Simos Family Ministry Update-November 2011

After 4 months in the DR... we give thanks to God for His wonderful provision. We praise Him for the relationships that we are forming. We trust in Him for what He will do. With all the thankfulness that we have, these statements flow from our heart. Change has stretched us, but ultimately, benefitted us. We're off and running... but we need your help! As mentioned before, we need to be located closer to our area of ministry in order to open a school near the bateyes. Please visit our website for all the details about this phase of our ministry as we seek to purchase land here in the Dominican Republic. DR landscape One thing that never gets old is the beautiful sky over the Dominican. Even when storms roll in, the skies just look cool! As we drive to the bateys, we are surrounded by sugarcane fields (not corn fields), blue skies above and the mountains in the distance. Power is out... again :( We have electricity most of the time, but it does go out unexpectedly about once a week for an hour or so with the occasional outage lasting 5+ hours. We are getting use to this by now, although it can still bother us since it does get dark here about 6 or 6:30pm. Above is a picture of us playing games by flashlight and candle light. Reality check, I was talking by cell phone with a friend in one of the bateyes, and I mentioned that we didn't have electricity and that I was in the dark. He replied "I'm in the dark too"... then it hit me... he never has electricity. We take so much for granted and think we can't live without the Internet, smart phones... try no electricity or running water. Car trouble... again :( Having car trouble seems to be the norm in the DR. While it can be annoying, the reality is it's not that bad. In the above picture, I was waiting to get some electrical issues fixed. It did take a few hours but once every thing was fixed, including a complete rewiring of the ignition and alarm system, it only cost me $15! Things take time, usually alot of time, but labor cost is pretty cheap. I got a flat tire patched for a $1 and my exhaust fixed including new parts, welding and labor for $40. And talk about convenience, there's literally a mechanic on every corner. Their shop is usually just under a piece of tin roof or just in the street with a handful of tools but hey, it works! In the Batey... again :) I got a haircut from Sonal, one of the young men living in batey Lima. As we spend more time with our friends in the bateyes, it's just good get to know them better and to see how each person is gifted. Yes, I have less hair to cut these days, but it's still necessary once in a while, so why not support a young man who's willing to work. The truth is we really enjoy being with our friends. It's not just that we have something to offer them, but also that we have a lot to learn from them. We're simply sharing life together and that's where ministry happens, Life on Life. We're looking forward to purchasing land and setting up our ministry closer to the bateys.

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"Jumping the Shark!"

A Message for Reformation Sunday

by Keith Kiper

Who will be saved?

²² Jesus traveled through cities and villages teaching and making his way to Jerusalem. ²³ Someone said to him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

Jesus said to them, ²⁴ “Make every effort to enter through the narrow gate. Many, I tell you, will try to enter and won’t be able to. ²⁵ Once the owner of the house gets up and shuts the door, then you will stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from.’ ²⁶ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ ²⁷ He will respond, ‘I don’t know you or where you are from. Go away from me, all you evildoers!’ ^{[a] 28} There will be weeping and grinding of teeth

when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in God’s kingdom, but you yourselves will be thrown out. ²⁹ People will come from east and west, north and south, and sit down to eat in God’s kingdom. ³⁰ Look! Those who are last will be first and those who are first will be last.”Luke 13:22-30 (CEB)

What comes to your mind when you think of Martin Luther and the Diet of Worms? Was this an early form of a fad diet in 15^th century Germany? After all, just a few years ago you could find advertisements in magazines for tapeworms.

Just swallow a few of these, the ad would say, and you can lose weight without really trying. Our brand is even hygienic for your good health, it would say! But, a Diet of Worms? Our form of the English language can be a fascinating thing. We can only imagine how strange it seems to others when they attempt to learn and speak our brand of English.

