SPRING 2021
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ISSUE NO. 1
Grace and Peace CHRISTIAN MONTHLY
Contents Benediction - 01 Wit and Wisdom- 01 Mission Work - 06 Religious News - 07 Closing Notes- 08 Submissions- 09
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GRACE AND PEACE Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 John 1:3
Benediction Dear Reader, Thank you for your interest in our newsletter. This project is an attempt to revive the old Christian newsletter- the Herald and Presbyter. The archives of the Herald and Presbyter are teeming with rich and beneficial Christian teachings, quotes, stories and history. The Herald and Presbyter was a monthly newspaper that included sections about Christian news, short stories, poems, quotes, church happenings, charity opportunities, missionary updates, funding calls, and bible studies. The Herald and Presbyter was a great tool for the church and was a great method of preserving Christian teachings throughout the century. The newspaper itself is a treasure trove for any Christian. Every page within the Herold and Presbyter offers thorough and in-depth teachings from the saints of old. The Church today is missing an amazing opportunity by not having a similar magazine that can be used to disseminate biblical teachings, church happenings, missionary work, stories of hope, poems, and spread unity among the many different denominations of Christian Churches.
Wit and Wisdom The Old Paths "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls..." -Jeremiah 6:16 KJV "Listen to Me, you who pursue righteousness, you who seek the Lord: Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were hewn. Look to Abraham your father, and to Sarah who gave you birth..." -Isaiah 51:2 BSB
More people in the United States today are not part of Christianity at all and/or deconverting from Christianity. This is a departure from the faith of the original colonists in the North American colonies. The original colonists sought a place to worship God freely according to their own consciences. Early colonists who moved to North America included individuals following Puritanism, Quaker, Anglican, Baptist, Lutheran, and Catholic. Many of these early colonists were coming to America to find a place where they would not be persecuted for not following the state-imposed religion. The majority of these colonists were devout Christians and the colonies were governed using religious principles. Around the time of the Great Awakening- the 1730s-1740s, There were many people who began to follow the enlightenment philosophies and fall away from belief in Christian ideals. Church attendance dwindled and many Christians became disillusioned at how the society was promoting rationalism and wealth. With the virtues of society deviating from Christian values, many Christians desired to have a renewed spirit of Christianity throughout the colonies. This produced a religious revival known as the Great Awakening. The people sought to return to a renewed spirit of zeal for the things of God that had the earlier colonists had enjoyed. The church today has again come to a point which resembles the climate before the First Great Awakening. Relativism, materialism, and non-Christian ideals are the most prevalent in society today, and additionally false doctrines have infiltrated the church. Every person in the society of the United States needs to do as the Lord commanded in the book of Jeremiah and seek the old paths and walk in them. If we went back to the basic core activities and moral stances that the original colonists had it would be highly beneficial for our society and for the church. Society has been descending into decay and the people of the Lord are being harmed by the decay of the society as the negative aspects of the nation seep into the church.
Christians are called to be separate from the world. We read in the book of John that we should not love the world or the things of the world, "Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him."-1 John 2:15. Living in the modern world there are many different distractions that we are faced with that can impede the spiritual life. Loving the things of the world is a big struggle that many Christians today face. Due to all of these distractions and cares in the world, many find themselves as the seed sown among the thorns that Jesus spoke of in Mark 4:19. "Others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desire of other things come in and choke the world and it becomes unfruitful. To succeed in a Christian walk we must"Come out from among them, and be ye separate..." 2 Corinthians 6:!7. Christians need to leave behind the cares of the world and the lusts of the flesh and just focus on God. The old saints had much less distractions since they had no internet, tv, movies, ect, and so they spent countless hours in prayer, worship, and spiritual endeavors every day. For many Christians today, love has grown cold and spiritual activities are relegated to only one hour on a Sunday. Our personal spiritual lives are where revivals begin. We must fan the flames of our love to God and nourish it and help it develop and not choke it out with the cares of this world- in this way we must "seek the old paths." When we revive our own spiritual lives, and grow in love toward God and toward our fellow men, then we can help nourish and grow the Church. When the Church grows and is healthy then it can deeply impact society in many ways. We must begin the work within ourselves and seek to grow closer to God with every choice we make.
