“With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.” -Psalm 108:13
Don’t give up. Don’t quit. Let suffering develop patience, let patience develop experience, let experience develop hope.
Meeting Spiritual Needs
“Christian missions is unique in the aggressive movements of history. Christianity in its pure form has no “axe to grind,” no system to foster, and no profit motivation. Its job is simply to “seek and to save that which is lost.” Nothing more, nothing less. The words “apostle” and “missionary” mean the same thing: “One who is sent.” The word apostle is from the Greek; and the word missionary is from the Latin.
The New Testament is a book of missions. The Gospels tell of Jesus’ missionary accomplishments, and the Acts tell of the missionary endeavors of the apostles. The disciples were launched into the world by the power of the resurrection, and the Gospel made its impact upon the world’s people. Peter went to Lydda, Joppa, Antioch, Babylon, and Asia Minor. John went to Samaria, Ephesus, and to the cities on the Mediterranean. Thomas journeyed to far away India. Paul, the peer of all early missionaries, used the roads Rome had built to take the Gospel through the Empire. Today the need for missions is greater than ever before! The world is shrinking in size but expanding in population. We live in a world of conflicting, confusing beliefs! We live in a world of complex problems! But, more important, we live in a world of dire spiritual need.” Billy Graham
Prayer for the day
Father, help me to be a light in this world of darkness, ready for each opportunity to share Your love with those whose spiritual needs are great.
Google “What is a Missions Trip”~113,000,000 results in 0.14 seconds
…thank you Google. There are likely to be about that many answers to the question…lots of opinions and definitions out there.
The Missions Ministry at Uniontown Bible Church answers it this way:
When your ship docks, train stops, plane lands, trucks park, and you are greeted by a UBC supported missionary or the local pastor, and you will be helping the pastor strenghten his church or you’re helping the missionary establish a new church, praise the Lord-you are on a Short Term Mission Trip.
If you are setting out to enjoy a vacation-good for you! Image Christ well, share Jesus. As a witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ, just like here at home, it is your responsibility, wherever you are. Praise the Lord.
Missions at Uniontown Bible Church is defined as “The sending out and supporting of equipped disciple-makers who cross barriers of distance, culture and language in order to establish and strengthen the church in places beyond the normal sphere of influence of our members, both within and outside the USA.”
Something you are very likely to hear someone on the Missions Team say is: “There are a lot of good things to do for short term trips, but God has given us a specific focus and vision for missions.”
There are a lot of efforts going out in many directions with little or no particular focus. The Missions Team has been charged with the responsibility of narrowing the field of many good things to a focus and vision and strategy. Planting new churches and strengthening the local church. Here is the strategy:
As a church, our #1 ministry target is people groups who have little or no available Christian witness. Although we recognize the validity of home missions, in light of urgent needs of almost three billion people who have never heard the gospel, priority is given to reaching those who have not yet heard the gospel of Christ
As a church, our #2 target is people groups who have limited exposure to Christianity.
Our #3 ministry target is a people group who has frequent exposure to Christianity
Update from Local Servant Bob Kimmel-Carroll County Detention Center Chaplain and the Carreras-Missionaries in Brazil
My heart broke this week for an inmate who’s wife died suddenly. Left 6 children behind. I spent some time with him trying to bring comfort and hope. Please pray for this young man and his kids. We can only trust God to work in their lives and cover them with His Grace. Love ya, Chap . Bob 2 Cor. 1:3,4
Dear Friends and Family,
It’s been a busy last few weeks here in Brazil as we get ready for furlough. As most of you know, we were asked to consider moving our furlough 6 months ahead to better accommodate school needs next fall.
That means we have had the opportunity to see GOD AT WORK orchestrating even the smallest details for our furlough.
Here are just a few answers to prayer:
1. A van from Righteous Rides available Feb. 10.
2. A family from Venezuela who recently arrived to study aviation at Asas de Socorro to house sit for us.
3. Provision for 6 month tickets returning us to the field Aug. 7.
4. Friends who have helped us by feeding us, babysitting the kids, and other encouragement these last few days.
Please pray for our trip.
1. We leave home around 2:30 pm on Monday January 23rd arriving in Chicago 8:30 am on Jan 24.
2. Pray for adjustment to the COLD.
3. Pray for the kids adjustment to a new school entering mid year.
4. Pray for Camilla who has been used to going to pre-school and will once again be at home.
5. Pray for Joy’s trip 10 days after we arrive to Waxhaw NC for a two week course for her future assignment as Chief Pilot/Instructor Pilot.
6. Pray for us as we try to schedule time with all our churches and supporters.
Our contact info in the US. (Our same emails apply.) mailing address 6818 W. Ardmore
Chicago IL 6031
773 775 9330
Hoping to see many of you SOON!
