Month: July 2020

July 25, 2020 Shofar Missions Cebu

Read the latest Shofar Mission Cebu update and learn what we have been up to!

As of this writing, the Inter-Agency Task Force along with President Duterte downgraded Cebu City to a Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine. The wearing of face masks, social distancing, and quarantine passes continue to be required by law. Despite the government requiring students under the age of 21 to stay at home and mass gatherings prohibited, we have continued to minister.

STREET LEVEL MINISTRIES

We have had to get creative when it comes to reaching college students. On March 13, classes in all levels were suspended. Students rushed to the province before the borders to the city closed on March 28. The words “digital,” “virtual,” and “online” continue to be part of our vocabulary! At the beginning of June, we started a digital small group with three SLM members. Thankfully, we’ve been able to meet on a weekly basis, despite fluctuating quarantine statuses! The latest issue of Word on the Street Magazine has been written with all digital communication. 5 students from 3 cities / 2 islands collaborated to put the Philippines version of Issue 83 together! Stay tuned to the WOTS website for the digital release next month.

Friday Night Digital Fellowships with SLM Members
The SLM members find time to get creative during quarantine – check out this illustration created by Garie Mae!

EXPLORING CREATION SCIENCE

Virtual Exploring Creation Science summer classes have continued for students in grades 4-12. One lesson we have continued to learn is that students are night owls – the older students prefer to tune in for the afternoon lessons! This month, we also started Daily Bible Reading posts for students in grades 4-6 and 7-12 (different sets for each grade level). These are posted to the Exploring Creation Science Facebook page. Students have either watched the lessons and read the posts on Facebook, or school staff have grabbed the lessons and posts for students to view using their online platforms. Watch a preview of these virtual lessons on the Exploring Creation Science webpage.

Prerecorded microscope footage for use with virtual lessons
The heart is protected with a “double layered sac.”

COMMUNITY

Since we’re still under a pretty strict quarantine, we have been soaking up as much fellowship time as we can. We’re thankful for the small community God has put us in and have been seeking to get to know our neighbors better. The truth of Acts 17:26-27 is indeed a great reality for us right now… We’ve also taken advantage of opportunities to join Wednesday evening small group discussions with Believers City Church and video chats with fellowship ministries.

Wednesday evening Acts Rewind discussion – from two different sides of the world!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

  1. We continue to plan for a digital start to the 2020-2021 school year at all levels. Pray that we would continue to get creative and seek out various platforms to help us reach students!
  2. Pray for wisdom and discernment for government leaders. They are still in the process of deciding quarantine statuses and possible hard localized lockdowns.
  3. For church leaders especially those that have moved into church compounds to be with the rest of their staff to make sure church services and online class preparations continue as the borders to the city closed.
July 22, 2020 The Children's Ministry

Can you reach down and touch your toes? Me either. But could you do it when you were six years old? I think most of us could. There seems to be inherent flexibility in young children. Not just in the physical sense, but also in their ability to adapt to new situations and new ways of learning.

Going Digital

I have been amazed at the flexibility of the kids (and teachers!) in our church! When we weren’t able to meet in person for church services, in April we started a weekly Sunday evening children’s lesson over Webex. The class was a combined class that included both our Beginnings and Foundations children. We covered lesson from the first 8 chapters of the book of Acts. How neat that in God’s perfect timing the kids are now hearing those same stories again as we study Acts in church!

Together Again

  • Learning about Creation…
  • What animal would you create?
  • What animal would you create?

With in-person church services resuming, in June we were able to return to Foundations room classes in person. We are currently meeting on Sunday mornings twice per month, on the 2nd and 4th Sundays. The kids have adapted amazingly well to wearing masks and being limited in their movement. We are also happy that Ruby and Maddy are now part of Foundations! It is great to have a place where the kids can learn together at their level. It also provides a place where their questions about the Bible can be brought up and answered. I believe that is a critical aspect to a child’s journey to faith.