Martin Luther, as many of you well know was the father of the Protestant Reformation. Martin was born in eastern Germany in 1483. This was only some forty years after Johann Gutenberg invented the printing press. Martin Luther protested some of the practices in the Catholic Church of that time. A diet was a judicial hearing or court. Worms was the German city where the trial was to be held. And now, as the late Paul Harvey would often say, you know the rest of

the story.

History demonstrates that at various times and different locations, the Christian church has veered off and even jumped the track. God calls out men and women, grounded in His Holy Word, the Bible, to steer the Christian Church back into the right direction. He has done this from Old Testament times until the present age in which we now live. The bigger question is whether the church of today will listen.

Recently, a well known television pastor and evangelist was asked what he thought about the Mormon faith. This was in response to recent criticism of a particular political candidate.

The tele-evangelist’s ( Click this link to hear what he said) answer seemed logical, and probably sounded OK to much of today’s Biblically illiterate culture. He said he probably would not agree with everything he Church of Latter Day Saints would teach. He went on to say that they were probably not the purest form of Christianity…that recognizing Jesus as the Son of God was the most important thing. The thing this well known evangelist neglected to consider is that while the Mormon Church claims they believe in the sinless, virgin birth of Jesus Christ, they do not believe this happened by any miraculous means. This is important because for Jesus to be born without sin, the Holy Spirit's role in His conception is of utmost importance.

All genuine Christianity is built on the foundation of what seemed to be a small detail to him. God sent His perfect, sinless Son, born of a virgin to be a sacrifice for mankind’s sin. Christ became sin for us on the cross at Calvary that we might have eternal life. The virgin birth is of utmost

importance because sin is passed through the blood of each generation. Because Mary was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, Christ was born without sin.

Back in the 1970’s there was a popular television called Happy Days. As with most television shows, ratings decline the longer a program remains on the air. In an effort to gain a ratings boost, the Happy Days gang went on a beach vacation. In one particular scene Fonzi is seen wearing his famous leather jacket while on water skis. Still on the skis he then jumps over a shark to the cheers of everyone on the beach. Because of this particular scene, movie and television critics invented a new name for programs that leave common sense behind and go of

f into a strange direction. It’s called “Jumping the Shark!” My friends, there are many churches today that have jumped the shark!

The bigger question today is…how do we as a The Church get back on track? God's Revivalist and Bible Advocate magazine recently published their Call to the Conservative Christian Holiness Movement in the October 2011 edition. They make some excellent points and the article is worth reading. I mention this because I was inspired by their call and this affected some of my following points. I would like to focus on several things today that I personally believe would get our church and nation headed back into the right direction based on God’s Word.

I. A Return to Christian Community: When I say church, I’m talking about the church as a whole. I’m not criticizing our church, Boonville Wesleyan Church. We are just a part of a much larger picture, Christ’s church, the entire Christian Community. Union with Christ establishes our membership in His Church, the community of the faithful. I’m afraid that because many times we as Christians have put so much emphasis on a personal relationship, that we forget we are all called to work together to be the light of the world. As an individual we belong to Boonville Wesleyan Church. Our church is part of the Indiana South District of The Wesleyan Church. Our district is part of The Wesleyan Church USA. And of course, all churches that believe that Jesus is Savior and Lord are part of the Kingdom of God. The first step the church of today must take in getting back on track is accountability. There will be no denominations in heaven. We must remain true to the Word of God and in fellowship with the entire Christian Community of believers that are striving to do the same.

II. A Return to Christian Social Witness: What do I mean when I speak of a social Christian witness? John Wesley once said, ”Any religion that can be concealed is not Christianity.” What do you think Wesley meant when he made that statement? As you study his life it becomes quite clear. The England of Wesley’s day had become very corrupt. Alcoholism was very rampant in the streets. Children could be hanged for stealing rabbit from a gentlemen’s estate. Not much different than today is it? Florida is the leading state to treat children as adults with over 300 under the age of eighteen in the adult prison system. Florida is followed closely by Texas. I’m sorry folks, regardless of the crime, a twelve year old boy is not an adult and does not deserve life in prison! I would not want to be in the judge’s shoes who sentenced a child for personal political gain when the King of Kings judges him. Jesus tells us about the fate of those who mistreat children. And just as the early Wesleyans constantly decried the evils of slavery…we should cry out to God for our leaders who justify the nearly 4000 thousand children who are murdered each day in their mother’s womb. God tells us clearly that the children’s innocent blood cries out from the ground to Him.

