Both churches have supported each other for the last 12 years. Members of Keryma Bautista Iglesia created this video to share their appreciation for the recent food staples, tables and chairs, and personal care items that the Women’s Mission Circle provided.
Mission Moment 10.7.26
Jeff Lee
Field Personnel in Skopje, Macedonia
Prayer
“O Lord of my life, give me not the spirit of sloth, idle curiosity, lust for power and idle talk. But grant unto me a spirit of integrity, humility, patience and love. Grant me the wisdom to see my own faults and not to judge my brother or sister.
Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of God,
Have mercy on me
A sinner
The Lord is my refuge.
O Lord,
I seek you in everything that I do. I pray that everything I do will glorify your name. I want to be known as a man after your heart. Shape me. I want to be called a son of thunder. Make me a voice for the voiceless. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Let me see you in the least of these. I want to be a caretaker of your people and your creation.
Amen.”
I wrote this prayer many years ago and it always surprises me when it comes back into my life. It is a bit of a ramble, but it is from the heart.
When I was in high school, I came across a few verses that really impacted me, and this prayer is based on those verses. Philippians 4:4-7: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
These verses have helped me through many difficult times in my life. The last line of my prayer has a special place in my heart. It comes from my grandfather. He would end every prayer “…and our lives to your service in everything we do.” Because of that, I add it to the end of my prayers also.
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.
Thank you!
First Explorers After-School Recap 10.7.26
We had another fun-filled week at First Explorers After School! On Monday, we played a game where two teams competed to see which side could stack up all of their cups first. The trick was that each person on their team had to toss a balloon in the air and could only stack cups up until it hit the ground. On Tuesday, Ms. Courtney taught music with us. Each kid got to play on a fun percussion instrument upstairs. On Wednesday, we had RAs, GAs, and Mission Friends. On Thursday, we did a fun experiment to determine which liquid would dissolve candy corn the best. The four liquids we tested were vinegar, vegetable oil, soda, and rubbing alcohol. The results were surprising because only the soda and vinegar dissolved the candy corn! Finally on Friday, we had the kids paint fun designs on paper plates. Overall, it was another great week at First Explorers After School!
Mission Moment 9.30.26
Sharondalyn Y. DuPree
CBF-Endorsed Chaplain and Founder of Chaplain Life
Salinas, California
My everyday prayers include the Lord’s Prayer, Psalm 23 and a prayer that rises from the words of a familiar hymn, “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah.” The hymn was written by William Williams of Pantycelyn, a Welsh Methodist preacher who lived in the 18th century. Although it was born far from the American South, this hymn has crossed oceans and cultures and has become a prayer that speaks to the human condition everywhere.
For me, it carries the sound of my grandfather’s powerful voice. Tall and slender, bald at the crown with mid-length silver hair along the sides, dressed in a suit and tie every Sunday, he carried a quiet authority. He was a man of few but wise and steady words; yet when he sang, his voice rose with a strength that felt as if it came straight from heaven. He was affectionately known as Mr. B. J., a deacon who served faithfully for more than 70 years in our small rural church in the deep South. I can still hear him standing at the deacons’ table, singing this hymn a cappella with a strength that rose from the depths of his soul. His voice filled the sanctuary with conviction, with my grandmother waving along in praise. People often called on him to sing because he carried a sound that moved hearts. I remember sitting beside him as a child. Sometimes he would create his own verses, songs that rose from the Spirit and flowed from a place only he and God really understood. Those soul stirring renditions shaped me and everyone who heard him.
The words of “Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah” are not simply lyrics. They are a prayer. This prayer has been carried by many communities, including Black congregations across the African diaspora. People who knew hardship and uncertainty found in this hymn a steady plea for guidance, strength and provision. While it holds a special place in the Black Church, its message is not isolated to any one person. Every person who sings it may find meaning in its cry for direction andsustaining grace.
While I do not know everything this hymn meant to my grandfather, I still hear his voice singing the lines. Over time, I have crafted my own meaning. When I begin my day, I stand in awe of God who is powerful and mighty and yet willing to guide, hold or protect and carry me. I ask God to direct my thoughts and my steps with wisdom for the day. I ask for a favor that only God can bestow. I am humbled by the gift of divine guidance. The source of God’s Spirit for me yields hope and strength. The hymn speaks of a barren land in a world or situations that can feel barren at times. This hymn reminds me that the weak and even the exhausted can find strength and restoration through the mighty hand of God. The final portion reminds me that I can be resourceful because God provides what I need.
This prayer is not only for me. It is for those around me and for those I serve. It contains so many essential elements in just a few lines. For that, I rejoice. I am grateful that I can still hear the sound! May you hear the sound of what this hymn means for you.
