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
June 2008
======================================
Outreach: “Do
you have a minute?”
Are you a member of a local church?
_______
How often do you attend?
________
Do you consider yourself a Christian?
_______
What does the term “Christian” mean to you?
_______________________________________________________________
Would you say you have peace with God? ________
Would you like to know that you are on your way to heaven if something were
to happen to you? ________
Would you like to talk about this now, or would you prefer to set another
date and time? ________
Name:
___________________________________
Address:
_________________________________
Phone:
___________________________
Date:
____________________________
Time:
____________________________
Matthew 4:19
A Word from Dr. Hokuf
Dear church family,
Greetings in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have just conducted our annual visioning/planning meeting.
I was so pleased with all who were able to attend and the goals we
were able to establish. In the
next few weeks we will be implementing various steps of action in those
regards.
One thing that we have decided is to renew our
emphasis on the importance of prayer.
We should never forget how totally dependent we are on our heavenly
Father. Without Him we can do
nothing of eternal value (John 15:5).
With Him we can do all things (Philippians 4:13). We want to
encourage every teacher to begin his/her class with prayer.
All of our services will begin and end with prayer.
In addition to that there will be a team of prayer volunteers who
will be praying during both of our Sunday morning worship services.
If you would like to be involved, let me know.
There is, of course, our Wednesday with prayer
meeting. We have a weekly prayer
list that is available even if you can’t make the meeting.
Also, we have a Thursday morning prayer meeting here at the church at
10 am. Please feel free to join
us. We are encouraging prayer
around the clock as well. If you
would commit to pray during a specific hour of the day we have a sign-up for
that on the bulletin board in the education wing.
You don’t have to pray for the whole hour each day, but we ask that
you agree to pray sometime during that hour.
We currently have over 40 people on our prayer
chain (phone and e-mail). If you
have an emergency prayer request our church family can begin praying right
away.
We take the command to “pray without ceasing” very
seriously. Jesus said that His
Father’s house is to be a house of prayer.
Prayer is likened to sweet incense that fills the courts of heaven
and goes up to the very throne of God.
Paul told the Ephesians to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with
all kinds of prayers and requests.
Be alert and keep on praying for all the saints.
Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given
me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel for which
I am an ambassador in chains.
Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should” (Ephesians 6:18-20).
Paul was asking the church that he had pastored for about three years
to specifically pray for him. I
am not ashamed to ask you to pray for me.
Janet and I need your prayers.
Thanks in advance for your prayers.
May God’s will be done.
Your fellow-laborer with Christ,
Dr. Stephen D. Hokuf
Thank You
Dear church members,
THANK YOU for the many ones of you who sponsored me
in the “Walk for Life.” The
Organization [
Blessings,
Kate Galyen
Editor’s note:
Kate was one of the top five fund raisers.
Well done! And, Pastor
Dan expresses his appreciation, as well.
===================================================================
Mother
~Daughter
Banquet 2008
Thank you—see you next year
I would like to thank all of the ladies for making our Mother ~
Daughter Banquet a wonderful success. Thank you to Kate (Galyen) and Kim
(Ragan) for the help in setting up and to all of those who helped to clean
up. We had 15 adults, 2 young ladies and 3 small girls.
Our theme this year was “Old Things New.” Our singers were Sandy and
Chrissy Jackson. Our speaker was Betty Jackson, who delivered a very
inspiring speech encouraging our women to join together in serving our Lord
Jesus Christ wherever He may lead us. She inspired the “older” women of our
church to come together and teach the “younger” women and share the wisdom
that God has instilled in each of them. We middle and younger-age women have
so much to learn from our older, wiser women. I look forward to the
opportunities that God will give us to work and learn from each other. I am
looking forward to next year’s banquet—see you there!
May God bless you.
In His Service,
Carol Singleton
PRAYER—thoughts to ponder
Editor’s note:
At our church planning meeting on May 10, 2008, we emphasized the
need for prayer in our church.
Here are some thoughts on prayer presented by Ray SOMMERS at Prayer Meeting
on May 21, 2008.
WHY IS PRAYER SO NEEDFUL?
1.
Because there is a devil.
Ephesians 6:12—For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness
of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
2. It
is God’s way of getting things.
James 4:2—Ye lust, and have not; ye kill, and desire to have, and
cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.
a. If we are failing as
Christians it is because we are not praying.
