Sharing life change around the world, pray for missionaries today

Kevin & Jill Kane (Cambodia)

All around the world, Grace Church values people.  We believe that a relationship with Jesus is life's most important relationship. Therefore, we are committed to sharing the Good News about Jesus in this community and around the world. 

People matter to God. People matter to us.  

As Jesus said of the lost sheep and applied it to all people, "In the same way your Father in Heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost (Matthew 18:14)."   

Lisa, Jonathan, & Bruce Triplehorn (Brazil/Chad)

The Bible challenges us to pray. Join us today to pray for our missionary partners around the world as they prepare for reaching out this Christmas season in North America, South America, Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Africa.  I am highlighting our missionary partners who have come from Grace Church. Grace Church partners with over 75 different organizations, families and individuals.

Dave & Susie Hobert (France)

Pastor Tom Peters (Central Africa)

Andy & Sara Royer (Brazil)

Ben & Sandie Dyke

Mark & Roxanne Johnson

Integrated Ministries Grace Church supports

WHAT IS INTEGRATED MINISTRIES?

Integrated ministries is a description of ministries whereby The Church follows God's directive to share the Gospel in word and deed. Grace Church will share the work of Christ (the Gospel) and share the love of Christ (our good works) with every human being.

As the Commitment to Common Mission for Grace Brethren Churches states,

"We affirm that God has created human beings with physical, emotional and spiritual needs and that the Church expresses the compassion of Christ in proclaiming the Gospel while caring for various needs of mankind.

We call upon the Church to bless believers, strengthen churches and reach the lost by showing the works which reflect true faith (James 2:26)

• Assisting those in need,
• Promoting economic, family, and personal development,
• Encouraging the development of businesses with a missionary focus (Business As Mission)"

Grace Church supports the following Integrated Ministries: 

Water for Good

Water for Good, providing fresh water and community based resources for people and communities in the Central African Republic and beyond.

Asia's Hope

Asia’s Hope, providing comprehensive, family-style care for orphaned children at high risk of sexual and economic exploitation in Cambodia, Thailand, and India. 

GROW founder, Faa

GROW, rescuing children and youth at-risk for the sex trade in Thailand. 

VisionTrust

VisionTrust, developing orphaned and neglected children into mature Christians.



We praise God that we can support these integrated ministries to share the work of Christ (the Gospel) and to share the love of Christ (our good works) with these partnering organizations.  Please pray for the year-end appeals as they seek to do good in the years ahead.

My struggle to keep Christ as the reason for the season

Picture from Christ the King Anglican Church

I have been challenged this season to follow an Advent reading plan. I found one on YouVersion that I lead with our family every morning.  The plan is "Joy! to your world! A Countdown to Christmas."  We light the candle that corresponds to the first week of Advent. I read the devotional and one of my children reads the Scripture selection. We pause to pray before we scoot out the door to get the kids in the van and over to school each morning. 

I find it challenging to focus on the reason for the season. As a human being, the holidays can be exhausting. I am overwhelmed with busy.   I feel that all I do in December is add another event from an invitation to a full calendar. So many requests, so little time.  I can be ragged and get edgy with my feelings and emotions.  I need to refocus on the reason for the season.

As a Navajo, I miss my family in NM and AZ. I reflect on my childhood when I would enjoy time with the family without the pressure of events to schedule on an already full schedule.  Simplified versus Complex is what I long for.I need to return to harmony in my life with the reason for the season.

Our Navajo people did not celebrate Christmas in the past. My family learned to celebrate Christmas because my patriarchs committed their lives to Jesus Christ.  A Navajo pastor shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with my aunt Edith.  Then, one by one family members came to commit their lives to Christ. So, I learned to celebrate Christmas with Christ as the focus--the reason for the season.

As a husband and father, I am learning, re-learning how to engage Christmas again. In fact, as a pastor I engage Christmas with renewed reflection.  This Christmas could be the first Christmas that my friends and neighbors come to commit their lives to Christ for the first time.  This Christmas could be the first Christmas where new people understand the reason for the season.  Jesus is the reason for the season!

So, this Christmas season I refocus with an Advent reading plan. I make time to be quiet mid-morning, in the afternoon, and at the close of my day to rehearse what I read in my Advent reading.  I must refresh my memory to commune with God more closely.  No matter how hectic the schedule, no matter how I long for serenity amid the chaos, no matter how often I relearn the reason for the season, I can engage this Christmas with Christ as my focus. May Christ be the focus and the reason for the season.

