CAMP. June :00am-12:00pm. Zion Reformed Church -- March 2017

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Charles Fields
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After all, our attempts to be great -- wealthy, powerful, successful, famous -- often become the "enemies" of our doing the good God commands.

1 Zion Reformed Church -- March 2017 FROM GREAT TO GOOD Jim Collins' 2001 book Good to Great featured companies that had "made the leap" to greatness. Years later, many of them are no longer great; some aren't even around. Should Christians seek greatness? After all, our attempts to be great -- wealthy, powerful, successful, famous -- often become the "enemies" of our doing the good God commands. God's Word flips on its head the saying "good is the enemy of great." The meek, Jesus teaches, will inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5). "Whoever would be great among you," he says, "must be your servant" (Mark 10:43, ESV). One of Jesus' most famous parables is called the Good Samaritan, not the Great Samaritan. And goodness, not greatness is a fruit of the Spirit. Christians & churches are called not to greatness but to doing good for the sake of the world. Let's shift our focus "from great to good." - Based on "From Great to Good," Homiletics, Jan-Feb 2017 WONDER OF WONDERS The world is filled with wonders, writes Nathaniel Olson. Consider chemistry: Salt is formed by two poisonous substances (sodium & chlorine). The alnico magnet, the world's strongest, contains three nonmagnetic substances (aluminum, nickel & cobalt). And water consists of oxygen (which is flammable) & hydrogen (which burns easily); yet water puts out fires! That pales in comparison to the wonder of salvation through Jesus. Every day, Olson writes, Jesus transforms filthy, hopeless sinners into new, forgiven creations. "On the skid rows of our cities, in wealthy & poor homes, in jungles whenever any soul wants Christ, the wonder of the new birth is taking place." Our God is the true Wonder of wonders. "None can compare" (Psalm 40:5). CAMP The 2017 Lake View Camp schedule is posted on the office door. For those Zion campers who register/pay by April 30, Zion will pay half the fee for the camp of your choice. Please register by the grade you will be entering Fall Please note, Elementary Camp #1 (Jun 15-17) & Middle School Camp #3 (Aug 11-15) are expected to fill quickly. If you are considering either of these camps, please turn in your registration form & payment ASAP!! Questions? Registration forms? See Lanette. June :00am-12:00pm Age 4 (by June 12) thru Grade 6 $8.50/student OR $17.00/family Registration forms are by the Catch-All Box & the deadline to register is May 14. Prayer should be the key of the day & the lock of the night. - Geo.Herbert

Maynard Koenen was granted use of the Fellowship Hall/Kitchen for a family reunion on September 3. WEDNESDAYS @ 7:00pm General Benevolent Attendance JAN 29 $2,475.00 $402.00 94 FEB 05 $2,179.00 $787.

60 Mary Meints / Norma Miller / Clyde Parks Darlene Meints / Esther Dorenkamp Dorothy Jurgens / Pat Blau / Bob McCormick MAR 05 Corey & Teresa C. MAR 12 Mark & Carma D. MAR 19 Joel & Amanda R.

Funeral services were held January 27 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hampton. ROGER & CAROL STOCK & family on the death of Carol's mother, Norma Smith, on January 30.

Funeral services were held February 11 at Austinville Christian Reformed Church. BRIAN & ANN LUPKES & family on the death of Ann's mother, Margaret McCurdy, on February 11.

