Emmanuel Faith . . . In Words & Deeds
January/February 2010, Volume 3
Welcome to the latest edition of Emmanuel Faith's online newsletter! In Words & Deeds exists to report on results and "life-change" stories from EFCC ministry events and activities. Look here first as your source for ministry updates and stories about Emmanuel Faith, our people, and their stories as they reach out and serve the Lord and His greater purposes.
Our latest edition below features the following stories. Click on a link below to read the article, or just scroll down:
+ Junior High Works Overtime
+ LifeDesign Class 101 (from January 2010)
+ Financial Peace University (from Fall 2009)
+ Sun-Deo Answers the Call
+ The Christmas Coat
+ Personal Tales from Touch of Love
+ Helping Hands Mends Fences
Focus on Reaching Out Overseas:
+ Senegal Partnership Update
+ EFCC Couple Ministers in Kenya (or click here to read the full PDF article)
Catching Up with the Junior High Ministry
:: From John Riley, Junior High Pastor ::
Praise the Lord for the three students who indicated that they accepted the Lord during the annual January over-night event, Overtime. Join us in thanking God for this good news and praying that these students will take further steps to grow in their knowledge of God and relationship with the church.
(An update from the recently completed Junior High Winter Camp will be coming soon -- stay tuned to EFCC e-mails!)
Ministry Update: LifeDesign 101 Class (January 2010)
:: From Assad Saif, Pastor of Membership & Welcome Ministries ::
We had another great time at Class 101 on Sunday, January 10! It's always amazing to watch people connect as they share how Christ has utterly changed their lives. We had 36 people in attendance that night and here are a few of the decisions they made.
Decisions:
+ 1 person trusted Christ as their Savior for the first time.
+ 3 people decided to get baptized (January 30-31).
+ 12 people committed to share their story with someone this week.
+ 11 people signed up to join a small group.
+ 20 people applied for membership at EFCC.
+ 8 people signed up for Class 201.
+ 7 people signed up to serve somewhere on campus.
Comments:
+ "This class helped me to meet new people."
+ "It was a clear and concise description of what the church stands for."
+ "It was great, I loved the fellowship!"
Prayer RequestS:
+ Pray we are able to get the new believer connected well.
+ Please pray people follow through with their commitments.
Getting Their Financial Houses in Order
:: From Kathy Lorenz ::
EFCC held its first Financial Peace University class this past fall season. About 70-80 attendees came every week. The attendees found the weekly classes to be both exciting and challenging. Not only were we challenged in our finances, but the classes also opened up communication in marriages and families.
During the 13 weeks the class paid off $124,203.14 of debt and saved $90,896.06! Praise the Lord! This spring, starting on February 21 and 22, EFCC will offer a Sunday morning and a Monday night class. To sign up for the class and make a fresh financial start this year, call (760) 781-2161 or e-mail to for information.
Here's a few personal quotes from class attendees:
+ "This course has been fantastic and something that we have needed for years."
+ "Thanks for offering this class. We are loving the transformation"
+ "This class has been an eye-opener"
+ "I am very grateful for this class and the principles learned. I have more hope and a sense of direction. I also have gotten more in touch with our unfortunately frightening current financial state."
EFCC Adult Fellowship Serves Dinners at the Salvation Army
:: From Hector Morales, Pastor of Community Outreach ::
We wanted to pass along some of the highlights of how one EFCC Adult Fellowship is serving weekly at the Salvation Army's winter shelter. Every Tuesday a group from Sun-Deo buys, prepares, and serves the meal to approximately 40-45 residents at the shelter. Here's some of the participants' stories, in their own words:
"Emmanuel Faith had a unique opportunity to partner with North Coast Church of Vista and serve meals to the homeless at the Escondido Salvation Army Winter Shelter this winter. The Sun-Deo adult fellowship class took up the mission. The response from both the church family and the homeless shelter residents has been overwhelming. The process has powerfully moved many members of Emmanuel Faith. So much so that Sun-Deo and other members of the church are looking towards adopting their own night to cook and serve next winter by using the skills and resources they have learned from our new partners at North Coast and the Salvation Army.
