Connections winter 2014 online

Intentional Living

Welcome HomeReturning from Missions

2014 Lottie Moon Offering

Connectionsmagazine

Winter 2014

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: Hot Chocolate Perusals .................................. 3

In Community: The Osteen Predicament ............................ 4-5

On & Off Campus: Upward Soccer ........................................... 8-9 FBCW Christmas ......................................10-11 New Ministry Spotlight ............................... 12 Prayer in One Accord ................................... 12

Mission Emphasis: Lottie Moon Offering ..................................... 4 Welcome Home.......................................... 6-7 The Persecuted Christian ............................. 13

Resources: Holiday Things to Do ..................................... 9 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:[email protected]

Connections Creative TeamDee SchneiderLori JohnsonTracy SmithJayne PattonJeremy Shirley

If you are interested in serving on this team, please contact Dee Schneider [email protected]

2 Connections Winter 2014

plan, pleasure or people, possessions or peace of mind? If you don’t decide what’s important and live accordingly, someone else will decide what’s important for you. Moses walked away from what most people spend their entire life trying to get. Value what lasts! “And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.” 1 John 2:17 (ESV).

Who you put your faith in makes all the difference. “Without faith it is impossible to please God. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27 (NIV). Moses wasn’t afraid because He lived by faith. Everybody has faith—the key is to put your faith in Christ. If you haven’t put your faith in Jesus, you need to do that. Then, you can charge into the New Year having made some life-changing decisions to guide you in 2015 and make this the best year of your life…no matter what happens. Take a few more sips of hot chocolate as you sit by the fire and then ask the Lord to help you to stay on track as you live for Him.

“For the Lord GOD will help Me; Therefore I will not be disgraced;

Therefore I have set My face like a flint, And I know that I will not be ashamed.

Isaiah 50:7 (NKJV)

Pastor Ralph

I’m not sure what’s happening in your life right now, but I am sure you are looking forward to what the Lord has in store for you and your family in 2015. Of course, I know that you’re well aware that what happens to you is not nearly as important as the choices you make. We can’t really control what’s going to happen to us this year, but we can control how we respond to the events that occur in our lives. So grab a nice cup of coffee or hot tea or hot chocolate and peruse these principles from the life of Moses. They changed his life and they can change ours as well. Decide now to follow these principles…and you’ll be ready for the coming year.

Be who God wants you to be. God didn’t make you to be what someone else wants you to be—no matter who that person is. God made you to be the person God wants you to be. If you’re going to make good choices this year, you must refuse to be defined by others. This will paralyze your life. “By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,” Hebrews 11:24 (NKJV). Moses, when he grew up, refused to be conformed to the world and chose the plan of God for his life instead. Be who God wants you to be and do what He wants you to do and fulfill the plan God has for your life, not somebody else’s plan. ‘For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11 (NASB77).

If you’re going to win the Super Bowl, you have to practice, work hard, and put out some sweat. No pain, no gain. You’ve heard that one before.

Make up your mind to endure short-term pain for long-term gain. Look at Moses—“choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,” Hebrews 11:25 (NKJV). The pleasures of sin are short-term. You can go out and do whatever you want to but then there are consequences. God allows you to make free choices, but you’re not free from the consequences of those choices. Moses chose to be mistreated, to do the short term pain thing for the long-term gain of doing the right thing. God chose Moses when he was a baby. Then, in Hebrews 11:24, Moses had to choose God. Have you chosen God?

Decide whose values you’re going to live by. What matters most to you in your life? Moses chose God’s values over the world’s values. “He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff.” Hebrews 11:26 (MSG). What’s more important? Is it popularity or God’s

HOT CHOCOLATE PERUSALS

Pastor Ralph Sawyer has been Lead Pastor at First Baptist Church Wentz-ville since 1999.

Winter 2014 Connections 3

Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

September 3, 2014The evangelical world, joined by no shortage of

secular observers, has been abuzz about the latest soundbite of note from the Pastors Osteen — this time offered by Victoria Osteen as her husband Joel beamed in the background. It is a hard video to watch.

