September 2000

"Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me ... for the kingdom ofHeaven belongs to such as these.’ (Matthew 19:14, NIV) His words are being fulfilled in American society according to new data from the Barna Research Group of Ventura, California. The company’s nationwidesurveys have determined the probability of people accepting Christ as their Savior in relation to aperson’s age. The data show that if a person does not accept Jesus Christ as Savior before the age of 14, thelikelihood of ever doing so is slim." (Teens and Adults Have Little Chanceof Accepting Christ as Their Savior, November 15, 1999, www.barna.org)
When we realize the importance of these young lives, it truly is worth itto minister to them and thereby build the kingdom. This year, we have beenprivileged to see over 400 children respond to an altar call forsalvation. Our prayer now is that these children will be discipled andgrow in God.
This is why we believe in the importance of building strong families forGod and have chosen to emphasize ‘Building Families for the Kingdom’.Children should see their parents worshipping God. Strong, vibrant youthgroups are important for their continued development. They need to seethat serving God, or going to church does not end when you reach twelve years of age. We have developed programs that minister to the entire family - not justthe children - or the youth - or the adults. These programs involve theentire family, creating an atmosphere for worship, creativity and enjoyment while still ministering the Word of God.
This year it has been our privilege to help aim children in the directionGod wants them to go. According to Psalm 127, children are arrows in thehand of a warrior.. Those of us who minister to them are the bows thatGod, the Warrior, is using to point them in the direction. May we alwaysbe quick to allow the Warrior to bend us to His will as well.
A Touch of Summer
It is difficult to believe that our busy summer is almost over, but herewe are at our last week of meetings before our summer tour ends. Then weare jumping into the fall line-up with a series of Back to Sunday School kick-offs in September and teacher training conferences in October.In December, we are again doing "The Manger and the Tree", a powerfulpresentation for the entire family that presents the true reason forChristmas. But let's get back to late spring and summer.
The day after I printed the master copy for the spring newsletter, a majorstorm hit our area and took out our computer via the phone line. So asthose on our mailing list are aware, they did not receive the newsletter via the mail, neither have we been able to send it via e-mail,nor has it yet been posted on the internet. That will all have to waituntil we are able to replace the computer.
Two days after the storm, we left with Joel's parents for our vacation inNorth Carolina and Quebec. We had a wonderful time visiting family andCharity celebrated her seventeenth birthday in a grand way. While chillyweather had blanketed Ontario, we were enjoying weather around 35° C. Wewent swimming in the pool, enjoyed jet skiing at the lake, and jumped thewaves in the warm Atlantic Ocean. By the time we reached Quebec, theweather had improved in the north and we were again enjoying warm sunnyweather. We were also treated to a gourmet meal which, except for thesweetbread, was enjoyed by all.
All too soon it was over, and we were back into the regular routine oftravelling and trying to set up our home at it's new location. Eachweekend found us travelling to churches and every return trip home wasspent in doing something else at our mobile home - building steps. . .painting steps . . . tearing out a wall so we could put in our own fridgeinstead of the one that came with the trailer . . . landscaping, including planting vines that were supposed to grow to seven feet - at last checkthe largest one might have reached a foot . . . and the final finishingtouch - the skirting. We were able to have the skirting done just beforeour summer tour began - and does it ever look nice.
Then the rush began. We left for Mistissini, Quebec with only enoughmoney to go half way. While on the journey, God provided for the remainderof the trip. This year has certainly been an adventure in faith. We spenteight days there ministering twice a day. One day as Joel was walking downthe street a young boy called out, "Hi, Mr. Jesus". What a privilege itwas to realize that we truly were living Jesus before these preciouschildren.
We arrived back home with only one day to pack up for the rest of thesummer and we were off again. Our next stop was Mount Zion Camp in Gunter,Ontario. And stop we did! The transmission had gone on our van - we wouldn't be going anywhere until it was repaired. :(
In Gunter, we averaged about 25 children over the two weeks, and we beganour missions project. This year our missions offering will be going toOpen Doors With Brother Andrew for Bibles and music boxes for China. Inthe two weeks these children raised over $500. The Bible tells us that theLord loves a cheerful giver, well these children loved offering time.
