Intentional Living

The Power of Prayer

Faith in theWorkplace

Connectionsmagazine

Spring 2015

ContentsMeet Our Staff

Lead PastorRalph Sawyer

Pastor of Music & AdministrationGrant Jessen

Pastor of StudentsJeremy Shirley

Pastor of Preschool/Children Jason Hoke

Message from our Pastor: This is No Time to Quit ................................... 3

In Community: Seeds of Love Community Garden ................ 11

On & Off Campus: The Power of Prayer ...................................... 5 Faith in the Workplace ............................... 6-7 Facility Improvements .................................. 9 College and Career ...................................... 10

Mission Emphasis: Upcoming Mission Opportunities ................... 4 VBS 2015 ...................................................... 8

Resources: The Treasure of Easter .............................12-13 Living the Intentional Life .......................14-15 Upcoming Events ........................................ 16

First Baptist Church of Wentzville653 Luetkenhaus Blvd.Wentzville, MO 63385(636) 327-8696

A quarterly publication by First Baptist Church of Wentzville, Missouri.The material within this publication may not be disseminated without permission.All inquiries, comments, suggestions and story ideas should be directed to our creative team at:connectionsmag@fbcwentzville.com

Connections Creative TeamDee SchneiderLori JohnsonTracy SmithJeremy Shirley

If you are interested in serving on this team, please contact Dee Schneider atconnectionsmag@fbcwentzville.com

2 Connections Spring 2015

THIS IS NO TIME TO QUITTherefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud

of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the

race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated

at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility

against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV)One of the most colorful and easily understood metaphors in the Bible is the one that describes the Christian life in racing terms. In fact, when you come to Hebrews 12, the purpose of the passage is to encourage believers just like you and me to keep on running in the Christian race of life. What is the Christian race? Among other things, it is:

• The race for heaven, for the promised land—the eternal land where we can live with God forever and ever.

• The race for abundant and eternal life.• The race for perfection—a perfect life

and world in which there is no suffering, corruption, evil, suffering, or death.

• The race for righteousness and justice—for a perfect world of godliness.

• The race to know God, to commune and fellowship with God both now and forever.

For most Christians, if not all Christians, there are times in our lives when we feel like we’re just running out of breath, our legs are cramping, and we just can’t take another step. We just can’t go on and we are tempted to quit running the race the Lord has set before us. Have you felt that way before? Life just encumbers you and the weight of the world is buckling you to the point of failure. You say, “What do you mean “before”—I feel that way now!”

The secret to running the race with passion and vigor, instead of lackadaisically and without purpose, is to keep your eyes focused on the One whose endurance inspires us and empowers us to continue because we want to—not because we have to. Don’t quit that ministry, don’t give up on that relationship, find new vigor for your vocation, rekindle that grand-parenting love—you have a lot of “race” to run.

By focusing on Jesus and what He went through in life and then comparing that against what is bringing fatigue into our own race, we are reminded of this truth Jesus, our example, bore so much more than we will ever have to endure. Remember Jesus had to deal with all of this:

• Born to an unwed mother (Matthew 1:18-19).

• Born in a stable, the worst of conditions (Luke 2:7).

• Born to poor parents (Luke 2:24).

• His life threatened as a baby (Matthew 2:13).

• Being the cause of unimaginable sorrow (Matthew 2:16).

• Moved and shifted as a baby (Matthew 2:13).

• Reared in a despicable place, Nazareth (Luke 2:39).

• His father died during His youth (Matthew 13:53-58).

• Supported His mother and brothers and sisters (Matthew 13:53-58).

• No home, not even a place to lay His head (Matthew 8:20; Luke 9:58).

• Hated and opposed by religionists (Mark 14:1-2).• Charged with insanity and demon possession (Mark

3:21-22).• Opposed by His own family (Mark 3:31-32).• Rejected, hated, and opposed by His audiences (Matthew

13:53-58; Luke 4:28-29).• Betrayed by a close friend (Mark 14:10-11, 18).• Left alone, rejected, and forsaken by all His friends (Mark

14:50).• Tried before the high court of the land on the charge of

treason (John 18:33).• Executed by crucifixion, the worst possible death (John

19:16f).WOW! When you realize and take into account the race

Jesus ran here on earth for us, John 3:16 means even more to us than it did before. And, Jesus was willing to run that race because He loved us. We then know we want to do the same for Him, and look what happens. That love demonstrated in the race Jesus ran keeps us from becoming weary. It keeps us from fainting in our minds, from losing heart and becoming discouraged and despondent, and from drawing back and giving up. Our love for Him grows in a way that refreshes and reignites our love for life and for the race we are running. We pick up the pace, find we are refreshed, and we find our second wind.

