Abhijeet will be in the U.S. this summer to speak at four different CIY conferences and a number of churches.  He is a much sought-after speaker and we are honored to host him.

We would like to present Abhijeet with a check to build a new church building for CICM.   We have $15,000 toward the need of $20,000.  Would you pray about giving a special gift during May so that we can give our best gift on June 3?  Write “India church” in the memo section of your check.  Thanks, as always, for your generosity.

Anna Toll will be our Mother’s Day speaker.  Anna grew up in our church and is now a teacher in Southeast Asia.  We are very proud of Anna and are looking forward to hearing her unique viewpoints.

We also have a baby dedication planned for both services.   This is a very special time for families.  If you would like to dedicate your baby and have not talked with Paul, please do so right away.

As always, there will be a nice gift for every mom.  We look forward to seeing you and the mom in your life at this special Mother’s Day service.

Please plan to come support our high school students as we plan to raise money for our trip to CIY MOVE this summer.  The meal is set for Sunday, May 6th. We will serve lunch at both 11 AM and noon.  Please be praying about how God might have you partner with us in this.

Summer church camp at Cyokamo is not far away. We will do pre-registration for camp during the month of May. Registration brochures will be available in the foyer this Sunday, May 6th. We will start receiving registrations & distributing camp shirts on Sunday, May 13th. Talk with Joe or Paul if you have any questions. For additional information, go to www.cyokamo.org.

DATES:

Middle School           June 3rd-8th

High School               June 10th-15th

K-1st Grade                June 22nd

2nd-3rd Grade          June 27th-29th

4th-5th Grade           July 9th-12th

Could I speak for a moment too of what Joe and Kelsey have done for my personal family?  My daughter Rebekah was 15 years old when the Bankers came here to minister to our youth.  At that particular time in her life, Rebekah was struggling.  She was struggling spiritually, and she was struggling with me, honestly.  Her relationship with me wasn’t real good at the time, and I’m sure part of that was my fault.  I had made some mistakes along the way. Being a preacher’s kid was not easy for her, but God was gracious to our family. He heard our prayers and cries for help.  Rebekah responded to Joe’s ministry and to Kelsey’s love. CIY helped a lot, too. Over a period of time, Rebekah turned her life completely over to Jesus.  She did a 180 degree change.  She became a strong leader in the youth group, particularly among the girls.  She became a prayer warrior and a student of God’s Word in her personal life. She would not miss youth group for anything.  Something else changed, too…she was different at home. Our relationship totally changed.  The dynamics in our home were like night and day different. I think she liked it almost as much as her Dad liked it.  Wow!  Thank you Jesus, and thank you Joe and Kelsey for your positive influence on our daughter’s life.  The Moyers’ family will always hold you in the highest esteem. We love you!

With all of that said, and the heart-felt thanks expressed, I have to trust God for His plan.  He has a plan for Joe and Kelsey. I can assure OCC that they are getting an A+ guy, but I have to practice what I preach. I have to give my worries to God and trust that His plan will be good for us here, too.  God has somebody in mind that will be just right for us.  He will be right for our kids and for our church.  He will be right for this time to come.  I’m anxious to see where God will lead and who He will bring our way next.  This is HIS church, and He will not abandon us.

I want to encourage you to do the following things over the days ahead:

1. Take time to tell the Bankers personally how much they mean to you.  I’m quite certain there are many more stories out there that are similar to mine.

2. Pray for them as they have a few months left with our kids.  Pray this summer will be life-changing for our kids and that the Bankers will finish strong.

3. Pray for God to bless the Bankers in all the details of their future move and job change.

4. Pray for our kids to hold onto Jesus.

5. Pray for our search for the next youth minister of CCC…that God will lead and bless that effort.  Pray we can find the right person. Begin praying for God to bless the ministry of the person who will step into Joe’s shoes.  He has big shoes to fill.

Kevin Moyers

So we ask you to mark your calendar for that day and let’s have a full house.  Use this date as an opportunity to invite your friends and family, and lets celebrate God’s goodness to us as we enjoy our newly remodeled auditorium.  It will be a great celebration service.

As to which Sunday will be our first Sunday back into the Auditorium, we will let you know that as soon as we know.  It certainly is getting closer, and we’re excited about the way it’s looking.  You will most definitely like it and see that it’s been a good investment for our church.  Would you be praying for those who need Jesus?  We have several people close to first time decisions and we are anxious to stir the baptismal waters.

Kevin

1.  Pray.  Cry out to God.  His ear is bent in your direction and He wants to be your Rock and your Helper.  He is with you 24/7.

2.  Turn to His Word.  There are so many promises in His Word that can bring comfort to your heart.  His Word can give you wisdom amidst the crisis.  His word can bring you hope and stability amidst the time of trouble.  It would be a good benefit to you to study God’s Word now, so that when the time of crisis comes you’ll know what His promises are and where they are in His Word.

