I even found this information pertaining to the direction ministers should be buried:

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1 The Trinity Times May 2017 Volume 18 Keeping you informed of the timely happenings, news, Mission and ministry of Trinity Christian Church A Word from Terry Where there is no vision the people perish. Proverbs 29:18 6 Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, What do these stones mean to you? 7 then you shall say to them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever. Joshua 4:6-7 Memorial days have been with us for centuries. In the Bible stones were gathered together to remember the miracles of God. In the reference from Joshua memorial stones were to be reminders for future generations as to God's mighty Hand of deliverance. At the end of May a day is set aside in this country to remember those who laid down their lives for our country. The origin of this day is described as follows: "Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in service of the United States of America.... Regardless of the exact date or location of its origins, one thing is clear Memorial Day was borne out of the Civil War and a desire to honor our dead." Memorial or grave stones are meant to do the same. They are there to remember and honor our dead. But look in most cemeteries and you will find that most memorial stones face east. Why? The origin of this practice is as follows: "Though some graveyards no longer heed any particular alignment, it was most common in the Western world right up through to the early 20th century to have graves face the East. Christian tradition holds that salvation may come from the East, that the bodies should be ready to face their final judgment and fate from that direction." I even found this information pertaining to the direction ministers should be buried: "Although Christians are traditionally buried facing east, clergy members are generally buried facing west. The belief behind this is that when the dead are risen, clergy will rise facing their congregations, ready to lead their people once again." Well when Jesus instituted His memorial he had a special meal prepared. This is one of the things he mentioned when he gave the emblems: Continued on page 2

2 Page 2 May 21st Thank you for your generous spirit! We appreciate the generosity our members have shown to those who find themselves in need from time to time. The impact your gifts have made are great! Toilet Paper Kleenex Detergent Shampoo Garbage Bags Paper Towels Dish Soap Fabric Softener Deodorant Donations of fresh garden produce is always welcome and appreciated! Just a reminder that the Pantry is open any time of the month to those who attend Trinity when there may be need. No appointment is necessary. Thank you and God bless! BOARD MEETING May 17th 7:30 p.m. Attendance March in Review Sunday School Monthly Income/Expenses Worship March 5 55 Not taken March March March March 5 $3, March 12 $3, March 19 $3, March 26 $2, Misc. Income 100, Total Income $113, Expenses $10, Continued from front cover "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom." Mt. 26:29 As you remember your friends and loved ones this month and decorate their memorials, remember there is meaning found in the stone. It is a reminder. There is meaning found in the direction the grave faces: Jesus is coming back. And every Sunday we look forward by remembering Christ's memorial to partaking of it in person with Him someday. Until He returns - Terry The Word of God preached ~ The Word of God taught ~ God glorified in all that we do ~ Love, support, and care in times of crisis A place and a way to serve our Lord ~ Fellowship and friendship ~ Warmth and acceptance from our people

3 ASSISTING WITH WORSHIP Page 3 May 7 May 14 May 21 May 28 Communion Meditation Nick Morrell Jack Trowbridge Owen Martsching Communion Servers Tim Minnick Manny Atwood Eldon Paxson Isaac Hall Jack Trowbridge Jeff Waterstone Eugene Yoder Jack Greenwood Rod Zimmerman Chuck Clark Conner Seymour Will Greenwood Roger Potts Keaton Minnick Jeff Dawson Tracy Eivins Max Buckner Josh Blades Steve Bowen Tim Covington Abram Hall Brett Tharp Jeff Boswell Merrill Hamilton Doug Tharp Garry Palmer Rayden Boswell Paul Grasso Ryan Olson Communion Prayer Tim Boswell Tyson Smith Pat Greenwood David Peters Scripture Readers Tabby Martin Emma Atwood Dawn Kelly Lorna Paxson 8:15 Service Nursery Workers Lorna Paxson Lorna Paxson Lorna Paxson Lorna Paxson Sunday School Ben Stoner Eldon Paxson Lori Scrivner Mary Yutzy 10:45 Service V. White/E. Hall B.. Herzberg /L. Olson Wednesday Night S. Covington/ A. Hall M. Yutzy/ J. Scrivner K. Smith A. & K. Bunger A. Bettin T & T Eivins K. Smith Kitchen Hosts Terry s SS Class Greeters David Imel / Paul & Donna Purcell Tiffani Evans / Hall family Stephanie Covington / Owen & Mary Martsching Communion Prep Betty Herzberg / Barb Ford

