What are you going to do for Christmas?

God…made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:6

Every year people ask, “What are you going to do for Christmas?”  Some want to know if you are going to travel--while others want to know how much you are going to spend.  Retailers keep a close eye on how much each family will spend.  So they want to know how you will spend your Christmas.  But you can't spend Christmas--for it is not a commodity to barter.

Others will ask you how you observe Christmas.  For many, it is just a holiday which means they get time off to play and enjoy their presents and the extra candy that makes its way into every home.  You can't observe Christmas for it is not merely a holiday--it is a person.

So what are you going to do for Christmas?  I am going to keep it. 

1.  I am going to keep thanking God that he has given us light to see the truth and the glory of God revealed in Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

2.  I am going to keep the truth of God's love for me so close that it affects the way I see myself and others.  As the world continues to determine value by performance I will keep the words of Christ close to me—“you are beloved;” “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Romans 1:7; Joshua 1:9).

3.   I am going to keep the story of Christmas in my mind because in it I see that God gave us the greatest gift, his Son, and He teaches me that giving myself is the greatest gift of all (John 15:13). 

4.  I am going to keep the example of Jesus in front of me because it tells me how to live.  I want to imitate Christ who released His grasp of heaven so that He could open his arms to me (Phil. 2:6-11).

5.  I am going to keep Christmas by allowing the light of Christ to live in me because this is a dark world and Jesus left me here so that people could see (Matt. 5:14). 

I hope you keep Christmas with us.   

It is has been a wonderful year serving with you. 

 Pastor Mark

Pastor Mark for the whole staff

Comes Unexpectedly

AD'VENT, n.  A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior, and in the calendar, it includes four Sabbaths before Christmas.  It is intended as a season of devotion, with reference to the coming of Christ in the flesh, and His  second coming to judge the world.

The last week of advent brings with it the promise of peace.  This is not peace as the world knows it, but the perfect peace that comes to a heart that is reconciled to God.  It’s the kind of peace that the trouble in this world can never extinguish.  It is a peace that passes all human understanding.

Do you know this peace?  Do you experience rest in God?

Psalm 42:5 reminds us where this peace is found. “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me?  Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.”

“Father, I thank you for being the peace giver.  Just as you spoke peace to the waves and wind, you also speak peace to my heart.  In this world I know there is trouble but I take heart today because you have overcome the world.  I accept your light yoke on my shoulders and invite you to lead me to the quiet pastures.  Your word restores my soul and you lead me in ways of peace.  Let the peace of Christ rule my life this Christmas and guard my heart and mind with your truth.”

Remember, God is your rest giver.  Find your peace in Christ this Christmas. 

                            First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org
                       to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

Add to the blog...
Send in your additions to www.fbc@fbcsalem.org

One of the best things about Christmas for me is...

• The amazing story of how God entered this world as a baby. 
• The gifts that Jesus brought to earth
• The various traditions that makes me appreciate my church and immediate family.
• The decorations and lights all over the city
• Eggnog
• The family that comes to visit.
• The reading of the Christmas story.
• Christmas programs.
• Driving around town and looking at all the lights.
• Christmas Eve service with the candle lighting.
• Singing Silent Night for the 100th time.
• Saying Merry Christmas to as many people as I can.
• Music, lots of music.
• Candle light service on Christmas eve.
• REST!

For past Focus stories go to..
http://fbcsalem.blogspot.com/

The GIFT that keeps on giving

AD'VENT, n.  A coming; appropriately the coming of our Savior, and in the calendar, it includes four Sabbaths before Christmas.  It is intended as a season of devotion, with reference to the coming of Christ in the flesh, and His second coming to judge the world.
The second week of advent brings with it the reminder that while giving and receiving temporal gifts may be on the forefront of our thoughts, God’s eternal gift is one that keeps on giving, free of charge, forever. 
Romans 3:22b-24 says, “For there is no distinction:  for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus…”
“Jesus, the ultimate gift, thank you for freely giving to us what we absolutely had to have.  You are the perfect gift and Your Father is the perfect gift giver.  The Spirit allows us to enjoy your gift each day!  Help us to remember in this hectic season that all other gifts pale in comparison to You.  Help us also to find the joy in giving in the same way You experienced joy as you gave Your life for us.”
Remember, the Father loved us enough to send His son as the greatest gift ever.

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

Add to the blog...
Send in your additions to http://fbcsalem.blogspot.com/
One of the best things about Christmas for me is...