Don’t quit your ministry…don’t quit on your relationships…don’t give up on your family. Grandparents have so much to give. Wherever your race takes you, get your second wind by keeping your eyes focused on Jesus. Commit to finish the race strong. Love life and live it for His glory—because you want to, not because you have to!

Bro. Ralph

Pastor Ralph Sawyer, Lead Pastor

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (ESV)

Spring 2015 Connections 3

All the prayer and preparatory work accomplished last year is bearing fruit!

This year we will be sending groups to work with the First Baptist Church, Chitre, Panama, and Hananeel Baptist Church in Puebla, Mexico, to begin our partnerships with churches in those countries. Early last year we were invited by the Twin Rivers Association to join them as they worked with the Panama Baptist Association to plant churches in areas where the Word has not been sewn. Chitre, Panama (about the size of Wentzville) is a four-hour drive from Panama City, Panama. It is one of the largest cities on the Azuero peninsula, which is about 2,500 square miles, or about the size of the state of Delaware. But, in that whole region, there are only four Baptist churches and none of them have a pastor. In Panama, only sixty percent of the Baptist churches have pastors, and most of those are in Panama City. How many churches do we have in St. Charles County?

This church in Chitre needs help, so we are going to work with them as they rebuild and spread the gospel in their city and region. Our initial trip in February, which is during their summer vacation, will be to assist their children’s programs by helping with their Vacation Bible School. We are scheduled to go to Chitre two more times this year: May 30-June 6; and September 12-19.

The Missouri Baptist Convention introduced us to our other partner, Hananeel Baptist Church, in Puebla, Mexico. It is located about 80 miles southeast of Mexico City. Puebla is a large city that is home to Volkswagen in Mexico, and soon to be home to Audi. It is a very safe place because there are lots of jobs and lots of work to be done in Puebla. I doubt those two

large automakers would build automobile plants in a place that was not safe for their employees. Dave Maxson, who accompanied me there last year, and I always felt safe on our mission trips to Mexico.

Hananeel Baptist Church is located on the southern edge of the city and wants to plant churches in the surrounding areas. Additionally, Hananeel has several families from the church who drive five hours, every other week, into the mountains to help lead a home church in Tuzamapan. We want to join with Hananeel in the work that God is blessing! We are scheduled to go to Puebla April 6-13, July 18-25, and November 14-21.

Why do we go? Matthew 28:19 tells us that our Lord said for us to go make disciples of all nations. That is our goal—to make disciples for Jesus.

Interested in going? We need teammates to join us in Chitre and Puebla. There are requirements to go:

• Must have a current passport that will not expire within six months of arrival date.

• Must be 15 years old unless accompanied by parent.

• Must have completed Basic Training for Missions Teams class. (This will be offered 3 times this year.)

Contact me at Missions@fbcwentzville.com or call the church office at 636.327.8696.

Keep watching the weekly bulletin and the Power Point announcements for information and meeting notices.

Can’t go? We still need your help. We need prayer. Pray that the word and work will not be unfruitful. We need to go fully prepared, and that especially means prayerfully ready. We covet your prayers as we go into foreign lands!

M I S S I O N SGlen Locklear, Director of Missions

4 Connections Spring 2015

The Power of Prayerby Keith Jerome

Trinity School, Adair County Missouri

I was brought up in a Christian family on a dairy farm near Kirksville, Missouri. As far back as I can remember, I was taught the value of hard work and to love your neighbor as yourself. While this will be amazing to some people, I actually attended a one-room country elementary school called Trinity until the eighth grade. Down the road about a quarter of a mile was a little country church which my family attended called the Trinity Methodist Church.  I was saved during a revival at that church when I was about twelve years old.  After graduating from eighth grade, I rode a school bus to Kirksville for my ninth through twelfth grades. While attending Kirksville Senior High School, I met and fell in love with Anne, my wife of 52 years. Anne and I are blessed with two children, Kevin and Kristi. Kevin is married to Melissa and they are the parents of our only grandchild, Troy. Kristi is married to Ron Gray.

After graduation, I attended what was then Kirksville State Teachers College (now Truman University.) During our sophomore year, Anne and I were married. Now, there was the need to support my wife as well as finish college. I was hired as an Elementary Physical Education teacher’s aide and school bus driver. After earning my BS in Education, I started my teaching and coaching career. Later I earned higher degrees and became a High School Principal and later Superintendent of Schools. Today, I am “semi-retired” and enjoy driving a tour bus and taking people all over God’s beautiful creation. I can honestly say I have never had a job I did not like.