In her message, Victoria Osteen tells their massive congregation to realize that their devotion to God is not really about God, but about themselves. “I just want to encourage every one of us to realize when we obey God, we’re not doing it for God–I mean, that’s one way to look at it–we’re doing it for ourselves, because God takes pleasure when we are happy. . . . That’s the thing that gives Him the greatest joy. . . .”

She continued: “So, I want you to know this morning — Just do good for your own self. Do good because God wants you to be happy. . . . When you come to church, when you worship Him, you’re not doing it for God really. You’re doing it for yourself, because that’s what makes God happy. Amen?”

As you might predict, the congregation responded with a loud “Amen.”

America deserves the Osteens. The consumer culture, the cult of the therapeutic, the marketing impulse, and the sheer superficiality of American cultural Christianity probably made the Osteens inevitable. The Osteens are phenomenally successful because they are the exaggerated fulfillment of the self-help movement and the cult of celebrity rolled into one massive mega-church media empire. And, to cap it all off, they give Americans what Americans crave — reassurance delivered with a smile.

Judged in theological terms, the Osteen message is the latest and slickest version of Prosperity Theology. That American heresy has now spread throughout much of the world, but it began in the context of American Pentecostalism in the early twentieth century. Prosperity theology, promising that God rewards faith with health and wealth, first appealed to those described as “the dispossessed” — the very poor. Now, its updated version appeals

The Osteen Predicament — Mere Happiness Cannot Bear the Weight of the Gospel

Each year at this time, our church and other Southern Baptist Churches around the world begin to focus on giving to the annual Lottie Moon Christmas offering. The national goal is $175 million, and every penny is used to further the gospel around the world. Jesus directed in Matthew 28:19, “Therefore go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Last year, we gave a little over $13,000.00. Our goal this year is $25,000.00, and while this is a stretch from last year, it is well doable for First Baptist Church Wentzville.

So who was Lottie Moon? The namesake of the international missions offering has become something of a legend to us but, in her time, Lottie was anything but an untouchable hero. In fact, she was like today’s missionaries. She was a hard-working, deep-loving Southern Baptist who labored tirelessly so her people group could know Jesus. Throughout her career, Lottie Moon wrote numerous letters home, urging Southern Baptists to greater involvement and support of missions. One of those letters triggered Southern Baptists’ first Christmas offering for international missions and was enough to send three new missionaries to China.

Currently, Southern Baptists, through the International Mission Board, have sent out 4,810 missionaries around the world. This is how this offering will be used. It pays for travel, insurance, housing, and basically all the same needs that you and I have, but in a foreign country and in a very different environment. Please pray about what you would give for our Lottie Moon offering. We have sent people from our church to the field, and they need your support!

2014 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering


to the aspirational class of the suburbs. Whereas the early devotees of Prosperity Theology prayed for a roof over their heads that did not leak, the devotees of prosperity theology in the Age of Osteen pray for ever bigger houses. The story of how the Osteens exercised faith for a big house comes early in Joel Osteen’s best-seller, Your Best Life Now.

According to Osteen, God wants to pour out his “immeasurable favor” on his human creatures, and this requires a fundamental re-ordering of our thinking. “To experience this immeasurable favor,” Osteen writes, “you must rid yourself of that small-minded thinking and start expecting God’s blessings, start anticipating promotion and supernatural increase. You must conceive it in your heart before you can receive it. In other words, you must make increase in your own thinking, then God will bring those things to pass.”

There is nothing really new in this message. Anyone familiar with the New Thought movement and later books such as Napoleon Hill’s Think and Grow Rich will see a persistent theme. The important issue is this — Prosperity Theology is a false Gospel. The problem with Prosperity Theology is not that it promises too much, but that it aims for so little. What God promises us in Christ is far above anything that can be measured in earthly wealth — and believers are not promised earthly wealth nor the gift of health.

But to talk of the promises of God to believers is actually to jump outside the Osteen audience. The Osteen message does not differentiate between believers and unbelievers — certainly not in terms of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In their sermons, writings, and media appearances, the Osteens insist that God is well-disposed to all people and wills that all flourish, but there is virtually no mention of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No reference to sin as the fundamental issue. No explanation of atonement and resurrection as God’s saving acts; no clarity of any sort on the need for faith in Christ and repentance of sin.