• The amazing story of how God entered this world as a baby. 
• The gifts that Jesus brought to earth
• The various traditions that makes me appreciate my church and immediate family.
• The decorations and lights all over the city
• Eggnog

Redeeming the Time for the Days are Evil ……… a testimony by Babs Gaziano

 

The year 2013 brought three major events in to my life:  I celebrated my 80^th birthday in May, my husband of 56 years died in June, and my dear daughter-in-law, Mysti, accepted Christ as her Savior in September.

 

Anyone living as long as I have has seen this country turn from worshiping God to worshiping materialism and self love.  So, it is not surprising that we are in “the days are evil” (Eph 5:16b). What are we as believers to do about this?  Keep on serving the Lord, serving His people with encouragement and hope and truthfully speaking up for the Lord every chance we have.

 

For several years I brought Mysti to women’s special events at Salem First Baptist, and she began to feel comfortable with those she met.  This September I was able to get her to sign up for a Bible class, only to learn it was already filled and unavailable. Suddenly I began to feel a great burden for her soul – as nice as she is, I suspicioned she was not a Christ follower since she grew up in a cult.  It was time for Mysti to get in a study and to choose salvation.  Many prayed. We joined the Lies Women Believe and the Truth that Sets them Free book study class.  In her cult days, Mysti learned lies about God and now she needed to hear the truth.  We began studying together.  The first lesson was on the devil, the father of lies.  One reference we looked at referred to the “Gospel.”  I asked her if she knew what the Gospel was.  Her answer revealed she did not.  “Would you like to know what it really is so that you can have your sins forgiven and spend eternity with Jesus?” I asked.

 

First, I confirmed that she believed Jesus Christ is God in human flesh who died on the cross taking our punishment for all of our past, present and future sins.  I continued to detail the whole Gospel story ending with His resurrection from death to eternal life in which God showed He accepted Christ’s sacrifice of dying in her place for her sins–“Would you like to accept Him as your Savior and become a saved Christian?”  A quiet, serious women held my hands as we prayed the sinner’s prayer.  What rejoicing in my heart, in the angels’ hearts and with everyone who prayed for her!!  Now, she is my sister in the Lord.

 

I want to use every opportunity to speak for God’s truth–I hope you do too!  Redeem your time because the days are becoming dangerously evil.

Priority One - Follow Up

So what?

It is one of the best questions in the world.  It is short and to the point.  It should be asked of every sermon, every Bible study, every class and every Priority One conference.  So what?  What happened?  It is a question you can ask corporately and individually.  We were praying that God would raise up 4 people to consider international ministry.  We wanted every missionary and mission representative to be encouraged by the passion of one local church’s love for the world.  And we prayed for 1200 people to be encouraged in their willingness to say yes to God:  Anything, Anytime, Anywhere.  So what? 

1.    We met with one person who indicated she wanted to pray to receive Christ as her personal Savior.  She had actually asked Christ to forgive her a week earlier, but confirmed it P1 weekend.  We have celebrated her name being written in the lamb’s book of life and currently she is in a Bible study. 

 

2.    The GMT has two new members. 

 

3.    Four of the “global prayer team” responders came to the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church prayer time.  There are five others who desire to participate in a global prayer team who were not at the IDOP meeting, but most of those are elderly members who may not be comfortable driving after dark, which it was when the meeting ended.

 

Now, we are looking for someone who would take ownership and leadership of an ongoing prayer time for the unreached people and the international church.

 

4.    Five people requested information on unreached people.  They have been contacted and directed to the World Missions Center for Unreached Prayer Cards, the touchscreen Unreached Info, and also to www.JoshuaProject.com.

 

5.    Six of the seven who desired more information on becoming a Home Team Partner with our missionaries are moving ahead with Rebecca Alvey on the link-up.  Rebecca is pursuing people personally to join the HTP and is speaking of a HTP dinner event following the holidays to draw us all into a focused group.

 

6.    A couple is following through with talks about entering more officially the International Student ministry.

 

7.    Six people have expressed an interest in short-term mission trips and we have given them information about trips planned for next year.

 

8.    50 people came to the first Dominican Republic short-term mission trip meeting.

 

9.    Multiple people signed up to be mentored.

 

I received this note from one of the participants.  She captures well the fruit of P1 2013.  “I really appreciated the weekend and the challenge to my thinking about the church and her mission - somehow in all my growing-up in a Christian ‘bubble’ I've never learned to think that way - either I missed it or it wasn't being taught.  Thank you to the leadership of the church for teaching this and making time for it, making it a priority.”