2 Maynard Koenen was granted use of the Fellowship Hall/Kitchen for a family reunion on September 3. 7:00pm General Benevolent Attendance JAN 29 $2, $ FEB 05 $2, $ FEB 12 $1, $ BUDGET $3, $ Mary Meints / Norma Miller / Clyde Parks Darlene Meints / Esther Dorenkamp Dorothy Jurgens / Pat Blau / Bob McCormick MAR 05 Corey & Teresa C. MAR 12 Mark & Carma D. MAR 19 Joel & Amanda R. MAR 26 Phil & Rose M. Judy D.* / Marge J. / Sue S. / Esther D. ROSE DIRKSEN & family on the death of Rose's daughter, Gladys Koch, on January 23. Funeral services were held January 27 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Hampton. ROGER & CAROL STOCK & family on the death of Carol's mother, Norma Smith, on January 30. Funeral services were held February 9 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary & Cemetery in Denver, CO. HARLYN & CHARLANE JANSSEN & family on the death of Harlyn's mother, Julia Janssen, on February 3. Funeral services were held February 11 at Austinville Christian Reformed Church. BRIAN & ANN LUPKES & family on the death of Ann's mother, Margaret McCurdy, on February 11. Funeral services were held February 14 at the Panora First Christian Church. The family & friends of EVELYN HARKEN who died February 18. Funeral services were held February 22 at Zion. AUDIO VIDEO MAR 05 Corey Duane MAR 12 Jerry Lanette MAR 19 Duane Kolton MAR 26 Dave Carma FELLOWSHIP MAR 05 RCYF MAR 12 Hosts are needed MAR 19 Myron & Jan V. MAR 26 Hosts are needed ENTERING GLORY Martyn Lloyd-Jones, who served as pastor of London's Westminster Chapel for almost 30 years, couldn't speak at the end of his life. Days before dying, he wrote, "Do not pray for my healing. Do not hold me back from the glory." The Apostle Paul was torn between staying on earth & going to heaven: "For to me to live is Christ, & to die is gain. I am hard pressed between the two." (Phil1:21,23) Neither of these men feared death; nor should any Christian. As Haddon Robinson said, "For those who trust Jesus Christ, death is not a sheriff dragging us off to court but a servant ushering us into the presence of a loving Lord."

Rose Dirksen, Bob McCormick Mar 25 @ 10:00am There will also be a brief WOZ business meeting at the brunch. Questions? See Sara Stevenson.

/ Judy D. Hosts: Audrey V.* / Dixie A. / Arlene M. / Deone D.

(Fellowship Hall) Devotions/Lesson: Judy; Host: Arlene JOY CIRCLE - MAR 14 @ 7:00pm Devotions/Lesson/Host: Carma CONVERSATION STARTER What is your favorite sports team?

Slowly & surely, the hand of discipline must pass, & God speaks at each strike. But over & over passes the hand of mercy, showering down sixtyfold of blessing for each stroke of discipline or trial.

- Virginia Brandt Berg 03 Esther Dorenkamp 07 Kevin Ballhagen David Harms 08 Tjaden Dixon Shirley Ludens 09 Sydney Buseman Lindsey Eberling 10 Jon Suntken 11 Clyde Parks Vernon VanHorn 13 Sue Smit 15

the angels that remembered us at Christmas. - Clyde & Elaine Parks KOENEN - Thank you so much to each of you for praying for my brother, Craig, when he had his stroke & heart attack.

3 Rose Dirksen, Bob McCormick Mar 10:00am There will also be a brief WOZ business meeting at the brunch. Questions? See Sara Stevenson. For planning purposes, please sign up on the bulletin board by March 19 if you plan to attend. Program: Carma D.* / Diane H. / Deone D. / Judy D. Hosts: Audrey V.* / Dixie A. / Arlene M. / Deone D. CIRCLE MEETINGS HOPE CIRCLE - MAR 7:00pm (Fellowship Hall) Devotions/Lesson: Group; Host: Deanna SUNRISE CIRCLE - MAR 9:00am Devotions/Lesson/Host: Mardel VESPER CIRCLE - MAR 1:30pm (Fellowship Hall) Devotions/Lesson: Judy; Host: Arlene JOY CIRCLE - MAR 7:00pm Devotions/Lesson/Host: Carma CONVERSATION STARTER What is your favorite sports team? GOD'S HANDS Our life is like the dial of a clock. The hands are God s hands, passing over & over again -- the short hand of discipline & the long hand of mercy. Slowly & surely, the hand of discipline must pass, & God speaks at each strike. But over & over passes the hand of mercy, showering down sixtyfold of blessing for each stroke of discipline or trial. Both hands are fastened to one secure point: the great, unchanging heart of a God of love. - Virginia Brandt Berg 03 Esther Dorenkamp 07 Kevin Ballhagen David Harms 08 Tjaden Dixon Shirley Ludens 09 Sydney Buseman Lindsey Eberling 10 Jon Suntken 11 Clyde Parks Vernon VanHorn 13 Sue Smit 15 Diane Hughes / Gordon Meyer 17 Mark Ballhagen 18 Jason Meier 19 Christian Dixon 22 Ron Jurgens / Kamryn Miller 23 LaVonne Conlon 26 Maia Zewert 28 Kendal Koenen 30 Jerry Stock PARKS - Thank you to the angels that remembered us at Christmas. - Clyde & Elaine Parks KOENEN - Thank you so much to each of you for praying for my brother, Craig, when he had his stroke & heart attack. All prayers were answered & he is home & being prepared for open heart surgery in April. Thank you again & God bless all or you. - Carol Koenen DIRKSEN - Saying thank you seems so small for all of the love showed to my family & me at the loss of Gladys. To Pastor Art for all your encouraging words that will be with me always. The prayers, cards, visits, phone calls & food brought in from you, God's people. Isaiah 25 speaks of how God is our refuge, our shelter & God will wipe away our tears, God is with us always. What a wonderful Savior we have. Thank you, in Christian love. - Rose Dirksen & family LUPKES - Dear Zion friends, thank you for all the love & support you have shown to us during our time of loss. Mom was an amazing woman & she will be greatly missed. Our hope & joy is in knowing she is in heaven. - Brian & Ann Lupkes