"Sun Deo classmates are bringing family members and their children to the shelter as well. This helps teach the value of service and compassion early in a young child's life. Meals have included chili and cornbread, pot roast, chicken dumplings, lasagna, and fried chicken. This ministry to the homeless has been a tremendously satisfying and easy service activity in the Lord's name." - Karl Higgins, who recruited several churches to assist at the Center
"When our class was asked to prepare and serve dinner to the homeless people at the Salvation Army, I knew I wanted to be a Team Leader. My team and I put thought into the menu and worked very well together towards a common goal-to help others. The evening we spent there, on a cold and rainy night, was very humbling. There were five of us at the window smiling, greeting, serving with love, all through Christ. The people were very courteous, respectful and thankful. I felt we represented EFCC and God in a memorable, special evening. We all left feeling like we want to do this again, making a positive impact on people's lives.
"We enjoyed and experienced a blessing when we helped prepare and serve a meal for the homeless at the Salvation Army Center. The residents appreciated the meal so much and since it was near Christmas (December 22), some of us were able to share the true Christmas story with them. We were thrilled that our 11-year-old grandson, Evan, wanted to, and, in fact, did help set up chairs and serve the dessert. He gained a new understanding of how blessed he is. All of us found that 'the homeless' are pretty much like us. We came away knowing that, 'but for the grace of God, there go I.'" - Jo and Duke Argabright
"Participating in Sun-Deo's outreach to the
The Story of the Christmas Coat
:: From Jere Smith ::
About a month before Christmas, a nice coat was found in a bag lying on the floor in the office with price tags still attached. Messages were sent out, but no one ever came forward to claim the coat, so it remained in our lost and found area.
Then on Tuesday, December 22, I was working at the front desk and a sweet, sweet lady came to me and asked if someone had come by looking for her. I said "No," so she sat down to wait. After a while she approached me again and told me that she was waiting for someone she met in the Health Stewards class named Maria. She said that she was starting a new job, but had no new clothes so Maria was going to give her some.
Just then I remembered the coat and thought that it might fit her. The lady, Charleen, put it on and was amazed at the perfect fit, as was I. I then told her that the coat was now hers. She began to cry and could barely speak, but said that she didn't have a coat and that she and her husband couldn’t buy Christmas gifts for each other this year. She whispered "thank you" and "Merry Christmas" as she walked away, crying.
I believe that God meant for Charleen to have that coat. This absolutely made my Christmas!
Getting Up Close & Personal with Touch of Love (Part 2)
:: From Laurie Trouw ::
Touch of Love is an EFCC ministry mostly to the elderly, many of whom are "shut-ins." A few of our ministry partners recently took the time to write down a few anecdotes about past or recent visits. Here's an entry from Laurie Trouw that did not make it into our last issue:
Public speaking is not my forte, but I have found the perfect ministry for me at EFCC, TOL or Touch of Love. It consists mostly of listening, not speaking. Once a week I am privileged to visit an elderly "shut-in." There is no lesson plan or formal format, just set a time, pray to be a blessing to the individual, and show up. As every TOL volunteer will tell you, a funny thing happens during the visit. It's the volunteer who also ends up feeling very blessed.
Some of my more memorable visits include singing an impromptu Happy Birthday and bringing cookies to a sweet lady in a nursing home. She sang along at the top of her lungs and proceeded to give away all the cookies to her fellow-residents. Also a visit to a missionary couple who shared stories of hardships in countries overseas where they served. I was humbled and ashamed of all the worldly stuff we think we need here, when all they needed was the Lord. Or the woman who taught many years in the orphanage, telling abandoned children about Jesus.
As we know little children can be a blessing to the elderly and visa versa. On occasion I bring my three-year-old granddaughter with me on visits. She holds my hand, wide-eyed, minds her manners, and before long is engaged in a lively conversation with the "grandma" we came to visit, sometimes even up on her lap. God has made a special connection between little kids and our dear seniors.
