FROM YOUR PASTOR by Scott Deneen

Transcription

1 Vol. XLII, No. 19 October 7, 2015 THE CHURCH FAMILY Presenting Everyone Complete in Christ WORLD MISSIONS CONFERENCE OCTOBER 14-18, 2015 See page 2 for schedule. FROM YOUR PASTOR by Scott Deneen When we Fan the Flame of missions, we do not act alone. In fact, fanning the flame of missions is actually a work of Jesus Christ from God s right hand. Jesus Christ is the living, ruling King. And because He ever lives, He supplies everything we need to do His will. Take for instance the Great Commission: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20) Christ has all authority and therefore supplies permission and power to go forth with confidence, because we are people under the direction of the King. Who can stand against Him? Christ supplies His presence, I am with you always. Therefore we have a Companion who is our ever-present help in time of need. Never are we alone, never are we abandoned. And since He has all authority, His presence with us secures success. Christ, then, is our absolute provision. Through His power, authority, Word, and Spirit, He supplies our every need. Whatever task He lays before us is accomplished through Him. He is the vine, we are the branches. As we abide in Him, He bears the fruit. So let us take up Christ s Great Commission call and advance in Kingdom work with all the strength He supplies. Whether it s giving, going, praying, serving, or leading, let us do it all in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ and may God get all the glory.

2 Wednesday Night, October 14 6:00 pm Supper for everyone* 7:00 pm Prayer Service; Children s Conference Conference Schedule Thursday Night, October 15 5:30 pm BBQ for everyone*; Missionary Speaker 7:00 pm Opening Ceremony/Special Music; Worship Service with Keynote Speaker; Children s Conference 8:15 pm Snacks; Missionary Booth Visitation Friday Morning, October 16 9:00 am Missionary Guests Breakfast* with Best Years (Founders Hall) Friday Night, October 16 5:30 pm Evening Meal (Pasta Bar) for everyone*; Missionary Speaker 7:00 pm Worship Service with Keynote Speaker; Special Music with Southlake Academy Ensemble; Missionary Speaker; Children s Conference 8:15 pm Snacks; Missionary Booth Visitation 8:30 pm Drawing for Mission Trip Support Saturday, October 17 Care Groups Host Missionaries: Time and place at the discretion of each group Sunday, October 18 9:00 am Sunday School with Missionary Guests 10:15 am Worship Service with Keynote Speaker *Please sign up for all meals at the Missions Conference bulletin board across from the church office. Children s Missions Conference! 7:00 pm Each Night, Wed. - Fri. Children ages 4-12 Come, children, with us on a trek through THAILAND! We will learn about the children in Thailand! We will study their lives and how the Gospel is reaching them. Sunday, October 11 th (Intro during IB): 6:00-7:30 PM Wednesday, October 14 th (Prayer Service): 7:00 PM Thursday, October 15 th (Session #1): 7:00 PM Friday, October 16 th (Session #2 + Bonfire): 7:00 PM *Nursery provided for children ages

3 VISITING MISSIONARY PRAYER REQUESTS Earl and Rosie Adams For God to bless his Word with the anointing of the Holy Spirit, so that Christ is exalted. For God to bless the missionaries who will be present, and those who are not, by causing them to marvel at the privilege of serving Him in the places He has called them to be, in spite of all the trials. For God to work in all of our hearts to be men and women of prayer, godliness, faithfulness, humility, and trust in an Almighty God. Mark and Raylene Casson (Metanoia Ministries) For God to provide the means for us to expand our mentoring ministry throughout the prison system in Georgia and Mississippi. Michael and Lauren Cochran (Candidates with World Witness) For support raising and travel mercies while doing so. Clyde and Jennifer Comer (Cru Eastern NC) For God to use them effectively in every opportunity. Our scope is broad and the opportunities endless for God to raise up the next generation of spiritual leaders from among African American, Latino, International, Native American, Asian American, and South Asian American communities on campus. We are excited about the possibilities! Jimmie and Martha Sue Mitchell (Global Outreach) For wisdom and strength as we help plan and participate in mission trips for That we might continue to share our vision for missions. That we would be a godly example in all we do. Pedro and Jaris Pollorena (RTS Student Mexico) For our strong desire to return to Los Cabos and plant a church. For us to fund a school that offers a high level education for low-income people so they may come to know the truth of the Gospel and be prepared to share it at any socio-economic and cultural level, and be equipped to impact our world in the way God will have them do it. For others to have the opportunity to experience the above, as we have seen the blessings this brings. Jim and Wanda Ramsey (PEF Romania / Gaston County Prison Ministry) For Wanda s continued improvement from knee surgery. For my relationship with the new staff at Gaston Correctional Center to remain good. For my ministry in Romania and for Pastor Liviu and his wife Sica. They are a little discouraged with so many families leaving the church for Western Europe, seeking better lives. For the Evangelism Explosion missionaries working with the Syrian refugees traveling through Romania. Continued on next page. 3