In Christ,
Joy and Bill Carrera
The Tebows~A Missionary Family
Read about the entire Tebow family and their ministry in the Philippines
below:
Bob TebowEvangelistic Association-The Harvest is Plentiful-The World is the Field
1/08/56 Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian Were Killed-Obedient till Death
Today Jim Elliot Was Killed (1956)
by: Fred Sanders
Today in 1956, five missionaries to the Auca indians in Ecuador were killed. Their deaths brought a sudden end to the project they called “Operation Auca,” but the tragedy became a defining moment in the history of evangelical missions. Hundreds of young people were inspired to take up missionary work, thousands were moved to deeper commitment to Christ, and millions of dollars in resources were mobilized. And the work with the Aucas went on, too. Click the link below for the rest of the article:
http://www.scriptoriumdaily.com/2009/01/08/today-jim-elliot-was-killed-1956/
Rewards for Obedience
1 Corinthians 3:10-15
A call to be a missionary is much like Abraham’s call. It is necessary to leave home, possessions, relatives, worldly ambitions and to go to another country to which God has led.
But one can never out-give God. Though Abraham was called to give up much, he was promised much more. God always promises blessings when we obey and follow Him.
Hebrews 13:5 says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Much the same thing was said to the people of Israel: “Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deut. 31:6).
The psalmist said, “Trust in the LORD, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed” (Ps. 37.3).
God promised to bless Israel, and He promises to bless us when we trust and obey. God’s call for us today is that we might be separated unto Him.
“No good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Ps. 84:11).
Author: Theodore Epp
…and Local Servant and Missionary Force~A Missions Team Tribute to Terri
It is appropriate to share about the Local Servant and Missionary advocate Terri Meushaw was and how her impact goes on. As regular attenders at UBC, Bill and Terri’s involvement with the Missions Team began in 2007 before their journey of membership in 2008. Terri and Bill served faithfully in the A Little Love food pantry serving Union Bridge with the hope that our friends one day know Christ Jesus as their personal Savior. Together they were members of the Appalachia team for two years. Terri was a intense advocate for the missionaries UBC supports. When Terri’s health began to decline, the Meushaws knew they needed to step out of some of the ministries they were involved in. Step out-not step away. The Meushaws stepped out of the formality of the Missions meetings, but Terri took the message of serving locally and praying for and encouraging our missionaries to the Women’s ministry. Terri emailed and snail mailed all of the UBC missionary women and asked them for their brief bios, updates and prayer requests. She gathered, compiled and shared that information at a Women’s Retreat. Not only shared but put on a full missionary force to spur the ladies on retreat to get to know personally those missionary women, through letter writing, emailing and sending care packages. With her health too vulnerable to personally serve A Little Love, she gathered the women on that retreat to make pancake mix and wrap them thoughtfully in new kitchen hand towels to be served at A Little Love. There were enough for 2 months of serving! Part of Terri’s job with the Brethren church was to set up delivery of the canned meat for the Brethren Disaster Relief-a church that partners with UBC in Appalachia sends their portion (10 cases) to Jolo. Terri snapped this pic of Pastor Charles and Sister Sharon with those cases on one of their Appalachia trips.
Pastor Charles and Sister Sharon blessed by the 10 cases of meat-2008
Terri incredibly brought all the passions she possessed for ministry together so beautifully and cohesively. The Missions Team to this day receives updates from our missionaries telling of how they receive letters and encouragement from people serving in other ministries and Bible studies throughout UBC. What a testimony to Terri’s faithfulness. Not giving up, finding a way to live out in obedience what God had placed on her heart to accomplish for His glory alone. Terri impacted the lives of our people at UBC to build relationships with our missionaries and she impacted the lives of our missionaries as well. One wrote regularly on her Caring Bridge guest book. And this from Terri’s CB Journal July 20, 2011: “The Lord has blessed me with being able to visit, in person, three of our churches missionaries in the past month. One came to give a lesson at church and two others came to our home to share time and prayer.” Prayer for UBC missionaries was in the plan for the prayer time Terri implemented on Friday mornings for all women. “Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His Name together” Psalm 34:3
- Terri with Sister Sharon Rose 2009
Bill and Terri at the Family Worship Center in Jolo-2008
From the Garronis~Merry Christmas
Dear Prayer warriors:
We remember those days when we were expecting each one of our babies, it was so beautiful to think about him or her (in those days each birth was a surprise, there was not way to know if it was a boy or a girl), and we loved that unborn baby more than anything else in the world. Our thoughts were to give that baby not only our love but to take care of him and keep him safe from anything that could harm him.
Praise the Lord that our Wonderful, Loving God send His son to the world as a beautiful baby but “spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all” Rom.8:32a
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”Rom.5:8
Praise the Lord that His birth that enable us to be saved through His sacrifice.
Have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
May the Lord bless you and use you for His glory.
Thank you very much for your prayers, your love and faithful financial support.
Thank you very much for all your e-mail, letters and postcards, that encourage us very much.
Joyfully serving Him
Miguel and Myriam Garroni
Reaching Union Bridge with Christ
Uniontown Bible Church’s Missions Team has been intentionally involved in reaching Union Bridge since 2001.
2001-Live Nativity-just off the square in UB.
2002-Thanksgiving Outreach-door to door meeting people and handing out light bulbs-Why light bulbs? They are a practical gift everyone can use-attached gospel tract.
2003-Live Nativity-Sharon and Doug Little’s back yard.
