Tuesday, September 28, 2010

FBC News Week 9-27

I can't believe how fast the weeks are flying by. How about you college folk? Does the time seem to be flying by as your writing papers, studying, and heavy in the test taking season?? I do not envy the coarse load you must carry! I have been in denial that it is fall, but the weather change leaves me forced to embrace the new season! But I will be counting down the days to the next summer!

Here in Cali, things are busy but steady. It is amazing to watch God work, and to watch it happen in ways you don't even expect. Something none of us could predict is how the Hispanic ministry has taken off here at FBC. We currently have a interum Hispanic Pastor and his name is Daniel Puerto. He's about 24? LOl... and received his ministry degree in Texas. He has such a heart for the Lord and the lost people here in Cali. He is doing a really great job reaching the hispanic community and one way he is doing that is through volleyball tournaments. FBC had their 3rd tournament on Sunday and had another great turn out. They are averaging between 100-150 people at the tournament, including children. They always take time to give testimonies and share the gospel. The tournament on sunday even offered a one day VBS for the children. Some SBU students including Hayley Belt and Nick Burger came down and poured their Jesus love onto these kids!! It was a great day in God's house, and I'm sure there will be more to come!

Sunday I was also reminded through Greg's sermon of how many we have lost in the last year or two. It is really a shock to think of the lifes that have been greived. I would ask that in this coming year as families continue in the grieving process and come upon anniversaries and holidays that you will keep them in your prayers.

In random news - Tonight we will have a mission council meeting and discuss AFRICA! and We will set a date for our church meeting and I will be sure to post that. This weekend will be a busy weekend with the arrival of Kyle Ward. There will be a reception sunday evening at 6pm with music anc cake. No college kid can pass up cake?? LOL Also this saturday is a Women's Brunch at 9 am at the eulinger's. If any of you ladies want to join us, you would be blessed with yummy food and we would be blessed to hear about your lives!!!

Well thats all I have for now! Keep up the hard work and hope to see you all soon!

Prayers and Blessings - Dawn

Monday, September 20, 2010

FBC News Week 20-24th

Hey Everyone - Another busy/exciting week at FBC CaliMO! Last week we had Ruth here from Sheltering Wings Orphanage and that was a great time. She shared with the church and the youth while she was here and got everyone excited about our future endeavours in West Africa. We will have a mission council meeting soon to talk about our next trip and plans for the near future. Look for the dates on here if you would like to attend. We will try and schedule the meetings on Sunday afternoons to allow you to attend if you would like.

The major focus right now at church is the upcoming arrival of the new youth minister Kyle Ward. We will host a welcome reception on October 3rd at 6pm. If you would like to come that would be great. We will bring Cards with words of encouragement to give him and his wife that night. And we will also have fellowship time with music and treats. If you want more information about this let me know!

Next Sunday we will recognize Mary Pace for her many years of service as a pianist and they will recognize me (awkward to promote..lol) for the youth services after the late worship service. They are asking anyone who would like to extend thanks to leave a card with the church secretary before Sunday to offer during this time.

If you didn't read the last post - This Wednesday is See You at the Pole. Many of you participated in this in high school and I would challenge you to do this on your college campus. Get some friends together Wednesday and meet at your flag pole and pray for your school and the lost souls that are on your campus. Who knows maybe God will put someone in your path to show Christ's love too! If you do pray at your school Wednesday I would love for you to post your experience for others to read about!

Other then that, it is normal craziness around here (in a great way) There is so much going on and I can feel our church family growing in Christ and in love every day! I hope you are all doing great and not eating too many Ramen Noodles yet!!! We are always thinking of you and praying for you as your on your college adventures!!!

Much Love and Many Prayers - Dawn Prather

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

This Week at FBC 09-13

The Highlight this week had to be "Mamma Ruth's" Visit to our church. (in my opinion) She shared with the church what God has been doing in Burkina and the joy of working for the Lord. There were several people who came to hear Ruth speak and I am hopeful that as a church body we will unite in our work in West Africa. The hope is to have a West African meeting in the coming weeks. Probably the second week of October on a Sunday evening. That date isn't set in stone, but I'll keep the blog updated for those of you that might be interested in doing a future West Africa mission trip.