4 Visiting Missionary Prayer Requests continued Andy and Karen Weaver (Papua, New Guinea) For a job for our son Walter that is a good fit for him. Also, for a good living situation and for friendships for him. Thus far all of these things have been rather discouraging for him and us. Getting him settled is the key to our being able to return to Papua New Guinea. Pray that if it is the Lord s will that He will give Walter some direction and allow us to serve again in PNG. Pray for us to know the Lord s timing in that. For an increase in monthly prayer and financial partners, and for one-time gifts for airfare. David and Robin White (MTW Georgia) For the rewriting the Living In Grace curriculum. The course is the foundation of all that they do at MTW. Pray that it will become more effective for the new generation of missionaries. Move it from being a one-week conference to a discipleship tool that will help establish a lifestyle of experiencing and sharing God's grace on the mission field. Kenton and Adriana Wood (MTW Mexico) For my new marriage to Adriana, just 3 months ago. She is a long-time member of our mother church. My first wife, Karen, died of cancer 3 years ago. We are doing well; Adriana is adjusting to being the wife of a pastor. I want her to be respected and loved. Growth of our mother church and daughter churches % before the end of the year. My son James is in the Army and is being deployed to the Middle East in 2 weeks. He is a strong Christian. Pray for his safety and good testimony. Salvation for a man in our church, Francisco Rodriguez! 2015 MISSIONS CONFERENCE GOALS Prayer Goal 405 people praying regularly for a missionary. Attendance Goal Faith Promise Goals $200,000 Level Three $195,000 Level Two $190,000 Level One Make plans to attend each night. Be sure to get your card punched each night for a chance at one of five $100 Trip Scholarships to be given away Friday night! 4

5 JOIN US SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25 FOR A CELEBRATION LUNCH Make plans to attend our Celebration Lunch following the worship service on October 25. The celebration is to honor God for Pastor Dan s 26 years of ministry and Pastor Scott s installation as our new senior pastor. Ham will be provided and we ask each family to bring sides and desserts. And of course, don t forget the deviled eggs! ATTENTION MINISTRY LEADERS Sunday, October 25, is the deadline for requests to be included in the 2016 church budget. Remember to submit your written requests to Church Treasurer Gary Neely no later than this October 25. We are once again participating in the Samaritan s Purse OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. This year we are asking you to bring in items to fill boxes. Volunteers from American Heritage Girls will then take these donations and fill boxes. Donations can be placed in the bins located across from the church office. If you prefer to make a monetary donation, you may give a check made payable to Samaritan s Purse. It is preferred that the monetary donation be in increments of $7.00 as this is the cost of shipping a box. Monetary donations should be given to Sherry Teague or dropped off in the church office. Donations can also be dropped off at the designated table with the Missionary displays during the Missions Conference. Donations are being accepted now through October 18th. Suggested (new) items are: toys, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, notebooks, paper, coloring and picture books, toothbrushes, toothpaste, bar soap, combs, washcloths, wet wipes, t-shirts, socks, sunglasses, hair clips, jewelry, flashlights with batteries, playing cards, stuffed animals keep size in mind, small tools Items not to include: saws, pocketknives, toy guns, military figures, chocolate, liquids, lotions, medicines 5

