Week of December 16, 2009

Categories

A Word From Our Executive Director

News From Around Our Churches

Announcements

World Outreach

IF Update

A Word From Our Executive Director - December 16, 2009

It was a warm welcome received as I walked out of the Manchester, N.H., airport Friday afternoon with Rob and Mary Schwager. Their kindness and hospitality were the beginnings of a wonderful weekend with the pastor and people of the Calvary Bible Church in Meredith, N.H. Rev. Roger Brown had invited me to come and share with the church about Advent Christian General Conference and to speak on Sunday morning. It also served as an opportunity to observe what is taking place in and through the church. There is an atmosphere of renewal in vision and outreach, which was validated by the many comments freely shared with me by those attending the church.

One of the pieces that has contributed to the deeper commitment to the ministries of the church has been the introduction of a curriculum through their Christian education program for adults.

News From Around Our Churches - December 16, 2009

NORTH CAROLINA
Central Advent Christian Church in Lenoir, N.C., is one of the few churches that participate in the Penny Crusade in the late fall each year. The church recently concluded the very successful 2009 campaign, raising a total of $10,905.66. The members were divided into two teams, men vs. women. The men's team has won the two previous years, but this year the women's team was victorious. Many interesting and fun activites were done during the campaign. Each Sunday morning one of the video clips of India was shown, and a quiz was given at the evening service. The winner of each quiz won $25 for his/her team. A final test was given at the end, and the winner - the men's team - won an extra $50.

Announcements and Upcoming Events - December 16, 2009

IMPORTANT REMINDER REGARDING DONATIONS FOR 2009

Please remember that in order to receive credit for donations in 2009 all checks must be postmarked by December 31.

IRS ANNOUNCES 2010 STANDARD MILEAGE RATES
We have received the following information from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and are passing it on to you for your church's budgeting process.

The 2010 standard mileage rates for business purposes and medical and moving purposes are reduced from 2009 levels, as anticipated.

Beginning on January 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be: 50 cents per mile for business miles driven, 16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes, and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

In 2009, the standard mileage rates were: 55 cents per mile for business purposes, 24 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes, and 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.

World Outreach - December 16, 2009

FROM THE AFRICA/EUROPE AREA DIRECTOR

Eastern Europe Advent Christians make home fellowship work.

As Tim Fox and I visited with Desire and Martina Ahola in Eastern Europe, one of the things that we noticed was that they were making “home fellowships” work. As we met with people and discussed with Desire their practice, it became obvious that there were many reasons for this.

In those cases where a family hosted the church, there was no maintenance cost. Rather than investing in a building, their offerings are freed to help the needy. In fact, Desire reported that things are going so well for the fellowships in Zagreb that they anticipate part of the conference will soon be financially self-sufficient.

IF Update - December 16, 2009

Over the past 20 years I have made many trips to Mexico and Honduras. In these Hispanic countries, I have learned two words that have helped me in times when I didn’t know what to say. Those words are “no mas!” For those who are Spanish challenged, no mas means “no more!”

I needed to say these words when I ran out of tracts or, in some cases, during food distribution. These words are not the ones I wanted to say, but on occasions it became necessary. Remembering these words this week caused me to think of two other words that are combined to send a powerful message. These words are familiar and very important to all of us. Can you guess?

Page 1 of 1

First Previous Next Last