The year 2014 is a year that will not be forgotten by Anne and me. January started out pretty much as usual. We were enjoying our retirement—Anne with her work at the church counting money on certain Mondays, both of us enjoying helping at the food bank, and I took several trips driving the

Mid-American Tour Bus. In late January, arrangements had been made for a total ankle replacement for me. So, I knew the bus trip to the Pro-Life March in Washington D.C. would be my last trip for a short while.

God being the Great Physician that He is, my ankle replacement went well—textbook style—in one day and out the next! I went to church the next Sunday just to prove how good God really is. As the days went by, there was no pain in either of my ankles. I still could not drive which was quite an adjustment for me, but Anne is a great driver so we did fine.

Presidents’ Day rolled around and Troy, our only grandchild, was visiting us because there was no school that day. While the three of us were playing the game Phase 10, I suffered a massive stroke. God worked through Anne’s quick thinking and Troy’s support, and I was soon on my way to the hospital. I had a severe reaction to the clot buster medication—something that is very rare. However, God’s will and the power of prayer took over. Anne sent out an immediate call to prayer to our Bible Study Class and our FBCW church family. God goes before us and He had a nurse trained in difficult intubation and a doctor who taught difficult intubations in the ER awaiting my arrival in the ambulance. It took the team from Monday until Thursday to get me out of an induced coma and back on my feet. I will never forget the looks of my Sunday School Class when I rolled in the classroom on the very next Sunday morning. I told them I was the new poster boy for the power of prayer.

I tell you this not for sympathy, but to show you how God has blessed my life. I’m a walking example of the power of God, how good He is, and how prayer can change your life. I’m also an example of one of the benefits one receives by being in a praying church family. As Easter comes soon, let’s remind ourselves, one more time, of the price Christ paid for our salvation. Let’s thank Him for the forgiveness of sins and for the privilege of being able to come to Him in prayer.

And…whatever job or jobs God has for me to do in the future, I plan to thank Him for them and to enjoy every one of them!

Spring 2015 Connections 5

In today’s world of political correctness, liberalism, secular worldview and constant threats of legal action, the question many of us have is this—should we be living out our faith in the workplace? This is an easy answer if you replace “workplace” with “home” or “church” or even “community.” But, insert the word “workplace” and it leads to vastly different opinions and emotions—even amongst believers. To answer this question, along with all other important questions, we would be wise to go to the book that has all the answers—God’s textbook for life, the Bible.

Where better to start than hitting this question head-on with the direct words Jesus gave us in Matthew 6:24, “No one can have two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.” Couple this teaching with His proclamation in Matthew 12:30 that “He who is not with me is against me,” and it becomes abundantly clear Jesus taught we cannot divide our lives. We can’t compartmentalize aspects of our life as being faith areas versus non-faith areas. We can’t be Sunday Christians if we aren’t Monday-Saturday Christians. There is no divide between sacred and secular. Christ is Lord of all or He is not Lord at all! “All” in the Greek means “all.” So for those who would respond that faith should be kept out of the workplace, I encourage you to consider the words of Jesus that we are either on His team or not on His team. If we are on His team, we need to pray for our team to win in every part of our life—home, church, school, with friends, on vacation, running errands and, yes, even at work.

Having established this truth from Jesus, let’s explore other verses from scripture that support

an affirmative answer to the question. We all know actions speak louder than words, and according to James, “faith without deeds is dead.” Faith is an action word, and the passage that most often comes to mind for the Christian employee is Colossians 3:22-24, which says the following: “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it not just when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” What is this saying to us? Simply stated, we are called to serve our earthly master (i.e., boss, supervisor, manager, owner, etc.) as though we are serving the boss, manager and owner of the universe.

