older patient suffering from a broken hip. As they talked, Felix revealed that he had grown up in a Christian home and that his grandparents had prayed for him regularly. He confessed that he had strayed far from the paths of the Lord and felt that God was trying to get his attention through his fall and resultant hip fracture. The Forcey member assured Felix that God was indeed at work in his life through this accident. With the patient s permission, he then presented to him the gospel message of God s redeeming grace through the Lord Jesus Christ. Felix listened attentively and then openly called upon the Lord Jesus to forgive his sins and to save his soul. In a follow-up discussion the next Sunday, Felix expressed concern about returning to his old way of life. When the Forcey member assured him from the Scriptures that the same God who saved him could keep him, Felix expressed his resolve to walk in a Christ-like manner and not return to his sinful ways. insights and biblical principles, and you will find yourself challenged to find your place in God's program for world evangelization. The weekly readings and assignments will help you dive deeply into the unfolding story of God's purpose for His people. The Forcey Perspectives Class will meet every Tuesday evening 7:00-9:45 p.m. from August 16 through Dec 13. The cost is $285 for tuition. There are discounts available for early registration and for couples. ~ Ralph Zimmerman, Evangelism Team For more information, or to register online, please go to the website If you have any questions please contact Mark Heazlit, markheazlit@gmail.com.

4 (Continued from page 1) The Character of His People The faithful God expects to see faithfulness in those He calls. As His children, we are to share His character since we have His life. That life came on the basis of faith, rather than the works of the Law (Gal 2:10-11). From start to finish that life must continue to be lived by faith (Rom 1:17). We can no longer live according to the delusions of what is only seen, but according to faith in the reality of a changed destiny (2 Cor 5:7-8). Yet to share God's life means that I not only have faith, but that I must not disappoint the faith of others. Of those individuals honored by God in the pages of Scripture, the most often repeated commendation is faithfulness. Moses was unique among all prophets, for he alone was a faithful servant in all of Yahweh's household (Num 12:7). Though Saul chose to be an enemy to David, the anointed soon-to-be-king was still known as the most faithful servant in Saul's household (1 Sam 22:14). The gallery of men and women found in Hebrews 11 are noted for their faith, and the object of their faith is stated. But it is their response to the firm conviction that takes center stage. The spotlight is on their shimmering faithfulness displayed in actions and choices. Faithful to Others Soon after one of our moves, my wife and I were looking for inexpensive places to buy groceries. One of our new friends warned us about buying potatoes from a certain vendor. She instructed us to always push our hand deep into the middle of the thirty-pound bag, pull out a potato and see if it was good before buying the bag. She explained that this farmer was known to put a stove pipe in the center of the bag, surround it with good potatoes, fill the stove pipe with rotten potatoes, and then remove the pipe from the bag. What you see is not always what you get! (Continued on page 5)

5 (Continued from page 4) However, genuine faithfulness is through and through. Wherever someone looks into your life, whatever time or location, there should be a certainty of what will be found. A husband will be faithful to his wife in his thoughts as well as in his actions. The evidence of God's Spirit in you should be visible in a consistently reliable, trustworthy life. In contrast to lying, deceptive words, the child of God is to be known by faithful dealings; in fact God delights in this (Prov 12:22). Reports given must be true, promises made must be kept. Our speech must be reliable (Matt 5:33-37; Eph 4:25), for by our words we show what kind of life we have "in the middle of the bag" (Matt 12:34-37; James 3:9-12). Our service to others must also be characterized by a faithfulness that brings refreshment to the soul of the one we serve, like a cool mountain breeze, or ice water from mountain snows in the sweltering heat of an August afternoon (Prov 25:13). Instead of challenging those in authority or insisting on our own way, we must be committed to serving them. Taking a little time or money from employers with the excuse that it will not be missed is not faithfulness. Instead of being preoccupied with our gain, our service must be marked by dependability. These are the only proper "clothes" that the truth of God our Savior can wear (Tit 2:9-10). Faithful to God Ultimately our faithfulness to others is rooted in our faithfulness to God. We are His servants, and He is the only Master who has the final right to judge. His judgment will not be on the basis of fame, wealth, or achievements, but on the basis of faithfulness (1 Cor 4:1-5). Those faithful servants who spent a lifetime hidden away from the spotlights of humanity, occupied with some forgotten task, will be rewarded just as much as those who served faithfully in the lights (Luke 12:42; 16:10). His judgment will involve even the motives of our heart. He knows whether our actions were prompted by love for others or love for self. So ask yourself, Do I ride for the brand? ~ Phil Powers, Lead Pastor