At our next stop, we were in Ancaster, Ontario doing a VBS (Vacation BibleSchool) where Joel and I celebrated our twentieth wedding anniversary. TheVBS presented us with a vase of silk flowers. It has graced our places ofresidence ever since.
Then we crossed the border for Falconer, New York for another VBS and alsopark ministry. Our first day in the park, a group of young teen boys werestanding off to the side - wondering what was going on. As the half-hourprogram continued they began to circle around until they were all at theclimbers about twenty five feet away. We concluded the program by makingballoon animals for everyone that wanted them. These boys didn't want tomiss out so they came over to make sure they also received one. Then onour last day - instead of the park - Joel and I joined the Best Yearsgroup at their monthly outing. We shared that there is always something wecan do for God if we are willing. Paul and Silas seemed to have everyright to complain when they had been whipped and put in stocks for thesake of the gospel. Instead they chose to praise.
Then it was time for a quick trip home - fifteen hours in all and we slepteight of them. :)
Our next camp was Bethel Park in Rodney, Ontario. We again were taking upthe missions offering. Several of the girls set up a kool-aid standoutside the dining hall. The proceeds were all for the Bibles for China.At this camp we raised over $300 for Bibles and music boxes.
One night, as we were closing down one of the campers returned to the tentalone. I knew that his mother would be looking for him. So as he went in to be with PJ (Pastor Joel), Iwent in search of her. She had thought he had followed all the other children out to the highway, butwhen she caught up to them he wasn't there. She was coming down the roadfrom her search when I met her. The first words she spoke were, "I can'tfind ___." I told her where he was. "At least he knew the best place togo." was her response.
While at Rodney, we were also privileged to have the German speaker's wifeand one of the missionaries come and speak to us. Both of them had beeninvolved in providing Bibles for China. All summer long, we had beenteaching the children that they are arrows in the hands of God and He ispointing them in the direction He wants them to go. As the missionaryfinished speaking, about eight children responded in answer to "Who willgo for Me?"
Then it was off to Brantford for another VBS. We have been teaching aboutknowing God through the five senses - taste, sight, touch, hearing and smell - while digging throughthe Bible for clues to solve God's mysteries.
Inspector Clueless along with B.I.B.L.E. 2000 helped us learn what God'sWord had to say about knowing God. Everyone wanted to say the memory verseat the close of the morning as sour keys and dinosaurs were rewarding goodmemories.
Then it was back to Rodney for Boys and Girls Camp. While there we met awonderful lady visiting from the Middle East. One day she woke up feeling that something extraordinarywas going to happen. That evening following a precious time around the altar, she told us, "Now Iknow why I felt something special was going to happen today."
Although uneplanned, we enjoyed having a relaxing week at home, visitingfriends and family.
Now we are in Kaladar, Ontario for a VBS and our last week of the summertour. Something particularly special about Kaladar is that we are returning to the church that Joel'sdad pastored when Joel was born. We have enjoyed the opportunity to minister in churches where Joel grew upand meeting people who still remember him as a child.
We still have about three and a half weeks open in September and Octoberand are praying that God will open doors for us then. We are also still open in November and December.We have actually been amazed at how God has opened doors for us this year - sometimes with only a few daysbefore we are asked to minister.
We are enjoying our new home, when we have the opportunity to be there. Wehave great neighbours and we would like to say a special thank you to Jim and Sharon who picked upour mail and took care of our lawn while we have been gone.
We have loved being busy and seeing children impacted for Christ. All themiles of driving and hours spent in ministry have been worth it to see children accept Christ as theirSaviour with over 400 children responding to the salvation message so far this year. We hope to see manymore.
Anya’s Additions
We have been at Northwood Beach for almost four months and have reallyenjoyed it; swimming in the pool and walking along the lake.
In May we went to North Carolina to visit family. The weather was in thehigh eighties and nineties. We swam in pools, lakes and the ocean and had a blast.