Always do your very best on the job with utmost integrity and diligence. Your actions will not only lead to blessings and reward from God, but will create a platform for workplace ministry when your co-workers and customers observe your integrity and hard work. How do we know this? Research has determined that 70% of American workers are disengaged in their jobs—at best they clock in and clock out and do little more, and at worst, they bad-mouth and actively try to bring harm to their employer. There is great distrust of “the man” in the workplace of today’s society, so 70% of your fellow employees will wonder with amazement why you are working so hard for the “suits” who they believe care nothing about them. Their questions and curiosity of your honest work ethic will not only show them the right path through your actions of “working for the Lord and not for ‘the man,’” but will also open a door for you to share the gospel truths that inspire you

Faith in the Workplaceby Prentice Robertson

❝We can’t be Sunday Christians if we aren’t

Monday through Saturday

Christians.❞

6 Connections Spring 2015

to act as a disciple for Christ! You never know—God may even use you to lead co-worker(s) and/or customer(s) to salvation. We are called in 2 Corinthians 5:20 to be “ambassadors of Christ, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

This idea of faith in action is reinforced by Jesus in Matthew 5:16: “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Where does your light shine the brightest—in a place already in the light, or in a place greatly contrasted with the darkness? Shine a powerful flashlight on a sunny day, and you barely see it. In the dark of night, it becomes a bright beacon. When we perform our acts of righteousness in church, they are good but won’t stand out as clearly as they do when contrasted with the darkness of the secular world. When we shine our light on the job, we shine it in a place where the harvest field is much riper than in church, and we demonstrate our good deeds so that others will see them and praise our Father in heaven. This is why it is important to understand God has likely placed you in the job and workplace where you are as a mission field. We are called to go and make disciples of all nations, but there are probably as many opportunities to share the good news in the mission field of your office, plant, sales team, assembly line, store or client portfolio as there are in Guatemala, Tanzania or Ukraine. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. God calls us to work so the harvest will be reaped and sowed.

People often worry they will be reprimanded, demoted, ridiculed or possibly even fired for living out their Christian faith at work. Scripture clearly tells us in Romans 8:31 that “if God is for us, who can be against us?” We are also promised in Romans 8:28 that “God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” We have a divine calling from God to serve Him in all aspects of our life—including our jobs. When we think of our job in the temporal sense, we focus too much on things like raises, promotions, climbing the corporate ladder and impressing the boss. Make no mistake, God holds us accountable to excellence in the workplace and to always do our best and represent Him well, but there is an eternal difference in the profit of earth and the profit of heaven. Matthew 6:19-21 teaches not to “store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and thieves break and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your

heart will also be.” Earthly profits are relevant because they are required to keep the doors of a company open and with enough cash to pay its employees; but, in God’s eternal perspective, the purpose of those profits is not for earthly treasure but rather to create a platform in the workplace for ministry which leads to heavenly treasure. The currency of heaven is not money—it is the souls of the people who are there. Are you winning dollars on your job, or are you winning souls? Both are needed on earth, but one will burn up and disappear like a vapor in the wind—the other will last forever!

In conclusion, let me share a word to the boss or the business owner. As a business owner myself, I have learned my business is a gift from God. I have also learned God has given me a great responsibility to make a difference in the lives of the people for whom I am accountable. I used to seek a legacy of hitting a certain sales goal or profit number or winning a targeted customer. I now understand, after years of stubbornness, the only legacy that counts in God’s eyes are the souls who are in heaven because of the platform for ministry I have created in my company. God holds us all to account, but as Jesus taught in Luke 12:48, “from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” Jesus gave us the ultimate model of sacrifice and servant leadership, and those who are given the privilege of business leadership would be wise to follow His example.

If you have always avoided your faith on the job, here are a couple of easy tips to get started. When a co-worker or customer is challenged or struggling, let them know you will pray for them—or better yet, pray with them right then and there. Pray at lunch, even if it is a silent prayer, and your co-workers will take notice. Keep a Bible on your desk and don’t be embarrassed for others to see you reading it. Always be prepared to give an answer for the reason for the hope you have by knowing your testimony and sharing it when the opportunity presents. Invite those you work with to join you at church. Take the high road of integrity in all business dealings. As you start to act in these simple steps of faith, God will open doors for deeper ministry in the workplace and help build your portfolio of eternal profit so that one day He can say to you “well done, good and faithful servant.” And, best of all, He will be glorified as you honor Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God!”

❝God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose❞

Romans 8:28

Spring 2015 Connections 7

Are you ready for an adventure of a lifetime? Get ready to “Journey off the Map: Unknown to Us, Known to Him” at Vacation Bible School.

There is a new date! June 22-26. Yes, you read that correctly, Monday to Friday. We will have Family day on Sunday. We will be looking for Navigators to take children from class to class, Room teachers that help in one room (Bible Study Teachers, Craft Leaders etc.) We will also need some for registration and one for VBS nurse. Contact Jason Hoke at the church office for positions. The children can sign up online starting in March. We will be discovering the life of Daniel during the week. Make sure you pack your bags for this incredible journey!

