Did I have a fruitful summer ministry?

Some of us may be wondering about our fruitfulness when we reflect on our weeks of service. Everyone asks us about our summer. Some of us can say, "Several of my campers made salvation decisions.” Others of us say, "God gave me opportunities to witness." We also talked about things God did in our own hearts. 

For me, I struggled with faith in God’s ability to work in and through me at different points this summer. This testimony is borne out of reflections that I trust will help remind myself and everyone of necessities we must draw on daily.

For years I have read, meditated on, and prayed back portions of Jesus’ words in John 15 about abiding in Him and thus being a fruitful branch. John 15:16 in particular has been an inspiring verse to me. I was happy when my mission team adopted it as our verse for the summer:

“You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”

Whose standard of fruitfulness am I measured by?

I am measured by God’s standard. He is the Husbandman. He chose and accepted me into His family because I believed in His Son—the Vine. When I find myself comparing my fruit-bearing with members of my team, church, etc., I am being foolish. Other believers may “provoke me to love and good works,” but they are not the measure of my good works, nor my motivation. My brothers and sisters in Christ are branches themselves. Any good fruit borne out of any of our lives has its source in God—“for apart from Me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:4-5).

This summer, I came to understand in a deeper way the importance of two means which the wise Husbandman gave to help me abide in the Vine as a fruitful branch: meditating on His Word and fellowship with other believers.

Meditation and Memorization of the Word

On Sundays, other teachers and my summer team gathered for Word study and memorization. The first thing everyone did was recite Genesis 22, the passage that foreshadows God offering up His only Son for us in the type of Abraham offering up Isaac. It was precious having the truths of that passage quoted aloud in my ears and resonating in my mind at different points of the summer.

Since my return to the States, I have attempted to meditate frequently on God’s Word. (If you see me, please ask me how my memorization of Isaiah 53 is going). Another great way to reflect on Scripture is to listen to hymns or to sing them. One hymn that came to mind after Dr. Newton spoke in chapel on the topic of “What is your glory?” was “Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee”:

“Jesus our only joy be Thou, as Thou our prize shalt be.

Jesus be Thou our glory now and through eternity.”

After other messages, I have found it easy to get distracted with the next thing on my schedule. This instance where the Word was still lingering in my heart was such a great encouragement—and something that I knew was a work of the Spirit. (I am sure there are people reading this entry now who have had similar experiences. Please feel free to share them!)

Fellowship with Other Believers

My siblings in Christ and I are connected to the same Life source, yet I am often not aware of the need we share to uphold one another. In Hebrews 3:12-13, the Spirit warns us of the danger of a hard heart through the deceitfulness of sin. In order to counteract the tendency to listen to our flesh and shut out God, we are commanded to “exhort one another daily, while it is called today”. From my experience this summer, that meant a person - who was filled with the Spirit - sensing that I needed exhortation. I am thankful that God has placed several true, Christian friends around me whose words and deeds frequently challenge me about of the importance of meditating on God and His Word.

In conclusion, any good fruit borne out of our lives has had its source in God. Let’s continue to ponder the lessons God has taught us through His Word, other people’s ministry to us, and our personal ministry this past summer. And, let us “press on” to know Christ more intimately as we strive to bear fruit by His grace this fall. 

Joanna McLaughlin

Survey Results

For everyone who missed it, the C&C class took a survey a couple Sundays ago during Sunday School. About 90 people turned in surveys.

Here are some of the results:

1. About life groups:
25 folks said they could come once a week.
40 said they could come every-other week.

2. Ecuador:
17 people were very interested, and 50 more were interested but would like more information.

3. Communication:
As we already suspected, most people find out what is going on by coming to Sunday school and hearing the announcements (75). A good number follow the e-mails (62), and about a quarter of the class hears about events from each other (37). Of course, if we had made this survey available to people who do not come to Sunday school, we probably would have gotten some different results. But it is good to know that electronic communication does some good.

4. Suggestions:
We got about forty suggestions - they run the gambit from "more food" to a request for lady Sunday school teachers. Quite a few people asked about testimony times at fellowships. We also had a contingent ask for further small group activities at the end of Sunday school. Contact your local sponsor to see how your suggestion is being considered.