Early Wesleyans and like-minded Christians of other faiths worked to reform the prison system, end slavery, and feed the poor. A Social Gospel is putting into action what we believe and know in our heart is right based on what the Bible clearly shows us. . That is what it means to be salt and light. This is putting the golden rule into action. True revival brought about the needed social change in England. The answer to America’s problems is true spiritual revival, not more laws and political rhetoric.

Many would look for a political or presidential candidate to solve the problems.

Someone once said,” Why do we choose from just two people to run for president and fifty for Miss America?” Good question!

Both major political parties have had periods of time when they experienced complete control with the presidency and both houses of congress. If being democrat or being republican were the only answer, then our problems should have been solved by now. If you seek God in honest prayer, He will guide you in selecting a candidate, nationally or locally.

In spite of billions of dollars pouring in every year, our public school system has become a disaster. Abraham Lincoln said that the classroom of one generation will become the government of the next one. The great reformer Martin Luther recognized the problem nearly 500 years ago when he said, “I am afraid that the schools will prove the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labor in explaining the Holy Scriptures and engraving them in the heart of the youth.”

Dr. Leon Henson said, ”Whenever the Christian lives an authentic life, the world around is permeated with God’s presence… The pure in heart not only see God, but become letters through which society sees Him.”

III. A Return to Consistent Discipleship: Jesus commanded His followers to make disciples by baptizing them and instructing them in all His commands. The early church responded to Jesus’ call to evangelize by taking the Gospel to every corner of their known world. They also realized that the most effective evangelism was the one on one training of new converts as disciples. With the advent of satellite TV and the internet we might assume that most of the known world has been reached with the Gospel of Christ. The statistics from a recent survey might surprise you. I quote from Dr. Ronnie Floyd of The Church Report.com You can check out this new link on our interactive blog for current events affecting the Christian Church.

“We must understand the numbers when it comes to those around the world who believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. I served on a task force that assessed our efforts to take the gospel to the world and the statistics we uncovered are heartbreaking. Only 11 out of every 100 people in this world are willing to claim Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. We also discovered that just over 50% of the world’s population (approximately 3.5 billion people) has no realistic opportunity to hear the gospel at present. The statistics are bad and will continue to get worse unless Spirit-filled Christians begin to act with urgency.
We must organize and execute an effective strategy for taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. We have one gospel but thousands of people groups and billions of individuals. Our urgent need is for strategic ways of reaching each one. Perhaps the best solution is to plant new churches. Churches that are ready to address languages, cultures, and needs. Here is a sobering thought: We simply cannot reach billions of people with our current means. Every existing church should be planting multiple new churches.”

If I were to ask each of you that are here today why you attend Boonville Wesleyan…most of you would tell me it was because a friend or family member invited you. If there is any hope for the church to reach the lost, we must train and disciple new workers to go out into our world. I personally believe we here at Boonville with God’s help and direction are making that effort. I never really cared for the word laity, because I believe in a certain sense we are all ministers. God has called each and every one of us to fill a particular niche in His Kingdom.

IV. A Return to Hope: If one were to look only at some of the things we talked about today the picture would seem quite gloomy. Its not over yet, is it? All the Christian life in centered in the blessed hope we have in Jesus Christ. Never before in this world have we needed a renewed sense of hope like the hope we can have in Him! As Christians soldiers we must not retreat but fight to the end.