Now on to Priority One 2014.  Brace yourself, you will be changed. 

Pastor Mark, for the Priority One team

 

 

Christ-Follower

Leon Chriestenson joined our staff a few months ago focusing on leading our men into a transformational journey with Jesus.  We welcome this gifted brother to our team.

 

I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior as a late teenager. I desired to follow Christ and do what He wanted me to do, so I gave my attention to studying the message of Jesus. I was all about learning to love God and loving others --at least the easy ones to love. I knew the right words to say. I could quote the essential Bible verses and knew where to find the good stories in the Bible. This method of following Jesus did not help me overcome my attitude of “it’s all about me.”  “Me” was my idol. Something was missing.

So I said to myself—Self, you need to add the methods of Jesus to your repertoire. So I was trying to concentrate on following Jesus’ methods and message. The methods of Jesus taught me the correct behavior.  I served as a youth worker, Sunday School teacher, deacon, mission chairman, elder and any other ministry I could work into my schedule. Man-- I was working for the Lord! But it seemed like I was just going through the motions of following Him. As important as the message and the method of Jesus are, I felt like becoming like Jesus was based on my works.

About 3 or 4 years ago I had a mentor challenge me not to spend all my time concentrating on the message and the method of Jesus, but to model Jesus. I thought that by my works I had been modeling Jesus. But I started concentrating on I John 2:6 “whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked”. Studying the Gospels I see how Jesus walked and I notice the following actions that I am now trying to incorporate into my life as I model Him. These are the things that I want to equip our men to model.

Jesus was a man of prayer. How often did He slip away to have conversations with His Father? He started His ministry in prayer and fasting. At the end of His ministry Luke 22:39 says “as was His custom He went to the Mount of Olives…..to pray”   Let us become men of prayer. What would our homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and community look like if our men became men of prayer? 

Jesus allowed the Holy Spirit to lead and empower Him. He was a man of the Word of God. How often Jesus said “it is written” or “have you not read”. “He explained the words of Moses and the prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.” Luke 24:27.  Yes, it is very important for us to know the Word of God. It is a matter of life and death. Jesus was obedient to His Father’s will. Can I (we) say --not my will but your will be done? Am I willing to sign on a blank form that I will do whatever, whenever and wherever for Jesus? 

Jesus also exalted His Father. And-- He was about building intentional relationships.

My goal is to equip men to become men of prayer, men of the Word, trusting the Holy Spirit to lead, obeying and exalting our King. We will then be effectively building relationships with those who need the Gospel message. As I walk as Jesus walked, I find it easier to love God and love others. I also find it easier to live a life on mission looking for opportunities to build someone up in their faith, equip them for works of service and send them out as work place ministers. Men --come join me on this journey.

                                                                    - Leon Chriestenson

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

 

Dr. George Murray on Hope

Hope—“a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen.”  I love people of hope. They inspire me.  I love to hang around people whose relationship with God and experience in this world birth hope.   They are often people of great faith and courage.  One of those people was C.T. Studd.  He was a man of relentless hope and courage.  He once said,  “"Some wish to live within the sound of a chapel bell; I wish to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell."  You can’t help but be encouraged when you are around people of hope.  They give you a bigger view of God.  They see obstacles as opportunities.  They inspire you.  This weekend at Priority One we are going to have one of those hope-filled men with us.  Dr. George Murray has a big view of God.  He has traveled the world and when he speaks you will come away not discouraged, but ready to charge the gates of hell.  I asked Dr. Murray what gives him hope today.  Here is his answer.  If you want more hope, be sure to attend Priority One (www.fbcsalem.org).  I have hope because: 1. We are living in the most unprecedented time of spiritual harvesting the world has ever known.  More people are coming to personal faith in Jesus Christ right now than any other time in the history of mankind. 2. The church in the majority world has caught the vision for world missions and is sending out missionaries in increasing numbers. 3. Technology is enabling us to reach more people than ever before via computers and cell phones. 4. The three biggest Christian radio networks in the world (HCJB, Trans World Radio, and Far Eastern Broadcasting Company) have formed a partnership that is enabling them to reach more people, and more rapidly, than ever before. 5. The "Jesus Film" (produced by Cru) is being rapidly translated into all the world's written and spoken languages and is being seen by billions of people. 6. Technology is enabling Bible translators to reduce unwritten languages to writing and to translate the Bible into those languages so much faster than ever before. Plus, Bible translation teams (where each member has a particular area of expertise) are cutting in half (or less) the time it takes to get the Bible into a particular language. 7. Missionary aviation is enabling missionaries to get quickly to spots where otherwise they could not go (including places like Afghanistan). 8. The Orality movement is growing worldwide, putting the message of the Bible and the gospel into oral form that is reaching millions of people who cannot read or write. 9. The migration of the world's peoples is relocating many unreached people in places where there is a strong Christian presence, and where those unreached peoples are more open to the gospel than they would be in their homeland. 10. Jesus said "I will build my Church" and He always keeps His promises! Written by George Murray   First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org twitter@markwhanke