5. Evangelism:
29 people want to jump in right away.
35 want more information before they know if they are available.

6. E-mail addresses:
We got 30 new and updated e-mail addresses, which should make a big difference in how information gets spread.

Thank you to everyone who answered questions on our surveys. If you have anything else to add, please leave a comment and let us know.


Rachel Potter

Rafting Top 10

I am not including the top ten pictures from rafting (I'm holding those over people's heads to help supplement my income). I am not even explaining the top ten most fun activities of Saturday, August 11th, 2012.

 I am recording the top ten reasons why the people who went rafting were not insane.

1. Experiencing Jeopardy with Michael Schaedel and Vanna Tompkins is worth getting up at an ungodly hour.

2. We got to see a whole new side of people.

Rush raft  

3. We got a whole new opinion of life jackets. They may not be the height of fashion, but they keep you warm. We aught to pass them out to the ladies at church.

                                 

Naselli raft

4. We learned multiple uses for paddles - like avoiding pictures. 

                                       

Maybe I should just say we learned multiple ways to avoid pictures. Notice the distinct absence of Mrs. Tompkins:

Tompkins Raft

She was on the other side of the camera. And, for the life of me, I could not find a picture of the Schaedel raft.

5. No matter whose raft we were assigned to, we could usually fellowship with other people by jumping to their rafts. For example, take a good look at the Jump King:

Dahlhausen raft

6. We got plenty of delicious food. (Breakfast on the bus, and Snacks With Steve not pictured - but you can tell his raft was a happy one.)

Kidd raft

7. We made unforgettable memories. Just ask.

Talbert raft

Or, follow this link. We start going over the edge on page 2 near the bottom.

8. John Chism gave a heart-warming testimony of God's work in his life - which he would probably never tell in Sunday school.

9. We got a lot of bonding time in on the bus driving home - we were too busy fellowshipping to record it.

10. We got to spend nearly ten hours with some of the most enjoyable people in the world.

Rachel Potter

Grow, Grow, Grow!

My Mom told me that kids grow in the summer because they do not have to learn. She insists that kids cannot learn and grow at the same time - which is why they don't appear to grow as much during the school year.

I don't know if she is right or not, but I know that I don't grow spiritually at the same rate all year round. At some points, I just don't have the mental free space to focus on memorizing verses or the necessary alone-time to get through my prayer lists. Not that praying and memorizing verses are the only ways to grow. Anyone can grow by taking in God's Word somehow (devotions, Bible study, preaching, teaching, spiritual conversations) and then using what they know in a practical way (witnessing, building habits, praying, teaching, serving).

Actively focusing on ministry is a great way to grow spiritually. Roughly forty of the members of the college and career class will be gone this summer doing specific ministries. But, being faithful in a "normal" place can get you pretty far too. We have a good reason to teach kids "Read Your Bible, Pray Every Day." That simple habit makes it possible for Christians to grow, grow, grow!

We don't have a list of people staying in town, but here is a list of people traveling this summer. Let's be in prayer for each other that both those ministering away from our church and those ministering at home will grow in a way we can't during the school year. Then, when we get back together in September, we can see who is taller... spiritually.

This picture was hijacked from the Wild's website.
You can find it if you follow the link to the church website and go on from there. 

Give an Ear to Those in Need

I am sitting in my seat, listening to a colleague describe the personal problems through which he is going. All of them seem to be pointing towards a divorce. I try to comfort him and encourage him to try to reconcile with his wife, but it is clear that he is not considering this as an option. I told him that I would pray for him on this topic, after which we went our own ways.
While this might sound like a typical counseling situation, the actual location was anything but that. I was sitting down in my seat in the orchestra, getting ready for the dress rehearsal for a concert that we would be playing the next day. In all actuality, such conversations are not out of the ordinary, but are quite common. In fact, I find it more of a surprise when such topics do not come up either before a rehearsal, during a break, or after rehearsal.
What I have learned in situations such as these is that I need to view my profession as a mission field and not just a career. Granted, most people will not want to listen and will want you to know that they do not need God, but you will be surprised just how many people are out there, looking for help and burdened down with cares. We as believers need to react in two ways:
       1.      Listen attentively. They are hurting, and we need to show an interest in not only hearing about their problems but also in showing that we care for them as a person.
       2.      Encourage them to act biblically. While the chances are they might not want to do the right thing (as in the story I mentioned above) there is always a chance they will listen. The key is no matter what the situation is to always point them in the direction that they need to go. You might even get a chance to share the gospel, but most likely, all you will have time to do will be to simply given an admonition about what they need to do.
Remember, we are all called to be witnesses for the Lord, and it does not matter what our profession is. Whether we are a janitor or a politician, we need to make sure that we view our job as an opportunity to present a gospel testimony to the lost, showing people that life does have a purpose and that there is a God that cares about both you and me.


