NEWSLETTER. Lost Not A Mistake. July 15, Valley Isle Fellowship Love God, Love His Church, Love His World

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1 Valley Isle Fellowship Love God, Love His Church, Love His World 1033 Waiale Road - PO Box 886 Wailuku, HI Phone: (808) Fax: (808) NEWSLETTER July 15, If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father s will that even one of these little ones should perish. Matthew18:12-14NLT Here is a story that we have heard or read many times over, and each time there is some new understanding to change and impact our lives. This past week we had Vacation Bible School (VBS) for children and one of the stories they did was the lost sheep. I asked the Lord if this is something to share with the church and He gave me the okay. There are two stories of the lost sheep, one in the book of Matthew and the other in the book of Luke. In Luke, Jesus told the story of the lost sheep because of the religious leaders were mocking Him spending time with sinners and tax collectors. In Matthew, Jesus talked about the lost sheep because His disciples asked who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. What is different in Matthew compared to Luke is that Jesus called a child to Him and then He told His disciples that the kingdom was like little children. Isn t it interesting that it s part of VBS. Well, what I wanted to share and focus on, in this scripture passage is on one word, the word Lost. This word in the parable of the lost sheep gives some insight that I believe can assure us that God and Jesus loves us so much. One insight is that we truly belong to Jesus. Jesus said in the parable that a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wandered off. Won t He leave the ninety-nine and search for the one that is lost? The one sheep was lost, it wandered off and the man went looking for it. Lost Not A Mistake Pastor Darren Sarmiento It tells me that the sheep belonged to the man from the beginning and he cared enough to go looking for it and rescue it. Sheep by nature normally stays around other sheep. Seldom does it stray off by itself and get lost, but it does happen. However, sheep don t own themselves, they are owned by someone else! Part of understanding this parable is that Jesus owns us. We belong to Him even from the moment we are in our mother s womb as the Bible tells us. What is so assuring and brings me joy is that all of us were created by God, and from the beginning we all belong to God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ including and especially our children in light of this parable. As I mentioned earlier sheep do wander off from time to time and get lost, and in this case, I think it s awesome! Why? Here is the other insight to being lost. It reveals that we are not a mistake. Our Father created us for His good pleasure. We were made to worship the God of all creation! This parable that Jesus told His disciples shows that mankind is just lost and not a mistake. That s why in the parable the man will go looking for his lost sheep and when he finds the sheep he will rejoice! I can t explain the great joy I feel inside to know that no matter how bad I was before, I was not a mistake in God s eyes. I was just lost. In the old hymn song Amazing Grace part of the words in the song say, I once was lost but now I am found. I am so glad to know that God owns me because continued on the next page IN THIS ISSUE: 1,2 Lost Not A Mistake 2,4,5 Announcements 3 Thank You from Puna 6 Missional Opportunities 7 VIF Calendar 8 Sermon Notes

2 Lost Not A Mistake Pastor Darren Sarmiento He is the one that went looking for me and rescued me, by giving me His Son who died on the cross that now I am saved, safe and secured once again for all eternity. Let me remind us again that the context and reason for this parable was that we need to teach and show our children how much God loves them and in that, God desires that not even our children should get lost and be separated from Him forever. Tell our children that we are not a mistake in God s eyes, we are just lost and He sent His Son to rescue us and bring us back to Him. VBS 2018 has been blessed by the hands of God. Thank you for your prayers and donations. We have joyfully shared the gospel with the children and their families. Thank you all that have helped by serving. Mahalo Nui Loa Be in the know! Join our text alerts... To receive messages via text on your cell phone: A) If you have a smartphone, get push notifications. On your iphone or Android phone, open your web browser and go to rmd.at/mrvif Follow the instructions to sign up for Remind. You ll be prompted to download the mobile app. B) If you don t have a smartphone, get text notifications.text the to the number or (808) C) Give your cell number to the office and request to be added. *Standard text message rate may apply.for more information or help call the Church - 2 -

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4 List of Services in Church 1.Ushers: Seat people, Offering & Tithes, Lord s Supper. 2.Greeters: Great people, pass out newsletter. 3.Hospitality: Coffee ministry, purchase & restocking paper products and bathroom supplies. 4.Sound team: Sound technicians. 5.Music Team: Musicians & singers. 6.Buildings and Landscaping team: Water grounds, Mow lawn, weed whack, trimming, weed kill. Maintenance of building. 7.Cleaning teams: Cleaning of Worship Center, bathrooms & lanais. 8.Children s ministry Team: Teachers to teach age related classes, childcare. 9.Youth Ministry Team: Adult men and women to teach our youth. 10.Announcements team: Events or news. 11.Computer and PP team: Managing and input PP songs and sermons, learning and using new software. 12.Cameramen: Video service and take pictures at events, upload to website. 13.Website team: Maintain and update website. 14.SG Team Leaders: Disciple and lead a small group. Call the church office if you want to bless us with a helping hand