I wonder how you keep Christ as the reason for the season. I'd love to hear how you are doing and what you are learning to Christ as your focus. 

Sharing God's love & God's Hope in the Central African Republic

Grace Church partners with Pastor Tom Peters and VisionTrust.  Pastor Tom heads to the Central African Republic on December 1st. He is going to serve in his role as Relationship Manager with VisionTrust International taking care of the orphan care in the CAR, Togo, and Haiti. Pastor Tom also serves as liaison to sponsors who support the orphan care children.  Please pray for Pastor Tom on his trip to the Central African Republic. 

 
Why sponsor a child?  VisionTrust shows you how they rescue children to impact a community for good.  Your sponsorship begins a life-changing relationship.  Grace Church believes 'life is better together" where we foster loving relationships with others and understand you cannot do life alone. 

Pastor Tom and his wife Sue sponsor four children through VisionTrust. Several families and individuals sponsor children with VisionTrust.  Fro $40 mer month you can begin a life-changing relationship.  Please consider sponsoring a child today.  

For those fearful about Ebola, Pastor Tom shared this picture with me.  Ebola concerns are far away from Central African Republic. Still, please pray for Pastor Tom on his trip to the CAR. 

 

I miss the interns

I miss the interns who served with me this summer. Rachel Landon and Jared Poorman served with me. God did a great work in them and through them. They are busy starting the next year of college this week. Rachel is back at Malone University (Canton, OH). Jared is starting at Grace College (Winona Lake, IN). May God be their guide and strength as they embark on the next phase of their life journey. Well done interns! Well done!

Rachel Landon

Sowing Hope Intern

Graduated from Triway HS

How did you first hear about the outreach internship, and why did you decide to apply?

Pastor Daron contacted me and told me about the position. I took a while to think about it and then decided to apply. I wasn't really sure that I could do it but Daron's confidence that I would be good for the job pushed me to accept it.

What’s your favorite regular responsibility or one-time project so far in your internship?

Honestly, organizing a storage closet. Every time I go back in there to get supplies, I can see how sorting things and knowing what we have has saved money and made things easier. Rather than having to go out and buy lots of things for every event, I can brainstorm on how to use what we already have and use that instead. It gives me a sense of accomplishment that my work has been helpful.

Favorite music genre to work/travel/relax to?

I love pretty much like all genres of music (except country...). In the car, I usually play rock music as loud as my speakers will allow (Nine Lashes, Skillet, Red, Thousand Foot Krutch). When I work or do homework, I play movie soundtracks (Chronicles of Narnia, How to Train Your Dragon) or piano music. To relax, I play fun, upbeat stuff or worship music (Shane and Shane, Phil Wickham, Matthew West).

​If you were stranded on a deserted island, what two items would you have with you and how would you escape? (Or would you want to escape at all?)

As long as I had food and the necessities (such as sunscreen for my fair skin:) ), I would not want to leave. I would want to have a journal/paper and some device to play music.

What are you passionate about?

Kids, learning (specifically studying psychology, one of my majors), music, reading, and organization.

You’re leaving your house or apartment – what do you always have with you?

My phone, chapstick, and a hair tie. 

Jared Poorman

Sowing Hope Intern

Graduated from Smithville HS

How did you first hear about the outreach internship, and why did you decide to apply?

 I first heard about this internship from helping with Torrey and Nate last year during the week long camps. I loved helping and being around kids in underprivileged areas and just being a Godly male in their lives to help, play with, and give them hope in and through Jesus.

What’s your favorite regular responsibility or one-time project so far in your internship? 
My favorite regular responsibility would definitely be our neighborhood Bible clubs we did. 

Favorite music genre to work/travel/relax to?
My favorite music to drive and chill too would be a little of everything. I like anything from country to christian rap. It's whatever sounds good that day.

What is one superpower you would most like to possess? 
If I had any super power it would definitely be to fly. There's so much you can do with that and the views and sunsets would be great.

What inspires you?
I'm inspired by real Godly people who overcome and seek God through thick and thin. I'm inspired from the greatness God shows in my life and in others...through all areas.

You’re leaving your house or apartment – what do you always have with you?

When I'm leaving my house I always have my cell phone and money on me.