Even Duke

Graduation Tips

A few people from our class have reached a milestone in their education. That means they have run full-speed into a big rock, and now they are lying on the ground wondering what happened and wishing someone would give them an ice-pack.

Well, here is a little ice-pack from The Road.

1. God remains the same through transitions. The security of school routine was a gift from Him. You can't graduate from God, so you can never lose your true security.

2. Graduation ceremonies are meant to be enjoyed, so figure out a way to enjoy it. Get signatures on your program, count the number of guys with pink tassels, think of something funny to say to the person who shakes your hand in line, see if all the people giving testimonies have a word or a topic in common, or imagine what it would take for you to get an honorary doctorate. Don't just sit there.

3. Figure out a way to hide a tissue in your robe. If you don't need it, someone near you will.

4. Get pictures with everyone you can think of. You will want them later.

5. Plan to come back and report often. If you go away, we will miss you. (If you don't go away, we will be happy.)

Everyone who is not graduating will be praying for you as you recover from your milestone collision.


Rachel Potter

One Another #7

Up to this point, our exploration of the "one another" passages has been fairly general. Everyone knows we are supposed to love each other, pray for, and serve each other. No one purposefully tries to hurt a brother or sister in Christ. But our relationship to one another is something God wants us to grow in. That means we have to move beyond agreeing with the Bible to obeying it.

For different members of the class, obeying the directives of the one-another passages will mean different things. Summer will drastically alter the schedule of college students in our class. If you are a student, you should consider how the plan for your summer will affect your brothers and sisters in Christ. Maybe instead of planning all the experiences you want to have, books you want to read, or activities you want to do, you should plan for people you want to invest in - like your parents, siblings, or friends. And what about those people whose name you know, but you do not know much more? Maybe you can use some of your summer to find out why they are here and what they are like.

For some people in our class, summer will not make one bit of difference. But just because our schedule does not change does not mean that we are exempt from growing in relationships. It just means that we have to be more creative. What about taking a half hour some evening to think about what you can do to increase your connection to other church members. Get a notebook and think for fifteen minutes about who your friends are and how you could improve your relationship. Then, take fifteen minutes to think of people who are not your friends and what you can do about it. Write down at least one goal for each category.

In summary, the "one another" passages are not just something to add to the summer to-do list. They give us an orientation by which to evaluate our to-do list. If Christ-likeness is our chief summer goal, we should keep John 12:35 in mind, "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."



Rachel Potter

One Another #6 - Negatives

Along with all the things we should be doing for one another, there are five verses about what we shouldn't do.

"Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another." Galatians 5:26

"Do not lie to one another." Colossians 3:9

"Do not complain, brethren, against one another." James 5:9

"Do not speak against one another." James 4:11

And my personal favorite: "But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you are not consumed by one another." Galatians 5:15

All joking aside, these verses show that along with having a huge potential to do good to one other, we also are quite capable of tearing each other to bits.

Do you feel like you have a valid complaint to make about another believer? Take a look at the context of James 5:9. James does not brush aside the reasons Christians have to complain. Instead, he points us to Christ in two ways. The first is that complaining opens us up to be censured by Christ for the same offence (the ol' mote in his eye, beam in yours idea). The second is that if we handle the offence patiently, we have Christ's compassion and mercy to look forward to. Take the example of Job. Though God did not explain Job's predicament to him, He also did not let Job's tormentors go unreprimanded.

Instead of telling all your friend about the person who offends you, try to imagine how you would like Christ to respond to you if you treated Him the way your offender treated you. Once you know what Christ would do, you have a pattern to follow in your dealings with that person.

Since there are so many positive things we can do for one another, let's get the negatives out of the way and focus on building rather than biting.

