Monday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m.
Women’s Fall Bible Study will continue Monday, November 11 at 10:00 a.m. in the Gathering Place Room. We will be studying “Jesus In Me” by Anne Graham Lotz. Books are available in the church office.
Mission Moment 11.6.24
Chaouki and Maha Boulos
CBF Field Personnel, Beirut, Lebanon
What’s saving our lives right now is the ministry in the Middle East.
Lebanon was affected by the war that began on October 7, 2023, because of her shared borders with the neighboring country. After the war started, we headed back to the United States to spend some time there from October to January. We felt like fish outside of water.
We were doing ministry by phone, and Maha continued to be heavily involved in ministry that kept going despite the trouble in south Lebanon. The four women’s meetings that convene on a weekly basis kept going strong, as did the weekly men’s meetings.
Needless to say, we missed our different ministries tremendously. It didn’t help being so far away. The women in the meetings kept calling us and telling us how much they missed us.
Although there were many social activities happening in the U.S., we could always feel the huge difference between the two worlds. One is easier in daily matters and the other is harder—even in the smallest things. In the U.S., you can go to the supermarket and get your needs. While overseas, the local families and some refugees struggle to get a pound of ground beef because it has gone up so much in price.
I remember Rasmi, a Syrian refugee woman whose husband is suffering from jaw cancer. He’s being treated in Syria while she and the kids had to stay back. She has no income and depends on what people donate to her. We helped Rasmi with food, rent, milk and more for her four children. She knows that when everything closes in on her, we will always assist her and her children in any way we can. She always thanks us and is grateful for the churches and people who don’t know her but are ready to stand by her side when all her resources are depleted.
I also remember the older Lebanese woman, Eve, who has no children. Her husband passed away many years ago and left her with no income. Have you ever thought how hard it is to have no money? Have you ever thought what you might do if you had no currency, no credit cards and no one to stand by you in times of need?
Not having cash has always struck me as very, very hard. We helped Eve with her medicine, bought her some groceries and beef and left a little cash with her. Praise the Lord for His caring love to the people we serve. And this is mainly because of the contribution of wonderful people like you.
Pray, Practice, Ponder
The people we meet in our ministry always pray for you. They pray:
That the Lord would pour out His love on you.
That the Lord would give you good health and take care of you and your families.
That you will never face closed doors.
That you would be always guided by His Holy Spirit.
Offer a prayer today for Christians in Lebanon and across the Middle East for God’s love to pour out on them, for their health and safety, that doors will be opened for them and that God’s Spirit would be their guide.
Wednesday Night Bible Study
TONIGHT, Wednesday, November 6
Join us for our Wednesday evening Bible study
TONIGHT, November 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the
Gathering Place Room. There will be no meal. Join us!
A Way You Can Help
The relief needs are changing daily. The immediate needs at this time are: generators, heaters, basement dehumidifiers, Visa cards, cash, and prayers. We do not need any more clothing or cleaning supplies donated for the time being.
That said, there are so many great ways to help our WNC neighbors in need. May I offer what I heard folks saying they needed to better serve hard hit areas like Mitchell and Yancey Counties? HEAT!!!
They have ample supplies of most other things but REALLY need these on Amazon (but certainly other places, too): heaters, generators, dehumidifiers for basements, and air purifiers. Please consider this as a possible way to honor a family member or loved one for early birthday or Christmas present.
You can ask that it be shipped to: Helene Recovery Coalition, 2002 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC 28804. This is the staging warehouse serving WNC counties. Thank you!
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries requests that we temporarily suspend providing supplies and instead provide monetary donations. Given the current situation with Hurricane Helene’s suppliers, the needs of clients are changing daily. A monetary donation will allow them to purchase specifically what is needed at any point in time. To donate, please drop off a check at 191 Skyland Drive or mail it to PO Box 188, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries requests that we temporarily suspend providing supplies and instead provide monetary donations. Given the current situation with Hurricane Helene’s suppliers, the needs of clients are changing daily. A monetary donation will allow them to purchase specifically what is needed at any point in time. To donate, please drop off a check at 191 Skyland Drive or mail it to PO Box 188, Sylva, NC 28779. Thank you!
Men’s Breakfast
Saturday, November 2 at 8:00 a.m.
Please join us on Friday, November 1 at 10:00 a.m. to set up for the Men’s Breakfast. Then please join us for the Men’s Breakfast on Saturday morning, November 2, at 8:00. All ages are welcome!
Mission Moment 10.30.24
Juan Garcia
CBF Moderator and Pastor
Primera Iglesia Bautista de Newport News, Va.
As I ponder what is saving my life right now, I don’t want to sound cliché, but the answer is “Jesus.” He is constantly saving me.
Now, how specifically he is doing that or how I am specifically experiencing his salvation in this season in my life—that’s where it gets interesting. Currently, I have the privilege, along with a member of our congregation, of coaching my son’s soccer team in our city league. That’s something I never thought I’d be doing. I didn’t grow up playing soccer. As a matter of fact, my sport is basketball and when I try to play soccer with some people from our church, I find myself putting my hands instead of my feet to work. Hence, the oddity of my current situation. Yet, God worked things out in a way that I find myself engaging with and coaching a group of kids from different walks of life in a sport that I am still learning myself.
The experience has been a blessing for me. It has been a breath of fresh air to my otherwise very ordinary pastoral and personal routine. It has been a source of renewal as I embrace these children, check on them during practices and games, show them Jesus’ love, pass on to them the little I know about the sport, challenge them to learn and improve and encourage them not to give up, since the game is not over until it is over. Being able to be the source of love, encouragement and fun to kids who sometimes look like they are lacking those things in their lives, has been to me a God-given and life-giving gift.
Jesus told his disciples to “let the children come to him,” and that’s precisely what I am trying to do through this unexpected opportunity of coaching my son’s soccer team. And it happens to be that God is using that to save my life these days.
Prayer, Practice, Ponder:
Lord, may we never forget that your salvation and life-giving presence can be found in those unexpected opportunities you throw our way. Help us not to miss them, but to embrace them, so we can experience new life.
Pray. . .Give. . .Go.
A Way You Can Help
The relief needs are changing daily. The immediate needs at this time are: generators, heaters, basement dehumidifiers, Visa cards, cash, and prayers. We do not need anymore clothing or cleaning supplies donated for the time being.
That said, there are so many great ways to help our WNC neighbors in need. May I offer what I heard folks saying they needed to better serve hard hit areas like Mitchell and Yancey Counties? HEAT!!!
They have ample supplies of most other things but REALLY need these on Amazon (but certainly other places, too): heaters, generators and dehumidifiers for basements: Please consider this as a possible way to honor a family member or loved one for early birthday or Christmas present.
You can ask that it be shipped to: Helene Recovery Coalition, 2002 Riverside Drive, Asheville, NC 28804. This is the staging warehouse serving WNC counties. Thank you!
