A monthly publication of the Garden Community Church Craig Miller was installed as Interim Associate Pastor on April 10. Craig s position will be considered onethird time until Pastor Gary s retirement at then end of June. Starting in July, Pastor Gary will go to a onethird time and Pastor Craig will increase to two-thirds time. They will both share the responsibility of filling the pulpit. This arrangement will be in effect until a new Senior Pastor is installed. Continue to be in prayer during this time of transition. Pray for Pastor Gary, Pastor Craig, the Church Board, and the Search Committee as they begin the search process for our new pastor. Spring Bible Conference Dr. Mark Hager was with us for our Spring Bible Conference on April 3 rd. Dr. Hager is the Biblical Counseling and Training Center Director and an Assistant Professor at Calvary Theological Seminary in Kansas City. The theme of the conference was Biblical Discipleship that Really Works.
Movie Night Over 60 people from Garden filled the Chisholm Trail 8 Movie Theater in Newton Sunday Evening, April 10 th. The feature presentation was God s Not Dead 2. If you have not had the chance to see the movie it is defiantly worth your time. It was a powerful movie and it was an enjoyable time seeing together as a church. Garden Jewels Evening of Prayer Hebrews 4:16 NLT "Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it." March 28 at 7:00 pm a dozen-plus ladies gathered in the church fellowship hall, ready to pray. Cherie Wohlgemuth and Elaine Brown had spent considerable time making prayer lists and placing them in different parts of the church. We paired off with 3-4 ladies, toured the church and prayed and thanked God for the following ministries: Sunday School Teachers and Substitute Teachers Each Sunday School Child and Youth by name TAG Leaders and Children Kids' Praise Leaders and Children Our Missionaries Our Church Body, Board of Elders and Deacons Pastor Gary, Pastor Craig The Search Committee for a new Pastor and the Pastoral transition The new Pastor The Worship Teams and choosing of music The Youth and Youth Leaders for Sunday School and Wednesday Night Library Workers and those who read the books Nursery Supervisor, Workers and the Littles The prayer time was rich and drew us closer to one another, to those we prayed for and to our Heavenly Father. After prayer time we saw the creativeness of each one, as we made prayer journals for our daily use. All of this precious time was topped off with walnut brownie sundaes with caramel, butterscotch and chocolate sauce. Yummo!!! It was a priceless evening! Thank you Cherie and Elaine. ~Donna Sperling
One of my favorite accounts in the Gospels is found in John 9. Please stop reading this right now, look it up and read the entire chapter. Go ahead. I ll wait. What did you think? Didn t you love the drama in the passage? I will focus on the first part and the last part of the passage. The disciples asked Jesus: Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind? This question in and of itself is a strange one. The disciples must have known this blind man s story because the text tells us he had been blind from birth. He was doing what he likely did every day: sit at the roadside and beg. The disciples wanted Jesus to explain to them whose fault it was that this blind man sat begging day after day. Empathy is not apparent in their question; neither is there an effort for them to meet the blind man s need. Jesus answered: Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened that the works of God might be displayed in him. Jesus set his disciples misconception straight while all suffering is a result of the fall, there was not a specific sin that resulted in this man s tragic blindness. Jesus pointed to a bigger picture: God s sovereignty and purposes played a role in the man s physical suffering and God s purpose was to bring Himself glory. Jesus healed the man of his physical condition. He did it in a curious 2-step process. In doing so, the man didn t see who healed him. Skipping to the end of the passage, it is evident that the man (like every other person born since Adam sinned) had a sin problem. Jesus went to find the man and spoke to the man, asking him if he believed in the Son of Man (the Messiah). The man asked Who is he, sir? (The blind man obviously didn t recognize Jesus either as his physical healer or as the Messiah). But the man was curious, Tell me so that I may believe in Him. Jesus said, You have now seen him; in fact he is the one speaking with you. At that point two things happened: the man believed AND he worshipped. That day the man received to remarkable gifts: sight and salvation. Now, I want you to think with me about illness (disease) and sin. From this passage two conclusions can be drawn: 1) Physical illness is a direct result of the fall, not necessarily the result of individual sin. 2) All physical illnesses provide an opportunity for a deep and meaningful encounter with Jesus Christ. A recent speaker in our church may have left the impression