Rachel Potter

And the Winner Is......

All of us in the communications department would like to congratulate Jason Rush for persevering despite electronic setbacks and technological challenges to correctly name the tunes posted under "Contest."

Jason received his Starbuck's gift certificate after the Sunday evening service.

In case you were wondering, the correct answers were: 

1. Jesus Is Tenderly Calling
2. Not I But Christ
3. Summon the Heroes
4. Nessun Dorma
5. The second movement of Bethoven's ninth symphony

Thank you to everyone who participated.

One Another #5

I have about forty-eight references that fit under how Christians love one another. Serving (1 Peter 4:10), praying (James 5:16 ), and being hospitable (1 Peter 4:9 ) are three. Burden sharing (Galatians 6:2) is another, as is forgiving (Colossians 3:13).

The one that has captured my attention is 1 John 4:12, "No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." In other words, like Jesus explained God to everyone while He was on earth, we explain God to other people when we love each other. When we are hospitable and when we pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ we are treating them the way Jesus would have if He were still here.

How is your explanation of God going?

I have to admit that mine is selective - based on time constraints and personality preference. But this verse is not meant to beat us over the head when we do not imitate Jesus perfectly. Every time we love another Christian in practical ways like serving, forgiving, or burden sharing, we show our family resemblance to Christ. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we can do that more and more often until we reach "a mature man, the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13)

When you see someone who is "loving one another" in the next week, give them some encouragement to keep going. And take a picture. I could use an illustration for this segment.

Rachel Potter

God Has a Perfect Plan - Part 3

  Ok guys, what are we supposed to be doing while we search for the girl that God wants us to marry and how do we find her?  Well let me first of all tell you where not to look for a girl.  Don't be looking for her at the grocery store or the mall or, dare I say it, on the internet!  Trust me, I looked, and it isn't worth the money or the headache of trying to find someone who has the same standards, morals, and theological philosophy online.  The place God most likely has your girl is in your local church or at the Bible college where you attend, be that BJU, Northland, or any other God-honoring college or university. 

   So now you know where to find her, now what should you be doing?  You should be preparing yourself to be able to support the woman you will someday fall in love with.  Get a job. Get out of or reduce any debt that you may have.  You need to be ready - or on your way to being ready - to support her.  Last of all, but definitely not least, prepare to lead her spiritually.  Being spiritually responsible for someone else is a big job and not one that is easy.  As one of my friends challenged me recently, we as men need to “Be the man God wants you to be.”  Stand up, take the initiative and be courageous! 

   For both the guys and the girls, the biggest thing you can do for your future mate is to pray for them.  I know you may not know who it is, especially you girls, but pray that God would work in their hearts to mold them into His image so that when God does bring the two of you together you will be ready to follow Him where ever he leads. 

   In closing, I just want to give one little encouragement to those who are hesitant about getting into a relationship because of private sins that have happened in the past.  Just because you haven't always been the godly young man or young woman you long to be doesn't mean that God and your future intended won't forgive you for things from your past.  The hardest thing about past mistakes is admitting them.  Your future intended will only gain more respect for you for telling them about your past.  We all make mistakes. We don't want to just sweep them under the rug, but they are covered by the blood of the Lamb.  So stand up, and live today in light of the Word of God.     

   “The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it.” - Anonymous

 Brian Green

One Another #4

If you use a Bible search engine to locate all the "one another"s in the New Testament, you will come across four very uncomfortable references: Romans 16:16, I Corinthians 16:20, II Corinthians 13:12, and 1 Peter 5:14. All four of them speak specifically of greeting one another with a kiss. I'll let the Artios guys comment on the kissing part, but I think all Christians can (and should) follow the greeting part.

Did you know that obeying the Bible can be as easy as a handshake?

Greetings are a first step in obeying other Bible directives. Many one-another verses have "love" written all over them in invisible letters. I may not love everyone I greet, but I cannot love someone I never greet. I cannot build up (Romans 14:19), speak to (Ephesians 5:19), encourage (1 Thessalonians 5:11, Hebrews 3:13, Hebrews 10:25 ), or admonish (Hebrews 10:24 , Colossians 3:16 , Romans 15:14 ) people if I never get close enough to shake their hands. All of those verbs expand on the active love that the Holy Spirit empowers Christians to show. Building up, speaking to, encouraging, and admonishing must all be done in love in order to have any effectiveness. 

