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