Connection. Faith Journey Church. Compelled by His great love for us... February - March Assemblies of God Update - Haiti ARTICLE Page

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1 Connection Faith Journey Church home of Gaarde Christian School Compelled by His great love for us SW Gaarde Street, Tigard, OR Ph February - March 2010 Although February is known as the month of LOVE, at Faith Journey and Gaarde Christian School we believe that every month should contain an expression of love. Compelled by His great love for us, God demonstrated that true love is sacrificial when He sent His only son, Jesus, to this earth. As we seek to follow His example of love, we look for the ways to impact our world in a sacrificial way. In December, Faith Journey Church and Gaarde Christian School partnered with two organizations that provide basic, vital necessities - Living Water International (LWI) and Habitat for Humanity. The focus for FJC was partnering with LWI to provide a new water well for a village in Uganda, Africa. Together with GCS we raised $6043 for LWI. The focus for GCS was Habitat, which provides new housing for families in need of a home. Over $1100 was raised by GCS students and families for Habitat for Humanity. The challenge for all of us is to continue to allow the love of the Lord to compel us to do for others as we would want them to do to us! Assemblies of God Update - Haiti ARTICLE Page In the two weeks since a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, Convoy of Hope, which has been working with AG World Missions, has distributed 1.6 million meals to hungry people in Haiti. "The reason we were able to get food to so many people so fast was because we were already feeding thousands of children each day throughout Haiti," says Hal Donaldson, president of Convoy of Hope. "Long-standing, strategic partnerships such as the one we have with Mission of Hope became pipelines that enabled us to quickly and efficiently get food and supplies to some of the hardest-hit areas." Donaldson also notes that Convoy of Hope's warehouse - which is located just outside of Portau-Prince - had just been restocked with food prior to the earthquake. Already having food in country, he says, gave Convoy of Hope a head start to begin meeting critical needs almost immediately after the earthquake struck. That was good news for Evenel St-Vil, a 29-yearold schoolteacher in Port-au-Prince whose house was destroyed in the earthquake. St-Vil was one of the thousands who turned to Convoy of Hope for food in the days after the earthquake. "I live in a tent on a soccer field," he said. "How long will we live there? I don't know. I don't know what I'm going to do." Thank you for standing with the people of Haiti by participating in this united act of compassion. - Hal Donaldson, COH President Though two weeks have passed since the earthquake struck St-Vil's sentiments are common. Many Haitians just don't know where or how to begin putting their lives back together. Donaldson says Convoy of Hope is committed to helping Haiti for the long term. "We feel privileged to have been in a position to help tens of thousands of families who had no place to turn to for food and water after the earthquake," he says. "As Haiti moves toward recovery and rebuilding we will continue to be there providing food, water and supplies through our feeding initiatives and points of distribution we established after the earthquake." If you would like to give to the relief effort in Haiti, Convoy of Hope is a great place to give. For more information on Convoy of Hope, visit The Pastor s Pen 2 Feb / March Calendars 3 Schedule 4 Adult Ministries 4 Missions News 5 West of 55 5 Fusion Youth 6 Journey Kids 6 Royal Rangers 7 M pact Girls Clubs 7 Gaarde Christian Sch 8