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GRACE AND PEACE Revivals
Treasure
What the Church and the world need to day is a revival of " old - fashioned prayer meeting religion," and the words are a very vivid expression. We do need this very thing , as we understand it. We need religion that is outspoken, sincere, devout, real, that fervently believes in God and is not ashamed to make itself known, by act and word , to our fellow men. We need religion in the form that is ready to assert itself throughout the week , in whatever way and place we may be called . The prayer - meeting made people halt in the midst of the week for an extraordinary and express act of worship and prayer . Any one may go to church on the Sabbath , but the sturdy and thoroughgoing believer finds his way to prayer meeting for special petition and for special worship.
A dying man told his sons that a treasure lay buried in a field on the estate he was leaving them. After his death the sons dug the field over and over, but treasure found they none.
Our country and our world need a revival of this genuine religion, that believes that sinners need to be saved from sin and that Jesus Christ is the only Savior; that the Bible is the actual Word of God; that there is not only a heaven, but an everlasting hell; that sinners need to be born again from on high, and that the Holy Spirit alone can give the new and clean heart; that when one is born again he will confess Christ and unite with his Church, and will come to the Lord's Supper at Christ's invitation; and that all the life will be given over to keeping God's commandments , in truth and purity and honesty and kindness and love , living a blameless life before God and man, in uprightness and integrity, in faith and prayer, in holiness of word and deed. The Herald and Presbyter October 1, 1919 (1)
God has always sent revival in the darkest days. Oh, for a mighty, sweeping revival today! –Adrian Rogers Have you noticed how much praying for revival has been going on of late – and how little revival has resulted? I believe the problem is that we have been trying to substitute praying for obeying, and it simply will not work. – A.W. Tozer
Next year , however, the much dug field yielded a phenomenal crop, which was the treasure the father meant. We, too, have a "treasure hid in a field." The treasure may not be gold. But the diligent digging of the field will fill the great Hereafter with a harvest which only heaven itself can hold. -Herald and Presbyter October 1, 1919 (20) False and Real Revivals There are churches today where you can go to a revival meeting, or where they say that they are having a revival service on suchand-such a day. In these so-called revival meetings, people experience glitter falling from the celling, and being "slain in the spirit," which is supposedly an affect of the manifest presence of God. Many of these ministries also claim to practice the gift of prophecy. However, when this gift is used without the influence and direction of the spirit it becomes fruitless and false. The same goes for revival meetings- if they are not truly begotten through the spirit of God, then they are also fruitless and false. The main false practices of these ministries include false revivals, false convictions(being 'slain in the spirit'), false prophecies, and false healings. Theses false practices will be discussed in the following section, and we will see why these practices are false, what the real manifestation of these practices look like and the effect that the false practices have on the true testimony of Scripture and Christians. False revivals- There are churches today that claim they are holding "Revival meetings," that run "revival equipping" schools, and have revival conferences. Most of the people who attend these meetings, schools, and conferences desire to see "signs and wonders of God as proof of his presence. Some of these meetings have even had glitter falling from the celling and claimed that that was a "glory cloud." Bill Johnson, a member of the Bethel Church propagates these false revival teachings, and has said that "when miracles are absent, so is the glory of God." (Johnson, When Heaven Invades Earth, 124.)