Also Sunday Night we started our new Women/Men Bible study programs. They are participating in a bible studies: Bad Girls of the Bible and Men's Fraternity. Both studies seem very interesting and will equip our church family to grow deeper in their discipleship. Now starting these Sunday night opportunities allows women and men to be involved on Sunday nights or Wednesday nights for study.

In the youth we are enjoying having middle school and high school message time separate. I'm sure you can imagine how beneficial this is coming from the youth group yourselves. God continues to bring more youth that are seeking truth and love. Please pray for this group as we are about to bring in a new leader. Pray they will be adaptable and receptive to what God is bringing through him. It will be an exciting time as we go under new leadership in the youth area.

Also Youth related - Next Wednesday is See You At The Pole, to challenge students to pray at their schools flag pole. I wonder if you would be interested in doing this on your college campus? Would you be willing to gather with a group and embark in prayer time next Wednesday? If you decide to I would love for you to comment and tell us how it went! God truly does call us to be Not Ashamed of our Christian life and this means at school and all over the world!
Now I just feel that I'm rambling. So I will sign off for today! I am praying for all of you and would love to hear how school is going and God is moving in your lives!

Many prayers and blessings - Dawn Prather

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

What's Happening this week of 09-06 at FBC?

Hey everybody!

Another exciting week here at FBC CaliMo! Never a dull moment I tell ya! Last Sunday was the first Sunday of the month so the weekly newsletter the Harvest came out. I would encourage you to follow the link and check it out.http://www.fbccalifornia.com/userFiles/1423/1009.pdf

If you haven't heard yet, we have hired a new youth minister. His name is Kyle Ward and his wife's name is Stephanie! He will start here the first of October and as soon as they sell their house in Lee Summit the rest of the family will head to CaliMO. They seem very nice and are very excited about their adventure to come at FBC. I would encourage you to add them as a friend on facebook and get to know them more!

This week we have a lot of excitement happening with our West Africa missions. First I will be heading to a conference outside of St. Louis that is all about planting churches and being successful in a West Africa Partnership. I am hoping to come back with lots of good info and a game plan on what our next steps should be with our upcoming trips. Then on Sunday Ruth Cox from Sheltering Wings will be joining us at FBC. She will speak at 5pm and talk about her journey to and in West Africa as well as what she sees God doing in Kimini and how she can help. It will be an exciting week for our West Africa Missions!

In other news.... we have been having really great programs on Wednesday nights. There is Team Kids/Children's Choir, Youth Ministry, Adult Ministry, Hispanic Ministry, Prayer Meeting, and Choir all happening on Wednesday Nights! It has been going very smoothly and there is literally something for the whole family. We are also starting a new bible study program for Guys and Gals on Sunday evenings at 6pm. For the ladies it will be Bad Girls of the Bible and for Guys it will be winning at work and home.

You can really see that God is moving so much. He is working heavy in our Hispanic ministry and really equipping Daniel our Hispanic pastor in that role. Our mission ministry continues to thrive as we plan a trip for our Puerto Rico friends to come here in April and participate in 30 hour famine, and plan to take the youth there in June for a summer camp. We will start having planning meetings soon for our West Africa Trips. And look forward to possibly making a trip to Mexico to do some work. Even locally we work in missions and are working at getting our contemporary service started, hopefully by Easter! It is just constantly amazing me!

Coming up next week is The Ham and Turkey Festival in town, a Free concert in Jeff City (10th Avenue North!, and our monthly business meeting!)

While there are so many things happening the goal is always to equip the saved and reach the lost.. and do it all to Bring God Glory!!!
I hope you will enjoy these "catch ups" and I will post some devotional thoughts soon!
Stay Safe and Let your Jesus Light Shine!!!

Love Always - Dawn Prather

Welcome All College Students!!!

HEY ALL!... We are starting this blog for YOU :) The purpose is to keep you informed on what is happening at FBC CALIMO, give you some devotional thoughts, and just be able to keep in touch!!! We hope you can feel connected even though you are all scattered around your various locations! And hopefully everyone can benefit from this blog! Just make sure that you become a "follower" of the blog so whenever something is posted you will get notification and can keep up to date! Please add lots of comments and give lots of feedback!

Have a great week! And I will blog away!
- Dawn Prather