Get a Head Start on Priority One!

Here is a rundown of all the things you will need to know for Priority One this week!

• Priority One Prayer Meetings - 6 a.m. Room 424 each day this week - come for an hour and pray for those involved in the weekend.

• Thursday, October 24, 7:30-9:00 p.m. in the CLC Cafe - Professionals who want to know how God can use your skills in His global plan to restore hope in the world.  John Brian and LaVonne Buhler as they share a brief update on their work in India and introduce you to Vernon Laverty, President of IDEAS, and his team as they share how IDEAS can help you to use your profession to bring real hope and transformation to Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. RSVP - Scott Grandi at, scott.grandi@ideasworl.org or phone him at 619-321-9005.

• Friday, October 25, SFB Leadership Training with Dr. George Murray

• Saturday Morning, October 26,  Dr. Murray, "Raising up the Next Generation of Missionaries"

• Saturday Evening, October 26, 6:00-7:15 p.m. Dr. Murray, "Making God Great in Our Hearts"  

• Saturday Evening, Hope Alive - 6th-12th Grade Students, Dessert & Perspective, 6:00-7:15 p.m. - CLC Student Room #429

• Sunday Morning, October 27, 9:00 & 10:30 a.m., Dr. Murray, "Making God Great in Our Hearts"

• Sunday Evening, October 27, 6:00 p.m. "What is Missions Today?"  Panel discussion - church auditorium

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.orgto respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.orgtwitter@markwhanke

Peru or Bust

On October 25-27 we will be setting our attention on the world as we ask God to make His Name great in our hearts so that we can make His Name great in the world.  In preparation for our weekend our focus stories are highlighting Priority One topics.  Today the Hollingsworth’s share their top ten reasons to ‘Go’ to Arequipa, Peru.  Eat your heart out Mr. Letterman. 
“It has been a huge blessing to be ‘home’ here in Salem and to enjoy the incredible friendships the Lord has placed in our lives.  We began our journey with you, our SFB church family, seventeen years ago and continue to recognize God at work ‘across the street and around the world’!  We saw Him do some great things through our family as camp directors in Jujuy, Argentina and are excited to see the ministry move forward under the leadership of our national brothers. Now God is leading us to Arequipa, Peru.  Our passion is high because God has given us a vision that we want to share with you.  Here is our top ten list of “Why ‘Go’ to Arequipa?”

1. To make His Name great - Psalm 46:10 - Arequipa is fertile ground to cultivate Christ followers who worship God and make His name great.
2. To make disciples and mentor young adults - Matt. 28:19-20 - In the outskirts of Arequipa exists a community of people challenged by life but ready to learn to be Christ followers.
3. To share the Gospel and develop a community of believers - 1 Peter 2:9 - God desires that all men believe on His Son and become a people of His very own.
4. To care for the ‘whole person’ in partnership with ‘Serving Alto Cayma’ - 1 Thess. 5:23 -  The people in the outskirts of Arequipa have deep spiritual, physical, emotional and relational needs and we are dedicated to bring Christ’s healing and restoration to the whole person.
5. The ever expanding population of ‘marginalized peoples’ – Jer. 22:3 - As families continually arrive from the remote villages of the Andes Mountains they find themselves ‘pushed to the margins’ of society. We desire to show them the love of Christ and promote justice in their lives.
6. To provide pastoral care to the orphan and widow - James 1:27 - Among the marginalized people live a significant population of abandoned wives, widows, elderly, orphans and abused individuals.
7. The people are hungry for and open to the Word – Amos 8:11 - Previous interaction with the people of Alto Cayma confirm their desire to know more of God and His Word. (The people are culturally Roman Catholic and lack the tools to study Scripture on their own.)
8. To break the cycle of family dysfunction and abuse – Rom. 1:29-30 - There is deep brokenness in the lives of many that can only be overcome by Christ.
9. To impact culture through multiplication (sphere of influence) – Mark 5:19 - As young people are trained and equipped through our ministry our goal is that they engage new segments of society with the Truth.
10. To provide Biblical counsel for relational transformation – 2 Tim. 3:16-17 - God’s Word is powerful and capable of bringing life transformation.” 

