in Kagoshima 
. They saw many unique sights 
but the great majority of their trip was spent in ministry through the church and camp 
. We thank Dennis and Barb McMichael for their leadership in this trip in every way, including their own ministry in telling the story of their adoption of Leah to a church group and using it as a tool for a testimony of how one can have an "adoption" relationship with God through Jesus Christ: 
. From the Team's report we can tell that friendships were made, and they left with a deeper burden in their hearts for the Japanese people to know Christ as Savior. 
As I mentioned, our family had a vacation week in which we were thankful to have EVERYONE here at our home. We went on day trips to Cedar Point, Amish Country, and to the Cleveland Zoo and Rainforest: 
. We were also able to spend a few days at home with our grandboys having fun - they are enjoyable and we never ceased to be amazed at how they "soak up" everything around them as they grow and learn. 
We have MANY more pictures if you are interested!!
. We were also able to spend a few days at home with our grandboys having fun - they are enjoyable and we never ceased to be amazed at how they "soak up" everything around them as they grow and learn. 
We have MANY more pictures if you are interested!!For this Sunday we have our regular services of Sunday School and three ABF's at 9:30 AM. ABF's studies include: the Book of Colossians, a study on "Character" by Bill Hybels, and a study on "Following Jesus."
Our Worship Service is at 10:45 AM and includes some great songs that honor God in our worship, and we will continue our study on "Church Creeps" from the small book of Jude. Last time we saw their characteristics so that we can spot them, and this Sunday we will look at Jude's final exhortations to us in order to "Counteract the Creeps" so that we can prevent their effect in our church. Read Jude through in preparation for this Sunday.
Our Summer Small Groups minsitry has gone very well, and it continues this Sunday with two of our groups meeting at 5:00 PM - one here at the church and the other at the Jordan's home. These usually involve a meal, prayer time, a Bible study, and fellowship together.
On Tuesday at 7:00 PM the other group meets at our home and features the same ministry. We have learned a lot about "Fighting Spiritual Battles" which has been beneficial in our daily lives. One of the unique things about these small groups in contrast to a regular service is that we can assign HOMEWORK if desired, and you all have been GREAT at completing it weekly. I think this helps in our growth spiritually and as a group together. If you have not been attending, I hope you will get plugged into one of these groups - see me if you have questions or need a recommendation as to which you might like to attend.
Our Prayer groups on Weds. at 7:00 PM and Thurs. at 11:00 AM continue through the summer and are a source of intimate fellowship with God and one another as we pray, share, learn some more from the Bible, and leave with a "boost" for the week. Try one of these times out if you haven't lately.
We look forward to continued visits and contacts from various missionaries through the summer. We are thankful that one of our regularly supported missionaries, Shelly Grimm (Nicaraugua) arrived home safely last weekend for her furlough time. It will be nice to see her regularly, at least at our Weds. evening times, for the better part of the next year. In the midst of her travels reporting to her various supporting churches (ours included on Dec. 6) she has a desire to have Bible studies for ladies either during the day or evening, especially if you have neighbors or friends not attending any church. Contact our church office if you have interest in getting with Shelly to discuss this possibility.
We will be giving you a quarterly financial and attendance report soon as to how we are doing about half way through the year. From my casual glance weekly at the reports I get I think we are "holding our own" though I believe our Faith Promise for Missions fund is lagging behind what we budgeted. Please revisit your commitment to this fund as well as your giving to our general fund. As we continue to give faithfully, consistently, and strongly our ministries can expand. And we have a lot of areas we would like to expand.
Let me close by requesting you to pray specifically for our church in the next steps God would have for us. I am not even sure myself what these may be, but I get these "impulses" once in awhile that God is about to move us in some direction of ministry and outreach as a church, and it seems He has something for us soon. We need to listen carefully to Him, and follow His direction obediently without balking. Pray for clarity, clearness, and boldness to move as God guides us as leaders. Thank you, we need this from you.
Pastor Don Workman
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Papa's little sermon helper, Jonathon - what will I do now that he is back home in Indiana??
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