4 YEARLY REPORT TO MISSION ENGAGED CHURCHES FROM JEREMY &SUSAN BEEBOUT Country: Niger Mission Partner: Evangelical Church of the Republic of Niger (EERN) Overall Goal: Church Planting / Disciple Making Ministry among an Unreached People Group, the Orma 1. Tell us about your Mission Partner & how they believe your mission work has impacted their ministry & the lives of the people they served this past year. This year we have continued to build & expand on existing ministries that are bringing hope & healing by sowing the love of Christ in action through the church. The clinic continues to get busier. In January we added laboratory services. This has been a great blessing to the patients & has facilitated the provision of care. We hired two additional Nigerien physicians this year & sent our director Dr. Yacouba on to Internal Medicine residency with our blessings. We brought in Dr. Hamadou who is being prepared to serve as director for the Dogon Doutchi Clinic. We expanded dermatology services through a teledermatology project with the University of Iowa. We hosted many volunteers from the Universities of Iowa & Minnesota. We continue to hear testimonies about how much our services, & especially the compassionate way we provide them, are appreciated. We have also broken ground & made good progress on the physical structure for a nursing school on the CADR compound. Plans are moving forward for the first class of students in the fall of This school will meet a longstanding need for well-trained, Christian nurses to serve at the many Christian & mission hospitals in Niger as well as public & private institutions where the love of Christ can shine even brighter. On the rural-development & infrastructure side of activities we continue to move forward albeit slowly with steps to completing two borehole projects in other regions of the country. This has been a slow process largely because the overall vision of the project has changed several times. Along with those projects we are making steps toward breaking ground on the new clinic site in Dogon Doutchi. 2. Describe how an engaged congregation's involvement & prayers enhances this ministry & what are some of the other ways a church can be effective & supportive. The EERN is expanding its ministry in many different directions in addition to those mentioned above related to CADR activities. As the EERN continues to grow, the prayers of concerned congregations are essential for attaining God's wisdom, provision, & direction for the future. There is also a place for committed congregations to come alongside of the EERN as this expansion occurs to partner in this growth both spiritually & physically. 3. Share a story about a life directly impacted and/or transformed by your ministry with our partner. It is always humbling to hear about the impact of the clinical ministry. Our head nurse, Rahamou, was recently looking for housing in the neighborhood around the clinic. When she identified a place, the neighbors told her, "The landlord will never agree to rent it to you because you are a Christian." When she met the landlord, he said, "Aren't you from Clinique Olivia? There's no way I can refuse to rent to you because of the service you offer to the neighborhood!" Then when she asked her immediate neighbors if she could use an extension cord to have electricity until hers can be installed they would not let her pay for the electricity she consumed again because they appreciate the care she offers at the clinic. Our patients also remain surprisingly open to prayer & we are finding ways to help the members of our team be more empowered & comfortable offering spiritual care to our patients in addition to physical treatment. The clinic offers a strong testimony for Christ & for the EERN in an increasingly hostile environment. 4. How are new leaders being prepared & nurtured in hopes of empowering our Mission Partner to grow & become more self-sufficient? One example of future leaders being prepared in this ministry is the preparation of a nursing school which seeks to develop Christian nurses that are competent & compassionate & willing to live out their faith in their interactions with patients. 5. Share how you are directly involved in preparing a leader who might succeed you in the future? We are currently preparing Dr. Hamadou so that he will be capable of directing the new clinic that is scheduled to start construction in the near future. As he