2 the Pastor s Pen What s Your Word for the Season? A word in season, how good it is! Proverbs 15:23b -ESV This is not a rhetorical question from King Solomon, son of King David of Israel in the Old Testament of the Bible. This is an emphatic statement that words mean things, and when spoken or written in the right season, it is good! The Message Bible phrases it this way: The right word at the right time beautiful! Proverbs 15:23b -TMB In fact, King Solomon goes on to further describe just how outstanding and remarkable a timely word can be: A word fitly (timely) spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Proverbs 25:11 -ESV The idea here is that the right word at the right time stands out as wisdom. Biblically speaking, wisdom is God s purpose in a given situation, and/or for a given person or people. King Solomon is one who was known for his incredible wisdom. A wisdom which he understood to have been from God (Proverbs 2:6). In fact, Solomon, as a young man taking the reigns of leadership after his father s death, was asked in a dream by night what it was the Lord God could give him. Solomon asked for an understanding and a discerning mind to govern his people. The Lord was impressed at the young king s heart and gave to him a wise and discerning mind like no other before or after him. (1 Kings 3:11) I love learning new words. That is because I like to think of myself as a wordsmith. As a pastor I am one who works with words. Some would argue, far too many words. That is why the importance of a single word cannot be overstated. My word for the week is defenestration. Webster s defines defenestration as; a throwing of a person or thing out the window (quickly). So when you make a suggestion to your spouse about a movie to watch or a place to go eat and they summarily toss it aside with little or no thought, it is fitting for you to reply: dear, you are resorting to sheer defenestration! Web- My word for this season of my life is teachable. ster s 1828 Dictionary defines teachable as; The quality of being capable of receiving instruction; more generally, a willingness or readiness to be informed and instructed; docility; aptness to learn. It is a personal value and goal for my entire life to continue to remain teachable. People who are teachable and pliable continue to grow in every area of their lives. In the Bible Joshua and Caleb remained teachable the whole of their lives and God continued to use them in every season in spite of their age. Two supportive words of teachable are that of being fluid and flexible. These two words run very counterintuitive to that of pride. Now there is a UGE difference between being fluid and flexible and that of being wishy-washy or even one who waffles and is in a constant state of indecision and double-mindedness. Double mindedness makes one unstable in all their ways according to James 1:8. Being fluid and flexible are traits of those who, in all areas of life, can learn and act upon both subtle and not so subtle influences and changes. Intelligence is quickness to apprehend, as distinct from ability, which is capacity to act wisely on the thing apprehended. -Alfred North Whitehead My point in saying I want to remain teachable is that it is not merely facts or understanding (apprehend) a thing or situation. What I desire in being teachable is to understand (apprehend) and act wisely in life. This is also the goal of our new Wednesday night bible study: Wisdom for Living. This is a thirty-one (31) week study on each of the thirty-one chapters in the book of Proverbs. It is my firm belief that now more than ever, we need men and women of wisdom and ability during these times of difficulties. What we do not need are intellectuals who have neither ability or life experience in application, but rather those of sound biblical wisdom that has stood the test of time and common sense. Give me a dull person (slow to learn) who has the capacity to act wisely on the thing apprehended any day of the week. Give me the engineer who has built something of significance that has weathered scrutiny and time. Give me the business person who has actually had success, over the drivel of the intellectual who receives little scrutiny or disdain should their theory not stand at all. Our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter." -Tim Kizziar: Our Greatest Fear So friend, what is your word for this season of your life? Journeying Together; Pastor Tom Walking with people, following God Page 2

3 FEBRUARY - MARCH 2010 Calendars february 2010 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT The Wave Prayer & Praise 7pm 6 Baby Shower for Niina and 11am 7 Superbowl Party & Impact for 3pm GCS Open 7pm Water Baptism 10am GCS Community Registration 7pm march 2010 SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT Missions Convention 7 Missions Convention The Wave Prayer & Praise 7pm GCS Art Show Night GCS Spring Break 28 NO Cornerstone or Youth PM Meetings Page 3

4 Service Schedule Sundays 8:45-9:45 am Sunday School - All Ages Nursery ( Birth - 2 Yrs ) 10:00-11:30 pm Worship Service Children s Church ( 3 Yrs - 5th Grade ) Nursery ( Birth - 2 Yrs ) 6:00 pm Adult Home Group - Multiple Locations Fusion Youth - Faith Journey Church Mondays 6:30-8:30 pm Blue Thread Ministries (1st Monday of each Randol s) Tuesdays 5:30 am Men s Bible Study - Davidson s Wednesdays 7:00 pm Adult Study in Modular #2 Fusion Youth ( Sanctuary ) Missionettes ( Girls Kinder - 5th Grade ) Royal Rangers ( Boys Kinder - 5th Gr ) Rainbows ( Girls and Boys 3-4 Years ) Thursdays 5:00 pm Women s Bible FJC Fridays 7:00 pm The Wave - Prayer and Worship (2nd Friday of each month) Office Hours 8:00am - 4:00pm Monday through Friday Adult Ministries Learning and Growing together... Wednesday Night Adult Bible Study 7pm in Modular #2 Wisdom Living: a 31 week study of the book of Proverbs led by Pastor Tom Frisinger Adult Sunday School Sunday 8:45am Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World: How can we find an oasis of peace, calm and ultimately confidence in the midst of chaotic events in our world? We will discuss how to stay: Centered in Christ Committed to the Word Compassionate towards others Connected to the church Consistent in your walk Calm in your heart Convinced of His coming Confident in your faith Constructive in your relationships Challenged to grow Adult Cornerstone Home Fellowship Sunday 6pm - at the Hoopers Home Compelled by Love: This is a great series and a great way to start a new week, connecting with others in the Word and in prayer! We look forward to Journeying through life with you! Pastor Kelly GrosJacques Page 4

