Garden Community Church had the privilege of installing Pastor Craig Miller as the 17 th Senior Pastor on March 18, 2018. Although Craig is the NEW Senior Pastor, his face is not unfamiliar in the church. Craig, and his wife, Julie, and their kids, Scott and Erin, started attending Garden almost 6 years ago after moving back to Kansas from Texas. Craig served as an Elder and for the past 2 years has served as an Interim Associate Pastor with Pastor Gary Janzen. For the installation service, Pastor Gary shared a message on being Called and Set Apart to Serve from 2 Timothy 4:1-5. Larry Friesen, chairman of the Search Committee, shared a challenge to Craig. Abe Schmidt shared a challenge to the congregation. He shared six things we as a congregation should do to help Craig s ministry to our Congregation. 1. Share with him (Pastor Craig) what you are learning from his messages 2. Write notes of appreciation 3. Ask the Lord that he might begin each day with excitement as to what the Lord will teach him that day 4. That message preparation would not just be something he has to do, but that he would ask the Lord to show him things from the scriptures that he has not seen or understood previously, and be able to impart that to the people at Garden Community Church 5. Ask him what are his joys and challenges in ministry and how he would like to be prayed for 6. That his ministry at Garden Community Church would be a successful one from the Lord s perspective
A Bridal Shower for Allyson Vogt was given on March 18. It was hosted at the home of Sue Graham. Allyson is planning an outdoor June 9th wedding to Loren Pearce. Loren and Ally plan to make their home in the Whitewater area. Building Fund Progress GOAL= $373,500 We had the privilege of having Robert Brock with us for our Spring Bible Conference. Robert has been with The Voice of the Martyrs for over 24 years. He has traveled to dozens of countries around the world and shared how God is working in the persecuted church. Through his first hand accounts he brought life to the faith and courage of our persecuted brethren in other parts of the world. 100% $97,147 Left to raise $276,353* 75% 50% $200,917 Cash & Pledges 25% $75,436 Building Fund CD 0% As of 4/9/18 *Total does not include matching funds $45,147 needed by May 31st. 74%
How often do you tell someone that you re praying for them? Often on social media and in person we respond to another person s life events (illness, hardship, grief) by saying, I m praying. What do you mean when you say that to a person? I m curious about prayer requests posted to social media. Those requests don t just go to believers (unless all your contacts are believers and mine are not). Who do we want to pray and why? Is it our goal to get as many people as possible praying toward a positive outcome? Do we think our odds will be improved if we recruit a large number of random people to pray for the same thing? I m not trying to be critical. I m not saying any of the above should be stopped. I m just raising the question of how can we best carry out a promise to pray and what should we be praying for? First, what is the best way to carry out a promise to pray? There are some great prayer apps for smart phones they remind you to pray and have space to write specific requests. But I can t put everyone who asks for prayer in my prayer app it s not reasonable to have pop-up reminders to pray at close intervals throughout each day. What kind of a response to a request to pray is honest? What would happen if we just paused for a moment and prayed the person and the request they have made? On social media, do we need to respond to the person with words like praying? Or is it enough to just do what they ask? Would it be more honest to respond with something like I just prayed for you. Second, what is the best way to pray for another person? Should prayer be limited to praying for positive outcomes? Reading the Scriptures, I learn that God is sovereign over all including suffering. If God has purpose in suffering, pain, trouble, and grief, then it is not meaningless or random. So, shouldn t that affect how we pray about the hard stuff in our lives and the lives of others? If we really believe that God is purposeful in suffering, how should we pray about the suffering in our lives and in the lives of others? Should we only pray for suffering to be removed and for there to be healing, relief, restoration? Or are there deeper things we can pray for in addition to praying for relief? I think Scripture can best guide us in praying more fully for others. Maybe we should pray that: The Lord would increase fruitfulness as a result of suffering (John 15:1-4) That they would be transformed into Christlikeness (Romans 8:26-30) Suffering would equip them to minister God s grace to others (I Corinthians 1:3) Suffering would result in increasing dependence on God. (II Corinthians 1:8-9) God would be glorified in suffering (II Corinthians 4:10) Suffering would enable them to depend on and display Christ s strength (II Corinthians 12:8-10) Suffering would train them for godliness (Hebrews 12:10-11) Genuine faith would emerge from suffering (I Peter 1:6-7) There are many more examples in Scripture of characteristics to pray for I leave you to search them out. But, what do you think would happen if we allowed Scripture to determine the outcomes for which we pray? What if, in addition to praying for relief, we would pray that the glory of God's character would be on display in our lives and the lives of those for whom we are praying? It just may transform our approach to praying and even transform our prayer meetings!