that mental illness is a spiritual problem alone. It s true that we do not yet fully understand all of the environmental and biological causes of mental illness. Yet to state that mental illness is only caused by things in the spiritual realm denies what we know to be true: mental illness is a brain disease. The brain is an organ with specific chemicals, neurons, electrical activity, and a host of other processes. The brain (just like the liver, heart or lungs) can malfunction. While there are certainly spiritual aspects to both the cause and the treatment of mental illness, mental illness is not simply a spiritual problem. To talk of a person s mental illness as a spiritual problem alone is to further stigmatize, shame, and isolate the person who experiences mental illness. Just like the disciples tried to initiate a purely academic conversation around that blind man in John 9, we may be at risk of doing the very same thing with mental illnesses. Jesus responded to the man, first of all, in compassion (and he corrected the disciples incorrect thinking). It is so easy for a person with mental illness think that perhaps they are not deserving of God s love because they have a mental illness. I would hope that anyone with any illness would find compassion, support and love from us in this church family. I would hope that we would point individuals struggling with all kinds of physical and mental disorders to both high-quality medical care AND to our Savior who meets us deeply at our point of need. These two (medical care and discipleship) are not in opposition to each other. Medical science has brought amazing advances in the ability to treat disorders of brain function. When we turn to God in the middle of our suffering, He powerfully and compassionately meets us at our point of need. John 9 helps us to understand that Jesus identified disease as part of the human condition since the fall. The passage also indicates that God receives the glory when illnesses and struggles cause us to turn to Him. Last of all, John 9 teaches that the greatest need we all have (whether ill or well) is for our sins to be forgiven and for us to experience genuine worship. For further reading I point you to several resources: Tommy Nelson s personal account of his mental illness (https://www.dbcmedia.org/sermons/dealing-with-depression-dtschapel/ ) Tommy Nelson s book: Walking on Water When You Feel Like You're Drowning: Finding Hope in Life's Darkest Moments. Edward T. Welch s book: Depression: Looking Up from the Stubborn Darkness Articles by Ed Stetzer in Christianity Today that can be accessed online (http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2015/ april/new-approach-to-mental-illness-in-church.html, http://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2014/june/mental-illnessand-christian.html)
Prayer Calendar and Memory Verse Memory Verses: John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 1 Pray for opportunities to speak of Christ's love to others. 2 Pray our kids would make wise choices in their friendships. 3 Pray for God to order your steps today. 4 Trust God. Whatever it is that you are holding back on - trust Him with it. 5 Pray for courage & strength for those with physical problems. 6 Pray for Dan & Rachel preparing to come home on furlough, shifting duties. 7 Pray Christians in military would live faithfully before others. 8 Pray ever single one of us is growing and submitting to God. 9 Pray for those going to work today to be aware of God during the day. 10 Pray singles are more interested in growing in Christ than in finding a mate. 11 Pray Josh & Hannah Zook are sensitive & teachable. 12 Pray God brings a godly man to teach and shepherd us. 13 Pray students finish the in leadership 14 Pray those year well & do roles in church their best all have discernment and unity. the way through. 15 Pray for reconciliation of broken or strained relationships. 16 Pray we make wise decisions concerning finances & priorities. 17 Pray Elwyn & Linda are successful in raising funds for Harvest Radio transition. 18 Pray our marriages are healthy and God -honoring. 19 Pray many hearts are opened to God's salvation through Harvest Radio. 20 Pray Sunday School teachers sow seeds that will reap much fruit. 21 Pray Christians in hard places would be a light & testimony for Christ. 22 Ask God to 23 Pray farmers are alert, show you where you need to careful and make changes in wise. your life. 24 Pray government leaders seek God's leading and are reading the Word. 25 Pray Ivan & Mary's kids have the joy of knowing God's will for them & walking in it. 26 Pray the elderly are able to trust God with their limitations and their future. 27 Pray for God to fill the empty spots in those hurting with Himself. 28 Pray those who have made wrong choices turn around and start to seek God. 29 Pray those in prison find forgiveness and deliverance in Christ. 30 Pray God will show Himself to you today in a mighty and wonderful way. 31 Pray James & Molly have sweet times of fellowship with each other and with God.