4 Page Central Iowa Bible Camp Schedule PROGRAM GRADE DATES COST Scrapbook Retreat Any May 5-6 $75 Grandparents & I K-4th June 2-3 $70/couple High School 9th-13th June 4-9 $195 5th & 6th Grade ** 5th & 6th June $195 Teddy Bear 1st & 2nd June $70/couple Jr. High 6th - 8th June $195 Family Camp Family June $50/Person $150/Family Build It Camp 6th - 13th June $135 3rd & 4th Grade 3rd & 4th July 5-8 $105 5th 8th Grade ** 5th - 8th July 9-13 $195 Girls Horse Camp 6th -13th July $135 High School Wilderness 9th-13th July $220 Jr. High Wilderness ** 6th - 8th July $200 Ladies Retreat Ladies Sept 8-9 $40 Camp registration is based on the grade you will enter THIS FALL. Some camps are limited to a certain number of campers and are filled on a first come first served basis so register early! Pre-register for weeks with a ** and save $ $25.00 minimum pre-registration $10.00 Nonrefundable Trinity Christian Church Missions will pay one-half of tuition expense to any fellowshipaffiliated Bible Camp for any person wishing to attend who is a member, related to a member or associated with a member upon recommendation of that member. Additional financial help is available based upon need. Our desire is that money not be an obstacle to anyone wishing to attend Bible Camp. Registration forms and additional information is available on the Ministry Table. Please feel free to take the information home to review and discuss with your child(ren). Remember to register early. Pre-registration deadline is two weeks before the week you are attending. Registration is also available online at centraliowabiblecamp.org For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

5 Page 5 June 4-7 6:00 8:30 p.m. VBS is quickly approaching and we are in need of volunteers to assist with the nursery each night. If you can assist with this area for VBS, please see Angie Bettin. We have also placed various supplies needed for this year s VBS on the windows in the Fellowship Hall. Please take a moment to look and the requested items and see if you can assist with any of these items. A Taste of God's Love We are requesting your input for recommendations to fill two vacancies for Board members that will become available at the end of this term. Owen Martsching and Merrill Hamilton will be completing their duties as Board members in June. We appreciate the servant spirits they have displayed and their commitment to the affairs of Trinity. In Lost in Wonder, Love and Praise (Abingdon Press), John Killinger describes a mother s love and how it offers a tiny foretaste of God s love: It is stronger than steel, softer than down and more resilient than a green sapling on the hillside. It closes wounds, melts disappointments and enables the weakest child to stand tall and straight in the fields of adversity. I believe that this love, even at its best, is only a shadow of the love of God, a dark reflection of all that we can expect of him, both in this life and the next. We have placed a box and nomination slips on the Ministry Table and will collect your nominations until May 14th. The Board will then review the nominations and contact potential candidates to see if they would be willing to be placed on the ballot. Voting will take place at our Annual Congregational meeting on June 25th. Please be in prayer as to whom God would have serve in this leadership position. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

6 Page 6 Trinity Christian Church Ministries Sunday Morning Services Early Service 8:15 a.m. Sunday School (all ages) 9:30 a.m. 2nd Service 10:45 a.m. Nursery (newborn 3 yrs) provided during 8:15 service, Sunday School and 10:45 service Jr. Church (4 6 year olds ) provided at 10:45 service Refreshments served between Sunday School and 2nd Service. Wednesday Evening 6:00 Supper for youth group participants and teachers 6:30- Kid s Club, God s Squad, Jr/Sr High Youth and Adult Bible Studies. Support Groups Schedules vary (Contact Terry for additional information) Pray for our Family and Friends! Please pray for the following members, loved ones and friends who need to be lifted up to the Father s throne: Joe Amsden; Bill Applegate; Frank Andrew; Gary Ballantyne; Marvin Barth; Eldon Binning; Frank & Joyce Binning; George Bishop; Rod and Carol Ann Bollinger; Briella Boswell; Gary Boswell; Jeff Boswell; Tim Boswell; Candy Braby; Hazel Braby; Marilynn Braby; Thayis Breckenridge; Roberta Brown; Orville & Ruth Dale; Patricia DePatton; Maizel Dunn; Chris Dykes; Charlotte Elliott; Ralph Evans; Larry & Jeannie Eivins; Ray & Laveda Files; Randy Fox; Fred Frank; Joel Greiner; Dale Harrington; Andrew Hastings; Craig Havener; Trent Helton; Garry Hill; Carl Hoffman; Myron & Shirley Ingram; Darrell Jennings; Rova Johnston; Jim Kemp; Dan Klein; Troy Kunze; Maggie Leonard; Mick & Brenda McBride; Melba McDaniel; Karen Meyer; Military personnel and families; Thelma Miller; Marge Mitchell; Oliver & Mary Mothershead; Sara McAlexander; Patty Oliver; Jeremy Parsons; Glenn Payton; Darrel Porter; Michael Redman; Eldon Reed; Pam Robison; Michael Rousch; Jim Routh; Robin & Doug Schwandt; Dianne & Larry Schultes; Samuel Spurgeon; Doris Swigart; Andrea Swennumson; Kris Tait; Bonnie Thomas; Trinity Leadership & Missionaries; Travis Vaughn; Shelly Waugh; Carol & Darrell Wilcoxson; Carroll & Darlene Woodard; Alva & Alma Yoder; George Yoder; Marletta Warren; Karen Zion As a family of believers committed to serving and glorifying God, we seek opportunities to share the joy of Christ and His Word with people of all ages everywhere.