We must stick together and remain true to God’s Word. A recent writer for God’s Revivalist magazine summed it up well. Listen to what he said:

“ The same power which brought the Roman Empire to bow before the cross,renewed the Church in the days of the Protestant Reformation, and reshaped the culture in the Wesleyan Revival is also ours today….as we encounter the moral depravity of our times. Let us be joyfully faithful, then, creatively relevant, and utterly confident that Jesus’ victory is our own. With gladness we do the work which he has given us, even as we await the consummation when all the earth shall echo,”Alleluia, The Lord God Omnipotent reigns!”

All Saint's Day...An Armchair Theologians Perspective

All Saints Day, the day on which Catholics celebrate all the saints, known and unknown, is a surprisingly old feast. It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrdoms increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day in order to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown, were properly honored.

Most Protestants churches other than some of the "mainline" churches focus more of their attention on days such as Mother's Day, Father's Day. Now there's even a Grandparent's Day and a Children's Day.. I'm not criticizing this practice, but would would personally like to see more of the day's on the Christian Calendar observed and explained to congregations also.

Retailers tell us that the pagan holiday of Halloween is second only to Christmas in total consumer spending! It is not uncommon to see as many houses decorated in ghosts and goblins as with Christmas lights a couple of months later. Most conservative churches replace Halloween Parties with Hallelujah Parties asking that participants dress like Bible characters and such.

This a a good alternative so the children of church members don't feel like they are totally left-out as in the good 'ol days when everything was illegal, immoral, and it seemed a sin just to smile. Maybe there is another possibility to consider? Maybe we as the Church could focus more on church holidays like All Saint's Day in rememberence of those who died that Christianity, especially Protestant Christianity might live. Included in this is our many translations of the Bible into everyday language so that everyone can read it.

And while we are at it, maybe we can throw Maundy Thursday, Pentecost, and Trinity Sunday in there also! That's my opinion anyway...keith 1 Cor 13

Keith Kiper is the Media Pastor at Boonville Wesleyan Church. He resides in Tennyson Indiana with his wife Vicky, daugher Kristy, with 2 cats and a very spoiled Mailtipoo. He is a licensed minister pursuing pre-ordination studies in The Wesleyan Church and will be ordained in June 2012. Keith is also the Webmaster and manages several facebook pages , has written aritcles for God's Revivalist,blogs, and manages the official Indiana South District facebook page.

Mark Vice at Boonville Wesleyan October 2, 2011

We just had a great service with Ron and Trish Brewer. Mark Vice will be returning Sunday October 2nd, 2011 in our 10:30AM Service. Here is a little about Mark in his own words:

"I have been involved with music ministry for over twenty years and have had the opportunity to sing alongside such groups as J.D. Sumner and the Stamps, The Kingsmen Quartet and others. Beginning in the mid 80`s I began playing and singing with a group out of Bedford, Indiana, New Grace Quartet. During my time with New Grace, I learned to play several instruments. In the mid 90`s my wife and I formed a group, Heritage, with another couple Doug and Trina Hanner and played a variety of gospel music. For the last five years I have been playing and singing with Open Heart Ministries out of Bedford, Indiana. We schedule approximately seventy engagements each year at churches, town festivals and special church events. While with Open Heart I felt a calling to pursue a ministry that would allow me to use the talents God has given me in an even greater way to glorify Him. As a result, I am actively involved with scheduling churches and civic events to spread God`s word through song. I play a variety of instruments and incorporate many of them into each service. Some of the instruments I play are guitar, banjo, dobro, harmonica, mandolin and fiddle. I sing original material as well as the well known standards in several styles of music from Southern Gospel to Contemporary. Since I travel solo, and at times my wife and daughter accompany me, I must utilize tracks. However, I understand the need to incorporate live instruments throughout the program, and do so. I am educator in Bedford, Indiana and have been working with children for twenty-two years. I was a classroom teacher for six years and have been a building principal for the last sixteen years. I am currently the principal at Parkview Intermediate School in Bedford, IN. My wife, Marta, teaches fourth grade at Shawswick Elementary and we have been married for thirty-three years. We have two children, Jordan a senior at Wabash College and Morgan a freshman at Bedford North Lawrence High School. We attend Davis Memorial Church of the Nazarene in Bedford IN. Throughout my professional career, and personal life, I have come to understand that every person has the responsibility to lift others up. It was through the obedience to do God's Will that others lifted and guided me in finding and accepting Jesus as my personal Savior. Each of us in our own way may be the only hope, joy, and love others may encounter. As Jesus demonstrated these attributes during His short time on earth, He has called us to do the same. Through the message in song, it is hoped that all will be encouraged to pursue a life that reflects the love of our Lord and lets the world see Jesus in each of us." Yours In Christ, Mark