Where is a good place to go beyond greeting and do some building-up/encouraging/admonishing? 

In our American (and especially Baptist) context, sharing food offers an ideal opportunity to obey these Biblical directives. The college and career class tries to offer eating times in order to facilitate one-another times. The real purpose of coffee Sundays is not to enjoy Mrs. Roach's great cooking but to find ways to stimulate each other to love and good works. So next time we have a fellowship, get your plate, greet someone, and get going!

Rachel Potter

God Has a Perfect Plan - Part 2

As a single guy, for several years I often wondered if God would ever bring the right girl across my path. I had asked a few girls out and had communicated with a couple more girls. But nothing ever came of it. God was always saying “No” or at least I thought He was saying, “No.” In all reality He was saying, “Wait, I have someone better for you.”  

Just over a year ago I became aware of “Ladies in Waiting” and began to take an interest in the editress, Sarah Ann. As I prayed, God led. Over the past six months we've become the best and closest of friends. Over the past five months we've been getting to know each other better with the intention of marriage. God has done an amazing work in our lives together. We've had our trials and our good times, but in all of it God has continued to confirm in our hearts that we’re not just meant for each other, we were designed for each other. God, from the beginning of time, planned for Sarah and I to one day (hopefully sooner than later) get married. It wasn't luck. It wasn't fate. We were designed for each other.  

So to answer my question from the beginning, “Are there guys out there who are looking for girls who have high standards?” The answer is yes. I have several friends who are godly guys who have high standards and one day they'll find the girl God has for them. It's just not the right time yet. It sometimes seems like they aren't looking, or they don't have the ambition to get married and raise a family. Trust me, every godly guy thinks about getting married and having kids. We just don't talk about it. You can call it a guy thing if you want, because it is. Every red blooded American, Canadian or otherwise Christian guy is keenly aware of the girls in the church. He doesn't think about it all the time, but he does think about it.

While you are waiting, first of all make sure that you make your relationship with God your number one priority because once that guy enters your life it won't be easy to do that. Secondly, prepare yourself for marriage, as a lady and as a homemaker. Lastly, make sure you pray for your future intended. You may not know who he is yet, but he still needs your prayers. Be faithful in these things and God will provide the man you want, the man you need, and the man who is better than all of your dreams!

Brian Green

One Another #3

Have you ever been extremely annoyed by someone with stricter standards? Some people perfectly fit H. L. Mencken’s definition of Puritanism: “The haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be happy.” Those folks go hand-in-hand with people following the Islamic idea, “if everyone around me would quit tempting me, I could be right with God.” They don’t realize that nuns and monks already tried imposition and isolation, and it didn’t work.

God does not say in so many words, “thou shalt not be annoyed with one another,” but He does give us directives for how to think about more conservative brothers and sisters in Christ.

Romans 14:13, Galatians 5:13 – Determine to be a blessing. Face it. The way to help a guy realize that Jesus did not have comb-over is not to ruffle up his hair in public. Let God soften the conscience of your bound brother as he watches you love and serve selflessly.

I Peter 5:5, Romans 12:16 – Be humble. The trick with humility is that when you have it, no one notices.

Philippians 2:3, Ephesians 5:21 – Be willing to be governed by a person with stricter standards that God has put near you. Give them the honor God directs us to show one another and use the time with them to figure out why they hold their standards. (Keep in mind that they have probably encountered all your objections. Try to nail down why they still maintain their position.)

Of all people, we at Mt. Calvary should know that you probably won’t interact with certain people longer than a few years. Instead of using our time complaining or being annoyed, let’s “always seek after that which is good for one another” (I Thessalonians 5:15).

God Has a Perfect Plan - Part 1

Over the past year, God has done quite a work in me.  He has also brought a young lady into my life. This was no coincidence. God has a perfect plan for us individually and in relationships.  My girlfriend, Sarah, has a ministry for young singles called “Ladies in Waiting.” I don't claim to be an expert on the courting/dating subject, but I thought it would be helpful for me to share an article I wrote about a guy’s perspective on dating. First, I'll talk to the girls and then the guys. It will take several posts, so keep coming back!