7 Page 7 Trinity Christian Church Membership Membership Requirements Open to All Who Have: 1. Repented of sin 2. Confessed faith in Jesus Christ 3. Been baptized by immersion into Him 4. Counseled with Pastor Terry Membership Expectations Worship One hour weekly Isa 43:21; Heb 12:28; Psalms 100:2; Heb 10:25 Bible Study One hour weekly 2 Timothy 3: 16, 17 Service One hour weekly Mark 10:25; 1 Cor 12:11; 1 Peter 4:10 Contribute to Unity Ephesians 4:1-3 Servant Requirements Genuine desire to serve Teachable Spirit and a positive attitude Ministry Leader Requirements Member of Trinity Christian Church Demonstrated love for the Lord and the church family FAT (Faithful Approachable Teachable) Ministry Leader Expectations Personal commitment to spiritual growth Commitment to pray daily for your ministry and other ministries of the church Willingness to mentor others NEW MEMBER INFORMATION We want to keep our directory up-dated and will be asking our new members and attendees for an opportunity to photograph you and to gather some information. It is a good way for all of us to get to know each other quicker attaching names to faces. Also, we have a new orientation program that Terry will be talking to you about in the near future just some helpful assistance in becoming a part of our church family. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

8 Page 8 Congratulations Graduates! Rayden Boswell, son of Jeff and Prisilla Boswell, will be graduating from Central Decatur High School on May 21st at. Rayden has been accepted at Southwestern Community College in Creston and plans to complete the Carpentry and Building Trades program that he has been part of for the past two years in high school. Will Greenwood, son of Pat and Teresa Greenwood, will be graduating from Lamoni High School on May 21, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. He is entering the College of Human Sciences at Iowa State this fall, but is undecided about a major. Lauren Palmer, daughter of Garry Palmer, will also be graduating from Central Decatur High School on May 21st. She plans to attend South Western Community college and is considering a career as an Athletic Trainer We will be recognizing Trinity s High School graduates during both services on May 14th. Please join us as we celebrate this milestone in their lives! As a family of believers committed to serving and glorifying God, we seek opportunities to share the joy of Christ and His Word with people of all ages everywhere.

9 Page 9 Mothers of the Bible & their Children C M S D A M K A A J O C H E B E D K H S I A E E B B N B H K Z L L Y V O P T U I J O H N T H E B A P T I S T I J B R B O Q B R A C H E L K L Z P L B T S O E T C T E E P S R W Z E A J K D P M C K H D Q D N Q H U R E U B E N F N H A R A S A Y V J T T C B M E E Y J U D A H H G A D H U A H A U A T D R H T T S N L A E H R S B M H L S H I A C F K I L I O N K K I V P I U I B J M N B X E H B D N N S C C B X N O M O L O S I M E O N D K A E W O L E N Y O S E T S R V C U Q E J H T J H O Y U E A P V H L E A H B N B U P N L Q J W X E N I I Y N J P R Y Y I U H Q K H V K E C H O I X H N T H U C W C V Q T S C M N N L M T T L R O D Y U A S E S O M O I C S I V I V U H S T I C J U Z F Z F X B S N X Q N S P V G M A L B S T L W W H C E L F Q X P F S P W N N I E L X N J S B I F Q F F Q C W O H M W K J J P V U M ABEL JACOB RACHEL ASHER JESUS REBEKAH BATHSHEBA JOCHEBED REUBEN BILHAH JOHN THE BAPTIST CAIN JOSEPH RUTH DAN JUDAH SAMUEL DINAH KILION SARAH ELIZABETH LEAH SETH ESAU LEVI SIMEON EUNICE MAHLON SOLOMON EVE MARY TIMOTHY GAD MOSES ZEBULUN HANNAH NAOMI ZILPAH ISAAC NAPHTALI JACOB OBED Welcome New Member! God is working in the lives of His people! We ask you to welcome Preston Bettin of Decatur to our Trinity family. brothers in Christ! He came forward recently and accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and was immersed into Christian baptism. Please introduce yourself to Preston and welcome him as one of our newest For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