These false revivals promote false signs and wonders that were warned about in 2 Peter 2. "...just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed." These false revivals promote false teachings, seeking signs and wonders from God and not emphasizing the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is the means of salvation for all people. That is precisely the issue with these revivals that seek only after signs and wonders, and not to exalt Christ and spread the gospel and bring the knowledge of salvation to all. False convictions- Being 'slain in the spirit' is a sign that is being manifested in these false revivals. This sign is where people claim to be under the influence of the Spirit of God to such a degree that they lose control of their body and faint. These false signs mimic some effects of conviction in the heart of a person. When a person is convicted by their sin by the Spirit of God, and is made to understand their eternal destiny outside of Christ, they may faint as the realization. There may also be times where a person is so impacted by the presence and spirit of such a holy God that they faint in His presence- as John in the book of Revelation did when encountering Jesus- "when my eyes took in this sight I fell at his feet like a dead man..." (Rev. 1:17) This feeling is different than the idea promoted by these false ministries of being "slain in the spirit," since the false manifestation is apart from a conviction of sin, or feeling of dread in the presence of a holy God, and does not bring a person to a knowledge of their need for Jesus, and really has no effects on the life of a person. This is also dangerous for people's souls, since they are being deceived and seeking only after signs of God, and not realizing their unregenerate spiritual state and repenting of their sins and trusting in God. False prophecies also produce bad fruits. Some false churches teach that a person can prophecy wrong, and claim that the person may have heard the spirit wrong, or needs more practice. They would not admit that these prophecies that did not come true were false prophecies. This besmears true Christianity, and God since people view these false prophets who claim to be speaking a word from the Lord, and the word never comes to pass. Eschew these false "Revivals" and seek God biblically. There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Proverbs 14:12)
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GRACE AND PEACE Behold the Bridegroom Cometh By: J.F.C
It is a rule that every effect must have some adequate cause . If we make no effort we can not expect to accomplish anything . The world will keep Christ returneth, joyful message; moving and changes will occur, and there may be Let all the nations shout and sing. Though by strife were town asunder, many advances made , but if we our selves are not putting forth our own personal effort we can not be Christ returneth, Christ the King. counted as factors in the world's progress . Unless Though we grovel here in darkness, we strive, we are not the ones who make things Seeing but the things of earth, move. Know you not 'tis but the travail But it is an encouragement to know that we may, Of a new and glorious birth? each of us , be elements of power for good. If we Though we agonize and wonder, strive to do what is useful we may accomplish it. We Though we say, "O, Lord! how long?" may throw our lives into work that will tell for the Rest assured that in the morning, blessing of the world. Instead of living on in a That we shall join the triumph song. purposeless and weak way, we may be among the influences that count for good, while we live and Chrsit returneth, halleluiah! after we have passed away. Christ returns to take his throne. We will hail him, we will crown him, We have a striking example of forceful manhood in When he cometh to his own. Nehemiah, whose work is recounted in the book of the Bible that bears his name. Appointed as Let us hasten his returning, Governor of the Jewish people after their return Let us bring the glorious day, from the Babylonish captivity, in a very critical and Vnaquishing the hosts of darkness trying time, when enemies were using their most In our glorious victory. violent efforts to thwart them in the rebuilding of their city and temple, he succeeded in breaking Then triumphant we will sing: down the opposition and in leading the Jewish "glory, glory, to our King. people on to success in their cherished undertaking. Halleluiah, halleluiah, He was able to complete the building of the wall Hallleluiah, Amen." around the city, in establishing a stable government, and in securing the ends which he and the people My Peace I Give Unto You had in mind when they started back from Babylon to Mary Rowles Jarvis restore their city and nation. O Sweetest invitation, The book of Nehemiah is a treatise on industry, This sin-worn earth hath known! persistence, steadfastness in well - doing, and in In yearning supplication close application to de tails until the task is The Lord calls back his own; completed. There were difficulties, but he overcame From toil and grief and failure. them by sticking to his task. There were dangers that From strivings all unblestmight have affrighted a less courageous man, but he "Come weary, heavy-laden, kept on, undaunted, in doing his duty. And I will give you rest."
Was ever such appealing From a suppliant heard? Love, infinite, revealing In one majestic word; The mighty heart of Jesus In tenderness expressed"Come unto me, ye weary, And I will give you rest." From hopes that fail and falter Amid the crowding years, From friends that change and alter, When pleasure disappears; From plans and projects broken And birthrights unpossessed"Come, weary, heavy-laden And I will give you rest."
There were specious temptations , but they could not win him from the doing of his allotted work . He kept on and kept on and kept on , as though there were nothing else in the world to engage his attention What we need in the Church today is this same spirit. We know that industry brings success in the world's business and in all forms of temporal activity. But so do they in the church . We need the Nehemiah spirit in the pastorate so that the minister will hold on and rich an in the difficult field, until success crowns his efforts, instead of dropping it for an easier task , and allowing it to become so scattered that it can never be made a success.
