Hooping it up!

On January 24, we inaugurated our renovated parking lot basketball courts with an outreach. We planned a competitive tournament of basketball. 48 of the 66 young people playing were not church kids. The weather was hot, the games were fun, the food was inexpensive, the music was loud, the gospel seed of John 14:6 was planted & connections to our community were developed. We have been encouraged by the unchurched to do it again. Anyone for a game of B.Ball?

The Harvest is Plentiful

Please pray for the Discipleship of
Wilson and Renata new believers from Brazil.
Bradley and Lee-Ann new believers from South Africa.


( Bradley & Lee-Ann)

"I Have Never Spoken about God"

(Our friend, Michelle, who invited this friend...)

On Carol’s Night, I spoke for about 5 minutes on how as a child I had a decent understanding that Christmas was about Jesus being born, but after my family left the church my understanding of the true meaning of Christmas become muddled with the extras of Christmas; presents, Santa, and so forth. Then as a teenager my life was all about me, until God got a hold of me at age 18. My first Christmas as a follower of Jesus was exciting and fresh. Even what was considered traditional had special meaning to me. One song in particular had a few verses that I have remembered for years. O’ Holy Night: Fall on your knees, Hear the angels voices”. I then shared the story in Luke 2:8-15. The angels knew this was about the glory of God and the Shepherds responded. The intent of the birth of Jesus Christ was to manifest the glory of God throughout the earth to all men, women, boys and girls who receive His favour. His favour is for you to come “fall on your knees and worship him”.

And then invited everyone to receive the peace of God by responding to His favour, for without this favour how can you really experience the true meaning and glory of Christmas?

I offered a gospel booklet to those interested in knowing how they could know God personally. The next day I realized most of the booklets were gone! My friend then told me one of his wife’s guest they thought was least likely to respond; looked at her that evening and said, I just realized for the first time; I have never spoken to my kids about God”! (Pray for Michelle's friend to share Jesus with her kids! The oldest child is 12 years old).

The Gospel Through Words & Candy

Carol’s Night is a traditional Aussie event. Unchurched Aussies are willing to come to this
Christmas type of service. It is a very joyous time for Carol singing, special musical items, a special event church choir, and a story time for kids. Well, usually for kids! The story this year was the making of the candy cane. After the story we had children pass around candy canes to everyone with a little note attached to each that shared the gospel meaning behind the candy cane. During the two services over 600 people heard the gospel message. One friend took extra candy canes and the story to give to her relatives coming for Christmas dinner. Here is the story if you have never heard it:
The Candy Cane Story
A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would remind people of the true meaning of Christmas; so he made the candy cane to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy. White to symbolize the Virgin Birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the Solid Rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God.
The candy maker then shaped his cane into the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to the earth as Savior. It could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down to reclaim the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray.
Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.