2021 Banquet Fundraiser Recap
The spotlight was on the fathers last month as more than 400 of our supporters gathered for our annual banquet benefit. The crucial role that fathers play in turning hearts and minds toward life and realizing the abundant life that is God’s plan for the family was a repeated theme throughout the evening. Roland Warren, the CEO of Care Net, and our keynote speaker for the event shared some statistics coming out of research conducted among women experiencing a crisis pregnancy that underscore this theme:
- The respondents were more likely to discuss a decision regarding abortion with the father of their baby.
- The father of the baby is the most influential person in the woman’s decision of whether to choose life.
Roland stressed that any pro-life movement should be pro-marriage, and works to connect the father to their child societally. Abortion is essentially a substitute for the father, with devastating consequences for all involved; exactly the opposite of what God intends. In his message, Roland highlighted God’s intention for the family in the example of Jesus’ birth. Mary’s supernatural conception led to a crisis pregnancy of sorts. God worked out His plan through leading Joseph to fulfill his role as husband and father, turning what could have been a crisis situation into a stable, loving environment.
Focusing on fathers was central to the updates Monica Henderson, our Executive Director shared as well. BsideU has worked with fathers in the past, but we’re now developing the details of a new men’s ministry that will pair fathers of our clients’ children with male volunteers to help mentor and guide them into their God-given responsibility and privilege. We’re thrilled to report that this seemed to light a fire among our male supporters as we’ve heard from a number of you that you’re able to come alongside us in this endeavor. If you are interested in getting involved in this men’s ministry, please reach out to Christe Marshall at firstname.lastname@example.org.
Monica also shared some other ministry updates, including our mobile ministry that started earlier this year, and some key staffing changes. As we close out 2021, we’ll also see retirement of Marilyn Colyer, our Pregnancy Center Director and me, Leisa Ray, our Development Director. We’re happy to share that we have an internal candidate that is well qualified and eager to backfill Marilyn as our Pregnancy Director – Nici Spoelker has already started getting involved in that capacity, and will be ready to take over as Marilyn steps back. We have also found our next Development Director. Ellen Hurt began training for her new role November 1st.
We’re so thankful to the sponsors that made this year’s banquet possible, including our Host Sponsor, the Bachman Auto Group, our Future and a Hope Sponsor, Zoeller Pump Company, our Life Saver Sponsors, Inspirational Greatness and Trinity Chiropractic, our Platinum Sponsor, Premier Fleet Graphics, our Gold Sponsors, First Southern National Bank, L&N FCU, NAI Fortis, and our Silver Sponsors, Silver Cafe Insurance, Mattingly-Ford P.S.C., Attorneys at Law, Golden Rule Signs and Dan Hardt Financial.
Seeing everyone that attended the banquet in person again was such a blessing after being in quarantine last year. We enjoyed the time together, and are happy to share that we met our fundraising goal! Thanks again to all of our supporters, participants, sponsors and volunteers!


~Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.~
Welcome to Junior Camp 2019!!! The dedicated Junior Staff of counselors, teachers, and deans have been busy planning an exciting and unforgettable week for you. Whether you are a returning camper, or new to camp this year, we can’t wait to spend the week with you. During this week, you will be able to learn how “to be an agent of change in the community, make new friends, try new things, and start/continue your ten year journey through Camp Luther. Campers are able to explore a closer relationship with God and his teachings through classes, different types of worship services, theme oriented activities, small group activities and all camp events.
Camp begins on Sunday, June 16, 2019, with afternoon registration beginning at 2pm and ends Saturday, June 22nd. Each camper that applies and the application is postmarked no later than June 1st, will receive a camp shirt upon arrival at no extra charge. Each camper will receive a schedule of cabin/counselor assignment, class schedule, and will be able to deposit money in the “bank”. All of the Junior’s cabins and activities throughout the day, are located in lower camp. The experienced counselors will be there to guide your son/daughter with moving into the cabin, follow the daily schedule, and will remain a steady presence throughout the week. After registration, the campers are free to swim, play games, and meet new friends. Dinner will be served at 5pm and immediately following will be an all camp worship and assembly with individual programs where we will introduce all of the Junior Staff and take them on a tour of the camp to orient them and show them their boundaries.
The theme for this year is “Transformed Community: God’s Agent of C.H.A.N.G.E.”
- Day 1: Generosity transforms community (Acts 2:41-47, the early Christian community)
- Day 2: Inclusion transforms community (Luke 14:7-14, the parable of the wedding banquet)
- Day 3: Compassion transforms community(Luke 10:25-37, the parable of the good Samaritan)
- Day 4: Justice transforms community (Matthew 20:1-16, the parable of the laborers in the vineyard)
- Day 5: Forgiveness transforms community (Mark 2:1-12, Jesus heals the paralyzed man)
The theme for each day will be presented in morning worship and further examined through classes, activities, and daily worship.
A typical Monday through Friday schedule includes
7:00 Rise and Shine – dress for the day
7:30 Morning Worship
8:00 Breakfast – All meals are served “Family Style” with second servings available
8:30 Cabin cleaning for inspection
9-12 Morning classes
12:15 Lunch — All meals are served “Family Style” with second servings available
1:00 Junior Assembly in Burton Hall
1:45 Optional Activities including swimming, archery, boating, fishing, basketball, four square, shuffleboard, gaga, craft making, hiking, and creek stomping as well as other organized activities and sports
5:00 Five O’clock News – all-camp assembly for a recap of the day’s activities
5:30 Dinner — All meals are served “Family Style” with second servings available
6:30 Organized evening activity and snack
9:00 Cabin time with preparation for bed and devotions
10:00 Lights Out!
We look forward to spending this week exploring God’s teachings with your son/daughter. Campers leave with new knowledge of God in their life, new friends, and a new home to come back to each year.
Bill and Valerie


Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Have you truly wrestled with your fear of death in an attempt to defeat it in light of Christ's victorious resurrection? I haven't. Death, particularly my own or my husband's, has entered my mind before, but I do my best to not dwell on it. Maybe you have had a life-threatening dream (nightmare) before, or you have meditated on death at the funeral of a loved one. But have you - you young, 20-something, healthy, female - truly wrestled with the fear that comes with recognizing the fact that you will die at an appointed time? The time that my fragility (and in turn, God's sovereignty) was most fresh on my mind was when I was left alone in the dark on the rough streets of La Paz, Bolivia. My brave, 19 year-old stupidity brought me there and now I was surrounded by mean men waiting to subdue me. I remember thinking how I was completely powerless to stop their attack, so I put my eyes to the ground and watched my feet step-by-step move down the sidewalk as God sovereignly protected me and rescued me from that situation.
This FEAR that I have tried my best to stay away from, has plagued me of late and I have had no choice but to face it. My husband and I are currently working in the slums of one of the most dangerous cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro. "If your planning on travelling to Brazil, think twice. It's not a matter of where your mugged, it's when." (travellinginsurance.org) There have been moments where I have been nearly paralyzed with fear- watching a man being robbed at gunpoint 20 feet behind me in broad daylight, walking side-by-side with the leader of one of the most powerful and violent drug trafficking factions in Rio, who is responsible for countless brutal murders. And other moments where I cannot escape the constant stench of death and sin- working with slum-dwelling moms who have each suffered the death of at least one child, often more; or standing at the foot of a mudslide that murdered hundreds of poor people in their sleep.
But friends, do you know what the most sobering part of all is? That you, in sunny San Diego or quiet, suburban League City, are no further away from death than I am in the hands of our sovereign God. YOU are not in control of your life, God is. He is in control of everything!
Colossians 1:16a, 17b
For by Him all things were created... and in Him all things hold together.
If you allow the fear of death to rule you, it can begin to feel like this,
Psalm 18:4-5The cords of death encompassed me;
the torrents of destruction assailed me;
the cords of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
I have felt this way. I have given into anxiety. I have given into fear. But know that it does NOT end there,
Hebrews 2:14-15Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, [Christ] himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
We were, and if you do not know Christ you still are, subject to lifelong slavery through our fear of death. But now, thanks to Christ's "once for all" atoning sacrifice for us on the Cross (Heb 7:27), this fear no longer need paralyze us! Did you know that Christians are still being crucified in South Sudan? That distributing a Bible in North Korea merits execution? That over the past five years over 300 Christians were martyred in Colombia, a "Christian" nation? Being a Christian has never been and is still not safe. Paul lived his life with death constantly crouching at his doorstep, but this actually gave him comfort, even more, it gave him JOY. Why? Because "to depart and be with Christ" is "far better". (Phil 1:23) The substitutionary atonement that Christ accomplished on those wooden planks that dark, stormy day in Calvary gave Paul, and still can today, give us, hope. When we, my fellow believers, exhale our final breath on this earth, we do not die, we live in communion with Christ. Is this your greatest joy? If so, then you can affirm along with Paul, that "for to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." (Phil 1:21)
Paul lived with a crazy insane dependency on his Sovereign God. In Daniel 3 our friends whose names no one can pronounce properly, Shadrach, Meshack, and Abednego, understood this acutely. When their earthly king forged an idol of gold and threatened to throw them into a inescapable pit full of fire if they did not deny their God by worshiping this lesser god (how many times have we done this sisters?), they proclaimed with superhuman courage, "If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” Oh how easily we give into the slightest anxieties and fears, making excuses for our doubt.
Sisters, Satan would love for us to continue living in denial of his furious plot to kill us. Your mortality is real. You will die one day, but that is when you will rise again with Christ. To acknowledge your imminent death gives Christ even more power in your life because He has already conquered it. Give him this power in your life, and begin living to die.
Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
*I understand that you may have a lot of questions. I want to hear them. Feel free to comment here or email me at email@example.com to talk.


This is how our family is learning the Bible in Multimedia
WOW! I just discovered a great source of dramatized bible stories and a many other great audio stories. They are all in albums at deep discounts. I bought many of these albums on TAPES for our kids, but now you can just download them as MP3s!
Go here and I'll tell you about it.
How our family is learning the Bible in Multimedia
We are parents of three kids; ranging from preschooler, preteen to teenager. And we know it is our responsibility to help our children learn and live out God's word. But even more basic than that, we know we have to be role models to encourage our kids to do “what we do” and not just “what we say” to do. We adults also have to obey the Lord and walk in truth to have our kids do the same!
We are a homeschooling family in Canada. But what we share here is relevant for all families. In fact, for anyone who wants to learn the Word of God from all angles and methods; from a range of media and from your own learning style's point of view!
This website shows you our family's multimedia journey through the Bible. We think the multimedia tools and resources that we're using will also give you success in your journey through the Bible. You will see us using a whole range of multimedia tools, through the eyes of mom and dad as well as the kids at various physical and spiritual maturity levels. You'll also see how each family member approaches the task of learning and applying the Bible from a wide range of interests and learning styles.
Use this website as your Multimedia Bible Toolkit to learn God's word. See how we use each tool, then choose the ones that suit your learning styles or purposes.
So come and join our family on this very personal Bible Odyessy. We pray that our experiences will help you to:
READ the Bible and PRAY everyday
SEEK God's truths and his will for every area of your life
GROW in grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ
How will these multimedia tools help you?
SEARCH the Bible online
READ the Bible in different formats and versions
LISTEN to the Bible
TELL people what the Bible says
RESEARCH the Bible for answers
ANALYZE and STUDY the Bible
UNDERSTAND the Bible with visual aids such as timelines, maps, and explanations from dictionaries and commentaries
WATCH the Bible via videos
REMEMBER and MEMORIZE what the Bible says
APPLY what the Bible says in our daily walk with God
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes. With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches. I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.


Fort Caroline United Methodist Church
Wednesday, May 22, 2013
Open hearts. Open minds. Open doors.
Join us for our special services this month:
Christmas Eve Service December 24 at 6 pm
New Years Eve Potluck at 10pm
New Year's Eve Service from 11pm-12:30am with communion
New Year's Day Service 10 am
9:00 am- Praise Service (Nursery services available.)
10:00 am- Sunday School (Adult and Youth classes.)
11:00 am- Traditional Service (Nursery and Children's Sunday school available.)
Birthdays and Anniversaries!!!
Happy Birthday Nathan S. and Jamie S.!
Ft. Caroline United Methodist Church has served the Arlington community since 1922. To this day the church continues its ministry with a vision to impact Jacksonville through the Holy Spirit.
Christians impacting Jacksonville through the Holy Spirit.
Cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus Christ through... Radical Hospitality, Passionate Worship, Intentional Discipleship, Salty Service and Extravagant Generosity!


Congratulations! God has blessed you with a child, or children, and we are very happy and excited for you!
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church (n. 1213): "Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit (vitae spiritualis ianua), and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission: "Baptism is the sacrament of regeneration through water in the word."
Here are some frequently asked questions (FAQs) regarding the Sacrament of Baptism and how we celebrate the sacrament for your child at St. Joan of Arc Parish.
Q: I would like to have my baby baptized what do I have to do?
A: All you have to do is fill out the Baptism Information Form:
Once the form has been submitted, someone from the parish staff will contact you to confirm the date/time of the baptism.
If you are a first time parent(s,) St. Joan of Arc Parish requires that you go through a Baptism Class designed just for you. The classes generally take place on the Tuesday prior to the baptism at 7:00 PM. Please call the Parish Center to schedule your participation in the baptism class and to get information on the schedule of classes. Pre-registration is required.
Q: Can you tell me more about Godparents?
A: Sure, being a Godparent is more than an honorary title. When someone agrees to be a Godparent, it means that they are pledging to always play a significant and positive role in that Child’s life, faith formation and spiritual life. A Godparent must be a practicing Catholic, and if married, married by a Catholic priest/deacon. If you have two Godparents, Church law asks that one be a man and the other be a woman.
Q: But my best friend is not Catholic and I really wanted him/her to be my child’s Godparent. What can I do?
A: If your friend is a baptized Christian, he may stand next to the Godparent as a Christian Witness. However, there must always be at least one Godparent who is a practicing Catholic.
Q: My child’s father and I are not married. Can we still have our baby baptized?
A: Of course you can, and we are happy you have chosen to do so. However, it is essential that the parents of the child agree to raise their Son/Daughter as a Catholic and as they grow older, help them practice their faith.
Once again thank you for inquiring about having your child baptized here at St. Joan of Arc Parish. We hope to see you soon.