10 Page 10 A Godly Mother By Connie Campbell Bratcher A Godly Mother is a treasure A gift more precious than gold Her children rise up, and call her blessed, And in high esteem do hold. Her love is like that of our Savior Who sacrificed His own life That we might live joyful, Godly lives In a troubled world of strife. Her heart is like His, holding us close No matter how far we roam, And her arms are always open wide To forgive and welcome home. Her hands are busy molding our lives From the moment we are born Planting seeds, loving, disciplining, Even when weary and worn. Her feet are always careful to go Where her child can follow there How could we thank our Mother enough For her tender loving care? A Godly Mother fervently prays For that child she loves so much, For she knows the fruit of her vineyard Depends on the Master s touch. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it (Prov. 31:28; Ps. 127:1) Please note that Kid s Club and Courageous Youth will be taking a break over the summer months. Their last evening for activities will be Wednesday, May 17th. We wish everyone a safe and fun summer and look forward to seeing you all again when school resumes! Memorial Day Over the years, Memorial Day has become a big holiday weekend. It s now the unofficial start of summer, rather than a day of tribute to the departed it was originally meant to be. Even if we plan fun events for Memorial Day weekend, it s important to stop long enough to bow our heads and pay respect to our departed loved ones especially those who fell in battle while helping preserve America s liberties. Let us take time to make the pilgrimage to various cemeteries and pause long enough to say, Thank you, Father, for these special lives, for sacrifices made and for friendships we have shared. As a family of believers committed to serving and glorifying God, we seek opportunities to share the joy of Christ and His Word with people of all ages everywhere.

11 Trinity Christian Church State Highway 2 Decatur, IA (641) Contact Us Terry (641) (Home) (641) (Cell) One of the more familiar missions Trinity supports on a monthly basis is Share International. We have had the privilege of having its Director, Sammy Murimi, personally share the work of Share with us the past several years. As you may recall, the primary goal of Share is to share the Gospel and their very lives among the Turkana people of Kenya through training and sending indigenous missionaries to establish self-multiplying, holistic churches. One of the ministry outreaches used by Share is their annual Short-Term Outreach & Relief Mission (STORM). Trinity has had a number of our members join these teams and this year Barb Ford will be making the trip to Kenya. Previous STORM participants have been allocated Bible teaching ministries for missionaries and pastors at the SHARE facilities (now SEND Center) in Lodwar while others minister to all age and gender groups and in 11 villages, depending on gifting of each participant. Ministries in the villages have include teaching practical application of the Bible, screening The Jesus Film, and provision of medical and humanitarian relief. While Barb does not know what her specific work will be yet, she s excited by the prospect of doing the Lord s work in a foreign land. The impact made by the STORM teams is great. By summer of 2015, the STORM teams had ministered to 81,629 people in Turkanaland. Each visit by a STORM team has the potential of reaching lost souls or to help a new believer in Christ become more grounded and faithful in their walk with the Lord. Presently, 80% of each dollar donated goes directly to the mission work of Share. Currently they have four main areas of ministry training/sending and supporting pastors for the area; outreach and church planting; Children of the Kingdom; and their adult literacy program. We encourage you to visit Share s website for more detailed information regarding their ministry and these specific areas of outreach. Share is making a difference in the lives of the people of Turkanaland. According to recent reports, in 2016 Share ministered to a total of 82,405 people. Of those 4,868 were saved and 459 were baptized into Christ. A total of 572 received further training and education in church planting and leadership. Prior to that, between 1997 and 2015, SHARE had reached at least 250,000 Turkana people with the Gospel and planted 218 churches. SHARE is targeting another 650,000 people by According to a recent survey complete by SHARE, the unreached population comprises between 250 and 300 villages within a km radius from the nearest mother churches planted by their existing 61 trained and supported missionaries and pastors. If all anticipated graduates of their Training Program join the existing 61 missionaries, at the current outreach rate of 1 missionary for every 4,100 people, SHARE can reach nearly 600,000 by end of 2019! Add another 40 missionaries that will graduate in July 2020 and all the 650,000 people can be reached by 2021! Pray for Share and it s leaders as they continue working for the Kingdom!