KONA BAPTIST CHURCH APRIL 2017 NEWSLETTER He is not here; for He is risen - Mathew 28:6
A NOTE FROM PASTOR DEAN The fishing boat is bobbing gently on the lake, a hundred yards offshore. Occasionally a wave slaps against its side though the lake is surprisingly still this morning. Although it is very early, the six fishermen in the boat are ready for work, the presence of sweat on their backs just visible in the glow of the morning sun. All night they have put out their net, then pulled it in again, time and time again. They worked all night to earn a living. But not this night. This night they haven't netted a single fish. Dawn is upon them now, the sun just breaking above the hills east of Galilee. Their hopes of fish to sell are gone with the night. Maybe they should try another net or two before they quit. Maybe they'll be lucky. On shore, the sleepy village of Capernaum is beginning to awake. On its rocky beach the fishermen can see the glow of a small fire. Occasionally a breeze brings them the aroma of fish cooking. Peter's stomach remembers its hunger, and his mouth can almost taste the savory fish. Who's tending the fire? It's a man. Peter can see that much. He looks familiar, but Peter can't place him. Now the man brings up his hands and cups them about his mouth. A moment later his voice reaches the boat: " he shouts. "Put your nets out on the right side of the boat." "Every Joe thinks he's an expert fisherman!" Thinks Peter. They ready themselves to put out the net again. Why not the right side this time? What do they have to lose? All of a sudden the calm of morning is broken by the turbulence of trapped fish and a tremendous tug on the net that, for a moment, threatens to capsize the boat. The men are instantly alert and position themselves to pull in the thrashing net in. They must have caught a whole school of fish on the right side of the boat! Peter then looks up from his work to the man on the shore. John, too, is straining to see him. "It's the Lord!" shouts John. "It's Jesus!" The others are struggling with the net, but Peter doesn't care. He grabs his clothes, dives into the water, and swims with powerful strokes until the water is shallow enough for him to run splashing the rest of the way. Dripping wet, he drops to his knees before Jesus the risen Lord, the man he has spent three years following, emulating, serving. "Bring some more fish," says Jesus. So Peter runs to the boat, now nearly ashore, and helps haul in the net. They count 153 fish! Amazing! Jesus calls to the men disciples with whom he has shared many meals. "Come, have some breakfast! They squat around the fire and wolf down the bread and the fish Jesus has prepared. Hot fish! Hot bread after a long night's work! Fish and bread. Bread and fish. Why does this seem so familiar? Peter wonders. And then he recalls the day when, only a mile or two from here, Jesus had fed the 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fish. Peter and these very men had carried basket after basket of fish and bread to the crowd until all were full. Jesus, the great Feeder of men is feeding them again this morning. Now Jesus calls him aside. "Do you love me Peter? With pain, Peter remembers how three times he had blatantly denied Jesus just before his crucifixion. He can hardly look Jesus in the eye. He mumbles, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." "Peter, feed my sheep," says Jesus. Three times Jesus asked Peter to reaffirm his love once for each time Peter had denied him. Three times Jesus reaffirms Peter's call to ministry. Jesus not only forgives Peter, he restores him fully to his confidence. Years ago, Jesus had told Peter and his colleagues, "I will make you fishers of men." Sure enough together they had ministered to many thousands of men and women, boys and girls on what amounted to a three-year spiritual fishing expedition. "Feed my sheep." Not physical food. Jesus is talking about spiritual food teaching, praying, leading, exhorting, serving. Jesus is asking for Peter's love, but with that love, obedience as well. Peter knows what he's saying. Jesus had once described the crowds as harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. "Yes, I love you, Jesus," says Peter clearly, lifting his eyes to meet the Master s. "Then feed my sheep," says the great man of God. "Peter, I need you to feed my sheep for me. "Yes, Lord, of course I will," whispers Peter, as his eyes flood with tears. "You can count on me. You can count on Jesus, Can He count on you? Jesus died to give us life, let us share the life Jesus gave that we might save others. Love in Christ, P. Dean
April 2017 Calendar of Events Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 8AM Men s Breakfast on Church lanai 2 9 AM Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service (Lords s Supper) 6PM Evening Service 3 4 5 Youth Gathering Girls in Action Royal Ambassadors Mission Friends Bible Study Prayer Meeting 6 7 8 9 9 AM Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service Evening Service 10 11 12 Youth Gathering Girls in Action Royal Ambassadors Mission Friends Bible Study Prayer Meeting 13 14 15 16 EASTER SUNDAY 9 AM Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service *Easter Brunch No Service 17 18 19 Youth Gathering Girls in Action Royal Ambassadors Mission Friends Bible Study Prayer Meeting 20 21 22 HUALALAI ELDERLY SOUP KITCHEN (AUNTIE S ANGELS SOUP KITCHEN) 10:45-1:30pm 23 9 AM Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service *Youth Soup & Sandwich Fundraiser Evening Service 24 25 26 Youth Gathering Girls in Action Royal Ambassadors Mission Friends Bible Study Prayer Meeting 27 28 29 30 9 AM Sunday School 10:15 Worship Service 5th Sunday SINGSPIRATION