We need it in the Sabbath - school teacher , so that the class will be held together , and each separate member worked for until they are all converted and brought into the church and led into useful life. We need it in every official position in the Church until the Church is made a success , and a joy in the community . All that is necessary , in order to have great success in any church , is to " have some men and women who will hold on in earnest and consecrated determination until the work is done that God gives them to do. (- The Herald and Presbyter July 9, 1919 page 19)
I Waited for the Lord My God I waited for the Lord my God, Yea, patiently drew near, And He at length inclined to me, My pleading cry to hear. He took me from destruction’s pit, From out the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, And steadfast made my way. A new and joyful song of praise My thankful heart He taught, A song of glory to our God For all that He has wrought. And many who behold how good The Lord has been to me Shall learn to fear, and in His Name Their trust shall henceforth be. -Anonymous God So Loved God is more earnest for me to be saved than I am to be saved! "He so loved the world that he gave his son." He loved not the saints, not the penitents , not the religious, not those who love him; but the hardened, hopeless, wanderers and sinners! He gave not a mere promise, not an angel to teach us, but his son- his only begotten! So much did God love the world, sinners, me! I believe this. I must believe it; I believe on him who says it. How can I do then otherwise than rejoice? -Luther (Herald and Presbyter, May 23, 1923, pg. 23)
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GRACE AND PEACE Shut-ins
Fruits
You say your life is hidden, and worthless as can be, That you're homesick now for heaven, And long Christ's face to see? You feel that you're a burden, Wherever you may go, And every one is tired of you? But, maybe 'tis not so.
"His fruit was sweet to my taste... let my beloved come to his garden and eat its choices fruits... " Song of Solomon 4:16
Sometimes God's patient shut-ins Are richest in his grace, And prove the greatest blessings To those not in their place. The clay should never question The process of God's hands. For after all is over, Some day we'll understand,
Jesus spoke much about the fruit that is produced by individuals. He explained that fruit could either be good or bad. When speaking about false prophets, Jesus said "by their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, a good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit."(Matthew 7:15-18)
Bearing fruit is a process that happens in fruitbearing plants where the plant produces a byproduct. This byproduct would be fruit. When a believer "bears fruit" that means that the believer produces something in their lives. Jesus uses the And then we'll say, "I thank thee For analogy of fruit and plants to describe the lives of a believer in many different instances. every trial and test, Though we know not the reason, Jesus said that "I am the vine, and you are the We know thy way was best.” branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you By perfect resignation will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do The bitter turns to sweet. nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like So, grateful for salvation, a branch that is thrown away and withers; such We sit at his dear feet. branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and
The Herald and Presbyter October 1, 1919 (1) Some Place For You There is some place for you to fill, Some work for you to do, That no one can, or ever will Do quite as well as you. It may be close along your way, Some little, homely duty, That only waits your touch, your sway, to blossom into beauty. Or it may be that daily tasks, Cheerfully seen and done, Will lead to greater work that asks For you, and you alone. Be brave, whatever it may be, The little or the great, To meet, and do it perfectly, And you have conquered fate. The Herald and Presbyter October 1, 1919 (1) "Trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be." -Teresa of Avila "No one can get Joy by merely asking for it. It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian life, and, like all fruits, must be grown." -Henry Drummond
burned... This is to my Father's glory, that you will bear much fruit." (John 15:5-8)