VBS 2015

8 Connections Spring 2015

Men’s Main EventMen, come join us for “The Main

Event” in Kansas City, July 17 – 18. For more information and to register, stop by the Men’s Ministry table in the foyer after service today.

LOOKING AHEAD ...

JULY 6-10Camp is for 3rd-6th graders. Camp

provides a time where kids encounter God in special ways. From track times and rec activities to Bible study and worship, we pray for moments that will impact kids’ faith forever. For cost and information call Jason Hoke at the church office.

Upcoming Mission TripsMay 30-June 6 Chitre PanamaJuly 17-July 25 Puebla Mexico

Youth Kansas Mission TripJune 8 - June 14

Join us June 8-14 for an awesome week in Atchison, Kansas. We will be spending the week leading a variety of sports camps for kids (baseball, basketball, cheerleading, and soccer). While there, we will also be helping Celebration Church host block parties for the citizens of Atchison. The mission trip to Atchison, KS will be a great week of growth, serving together, sharing the Gospel, and having an awesome time!

Youth Summer CampJuly 5 - July 10

The theme of Crossings Camp this year is Proclaim. This will be an exciting week of learning about our purpose as Christians to proclaim the Gospel. Throughout the week we will participate in a lot of awesome activities including: zip-lining, climbing, lake activities, tubing, and other crazy, exciting things! You don’t want to miss this awesome week, July 5-10.

For the past several months there have been several major changes to our facilities, and there are more to come. About a year ago, an Interior Design Team (IDT) was established to develop an interior design plan as we move forward. The plan was to include colors and materials for a consistent “look and feel” throughout our buildings while improving on maintenance and use issues.

The IDT visited several newer churches in the metro area to get ideas about what was the current and best products being used as well as décor themes. We also consulted several reference books on developing “places of community” and the psychology of color in developing them. If we are to make the church a place in which people can help others see Christ and how He can help in their lives, the church should be a place where people feel comfortable enough to share personal concerns and cares such as they might in someone’s home. With that in mind, the Interior Design Team discussed many possibilities for FBCW including flooring choices, wall and trim paints, and even some architectural changes for the future for specific functionality. You are seeing some of the results from those discussions.

First, note the general color scheme of the church will be changing to warmer shades of taupe instead of the white you see in most spaces today. As rooms and hallways require painting, they will be converted to the new color scheme. The Youth room

and children’s spaces are exceptions to the new scheme. They will remain similar to their current colors except in the children’s hallways. Those hallways will likely have a brighter, more youthful look with murals or other such schemes. Several rooms have already been converted to the new colors as you can see by the photo at the top left.

Secondly, to go along with the changes in paint colors, we have started replacing the old worn teal/gray carpet with new taupe carpet tiles. We have only changed the carpet in hallways to date, but all rooms will also be changed in the future. Again, the Youth room and children’s spaces will be an exception to this. The children’s spaces are being carpeted with a more colorful carpet tile as they need it. The plans for the youth room floor is to remove the carpet, stain and polish the underlying concrete floor. These changes not only change the look and feel of the spaces, they all are aimed at reducing maintenance and keeping the spaces looking attractive and inviting. That also includes “walk-off” carpet tiles at the entrances that are meant to allow for snow and slush from people’s shoes as they enter. You can see an example of the entry carpet at the top of this column. We also removed the carpet on the two stairwells in the education building and replaced it with a rubberized flooring product that is better for cleaning, less susceptible to coffee spills, and safer transit going up or

down. Thirdly, we have completed a total

makeover in the fellowship hall with paint, flooring and trim. The old, worn carpet has been replaced with vinyl planking to give it a richer look while reducing maintenance problems with food and drink accidents. The previous carpeted floor was impossible to keep clean because it was just worn out. In addition, the kitchen floor was replaced with new vinyl tiles for maintenance and aesthetic reasons. Drop by the fellowship hall sometime if you haven’t seen it as yet. I think you will be pleased with what has been done. We believe it is much more conducive to wedding receptions, baby showers, etc.

Lastly, there has been a complete rehab of the main church marquee sign on Luetkenhaus Boulevard. This was done to accommodate the new church logo and give the sign a more professional and updated look. Take a look at it as you pull into the church parking next time and see if you don’t agree it looks much better.

So what will you see in the future? As I said above, the entire church will be converted on an as-needed basis to the new paint scheme and carpet tiles. We have plans to change the lobby flooring to a tile floor and there will be new artwork in the hallways. If you have suggestions or want more information, just let me know and I will forward them to the IDT for their consideration.