In addition to the Hollingsworth’s involvement in Priority One You’re invited to the Sunday evening service, November 10 to hear about their work in Argentina and the opportunity God has ahead of them in Arequipa, Peru!

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

twitter@markwhanke

“I want to be the voice of those who are unheard.”

This month is Priority One at SFB.  The weekend of October 25-27 we will be focusing on our number one priority which is to bring people into a life-changing relationship with God and each other.  Over the next three weeks our Focus articles will be related to Priority One 2013.  Today we have an interview with Karisa Keasey, “The Least of These Project.”  Karisa has her art exhibit displayed in the CLC.

An interview with Karisa Keasey:  “I want to be the voice of those who are unheard.”

Where were you born?

“Portland Oregon and I also lived in La Grande and Salem.”

Tell us about your family?

“My mom and dad have been married for a long time.  I have one older sister who loves math and science.  Quite different than me, but we are still very close.”

Where were you trained as an artist?

“I went to college at George Fox University and majored in studio art, but before college I was self-taught.  I began to sell my art in high school.“

When did you first discover your love for art?

“I have been painting and drawing since I can remember.  God gave me a love and a gift for drawing.  I would use the bulletin in church to draw some of my first pictures. “

What is the type of art you do?

“Stylistically I do impressionistic paintings that lean toward realism.  What does that mean for a non-art person like myself?  Impressionism shows the process of art so that people see the brush strokes.  The realism side comes from the use of lighting and the depiction of real-life images.”

Did you always want to go to the orphanages?

“I had a love for children that drew me toward orphanages.  My first desire to use my art for more than just art-sake was a passion to cross lingual and cultural barriers.  The images I drew could share a message that words could not.  I want to be the voice of those who are unheard. “

Why India?

“I have always had an interest in India.  I did a lot of research on orphanages both nationally and internationally.  I began to notice that many orphanages focused on one of two areas, either being the hands and feet of Jesus or sharing the gospel.  What drew me to the orphanage that I work with in India is they make a concerted effort to focus on both helping the body and the soul.

Do you see your art as a profession or as a ministry or both?

“My purpose is not going to help the Indian people because they do not specifically need art help.  My mission is to stand hand in hand with a far off neighbor.   I go to India to learn about their culture and the ministry of the orphanage.  I then come back and through my art tell their story.   My mission here is to inspire people to stand hand in hand with a close or far off neighbor. “

Your paintings give special attention to the eyes.  Why? 

“There is something special about eyes.  They are the window to the soul.  When you look at a person’s eyes you can know them without speaking to them.  This is important when you cannot speak the same language.  Something struck me about the Yanadi people.  They have a strong resilience and a beauty that comes out of their suffering.  I first saw this in their eyes.”

Describe some of the unique elements of your art that the viewer might first not see?
“I put a lot of texture in my art that uses elements from India.  I also use cloth from India.  I integrate the impression of rain to represent the tsunamis that the Yanadi people have faced.  Every year they experience tsunamis and are forced to rebuild their homes.    Thousands of Yanadi people die every year and are not counted because they are not considered human.”

  

Interview by Pastor Mark Hanke

Seasons of Serving

Could it really be that only a week or two ago we were basking in hot sunny days?  The changing of the seasons has happened rather abruptly this year, and here we are with cold, rainy, windy "stay indoors" weather!  The four seasons are always welcome, and I look forward to what autumn, winter, spring and summer bring every year.

So too, with the seasons of life.  They come and go quickly, and change faster with the passing of years.  It seems like yesterday that I was a young woman, serving alongside my husband in our ministries, caring for our three young children.  Now Bob is with the Lord, our children are grown, and so are most of our grandchildren.  Six great-grandchildren now fill my heart and life!  I'm in the autumn of my life, with winter closing in.

There is a changing of the seasons with ministries too.  For various reasons, what I formerly was able to do in serving the Lord is no longer on my to-do list.  Health issues, financial limitations, responsibilities at home, family concerns, etc., loom large as one's seasons of life change.