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Ron Brewer in Concert at BWC...Sunday September 18th at 10:30AM

Blessing people through his music is something Ron has been doing for years. His commitment to serve the Lord, reach lost souls, bring hope and encouragement and share a smile grows stronger each day. His genuine heart touches audiences wherever he goes, as he shares both in song and testimony. Ron travels throughout the United States and appears in churches, auditoriums, revivals, campmeetings and various other venues and sings at the National Quartet Convention, Branson Revival and Dollywood. Ron has also appeared on many syndicated Television and radio programs.

In 2002, Ron accepted this as a full-time ministry for the Lord. Always allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide him, Ron is very professional in his ministry. God has truly blessed Ron's ministry by the souls that has accepted Christ and those that has been encouraged. Sharing the stage with many of the finest in gospel music, including, The Hyssongs, The Roark's, The Dove Brothers Quartet, Trevor Thomas, The Profitts, Eternal Vision, The Dosses, Pauls Journey, Reign Song, The Journeymen, Dixie Melody Boys, The Nelons, Naomi and The Segos, Big MO, Mike Upright,Heirline, The Greens, The Greesons, Gerald Crabb, Brian Free and Assurance, The Talley's, , and many others. Singing Southern Gospel and Christian Country, Ron is sure to bless audiences of all ages with his heartwarming vocals, testimony and humor.


Here are some of Ron's Awards and Nominations:

2011 Diamond Awards - Top Ten - Sololist of the Year 2010 - Diamond Award - Album of the Year, Soloist of the Year, Christian Country Male Vocalist. 2009 - Diamond Award Soloist of the Year, Favorite Male Vocalist, 2008 - Diamond Award - Soloist of the Year, 2007 - Soloist of the Year Call your radio stations and request - Footsteps on the Clouds and We All Came Through The Blood

See ya on the 18th at Boonville Wesleyan Church...you will want to be here for a time of praise, worship, healing, and testimony! call 897-4484 for more info or click here for directions:

Feel free to browse our new website at: www.boonwesforjesus.com

Happy Birthday Rev. Buchannon

Happy Birthday to "retired" Nazarene Pastor, Rev. Robert Buchanon, who is also our 2nd Vice President of Chandler Interdenominational Holiness Camp. Watch for video clips of the John Blair family...Campmeeting continues nightly ay 7:00PM. Hope to see you there!