Instead, they focus on happiness and God’s “immeasurable favor” to be poured out on all people, if they will only correct their thinking.

As a thought exercise, let’s just limit the consideration to those people who have identified as Christians throughout the centuries. Does the Osteen message come close to their experience? Would it even make sense?

Just consider the fact that most Christians throughout the history of the church have been poor, and often desperately poor. They were not hoping to move into a suburban mini-mansion, they hoped to be able to feed their children one more day. That picture is still true for millions upon millions of Christians around the world today.

And that is just the start of it. What about all those who are even now suffering persecution for

their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ? What about the loved ones of the martyrs in Mosul? What about the Christians forced out of their homes and threatened with genocide? What about the children of Christians slain in Iraq and Syria just in recent weeks, or those martyred by Boko Haram in Africa? How does Prosperity Theology work for them? Can anyone look them in the eye and say that God’s plan for believers in this life is to know Your Best Life Now?

In her recent work on Prosperity Theology, historian Kate Bowler traces the shift from what she calls the “hard prosperity” message of the early Pentecostals to the “soft prosperity” message of modern preachers like Joel Osteen. As Bowler explains, the new “softer” version of the prosperity message has “become the foremost Christian theology of modern living.”

Well, maybe. Prosperity Theology certainly sells books and draws crowds in the United States, but what does it possibly say to a grieving Christian wife and mother in Iraq? How can it possibly be squared with the actual message of the New Testament? How can any sinner be saved, without a clear presentation of sin, redemption, the cross, the empty tomb, and the call to faith and repentance? Prosperity Theology fails every test, and fails every test miserably. It is a false gospel, and one that must be repudiated, not merely reformatted.

Victoria Osteen’s comments fit naturally within the worldview and message she and her husband have carefully cultivated. The divine-human relationship is just turned upside down, and God’s greatest desire is said to be our happiness. But what is happiness? It is a word that cannot bear much weight. As writers from C. S. Lewis to the Apostle Paul have made clear, happiness is no substitute for joy. Happiness, in the smiling version assured in the Age of Osteen, doesn’t last, cannot satisfy, and often is not even real.

Furthermore, God’s pleasure in his human creatures centers in his desire and will that they come to faith in Jesus Christ and be saved. The great dividing line in humanity is not between the rich and the poor, the sick and the well, or even the happy and the unhappy. The great divide is between those who, in Christ, have been transferred from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of God’s glorious light.

Mere happiness cannot bear the weight of the Gospel. The message of the real Gospel is found in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” That is a message that can be preached with a straight face, a courageous spirit, and an urgent heart in Munich, in Miami, or in Mosul.

If our message cannot be preached with credibility in Mosul, it should not be preached in Houston. That is the Osteen Predicament.


“Welcome home. Although I’m not sure if you feel like this is home anymore, or if Zambia is home! So maybe I should say: welcome back, it’s good to see you.”

These words stand out to me among the many greetings I received on my first Sunday back to FBCW because they sum up a lot of the emotions surrounding my transition from Africa back to America.

For the last two years I have been living and serving in Botswana and Zambia under the Journeyman program. To summarize everything I saw, did, and experienced would be impossible, but I will try to give a brief glimpse inside a typical week.

A LOOK AT LIFE IN ZAMBIAMy partner and I primarily worked in

student ministry with both high school and college students. Each week during school season we spent hours in our office on the local university campus, counseling, discipling, encouraging, and praying with students. They came to us with questions about becoming a Christian, recognizing false teachers, finding a church, studying the Bible, sharing their faith, pursuing relationships, managing the stress of school, and many other things. We tried to make it an atmosphere where students felt comfortable dropping by in between classes or on their lunch break to ask a question or just to chat. In the afternoons we often visited students in their dorm rooms where we enjoyed fellowship and were served many interesting meals! Evenings were filled with Bible studies, church services, and

WELCOME HOMEdiscipleship.