Facility Improvements By Gar y Mills

Spring 2015 Connections 9

FBCW’s College and Career group took their first trip together at the very beginning of 2015. On January 1, our group of fourteen headed to Atlanta, Georgia for what would become one memorable and inspiring weekend. We were on our way to the Philips Arena (home of the Atlanta Hawks) for the annual Passion Conference, which started on Friday (January 2) and ended on Sunday morning, to join 18,000 others for a weekend of worship and challenging messages by worship leaders and pastors from all over the world. But before we got there, we had one VERY important stop to make—the Dwarf House. For those who do not know, the Dwarf House is the original Chick-fil-a where one can order a hamburger—yes, a hamburger, at a chicken place.

After this vital pit stop and an afternoon of normal travel chores—traffic, checking into hotels, unpacking, etc.—we arrived at the Philips Arena and there to greet us were several long lines…and the rain. The good news is that any long line in any sort of weather would have been worth the wait for this conference. It began with several musicians positioned at the center of the stage and prepared to lead 18,000 people in worship. The arena was filled with lights, loud music, and the voices of thousands praising the Lord. Following the worship and introductions, we listened to a message by the pastor who is in charge of the conference, Louie Giglio.

After meeting as a group, they had us divide into several groups—going from a group of 18,000 to only a few thousand. From there, we broke up into groups of eight. Within our smaller groups, we were led to introduce ourselves and get to know the others in our group for the weekend—which enabled us to connect with Christians from all over the United States. This was an awesome

aspect of the conference that remained a highlight throughout the weekend. In our groups we shared stories, expressed our thoughts on the teachings, discussed what we wanted to gain from the weekend, and prayed for each other for the time there and for the trips back home.

Saturday was the main day of the conference—this day was full of worship led by different leaders such as: Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and David Crowder. In between the worship sets was a challenging message from a variety of speakers: John Piper, Carl Lentz, Ben Stuart, and Francis Chan. Each speaker brought a unique and urgent message that inspired thought and action. To keep the day flowing smoothly, the teaching and worship was broken up by breaks, meals, and entertaining interjections. At the end of Saturday, the leaders of Passion shared two global burdens that they invited all attending to have a hand in making a difference—unreached people groups and slavery. They encouraged everyone to pray through donating money for the purpose of bringing the Gospel to an unreached people group—a challenge that costs tens of thousands of dollars to accomplish. In just that first week, over $500,000 dollars was raised to bring the Gospel to people groups all over the world.

Through videos and speakers, Passion shined a light on the prevalence of slavery throughout the world and sought to bring more awareness to the issue through what they called the “End It Movement.” We gathered one more time on Sunday morning for worship and were given a challenging message before we made our trip back home. Passion was an exciting weekend full of opportunities to make a difference in our own lives and the lives of others.

College and Career

10 Connections Spring 2015

Our Lord blessed the 2014 garden in many ways.  We produced more varieties of organic vegetables than in the past three years combined.  More people from the surrounding

community assisted with the daily garden chores.  Even the neighborhood children realized that a chore or two in the garden rewarded them with yummy food, beneficial work, great conversation, and biblical principles of growth and stewardship.   We tested new soils and evaluated cover crops. We learned to harbor more beneficial insects instead of harmful ones.  Hope Closet guests tasted several garden-to-plate foods, and therefore chose more fresh veggies offered from the pantry.  Gardeners from ages 2-72 planted, picked, and enjoyed God’s creations at LINC.  We were so delighted to watch a 2 year old pick broccoli and eat it immediately!

As the fourth year of this community garden at LINC approaches, we trust God’s provision and bounty.  The garden now boasts 22 raised 3-season beds, a 30x30 foot large crop area, several perennial fruits and herbs, and thanks to Kathy Thompson, a storage area!

Seeds of Love Community Garden

 Here are just a few ways YOU can help feed the hungry this year:   1) If you grow vegetables, especially cucumbers, donate a few to Hope Closet food pantry! 2) Whip up simple dishes using our garden produce for our Hope Closet guests to taste on Wed. evenings, or Friday mornings.   3) Donate heavy duty garden tools such as garden rakes, weeders, shovels, and wheelbarrow.   4) Donate a bag or two of organic manure or topsoil from Walmart, Lowes, or Green’s Country store. 5) Haul straw and soil amendments for us with your pickup truck or trailer. 6) Bring us your shredded leaves or organic (no chemical) grass clippings. 7) Mow and trim around the garden with our lawn mower and tools. 8) Babysit our seedlings in your sunny window for a month or two from February-May.   Contact Kathy Thompson 636-332-5127 or Amy Mooneyham 636-577-6000 for more information.