Bits & Bytes for Bagley Backers-July August 2011

	Bits & Bytes for Bagley Backers July-August 2011
AFRICA AREA WEBSITE IS LAUNCHED Bob has been busy over the past few weeks building a website to give information about the work of Global Partners across Africa. Despite our Internet being down for over two weeks due to cable theft, the website is now up and running. Check it out and let us know what you think! Go to www.gpafrica.org LIBERIA LAUNCHES NEW WORK IN NIMBA PROVINCE On July 20, Peter Kollie, the National Superintendent of the Wesleyan Church of Liberia led a team to baptize and receive the founding 35 members of the First Ganta Wesleyan Church. Praise God for making it possible for the first Wesleyan Church to be planted in Nimba County. Nimba County, the second most populous province in Liberia, is located in the eastern interior bordering on the country of Guinea. REV. DAVID KAJILA RECEIVES MTH DEGREE On July 8, Rev. David Kajila, missionary from the Democratic Republic of Congo serving in Cameroon, was awarded the Master of Theology degree from the Cameroon Faculty of Theology. (Recently Rev. Kajila's wife, Cecile, was hospitalized after being beaten up while she was evangelizing. She has been released from the hospital, but continues to suffer emotional problems from the trauma.) THE WESLEYAN CHURCH OF MOZAMBIQUE REACHES INTO TANZANIA Wesleyan believers in the most Northerly Province of Mozambique recently reported that two Wesleyan churches have been planted across the border in Tanzania. The most recent church plant is being led by a believer who has been employed for the past 18 years in the U. S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam. PILGRIM WESLEYAN BIBLE COLLEGE GRADUATES A RECORD NUMBER On July 23, 2011, a record twenty-nine students graduated from Pilgrim Wesleyan Bible College in Zambia. These students have been assigned to ministries within eight Zambian districts. One graduate was the former leader of The Wesleyan Church of Malawi and is returning to Malawi to help lead the church there. CHAPEL CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED AT ZIMBA MISSION HOSPITAL Within a three-month period (May 1 - July 30) Zimba Mission Hospital constructed a much needed chapel building. The chapel will seat 150 as well as provide the hospital chaplain with an office to meet privately with patients for counseling and prayer. (Construction on a new outpatient department is nearing completion.) For more information read Dan & Joan Jones' August newsletter. AFRICA AREA PRAYER CALENDAR A prayer calendar with requests for every day for July - September, 2011 is now available by clicking the following link: Africa Area Prayer Calendar Feel free to share it with others who are interested in praying for God's work in Africa. PRAISE POINTS Praise God for the continued expansion and growth of the church in Mozambique. Praise God that Jim & Karen Pickett have arrived back safely in Mozambique and are busy settling into new responsibilities in Maputo. (Read their July 30th newsletter.) Thank God for His provision and the progress being made in the expansion of facilities at Zimba Mission Hospital, Zambia. Praise God for a new corps of freshly trained workers for the harvest in Zambia. PRAYER REQUESTS Please continue to pray for Rev. Bill Niemack, District Superintendent of Transkei District, South Africa. He recently went through surgery to remove a large abdominal mass and then had a strong dose of antibiotics to battle a subsequent infection. He now has begun chemo treatments. Pray for God's healing hand on Cecile Kajila in Cameroon as she continues to recover physically and emotionally from the attack she suffered. Please continue to pray that our residence permits are issued as promised. We call the office each week and keep being told that they are "in process". Zach & Lyndy Szmara expect to relocate to the city of Nampula in northern Mozambique by the end of August. Pray for God's help as they settle in and continue the task of mastering the language skills needed to live and minister effectively in this ripe harvest field. SUPPORT REPORT The financial year for Global Partners ends August 31. As we approach the end of the financial year the reports show that we have received donations for our support very close to what was budgeted for the year. With just a bit extra this final month we will end the year in the black! Praise God and thank you so much to all of you who continue faithfully to stand behind us financially. Your faithfulness and generosity is amazing! Donations or monthly commitments can be made online here. FORWARD TO A FRIEND You can help us by forwarding "Bits & Bytes" to friends who will be interested in the work of Global Partners in Africa. Just click on the link below. Friends who receive the email will also be given an opportunity to sign up to receive it in the future. Forward this message to a friend
PRINTABLE VERSION An easy to print version of this email can be found here. Thank you for sharing a print version with others. Bob & Brenda Bagley rbagley112@gmail.com

Campmeeting Time is Here!