3. The
Apostles set the example.
4.
Christ set the example.
a. Christ would arise
early and even pray all night.
5. It
is God’s way of carrying on the mission of Christ.
a. Christ is making
intercession for us.
6.
Prayer is God’s way for receiving mercy, obtaining grace and help in time of
need.
a. Hebrews 4:16—Let us
therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.
7.
Praying through Christ brings joy.
a. John 16:24—Hitherto
have ye asked nothing in my name; ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy
may be full.
8.
Praying frees anxiety and gives peace.
a. Philippians 4:6-7—Be
careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with
thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God
which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through
Christ Jesus.
9.
Prayer is God’s way for obtaining the Holy Spirit.
a. Luke 11:13—If ye then,
being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more
shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to
them that ask Him?
10.
Prayer is preparing for Christ’s return.
11.
Because of what prayer accomplishes.
a. Promotes spiritual
growth—exposes sin, cleanses, enlightens, strengthens.
b. Prayer brings power in
our work.
c. Prayer avails for the
conversion of others.
d. Prayer brings
blessings to the church.
PRAYING TO GOD
Acts 12:5—. . . prayer was made without ceasing of
the church unto God for Him.
1. Unto God—we can be
pre-occupied by needs, etc.
2. Without
ceasing—earnestly, intensely.
a. Luke 22:44— . . . he
prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was as it were great drops of blood
falling down to the ground.
3. Of
the church (united prayer).
a. Matthew 18:19—. . . if
two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask,
it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.
1. The Spirit lays the
same burden on two hearts.
OBEYING AND PRAYING
1 John 3:22—And whatsoever we ask, we receive of
Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are
pleasing in His sight.
Psalm 145:18—The Lord is nigh unto all them that
call upon Him, to all that call upon Him in truth (sincerity).
PRAYING IN THE NAME OF CHRIST
Like taking a check to the bank—If name is good,
check is good.
Not on my credit; by His (blood).
PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT
Ephesians 6:18—Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the
Spirit . . .
a. We should be silent
and allow the Spirit to lay upon our hearts what we should pray for.
Pray with faith.
a. Mark 11:24—Therefore I
say unto you, what things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye
receive them, and ye shall have them.
b. Romans 10:17—So then
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
1.
Faith comes through the Spirit.
ALWAYS PRAYING AND NOT FAINTING
Luke 11:1-8—Sometimes prayer is not answered
because it isn’t God’s Will but because we have not submitted.
ABIDING IN CHRIST
John 15:7—If ye abide in me and my words abide in
you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
1. Vine and branches
2. Words abide in you.
We have room
for 15
So
far our youth have made a commitment to our Ocean City Central Atlantic
Leisure (missions) Ministry, CALM.
The dates we plan to go are August 9-16.
We have room for 15.
First, the youth need to pay $25.00 to be on the
team. Then each youth will need
to raise the $200.00 needed for room and board.
They’ll be asked to send out letters asking for help from church
members, family and friends. If
you wish to help, just mark your donation “O. C. Mission, 2008.”
When the youth get to
The youth do have some down time where they enjoy a
trip to Wal-Mart, go to the boardwalk, and/or enjoy their favorite
food—pizza.
Please be praying for this ministry.
Pray for leadership. Pray
for more youth to go. Pray for
their finances. Pray that
everyone will help these youth raise the money they need to go.
Be on the look out for a letter.
Don’t forget to mark your offering envelope “O.C. Mission, 2008.”
We also need
another chaperone
to go along.
Maybe this is what God wants you to do.
Please contact Kathy Gray in the church office, Phil Meekins, or
Patricia Culver if you can go with us.
We need to know as soon as possible.
In Christ’s Service,
Patricia Culver,
O.C. Coordinator
Vacation
July 14-18
6-8:30pm
for grades K-12
Sun., June 1,
12:15pm—Planning
Meeting
for all
workers/leaders and those interested in helping
Pre-Register
www.fbne.net
Friday, July
18
(during regular VBS):
Luau/Beach Party
for all the
kids and their families and our church family.
This is an opportunity for fun, fellowship and food!
It’s a great way to meet the VBS parents and let them know our church
family.
Helpers/Leaders Needed—Contact:
Jenny HOKUF, Director
======================================================
Honor your father . . . , as the Lord your
God has commanded you . . . .
Deuteronomy 5:16 NIV