Once I assisted a resident with her bingo game in progress, and another time sat on the porch of a lovely board and care home, on a hillside, overlooking Escondido. This lady and I both marveled at Gods handiwork and simply sat and enjoyed nature quietly.
I could go on and on, as each visit is a treasure. The leaders/organizers of this ministry are amazing, dedicated individuals, led by Pastor Tom and Wanda Thies. I hope I have been able to lift some shut-ins spirits, as I know they have continually lifted mine.
Helping Hands: Fence Repair? Yep, We Do That!
:: Joyce E. Stone ::
From time to time, members of EFCC's Helping Hands ministry serve folks in our church body with "handyman" type jobs. Here's a recent story that a congregation member wanted to share with our pastors.
I want to express a great note of appreciation to Emmanuel Faith, Helping Hands, and in particular, Jack Faulkner. I recently contacted Pastor Greg Lane concerning my 25-year-old fence which was falling in. I was directed to Helping Hands and Jack Faulkner magically appeared and came to my rescue.
My situation was not the norm. I have four neighbors adjacent to my three fences. Three of the four are less than kindly or neighborly, and there have been issues over the years including police involvement. Needless to say my children and I do not feel safe or secure in dealing with three of them. My neighbor on the north is truly a blessing.
Due to the nature of the challenges with my neighbors, and their actions in cutting back embankments causing erosion of the land on my side of the fencing, it was decided that an independent contractor was the best solution.
Jack Faulkner obtained a total of six estimates for me. Jack then brought the best three estimates to me and explained in detail which he felt was the best. Jack's gentle spirit, professionalism, knowledge as a contractor, and ability to deal with all types of personalities led to a successful project. Of particular import was Jack's knowledge of the Lord's word and his ability to implement it when dealing with the many challenges and personalities involved with such a simple project.
I had extensive shoulder surgery on last December 18. Jack served as a buffer and mediator with my neighbors, supervised the work daily morning and night, and even emptied (and repacked) storage sheds.
I am forever grateful to EFCC and Helping Hands for assisting me. I could not have hired a fencing company on my own, dealt with the neighbors' issues and seen completion of the project.
I do not want to overlook anyone and if there were any others who helped on my project I wish to thank them as well for a job well done and serving the Lord. I know He is saying "well done my good and faithful servant."
Focus on Overseas Ministry
Update from the Senegal Partnership
:: From Phil Howard with the Senegal Partnership ::
"Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:15 (NIV)
On January 26, 2010, a group of nearly 30 village pastors were recognized by leaders of the Evangelical Baptist Church of Thies and several Christian mission organizations for completing a rural pastorship training program called the Timothy Course. Participants receive a total of 15 weeks of intensive training over a three year period in critical areas such as pastoral care, church administration, church doctrine and history, spiritual disciplines, Bible interpretation, missions and evangelism, Christian education and conflict resolution.
These men, responding to God's call to proclaim the Gospel in and around their home villages, have spent the last three years heeding the apostle Paul's instruction to young pastors like Timothy. Their progress is evident to all. Lift them up in your prayers as they minister among the Serer people of Senegal.
Among those recognized for their diligent preparation for ministry was Joël Ndiaye, the pastor of small congregations in the villages of Doudam, Diarekh and Dafeme. Emmanuel Faith now works in partnership with the Evangelical Baptist Church of Thies to support Pastor Joël's work, to strengthen the rural village church and to proclaim the Gospel among the largely unreached Serer people of Senegal.
Remember to thank God for Pastor Joël's ministry and to pray for Senegal.
EFCC Couple Ministers in African Orphanages
:: From Michael and Danielle Friedrich ::
Michael and Danielle Friedrich recently spent the several weeks in Africa (Kenya), working in a couple of orphanages. Please click here for the complete PDF file to learn more about their exciting trip and ministry stories.
More About In Words & Deeds
Emmanuel Faith . . . In Words & Deeds focuses on ministry results and reporting, including personal stories and testimonies. An e-mail will be sent out to EFCC attendees who are signed up to receive all church e-mails prior to each issue being released on the web site.
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