Ok ladies, as you wait for the man God has for you, you may ask, “Is it worth it?” or, “is anyone looking for girls with high standards?” For singles, these are pressing questions. Each day you feel more and more alone. You wonder if a godly leader will ever show up. The thought might cross your mind that perhaps you might need to lower your standards. You've seen movies and read books where “The Guy” comes, sweeps his girl off her feet, and they live happily ever after. You know other girls who found their guy before they were 20.The dream you have of getting married seems just like that, a dream that will never come true.

Before I answer those thoughts, let's look at what a “Lady in Waiting” is. Webster's Dictionary defines “lady” as “a woman of refinement and gentle manners.” A lady acts properly in formal situations. She does not make a scene or draw undue attention. A lady is also gentle in the way she talks, acts, and treats others. She isn’t trying to keep up with the guys. That doesn't mean she can't play sports or joke. Almost every guy appreciates a girl who can throw and catch a football.

So that’s a lady, but a lady in waiting is more. A lady in waiting is obviously waiting for her man, but what should she be doing while she waits? While waiting, a lady should prepare for married life. Knowing how to cook, sew, keep house, decorate, and even garden are all things that most guys will find attractive in a prospective wife. Marriage is a time of learning about and interacting with your mate. Learning as much as you can now about the mundane aspects of life will help you be ready when Mr. Right arrives. 

We have now completed our definition of a “lady in waiting,” right? Almost. If you are just looking for any guy, then yes. But you don't want just any guy. You want the guy God has for you! Okay, so, being a “lady in waiting” isn't enough. Let’s add another word. Let's add “a godly lady in waiting.”  

When you put God in front, the basics may stay the same, but the purpose changes. Living for God means putting Him first in your daily life. A godly lady in waiting must be closer to God than she will ever be to her boyfriend, fiancée, or husband. Before God gives you someone else, He wants to make sure that He is the permanent, number-one guy in your life. So when God is your closest friend, you know how to handle yourself socially, you are gentle and learning all you can about homemaking, then you're ready, right?

Maybe, and maybe not. God's timing is perfect. Sometimes we try to hurry God, but that usually falls flat. Other times we go too slow, and God prods us. You might be ready, but your man might not be.

Brian Green  

One Another #2

"Oh no! He's getting closer! I hope we don't have to talk!"

Have you ever had that thought before? I have. I know dreading other Christians is not right, but sometimes I don't know what else to think. Instead of an inward cringe, God wants my default to be one of these patterns:

Romans 15:7 - Christ accepted me when I was "not cool" and not even good.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 - God put this [rebel, musician, computer geek] in my life because He thinks I can help.
Ephesians 4:2 - How can I make this person comfortable?
1 Thessalonians 5:13 - What would make peace between us?

In other words, I should think, "I am stronger." 

My reputation can take the hit. God gave me the skill this person lacks. Christ can empower me to be gracious. This [cool, spiritual, nerdy] person and I are one in Christ, and by His power we can display our union.

Instead of ignoring or avoiding, I can ask, "How's it going?"
So, the next time you encounter someone who is not part of your normal group, you can be armed with the right mindset too. After all, we are members one of another.

Rachel Potter

Contest

Our Newest Contest:

So, you think you know music?  Well, here is your chance to show it.  Take a few minutes, or however long it takes you, and figure out the names of these songs.  Anyone who can figure out at least 4 of the 5 songs should email us at theroadmoretraveled@gmail.com.  This will automatically enter you in a drawing for a $20 Starbucks gift card.  Submissions must be in by 3 PM on Sunday, April 1 (no, this is not an April fool's joke!)  One person will be selected at random, and will be notified sometime after 3 PM on April 1.  So go listen, and then wait eagerly by your computer for that email saying, "YOU WON!"

One Another - #1

This blog has lain dormant due to lack of inspiration and the engulfing terror of other priorities. But recently, the Lord has given me time and vision for what to do next. So, I'm riding The Road again, and whoever would like to join me is quite welcome.

I have heard multiple challenges about the "one-another" passages in the Epistles. Examining them lately, I noticed four broad categories: the facts of our relationship to each other, how we should think about one another, what we should do in relationship to one another, and what we should not do. In the seven weeks between now and graduation, I would like to explore those four categories.

For instance, our Union.