moves on, we hope to put leadership of Clinique Olivia in the hands of young Dr. Joel who has been working at the clinic for a couple of years & is an eager learner. 6.

5 moves on, we hope to put leadership of Clinique Olivia in the hands of young Dr. Joel who has been working at the clinic for a couple of years & is an eager learner. 6. Help us to understand how we can continue to be in prayer for you, your family, our Mission Partner & the people of God. This year is likely to be a year of big changes. Please pray for wisdom, peace & patience as we look forward to the following events: opening of the nursing school, which means finalizing the curriculum, finding qualified teachers & administrators, recruiting the best students & putting it all in action. building the clinic at Dogon Doutchi. This will involve seeking government authorization, enclosing the space & building the first clinical block. It's exciting to see Clinique Olivia expand! probable transitions in leadership of the EERN & CADR. There are initial discussions taking place of potential structural changes between the EERN & CADR. We believe changes could be beneficial for future growth. However those will require some difficult decisions to be made. Pray for good communication & understanding YEARLY REPORT TO MISSION ENGAGED CHURCHES FROM DICK & DONNA SWART Country: Ethiopia Mission Partner: Kale Hiwot Church Overall Goal: To see biblical, contextual churches planted among the Daasanech people & to see churches empowered & individuals mentored for spiritual growth into missions outreach. 1. Tell us about your Mission Partner & how they believe your mission work has impacted their ministry & the lives of the people they served this past year. Our national church partner is the Kale Hiwot Church (KHC), the largest national evangelical church in Ethiopia. Over this past year we have worked closely with the KHC in their vision to empower local believers to become evangelists to their own people, rather than their usual way of sending in evangelists from other areas. Two Daasanech from our area, Nanuk & Aster, have completed this training. Now three more from our area are receiving it. This training takes place every three months at a Bible training center about an hour away. Believers from many different people groups throughout southern Ethiopia come together to learn ways to share the gospel with their people through storytelling, bible study & sharing personal testimony. This is a wonderful time of fellowship for them all & a real source of encouragement to spend time with other believers in the same type of ministry. Another way we have impacted the ministry over this past year is in helping the believers build a church building. Dick was able to use supplies we had on hand, for a pipe & steel structure. The national church we partner with provided the tin, & the believers cut wood to be used for the half walls. Dick used his great skill to bring all that together to be the perfect structure for this environment, & one the believers can maintain. The believers have a real sense of ownership of it & planned a beautiful dedication service to give God the praise for it, & to commit it to His glory. 2. Describe how an engaged congregation s involvement & prayers enhances this ministry & what are some of the other ways a church can be effective & supportive. Of course every one of you supporting us enhances our ministry through your giving, your prayers, & the many letters of encouraging we receive. This is such a blessing to us. 3. Share a story about a life directly impacted and/or transformed by your ministry with our partner. One of the most exciting things for me over this past year has been with two women I met with for Daasanech scripture reading & study. It is so exciting to see them just light up when we read a passage that really speaks to a particular need, or a truth they see & know. They will say Tudle! which means that s so right! I am continually amazed at their understanding of scripture in its truest sense. Several times they have talked of how the Holy Spirit gives just the right passage on the right day, just when they needed to hear those specific words related to something they are dealing with. I have truly seen these women transformed, as they see that Gods word has everything they need for life & godliness, just as scripture claims it does.