Chapter One – Christians Ask Hard Questions
Every time I hear this question, I get excited! It carries with it a connotation that it IS POSSIBLE to win or inherit that type of money. I also get excited because this question allows me to dream. What WOULD I do with that kind of money? Pay off bills? Give it away? Buy something nice for myself and my family?
This is one of those questions that you really have to think about! It makes you take stock of your life and your belongings. It opens you up to future possibilities. It could also suck your soul into a pit of greed. It makes you want things you will probably never have. It is a window for others to see where your heart REALLY lies.
Let’s try another question…
“What is the WORST thing you have ever done in life?”
Now, if a complete stranger approached you and asked you this question, how would you feel? You might tell them to go away. Maybe you would get angry. Or perhaps you would get embarrassed and run away.
Both of these questions have something in common: They are very similar to questions that Jesus asked. And that is the first point in our experiment: JESUS ASKED HARD QUESTIONS!
Let’s look at a few examples that prove this point.
In Mark 10: 35-45, we see James and John approach Jesus. They say to Him, “We want you to do for us whatever we ask” to which Jesus replies, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Sound familiar? Have you ever heard this question before?
Let’s keep in mind that James and John had already seen Jesus do several miracles. He had walked on water, He fed 5,000 people with next to nothing, and He had healed countless numbers of people.
And now this ALL-POWERFUL person turns to them and says, “What do you want me to do for you?”
I don’t know about you, but this question sounds a lot like the one we asked earlier, “What would you do if you were given a million dollars?”
By asking this question, Jesus found out VERY quickly where their hearts were. They wanted power! They wanted prestige!
Does that make you want to change your answer now? Lord, if I get a million dollars, let it be to help someone!
Jesus caught His disciples being disobedient once. In Mark 9:33-37, we see that the disciples had been arguing along the road about which one of them was the greatest.
Jesus brought their selfish attitude into plain view by asking a simple question, “What were you arguing about on the road?” They couldn’t answer Him because they knew they were wrong!
What about you? Would YOU have a similar reaction if Jesus suddenly appeared and asked, “What have you been doing?”
- Who or what is the master of your life?
- Do you love me?
- If I were to follow you for two weeks, what would I say were your top 5 priorities? (Matt. 6:25)
- What worries you? Why? (Matt. 6)
- Have you been overly critical of anyone lately? (Matt. 7:3)
- What are you afraid of and why? (Matt. 8:26)
- Do you believe in Jesus? (Matt. 9:28)
- What’s more important to you…your routine or God’s will for your life? (Matt. 15:3)
- Who was Jesus? (Matt. 16:15)
- Who is the last person you fought with? Why did you fight? Did you “turn the other cheek?” Did you show them God’s love? (Mark 9:16)
- Tell me the story of the Bible. How do you read it? (Luke 10:26)
- What do you hear others saying about God? What do YOU believe about God?
- When is the last time you gave away something of great value?
- Is there a person in your life that let you down? Someone that makes you mad just thinking about them? Why haven’t you forgiven that person yet?
- What fruit have you produced for God’s kingdom lately?
- What is the hardest commandment for you to follow? (If you choose, you can be specific here: What is the hardest commandment for you to follow from Matt. 6? Colossians 6?)
- What do you think makes people do bad things? What makes them do good things?
- How do your friends know you love them? Using those answers, could Jesus say you love Him, too?
*Please take your time with these questions and don’t just scan over them like I do when I read these kinds of books!


Children & Young People
"But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these." Luke 18:16
We believe that children, wriggles and all, are a gift to our church. They belong with the rest of God’s people. So, thank you for bringing them!
Our prayer and vision is for children, according to their age and stage, to increasingly participate in Sunday worship. Some children will sit in the pews, others make use of the extra space in the families’ area near the front. Feel free to do what most helps you.
Try to prepare them for worship a few minutes before the service starts, perhaps by saying a prayer with them. Feel free to quietly explain the different parts of what is going on. But the best thing you can do is to sing the hymns and participate in the creed, prayers, and other responses. Children learn to worship by watching you and others. On most Sundays, for a portion of the service, we run a children's group called 'Seekers,' which provides age-specific teaching.
If you feel you have to leave the service with a child, feel free to do so, but please come back. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me.”


We are very happy to brighten up the lives of 18 children enrolled in the Salvation Army Foster Care & Adoption Services program with Holiday Hope Chest gift boxes and gift cards this year. Gifts were donated by Bob Ashcraft, Tom & Peg Harp, Enos & Susan Martin, Terry Kennedy, Young Chang, Joyce Crosby, Belinda Gray, Deb Lamb, Kathryn Best, Ricki Stringfellow and Karen Baker. Tom has been collecting most of the gifts.
On December 6, Karen Baker, Deb Lamb, and Tom Harp visited the Salvation Army Children’s Services office in Allentown to drop off Holiday Hope Chests gift boxes and gift cards for 18 children and youth enrolled in their Foster Care & Adoption Services program. They were met there by Stefanie Niemira, Social Worker, who expressed gratitude for our donations. The gifts were distributed individually to each child in their homes. Once
again, we would like to thank all of our members who contributed to this wonderful cause. Your gifts were greatly appreciated!


This time in my life I chose God. I too used to live among the world like others and pick and choose what I wanted to follow and truthfully I was selfish in all my choices and ways. That’s what the world breeds in you. I was asked by a man, my neighbor the other day who is stuck in the world view “how can you possibly know God exists given all that you have been through and all that happened to you lately”? That by itself is a great story. The reality is, I had a choice to make .
A Choice to Make
When I was talking to the gentleman above, I answered him immediately, and told him that I know God exists, because He CHANGED me. And any person that can change me to my core has to be a miracle worker and God of wonders. He didn’t seem particularly convinced by that answer, so I shared with him some personal stories of miracles that God had done in my life over the last year and a half. One particular one that choked him up was a story about my son. He loves my son James and loves to watch him race his RC cars down the road! Early on in this process when I “wasn’t allowed” to see my children, I found out later on that my son made it through in a special way. My son shared a story with me just a few weeks ago and told me that he was so angry when he couldn’t see me but the only thing that made him feel close to daddy was that he said he would listen to my songs including my Christian gospel playlist. My iTunes was still logged in to his iPod touch, and he would listen to the songs that I used to listen to over and over again. He told me this in the car when he was belting out the song “bring the rain”. When I shared the story with the man last week I could see him fighting back tears as a grown adult. He told me that he had no relationship with his father and nothing to remember him by. I believe that’s why he has such a hard time understanding that God can exist. In this world, we relate God to our fathers, and if we had bad fathers, we don’t believe that God exists or we believe that he is a bad God. or worse yet we live like they did not under Gods authority. That’s why in this situation over the last year and a half I have decided to choose God over all things so that my children can witness that Kingdom Man behavior in me.
I Chose God
A long time ago before I even knew, God had chosen me and knew what was to come in my life before it happened. Only in this painful time frame did I finally begin to understand what God expects of me, what his laws are, and how the covenants He makes with his people work. For that reason I resolve to not do anything on purpose in my life that would dishonor God. That part of me, and that time of my life is over. the world will tell you to do what makes you happy. We are not called for that, but instead called to glorify God and that includes loving those who are unlovable. Perfect example of this is that In the past year and a half I’ve had multiple opportunities to do things that the world practically begged me to do, and even promoted. One of those examples would be having a girlfriend “to replace your ex” and “moving on” while still married or even better yet having someone be a live-in girlfriend in my home with my children. I cannot tell you the number of people that told me that that would be OK because “you’re in a divorce proceeding” and you don’t live with your wife. God has tons to say about this situation (Hebrews 13:4, 1 Corinthians 6:18, Exodus 20:14, Jeremiah 13:27, Luke 16:18, Romans 7:2-3, 2 Corinthians 6:12-20 and about 50 more…). I couldn’t consciously make that choice, knowing that it was a sin against God directly and would violate the most sacred covenant that God made with his people. When I turned down the opportunity to end my loneliness, my sadness, and a chance with someone to split bills with again, it gave me the most amazing sense of calm and peace that I’ve ever had in my life. Normally that would’ve given me fear and anxiety and I would have clung to that person(s) like velcro and that’s how I know it is from God even though it cost me future relationship chances, and even ridicule by some. Another example would be clients whose businesses do not honor God. More than ever, I’ve had the opportunity to work in industries that I know would not be acceptable in the eyes of the Lord (1 Corinthians 5:9-12). The money would’ve been great, the level of respect I would’ve gotten from other people would’ve been amazing, and the world would’ve celebrated me. But for the first time in my life, the Holy Spirit would not allow me to do those things. The idea and simply contemplating it just like the situation above gives me an ill uneasy feeling. I can no longer sin in ignorance because I know what is expected of me and therefore I choose God over me.
The summary, for this blog can be summed up in the fact that God is always first place in my life. Besides God, nothing is more important to me than my children and I will continue to live for both of them and take care of their needs first and foremost until God tells me that they are ready for me to Move on and move forward in my relationships. god says woe to anyone who makes their children stumble for their own selfish desires (Matthew 18:6, Luke 17:2). As for me and my family, we will choose God first and we hope that everyone reading this chooses to as well!


Another new translation of the Bible... and I thought the Poverty and Justice Bible was unique. This one is - well, you'll just have to read on...
The "version" of which I write is called "Good as New: A Radical Retelling of the scriptures." It's put out by the ONE community and it "aims at a new fresh and adventurous translation of the early Christian scriptures. It is designed both for mature Christians and for those who have limited experience of traditional Christianity or may have found it a barrier to an appreciation of Jesus." Hmmm...
I would be one of the first people on this planet earth to tell you that "traditional" Christianity isn't maybe all it's cracked up to be. Much like the scribes and Pharisees of yesteryear, we have our own in-house issues going on. It matters not your denomination, sect, or creed - none is perfect, no not one. But I'm always wary of those who think the scriptures themselves are what needs tweaking, not the humans involved in the process of living out their lives (hopefully for Christ) as best they can (or not).
I'll give you some examples of what I mean by "tweaking the scriptures."
Mark 1:4, NIV: And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Good as New: John, nicknamed "The Dipper," was "The Voice." He was in the desert, inviting people to be dipped, to show they were determined to change their ways and wanted to be forgiven.
Mark 1:10-11, NIV: As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: "You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased."
Good as New: As he was climbing up the bank again, the sun shone through a gap in the clouds. At the same time a pigeon flew down and perched on him. Jesus took this as a sign that God's spirit was with him. A voice from overhead was heard saying, "That's my boy! You're doing fine!"
Oh, and that one just deserves a comment. Seriously. No... actually, for that one somebody deserves a spanking. That's just pathetic! "That's my boy, you're doing fine?" Seriously?? And Jesus took a pigeon as a sign that God was well pleased?? A pigeon??? Where are they coming up with these ideas?
Matthew 23:25, NIV: Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self indulgence.
Good as New: "Take a running jump, Holy Joes, humbugs!"
And there's a little understated eloquence for you!
Matthew 26:69-70, NIV: Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. "You also were with Jesus of Galilee," she said. But he denied it before them all. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said.
Good as New: Meanwhile Rocky was still sitting in the courtyard. A woman came up to him and said: "Haven't I seen you with Jesus, the hero from Galilee?" Rocky shook his head and said: "I don't know what the hell you're talking about!"
A little artistic license there...
1 Corinthians 7:1-2, NIV: Now for the matters you wrote about: It is good for a man not to marry. But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband.
Good as New: Some of you think the best way to cope with sex is for men and women to keep right away from each other. That is more likely to lead to sexual offenses. My advice is for everyone to have a regular partner."
1 Corinthians 7:8-9, NIV: Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I am. But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry, for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
Good as New: If you know you have strong needs, get yourself a partner. Better than being frustrated.
Well, I guess that's about all that's needed from me. What do you think? Good as New??


Welcome to Lithuania!
- About "Quo vadis LT"
„Quo vadis LT“ is official tour operator in Lithuania that specializes in cultural and pilgrimage tours in Lithuania and all over the world.
Small groups with professional guides and spiritual leaders will make your tour rich in discovering different cultures, religions, so that your hobby of traveling will become the way to return to God, to your brothers and to yourselves. We invite you to experience blessing of God: „Leave your country, your people and your father‘s household and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you...“ (Gen.12,1)
„Quo vadis LT“ pilgrimage tours are in Lithuania and in other countries as a Biblical tours, Jesus and Apostles footsteps to follow we go to Holy Land, Turkey, Egypt... We continue to walk old pilgrim roads to Santiago de Compostella and the Apparition places of the Virgin Mary to Lourdes, Medjugorje, Fatima, Guadeloupe…
„Quo vadis LT“ cultural tours are meant to discover other world civilizations and religions, going to exotic countries as Peru, Bolivia, Indochina, Morocco, Africa and India... and all European countries
Pograme of the tour "Lithuania. Culture, traditions and faith. Pilgrim Route of John Paul II. Vilnius – city of Divine Mercy."
- Facts about Lithuania
Area: 65,300 km2.
Location: Lithuania is a state on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea.
Neighbouring states: Latvia, Belarus, Poland, and Russia.
Climate: between maritime and continental. Average temperature in July is +25°C, and average temperature in January is - 10°C.
Landscape: Lithuania is a flat country, lowland plains make up 75% of its territory.
Language: the official language of the Republic of Lithuania is the Lithuanian language.
Form of government: parliamentary democracy. Head of state: President, the executive branch: Government (appointed by the President), the legislative branch: Seimas (unicameral parliament, direct election).
Administrative division: the territory of Lithuania is divided into 10 counties. Counties are subdivided into 60 municipalities. Municipalities consist of 546 elderships.
Largest cities according to the population: Vilnius (553,200), Kaunas (373,700), Klaipėda (191,600), Šiauliai (132,700), Panevėžys (118,800).
Ethnic composition: Lithuanians: 83.5%, Poles: 6.7%, Russians: 6.3%, Belorussians: 1.2%, other: 2.3%. There are 115 ethnicities in total in Lithuania.
Religion: Roman Catholic Church. There are also communities of Eastern Orthodox Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church, Evangelical Reformation Church, Old Believers, Judaism, Islam, and others.
Life expectancy: average life expectancy for Lithuanians: 71 years; men: 66, women: 77.
National currency: litas (Lt). 3.4528 Lt = 1 euro.
declared: 16 February 1918
restored: 11 March 1990
Lithuania joined NATO 29 March 2004, and on 1 May 2004 it became a member state of the EU.
January 1: New Year’s Day
February 16: Day of Reestablishment of the State of Lithuania (1918)
March 11: Day of Restitution of Independence of Lithuania (from the Soviet Union, 1990)
Easter (First Sunday and Monday of spring with full moon)
May 1: International Labour Day
June 24: St John‘s Feast (Midsummer)
July 6: Statehood Day (Coronation of Mindaugas)
August 15: Assumption Day (Žolinė)
November 1: All Saints’ Day
December 25 and 26: Christmas
- Programe for the tour: "Lithuania. Culture, traditions and faith. Pilgrim Route of John Paul II . Vilnius – city of Divine Mercy."
Lithuania – small, exceptional country near the Baltic sea.
Culture, traditions and faith. Pilgrim Route of John Paul II .
Vilnius – city of Divine Mercy.
Program duration: 8 days/7 nights
1st DAY Arrival in Lithuania Meeting at the airport. Transfer to the hotel in Vilnius. Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania and the biggest city which distinguishes for its abundance of baroque style churches. Evening we can start city tour of Vilnius Old Town, a UNESCO Heritage site in Pilies street with endless church domes, steeples and gloriously restored buildings. You can visit numerous souvenir shops for Baltic amber, linen and locally made handicrafts. Enjoy your free time and have dinner in the hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Vilnius.
2nd DAY After the breakfast you have an excursion in Vilnius. The pearl of baroque - St. Peter and St. Pauls` church in Vilnius is agreed to be the top of their mastership in plastic art. Nowadays still more than 2000 stucco statues made by Italian masters in the 17th century beautify an interior of the church. When Mykolas Pacas died, he was buried in the basement of the same church. Further we continue our excursion on foot of “Old Vilnius”: The tour begins at Cathedral Square dominated by the Cathedral itself. The Cathedral Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Vladislaus is the main symbol and spiritual center of the Lithuanian capital as well as a monument to the Baptism of Lithuania. The basilica, built in the very heart of the city at the base of the castle hill, has witnessed many important historical events. Here Lithuanian rulers were crowned, here nobles and bishops were buried. Even today, Holy Mass celebrated in Vilnius Cathedral marks the high point of many national and religious feasts and commemorations. The sanctuary’s rich spiritual and cultural treasures are a magnet for all visitors to the city, but it is especially cherished by Catholics as the place where the relics of St Casimir, Lithuania’s patron saint, are venerated. Gediminas Castle besides Cathedral, then via the President’s Palace we can go to Vilnius University. On the way is Lithuanian gothic masterpiece of XVI c. - churches ensemble of St. Ann and St. Bernardine, Amber gallery, Jewish block, Town hall square, St. Theresa church with the famous Gates of Dawn with its miraculous icon of The Virgin Mary. The Gate of Dawn chapel, with its venerable painting of Mary the Mother of Mercy, is one of Lithuania’s most important religious, historical and cultural sites. This is the foremost Marian shrine in the Vilnius archdiocese and a destination for pilgrims from many countries, not only Catholic but also Orthodox. The Gate of Dawn is surrounded by the Church of St Teresa, the Eastern-rite Catholic Monastery of the Holy Trinity and the Orthodox Monastery of the Holy Spirit. This evening you may also wish to visit a concert, opera or ballet performance. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Vilnius.
3rd DAY After the breakfast we go to Trakai. The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, standing atop the highlands of the Trakai peninsula. Here is the oldest image of the Mother of God in Lithuania. Its title as Protectress of Lithuania is evidence not only of the importance of this painting, but also of the deep tradition of considering Lithuania to be a land of Mary, a realm safeguarded by the intercession of the Mother of God. We visit the only water Castle in Eastern Europe. Trakai is the ancient capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, now famous for its 15th century island castle housing an exhibition on prehistoric artifacts and 17th-18th century applied arts, reflecting the way of life of the Lithuanian Grand Dukes, and the Karaites, a Judaic sect brought by Grand Duke Vytautas from the Crimea. We have lunch at restaurant of the Karaite dishes and free time. Afternoon we go back to Vilnius and visit KGB museum, where in Soviet times used to be prison of Committee for State Security. Evening we go for prayers to the Chapel of Divine Mercy. This cozy gothic church on a narrow side street in the heart of the Vilnius Old Town dates back to the 15th century and certainly has a long story. But today its pristine white interior draws pilgrims’ gaze to a single focal point – the image of the Merciful Jesus. Through the humble nun St Faustina and in the midst of the 20th century, the Lord sent the world, beset as it was by tremendous wars and hatred for faith, a message of salvation: “Trust in me, for I am a merciful Lord. Trust in my mercy.” Here the Mother of Mercy has long been venerated at the Gate of Dawn. And it is from this city that the message of Divine Mercy began to spread with the new significance given to it by St Faustina, and by Pope John Paul II, who declared her a saint. Pilgrims who are drawn to Vilnius by the message of Divine Mercy and the Merciful Jesus image are also generally eager to see other places connected with St Faustina’s life and visions. Dinners and overnight at the hotel in Vilnius
4th DAY Breakfast. A full day tour to Kaunas, Lithuania’s second largest town and the capital of pre-war Lithuania. Touring Kaunas shows off the main architectural and historic sites of the Old Town, Town Hall Square, the Jesuit Church, the 14th century Cathedral, Vytautas Church, Perkunas (Thunder) House, courtyard of the Theological Seminary and the ruins of Kaunas Castle. Kaunas Cathedral Basilica is one of Lithuania’s oldest and largest sanctuaries, and the country’s only gothic church of basilica form. Buried in the crypt, the side chapel and the churchyard of the Cathedral are numerous eminent clergymen. Later in the afternoon a visit to Ciurlionis Picture Gallery conserving and exhibiting works of the famous Lithuanian artist, Mikalojus Konstantinas Ciurlionis, who painted and composed music at the turn of 20th century. Afternoon we go on the outskirts of Kaunas, on a hill in Pažaislis by the shore of the Kaunas Reservoir, stands the Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary with its monastery. The ensemble is one of the finest late baroque masterpieces in all of Northeast Europe. Today the monastery is cared for by the Lithuanian Congregation of the Sisters of St Casimir, who seek to revive and continue traditions of divine worship while also opening the doors to new expressions of social life and culture. In the evening we can visit Christ’s Resurrection Church in Kaunas is a symbol of the Lithuanian nation’s spiritual revival and regained independence. The Church is one of the most expressive modernist-style churches in Lithuania, characterized by generalized bulk composition, sharp rhythmic verticals and a distinctive staircase silhouette, in the center of which a 70-meter-high tower rises up toward the heavens. A chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Šiluva graces the roof terrace, which also offers the city’s residents and guests a breathtaking panorama of Kaunas. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Kaunas.
5th DAY After the breakfast we go to pilgrimage site of Šiluva . The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared in Šiluva in 1608. Children from a nearby village who were keeping sheep in the land of the old church saw, on top of a large rock, a young woman holding a baby in her arms and weeping bitterly. One of the little shepherds ran to fetch Šiluva’s Calvinist catechism teacher. He, together with a teacher named Saliamonas, came to the place of the rock and also saw the young woman crying, just as the shepherds had. Gathering his courage, the catechist asked her: “Young woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “I’m weeping because my Son used to be worshipped in this place, but now people only plough and sow.” Having said this, she disappeared. News about Mary’s apparition spread rapidly. It is reported that an old blind man, groping around, located the place where the chest with the old church’s deed and other valuables was buried. On finding it, he suddenly regained his sight. From the oldest of times to the present, a steady stream of pilgrims has been flowing to Šiluva. The feast of the Nativity (or “Birth”) of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been celebrated here for nearly 500 years, each time drawing many thousands of pilgrims from all of Lithuania and beyond. Further we follow the pilgrim‘s way to Tytuvėnai - a small town on the scenic plateaus of eastern Samogitia that is famous for the monuments to baroque culture it contains. Tytuvėnai’s Church of Our Lady of the Angels and Bernardine monastery complex are among Lithuania’s largest and most significant specimens of 17th and 18th century sacred architecture, reflecting as they do a multi-layered harmony of the gothic, mannerist and baroque styles. The ensemble consists of a church, a courtyard with the Holy Steps Chapel, and the stone wall of a two-story monastery. The main altar of the church features a painting of the Mother of God and Child which is famed for special. Later in the afternoon we reach The Hill of Crosses - unique and inimitable pilgrimage site, both for its size and for its history. At present, some 200,000 crosses of various sizes adorn the hill. In erecting crosses here by the thousands, people manifest their devotion to Christ, pray for his help and consolation, and mark Lithuania as a Christian land. The Hill of Crosses gained immense significance in the lives of Lithuanian believers during the Soviet era as a place of anonymous yet remarkably persevering resistance to the totalitarian regime. Here in 1993 Pope John Paul II visited and celebrated Holy Mass for a gathering of 100,000 people. We arrive in Šiauliai, where is the Cathedral of the Apostles Saints Peter and Paul. The church is Lithuania’s most prominent example of renaissance-mannerist architecture. The image of a well-fortified building was achieved by combining local architectural traditions with examples from Western Europe countries. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Siauliai.
6th DAY Breakfast. Today our pilgrimage goes to Samogitian Calvary (or “Žemaičių Kalvarija”). The town’s fame began to spread after a Way of the Cross with 20 stations was created here in 1639. Pilgrims also come for a painting of Mary and the Child Jesus, brought from Rome in the first half of the 17th century and known for special graces, which now hangs at the church’s main altar. Every year more than 70,000 people take part in the Great Indulgenced Feast of Samogitian Calvary. Walking along the Way of the Cross and singing 400-year-old hymns specific to this shrine, they meditate on the meaning and significance of Christ’s passion and death on the Cross. Evening we arrive in Klaipėda. It is the third largest city in the country and the only harbor of Lithuania. Klaipėda was established on an empty shore by the Teutonic Kinghts in 1250s. Invited by the duke of Masovia to convert or destroy the pagan Baltic tribes the Order chose this place as a castle. They called it Memelburg. Memel is the German name for Nemunas river and the early settlers mistakenly believed that the straits connecting the Curonian lagoon to the Baltic Sea are in fact the mouths of that mighty river. We have a short excursion in Old Town and free time. Dinner and overnight in the hotel in Klaipeda.
7th DAY Breakfast. We take a ferry to the Curonian Spit. It is a unique nature peninsula indrawn into the UNESCO world heritage, with it‘s sand dunes, pines forest, untouched nature. Neringa (population 4500) is on the narrow peninsula called the Curonian Spit, only some 2 km wide and 98 km long, that was for centuries an area of travelling dunes, the “Lithuanian Sahara”. Few fishing villages that existed there were at a constant threat of being buried by sands. This used to happen regularly and over 10 villages are known to have been consumed by the dunes. Breathtaking dunes such as the Parnidis dune in Nida still exist, but since the 19th century the landscape is dominated by pine forests, a titanic successful attempt by the local people to tame the nature. The former fishing villages of Neringa are now resorts. These are the most authentic seaside villages of Lithuania. Their lagoon coasts are lined by numerous wooden ethnic style fishermen homes, some still adorned by grass roofs. In late 19th century these were joined by elaborate villas as Curonian Spit became a popular summer retreat. Famous artists such as the German writer Thomas Mann spent their holidays in these buildings (his villa in Nida is now a museum). Small neo-gothic Lutheran churches of Nida (1888) and Juodkrantė (1885) are where the elite of those days prayed. In Juodkrantė the German mass is still held in Sundays. Among the few recent additions is the wooden Nida Roman Catholic church of 2003, a great example of how it is possible for a building to conform with the scenery that surrounds it. Despite all the changes in the past century fishing is still important (albeit for tourist industry rather than subsistence) and there is a great number of stores and restaurants offering freshly caught fish. On the way back in Juodkrante we visit the Witch Hill, where wooden sculptures familiarize us to the characters of Lithuanian fairy tales. Dinner and overnight in a hotel in Vilnius.
7th DAY Breakfast. Departure to the airport.
8 -10 persons – 990 Eur pp
12-15 persons - 890 Eur pp
16-20 persons – 790 Eur pp
Rates are in EURO, Non Commissionable & Nett per Person to Operate the Tour on DBL / TWIN Sharing Basis Valid From 01st October 2012 to 31st May 2013
1 day tour to Riga (Latvia) + accommodation + meals ~ 250 Eur pp
1 day tour to Aglona (Latvia's pilgrimage site) + accommodation + meals ~200 Eur pp
1 day tour to Tallinn (Estonia) + accommodation + meals ~ 250 Eur pp
Package includes :
- Meeting and assistance by our representative – guide in all the tour.
- Holy Mass bookings for the pilgrims groups with the priest.
- Special meetings with local Christian communities or clergy if demanded.
- Accommodation in Hotels centrally located, superior class in DBL / Twin Room.
- Daily breakfast and dinner at hotel and lunches in local restaurants.
- Local English speaking guide during sight seeing.
- Entrance fees to the monuments.
- All Transport service according the itinerary by an air-conditioned coach or minibus (according the group size).
- 200 Eur / SGL room supplement
- Tips, gratuities, Portage, laundry, telephone calls, table drinks, camera/ video camera charges, or any other expenses of a personal nature.
- Airfares, Visa fees, personal insurance or airport taxes
- Any item not specified under cost includes.
- If the visa is required and must be obtained prior to your departure from your Country.
- In case of issuing International air tickets, we are not responsible for any refund if the flight is delayed or cancelled, as it is the responsibility of airline.
- Clients must be fully insured, as the company cannot accept liability for loss or damage to client’s property, medical emergencies or any other loss suffered by them whilst on tour.
You may choose your tour date according Christian, traditional or cultural events in Lithuania:
January: New Year, Three kings celebrations, Orthodox Christmas.
February: Independence day, Beginning of Lent season – Carnavals.
March: St Casimir celebration and the spring market in Vilnius
April: Easter markets, special programes of classical music.
May: Annual International Folk Festival “Skamba Skamba Kankliai”
June: Midsummer - St John Night celebration in every corner of Lithuania
July: Crowning of King Mindaugas – State Day, Pilgrimage to Samogitian Calvary.
August: St.Christofer music festival and Herbal day, Pilgrimage to Pazaislis.
September: Pilgrimage to Siluva – Holy Mary’s place. Capital days with Vilnius, fair in old town,
October: Pilgrimage to Divine Mercy Chapel and St. Faustina Kovalska places in Vilnius. Autumn markets. Opera, theatre festivals.
November: Pilgrimage to the Gates of Dawn in Vilnius – Mother of Mercy celebration.
December: Real snowy Christmas celebrations.
Pilgrimage - cultural tours can be done according to your requests, different places, duration, service. Do not hesitate to contact us and to say your demands.
mob: +370 656 662138