5 The great apostle Paul said it clearly in 1 Corinthians 9:22, I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (NIV). With this verse in mind, Every Way is the theme chosen for this year s Missions Convention. Zollie L. Smith, Jr., Executive Director of U.S. Mission of the Assemblies of God makes it clear that perishing souls enter eternity each day, separated forever from our heavenly Father. At some point in the life of each Christian, someone reached out to share the message of God s redeeming power, so that we would not perish. The person may have been a pastor, a Sunday school teacher, a family member, a friend or even a complete stranger. God can use all of us in this capacity. He has empowered us through the Holy Spirit to be witnesses to perishing souls who are desperate to hear the Good News and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. We are the laborers in the harvest field the saints who will cause heaven to rejoice as we share our faith and help another soul come to repentance. We can t afford to be silent as our nation suffers greater spiritual decay and countless people turn their back on God. For that reason, we must each determine in our hearts to be obedient to Him and to share the story of salvation in every way with all who cross our paths, so that none perish. We can reach out to other countries by helping through our support of missionaries who are reaching and teaching others the truth of Jesus. Giving to missions on a monthly basis or by way of a faith promise are just two of the many ways we can do this. We can have an everlasting effect on the lives of people we don t even know. Our annual Missions Convention will be March 6 and 7. This is a wonderful missions-focused weekend which will include a dinner banquet, missionary speakers, and special services. You will want to mark your calendars, you do not want to miss out on this great time! Donna Randol Missions News Russ and Beth Chambers Missionaries to OSU (Chi Alpha) Carl and Terri Gibbs Missionaries to Africa Tamara Henkes Missionary to Romania Dennis & Diane Holcomb Missionaries to Poland Ken Huff Missionary to Cambodia Eric & Jacquelin Jenkins Missionaries to Algeria Steve and Julie Kramer Missionaries to the Netherlands Bill & Carol Paris Missionaries to Tokyo, Japan Josh & Renee Ransom Missionary to China Matt & Heather Reigel Missionaries to Germany John & Beccy Rodli Missionaries to the Azores Ryan & Christy Thomas Missionaries to Mexico Rob & Jeanel Shipley Missionaries to East Africa David & Dorothy Yunuba Missionaries to Africa John & Carolyn Stewart Missionaries to Indonesia Chuck & Janet Wilson Missionaries to Botswana West of 55 senior adult ministry Do not cast me off in the time of old age; do not forsake me when my strength fails. (Psalm 71:9) I was having a conversation with a friend who had recently celebrated his 60th birthday. We discussed the trauma of the number 6 being the first digit in his age and all that the age of 60 implies (retirement, social security, etc.). We also pondered the fact that he felt so much younger than such a large number would seem to indicate. Then the conversation turned to the lessons, joys, and blessings he d found in living those 60 years, and he said, You know, it isn t really that bad. In fact, it s pretty exciting. The lessons of the past had brought a change in how he viewed the present. Such is the aging process. We learn from our past in order to live in our present a lesson reflected on by the psalmist. For You are my hope, O Lord God; You are my trust from my youth. (Psalm 71:5) He continued, By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He, who took me out of my mother s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. (Psalm 71:6) As the psalmist looked back, he clearly saw the faithfulness of God. With confidence in that faithfulness, he could face the future and its uncertainties, and so can we. May we say with the psalmist, I will praise You and Your faithfulness, O my God! (Psalm 71:22) Remember, as the years add up, God s faithfulness keeps multiplying. In His Service, Pastor John Granholm Page 5