Prayer Calendar and Memory Verse Memory Verse: Psalm 9:1 & 2 I will praise you, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will show forth your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in you: I will sing praise to your Name, O thou Most High. Sun Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat 1 Pray for God to purify your heart, to be wholly His. 2 Pray TAG! 3 Pray Dan & kids comprehend Rachel experience the whole- verses memorizedness found in God. 4 Thank God for 5 specific blessings you enjoy. 5 Pray for Alex, Drew & Hope to learn what God wants to teach them. 6 Praise God that in your pain & hurts He has never once left you. 7 Pray students finish school year well - doing their best, being respectful. 8 Pray for Josh & Hannah to stay focused in the midst of change & demands on their time. 9 Pray for our elders to have wisdom, spiritual growth, integrity. 10 Ask God to protect you from believing the lies of Satan. 11 Pray young people Josh & Hannah work with to grow in love for Christ. 12 Pray Pastor Craig doesn't let preparations crowd out personal time with God. 13 Pray SS teachers clearly articulate the gospel message & God's truth. 20 Pray those hearing Harvest Radio respond in faith to conviction & instruction. 27 Ask God to open your eyes to His goodness & holiness, to see Him more fully. 14 Ask God to bring an individual to mind that needs your prayers today. 21 Pray Ivan & Mary have peace in knowing God is caring for their family, wherever they are. 28 Pray for an opportunity to tell someone of God's might & wonder. 15 Pray those in nursing homes know the peace of God & focused times of prayer. 22 Pray for hearts hungry to hear from God, anticipating His response to our prayers. 29 Pray James & Molly don't grow weary, but are encouraged. 16 Pray college students grow this summer in developing skills, learning of God, serving others. 23 Pray Ivan & Mary continue to be creative in meeting needs in Brazil. 30 Pray those struggling to obey God obtain victory today in surrendering to Him. 17 Pray Elwyn & Linda model humility & diligence before station employees. 24 Pray those working/living in nursing homes are God's ministers to others in hard places. 31 Pray James & Molly know joy of seeing disciples share Christ with others. 18 Pray for our deacons to grow as they actively study God's word. 25 Ask God for wisdom & strength where you are weak. 19 Pray Andrew, Nate & Susanna discern God's calling & plan for each of them. 26 Pray American troops are alert, wise, & used to help others.
SERVICES OFFERED Norvin & Evelyn Schrag (retired CEF) MINISTRIES OFFERED Pulpit Supply Box 670, Moundridge, KS 67107 Music Ministries Residence (620-345-8476) Cell 670-386-0813) March-April 2018 Dear Friend, I Corinthians 15: 3b and 4 gives us the gospel how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures P.T. L. JESUS HAS RISEN Test yourself to see if you can make at least 50 words out of those three words. Whether you are able to or not, this truth never changes, just as the truth of Christ s birth, the rapture, and His Second Coming, and His great love for us. Since our last letter God s servant, Billy Graham entered Heaven. To some it seems puzzling that God took him before the Rapture, but according to Daniel 4:35 it tells us And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing:and he doeth according to His will in the army of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth, and none can stay his hand, or say unto him What doest thou? Oh to be blessed as Billy was for his humility, obedience, and labor of love! We are so fortunate, because of your prayers, to have the privilege of still being able to minister to neighbors older than we are. Norv still enjoys making meals for those who are blessed by it, drives some to the Dr., makes trips to the grocery store, or gets their mail, and visits the sick, and Ev enjoys singing for them, and enjoys serving in the community choir, and giving her own program as she did the end of Feb., Thanks so much for your prayers! We are praying for you as you send us your requests. Another of our faithful constituents, Katie Simon went to be with Jesus. Please pray with us for Darren of the home, Mark and Cindy and the rest of the family. Please pray for the tracts that were given to those we met on our trip to our children Larry & Vikki in NE. We felt blessed to be able to travel and help as she was in need with cataract surgery. It s amazing how many things we all need to bend over to get from the floor, dishes in the dish washer, dryer, and things we drop. It was also exciting to have their daughter from IA visit with two precious great grandchildren. We had an early Easter with them, staying a day longer than planned because of rain forecast all the way between Larry s home and ours. Listening For The Trumpet To Sound, HAVE A CHRIST-FILLED EASTER!! Norvin & Evelyn Schrag