bfc board of missions   

February 5, 2003 Edition

This is the third issue of Let’s Fish.

Greetings from Allentown!

Bible Fellowship Churches sharing resources to evangelize the world.

A place for the exchange of ideas on short term missions projects and local outreach.

 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."

 All responses can be sent to office@bfcbom.org

 Current and past issues can be found on the web at: www.bfcbom.org look in “Mission Events” then Let’s Fish 

1.         Three BFC Churches on Ministry Assignment in Guadeloupe

2.         Pinebrook Possibilities!

3.         What Would You Do?

4.         Ministry Need Met!

5.         Looking for a ministry with troubled teens?

6.         Trips in the works

7.         Whose Money is it Anyway? 

8.         Recruit a Reader

Final Thought

1.  Three BFC Churches on Ministry Assignment in Guadeloupe

Duane & Joetta Moyer and family will host a work team of 25 from the Blandon, York & Coopersburg congregations Feb. 4-12.  They will be doing renovation work at the Centre Evangelique.  Pray for the teen and adult group to minister effectively to the Moyer family and the Guadeloupian people.

 2.  Pinebrook Possibilities!

As I was reading the latest edition of "Let's Fish" I thought it might be a good place to let people know of the exciting summer ministry opportunities available here at Pinebrook. Currently we are accepting applications for counselors (college age), an activities director (college age or older), guys and girls dorm advisors (single adults) as well as regular junior staff positions (grade 7 and up).  Anyone interested can contact me at 570.424.1212 ext. 21 or pinedom@ptd.net.

Thanks,

Mark McCreary

3.  What Would You Do? 

Here is something to contemplate and talk about in your team meeting.  What would you do?

OFFICIALS EXPEL SHORT-TERM MISSIONS TEAM FROM RWANDA

A short-term mission team from Teen Missions International has been expelled from Rwanda. Spokesman Steve Peterson says mistaken identity caused the expulsion of the 20 team members, who came from Kenya, Uganda and Sudan. "When the team came in, some people looked and saw the luggage, the cooking equipment, and started to spread rumors that perhaps the team might be part of a military group," he said.

"Eventually there was pressure put to bear on the team to leave the country. They were surrounded by armed soldiers and told to leave. All of their belongings were searched thoroughly at the border, and they were sent out." Peterson added that while hearts are open to the gospel, fear of another genocide in Rwanda lingers. "It's a barrier that anyone wishing to take the gospel into the country has to overcome. It's just the distrust and the fear that is still gripping people's hearts. Pray that even as the Lord has opened people's hearts to the gospel that there will be enough stability in the country that outreach will be able to continue." (Mission Network News) 

4. Response to Ministry Need Almost Immediate!

(This prayer request came into our office.  With in a day people began to take action!  Thank you to all who responded.)

Early next week, there is a prayer meeting with other missionaries in the DC area and the next morning a meeting of those interested in working with Kurdish people in their home area.  Both of us would like to be able to attend these meetings.

However, our children (14, 12, &10) are too young to be left overnight without an adult here. (We have often left them here by themselves while we are at a meeting.) Pray that God would lead someone to volunteer to be with them overnight.  Or perhaps they could stay with friends.

Also the second half of February we'll have the same need again.  We want to take a survey trip to Nashville, and will need someone to be with or take in the kids for four days (two of which they'll be at school) and three nights.

 If you are interested, please give us a call at 717-626-4307 and we can talk about details.

Thanks - SO much!

Brian and Carol Ann Lawrence

5. Looking for a ministry with troubled teens?

The Fold is a ministry to struggling teens and their families. Teens voluntarily come for a year or more of discipleship and counseling from a Biblical perspective. Teens range in age from 13 - 18. We are located in Northern Vermont and area especially noted for its beauty and accessibility to many of New England prime attractions. There is always a lot to do and see.

We are in need of male and female staff (especially Male staff) to work with teens in the role of disciple / counselors. It is mentioning type relationship. Anyone over 20 years old would be eligible.  A very nice private Room is provided along with board, generous time off, along with a monthly stipend. Additional support can also be raised.

We also have 2 full time teaching positions open in our Christian school as well. Male or Female welcome.

We also accept summer interns for those looking to gain some experience.                              

Thanks     

Tim Hash

Contact: hashfamily2002@yahoo.com

6.  Trips in the works

The Board of Missions is keeping statistics of all short term missionary trips (both by teams and individuals).  Please let us know all the important information about your trip. 

WHO, WHAT, CHURCH, MISSIONARY, COUNTRY, and DATE.