It is that time again. Summer rolls by fast, even with hot weather and all. Chandler Interdenominational Holiness Camp-Meeting began Sunday Night July 31th with our annual Prayer service hosted by Boonville Wesleyan Church, and led by Rev. Sue Lochmueller and Camp President, Rev. Dennis King of Newburgh Nazarene Church. World Gospel Missions Missionary to Africa, April Hershberger will be sharing with us tonight, Monday night at 7:00PM. Evangelists and Singers John and Linda Blair will be with us 7:00PM nightly Tuesday 2nd through Saturday the 6th, then at the concluding Service on Sunday the 7th at 6:00PM. Please be in prayer as our workers travel and for the Camp-Meeting. Due to the oppressive heat, Campmeeting will be held inside the Air-Conditioned Sanctuary of Chander Nazarene Church directly across the street from the Camp Grounds. Camp Board Meeting and annual elections Saturday night at 6:00PM before the service at 7:00PM. Find us on facebook at Chandler Interdenominational Holiness Camp.Please be in prayer and we hope to see ya there!

Its Campmeeting Time Again!

Its that time again. Summer rolls by fast, even with hot weather and all. Chandler Camp-Meeting begins Sunday Night July 31th with our annual Prayer service. World Gospel Missions Missionary to Africa, April Hershberger will be sharing with on on Monday night at 7:00PM. John and Linda Blair will be with us 7:00PM nightly Tuesday 2nd through Saturday the 6th, then at the concluding Service on Sunday the 7th at 6:00PM. Please be in prayer as our workers travel and for the Camp-Meeting. As always, Camp will be held inside the Air-Conditioned Sanctuary of Chander Nazarene Church if weather at meeting time is 80 degrees or above.

Remembering "Old School" Technology

Don't Forget the Old-School Technology

By Jennifer Armitage |Wesleyan Life Online/ Released: Jul. 14, 2011 | In: Blog Feature

With the popularity of iPods and other mp3 players, many churches have utilized podcasts to reach out across the world with great success. But are we making sure that we are not so excited to embrace the new that we throw out the old too soon?

Not everyone has an mp3 player or streams audio online, but cars still have built-in CD players. Sermons on CD still have uses for those who are not mp3 savvy. Or just haven’t charged their iPod. It’s a cheap and easy way to put a message in the hands of your congregation.

Here are some people it will specifically benefit:

1. New People
A CD with two or three different sermons makes a great addition to a new attender packet or even to offer to new attendees. If your church has a special day with testimonies and baptisms and a first-time attender that day, they don’t really get a good idea of what the message or tone of the church is really like. You can give them the option to get a real feel for your church beyond that day’s service.

2. Absentees
When regular attenders miss a week or three, it can be easy for them to feel out of the loop and eventually drift away. By having the last sermon or the current sermon series available for free on CD, they can catch up and still feel connected.

3. Seniors
Many seniors, including the shut-in seniors who can’t come during bad weather or at all, have CD players at home. It’s most likely a technology they have mastered, and won’t take a long orientation. They can still get fed by the church they love, even if their circumstances prevent it.

4. Anyone Who Has a Car with a Working CD Player
When the iPod is uncharged or left behind, even the tech masters still have a CD player in the car. Why not give them an option to pop in a CD of [Your church name]’s greatest hits? Or let people get a copy of the sermon that particularly inspired them that they can listen to in the car when they need to hear it.

As church communicators we are tasked with reaching everyone in our church no matter age, demographic, or where they are in their relationship with God. We need to make sure we keep the same outlook on our use of technology too—even if that means going back to the cassette tape (remember the plastic square with two holes that you had to turn over to listen to more than four songs?).

Jennifer Armitage is the director of communications and community outreach at Crossroads Christian Fellowship (Wesleyan) in Sacramento, Calif. Used with permission from Church Marketing Sucks.

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Comments expressed do not necessarily represent those of The Wesleyan Church Corporation.