Dear Friends, Belated EASTER GREETINGS Hallelujah Christ is Risen MARCH 2016.Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord that they may rest from their labor and their works do follow them. Rev. 14:13 We had your receipts ready for mailing except for the Easter letter when we received a call at 6:30 a.m. Sun. morning, March the 20 th that our dear, dear friend of 50 years; Mary Ann Wall, (wife of former Pastor Marvin), had a massive stroke late Saturday evening. She was in ICU. So we packed quickly and arrived there around 4:00 p.m. Sun. Ev had the privilege of staying with her that Sunday night while she was still coherent. When alone she sang for her, and she responded with uh huh to every phrase, and the last word she spoke was on that night with Amen at the end of her singing. The next morning the brain swelling began and we don t know if she heard us from then on. She has 5 children, a legally blind daughter and her husband and 8 year old son living in her basement, and four more children scattered in Chicago, Arizona, Canada, Australia. We helped Sam & Marcia until each arrived home in the next four days in that order. By Thursday the 24 th the Lord took her home. The 25 th, in spite of 12-14 inches of snow that the Lord melted, we headed for Laurel to visit our children Vikki and Larry Carlson and daughter Karissa also there with 18 month old Loenn from Iowa. God sent another 4-5 inches on Sat night, and melted that as well so we could attend their church Easter Service Sun. the 27 th. We ate together, and headed back to Omaha for visitation and viewing of Mary Ann around 4:00 p.m. The funeral was Monday the 8 th where Norv was asked to read the obituary, and Ev the eulogy, and present her own memories, which ended with her singing. After the funeral, family photos taken, and lunch, we left for home. The next morning Mary Ann s family left for Delft, MN for her burial where her husband Marv had been buried two years ago. Her children all left for home from there except for Marjorie who will fly to Australia on Fri. Please pray for the family. Mary Ann s passing was sudden and a mixture of sorrow, yet one of joy, knowing she was with Jesus on Easter Sunday, and for all eternity, free from pain and suffering, praising and worshiping Him. One day soon we will be together again. Praise The Lord! We received word that Carol McClellan also went home to be with Jesus Jan 16, 2016. She was a faithful CEF worker with us in Wichita and continued working with children the rest of her days. Her son David from Chicago was so excited to hear from us when we called him to express our sympathies. He was a camper in those early years in Ark City, and we were so amazed that he remembered our voices. Other events this month included a Senior Sing-a-Long Chapel at Pine Village, Voting in Caucus, celebrating our Great Granddaughter Kyrie s first birthday on a Sat night when she had a high fever. The next day, Sun. she was taken to Emergency with blisters. She had Mouth, Hand and Foot Disease, and her sister Zoe and brother Shawn broke out the next day, and the one following. When we arrived in Laurel our Great grandchild, Loenn from Iowa, also was just getting over it. We ve been exposed. Please pray we don t get it! Ev attended a Bridal Shower for Stephanie Goossen and both of us were given free tickets to attend Pine Village s Banquet. We also attended the visitation of 10 year old Nicolas Ratzlaff who was taken in death in a mini bike accident before we left. Ev s cousin s husband, a farmer, had an accident loading a 4-wheeler. He was in St. Francis Surgical Intensive Care Unit with vertebrae breaks in neck and shoulders. He also has 4 broken ribs. Please pray for Bob, and wife Jolene. Please also continue to pray for our elderly unsaved neighbors that their spiritual eyes will be opened soon. They ve been given the gospel, so know the way to Eternal Life, but still resisting. Thank you for all your love, prayers, and support. Your prayers are being answered. Until Jesus Comes, Norvin & Evelyn Schrag
News from Ivan and Mary Goossen In Brazil Harvest Radio Migrates from AM to FM Migration = Lots of Change! Wedding! Many of you have already heard the news that our daughter,stefanie, became engaged to Kyle Kennicott on Christmas day, 2015. The big day is planned for May 21, 2016 in Hesston, KS. We look forward to officially welcoming Kyle into our family. Long distance planning has been a bit of a challenge. We are in Brazil. Kyle and Stefanie are studying at Moody in Chicago. The wedding will take place in Kansas. But the internet is a great blessing and things are falling into place. We return to the U.S. on May 4. There will be a lot of travel between Hesston and Chicago! Kyle graduates from Moody Bible Institute on May 14. We will join them for the celebration; then back to Kansas for the last minute preparations for the wedding! (Oh, and we will probably fit some grandparenting in there somewhere.) Harvest Radio is in the middle of big transition, that is, migrating from AM 780 to FM 102.7. It is a transition we never anticipated when we first went on the air in 2003. But it is something God is orchestrating. Proverbs 21:1 (ESV) says, "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will." While the Brazilian government is offering us this opportunity, we know it is God who is behind it all. This is why we can also trust him for the funds needed for such a big transition, and why we can trust him for wisdom and guidance as we make the major changes needed to be able to broadcast in an effective way on FM 102.7. One of those major changes is moving our FM tower to higher ground and making a road there, as well as getting electricity up there. We are thankful the Lord has already provided this higher ground and work has begun. After the wedding in May, we will be available in the U.S. during the months of June and July to raise funds for this project. If you would like to hear more about it, contact us and we will be glad to meet with you to give further information one-on-one. (So much better than just an update letter!) For many years we have shown the JESUS film during "Holy Week", usually on Good Friday. This year was our first opportunity in Várzea do Giló where we have been living for just over a year. (Last year we were in the U.S. over Easter.) When we lived in Fortaleza, we worked with Ebenezer Church to do this and usually showed it in a public square or park; many times right in the middle of the street. This time we showed it in our driveway. (Picture to left) We were so pleased to see quite a few people we have become acquainted with in our neighborhood come to watch the film. Pray that the seed that was planted will grow! The JESUS film is an excellent resource which is true to Scripture and bold in sharing the truth of the Gospel. We highly recommend it. Click on the "View the Jesus film" button to the left to watch it online or download it. This site also offers this film in many other languages as well as other films which tell of the wonderful salvation God offers to all.