6 REQUEST FROM OUR CHILDREN S MINISTRY TEAM The Children s Ministry needs to borrow a twin sized set of bunk beds. It will be used as a prop for our Christmas play. We will need to set it up on Sunday, November 29 th and it can be removed following the Christmas play on December 5 th. If you have a set of twin bunk beds that we could borrow for that week, please contact Lauren Fox at lhfox@carolina.rr.com or by calling the church office. If you have a child away at college, please call the church office to be sure we have their correct address. We will soon be sending out a special care package. We want to be sure every college student who is living away from home receives one. Thanks to everyone for your prayers, cards, meals, visits, and phone calls after my recent surgery. You are the best church family that I have ever heard of anywhere! I appreciate each gesture of love and concern and ask for your continuing prayers as I recover. Linda Faggart I want to thank each of you for the many years of love and support you ve shown me. Being a part of this church has given me many pleasant memories to cherish. I am extremely touched and grateful for the generous gift as well. I sincerely thank each of you for the enjoyable working relationship and friendships we ve formed and wish you all well in the future. Paula Saunders 6

7 WITH OUR CHURCH FAMILY Congratulations to Crystal Hill and Eric Hare who were married on September 10 in Gatlinburg, TN. Their residence address is 341 Rock Ridge Lane, Mt. Holly, NC, Crystal is the daughter of David and Donna Hill. Her brother and sister, John Hill and Sandra Hill Todd, are also members of FPC. We are praying for early recovery for two members of our church family who had surgery recently. Vicki Gamage and Mary Rankin were both operated on in late September and are recuperating at home. We are grateful for a wonderful example of Christian marriage: John and Betty Ann Abernathy celebrated 65 years of marriage on October 6. On-the-job accidents are no joke and can happen anywhere even in a church office! Sandra Taylor, our wonderful Administrative Assistant, sliced the side of her index finger while operating the office paper cutter last week. Former EMT Jimmie Mitchell and RN Alice Jessen were on hand to render first aid and then to drive Sandra to an Urgent Care facility for fuller treatment. After a long weekend of rest, Sandra was back on the job Monday sporting a big bandage and typing a little slower. Sarah Faggart moved last week to her new home in Chicago to begin her professional career in speech pathology. A graduate of Ole Miss, Sarah, daughter of Ed and Linda Faggart, completed her master s degree at Western Carolina University this year. And Hannah Jessen has arrived in La Paz, Bolivia for a year-long internship with International Justice Ministries. She is the daughter of Steve and Julie Jessen. Hannah graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill this spring and hopes to attend law school following her internship. ON THE HOME FRONT MISSIONS NEWS The Shower Trailer will be headed to South Carolina this week to be used in the disaster relief effort following the floods. NEWS FROM OUR MISSIONARY FAMILY Jake and Melissa Hunt are hosting a brand new Bible study in their home in Prague, Czech Republic. Please pray for this group of nine as they go through the book of Acts. The Hunts two sons, Sam and Foard, have begun a new year of primary school and Eliza is going two days a week to an all-czech speaking preschool. They write: Please pray that we ll be wise in balancing work and family, that God will protect our marriage, and most of all that we ll see our days as opportunities to love and serve him, not check things off a list. Steve and Rita Williams are back in New Zealand after a time of home ministry assignment in the states. Pray for their involvement in new ministry opportunities in Christchurch and the South Pacific. Look for opportunities to connect with some of our missionary families from around the world who will be attending our Missions Conference - Mark Casson, Clyde and Jennifer Comer, Pedro and Jaris Pollorena, Andy and Karen Weaver, David and Robin White and Kenton and Adriana Wood as well as meeting missionary candidates Michael and Lauren Cochrane. 7

8 16 Amanda Huss Martha Murphy 17 Grover Rodgers Vickie Smith 19 Debbie Boggess Jeromy Rumfelt 20 Art Cozart 21 Gary Neely 24 Ailene Friday Alan Saine Heather Wallace 27 Chris Graham \ 29 Caleb Hinshaw 30 Barbara Rhyne 31 Zander Davie Catherine Mosely 22 Brian Abernathy Joel Jessen The Church Family is a twice-monthly publication of First Presbyterian Church 512 Old. Mt. Holly Rd., Stanley, NC Phone Fax info@fpcstanley.org web site: Senior Pastor, Dan King Associate Pastor, Scott Deneen Worship 10:15 AM Sunday School 9:00 AM Bulk Rate U. S. Postage Paid Permit No. 12 Stanley, NC RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED