Dear Parents, We are so blessed to be a part of ministering the Word of God to your children!  It is indeed a joy to see how they light up when they come into our classrooms, so eager to learn what God has for them! To make our time together more safe and secure, I need to remind you of one of our policies for the Children’s Ministry:

Here are my top ten Christmas GNO memories from over the years. I can’t believe we have had 25 years of Girls Night Out! In the late ‘90’s– we did a Christmas Tea where Mrs. Snafflebuster taught little Snafflebuster’s in training proper etiquette (we were really trying to help some ladies without being too obvious & when we laugh, we learn, right?) In 2006 I was asked, along with another staff member to do the first GNO, to be over the Party Under the Stars. For those first ones we really wanted the “wow” factor, so we would partially decorate, then during the service, we would put the last layer on, so that when the ladies came out, it would be like “wow, what happened?” Pastor Dan had a crew of Shift guys that brought out about 20 white, glittered styrofoam Christmas trees to the outer foyer and dropped 2 big canvas paintings of snowy forests and we had an instant “snowy forest” look. All of the Expo and party was contained within the inner and outer foyers! We did Demos at either end of the inner foyer. Our gift that year was popcorn balls in a Christmas mug—Ask Rev. Theresa how many hours and ladies that took!!  

Here are some quick tips how to get through the holidays with a smile and your sanity while seeing “those” family members. My first tip is to shine your Light and smile! Matthew 5:15 says,“ Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” You’re not doing it for them you’re doing it to give God glory!

We are excited about what God is doing in the hearts and lives of the people in the Inland Empire. We as a church family have an opportunity to give beyond ourselves for others. You are invited to join us in all the different venues of outreach this Christmas season.  Thank you so much for being willing to be a part of His miracle in loving people back to life.

November is here and that means the Holidays are upon us! How did we get here so fast? Didn’t we just have Christmas, like yesterday? It seems like year after year time goes faster and faster. If you’re like most of us, you’ve haven’t put aside money throughout the year for the holidays (note to self for 2018), but don’t stress yourselves out, let’s create a plan to have an enjoyable Thanksgiving and Christmas Holiday 2017. Typically, I would recommend saving throughout the year. Since it’s November, let’s just focus on what we can do NOW!!

“We saw the need to train our people more, and get the Word and discipleship into their hearts” This comment came after seeing the spirit of Halloween expressed in some our church members. There is nothing wrong with dressing up the kids (or yourself if you’re into that) and getting candy. We have no problem with having fun or even with decorations. Where we have to question is the expression of those things. What would cause one of the children of the Light to want to look like the darkness? Why would someone with the resurrected Christ living in them want to decorate their house or their body like the dead? We were brought out of that kingdom into the Kingdom of Light. Our expressions should be from that place of life and light.  

“I ran into a couple that lost their baby. The husband was broken. We cried together and then prayed and talked. I was a mess.” These few messy sentences summarize so much pain and emotion. I didn’t have any words of wisdom for this couple that lost their child. Words failed me. I had tears, prayers and eventually some encouragement. I don’t think an immediate response of anything other than that would have even been appropriate. Many people are just like this couple. Tragedy has hit and there are no words to comfort or settle them. We see it every day. Pain and trials are the norms. Recently in our nation, we have seen loss and tragedy on many levels. In our social and political structures, we are divided. Racially we are heading down the wrong path. In the natural realm, disaster has struck and devastated lives. With our national relationships abroad the word ‘tense’ seems to understate the current norm.

Marilyn Hickey was interviewed by the new channel, CBS News about her evangelist crusades that attract millions of people. Marilyn Hickey has traveled to 136 countries, but currently, she has been focusing on the parts of the middle east with the majority of the population being Muslim. Marilyn Hickey who is currently 86-years-old shares about the threats and real dangers of her ministry but gives all glory of success to God who has watched out for her and kept her safe as she has spreads the gospel of Jesus to these nations. She has made it her special mission to build bridges in Muslim countries like Pakistan, Egypt and Sudan.

Pastors Mike and Sue Bryan have been ministering to children for more than 35 years. They have dedicated their lives to teaching children about God. Their love for God and their ability to teach children about that love has truly touched thousands of lives.

I look back to my life in 1995 and there has been such a drastic change from 22 years ago. It’s a great feeling to help people and to know you’re pleasing God because, in the end, it’s all God’s work.