Wesleyan Life Online is a family friendly Website dedicated to promoting strong Christian values. Please refrain from using any inappropriate language or content in your comments, including defamation, libel or personal attack. Thank you!

Simos Family Ministry Update-July 2011

On the Field! Hola everyone from San Pedro de Macoris, República Dominicana! (Here is a picture of San Pedro from our apartment.) On June 14th, we safely arrived after a somewhat adventurous day of traveling. Despite leaving 6 packed bags with Josh's family at the airport (which involved repacking the 10 bags we did bring while in line @ check-in), unpacking & packing through security, losing a gift on the plane, & being delayed in Miami, we were thrilled to set foot on the Dominican ground and call it home. It is true that we might have been a little frustrated, but we knew where these attacks were coming from. After 2 years of anticipation, the trials we went through on this day were not able to take our focus off our God who had brought us to this day! Actually, our God who gifts us each & every day! Since we have arrived, we have been busy setting up our apartment. Everything from getting hot water to beds to a stove to window screens, etc. We praise God for His provision of these items and for teaching us patience as we adjust to the Dominican culture, both emotionally & physically. Just this past week, Josh and I began Spanish classes and let me just say Dios te bendiga! It is and will be our number one priority, so please join us in prayer as we learn. We are so blessed to have our teachers (a husband & wife team)! While school has just started for us, the kids are currently enjoying their last week of summer break before we start the 10 week VBS. Speaking of the kids, they have already made alot of new friends in our apartment complex, not to mention reconnecting with the Hilgeman kids. While Josh and I are starting at what feels like ground zero with our Spanish, the kids have just jumped right in. There is not much of a language barrier with their friends. Thank you all for praying for our family and especially for our kids. God has certainly blessed by allowing our kids to transition well! Again, thank you and thank God! Thank you for your prayers! Josh, Toni, Kinsey, Elle & Gabe Home phone 317.402.6407 (free calling from the U.S.) joshsimos@itisforfreedom.com

Freedom Update Equipping people to engage culture according to their design. On Monday, July 11th, we will begin a 10 week VBS in 2 bateys here in the Dominican. Bateys are villages consisting of Haitian families of sugarcane workers. We are excited to start teaching from Creation to Christ as a foundation will be laid for discipleship. The Hilgeman's, Cline's, and Simos kids will be involved in all 10 weeks. In addition, our team will be joined by missions groups for four of the ten weeks! We will also be joined by the Mitchener's, the other members of our team who are currently in deputation. Josh & I will be in language training every day, but we hope to assist on our days off. Please join us in prayer as we begin this phase of ministry. Pray for many people to attend, safety, clear communication, accessible roads (if the roads are flooded, then we will not be able to get a vehicle back to the bateys), and for God to be glorified in each & every aspect of this ministry! Freedom Ground Team 2011 Financial Support Give online or Mail Support to: Freedom International Ministries 2905 E 46th Street Indianapolis, IN 46205 note “Simos Family” on check

Special Day of Prayer & Fasting

We read of times in the Old Testament when days of Prayer and Fasting were called by the leadership of communities and nations. Jesus tells us in the New Testament that some things will only come to pass by fasting alone. God has a perfect will for our life. However, the Bible, History, Reason and Experience (The Wesleyan Quadrilateral) demonstrate that God will move through the Blessed Holy Spirit when His people humble themselves through Fasting and Prayer. We have seen many miracles of late within Boonville Wesleyan.

We are calling on those Christians who believe this to Fast and Pray for Jim (Teresa Knirs) Walker and Jim's sister Theresa (Walker) Bratcher. Jim has been battling liver cancer since December 2010. Theresa had major brain surgery in February and was given a 10% chance of recovering at that time. God touched her then, and she is having part of her scull replaced Wednesday. Jim is also having major (no such thing as minor) Wednesday July 6th also to remove an abcess on his liver. Please join with us and consider this prayerfully...Blessings keith 1 Cor 13