Believers can only produce fruit through being joined together with Jesus. These fruits are not produced merely through a person's works- but the good fruits are produced by those who are regenerated, and justified through their believe in Jesus Christ for the justification and remission of sins. These believers are justified by faith- not by works. Since the believers are justified- the good works that they are supposed to be doing then are not done by obligation, to earn God's favor (since that would be impossible for any person), rather, the good works are done from a person in love and devoted to God who are doing good things for God out of their sincere appreciation for what God has done for them. This is why we see John the Baptist say "You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, 'we have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire..."(Matthew 3:7-10) Many parts of the New Testament point to the idea that believers are supposed to bear fruit. The book- the Song of Solomon is a book that some believe to be a parable about the relationship between the members of the church and Jesus. A verse from that book says "let my beloved come to his garden and eat its choice fruits..." (Song of Solomon 4:16)
When a person believes and trusts in Jesus' sacrifice on their behalf then they are able to bear spiritual fruit through being united with Him as a branch is to the vine. The fruit that a believer bears in their Christian walk includes the "Fruit of the Spirit." The "Fruit of the Spirit" is a term used to describe the good qualities that grow in a Christian's life after they are filled with the Holy Spirit. A person can either be producing Fruit of the Spirit, or committing works of the flesh. When a person commits works of the flesh- the person would be participating in acts like "Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulation, wraths, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, revelings, and such like..." (Galatians 5:19-21) The fruit of the Spirit however, are contrary to the aforementioned acts. The fruits of the Spirit include "Love , joy, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance..." (Galatians 5:22-23) When we obey the commands of God, and practice righteousness we show our love and devotion to Him. Jesus said "whoever has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me. The one who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and reveal Myself to him."(John 14:21) Our acts of obedience to Jesus' commandments are the fruit of our relationship with Him. Our spiritual fruits that develop by obeying Jesus are liken to the two lovers in the book of the Song of Solomon. The Shulamite asked for her lover to come to her garden and eat its choicest fruits. Like the Shulamite, we have fruits that grow in the garden of our souls., Like the beloved in the Song of Solomon, Jesus delights in our spiritual growth and the fruits produced by our obedience to Him. "The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain, to proclaim, "The Lord is upright; He is my Rock, and in Him there is no unrighteousness." (Psalm 92:12-15) Keep Thy Heart With All Diligence So much emphasis has been put on giving in recent year that it is easy for people to get too much satisfaction out of contributing money. We must never lose sight of the necessity of keeping the heart right. Read Matthew 13:23. - Christian Advocate (Herald and Presbyter, May 23, 1923, pg. 24)
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GRACE AND PEACE
Misson Work "No one can get Joy by merely asking for it. It is one of the ripest fruits of the Christian life, and, like all fruits, must be grown." -Henry Drummond Mikalyn's Mission: Mombasa, Kenya This mission is headed by a young girl named Mikalyn who helps the individuals living in Mombasa, Kenya to learn about the Gospel, and to help meet their pressing physical needs. This mission helps provide much needed food, clothing, and medical care to those who otherwise would have to go without. This mission helps provide much needed care to individuals living in Kenya, and helps to show them the love of God found in Jesus. This mission could always use financial assistance in any amount to help aid those living in that area. Even $5 could make a big difference in the life of those living in Mombasa, Kenya. To make a donation in any amount, please follow the link below. gofund.me/2061e479 Impacto Ministry Guatemala The Impacto Ministry helps people living in the San Pedro la Laguna area of Guatemala in many different ways. The ministry helps meet medical needs, nutritional needs, and educational needs to help individuals learn skills to enable them to earn income for their families. The Healing Hands division of the Impacto Ministry provides medical care to those who could not afford it. This division is in need of medical supplies like band aids, Tylenol, ibuprofen, throat lozenges,. cough syrup, ect. Ther Impacto Ministry also has a division known as Happy Tummies which is an after school program for children who are living in vulnerable situations. This ministry provides the children meals, and teaching personal care, education through tutors, and montly doctor checkups, as well as shares the Gospel with the children.