I put four verses in this category: 1 Corinthians 12:25, Romans 12:5, Ephesians 4:25,  and Romans 15:5. Each reference gives us another facet of what being "members one of another" actually looks like. I Corinthians 12 and Romans 12 explain how God gifted all of us differently so that each person could supply what the other person lacks. As our picture illustrates, God gave Michael the gift of height and Janine the "gift of short" so that they could supply things for each other and for us that we would never be able to take care of without them. Ephesians 4:25 builds off our union to explain lying, not in terms of "thou shalt not," but - in the same way Pastor explained immorality - in terms of being unthinkable since we are members of one another.                                                                                                    
Romans 15:5 challenges us to be of the same mind toward one another. Paul's reference to God as the One "Who gives perseverance and encouragement" tips us off that being of the same mind is hard work. The context has more content than I can develop here; but among many other things, being of the same mind means putting practical thought into our interactions with other Christians - like Michael not sitting in front of Janine at church.

A lot of the challenges these verses mention are things we already do. Praise the Lord, we are not completely fruitless, backward members of the body! Try to keep the three ideas in mind this week, though, and see how the Lord is working out your gifts, honesty, and thoughtfulness as we grow in our relationship to one another.

Rachel Potter

Bowling Fellowship

The genius of bowling activities is that if everyone is having a good time, they all face more or less the same direction. Consequently, natural shots end up showing peoples' uninteresting side. Case in point, the pictures below. 

When people do not get into their best bowling groove, we end up with pictures like the one below.

(No, Mr. Tompkins, leaning to one side will not help your ball curve at the end of the lane. )


Another way to tell if someone is having a good time is when they confidently model high bowling fashion:

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or, when they are so secure in their score, they can wander to other parts of the alley and chat between turns.

I won't say what Mr. Wiginton's score was, but the term "Strike King" comes to mind.

All that to say, the people who went to the bowling activity really enjoyed themselves.


Rachel Potter

A Not-so-ordinary Coffee Sunday

Last Sunday, members of the college and career class were introduced to a colorful and unique selection of cereals with alliterated names such as Fruity Freshman , Collegiate Cornflakes, and etc. Although I am a graduate student, I decided to ignore the Graduate Granola bowl and go right for my favorite cereal labeled Shredded Sophomores (shredded wheat cereal). Another graduate student, whose name shall remain nameless, also went for the shredded wheat cereal. I felt better that I was not the only rebel not going by the labels!!!

Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Arnold were the kind host and hostess for this breakfast. They went all out with providing a variety of cereals in addition to the delicious fruit toppings, yogurt and cereal bars. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Arnold and any other folks who helped us weary college students get our Sunday morning off to a good start with a nutritious breakfast and a fun time of fellowship!


Mr. Arnold, our gracious host, cheerfully refilling a bowl of fruit toppings.

A colorful bowl of Freshman Fruit Loops. Hey,  next time we have cereal for Coffee Sunday, maybe we could have a contest to see how much cereal the college guys can eat!

C&C girls enjoying a cup of cereal during fellowship time.

Answer to Prayer

Elizabeth Owens wrote to say that the church leader she asked us to pray for had a change of heart. Please continue to pray for the situation in the area. Mr. Smith is back on a two-week visit to help the Owenses and Ellisons solve some other problems that have come up.

Fellowship Pictures

This last Sunday, we had a fellowship hosted by the Fox family with help from the Lowrys.

Mr. Wiginton and Mr. Fox are so tall, I had to hold the camera over my head to keep from taking a picture up their noses.

 Everyone enjoyed the food - especially the large dessert selection.

The table decorations (bowls of red roses) added a unique flair to the evening.

And Patriot fans did not miss out on much.

Prayer Requests

Please be in prayer for a situation with one of the church members in Kiari where the Ellisons (far right) and Owens (far left) are working. The member is showing a lot of bitterness. Pray that the Ellisons and Owenses would have wisdom and that the Lord would change the heart of the church member.

Who Should I Vote for in the SC Primary Saturday?

Well, first off, who is on the ballot?

Because of late drop-outs, some people on the ballot for Saturday are no longer running. If you vote for Michelle Bachman or Jon Huntsman, you might as well vote for Mickey Mouse.

According to Google, the front runners for the GOP nomination are Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Santorum.

