By Joe Widick
Elaine and I were in East Tennessee during our recent vacation. It was a delightful time. We ate breakfast at a Cracker Barrel on the Saturday of Tennessee’s first football game. There was an air of cautious optimism. Will this be a year of improvement? What is the new coach going to do? Obviously things went exceptionally well during the first game (this article is not about why or an analysis of the game). We remained in East Tennessee the entire following week. Every radio station we listened to was delighted for the great improvement. They had one jingle that said you “need to get on the Lane Train.” We were still there on the following week when the bottom fell out and the Vols lost during the second week. I guess it is human nature to want to follow a winner. I guess there is high expectation on the collegiate level to win. As I listened this past week to all the comments about the second loss and the predicted loss to Florida, the fans were vicious. If it were my son who was the quarterback and he was being called everything that Tennessee’s quarterback was called, I would tell him to pack his bag and come home, it is just not worth it.
From time to time in the ministry of Jesus things became a little rocky. Jesus would be teaching or healing or simply doing good only to be accused of false matters by the scribes, Pharisees teachers of the law and elders. On one occasion Jesus was challenging the people about the “Bread of Life.” He was in Capernaum and it was said “This is a hard teaching, who can accept it?” The disciples get to the point that they too begin to grumble. They were the ones who were his closest and most loyal supporters; they were not the ones who were constantly accusing Him of one thing or another. John then records the words of Jesus; “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.” I wonder where I would stand after hearing that. Would I continue to be loyal to Christ or would I do as John said so many did; “From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” Things were getting a little rocky for Jesus. He was going to hold on to the truth and teach it and live it. The challenge was becoming greater than they wanted to deal with.
Jesus then turns to the 12 and said; “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Peter replied; “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” I guess I need to rethink what I would have told my son. Maybe I would need to encourage him simply to hang in there and do his very best. Let each of us determine that when the road gets rocky we will stand firm on the rock of our salvation.
Prayer thought: Thank you Lord for lifting me up when things are difficult.
By Danielle Gray
Thia class meets every Monday night at 6 PM. These quilts are made to comfort the seriously ill. Please see Cynthia Cluck with any questions.
By Nick McNabb
Field Trips of Faith is the title of our Wednesday night class for all 7th-12th graders. Each month we will embark on a field trip that will bring a real life aspect to an area of our Faith. This looks to be a great way to study God’s word and to bring a real life view to our faith.
Field Trip Dates are:
September 16th, October 7th, October 21st, November 11th, and December 2nd
By Danielle Gray
Meets Tuesday’s from 7 – 9 PM at the church building. Call the church office for more information.
By Danielle Gray
When using the building for events, meetings, etc. please fill out a heating and cooling form from the office.
By Joe Widick
All blessing and honor, and glory and power be to the King of kings and Lord of lords! Once again receive greetings from the Cartagena Mission Team, and let us share some news about what has been going on in Cartagena.
Thanks to the Lord we are one step ahead in the bettering of the space for the children’s Sunday school area (an area that can also be used by the entire church in any other activity). We have challenged the church to make more of an effort in offerings so we can do this job. In the photo to the left you can see what we had before, and in the two photos below, what we have now. There is still a lot to be done for this to be finished. Please continue to pray so we can be able to finish this work for blessing of the church and for God’s glory.
The last Sunday of august, we started officially with the youth ministry in our congregation. The youth meetings are 4:30 p.m on Sundays. For our beginning, we had 5 young people that attended.
For this new month we have also started evangelizing a new area of the city. For now we have more than 10 new contacts for Bible study in this new area. Please, may your prayers also include them, so they may go through the entire course of the Bible, and decide to seek the Lord’s Kingdom.
In August there were more additions to our family. We had three souls that put on Christ in baptism. Two ladies (Enilda and Irinis) and one young man (Sergio). We ask your prayers for them, so they can be firm in the faith they have embraced.
My sister Saintelise (Elisa) is here with me again. She is a blessing for me to help me in some activities at home and the church work. Now she is singing in the praise minister group. Please your praise for her t oo.
Thank you for your constant support and prayers. The Lord’s Kingdom is going forward. God bless and keep you always!
In the love of Jesus:
Cartagena Mission Team
By Joe Widick
That peace of the Creator covering your lives and yours.
During the month of August we have seen the manifestation of God to the congregation of Calanterique. Despite the difficulties facing the country, God’s work progresses.
Ladies Meeting
For financial reasons and others, these meetings had been held, the nature of these is to gather all the sisters of the congregations of Siguatepeque. The time had already spent several months and no congregation took up the challenge. But for the last Saturday of the month, Calanterique sisters took the challenge and made the meeting. Carol my wife received much cooperation from the sisters to perform this.
Youth Meeting
As was usual, the second week of September was made the ” Young meeting Baxter” this was to bring together young people from many countries of America Central and teaching issues of youth. But for health reasons (flu H1N1) and security problems in Honduras this year will not realize.
Our young people were saddened by the news, but the congregation is supporting his brother Fernando, minister of youth has made youth a local meeting in Siguatepeque. Still we are looking for the place, because we want our young people feel comfortable and willing to participate throughout the program.
Meetings in Homes
On Wednesday night in each home of members of the congregation will study evangelistic meetings. Thank God provided at each session we receive two or more non-Christians to preach them.
Improvements to the building church
Since last year the project began to pave streets, as a city program to improve Siguatepeque. In this street stands the church building, and this has been to help our congregation this more accessible and central at the time.
Brothers Thank you for your friendship and support for the work in Siguatepeque. God continue to reap many benefits through your lives.
In Christ,
Juan and Carol Santamaria
By Nick McNabb
Firesides start back this month!! Each fireside will begin immediately following our evening services and conclude by 9pm!! We hope you will come and bring a friend or 3!!
