many times here at Lakeview Baptist Church. The verse is from Proverbs, Chapter 3:5-6.

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1 The Encourager LAKEVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH Adam Metzger, Pastor MARCH 2012 Guest writer... Amy Zesiger A New Perspective on Proverbs Pastor Adam asked me to write for the Encourager this month. After considering what I might share that would not bore people, the thought occurred to me while driving home from work. I had been traveling from CityLinC Ministries, where I have been working this past summer. Dale Boyer had come to preach at Lakeview Baptist during the time we were in search of a pastor. He brought guests who been changed by the Lord and who shared their testimonies. Because of his sermon, I became more interested in learning about CityLinC and eventually had the opportunity to intern there this summer. A song was playing in the car from the band, Sixpence None The Richer. The singer s soft and sweet voice echoed through the speakers as the car rolled slowly, windows open, the wind s breeze quietly blowing in my hair. The haunting melody breathed: Trust in the Lord with all your heart/ Lean not on your own understanding/in all your ways acknowledge Him/and he will make your paths straight. The words sounded so familiar, probably because I have heard it many times here at Lakeview Baptist Church. The verse is from Proverbs, Chapter 3:5-6. I let my arm rest on the opened window and my heart dance as the car drove on. Sometimes saying verses seems so redundant. While memorizing them, we may never take the time to actually understand the full meaning. A verse may say one thing to somebody, and something totally different to someone else. So, naturally, I will let you know what this verse means to me. I am sure there have been times in our lives where each of us has leaned on the Lord. Lean not on your own understanding (NIV, Proverbs 3:5). I can tell you for sure in my life, I have. I can tell you the strength that it takes to put your whole life into an invisible being s hands. Laying down your plans, laying those heavy burdens you have carried, sometimes it s the only way we fight to rise another day. In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your path s straight (Proverbs 3:6). The song in the car played on to add an interpretive meaning expressed through this powerful verse of Proverbs. The following verse goes: Don t worry about tomorrow/he s got it under control/just trust in the Lord with all of your heart/and He will carry you through. Well, I can tell you at that moment, small tears grew in my eyes at the sweet tune. I have always enjoyed the power that music creates when it is played at just the time you need it. I was once told that as we grow older, we learn to appreciate things more. We have lived a richer life and carry a deeper perspective with us. Never have I heard that verse before than this time in the car when it has affected my life so much. I want to thank Lakeview Baptist Church for being my rock and the safe place in my life. Thank you for teaching me about our wonderful creator who has done so much for us. He has shaped me to be the woman I am today, and for that, I am eternally grateful. God has given me eyes to see his majesty, a voice to sing his praise, and love to show compassion, forgiveness and grace. Because of my friends, family, new pastor and heavenly father, I praise him for giving me the wonderful opportunity to share with you the new perspective on Proverbs I had found that day. No matter what may happen in this world, the LORD will carry you through. Amen. Amy Zesiger

2 THE ENCOURAGER Sundays at 10:45 a.m. PAGE 2

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4 SOUP-PER PER NEWS Mary Kline & friends say Thank You to everyone who supported the SOUP-ER ER-BOWL SUNDAY mission project for the Lakeview Site Food Pantry. We collected 90 cans of soup, 22 boxes of crackers and 13 packages of Ramen noodles. XYZ Club All retirees of the church are invited! The next meeting will be Tuesday, March 20, 2012 Meet in church parlor at 11:30 am Eating out and fellowship at The Ale House. Directory Update John & Heidi Chmiel Phone: EnaukL Arlon & Shirley Elser 3217 Gulf City Road Ruskin, FL Dan & Gigi Truex, Heather & Mitchell 234 Devon Battle Creek, MI ELIZABETH CIRCLE NOTES Next meeting hosted by Cora Beebe March 13 1 p.m. Sharing Time Easter Lilies Time once again to order lilies to adorn the front of the sanctuary on Easter Sunday. This is an opportunity to order a lily in memory of or in honor of loved ones. Please turn in orders to the church office by Wednesday, April 4th. Name In memory of In honor of $5.25 each = PAGE 4