But I have found JOY in serving the Lord in two nursing home ministries.  For the past ten years I've helped with a Bible study on Wednesday afternoons at Tierra Rose Care Center, and more recently, a new opportunity has opened up at Orchard Heights Care Center.  On Tuesday afternoons I'm able to read Scriptures to dear folks in the memory-care unit, and will start playing hymns on the little organ in their "living room."  It has been joyous for me to see how the residents connect to Scriptures that they learned many years ago.  Other memories have faded for them, but I have seen, first-hand, that the Word of God is alive in their hearts and memories. One woman, who was not anxious for me to read the Bible to them, corrected me when I read a verse from Psalm 100 out of my New King James version.  She said, "Stop! Wrong word!  It's NOISE, not 'shout'!” as I read the first verse.  I smiled and told her that she was correct, and so I re-read it, from memory, in King James Version.  She was beaming when I finished quoting the chapter - being reminded of God's precious Word that she had learned many years before.  It was a confirmation that God's Word is "quick, powerful, and sharper than a two-edged sword", and I am privileged to be able to read it to residents who sometimes don't remember their families, where they are, or if they've had a recent meal.  They DO remember and LOVE hearing the Scriptures read, and that is my joy at this season of my life.

Perhaps you have had ministry opportunities in the past that are no longer possible for you.  God will open doors for you, to other much-needed ministries, if you will make yourself available.  Just ask Him.
Every season of life comes with its own blessings - just look for them!
--Sue Compton


First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org
to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

God Wink

Have you heard these words before?  “God Wink” is a new term for me which I picked up in a conference I attended this month in Dallas, Texas.  No, I don’t think it is strictly a Texas term.  But, as I thought of its meaning the Lord brought to mind a conversation that I would definitely include in the use of these two words.  A “God Wink” is that passing moment, a mental flash, an unexpected meeting, a touch of God’s finger in one’s life that is completely unplanned and unexpected.  This is how it turned out for me…

I was sitting in the lobby of a hotel at 4:30 in the morning, waiting for the shuttle bus to take me to the airport.  A young woman came down and began immediately to talk to me.  I learned several interesting facts.  She was on her way to a college in Georgia to attend a specialized medical course for three months.  She is a nurse.  As we talked, she also mentioned that her husband had died two years previously on this very same day.  And, following that, her father died two weeks later.  So, this was a tough time for her.  Thus the visit turned to a spiritual, rather than just a social, conversation.  She mentioned that God was the One who keeps her going.  Replying to my question as to whether she was a follower of Jesus, she noted that she most definitely was.  In fact, she said, “My husband was a pastor before he died.”  “Oh,” I said.  “Where was he a pastor?”  Her response was certainly a surprise. She said, “At Calvary Baptist Church in The Dalles.” Well, I know that church very well.  Pastor Jim and Barbara Bull were there for several years.  As a new pastor right out of seminary, the pastor of Calvary Baptist was a great mentor to me since I was pastor at a neighboring Baptist church.  Then, I asked her what her husband’s name was, and to my surprise he was someone whom I had met, though did not know intimately.  The conversation continued; she and her husband had met while students at Judson Baptist College, from which I also graduated.  We had a host of common acquaintances from school, ministry and the mission field.  It was one of those moments of immediate bonding and fellowship in Christ though we may never meet again.

As we parted she told me that this conversation was definitely from the Lord.  On this very day in which she needed encouragement the most, God stepped in, unexpectedly and unplanned, to bring her that encouragement just as she was ready to step on the plane to an area in which she knew no one. That, my friends is a “God Wink!”  Look for them in your own life.  They happen almost every day.

~~Pastor Ed

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

Do You Trust Me?

Have you ever heard your Father ask you that question?  I did.  I vividly remember in June of this year the Lord said many times, "Do you trust Me?"  At first it was for Sonshine School.  We were going to lose three very good teachers to retirement and other job relocations. The second wave came during the week that our friend Kinley Adams was missing.  That same week a good friend of mine died in a freak accident.  God once again asked me that question, "Do you trust Me?"  I always said yes, but honestly, it was mostly in my head and not my heart.  

Two more waves came through by the end of the summer.  Each prompting a deep struggle with the same question, "Do you trust Me?"  