5 Announcements Childcare Ministry Schedule Today July 15 Team 3: Francis C, Jaydee G, Jules G, Char C, Wayne S, Haua D. July 22 Team 4: Hawea R, Cheeng S, Jezra S, Joanne R. July 29 Team 1: Karen F, Kolbe F, Alysha F, Melanie F Aug 5 Team 2: Wendy C, Christine B, Vija B, Lauryn I Volunteers Needed! Join a team to be part of this vital ministry caring for our little ones (on a rotation basis) during morning worship service. Sign-up sheet at the back table. For more information, contact VIF Church Cleaning Schedule Week of July Team 1 Yeiko E, Elaine Y, Teri C, Cecile H, Cathy D, Kenneth K, Lucille K* Week of July Team 2 Paul Y*, Linda Y, Mimie F, Loida P, Ruth M, Jean K, Del K, Tonette K Week of August 2-4 Team 3 Mickie A*, Ann M, Carol S, Phyllis N, Ken S, George A. Week of August 9-11 Team 4 Wendy I, Lynette K, Priscilla T*, Jennifer R, Paul R *Key Monitor Sign-up on the back table to be a part of this ministry. Coffee Bar Ministry Come and fellowship (8 am - 9 am and 10:30 am - 11:30 am) We welcome your favorite dish to share - 5 -

6 MISSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES NAMB Missionary Spotlight: Pittsburg, PA Pray for more laborers and partners to plant the gospel and make disciples at the epicenter of the city. Pray for a revival to sweep the Steel City where some 92% of the people have no relationship with Christ. 2,441,127 people live in metro Pittsburg 42.3% are unaffiliated with any religious body 7.6% are affiliated with an evangelical church Pray that we will reach the lost in New York City and that the cityʻs oppressive spirit and its stronghold will be broken. 1 SBC church for every 44,384 Pittsburgh residents International Mission Board Connecting in Prayer PrayerConnect *Lomwe of Malawi and Mozambique-(LOHMway) - In July, a missionary couple engaging a remote segment of Lomweland will be visiting the United States to attend the wedding of their youngest son and to meet three more grandbabies for the first time. They covet your intercession for the believers living along the Indian Ocean coastline. Pray for boldness as even the newest believers share the gospel with their friends and family members who follow a major world religion. Pray that both the new and the more mature believers will continue to be faithful to the task of making disciples while the missionaries are away! Connect with missionaries and chaplains by praying for them and their work, either through specific ministry prayer requests or on their birthdays. Larry and Tammy Brant Camp Lejeune, NC Larry Brant is serving as a U.S. Navy chaplain with Combat Logistics Battalion 22 (CLB 22) at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Please pray as we seek to minister to the marines, sailors and families of CLB 22 as we enter into work-ups this summer in preparation for deployment this fall. Please pray for spiritual awakenings, salvations and protection. Please also pray for my wife, Tammy, as she recovers from rotator cuff surgery. Thank you! Jason McKinney *East Asian Peoples-This summer, there are many Cincinnati, OH trainings and camps being held all across the region. Jason McKinney is lead pastor/planter of One Church Pray for wisdom in how to manage these trainings in in Cincinnati, Ohio. As we learn to be a church of downlight of increasing scrutiny by authorities. Pray that par- town (not just in downtown) Cincinnati, doors are openticipants will be protected and that these trainings will ing to create community within the apartment groups. allow them to grow in their relationship with the Lord. We need a new group of leaders who can live in and become part of these communities. The path is before us *Kampala, Uganda-(kahm-PAH-lah) - This month, to expand and reach into our growing population; now our Kampala Urban Team will be participating in a we need new leaders to raise up or move in. Pray for training session. We will be working together to for- the new leaders, the relationship with apartment managmally develop our city strategy plan. Pray for unity as ers, the network with local businesses and the potential we evaluate the ministries and prepare for the future. within the corporate world of our downtown. - 6-

7 Valley Isle Fellowship Calendar July :00 am- Worship Service 16 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 18 6:30 pm - Youth Night 22 9:00 am- Worship Service 23 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 25 6:30 pm - Youth Night 29 9:00 am - Worship Service - Ordinance of Lordʻs Supper 30 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting August :30 pm - Youth Night 3 5:00 pm - MOvinG Men of God Menʻs Ministry 5 9:00 am- Worship Service 12:00 pm - Discipleship Meeting 6 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 8 6:30 pm - Youth Night 12 9:00 am- Worship Service 12:00 pm - Trustees Meeting 13 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 15 6:30 pm - Youth Night 19 9:00 am- Worship Service 20 6:30 pm - Prayer Meeting 22 6:30 pm - Youth Night Valley Isle Fellowship 1033 Waiale Rd., PO Box 886, Wailuku, HI ph: (808) vifoffice@vifmauihawaii.com - SUNDAY MORNING SERVICE Worship Service - 9:00 am Sunday School - 10:30 am * * * * * Senior Pastor Stephen Kaneshiro cell: (808) icastephen@gmail.com Associate Pastor Darren Sarmiento cell: (808) darrens@vifmauihawaii.com SUNDAY EVENING SERVICE Worship/Study 6:00 pm - 7-

8 Yes I Can Do This Lord Pastor Darren Sarmiento Judges 6:12-16 NLT 12 The angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, Mighty hero, the Lord is with you! 13 Sir, Gideon replied, if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? And where are all the miracles our ancestors told us about? Didn t they say, The Lord brought us up out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us and handed us over to the Midianites. 14 Then the Lord turned to him and said, Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you! 15 But Lord, Gideon replied, how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family! 16 The Lord said to him, I will be with you. And you will destroy the Midianites as if you were fighting against one man. NOTES: - 8 -