5 THE ENCOURAGER From Pastor s Blog... IM will kick off the three-year anniversary with a huge 7-day World Mission Conference (WMC) May 18-25, After a six-year hiatus, the weeklong WMC is coming back to the Green Lake Conference Center in Green Lake, WI. The 2012 conference, which will include a 3-day call retreat, focuses on discerning God s call to Christian service and how to make that call a reality. The theme for 2012 is Mission3: Hear the Call. (For more information go to hear-the-call.) Got the 2011 annual report for the Lakeview Food Pantry, hosted by Lakeview Baptist Church (and staffed by a total of 12 local churches, including ours) 8332 people served last year (some repeat) 2915 family units 3431 Volunteer hours given. That s crazy! This special offering will be collected during the month of March PAGE 5

6 MARCH NURSERY VOLUNTEERS CRIB 4 Evelyn Holcomb Betty Trumbull 11 Sandy Allwardt Mary Kline 18 Tonya Metzger Evelyn Holcomb 25 Marni Haapapuro Lisa Thomas March Kid s Church leaders: Gloria Allred & Barry Linscott MARCH EARLY GREETERS 4 Art Covert & Carl Corless 11 Walt & Marni Haapapuro 18 Phil & Linda Daniel 25 Joby Ray & Anna Rae Waltman MARCH COFFEE HOUR 4 Heidi Chmiel 11 Richard & Elizabeth Trumbull 18 Corless family 25 Linscott family FROM THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY: Please remember to designate on your offering envelope how you would like your offering distributed to the various funds, i.e. General Fund, Missions, Fellowship. Since we do not have pledge cards we need your direction each time you give an offering. Thank you. MONTHLY FINANCIAL RECORD for January 2012 for February 2012 Weekly need: $ 3,239. $ 4,049. Needed to date: $ 20,246. $36,318. Received to date: $ 17,578 $26,852. Received: Received: 1/1 9,346. 2/5 1,792. 1/8 2,798. 2/12 3,637. 1/15 1,787. 2/19 2,065. 1/22 2,159. 2/26 1,780. 1/29 1,488. TOTAL $ 17,578. $ 9,274. MEIJER COMMUNITY REWARDS UPDATE Earned in January: $ Since start of program $6,596 (75 months) LBC earns up to 1% of your purchases each time you use your Rewards card and make a payment by Meijer Credit Card, Cash or PIN- Debit payment. PAGE 6

7 March S. 20th Street Battle Creek, MI info@mylakeviewbaptist.com Ph Fax: Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat SUNDAY SCHEDULE 9:30 a.m. Bible Studies 10:45 a.m. Worship & Kid s Church 12:00 Fellowship 12:30 Chin Ministry 3 p.m. G.U.R.L.S. Group 4:30 Youth 4 2nd Sunday of Lent Communion Sunday AM Lakeview Lenten Lux Café 6:30 FPU 1 8 6:30 Beth Moore Women s group 2 World Day of Prayer rd Sunday of Lent Daylight Savings Time begins :00 PM Elizabeth Circle 14 7 AM Lakeview Lenten Lux Café :30 FPU 18 4th Sunday of Lent 19 6 PM Council 7 PM Trustees, Bd of CE, Diaconate 20 11:30 XYZ Spring begins 21 7 AM Lakeview Lenten Lux Café 6:30 FPU th Sunday of Lent AM Lakeview Lenten Lux Café Pastor Adam leads devotion 6:30 FPU

8 7 S. 20th Street Battle Creek, MI Non-Profit org. US Postage paid Battle Creek, MI Permit No. 614 R E T U R N S E R V I C E R E Q U E S T E D Sundays at 10:45 a.m. Bir thdays 1 Phillip Daniel 4 Norita Kalkman (12 yrs.) Florence Plummer 6 Susan Taylor 7 Brian Johnston 8 Tom Hicks Mary Kline 9 Brad Cornell 10 Marjorie Dameron 11 Pat Ritzler 12 Kim Metzer 13 Jenna Haapapuro 15 John Chmiel (14 yrs.) 17 Earl Holcomb 18 Dawn Corless Joyce Mead 23 Gloria Allred Hershel Davis 24 Walter Haapapuro Kathy Niece 25 John Allwardt John Edwards Ethan Thomas 26 Phil Allwardt Haroldine Colwell 28 Terry Walbeck Josh Westcott Rich Zesiger 29 Opal Dille Sue Rose 30 Desiree Allred Norma Carr Brad Johnston 31 Reilly Sleeper Anniversaries 9 Taylor & Tanya Neely 16 John & Heidi Chmiel 21 Barry & Aleta Linscott 27 Daniel & Men K Cing Kap 31 Don & Kathy Snyder