2004-Christmas Outreach-on Main Street in front of the pharmacy. Handed out rolls of tape. (Have you ever run out of tape while wrapping your gifts?) The pharmacist welcomed us and offered anything we needed including hot coffee.
2005-The UBC Outreach Team prayerfully stepped out in faith and started the A Little Love food pantry ministry. A.L.L.-for 5 years served out of the Fellowship Hall of the Union Bridge United Methodist Church on Main St. In the year 2010, God nudged again and in obedience the team stepped out to ask our friends we serve, if we could come and deliver to their home. We would go out in the weather and serve them in their homes. Only 1 of the 24 families said they did not want us to come. We were tremendously encouraged that the trusting relationships we had built were real, and we received addresses and phone numbers. A.L.L. currently serves 30 homes. Now under Brian Chapline’s oversight, God is leading to begin a Bible study for our A Little Love friends. Pray with us for God’s timing and we have a clear plan for the study, where, when, etc. Serving in Nov 2011 each home was told about the study and there was a great response. People are bending their knee and acepting Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. Today-Dec. 13 there is a meeting with a A.L.L. family where members are interested in baptism at UBC. Praise the Lord.
Outreach to Stambaugh’s-During the winter and spring months Stambaugh’s Inc. worked on the new church building the Missions Team provided hot chocolate/iced tea and snack for the workers every Friday. Invite cards and gospel tracts were given and the staff followed up with serving them a lunch at the farmhouse.
2010-Shriner Court-is a low-income village in Union Bridge. There is an income requirement to be accepted, but is not subsidized housing. The Missions Team learned about Shriner late 2009. A resident there told us that they were promised by management that there would be activities, and other social events and those promises were not followed through. We asked, what kind of activities would you like? Simple gatherings, games, fellowship. Every Thursday night Bingo in the very small ‘activities building’, began in Jan 2010. No cost, no fees to play. Prizes are practical-postage stamps, food, fresh produce, note cards, toiletries…of the 20 residents, there are usually 10-12 participants for Bingo. All residents are visited regularly. Word got out about Shriner, and Bark Hill Bible offered a weekly Bible study. 5-6 residents attend on a regular basis. Finishing Genesis a field trip to Lancaster to Sight and Sound to see Joseph was a great follow-up. There have been a few trips to Lancaster to visit a huge farm market and farm for homemade ice cream. After months of fun together, our S.C. friends asked ‘what can we do to serve’? Keep in mind-median age of the residents is 70+. For several months we volunteered at Serrv in NW. Once a week we took 6-7 residents to pack health kits. The Union Bridge Church of the Brethren became aware of Shriner, and offered their M&M gathering. Once a month the ‘Modern and Mature’ meet on a Thursday and have lunch together. They invite someone to speak, could be on travel, gardening, health care, and each month the local retired Dr gives health tips as well. Several are attending and look forward to the fellowship each month. The greatest testimony of the this ministry is the real community, the real ‘caring for each other’ relationships that have developed among the residents. They are friends, they care for each other, look out for each other through family issues, health concerns, etc. Getachew has visited with Shriner Ct. as a group a couple of times. Many of the ladies wanted to give back, in appreciation for the things done for them,(a couple dollars for gas money or tip for lunch-things like that). None of the servers want to be ‘paid back’ at least in the world’s terms. So, our Ct friends together (outside of any server knowlege) to come up with a way to give for all they have received. They bring a quarter or dollar or what they can afford to Bingo and with their offerings they are sowing into Getachew’s ministry. You have to know that there are many subsidized homes in UB. There can be a great stigma attached to that way of life. It is the same with the Ct. It is low-income, there is a worldly stigma, and these dear ones were deemed ‘outcasts’, tucked away. Image what a few activities and encouragement does to a body, the emotional, and physical being when gathered with friends to laugh, and have a good times, to forget about struggles for a while. Prayer is part of our gatherings, prayer requests are made and Jesus is made known. A few residents have home churches. A couple have began attending Bark Hill Bible, and a few have visited UBC a few times. Praise the Lord.
The Lutheran Church in UB has a weekly food pantry that has begun serving dinner the 4th Monday each month on their serving evening-5pm. A.L.L. friends attend this opportunity as well the residents of Shriner Ct. Shriner Ct friends have helped to serve at this pantry. Bark Hill Bible now serves regularly, and the Brethren church has provided food and servers from time to time. This pantry does a Christmas ‘adopt a family’. This year the Lutheran church will provide a Bible for each child served. This is a huge step for this ministry. God is working.
Bridges-a Union Bridge Youth outreach made up of a few UB residents under the Community Foundation of Carroll County. The focus of this organization is to provide opportunities for young people and their families in UB. Twice a week there is a computer lab at the Community Center. Once a month activites are planned for all ages-year round. Servantsof A Little Love attend the annual Christmas party, a family event. We provide 15-20 food bags containing an entire ham dinner and other food items. Great opportunity to tell of Jesus, and invite to UBC Christmas opportunites and connect with A Little Love.
Reaching out to our neighbors. Serving and partnering with the local churches. Impacting a community that they might know Jesus Christ.
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