GRACE INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
To provide a high-quality education in the English language equipping students physically, spiritually and academically, by teaching and demonstrating through a Biblical worldview.
Greater Grace International School is more than just a school – it has HEART. More than just a school, we are like a family. Our experienced and caring teachers reveal the life and love of Jesus Christ in their relationships with the students and the parents. The following verses from Proverbs 3 are a daily objective in every classroom: Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. We recognize that wisdom is prized above academic knowledge: Happy is the man that finds wisdom, and the man that gets understanding.
As an international school, our parents expect a world-class education to prepare their child for the college and career path of their choice. Because our students come to us from very diverse homes, differing educational backgrounds, and varied levels of English language ability, our teachers must work hard to engage and challenge each child as a unique learner. Small class sizes allow for individualized instruction and increase the teacher-student interaction so vital to academic motivation and success. We endeavor to provide extremely language-rich classrooms: with many of our students being non-native English speakers, teachers imbed vocabulary instruction and speaking opportunities into every lesson.
Every academic and behavioral objective, every athletic event and dramatic performance, every field trip and community outreach, every essay and oral report is designed to prepare our students for a purposeful life characterized by excellence and success. Our prayer is that each student will leave GGIS with not only the education, maturity and experience they need for their next step in life, but also an eternal value system so that by God’s grace, they will become adults who make eternal impacts on their generation.
STATEMENT OF FAITH
Greater Grace International School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion or ethnic origin in our admissions policies, educational policies, and athletics or any other extracurricular school activities. While we strive to provide a Christ-centered, biblical environment in our classrooms, we do not legislate to anyone what to think or what to believe. Rather, we strive to teach the students how to think in an objective and critical way. This freedom of thought allows our students to look objectively at the world around them and to decide for themselves the foundational principles upon which to build their lives.
The following statement of faith itemizes the major points of our Christian worldview.
All Scripture contained in the Old and New Testaments is verbally, plenarily, and inherently inspired by God. It is the authoritative guide for all Christian understanding, life and ministry.
There is but one God eternally existent in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Each is infinite, eternal, and almighty.
We believe that Jesus Christ, the Son, is fully God and fully man. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and He lived a sinless life. He died, shedding His blood in His substitutionary death for sinners, then was buried, arose from the grave, ascended into heaven, and is now seated at the right hand of the Father.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit, Who is Lord and giver of life, convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment, and unites man to Jesus Christ by faith. We believe the Holy Spirit seals and indwells all believers. The filling of the Holy Spirit is not an unconditional promise to all believers; the indwelling is.
Man was created in the image and likeness of God. It was by man's free volition that he disobeyed God, incurring physical and spiritual death (separation from God). Each human being is born with a sin nature. Because of this each human is a sinner by nature and is in need of a divine salvation.
Salvation is a gift from God. This was accomplished by Christ's substitutionary death; all who believe in Him are justified by the shedding of His blood. Because salvation is given by grace, the believer's salvation is eternally secure.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is sent upon all who believe in Jesus Christ. This takes place in each believer at the moment of salvation. Continual infilling may follow. Each gift given by the Holy Spirit is for the edification of the Body of Christ, and is still present today.
THE GREAT COMMISSION
We believe that the fulfillment of the Great Commission is the responsibility of all believers.
The church is the body and the bride of Christ. It is dedicated to the worship and service of God and the observance of Baptism and the Lord's Supper. The primary task of the church in all ages is to teach all nations and to make disciples through the preaching and teaching of the Word of God.
Christ will return to rapture His church. Immediately following this event will be the seven-year tribulation period. Concluding this, Christ will come again to the earth and establish His rule for a 1,000 year period. The Great White Throne judgment of the unsaved, coupled with Satan being cast into the lake of fire, will then allow Christ to establish a New Heaven and a New Earth. This is the consummation of all things.