6 Youth Ministries What Do You Want Your Life To Be About?! We recently headed to the theater to catch the flick To Save A Life. We were pleasantly surprised by the realistic portrayal of the real-life challenges of teens and their choices. It's a story about change and a powerful reminder of how we can all make a difference in someone's life. The challenge? What do you want your life to be about?! As youth leaders, we were doubly challenged by our roles as youth leaders. Is there an atmosphere of acceptance and Christ's love that changes lives within our youth group? Are we reaching out to the undesirables of society as Jesus did? Or do we live out that role of judgmental Christian, who simply looks at a person and decides they aren't church material? We can make a difference, if we dare to be Christ-like. NOTE: We highly recommend parents watch To Save A Life with their teens. This movie contains serious themes such as teen suicide, depression, sexuality and peer pressure. So often, we blind ourselves to what is happening within the youth culture of America. We would rather wear rosecolored glasses than think our kids could potentially be affected by the world of drugs, alcohol and sex. We believe this is more than an evangelistic movie - it's a message to the church to wake up and reach out before we lose those who are most precious to Christ. Youth News and Needs Kiel & Niina Downey SUNDAY NIGHTS: Due to Evangeline's arrival, beginning in February youth guys & gals are combined on Sunday evenings until further notice. Meet in the newly painted youth room. FURNITURE: We are still in need of furniture for our new youth room. If you are interested in donating your old couch or bean bags, please contact Kiel or Niina Downey. Children s Church 10:00AM Freedom Kids Services for 3 yrs - Kindergarten On Sunday mornings, our little ones (three years old through kindergarten age) meet together to learn, sing and play. JourneyKids Services for 1st - 5th graders Kids, bring along your energy on Sunday mornings for Journey Kids! This is no time to sit back and watch... every child is an integral part of the service. Together, we re learning to worship, serve, reach out and translate what we re learning into action in our own lives. The laughs are many and the surprises frequent. Join us! Welcome to FAITHCASE: Investigating the Truth! Our Journey Kids have been turned into investigators, joining the bumbling Mr. Trench and capable, no-nonsense Commissioner in search of 16 foundational truths that are vital to kids faith. They re on a journey to discover what they believe and why. Over the next few months they will be examining the evidences of the foundational truths of our faith: The Bible Sanctification One True God The Church The Trinity Healing Salvation End Times Water Baptism Sharing our Faith Communion The Holy Spirit Baptism in the Holy Spirit Glen and Ann Slayter Children s Church Ministries Page 6

7 Royal Rangers clubs for boys kindergarten through 5th grade For the Royal Rangers of Faith Journey Church, 2009 was one of blessing and now we are looking forward to what God will do in the lives of boys in Royal Rangers is a mentoring program for boys with the mission to "evangelize, equip, and empower the next generation of Christ-like men and life-long servant leaders." During our Wednesday night meetings, the boys are instructed in the Bible though challenging and interesting lessons. They are taught the character and heart of our loving God and are encouraged into a life of relationship and devotion to Him. They also engage in physical activities, games, and various building projects. In December twenty-five of our Ranger boys enjoyed a trip to the Inflatable Kingdom in Tigard, bouncing around on four huge adventure-themed inflatables and were treated to snacks and drinks. If you have a boy Kindergarten through 5th grade who is not yet part of our group, we would like you to consider the Ranger program. We meet each Wednesday night from 7 8:15pm at Faith Journey Church. Come join us soon! Farrin Hockett M Pact clubs for girls first through fifth grade and Rainbows club for preschool aged girls and boys What do climbing trees and hippopotamuses have in common? We sing about them in Rainbow Club on Wednesday nights. Young children learn much through movement and so we sing a lot of songs about bible stories. The songs we love most have fun motions and movements for the children to follow. If you asked any of my students who climbed a tree to see Jesus, they would all know it was Zaccheus. They would also know that Jesus went home with him for a visit and helped Zaccheus change his life around. Now what about those hippopotamuses? My students know through song that God made the sea, forest, mountains, and stars among other things. God s fingerprints are all around us and he created us as well as funny looking hippopotamuses. Hip, hip, hip hippopotamus is one of my all time favorite children s songs, and so we sing it just about every week. Learning through song and motion is a very fun way to learn about the Love of God. Come join us for Rainbows, Prims or Stars Clubs on Wednesday nights. In his service, Connie Frisinger, M Pact Clubs Coordinator Page 7

8 Gaarde Christian School We have just completed the first half of the school year. As always Gaarde has been a busy place with field trips, chapels, parties, projects, talent show, spirit days, walka-thon, spelling tests, choir the list of fun activities and academics goes on and on. While life on the Gaarde campus is busy with activities and academics there is so much more than that. Our goal is to create in your child such a desire and hunger to obtain true wisdom that as they grow they will continue to walk with the Lord and impact their world. In God s plan parents have the primary responsibility for training and educating their children. Gaarde Christian School believes to be an extension of the home, partnering with the parents in education. At GCS all teaching is presented from a biblical worldview, directing the student s focus to Jesus Christ. The staff is committed to providing the full curriculum, academic, social and spiritual, thus supporting the biblical mandate given to parents; train up your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4. Re-enrollment for our current Gaarde families began on January 12th and I encourage you to re-enroll your child before our registration opens to the community on February 23rd. What you are doing is so much bigger than investing in private education. In partnering with Gaarde you are investing in your child s academic, social and spiritual future. May you be richly blessed in your commitment to Christian schooling Kellie Hooper GCS Administrator SW Gaarde St. Tigard, OR 97224