A favorite part of my week was having Bible study with high school girls at a local orphanage. In the beginning I was at a loss to know how to reach these girls who grew up with no parents, no stability, and very few material possessions—after all, I couldn’t tell them I understood what they

were going through. Then I was reminded that the love of Christ speaks what words cannot. At first they were very cautious about opening up, but little by little, over meals and Bible studies and nail painting and hair fixing, Christ’s love penetrated their hearts and they began to cry out with that desire to know Him more. Most of them come from such broken backgrounds yet it is a privilege to see how the Lord can redeem even the most terrible circumstance and turn it into something beautiful. Even the social worker at the orphanage commented on the change she had seen in the girls since we started meeting together. I told her I was not the one who had changed them—it was the Lord.

In between all the ministry activities, I was

By: Alyssa Scott

❝I don’t see missions as a calling only for a select few. In giving

the Great Commission, Christ called all

believers to make the spread of the gospel

their life’s ambition.❞


WELCOME HOMEblessed to be part of a wonderful, thriving local church of about 40 members. Riverside Baptist Church became my family in Zambia and their understanding of living in biblical community is something that challenged me, something I believe we as the American church could benefit from learning more about. While I thought I was coming to help them, this church helped me when I needed it—more times than I can count.

As the end of my term approached, I struggled with a lot of questions. Would I ever see these precious brothers and sisters again? What would happen to the people and ministries and work I had been a part of when I left? But, the Lord reminded me that He was in Zambia before I arrived, and He was not leaving when I left. It was not my work, but His work, and He does not abandon the work of His hands. It has been amazing to watch Zambian believers stepping up and taking on more ministry responsibilities. God is so faithful.

WELCOME HOME… WHAT’S NEXT?Zambia truly became home to me during the

time I spent there, so coming back to my other

home has been bittersweet. I’ve gotten a lot of questions since returning home: What’s next for me? Will I be going back to the mission field? And my answer is… only God knows. But I think it’s a strong possibility.

I don’t see missions as a calling only for a select few. In giving the Great Commission, Christ called all believers to make the spread of the gospel their life’s ambition. For some that means a life of service overseas; for others that means consistently and intentionally sharing the gospel with people in your own city. At this point I don’t know which one God has in store for me, but as a Journeyman friend of mine said, “I don’t know where I’m going next, but I know what I’ll be doing. The same thing I’m doing now: making disciples.” Join me in seeking what role God would have you to play in the global advance of his kingdom.


Having not initially planned to introduce a new sport in 2014, we heard God’s call to roll out Upward Soccer over the summer and less than two months later, registration was open. We are a living testimony to the hand of God at work, as there were numerous logistical challenges that literally came together at just the right time…indeed, God’s timing. As an example, the prayer and planning that preceded the first season of basketball and cheerleading in 2009 was over ONE FULL YEAR in the making. Just six weeks after our first prayers for the Lord’s guidance regarding Upward Soccer, registration was open and the first kids were signed up. When God moves, He moves in BIG ways, and we’re excited to see Him at work in our church and in our community.

This soccer season saw 144 children registered on 18 teams with 44 coaches, representing over 1400 Ministry Opportunities throughout the 11-week season. Of the 144 children playing, only 24% are members of FBCW, while 18% have no church home. Your faithful giving provided scholarship assistance to 32 families whose children would not have been able to participate otherwise.

We’re not just developing a child’s athletic abilities; we’re using sports as a tool in developing the athlete mentally, athletically, spiritually and socially. Upward coaches share a mid-practice devotion with each child at every practice. This season, we learned more about three virtues, each centered on a key Scripture verse:

Knowledge – “Learning something new so you can be better at whatever you do.”

“The LORD gives wisdom. Knowledge and under-standing come from his mouth.” – Proverbs 2:6

Respect – “Showing others they are important by what you say and do.”

“Show proper respect to everyone.” – 1 Peter 2:17a

Faith – “Trusting in what you can’t see because of what you can see.”