UPCOMING EVENTS Men s Breakfast April 1st @ 8AM on the church lanai Sign up in the ante-foyer Hualalai Elderly Housing Auntie s Angels Soup Kitchen Food Distribution Event - April 22nd 10:45am-1:30pm @ Phase II Community Center Sign up in the ante-foyer 5th SUNDAY SINGSPIRATION - April 30th Sign up to sing, dance, read a passage from the Bible, share your testimony or whatever the Lord is laying on your heart. Sign up in the ante-foyer A Survey of the Old Testament Exploring the books and themes of the Old Testament for a broader and deeper understanding. Each service is a stand-alone so please, join us! April Topics: 4/02 - I & II Samuel, I & II Kings 4/09 - I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther 4/16 - Easter Sunday - No Service 4/23 - Job, Pslams 4/30-5th Sunday Singspiration
UPCOMING EVENTS EASTER BRUNCH We will be having an Easter Brunch immediately following morning service. We hope you will join us for a special time to celebrate and fellowship with your Church Ohana. It s a potluck so bring your favorite dish! Sign up in the ante-foyer. Youth Soup & Sandwich Fundraiser Immediately following morning service on April 23rd. Come and enjoy a delicious meal and help raise money for our Youth
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL FIXER UPPER - WAIT TIL YOU SEE WHAT GOD CAN DO! Ready for construction? Grab your tools and discover what it takes to rebuild a house from disaster to WOW! A fixer upper makeover is like what God does in our lives. So get ready for kid s lives to be totally transformed! Our construction themed VBS focuses on building kids up using creativity, music, and fun! Fixer Upper VBS helps kids understand that God is in the business of taking the ordinary and turning it in the extraordinary. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR THIS ENERGETIC VBS! Where can I work? So glad you asked. We need people for Recreation, Crew Leaders, Crafts, Snacks and more. More detailed job descriptions are available. You can sign up with Cheri Mandaquit (808) 938-1225 or call Jennifer in the Church office. Volunteer training will take place April 9th after the morning Church service.
KBC UPDATES & EVENTS The Men s Breakfast was a great time for the men to fellowship and enjoy a delicious meal provided by Ken Anderson and Zane Buniel. Thank you for all who attended! If you missed this month s breakfast, not to worry! The Men s Breakfast is held on the first Saturday of EVERY month, so be sure to mark your calendars.
Team Updates NURSERY DUTY 4/02: Teri Matsumura & Rayna Morphis 4/09: Lynn and Jenna Howery 4/16: Easter Sunday - nursery closed 4/23: Cheri Mandaquit & Junsuree Mengkheo 4/30: Joani Duncan & Lori Blaine Worship Team If you are interested in bringing flowers for the sanctuary on Sunday morning, please sign up in the ante-foyer WEDNESDAY EVENINGS @ 6PM It s a family affair! Our Mission Friends, RAs, GAs, and Youth group gather for an hour of Bible study and fun while the adults gather for Prayer Meeting or Bible Study. All are welcome and are encouraged to fellowship with your Church Ohana. Children of KBC GAs helps girls grow in their spiritual development as they learn the biblical basis of missions and discover their part in God s plan. Here, the girls are being taught a lesson on Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak where they were joined by a few of our Mission Friends keiki. Know this my beloved brothers; let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger. James 1:19
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! There are many exciting and fun events that are on the horizon. VBS June 5th - 9th @ KBC KEIKI CAMP June 27th - 30th @ Kalopa State Park MISSION TEAM from Texas and Tennessee will be visiting June 12th - 16th MISSION TEAM from Lake Havasu will be visiting June 22nd - 30th YOUTH CAMP July 17th - 21st More details for each activity/event will be provided as we get closer to the date.
Calendar of events In April 1st, SATURDAY Men s Breakfast @ 8:00AM 16th, SUNDAY Easter Sunday 22nd, SATURDAY Hualalai Elderly Soup Kitchen 23rd, SUNDAY Youth Soup & Sandwich Fundraiser 30th, SUNDAY 5th Sunday Singspiration What is Happening Weekly SUNDAY 9:00 AM Sunday School 10:15 AM Worship Service 6:00 PM Evening Service - A Survey of the Old Testament WEDNESDAY 6:00 PM Mission Friends GAs (Girls in Action) RAs (Royal Ambassadors) Youth Group Bible Study Prayer Meeting 7:00PM Praise Team practice 78-7156 Puuloa Road Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Office Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9am - 2 pm Office phone: 322-3355 Pastor s Cell: 808-265-9667 Fax line: 322-6704 Email: konabaptist@hawaii.rr.com Website: www.konabaptist.org Prayer Requests: kbcprayerline@hawaii.rr.com