Our summer months have been very busy and we did not have much time off.To begin with, we went back to Mistissini, Quebec for a week of ministry and had a great time.
In the course of a month and a half we have done three camps, two familyand one Kids, and four Vacation Bible Schools (VBS)and then we start into our fall season.
This summer has not been like past summers. It was pretty wet withstorms every so often. The grass is still very green and it is the end of August. While at one camp we hadfive good thunderstorms in one day. We also had our services in a tent at that camp. The tent had metal polesin it, so kids who liked to swing on them that to be kept off. What ariot. God protected us and He was present and moved in all of ourservices this summer.
I have enjoyed everything we have done and I thank God for taking care ofus each step of the way. Thanks for all your prayers and support.
Charity’s Chatter
It seemed like only last week that I was wading knee high in snow to getto the bathroom. Now the summer is almost over and that means that this year of 2000 is half over.
The summer was fun, full, and fantastic. :o) We saw many children cometo Jesus and worship Him and spend time in His presence.
We did The Peace Patrol this year and taught how to know God through thefive senses. Taste, sight, hearing, touch, and smell. We need to taste or try God and know that Heis good, see not only physically, but see Him through our hearts and know Him, hear that still small voicein our hearts and know that He is our best friend, and smell the fragranceof His presence and worship Him will our whole being.
We also taught on Psalm 127 where it talks about children being a heritagefrom the Lord and that they are like arrows in the hand of a mightywarrior. We wanted to point children into their destiny and launch theminto whatever career God has called them too.
God inspired me to write a song about the children being arrows. I usedthe words from the verse and wrote a song asking God to make me an arrow in the hand of the Warrior.
God is the Warrior and it is my prayer that He would use me in whateverway He needs me.
I am working on writing a few more songs and would like to produce a CDwith my original work. I have also taken the memory verses we have been doing this summer and put themto music. We are also looking at making a CD with my puppet, Baby Marnie, singing the memory verses.Pray that things will start to come together for that.
Also pray that I will be able to find a new Royal Conservatory Piano,Voice an Theory teacher in the fall, so I can continue in my music.
Thank you for all the prayers you have been sending already. Keep prayingas we go into our fall tour.
Rhian’s Report
This summer has been very busy with VBS and camps and full of fun. Thefirst camp we went to was Mount Zion camp, it was in Gilmour, Ontario. Wedid 26 services in two weeks. I also helped in the crafts and in thekitchen. That was fun.
Second, we went to Ancaster and did their VBS. That was full of games andcrafts and a lesson time where the kids could learn more about God.
This summer we taught Peace Patrol with Inspector Clueless and our robot,Biblical Input Begins Learning Experience 2000 also known as B 2000, andArrows in the Hands of a Warrior. The latter one was taken from thepassage from Psalms 127: 3-5
"Behold children are a heritage from the LORD. The fruit of the womb is areward, Like arrows in the hand of a Warrior, so are children of one'syouth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them, they shall not beashamed, but shall speak with their enemies at the gate."
When the kids learn their memory verse they run to the candy bucket andsay the verse as fast as they can. We are so happy that the kids arelearning God's Word the Bible. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. :o)
Thank you
We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone whohas supported us through your prayers and financially. The decision to step out and be fully supportedthrough the ministry would not have been possible without you.
Prayer List
Fresh anointing for every service. We do not want to minister in our ownstrength and abilities but in God’s power.
Salvation of children, youth and adults.
Travelling safety as we travel the many highways of our nations.
Good health.
Computer and video equipment so that we can minister more effectively tothe Millennial Generation.
A new piano and voice teacher for Charity who recognizes the value of whatwe do, and will allow her to miss lessons without penalty.
That we will have a full calendar for ministry. November and December arequite empty, and there are many opportunities for ministry still available in September and October.
Anya is starting to look at where she would like to attend college. Wewant to be sure that she goes where God wants her to.
Rhian has requested prayer for the family of a good friend. God bless,Joel & MaryAnya, Charity and Rhian