Prayer Requests

  • For the children, when they are in Foundations during the service as well as when they are in the church service. That they would have ears to hear God speaking to them and know that God wants them in His church.
  • For our teachers, that their love for Jesus would shine brightly as they teach.
  • For us as leaders, for wisdom, direction, and new ideas as we seek God’s will for His ministry.
July 19, 2020 River Falls Ministry

Get the latest news from Believers Church plant and Street Level college ministry in River Falls, WI.

Sunday Study

This month we are restarting the Sunday Bible study in River Falls! It will be a bit different than in the past, by social distancing and wearing masks, but we are excited to be able to meet again. We are meeting at 5 pm at The Blind Munchies Coffeehouse and will continue in the book of 1 Timothy. As we begin to meet, we will slowly navigate what doing meals and having the coffeehouse open may look like to have greater fellowship.

Not only are we planning for a Sunday study, but we also are meeting periodically for a Wednesday night discussion group at the coffeehouse at 7 pm.

Coffeehouse

We have been working towards getting the River Falls community to be aware of our presence. The outside coffee kiosk has helped a lot. But also, during the past month or so, we have worked at promoting the coffeehouse on social media. Through this, we are hoping to build relationships, get to know the community more, and let people know about the Sunday Bible study.

We are also working on what future outreaches might look like. We are hoping to be able to do a coffeehouse anniversary giveaway, and brainstorming what other things we could do.

Prayer

  • Pray for our wisdom and discernment as we begin the Sunday Bible study again.
  • Pray that God will create disciples in the River Falls community.

For Further Information

July 16, 2020 Kindred Adults Ministry

Over the last two months, the Kindred Singles Fellowship has made the long-anticipated transition from meeting digitally… to meeting in person…

So long pixilated friends…

During March and April we hosted four WebEx fellowships. Each fellowship starting with hanging out, eating together in sort of a digital potluck. We then read a devotional together and prayed for each other.

Laura was able to join us from the Philippines, which was a great blessing. But digital fellowship doesn’t quite stack up to the real thing…

Welcome to real-life fellowship…

Kindred Campground Devotion
Kindred Campground Devotion
Bjornson-Site-Fellowship-1

In June, we gathered around a fire at the church campground for fellowship, a devotional, and prayer… As we lifted our heads from prayer, and the night had fallen upon us, lightning bugs gave us a warm farewell.

Bjornson Environmental Site Trail Walk
Bjornson Environmental Site Fellowship
Bjornson Environmental Site Stretching

We also hiked the trails at Bjornson Environmental Site, closing with a devotion and prayer. No one expected the worship session on the way out. Thousands of lightning bugs lit up our half-mile tree-covered corridor back to our cars. I don’t think The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings could have engineered a better scene… It was absolutely majestic. People fumbled for their phones… But alas, no picture could do justice to God’s glorious show.

Our arms are open…

Going forward, we plan to start inviting others into our fellowship… We’ve spent a few months focused on our own walks… now its time to reach out… whether that be coworkers, friends, or neighbors. If you know of anyone who is single and beyond college age, our arms are wide open to them (safely from 6′ away). We would love others to experience what God has given us…

Prayer requests:

  • For the latest additions to the Kindred Singles Fellowship. A warm welcome to Kelsey, Noah, Danielle H, Danielle K, and Ashley.
  • That we might look beyond ourselves, and reach our coworkers, friends, and neighbors for the Kingdom of God.
July 13, 2020 Believers Church Duluth

Bible Study

JFB Duluth had the privilege of meeting back in person during June and early July, which was wonderful after time apart physically. With masked faces and sanitized hands, we gathered for Sunday and Wednesday services. We are continuing to cover the book of Revelation and completed the first three chapters, specifically looking at the letters to the seven churches. Wednesday services have included member meetings, continuing in our study of 2 Kings and we took one Wednesday service to split apart for a men’s and women’s study. However, during the past week, we have moved back to online service only; hopefully for a short period, as we individually learn to take the necessary precautions to ensure safety for our brothers and sisters. Thankfully, our technology upgrades from springtime quarantine remain in place and allow us to stream services via YouTube.

College Ministry

Despite the restrictions due to the covid19 pandemic, we are seeking to be faithful to what opportunities God does allow. Our Street Level leaders have continued to meet virtually as they plan for the next semester. Please pray for the Mosses and the Street Level leaders as they seek to plan for the upcoming semester considering the new challenges at hand in light of covid19 and college campuses.