The Impacto Ministry also offers a division called Stitches of Blessings, which helps to teach students how to sew in an effort to help them earn an income for their family. When a person graduates from this program they are gifted the sewing machine that they have used all year. There are many other things that Impacto Ministries provides to the people that they serve, and they have a list of needs of their website that they have requested prayerfully. If you fell led to help fulfil their needs, you can find their website at the bottom of this section, and within their website please find the Prayers/Requests/Needs section. Impactoministry.com MyChoice Spokane, Washington MyChoice is a pregnancy clinic in Spokane, Washington which provides women with information and assistance with reproductive health, pregnancy, host homes for those in vulnerable situations, a free boutique for children's items, and support/preparation programs to help women develop confidence in parenting and having healthy relationship. This is a Christian ministry that seeks to offer love and care to those who need it. Many of the services are provided at no cost. The services are open to any person regardless of their religious beliefs or practices. With all the help that they offer individuals, this is a great ministry to assist. To donate to this mission please find the website below. https://mychoicespokane.org/donate/ And Then There Were None: Abortion Worker Ministry Nationwide, USA This ministry helps abortion providers quit the industry by providing them financial. spiritual, emotional support, employment opportunities, education scholarships and legal assistance. The organization extends grace and compassion to the abortion providers who are seeking to make a change and exit the industry. This ministry has helped over 500 abortion providers exit that business. The philosophy of this organization is that if the abortion providers are seeking to exit the industry they will need support to help them change industries and this organization aims to help them as they exit that industry. The goal is to help make the exit as seamless as possible, and encourage more to exit the industry. "And then there were none" is propagating the idea that if all the abortion providers exited the industry then abortions would be done at a much lower rate. To find out more about his ministry and to help meet their needs visit the following websitehttps://abortionworker.com/support-our-work/
Far East Broadcasting Company The Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC) is working to fulfil the Great Commission given by Jesus in Matthew 28 to preach the gospel to all nations. The FEBC is a radio broadcasting company that broadcasts Christian radio stations into nations where the spread of Christianity is impaired due to governmental policies. The most remarkable accomplishment of this Broadcasting company is being able to broadcast Christian radio and share the gospel to those living in North Korea where speaking about and practicing Christianity is outlawed. Other counties where this ministry broadcasts to include Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Ukraine, among many other nations. In total this ministry serves over 50 countries and has programs in over 141 languages. To learn more about this ministry and to find ways that you can help either by financial assistance or through prayer visit the following website: https://www.febc.org
Lifesong For Orphans The Lifesong For Orphans ministry is a wonderful organization that seeks to meet the needs of children and families throughout the world. 100% of the money that is donated to this organization is used for the people that they serve. The ministry gets funding for its overhead expenses from business donors, the TMG foundation, and private individuals and donations from public gifts go directly to assisting the orphans that this program helps. The organization provides adoption financial assistance, orphan care for children worldwide including daily Christ-centered care, education and discipleship. Lifesong also helps adoptive families with personalized adoption funds and local churches, and also helps mobilize local churches to help in the global mission of caring for orphans through sponsorship and mission teams. To learn more and sponsor this ministry visit the following website: https://lifesong.org
“Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands... Christ has no body now on earth but yours.” -Teresa of Avila
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GRACE AND PEACE
Religious News Alabama Books Sent to Love Packages Alabama Baptist Parishioners responded to a call to action in a large way by donating over 4,000 pounds of Bibles and Christian books to the Love Packages ministry. These books will be shipped overseas to Christians in hard-to-reach packages like Kenya and Tanzania. Life-Changing Missions 2/20/21 Life-Changing Missions located in Montgomery, Alabama has partnered with St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Starkville, Mississippi to hand out over 500 hygiene bags to those in need located around Starkville. The Life-Changing Missions choses a new city to do outreach in every 3 months. Montgomery Ala. On Feb. 20th, 2021- Saint James Holt Crossing Baptist Church and other churches in the area supplied over 300 bags/boxes of food and pet food to the local community. The Power of Life Foundation also provided the community homemade masks at this event.
Arizona Safe Families for Children The Phoenix United Reformed Church has created a program for families called Safe families for Children. This organization helps families in times of need physically and materially. They provide safe houses for children, coaching, resources, and friends. Scottsdale Works Program This program is funded partly by the City of Scottsdale and the Christian organization the Phoenix Rescue Mission. This program helps homeless individuals by providing them with employment, a daily meal, transportation to the jobsite, connect them with services, and provide a case worker.
Arkansas First Christian Church and Waterway This church provides an outreach opportunity called Loads of Change. This outreach is done by having participants drop off quarters to Big Ben's Sugar Creek Laundry on the 3rd Saturday of the month, and the quarters will be distributed to those in need as the need arises.
California Christian Outreach In Action This ministry provides numerous resources to those in need including free diapers, free clothing, a food bank, hot meals 7 days per week, and legal advice. Youth For Christ Southern California Youth For Christ (YFC) is an organization made with the goal to equip young people with the skills to effectively share their faith in God, and become leaders in their own communities. The YFC Southern California ministry has a teen parents division that aims to show Christian love and support to young parents. This organization also provides coaching and teaching to guide young people into a stronger relationship with God, and helping them to share their faith with others. Kingdom Builder Foundation A San Diego, CA non profit organization called Kingdom Builder Foundation made by the Solana Beach Presbyterian Church gave over $323,000 in grants for various community projects in 2020. These grants helped provide funding for many worthy causes and will be a blessing to many different people. Christian Community Credit Union Members from the nationwide Christian Community Credit Union have donated over $25,400 to missions and various ministry projects. These Credit Union Members donated their earned points to this program called "Points for Missions," and they were able to turn 10,000 points into a $100 donation. These donations were given to various ministries including International Ministries, Mission Aviation Fellowship, Biola University, Operation Mobilization, and the Freedom Challenge.