6 MISSION POSSIBLE 2016 LEADERS: Zane Dempsie and Pam Merritt TEAM MEMBERS: Cameron Adams, Sarah Balaba, Garrett Bradley, Christian Conway, Misrak Demessew, Kathryn Eller, Max Keen, Jonathan Kraus, and Katherine Mackie Pray for our Mission Possible team and their schedule. JUNE Sketchboard training, & Langley Park children s ministry JUNE 27-JULY 1 East coast ministry JULY 4-8 Local evangelism in Silver Spring & Baltimore JULY Staten Island ReachGlobal & international ministry OAC New York JULY Blair County, PA children s, college, and adult evangelism ministries JULY Evangelism Ocean City, MD HAITI TEAM June 21-July 6 The Haiti Team will be working in three locations with several different ministries. Their work will include evangelism, women s ministries, VBS, and relief work in: Valbrune in South Haiti A small village near Jacmel Gressler with ReachGlobal

7 During this spring, 10 young women (aka Apples ) attended a 7-week series. The Apples of Gold meetings provided an opportunity to learn practical skills for the care of their homes and families from seasoned women of God. All meetings were held in Linda Douglas home. Each session began with a demonstration of a skill to use in the ladies home or a technique for preparing a dish. Apples learned menu planning, cooking tips, wonderful recipes to be used at home, and ideas for showing hospitality for family and guests. Each session also consisted of a served four course homemade meal prepared by Cindi Hale, Linda Douglas and Diane Wesche. Delicious dishes such as marinated flank steak filled with Prosciutto, fontina and basil; jerk pork and chicken alfredo. Nancy Parlette explained vegetable care and prepared a delicious salad. April Huang demonstrated pie crust making and m a d e f a b u l o u s blueberry pies. Diane, Linda and April also helped serve each week. The goal of providing the Apples a served meal was to provide a break from their busy days so they could focus on the Bible study and learning. The Apples could also learn how these meals tasted to give them ideas to serve in their homes. While meals were delicious; table settings lovely and fun the real focus was leading women to follow Jesus in their current or future homes with husbands and children. The discussion time around the meal and the lesson from our Apples of Gold book were led by the gracious, seasoned mentors, Ann Hunt and Glenda Jones. The lessons topics are: Kindness, Loving Your Husband, Loving Your Children, Submission, Purity and Hospitality. Great blessings to: Ann Hunt and Glenda Jones for sharing so much of their time, heart and wisdom. Linda Douglas for sharing her home each week. Cindi Hale, Linda Douglas, Diane Wesche, Nancy Parlette and April Huang for cooking and sharing a demonstration. Linda Douglas, Diane Wesche and April Huang for serving each week (and having the most fun!)

8 CAMP DATES June 27-August 12 (7-weeks) Hours: 9:00 AM 4:00 PM Extended Care Hours: 7:30 9:00 AM ; 4:00 6:00 PM Ages: Kindergarten 6th grade (must have completed these grades in June, 2016) Activities: Swimming twice a week, weekly field trips, agerelevant games and crafts, daily Bible lessons, daily snack; (pack own lunch). Each week has distinct program features. Examples of field trips include water park, bowling, roller skating, the zoo, Bounce U, and more! For more information or to register, visit forceydaycamp.org This summer FCS is offering two week-long robotics camps for elementary-aged students. Rising 2 nd -4 th graders can take Lego Robotics, where they will explore concepts in engineering and science as they build bots with parts they ll program to move. This tile-based, drag-and-drop programming is a great intro to programming and gives kids practice in trouble-shooting, problem solving, and logical reasoning too! Rising 4 th -6 th graders can take Vex Robotics. This camp focuses primarily on the engineering of remote-controlled robots as students engage in challenge-based learning to complete several different projects including a driveable robot that can lift and grab objects. CAMP DATES Lego Robotics July VEX IQ Robotics August 1-5 For more information or to register, timanda-wertz@fcs.school.