by: Amy Mooneyham

Spring 2015 Connections 11

12 Connections Spring 2015

Awe . . . the seasons! March brings the commencement of spring and soon after, the celebration of Easter. As followers of Christ, parents and grandparents can find it difficult to weed through the secular activities surrounding the holidays. Activities grapple for our family’s attention, clouding the true history and meaning behind our most sacred of Holy Days! Although I’ll be the first to admit it, I’m a lover of all things Spring! Finding hidden eggs filled with candy sounds like the perfect activity after a few months of cabin fever. The importance of oohing and awing over baby chicks and fluffy bunnies as we enter any local farm store cannot be denied. Let’s face it, most have given into the enjoyment of at least meeting the Easter bunny even if said bunny made each of your kids freak out crying while you frantically snapped the picture. As fun as baskets, candy filled eggs, and furry creatures can be, how do we as parents capture our kid’s hearts for the Gospel? If you’ve ever found yourself struggling for an

answer, here are a few ideas to stimulate your thoughts.

For those with young ones, fun in the kitchen can be a successful place to start. Resurrection Rolls are a quick, easy object lesson to demonstrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; all the while providing your cuties with something sweet to eat! Here are your object lesson cast of characters.

1 (10 ounce) can of crescent rolls – each roll represents the tomb where Jesus was buried.

8 large marshmallows – each represent Christ after His death, ready for burial.

¼ cup butter2 tblsp. Cinnamon2 tblsp. SugarThese final three ingredients represent the

spices and oils used for embalming.While dipping the marshmallow in butter,

cinnamon, and sugar, explain that Jesus died to take away all the bad things we have ever done or will ever do in the future. Since He took

The Treasure of EASTER

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our punishment, our sins can be forgiven, our hearts can be clean, and we could live with Him in Heaven forever! Explain that when some-one died in Bible times, people would take care of their bodies in a special way by placing oils and spices on them. After the marshmallow is covered in spices, place it on a flattened crescent roll and begin to roll the marshmallow tightly in the bread, pinching to seal. Explain that Jesus was placed in a tomb and a large stone was rolled over the entrance of the tomb and sealed. Place the little tombs in a pre-heated, 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes. Once the rolls have cooled, break open the roll and reveal that the tomb is empty – He is Risen!! This is such a quick activity and can even be done on Easter morning. You can also visit allrecipes.com for a video demonstration.

Another fun activity appropriate for young children would be using the devotional of Resur-rection Eggs. As the advertisement states, “Egg” perience the Real Easter Story, pun intended, I’m sure!! This activity is done each day for twelve days, with the twelfth day being Easter morning. Every day a plastic egg is opened to reveal an object representing different aspects of the Easter story. Scripture and explana-tion accompany the eggs making the details of the Gospel easy to understand. This activity is available at local Bible bookstores, Amazon.com and also through FamilyLife.com/eggs. Oh, and if your kids are anything like mine, they often fought over and diligently strategized who would receive the honor of opening egg #12!

For my final suggestion and one I hold especially dear, I wholeheartedly recommend a family book by Arnold Ytreeide entitled Amon’s Adventure. This book is a page turner and will

keep your kids riveted. Amon’s Adventure is a fictional story of a young boy and his quest to free his innocent father from the death sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. With Jerusalem as the scene, a story ladened with historical characters, a desperate family and the clock ticking—this adventure will certainly bring to life the culture in which Jesus lived, the reason He gave His life, and the miracle of His Resur-rection. Just listen to the writing and see if you might be compelled to read on . . .

Before Amon could finish, they arrived at the house of Caiaphas. With a silent nod, Tamar slipped over to the courtyard, already filled with women. Amon went up to the door and knocked.

A moment later a man who looked quite like a beast opened the door and growled. “Knock on my door again and you’ll lose your hand!”

Amon tried to speak, but lost the words somewhere behind his tongue.

“You the flute boy?” the beast asked. Amon nodded. “Then you’d better get in there.” He growled again. “Caiaphas is in a foul mood and ready to lop off a few heads!” And from inside the house, Amon heard screaming.

And the story moves on with its twists and turns, wisdom and lessons until the day of Easter when the tomb is empty, Christ is Risen, and Amon’s father…well I won’t spoil it for you. It’s a great read, even year after year! There you have it, three great activities to warm your hearts and surround your kiddos with truth, fun, and adventure. Sure beats sitting on the lap of a “paid by the hour” Easter bunny any day!