Florida Car-to-Car Evangelism Pastor Shelly Chandler came across a long line of vehicles of people waiting to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Pastor Chandler used this even to minister to those waiting in their cars, to share the Gospel with them and to pray for them. Making the most of this opportunity, Pastor Shelly evangelized to hundreds of people. Campus Crusade For Christ The Campus Crusade For Christ (CRU) is a world-wide organization based in Orlando, Flordia. This organization shares the gospel on campuses, and in communities. The CRU discples and equips Christians to effectivly lead a Godly life and share their faith with others. CRU helps fund various outreach programs including helping to build and repair wells in areas with limited acess to running water, supporting missionaries in crisis, sending bibles to the middle east , and share the gospel in spiritual closed countires. Texas Dallas Storm Homeless Shelters Christian groups band together to help open an emergency warming shelter at the Kay Bailey Hutchinson Convention Center. This warming shelter was opened for homeless individuals living around the Dallas area after major snow storm affects the state. Servant Project International This organization provides assistance and discipleship programs worldwide. The organization is based in Texas, and proives a variety of services throughout the nation, and throughout the world. The services that this outreach program offer include educational programs, training, humanitarian aid, food distribution, sewing centers, free medical camps, woman development workshops and seminars.
New York
A Child's Prayer
Feeding Our Neighbors Challenge A collection of churches in Danbury, New York worked together to raise funds for the local food pantries. All together this challenge raised over $117,000 for these pantries who are seeing increased needs lately.
God make my life a little light, Within the world to glow, A little flame that burneth bright Wherever I may go.
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GRACE AND PEACE Don't Let Your Lip Hang Down As you travel briskly onward On your pathway here below, Try to fill your life with gladness; Do not wear a look of woe. 'Tis absurd to growl and grumble, Push and bite and scold and frown; Cheer up, brother; cheer up, sister; Do not let your lip hang down. Don't you see this world is joyous, Bright and gleeful, glad and gay? Why not then be cheerful, happy— Happy, happy all the day? There's no cross—you know it, brother— There's no cross without a crown; Therefore ever be more cheerful— Do not let your lip hang down. Brother, sister, I would aid you: I would help you on the way; I would aid you in your troubles— Help you find the perfect day.
Closing Notes Keep the Faith I am determined, God help me, that no man shall rob me of my faith. I won't hide it away. I'll keep it right around with me, if I can. I will see it get exercise. I will feed it all that I can so it shall not starve. I won't force it if I can avoid it, and make it weedy and weakling. I shall say no things it does not believe. When in real danger, if I can, I will go to someone stronger than I to help keep it safe. But when that necessity arises to whom shall I look for help? Surely, directly to him who I believe gave it to me. For I know whom I have trusted and I am persuaded that he is able to keep it against that day. -W.T. Grenfell (Herald and Presbyter, Feb. 28, 1923, pg. 21)
Keep the Faith Live for something, have a purpose, And that purpose keep in view; Drifting like a helpless vessel They can ne'er to life be true. Half the wrecks that strew life's ocean If some star had been their guide. Might have long been riding safely; But they drifted with the tide. (Herald and Presbyter, Jan. 11, 1905, pg. 21) In God's Sight Remember God is watching you; For whether wrong or right, No child in all this busy world Is ever out of sight. Yes, he who blessed the little ones Is marking all you do, Then let each word, thought, and deed Be honest, brave and true. (Herald and Presbyter, Jan. 11, 1905, pg. 23)
I will stand up for you, brother; Do not weep, repine or frown. Straighten up and be more cheerful— Do not let your lip hand down. —United Presbyterian (Herald and Presbyter, Jan. 18, 1905, pg. 21)
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