Moreover, WOTS has continued to work on compiling the next edition to be released online. It has certainly been a challenge for writers to consider articles in light of covid19 and what the fall might look like for student readers. There has also been some landscaping work done on the shrubs around the building, which included putting some rocks and bordering around the shrubbery.

Please pray for our JFB Duluth pastors regarding wisdom as they lead and navigate our church through this pandemic. Additionally, please pray that all of us members would seek to love one another and treasure the church God has and is building here in Duluth.

-Matt

July 10, 2020 Pastor Jesse Moss

Romans 12:2 tells us to not be conformed to this world. Proverbs 1:15 says not to walk in the way of unbelievers. Christians are expected to look different from the world. The priorities of our life will be different. Our actions, motivations, families, and possessions are to be indicators of our faith. The entirety of our lives should distinguish us from those who reject the truth of God.

When Jesus is speaking to His disciples during the last supper, He reveals one thing to be critical in characterizing us as Christians. John 13:35 says, “By this, all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”  Of all the things that Christians are called to do and to be, it is our love for other believers that Jesus says is going to mark us as unique. 

Atypical love

If the love that we display is going to so uniquely distinguish us, then that love must be an uncommon love. It must be a love that can be found solely in true Christian fellowship. We would like to assume that our lives embody this love, but I believe it would be dangerous to think we have this down. Without a doubt, there is room for improvement in our church.   

It is easy to proclaim love and even show it for a short time when convenient. The question is, “Is that love sustained through time, difficulty, and disagreement?” If we compare the love we have for each other to the dictionary definition of love we are probably doing fine. We likely love each other as much as unbelievers do, but God expects more. What is it that should so define our love that it proclaims to the world that we are Christ’s?

How do we do this?

The Bible has a lot to say about Christian love, but in the verse just before his explanation that our love shows that we are His followers, He points to Himself as the example. John 13:34  “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” If we are going to love in a way that makes a difference to the world. We need to love the way that Jesus loved us. 

There is a way to love halfheartedly. This is the love that most of the world is all too familiar with.  In the church, this is a love that lasts only when convenient, self-serving, and agreeable. If this is the level of love that you have, you will find it no longer there when the church makes decisions you disagree with. This love doesn’t endure through pain and difficulty. It doesn’t last past a fleeting emotional high. This love does not put the spiritual and physical health of others above their desires. This is not the type of love that Jesus displayed for us. Jesus’ love was that of humility, total commitment, and sacrifice.

Humble Love

Just a few verses earlier we see Jesus washing His disciple’s feet. This gained Him nothing. The love that Jesus displayed wasn’t self-serving. You might find yourself fond of the church because of what you are getting out of it, but that isn’t real love. Will you love and serve the church with humility even if it gains you nothing in this world? It’s easy to express love for those who will pay it back. Remember Jesus was even willing to wash the feet of the one who betrayed Him. 1 Corinthians 6:7 tells us that for the sake of fellowship and unity we should let ourselves be cheated. Would you do that for the church?

Committed Love

Jesus took the love that he had for the church, His bride, to His death. In Matthew 26:39 we read that this was not necessarily what Jesus wanted, but out of love and obedience to God and a commitment to His people, He pressed on. It was a love that endured even when the good of the church conflicted with His own desires. 

Sacrificial Love

You can’t say that your love is sacrificial if you are only willing to sacrifice that which you don’t hold dearly. Jesus sacrificed His life, both when He lived and when He died.  What are you willing to give up for your brothers and sisters in Christ? Would you give up your passions and desires? Would you give up experiences that you’ve longed for? Are you willing to give up people’s opinions of you? Loving the church is going to cost, are you willing to pay?

The world loves when it wants to. Christians love each other even when nothing in their flesh desires it. Do people know that you are a disciple of Jesus by your love? There is an awful lot that looks like love in this world and a whole lot of it is not Christian. Check your life. Is it marked by a real love for the Church or instead is there only love for yourself? Let’s look to Jesus as our example. The church is far from perfect, but it is the bride of Christ and that reason alone makes it worthy of real love.