Prayer
Guide me, O Thou great Jehovah,
Pilgrim through this barren land.
I am weak, but Thou art mighty.
Hold me with Thy powerful hand.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more.
– William Williams of Pantycelyn, 1745
First Explorers After-School Recap 9.30.26
Here at First Explorers After School it was another exciting week! On Monday, we had a Lego challenge. We had each kid pick a Lego mini figure. Once they chose a character, they had to build a structure for them to live in using Lego pieces. On Tuesday, Ms. Courtney came and taught music with us. Each kid had a chance to play an instrument and learn music notes. On Wednesday, we had RAs, GAs, and Mission Friends. On Thursday, we played a fun game called “Alligator Swamp Crossing” where we had teams try to make it from one carpet to the other without touching the tile. We gave each team four pieces of cardboard and they had to work together to get everyone across. And finally on Friday, we continued working on our acrylic painting of a Pumpkin. Overall, it was another great week at First Explorers After School!
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.
Thank you!
First Explorers After-School Recap 9.23.26
This week at First Explorers After School, we played, learned, and had a fun time. On Monday Ms. Rebekah from 4H came and talked with us about cows and how they work and all the many benefits they provide to us. On Tuesday, Ms. Courtney came and had music with us. She let all of us play on some really cool instruments! On Wednesday, we had RAs, GAs, and Mission Friends. On Thursday, we had a STEM activity to see which team could build the best tower made out of straws and tape. The final challenge was to see if each team’s tower could support the weight of an apple! And finally on Friday, we continued our painting project of a pumpkin. It was another great week at First Explorers After School!
Mission Moment 9.23.26
Scarlette Jasper
Field Personnel in Appalachia
Many of you know that my late husband, Charles Brian Jasper, was a singer, songwriter, musician and DJ. Music was a huge part of our life together. He was greatly influenced by the Beatles and shared the love of their music with me. You may not think of the Beatles when you reflect on prayer, but there is a spiritual dimension to much of their music.
“Let It Be” was written by Paul McCartney (although credited to Lennon-McCartney). During a tense time in recording the title album, Paul was inspired by a dream where is late mother, Mary, appeared to him, stating these simple words, repeated like a mantra in the song “Let It Be.” They are simple words, yet they carry the weight of surrender. In Scripture, we hear a similar invitation: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). Letting it be is not passive resignation; it is an act of trust. It is releasing control and resting in the quiet assurance that God is still at work, even when life feels uncertain.
In “All You Need Is Love,” credited to Lennon-McCartney, we hear a bold, almost childlike declaration. At first glance, it may feel overly simple; but spiritually, it reflects one of the deepest truths of the Christian faith: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Love is not merely an emotion; it is the very nature of God, the force that holds creation together, the calling placed upon our lives.
Then there is “Imagine,” written by John Lennon. Though not explicitly religious—and at times even challenging traditional faith—it expresses a longing for unity, peace and a world without division. It’s as relevant today as when it was written. For believers, this longing echoes the prayer of Jesus in John 17: That all may be one. Even in its tension, the song invites us to consider how we might participate in God’s vision for reconciliation. And in the gentle meditation of “Here Comes the Sun,” penned by my favorite Beatle, George Harrison, we hear resurrection language. After a long, cold winter, light breaks through again. It reminds us that darkness does not have the final word. Hope rises. Joy returns. God’s mercies are new every morning.
Last but not least, the Beatle that I have seen perform in person the most times, Ringo Starr, probably has the most spiritual and faith-based themes in his music, especially in his later career. “Oh My Lord,” “Thank God for Music” and “Free Your Soul” are just a few. His tracks often reflect themes of gratitude, peace and spiritual seeking. Peace and Love, Ringo.
Music is a large part of my spiritual life; it lifts me and draws me closer to God. May you find peace and joy in various ways of experiencing prayer.
Prayer
Gracious and ever-creating God,
You speak not only through Scripture, but through melody, rhythm and the longing of the human heart.
In the quiet refrain of “let it be,” teach us to trust You more deeply. When we try to control what we cannot hold, gently remind us to rest in Your presence.
In the bold cry that “all you need is love,” root us again in Your truth—that love is not shallow or easy, but sacrificial, enduring and divine.
In the dreaming of peace and unity, stir within us a holy imagination—that we might become peacemakers in a divided world, participants in Your kingdom here and now.
And when we walk through seasons of shadow, bring us back to the promise that the sun will rise again. Let hope break through our despair, and light awaken our souls.
God of harmony and grace,
tune our hearts to Your Spirit,
that our lives may become a song of love, peace and faith.
Amen.
Giving the Jesus Way
United Christian Ministries is in need of spaghetti.
To donate items, please drop them off at UCM’s building at 191 Skyland Drive.
Thank you!