Mitt Romney has a reasonably good resume and exudes competence for handling the position of presidency. His website says that he wants to cut government spending, repeal Obamacare, and reduce unemployment. Mr. Romney graduate from Brigham Young University. He is not completely pro-life, but he does not approve of funding abortion federally.

Newt Gingrich also has a reasonably good resume. He is believed to be the most intelligent candidate in the primary. His website says that he aims to reverse the countries current socialist leanings. He does not have a biographical section to his site - in my opinion because he has a hard time being faithful to his marriage vows. However, he does vote pro-life.

Rick Santorum is the most conservative candidate running. As a Catholic, he is strongly pro-life and pro-family (he has seven children). He makes boldly conservative statements on his website about the economy, healthcare, national defense, education, the judicial system, and the GNP.

Other people on the ballot Ron Paul, Gary Johnson, and Rick Perry.

Pray and vote!

Rachel Potter

SGI Conference

Student Global Impact National Conference 2012

The 2012 SGI National Conference magnified Christ’s name by displaying and proclaiming the wonderful and amazing work God is doing to call people from every nation to serve him. The conference inspired in all who attended a desire to go out and spread Christ’s name. Inter-City Baptist Church in Allen Park, Michigan has made the conference available to all interested in missions through the incredible generosity of its people. Several members of our Sunday school class were able to attend this year’s conference and each one of us greatly benefited from the powerful preaching of God’s word and from the helpful workshops focusing on specific aspects of Christ’s work in the world.

Dr. Doran, Senior Pastor, InnerCity Baptist Church

This year’s conference featured a number of general sessions starting with the opening meeting on Tuesday evening (Jan. 3), and finishing with the closing service on Thursday evening. In these services Steve Pettit, Dave Doran, Dan Brooks, and others opened God’s word and encouraged the saints in gospel proclamation. Between services, a wide variety of workshops highlighted particular facets of missions such as cross-cultural communications, literacy and linguistics, technology in ministry, training nationals, mentoring ladies in Kenya, teaching English as a ministry, current trends in missions, frontiers for limited access countries, and many others. The SGI conference demonstrated to all who attended the enormous need for missions in the world and the wide-open opportunities to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus
Christ. God is doing a phenomenal work in the world through his people so that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy!                                      
--Andrew Threlfall

SGI 2012 Not Ashamed of the Gospel

      For those of you who are not familiar with SGI, it is a missions conference for college students and young adults held every other year at Inter-City Baptist Church in Detroit, MI. SGI stands for Student Global Impact. Part of the purpose for the conference is to encourage and motivate us as young adults to be on fire with the light of the gospel and to share it with the world. Motivating the leaders of the conference is the knowledge that some of the greatest awakenings in our history started on college campuses.

     The men were housed in the gym on the church campus and the ladies stayed with families in the church. The daily schedule included general sessions, workshops, meal times and times spent in what is called the "Global Cafe".

      The Global Cafe was a place to meet and mingle with the other conference attendees and, most important of all, to get coffee (Starbucks!)! I'm pretty certain some of us would not have survived without the caffeine. The first general session was Tuesday evening - the day we arrived - and things started bright and early Wednesday morning at 8am and finished around 9pm. This was also the case for Thursday's schedule, with the conference ending after the 8pm session.

     The speakers included Steve Pettit, Dave Doran (the pastor of Inter-City), Dan Brooks (pastor of Heritage Bible), along with a missionary from a restricted access nation. Workshop teachers included some of these speakers, along with missionaries, representatives from Bibles international and church members there at Inter-City.

         Some specific thoughts taken away from the conference: a) We were saved because Jesus was willing to undergo humiliation and a death that was taboo to even refer to in polite society (Steve Pettit), b) The only possible explanation for our involvement in ministry is the mercy of God (Dan Brooks), c) Boldness in sharing the gospel is not brash and obnoxious behavior - it is an openness, plainness, freely given and confident presentation of the truth.(Dave Doran), and d) I should not be ashamed of the gospel because I have experienced its power for myself. (Steve Pettit).

     It was a blessing to spend so much time with fellow missions-minded people and to glean from the wisdom of those involved in full-time vocational ministry. I hope many of you are able to attend in 2014!

Lynnette Jones