|
Message from Steve
Our summer has begun with a splash...literally and figuratively. On the last Sunday of May and the second Sunday of June, we baptized seven adults who wanted to publicly proclaim the reality of their faith in Jesus Christ. This was a faith-marking moment in their lives that they will never forget. And the celebration was awesome for me to see and experience with them!
But I have to admit that the best part of the baptisms for me was hearing each of these people's faith journey to Jesus. Many of their journeys were rocky. Many of them came to faith in Christ through a process of being raised in or around the church. But all of them came to faith in Christ and came to this point of courage to declare that faith publicly to us, and other family and friends. And the deeply encouraging piece for me was to hear each of them speak about how God had used GracePoint in their journey. I wish you could've heard how you, as a part of GracePoint, had a hand in moving them along in their faith journey. Some came to faith through GracePoint. Some grew in their faith in surprising and necessary ways at GracePoint. Some cemented their faith at GracePoint. But all of them reminded me that God is at work in and through us at GracePoint! So maybe part of the splash of the baptisms isn't just the water. Maybe it is the reminder that there are no small tasks around GracePoint as each one serves to set the environment for people to meet with God through Jesus Christ because God continues to work in and through us, no matter how mundane our efforts feel or how invisible it may look. So way to go and keep setting the stage for people to meet with God because he's honoring your efforts with his hidden work in people's hearts and lives!
One other splash of the summer: Andover Day on May 31st. On the last Saturday in May, Andover blocked off its main street and held a festival where people could wander around with their kids and get to know some of the businesses and non-profit organizations within Andover. Well, this year we got a booth at Andover Day where we offered helium-filled balloons and candy to the kids, bottled water with our business card attached to the passersby, and a vast array of information about GracePoint from introductions to in-depth descriptions of ministries.
It was GREAT! Everyone who worked at the booth simply availed themselves to people offering them the kindness of those gifts without strings attached and answers to their questions about the church. And there were tons of people and families whom we were able to serve and answer questions about the church. For one of the first times in our history, GracePoint entered the public square of Andover and we were able to show people the good news so that we might tell them about it. So for everyone who prayed, developed the informational materials, or hosted at the booth...Thank you because your efforts made it possible to raise awareness about GracePoint in Andover and more importantly, give us an avenue to speak about Jesus Christ!
So our summer is off with a splash! But continue to check in with the website, the blog, and the bulletins as God continues to make splashes in and through us with Life Community socials, mother's play groups, and informal block parties. It promises to be a wild and wet summer!
Enjoying God's splash with you,
 |
Outreach Update
Note: This report was written by Bob Givens from the perspective of the 7 year old child he sponsors in Northern Uganda through World Vision.
Hi. My name is Daniel Okari. I'm 7 years old, and I live in a small village in Northern Uganda about two hours from the city of Gulu. My house is made of mud with a thatched roof and a dirt floor. I have 3 older brothers and 5 sisters. World Vision came to my village last year and began helping us. My parents are very happy that a water well will soon be built close to us, so we do not have to walk several miles every day to get water that's not very clean for drinking and cooking.
I am lucky that both my mother and father are alive. Most of my friends in the village have only one parent because the HIV virus kills so many people in my country. Also people only live to be about 40 or 45 years old in Northern Uganda. We grow a few vegetables in our garden to eat and we have some mango trees where we get our breakfast. Although we don't have any money, we usually have enough food to eat.
When the World Vision workers came to my village and told me that I was being sponsored by someone from a church in the U.S., I was so happy. . I would not be able to go to school this year if I did not have a sponsor - my family can't afford to pay for a uniform which is required to attend the local school. They also provide uniforms for all my brothers and sisters. Also if I get sick, because I am a sponsored child, I am able to go to the hospital. Some of my friends who do not have a sponsor have to go to a clinic rather than the hospital. I think the hospital is a lot better.
My sponsors are Bob and Connie, and in April Bob came to visit me in my village. I was so excited that someone would come to visit that I drew a picture for him. He liked it very much and gave me a big hug. I was a little scared at first, but then he gave me a hat, tee shirt and wrist bands from the Red Sox. I love sports so I want to learn more from him about this team and Manny Ramirez whose name is on the wrist bands. He brought some other presents for me and my brothers and sisters, but I got to pick my present first. I've never had first choice before and that was pretty neat. I picked out a little racing car that I can play with. Bob prayed with me and my family and said he would write to me.
I'm not sure, but I think that God must have picked me to be a sponsored child. It makes me feel very special. I hope that someday my friends will get sponsors like me. OK, I'm on my way to school now.
On June 22, World Vision is coming to GracePoint. There are still over 1500 children living in this same Area Development Project in Northern Uganda (Aber ADP) as Daniel who need sponsors. World Vision will have the names of a number of children looking for sponsors. Please prayerfully consider if you and your family might participate and bring the benefits of being a sponsored child to someone in this country. It costs $35 per month to sponsor a child.
|
|
Financial Update
Below is an update on our financial status through May 2008.
(YTD: May 2008 - April 2009. The new fiscal will year begin on May 1, 2009.)
Total Budget: $376, 040
YTD Budget: $31,337
YTD Giving: $19,144
YTD Difference: - $12,193
Average May Attendance: 107 (includes KidsTown)
|
