I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:12

The Lamplighter

July/August 2007

Vol. 37 No. 10

 

We are blessed with 37 new members

New members from Jan. ‘06– Jun ‘07:

Blake, Bronwyn, & Brooke Bare
Richard & Nancy Brasefield
Peggy Clough
Cannon Culver
Cindi Edwards
Barbara Gaylord
Gladys Hamilton
Chris Johnson
Taylor Johnson
Fola Johnson-Aremu
Christopher (C.J.) Johnson-Aremu
Dinah Lewis
Benjamin & Angie Lotman
Blake Milburn
Scott Morill
Harold Murray
Tommy Murray
Tony Murray
Sarah Murray
David & Morgan Naggie
Alivia Nickle
Ken, Cathy, John, & Jennifer Parsons
Corban Porch
Nathan Porch
Richard Pugh
Carol Singleton
Casey Walsh
Cecil Walsh

=====================================================================

 

A note from our pastor

Dear church family,

 

Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We praise the Lord for His multiplied blessings upon us.  His goodness is from everlasting to everlasting.  King David says, “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11).  It is good to know the Lord in a personal and intimate way.  So many have never entered into that vibrant walk with Jesus.  It is my prayer that each of you will spend time everyday with the Lord.

 

Please read your Bible and meditate upon it.  God told Joshua that if he would do those two things and then be careful to do everything written in His word, he would be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).  True success only comes from God when we are careful to do His will.  Let’s be sure we learn that lesson early in life and practice it throughout our lives.  Jesus said it this way, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33).  The world and worldly Christians get this backwards.  Whenever we make “things” our priority and put God and His righteousness in second place (or lower) we’ve got it backwards.

Read the article from The Voice of the Martyrs.  Our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world could teach us much about what it means to be a Christian.  We have been redeemed not with corruptible things like silver and gold, but with the precious blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19).  Therefore we should glorify God with our bodies, they actually belong to Him anyway (1 Corinthians 6:20).

Your brother in Christ

Dr. Stephen D. Hokuf

 

===============================================================

GAME DAY

Central

Where Heroes Are Made

Hebrews 12:1-2

Vacation Bible School

August 6-10, 6-8:30pm

For grades K-12

 

 

Leaders/helpers are needed.   Contact:  church office.

===============================================================

Students of the Cross Assaulted

On February 19, 2007, 280 Christian students were assaulted on their way to graduation.  The graduates of the Emmanuel Theological Seminary and Bible College in Kota, India, were beaten at the Kota train station by a militant Hindu mob that was waiting for them.  They were beaten again at the police station with iron rods and bicycle chains.  The students were then robbed and forced to return home.  Still, 4,300 came from across Kota, India, to receive their diplomas.

Former Emmanuel graduates have gone out to “swim” in the turbulent waters of a Hindu society that is hostile to Christianity, and they have planted 11,113 churches.  They were not content to stand on the shore and have jumped into hot water because they dared to get involved for the sake of the cross.

Two years ago 1,508 graduating students of Emmanuel College came from their satellite schools to graduate together in Kota.  Standing side by side they made the following pledge:

I stand with the apostle Paul in stating that “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my hands to serve all mankind.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my feet to spread the gospel to all the ends of the earth no matter what the cost.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my lips by proclaiming the Good News to all who hear and by edifying the body of Christ.

I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus Christ with my mind as I meditate upon His Word and His promises to me.

I give my earthly treasures and all that I possess to follow the way of the cross.

I commit to love my family, orphans, widows, lepers, the wealthy and the poor the way that Christ loved the church.

I surrender my will and life to His will and life.

I commit to the service of the Lord by being a good steward of my time.

I surrender this body on earth to the perfect will of Jesus and should my blood be spilled may it bring forth a mighty harvest of souls.

I pledge allegiance to the Lamb.   I will seek to honor His command.  I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes.

Lord Jesus, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Submitted by Pastor Dan Mohler from The Voice of the Martyrs (July 2005).

 

===============================================================

Drawing contest

What does Kat & Brother Mouse Look Like?

We’re having a drawing contest to find out what Kat, The Resident Church Mouse and Brother Mouse look like.  The contest is open to any age contestant/artist.  Just submit a drawing/s of your idea/s of what the mice look like.

 

Contest rules:

First, keep in mind—Kat is a girl mouse and Brother Mouse is a boy mouse and drawings must reflect the same.

 

Drawings must be submitted on 8 1/2” X 11” white paper using black ink or very dark pencil.  Drawings must be no larger than 3” X 4”.  Drawings must be submitted for individual mice (not combined in one drawing).  Indicate on the drawing page (outside of the 3” X 4” drawing) which mouse your drawing depicts.  Drawings must be original—no clip art, no downloaded internet art or copied art.  Computer software may be used to create drawnings.  Deadline for submitted drawings is September 2, 2007.  Entry forms with a full list of rules are available at the church

 

===============================================================

Kat tells a tale

Extra!  Extra!  Read all about it.  This is special news.  The church has a soon to be well-known photographer.  I heard that Connie HARRIS submitted a photo she took of a praying mantis to National Geographic magazine.  You see they’re doing an article on praying mantids and are going to use Connie’s photo.  Now isn’t that something?  Here’s the catch.  We must wait until late 2008 or early 2009 for the photo to be published.  Ahhh!

 

Did you know?—Praying mantids get their name from the appearance of their front legs, which they hold in a “prayerlike” manner.  “Mantid” derives from a Greek word meaning “prophet” or “seer.”

 

===============================================================

 

Audio/visual upgrade fund established

We have plans to upgrade our audio/visual equipment in the sanctuary.  The main improvement we need to make is adding a second projector to be suspended from the ceiling.  This second projector will be our "confidence monitor", directed at the back wall of the sanctuary to allow singers to face the congregation and still see the lyrics.   We believe this will be a tremendous improvement for the Praise Team, choir and speakers that use presentations on the screen.

 

Initial estimates for this equipment are around $2,000.   Other audio/visual equipment will also be upgraded if the funds allow.  If you would like to make a donation toward the new equipment, please designate your offering as Audio/Visual Equipment.

 

===============================================================

Announcing!

 

Our church website:

www.fbne.net has been updated thanks to Andy WAGNER.  Although it’s still under construction, there are some new things available, e.g. calendar of events.  Click on an event to get further details (when applicable) for that event.

 

===============================================================