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see.” – Hebrews 11:1

In addition to these virtues, each child heard the gospel message at least two times and learned that they are part of God’s Big Story. At the season-ending Award Celebration, each

child received a DVD, “The Big Story,” to take home and watch as a family, in which they will hear the Gospel message a third time.

This fall also saw an increase in enrollment in our second annual Basketball Academy, a six-week developmental experience meant to:

• Reposition our church as the sports leader in our community.

• Differentiate our developmental sports program from other options.

• Draw a new influx of children into our winter Up-ward Basketball league.

• Provide parents a better option for providing their child the opportunity to experience that next level of play.

Forty-seven young athletes in 4th-8th grades participated in this program, representing over 1,550 Ministry Opportunities over the six weeks. Of the 47 children participating, only 8% are members of FBCW, while 21% have no church home. On the surface, 47 children may seem like a low

Upward Soccer has arrived at FBCW!


number, but we are intentional in limiting enrollment in the Academy so that we can provide a higher coach-to-player ratio to allow for a more personal level of instruction for every child—a carefully selected and trained coaching staff, certified by Upward Sports, focused on individual skill development through intentional drills, scrimmages, and instruction, while also setting apart time for life lessons each week.

Using Luke 2:52 (“And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man”) as their core Scripture verse, athletes dove deeper into the Word to discover more about what each meant:

• Wisdom – “loving and doing what is right and good” and “the choice of foundations.”

• Stature – “Perseverance…deciding not to give up even when it’s hard” and “Determination…deciding something is worth doing even when it’s hard.”

• In Favor With Man – “Team Chemistry…encourag-ing others” and “Self-Control…get a grip.”

• In Favor With God – “Playing for God’s glory…giving God the attention” and “Godliness…being focused on God.”

Participants also took part in a Service Project in week 5, writing a personal letter of encouragement to a soldier deployed overseas.

As this article goes to print, 161 children are already registered for our winter Basketball and Cheerleading season. We’re anticipating over 600 children again this season, representing over 33,000 Ministry Opportunities! That’s going to require over 250 volunteers just this winter, not all of which require basketball knowledge. In addition to coaches, assistant coaches and referees, we need volunteers for marketing and social media, game day setup and cleanup, game day concessions and announcers, sharing a devotion at half-time, player orientations and sizing, Shining Stars “buddies,” mascots, and prayer partners. Would you prayerfully consider how you can serve God through the Upward Sports ministry?

We’re on mission to “Promote the Discovery of Jesus Through Sports” and we’re excited to see what God has in store for the ministry in 2015!

HOLIDAY THINGSTO DO

WAY OF LIGHTSWhere: Belleville, ILMore than a million lights are used to tell the story of Jesus’ birth. Drive through the display or take a carriage ride. Also featured is a laser light show, camel rides, an indoor Christmas tree display and a play area for the kids. Open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Admission to drive through is free. There is a small charge for the other attractions. November 21 - January 2

Saint Louis Zoo Wild LightsWalk through the Zoo’s holiday wonderland of spectacular light displays. 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. December 5-7, 12-14, 19-23, 26-30

Pet-acular Holiday BazaarWhere: PURINA FARMSShop for unique holiday gifts, watch amazing dog and cat performances, and sample delicious food. Kids even have their own area featuring inflatable bounce houses, crafts, face-painting and a trackless train. All proceeds benefit local animal welfare groups. December 13 - 14, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

St. Charles Christmas TraditionsWhere: Main StreetThis annual month long festival celebrates the best of the holiday season. Close your eyes and listen to the sounds of holiday music from the Victorian Carolers and the fife and drum corps. Experience the unique shopping and dining opportunities found along the festively decorated brick lined streets. Take in the scent of roasting chestnuts. Capture in your mind a time in America when life was simpler and Christmas was elegant and magical. Christmas Traditions offers something special for everyone. And with 2014 marking the 40th anniversary of this favorite holiday tradition, there has never been more to experience during shopping hours. FREE November 28 - December 24

Los PosadasWhere: S. Main St & Boone’s Lick Rd.Gather your candles, luminaries, lanterns and flashlights and join the beautiful procession by candlelight that has been a Spanish tradition for centuries. Follow behind a live reenactment of Mary and Joseph searching for a room at the “inn”. Procession begins at the corner of S. Main St. and Boone’s Lick Rd., travels north on Main St. to First Capitol Dr., and culminates in Frontier Park with a live nativity, the traditional Yule Log, and caroling. FREE December 6, 6:00 p.m.