One day on a prayer walk down town, I reflected back on a journey we began as a church.  It was called Set Free.  We said in January 2013, "It was not about paying off the debt, but it was about growing our faith."  The vehicle God was going to use to grow our faith was paying off the mortgage we owed on our facility.  Little did I realize God had many vehicles He was going to use to grow my faith.  

Our church walked the painful but joyous realization that Kinley was climbing mountains in heaven.  My friend Henry left behind his family (wife and four young kids) as did Kinley, to struggle with loss and hope.  In each case I witnessed people of courage and faith answering yes to that question, "Do you trust Me?"  None of us got the answer we wanted but we trusted.  In each case I heard family members affirm the goodness of God.  They trusted.  

As we pressed toward the fall, I could see something different happening with Sonshine.  We got three new, but very experienced teachers.  Each of them coming to us in different but very God ordained ways.  But the shock to me was the number of students.  We began our school year 25% above last years numbers.  There is a buzz around the school that is significant.  Our new website (www.sonshinechristianschool.com) is like our school,  it feels like a new day has arrived.  

Set Free?  Glad you asked.  We are less than $75,000 from being SET FREE.  It's been seven months on this journey.  Multiple struggles, multiple challenges, all asking the same question, "Do you trust Me?"  We asked the Lord to grow our faith.  That is what we prayed for and God said, "I will."  Get ready for the burning of the note.  It's just around the corner.  

Pastor Mark Hanke

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

H2O Work Crew

This summer marked my fourth year being a THRIVE leader at camp H2O, SFB’s high school summer camp. As I reflect over the years, each summer gets better and better. From the unity of our staff, to the amazing boat drivers, to our fantastic cooks, every year seems to emulate a well oiled machine.

This year we added a new element to camp for our graduated seniors, which we called “work crew”. Three of our graduates came to serve at camp, in return receiving half off the cost of camp, with the understanding that the work they did would pay off the remaining half. In my opinion, the work they did went above and beyond just half their camp payment. All three of them worked incredibly hard, and not just when asked to.

Throughout the week they each took on a sense of higher responsibility around camp, looking for things to be done and doing them without any leaders having to ask, whether it was taking out the trash, re-filling water jugs, or replacing paper towels in the bathroom. It was definitely the cleanest camp we have ever had!

 One day in particular, we had a bit of a problem with the restrooms. Our only work crew guy graduate spent a couple hours in the bathrooms, mucking out water that had flooded. He volunteered to help and gave up his entire free time, including time on the boats, to do this. That evening, the other two girls on our work crew asked if they could do the kitchen duties by themselves, to give the guy a break since he worked so hard that day. To me, they represented such sacrifice and a willingness to serve not only the camp, but each other as well! I am extremely proud of them and the work they did there. It excites me that these are the young men and women that are coming out of Thrive – they set such an example for the ones that come after them. I am also very excited to see this element of our camp grow and flourish.

On behalf of all the leaders and students of THIRVE I want to thank each of you who support and pray for student ministry here at Salem First. Your prayers were evident as we experienced God revealing His character and love to us through another great summer at Camp H2O.

Jessica Ivanitsky

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

More Than Just Child Care

Children’s Ministry at SFBC is so much more than “childcare”, so much more than just giving kids a place to go on Sunday morning.  We take very seriously our commitment to “maintain and facilitate various children’s programs that assist parents in training up children who know God with scriptural precision, who love God with unbridled passion, and who are fully devoted followers of the Lord Jesus Christ.”  Serving this congregation in that way is a privilege, and the joy is immeasurable when I can share the comments from this grandfather, a VBS Crew Leader, whose grandson attended with him, and who made a commitment to Christ!  Following is an email received from this faithful Crew Leader:

“Each year I'm overwhelmed by the un-inhibited enthusiasm our little ones have for God and our Savior Jesus Christ. The songs of praise they sing at the beginning and end of each day demonstrates how they wish to praise God with all their hearts and souls. My only wish is that there was more time in each day to have heart to heart discussions about how God wants us to live for him. Kids today have many distractions and it will be easy for them to lose focus as they grow older and their life comes more complicated. How true to the song lyrics: THE STORMS OF LIFE, THEY PUSH AND PULL. Our church needs to be the rock that never rolls and is always a place they can feel at home when home no longer feels that way.

I wasn't too surprised that my grandson has put his trust in Jesus Christ. He has been very outspoken about his belief in God and Jesus. Many times I have overheard him discussing God with his unbelieving neighbor friend. His friend does not believe in God or Jesus, but my grandson keeps telling him that He is for real, so I know that he has Jesus in his heart. Even at the park he will tell strangers that God made everything. He is not afraid to share his belief.”