3.  Make sure the church knows about your crisis.  We want to help you.  We want to be with you and bear your burden.  Don’t assume that we will hear about your crisis…you tell us, please.  We want to know.  Eccl. 4:9-12 says this:  “Two are better than one because they have a good return for  their labor.  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion.  But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him.  A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”  The scripture is clear that two are better than one.  Don’t try to bear your burdens/crisis alone.  That’s what the church is for, that we might help each other and encourage each other.  Let me say this too:  the best way to help yourself in this matter is give attention to relationships ahead of the crisis.  Get involved in church.  Get into a small group and an ABF class.  Develop friendships.  All of this is going to be beneficial to you anyway…it’s what we should do.  But when a crisis hits, it’s most likely through those relationships that you’ve already built that you will have a support group there at your side.  The truth is we all need each other.

4.  Determine to hold onto God and trust Him no matter what.  This decision should be made ahead of the crisis if at all possible.  Make a conscious decision ahead of time that no matter whatever comes your way you are going to hold onto God.  You may not understand the crisis.  You may not like the crisis, and you can be honest with God and tell Him you don’t like it.  But when it’s all said and done, you MUST hold onto Him.  He’s going to be holding onto you.  He will not fail to do His part.  He will be able to get your through your crisis.

5.  Keep an eternal perspective.  The crisis is only for a little while compared to eternity.  The crisis may get the best of you here, but it can’t take eternity away from you.  Live with eternity in mind.  Bring glory to God amidst the crisis.  Be a witness for Him to others.  Your strongest witness can come from amidst the crisis.  Please know that He has a place for you that is described like this:  “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).  No matter how bad things get here, eternity offers hope for the one who holds onto HIM.

Hopefully these points are helpful to you.  If you’re not in a crisis right now, chances are pretty strong that one day you will be.  That’s just the way life is here on this earth.  So prepare your mind and heart now, so that when that time comes  your faith will be proven, “being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the reveleation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pt. 1:7).

You pray for me and I’ll pray for you.

Kevin

I want to encourage you to plan to come to our revival.  It will start on Sunday morning at our regular starting times of 9 and 11 a.m.  Sunday evening service will be at 6 p.m.  Monday through Wednesday will be at 7 p.m.  You may remember Damien from last year.  This is the first time we’ve had someone come two years in a row.  He was a wonderful messenger of God’s Word for us last year…I’m confident the same will be true for this year too.

Pray for Damien.  Pray for our church.  Pray for the remodel that needs to happen within us.  Pray for lost souls to be saved.  We have several people contemplating that decision for Jesus.  Pray for God’s Kingdom to increase right here in Fort Scott.

Kevin

As you know, we are in a tough ecomony right now.   I am amazed at the number of people who help others at Christmas.  Many of you have brought food for the Beacon distribution, adopted a family, brought clothing for Faith Hope homeless men’s shelter in Kansas City, and gift cards or money for “someone in need”.

As we have done sermon and small group series on The Treasure Principle and Live to Love, the response has been remarkable.  Your creative Love Works will be remembered for years to come.  I have been told that a church in a nearby community has been inspired by our Love Works at a Fort Scott nursing home.  The church decided that, even though they are very small, they can make a difference at their local nursing home as well. 

As you probably know, our remodeling fund is nearing our goal before the remodeling has even begun. 

My dad recently moved to Presbyterian Village from central Missouri.  He has been a Christian for about 70 years and this was his unsolicited comment to me a few days ago.  “Marcy, I have never seen a church that gives like your church does.”  I think that sums it up pretty well. 

At this season of giving, I am thankful to be a part of a church body that responds to the voice of the Holy Spirit.  As you give and receive gifts this Christmas, remember that you are imitating the Giver of the first, best, and most sacrificial Christmas gift of all.    

~Marcy

UPWARD IS HERE!!

DATES TO REMEMBER

Registration — Now through January 12th

(refer to an Upward brochure or CLICK HERE for more details)

Evaluation Nights — January 9th & 12th

(only 2 nights again this year)

Practices Start — The week of February 6th

Game Days – March 3rd, 10th, 17th, 31st, April 7th & 14th

Awards Night – April 15th

WE NEED YOU!!

35 FAMILIES NEEDED

We need 35 families who would be willing to advertise for Upward in their neighborhood by taking a yard sign & at least five brochures.  Put the sign in your yard for the next few weeks (through January 12th) and distribute the brochures to neighborhood kids.  If you are interested, please pick up a sign and the brochures from Paul’s office on Sunday morning.  Thank you!!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We need many volunteers for the 2012 Upward Basketball and Cheerleading season.  We will have those positions listed on an insert in Sunday bulletins next month.  Please prayerfully consider how God would want you to help with the Upward program this year.  Fill out the insert and return it to Paul.  Thanks!!