Christmas Candlelight Tour Where: Daniel Boone Home - 1868 Hwy F, DefianceNight has fallen, the stars shine above, and thousands of candles illuminate a world on the edge of the frontier. At the Historic Daniel Boone Home & Heritage Center’s Annual Candlelight Tour, guests step back to the 19th century and witness Christmas as it was celebrated in the past. Learn about different cultures and traditions while enjoying period decorations and hot wassail. December 5, 6, 12, 13. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. $15 Adult, $10 Child, Advance tickets have a discount.


Christmas at FBCW

Christmas Eve ServiceJoin us in celebrating the Birth of Christ

Wednesday, December 24 @ 5PM

Our Children presentWAM Christmas Worship Concert

Sunday, December 7 @ 6PM

Coming to FBCWThe Merry Christmas to You Tour

Featuring: Sidewalk ProphetsAnd Special Guest: Citizen Way

Sunday, December 21st @ 7:00 p.m.

Tickets available on weekdays from

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the office or at

itickets.com


Christmas at FBCW

Christmas Eve ServiceJoin us in celebrating the Birth of Christ

Wednesday, December 24 @ 5PM


One accord prayer is Spirit-directed prayer between two or more believers in Christ. When one person begins to pray on a particular subject, others hear that person’s heart and, as the Holy Spirit leads, continue to add on to that first request. And, it goes on, around the group, until everyone feels that God has heard the longings of their heart. Then, a new petition is sent up to God by another member. It is conversational prayer, as in each prayer is only a sentence or two, allowing others to join in as their heart leads—just like talking in a circle of friends, or around the dinner table when two or more persons make their requests known to God.

Moms in Prayer practices one accord prayer. In groups of two or more, women pray for one hour, once a week in a format that includes Praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Intercession. We pray for children, families, and schools. In 140 countries around the world, women have gathered weekly to pray since 1984, when ONE mom asked ONE other mom to pray.

The Moms In Prayer 30th Anniversary Celebration called “Festival of Joy,” took place in Dallas, TX on October 17-19, 2014. Over 1200 praying women from 40 countries gathered in love, praise, and joy to celebrate what the Holy Spirit has done through prayer. Women from many nations, tribes, colors, and languages gave testimony to answered prayer: the sick were made well, the prodigals returned home, the lost were found! Great-grandmothers, grandmothers, moms, aunts, and daughters gave evidence of the legacy of God’s love to all generations.

Throughout this weekend, women continued to pray for the harvest. They prayed for revival. They prayed for spiritual awakening all over the world. As we prayed for all the nations, the foreigners prayed for us, the United States. The U.S. representatives coveted their prayers! Even though over 11,000 Moms In Prayer groups registered in the United States in 2014, that number represented only 9% of this nation’s schools.

Before 1984, many moms did not pray in one accord, but since they found Moms In Prayer they have . The futures of their children and grandchildren are forever changed. Humbled, and disciplined through the practice of biblical prayer, these women now stand in the gap for future generations. As other areas of the world see revival, Moms In Prayer also pray for revival for all...especially THE CHURCH. You who are

One Accord Prayer Equals Powerful Intercession with MOMS IN PRAYER!

By: Amy Mooneyham

New Ministries at FBCWGROW Ministry

The GROW ministry seeks to serve the widows of our church and create opportunities for greater relationships with other church members. This ministry aims to identify the needs of our widows and provide assistance to meet them. Volunteers who participate in this ministry can help in a variety of ways such as handyman work, technical assistance, household chores, visiting, and anything else that shows our love and appreciation. We also organize events that promote connections to other church members. Our purpose is to share the love of Christ with these special women through acts of service and personal attention. If you would like more information on how you can volunteer your time, please contact John and Nichole Haug at [email protected]. Many hands make light work!