By: Tracy Smith

It’s a PARTY—New Year’s Eve—the perfect evening

to share with family and friends. I’m sitting around

the table next to the love of my life, sharing a mean game

of “Monkey Brains” with some friends. Kids are running

through the house enjoying each other and the chance to

stay up until “the next day.” All is well, right? In my little

world, “all is well” can and did come crashing down in a

brief moment on the battlefield.

My battlefield lies there, in full view of my friends, in full

view of my husband, right there around the table when

the most common and innocent of questions is asked.

“How has God blessed you this past year?” The question

hangs in the air and I begin to panic over my response as

each person and couple take their turn at giving God the

glory for various blessings. I’m desperately trying to think

of a response, something profound, something good,

something that unmistakably points to the goodness of

God and my utter gratefulness to Him. The battle rages

on in my head and I.AM.SILENT.

Living th e In t e n tiona l Li f eIntentional Honesty

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Living

Living th e In t e n tiona l Li f eThe silence is thick and is felt, so much so

that sweet friends try to help me answer. “God blessed your lavender business this year,” interjects a friend in desperation to help me be thankful. And it’s awkward. My husband looks at me in disappointment because he knows my silence, he knows good and well that I can talk someone’s ear off when I have something to say, but my silence can be deafening. I rationalize my silence with, “if you don’t have something nice to say, then don’t say anything at all.” And the battle rages on, and my battlefield is no longer private.

I think in my mind, this has been the WORST.YEAR.EVER. This has been the hardest year for our marriage—never have we disagreed with such passion over decisions, and never have we faced so many decisions! Ugh! This year has brought changes that I didn’t want or ask to experience. We now have a graduate with wings and she is flying, as she should, but life has not prepared me for how much I would miss her. God brought changes in the dynamic of our family as we navigate the waters of middle school and sports while continuing to homeschool our driving, Chick-fil-A working, High School Junior as well as our youngest child. As much as I say, “I welcome change, change is good, I love change,” the only real change I like is the change that I want. And, in my silence, the battle is lost.

Why? Why am I so weird? Why am I so self-centered? Why God? What is wrong with me, why the battle, why the sin? It’s heart breaking and husband-crushing and yet it’s honest. We all have our problems, we all have our sin, but as children of the King, we all have Hope. The King—the One who faithfully began a good work in me, the One who faithfully seeks to sanctify my heart to completion even when I lose a battle—He is my Hope. Philippians 1:6 states that we as believers can be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ

Jesus. What a PROMISE! What a HOPE! What a REASON to be THANKFUL! And there’s my answer! It’s always been there. It’s written on every page of His Word.

Promise. Hope. Thankfulness.However, in all God’s faithfulness and

goodness, He still expects me to have skin in the game evidenced in Philippians 2:12. Paul is speaking to Christians—men and women who have already received the gift of salvation and the assurance of heaven, people like you and me who are working it out, day by day, battle by battle.

“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”

Those words…they’re piercing…WORK HARD! Work hard—not FOR your salvation which is the wonderful free gift to be received but to SHOW the RESULTS of your salvation. WORK HARD on the battlefield to defeat the enemy who desires to make you and me ineffective and silent! WORD HARD to bring every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). WORK HARD to be thankful in all circumstances because this is ultimately God’s will (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

We’re in a battle. Every thought. Every day. Every moment. We sin. We all have our problems. Even if the perception of others is perfection, we all fall short of God’s Great Glory! The battle is real, His faithfulness is sure, and our skin in the game is necessary! WORK HARD, battle well, and rest in the hope that although we may lose a battle more often than we would like, because of Christ’s Great Love, we are overcomers.

“No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, Who loved us.”

Romans 8:37

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MAR

UPCOMING eventsAPR MAY

Issues of the Connections Magazine will be distributed via email and on our website. If you require a hard copy, please notify the church office.

12Koinonia Mom/Son Night

15Rise Tour with Trip Lee & KB

Church Bible Drill – Children

20Remembrance Scrapbooking

2VBS Organizational Meeting

4Legacy Builders & Boomers Dinner

6Puebla Mexico Mission Trip

11Women’s Ministry Event – Pam Tebow Speaker

20&21Solid Rock Preschool Spring Musical

3WAM Spring Production

4Women’s Ministry Tea Party

7National Day of Prayer

18&19Solid Rock Preschool Gradu-ation

30Mission TripChitre PanamaMay 30-June 6

16 Connections Spring 2015