6 4. How are new leaders being prepared & nurtured in hopes of empowering our Mission Partner to grow & become more self-sufficient? As I stated above, this training program done through KHC is really preparing the local believers to be evangelists to their own people. Two from our area have completed the two year program & three more from our area are receiving it now. Our role in this is supporting the Daasanech evangelists Nanuk & Aster as they lead the churches here, as well as the evangelistic outreach. Their salaries come from the KHC as well, so this will keep the work going even when we leave. They have full leadership responsibilities of the church here now, including baptisms & communion. 5. Share how you are directly involved in preparing a leader who might succeed you in the future? The main way we are doing this is by supporting those mentioned above that have been selected for ministry leadership. We meet regularly with them & hold them accountable to what they have learned about outreach as well as pastoring the church. We give them full responsibility, but are an ever present sounding board when they need it. Another way we are supporting the outreach is in providing evangelistic tools such as The Chronological Presentation of the Gospel, or CPG that we have translated & have in audio form. We have this in the hands of key Christians who have nightly meetings throughout the village. These lessons are excellent for first presenting the gospel in a culture such as this. We also have the Daasanech New Testament in audio form which our evangelists use & are finding so helpful, as well as their using the written New Testament. Donna continues to meet with ladies a couple days a week helping them learn to read Daasanech Scripture, & then having a bible study & prayer together. We also have a scripture memorization program with these women, & then they teach the verses to others that can t read, so they have the truths of God s word with them always. Many have been put to song for easier learning & they are excited about that, & I often hear scripture being sung throughout the village. Over the past year we have seen the Holy Spirit work in a way as never before. There have been 78 baptisms, & a real openness in our village that has not been there before. The believers are empowered in a new way, seeing they too have the responsibility to share the word with those around them. 6. Help us to understand how we can continue to be in prayer for you, your family, our Mission Partner & the people of God. We are so thankful for the health & protection over this past year & we thank you for upholding us specifically in your prayers. For the KHC we would ask you to pray that they will continue to have the vision to train & empower local believers as evangelists by training & financially supporting them. This is a new concept & some in KHC still think the traditional way of outside more educated evangelists doing the job is the best way. We are confident that the best ones to share the gospel to the Daasanech are Daasanech whose lives have been changed through their faith. Pray for Nauk & Aster specifically that they can stay focused on their ministry & not be distracted by culture, or other pulls that take away from their ministry. Pray for Marta, Lokitay & Simila as they are receiving the evangelistic training now, that they will be good future leaders here. Pray for the Daasanech as a whole as they face a lot of change as the outside world is encroaching on them through government development projects & foreign investment. Pray for Ethiopia as a whole as it faces political unrest due to uprisings throughout the country causing them to declare a State of Emergency in October, 2016 & will continue through April, Pray for resolution & for our safety. Bible Quiz In John 4, Jesus talks with a woman about living water. Where does that conversation take place? A. Sychar B. Samaria C. Galilee D. Jacob s well Answer: See John 4:4-7

Zion Reformed Church 2029B Jonquil Avenue Sheffield, IA 50475 641-579-6186 / www.zionreformed.

8 Zion Reformed Church 2029B Jonquil Avenue Sheffield, IA / Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday :00pm Hope Circle RCYF 5 *Food Pantry* *Youth Sunday* 9:15am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 6:00pm Bible Study :00am Sewing Group Sunrise Circle 7:00pm Deacons/Elders RCYF Praise Team 8:00pm Consistory :15am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 6:00pm Bible Study 1:30pm Vesper Circle 9:00am Sewing Group 7:00pm Joy Circle 7:00pm RCYF 19 *Floodlight Deadline* :15am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 6:00pm Bible Study 9:00am Sewing Group 7:00pm RCYF 10:00am WOZ Lenten Brunch 26 *MSC Offering* *Kids' Choir* 9:15am Worship 10:45am Sunday School 6:00pm Bible Study :00am Sewing Group 29 7:00pm RCYF 30 31

Zion Reformed Church FLOODLIGHT

Zion Reformed Church FLOODLIGHT *The Annual Congregational Meeting took place on December 9, 2018. * Consistory members were elected for a three yr. term: Elders: Jerry Buseman, Dennis Crom Deacon: Phil