Martial Arts MinistryThe mission of Kenpo

Christian is to operate a Christ-centered martial arts program committed to inspire, encourage and equip its students not only to be better martial artists, but most importantly, to become bold, effective, confident witnesses for Jesus Christ.

American Kenpo or Kenpo Karate is a system of martial arts commercialized by Ed Parker, characterized by the use of quick moves in rapid-fire succession. The multitude of fast strikes, sometimes criticized by other arts, has a dual purpose. The strikes may overwhelm an opponent but more importantly, the various strikes demonstrate to the practitioner that there are many options, should the technique not work as planned, and also should the initial strikes miss some will not. Ed Parker stated that this training was not intended for “overkill,” but rather “overskill.” It is largely marketed as a self-defense system, and is derived from traditional Japanese martial arts and other martial arts such as Southern Chinese Kung Fu found in the cultural melting pot of Hawaii.

Contact Information:Michael Deslongchamps, Head InstructorCell: 573-205-0873Email: michael@ kenpochristian.comWeb: www.kenpochristian.com


The Persecuted Christian

by: Jayne PattonChristians are the

most persecuted religious group worldwide. An average of at least 180 Christians around the world are killed each month for their faith. (Source: Open Doors USA)

Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or

surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Christ. (Source: U.S. Department of State)

One of the worst countries in the world for the persecution of Christians is North Korea. With the exception of four official state-controlled churches in Pyongyang, Christians in North Korea face the risk of detention in the prison camps, severe torture and, in some cases, execution for practicing their religious beliefs. North Koreans suspected of having contact with South Korean or other foreign missionaries in China, and those caught in possession of a Bible, have been known to be executed. (Source: Christian Solidarity Worldwide)

In 41 of the 50 worst nations for persecution, Christians are being persecuted by Islamic extremists. (Source: Open Doors)

Based on this information, the same question is presented to us today as it was in the Old Testament, “Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?” (Psalm 94:16)

I answered that call a couple of years ago when I read “The Insanity of God” by Nik Ripkin. It so saturated my soul that I knew I wanted to be a part of standing up for the Persecuted Church worldwide. It was soon after that, that I saw Naghmeh Abedini on Fox News making a plea for the American Government to help secure the release of her husband from an Iranian prison. An American pastor of Iranian descent, Pastor Saeed Abedini, had been arrested for his faith while helping to build a Muslim orphanage while visiting Iran. He had committed no crime but was found guilty of sharing Christ while he was there. Naghmeh, on that day, was calling America to action. She was asking our President to get involved in the rescue of her husband. As I watched her, I knew God was stirring my heart to become a voice for those who have no voice…a

voice for those feeling lost and forgotten within those deep and dark prison walls. Would anyone rise up against the wicked? Would I take a stand against evil doers?

My answer was quick and short. Yes.Not only would I become a voice, I would bring

other voices with me. On September 26, 2014 several from FBC Wentzville and other surrounding churches gathered at the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City for a worship and prayer service. While we prayed, our voices joined the thousands of others around the globe in prayer lifting up the plight of Pastor Saeed and other persecuted believers around the world. From Canada to Italy, to Japan and Kenya, thousands met to pray for those who are suffering for Jesus.

We were so honored to have both Rev. Ralph Sawyer and Sr. Joshua Hawley speak—strong voices in support of religious liberties and spiritual freedoms. We had musicians Julia Johnson and Jamie Drye lead us in worship, and we truly believe God heard us from the throne room of Heaven.

We must not give up. Pastor Saeed is still imprisoned and Christians are still being persecuted. This is what I know. Jesus is coming soon. Jesus.Is.COMING.Soon. Persecution will increase. While it may not be you and me today, it may be you and me tomorrow. Will you answer the same call I did? Will you be a voice for those who have no voice – while we have a voice?

Yes? Then pray. Pray and don’t quit praying. Our King is coming! The best place to be found will be on our knees.

❝Not only would I become a voice, I would

bring other voices with me.❞

New Website on HorizonA long time in coming, our new FBC Wentzville

website is nearing launch! Many man-hours have been required to get this project complete, but the result will be so sweet. Watch the weekly bulletin for the official launch date.