John [Leverman]

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

The Church is My Front Yard

It was way back in the spring of 2001 when a men’s breakfast was held in what is now the children’s playroom in the basement of the church building.  A large group of guys were present and if memory serves me right the speaker was Arne Jensen, a local landscaper.  During that morning an appeal was made to get a group of guys who would be willing to maintain the church lawns and landscape areas.  Fast forward to the present and you now have one of the longest-term ministry teams at SFB. Somewhere over 30 different individuals have served on the team over those years and some of the original team members are still active.

Why do these people serve?  What has motivated some of them to have served continuously from day one?  Let me share some of their thoughts:  “I marvel at God’s creation and enjoy working in it”; “It’s just another way I can connect with my maker”; “I enjoy the connection with the others on my team”; ”The landscape is one of the first impressions people have of our church so I want it to look sharp”; “I enjoy serving and I get a workout at the same time”; “I like the flexibility” (There are three teams and each team serves a month at a time.  While most work is done on Saturday mornings, any day will work if necessary.)  “I like things to be orderly and trimming the hedges and mowing lawns gives me that satisfaction.” 

 In addition to these people being able to use their talents in a satisfying way, they have saved the church many thousands of dollars since the inception of the team.  While this team was started by a bunch of guys, women have been involved.  So if you are one of those who would enjoy helping to maintain God’s creation, let us know by putting a note on the bulletin tear off piece and dropping it in the offering plate.

 Oh, and by the way, if you were to drive by the house of one of these people, I don’t think you would be at all surprised to see a beautifully maintained and neatly manicured front yard.

 --Wayne Bernard

 

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org

His Birthday, Their Gifts

One of the great joys of being the Middle School Youth Pastor is that I get invited to the students' birthday parties. I get to meet their friends, talk to their parents, and spend some time hanging out and having fun. The moment I always wait for at the party (besides the cake, mmmmmmm) is the opening of the presents. It tells you a lot about a student to see what gifts they receive and how they react when they receive those gifts. You can see their heart and the type of person they are to their friends based on what their friends bring them. I expect to see clothes, video games, Legos, and other items of that sort. What I didn’t expect to see at a recent birthday party was Jolly Ranchers, lots and lots of Jolly Ranchers.

Steven Cummings is going into the 7th grade and has been a huge part of Fusion (the middle school youth group). He invited me over to bring some games to play and to meet his friends with the hope of some of them coming to youth group. I arrived as he was opening his gifts and, as with most people, he was holding court and loving life as he was opening each present. I observed as Steven opened his first gift; it was Jolly Ranchers. He was pumped! Then he moved on to the next gift; two more bags of Jolly Ranchers. Awkward. That is the same gift from two people. That is not what most 12 year olds want to see. To my surprise, he was even more pumped! Then he opened another, then another, and another; all of them containing Jolly Ranchers. He was thanking everybody who brought him Jolly Ranchers and he was so excited to have received them. I didn’t get an exact count but I would guess he got somewhere near 15 bags of Jolly Ranchers. It appeared we had a bit of a Jolly Rancher nut on our hands. I was clueless to what actually was happening. 

As Steven finished up opening his presents, his dad John, asked the whole group a question, “Do you know why Steven asked for all these Jolly Ranchers?” No one knew; they all assumed that he just really loved hard candy. Wrong. John explained that Steven had specifically asked for Jolly Ranchers for his birthday presents so he could donate them to the Brazil mission trip. Josh Thorp, a leader in Fusion who was heading to Brazil, had told the students what the candy would mean to the kids in the slums of Brazil and how rare it was for them to get candy. This had touched Steven’s heart. Rather than doing what you would expect an average 12 year old to do, he decided to use his birthday as an opportunity to show love to kids he would never meet and to show Christ to the kids at his birthday party.

Steven took the king’s bounty of Jolly Ranchers to Josh at youth group that night. Josh, naturally, was touched by Steven’s desire to share his birthday gifts with kids in Brazil. In a culture where we constantly want more stuff and our birthdays are our opportunity to be materialistic guilt-free, it was heart-warming and inspiring to see a student who decided that even though it was his birthday, the gifts belonged to the kids in Brazil.

--Pastor Patrick

First Baptist website: www.fbcsalem.org

to respond to this email: fbc@fbcsalem.org