Contact:  office@bfcbom.org

To Date the following ministries being done by BFC’ers have been registered with Let’s Fish.

Feb. 4-12 - Coopersburg, York, and Blandon doing renovation work in Guadalupe.  (See item #1 above). 

Feb.19-22 - Frances Sears to stay with the Lawrence children. (See item #4 above) 

Feb. 21-March 2 - Coopersburg Kenya Trip.  (This trip will be featured next week in Let’s Fish.) 

March 14-24 LBC trip to Morocco including team members from BFC churches in Lebanon, Newark, York and Emmaus.  (This trip will be featured in a future Let’s Fish) 

May 10 One day ministry blitz through out the tri-state area as part of Emmaus Mission Conference. 

August 2-18 - Emmaus Ukraine Trip doing puppet shows, drama, music and coffee house ministry as well as a morning camp program with Push the Rock each morning. 

August 16-23 - Emmaus going to Wissinoming BFC for VBS and evangelistic puppet shows. 

August 22-24 - Walnutport BFC Weekend Block Party.  Emmaus will be doing puppet shows and a Saturday block party.

 7.  Whose Money is it Anyway?   

When considering missions either as a career or in the short term sooner or later money becomes an issue.  Perhaps the following article will help you gain a good handle on your finances.

Five Elements of Successful Financial Management

by David S. Topazian, D.D.S., M.B.A. 

 

1. Realize that God owns everything

God's ownership of all material possessions calls us to a realistic distinction between needs and wants. We need food, clothing and shelter, all of which can be of good quality. But when we step over the line that separates needs from wants, we have subtly yearned for things that we feel perhaps we ought to have or have the right to own.  

 

2. See money as a tool, not a goal

I asked a middle-aged healthcare professional to assist in a ministry opportunity that would require one evening of activity. She told me that she had to be on call every weekend because she had such great financial needs and a daughter in college. She was not willing to give up one night's potential income. The biblical Christian should be seeking out opportunities to exercise more responsibility in the kingdom of God rather than marshalling excuses to shun them. 

 

3. Give with integrity

When giving is a regular part of our financial management and when it is done with integrity, great blessings result. This is not to say that we buy our way into God's favor so that He guarantees financial success. What it does say is that when we give first, when we do not hedge but give from our full income, God honors the priority that we place on the financial needs of His kingdom by giving us wisdom to manage wisely whatever remains.  

 

4. Adopt a stewardship lifestyle

Christian professionals can be leaders in the movement to consume less, to buy necessities carefully and thoughtfully and to purchase luxuries with great care. Too often, impulse rules our buying decisions with neither comparison-shopping nor any kind of long-range goals in mind. As Christians take seriously their stewardship of God's creation, they will become leaders in conserving scarce resources in order to serve future generations. They will use things all the way up, prevent the fouling of our environment, avoid waste such as carelessly discarded food and they will recycle reusable resources. 

 

5. Spend less than you earn

When you implement this simple principle, you should also plan what to do with the money that is not spent. I suggest that you take advantage of the "miracle" of compounded interest. Compounding interest for a long time is not only financially astute, but also in line with a principle of Scripture (Proverbs 13:11).

Those who remain debt-free, who have saved and increased their savings little by little, will achieve financial security for their futures. They can use the resources they have developed to increase their giving and to serve freely.

8.  Recruit a Reader

Our readership of Let’s Fish hovers around 100.  Why not encourage others to sign up.  They can read past issues at the bfcbom website (www.bfcbom.org).  They can sign up by contacting me at office@bfcbom.org.  By the way, are you on our daily prayer e-mail?  Why not join by sending your request to office@bfcbom.org.

Final Thought:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

-Paul

Fight the good fight with all thy might;

Christ is thy Strength, and Christ thy Right;

Lay hold on life, and it shall be

Thy joy and crown eternally.

Run the straight race through God’s good grace,

Lift up thine eyes, and seek His face;

Life with its way before us lies,

Christ is the Path, and Christ the Prize.

Cast care aside, upon thy Guide,

Lean, and His mercy will provide;

Lean, and the trusting soul shall prove

Christ is its Life, and Christ its Love.

Faint not nor fear, His arms are near,

He changeth not, and thou art dear.

Only believe, and thou shalt see

That Christ is all in all to thee.

Words: John S. B. Monsell, 1863. This hymn was sung in the 1981 Academy Award winning movie, “Chariots of Fire.”

A cooperative effort of the churches of the BFC

to win the world for Christ

Your response is always welcome at:

office@bfcbom.org 610 398-8776