Living

By: Tracy Smith

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…where did the time go? More importantly, how do we make the most of the time we’ve been given—being intentional

with our families during this Christmas Season? How do we grab the attention of those we love away from the secularism that surrounds us long enough to capture their hearts with a glimpse of the miracle of Christ? Well, lend me your ear and let me stir your thoughts on some options to intrigue your family and set your focus on the coming of Christ—Advent!

“Advent. Adventus. Ecce advenit Dominator Dominus. Behold, the Lord, the Ruler, is come. Reaching back two millennia to the birth of the Christ child and forward to His reign on earth, the tradition of Advent is a threefold celebration of the birth of Jesus, His eventual second coming to earth, and His continued presence in our lives here and now. God in our past, God in our future, God in our present. Advent.” Arnold Ytreeide

Celebrating the Advent has been a tradition for centuries and continues to be a great way to focus on Christ today. There are a multitude of resources and ideas that will bring this activity to life but I will share two that our family have embraced. When our children were young and with the attention span of small puppies, we enjoyed the Advent activity of The Jesse Tree. The Jesse Tree consisted of

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


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

handmade ornaments placed on a small tree that depicted Christ’s earthly lineage. Each evening at the start of the Christmas season around the 1st of December, we would share an abbreviated Biblical account about the earthly lineage of Christ. A verse was read, a little impromptu story told, and a homemade ornament representing the person in the story was hung on a small tree. The ornaments were made by our kids—literally I printed them on card stock and they colored them…very simple. Sometimes, I would find a special ornament at the store to represent a character. One year I found a harp and decided it would be a perfect representation of David. As our “garland,” we

used a scarlet cord to represent Rahab. A simple, yet effective way to help the kids understand the earthly lineage of Christ and more importantly, that God’s plan will always include ordinary people like you and me!

As our children grew, we began sharing a very memorable and deeper time around the Advent wreath with a book series by Arnold Ytreeide. While some traditions celebrate Advent only on the four Sundays prior to Christmas, this book series is designed to be read every night during the Christmas season beginning with the 1st Advent Sunday and ending on Christmas morning. The Advent books by Arnold Ytreeide are a three-year book series that brings to life the historical characters of the Bible as you follow the fictional drama of a young 10-year old Jewish boy named Jotham. The books center around the events leading up to the birth of Christ, each from a different character perspective. I’m certain your kids will be on the edge of their seats asking for

just one more chapter to be read as was the case many nights in our home. Here is an excerpt from the story:

“A devil’s howl came from somewhere in the distance and echoed off the valley walls. A jackal, Jotham knew instantly. A wild dog. Far enough away as not to be a danger to his little herd of lambs, though on this particular night he had no lambs to worry about. Still, the sound stabbed at Jotham’s heart like a knife. He sat perfectly still for several minutes, careful not to make even a breath of noise. One couldn’t lie too cautious when jackals were about.”

And so the story begins…with Jotham’s Journey, which continues on with Bartholomew’s Passage, and Tabitha’s Travels. Lighting of the candles, reading the riveting story of Jotham, Bartholomew, and Tabitha and going to bed by candlelight make for a memorable way to focus on Jesus at Christmas. Advent, coming! Such a wonderful tradition of celebrating God’s plan in the past, looking forward to the coming of Christ in the future, while resting in His presence today.


DEC

UPCOMING EVENTSJAN FEB

Future 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.

6Upward Prayer Breakfast

7WAM Worship Concert

9Solid Rock Christmas Pageant

21Sidewalk Prophets Concert

24Church Wide Christmas Eve Service

1-4Young Adults Passion Conf.

4Legacy Journey Kickoff

5Financial Peace Kickoff

7Wednesday Night Kickoff

9Koinonia Coop

16 & 17Remembrance Scrapbooking

23CCC Trivia Night

6Koinonia Coop

7Legacy Builders & Boomers Quarterly Dinner

20Remembrance Scrapbooking

27Koinonia Daddy/Daughter Dance


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