Today is Five Minute Fridays There is no link up today just a prompt.
So I write for Five minute, no edits, no re dos and at the end I will see if there are pictures from my week Instagram feed that match the words of this week.
I leave in a few days to help run a inter-generational bible camp. My job is managing the Junior Senior High Programing. The days leading up to camp and the first day are always crazy and stressful. There are many decisions and last minute changes that happen. Its easy to forget why I feel called to camp ministry in the chaos around me.
How easy it is to forget that God calls us to be messengers of his word. To share the "Good News". In camp there is a time for that this is like none other. To live in fellowship with these teens means we get to know them not just superficially but to really get down deep.
But that only happens when we are there for God and not ourselves.
Oh how easy those words are to write but to live it becomes hard. To truly be a messenger of God Grace to these kids is a job is hard work. Because it is fun to focus on the fun we have, because man we have fun. But when we focus solely on the fun, or on the camp for ourselves we loose the focus of what God is calling us to be there for.
To be a messenger of grace and love is such a blessing.
I am thankful to God for the chance to live.


Transforming Power of God’s Word
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” Romans 12:2
At India Gospel League we know that 5,000 Bibles is not just a number, but represents 5,000 individuals, families and even whole villages whose lives may be supernaturally changed by reading the Word of God. And because many of you already responded, we have reached 67 percent of our goal so far and recently distributed over 3,000 Bibles to new believers! We are eager to deliver more – will you prayerfully consider helping us reach the full 5,000?
Bible without Study Guide NotesFor the average villager in India, the cost to purchase a Bible is equal to three days' wages. Your gift will supply new believers with worship tools in their native language, which we often take for granted.
Choose a quantity.
Testimonies of changed lives:
Kulwinder grew up with a Hindu priest for a father. One day his father became sick and was found dead in his temple. Kulwinder was shocked. He couldn’t understand why their gods had not saved his father. So he went in search of the real God. Finally, he found the One True God through the Bible in John 3:16. His life was forever changed.
Sarashwathi was raised in a Hindu family and did not believe Jesus is God. Then one day the local pastor in her village met her and shared God’s love with her. As she listened to the Word of God she was touched by Jesus’ life. She started attending church regularly and eventually asked for the Lord’s forgiveness and for him to be her Savior.
Mathappan was a staunch believer in the Hindu faith. He even became a priest and was outspoken against all other faiths. Then, during a discussion with a local Christian pastor, he found out about Christ’s offer of redemption. Mathappan was so intrigued by Jesus’ offer that he started investigating the Bible. Soon enough he accept Jesus as his Savior and became vocal about his faith in Jesus as the True God. Many have been persuaded by the change in Mathappan’s life and have also come to faith in Jesus.


"I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I will continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone. "
Right wing hatemongers bellowed falsely that the Senator's funeral services would become a "political rally" on behalf of universal healthcare. This is what they feared, but they don't get it. The Senator has always spoken for himself and for those without a voice, and he wasn't about to stop simply because, or rather, in spite of his funeral. His life was politics; how could there not be talk of politics at the Senator's final farewell? Not the crass and ugly politics practiced by hypocrites and haters, but politics as the byproduct of our highest ideals and as a means toward a more perfect union.
It'll be interesting to see how low the cowardly right will stoop in attacking Ted Kennedy's gradchildren who offered intercession prayers on behalf of the many social legislative themes that inspired the Senator's life. Among these, of course, is universal healthcare legislation, “for what my grandpa called the cause of his life, as he said so often: in every part of this land, that every American will have decent quality health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.” Not surprisingly, the wingnut sickos have already begun their attacks.
Ted Kennedy's eloquent letter to the Pope (emphases mine) follows below:
"Most Holy Father I asked President Obama to personally hand deliver this letter to you. As a man of deep faith himself, he understands how important my Roman Catholic faith is to me, and I am so deeply grateful to him. I hope this letter finds you in good health. I pray that you have all of God's blessings as you lead our church and inspire our world during these challenging times. I am writing with deep humility to ask that you pray for me as my own health declines.What a wonderful few days of services for Senator Kennedy. The outpouring of love and affection from the people was tremendous. If you missed it, Ted Kennedy Jr.'s remembrance of his dad (linked here) was a special treat.
"I was diagnosed with brain cancer more than a year ago and although I continue treatment, the disease is taking its toll on me. I am 77 years old and preparing for the next passage of life. I have been blessed to be part of a wonderful family and both of my parents, particularly my mother, kept our Catholic faith at the center of our lives. That gift of faith has sustained and nurtured and provides solace to me in the darkest hours. I know that I have been an imperfect human being, but with the help of my faith I have tried to right my path. I want you to know Your Holiness that in my nearly 50 years of elective office I have done my best to champion the rights of the poor and open doors of economic opportunity. I have worked to welcome the immigrant, to fight discrimination and expand access to health care and education. I have opposed the death penalty and fought to end war.
"Those are the issues that have motivated me and have been the focus of my work as a United States senator. I also want you to know that even though I am ill, I am committed to do everything I can to achieve access to health care for everyone in my country. This has been the political cause of my life. I believe in a conscience protection for Catholics in the health field and I will continue to advocate for it as my colleagues in the Senate and I work to develop an overall national health policy that guarantees health care for everyone. I have always tried to be a faithful Catholic, Your Holiness, and though I have fallen short through human failings, I have never failed to believe and respect the fundamental teachings of my faith. I continue to pray for God's blessings on you and on our church and would be most thankful for your prayers for me."


CHURCH OF SCOTLAND
St Colmon Parish Church - Church of Scotland
St Colmon Parish Church has services in Colmonell every Sunday at 10am and in Barrhill Memorial Hall at 3pm once a month, which is mainly the third Sunday of the month (see below). After each service in Barrhill we enjoy tea, coffee, and refreshments and a time of fellowship.
At the Colmonell service we have our Sunday Club for children, which is for all children over the age of 3.
For more information on our services or activities please see our
The services in Barrhill are on the following dates in 2019:
All are welcome at any of our services.


Bring your whole family and enjoy a carnival atmosphere under the stars on the campus quad on Friday, August 1st at 7:30 p.m. to Saturaday, August 2nd until 7:30 p.m. There will be a fun zone for the kids, food trucks, and an interactive theatre experience with Godspell! The Godspell, according to St. Matthew, is presented in a series of skits and songs, with Jesus and his disciples presented in this musical featuring songs by Stephen Schwartz. Godspell is presented through special arrangements with Music Theatre International (MTI). Admission is free.


11 November 2017
- 10:00 AM
Attention: mates, sons, brothers, fathers, grandfather and nephews!!
Saturday 11th November
It will be a great morning with a scrumptious hot breakfast and our guest speaker Darren Bayley is really looking forward to coming and speaking to us.
Please advise if you have dietary restrictions, eg gluten free, vegetarian etc
RSVP to Metford Community Baptist Church as soon as you can but by 8th Nov at latest.
Metford Community Baptist Church
Phone: 02 4934 5350


|Initials from the beginning of psalms in the St. Albans Psalter. (Wikisource)|
I (Ben) recommend Fr. Jaki’s Praying the Psalms because I found this book quite helpful with understanding the Psalms in a way that enables me to pray them more meaningfully. . .
|Praying the Psalms: |
a Commentary by Stanley L Jaki
About RVB: "Real View Books is a publishing company, founded by Stanley Jaki, established to print books that are significant to the understanding and defense of Christian doctrine and culture. A good number of books of Father Jaki on Science and Religion, and on Theology are also printed by Real View Books, and are available on this site."


My name is Abigail Morales, but most people call me Abby and I am the owner of Jupe de Abby. I'm 26 years old and recently graduated with my Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (May 2016). On August 21st, 2016 I married my best friend Christopher Morales. We currently don’t have any children YET, but we’ll see what the new year brings ;)
So, on this page, I wanted to share a little bit about myself and how Jupe de Abby all came about. I pray that my story and testimony will inspire another person’s walk with God : )
In the beginning of 2010, I found myself going through what most girls would call “a devastating break-up”. Yeah, you know one of those moments where you feel sad, lost and confused on who you are and what you want to do with your life? YUP! That was me. I went through a stage in where I felt frustrated with God for what I believed he “allowed me to go through”. Yet I knew that if I ever wanted to overcome this moment in my life, I would need him, because only he could heal my heart.
I think one of the reasons why this moment was so hard for me was that for the first time in my life, I felt as if I didn’t have control. And if you know me, you know I love to have me some control lol I was always the type to have a plan, excel in school and succeed in whatever I put my mind to do, but things in my life, just weren’t going the way I had planned.
I felt extremely frustrated and distant from God. I remember one day praying in my room, promising him (like we all do) “God if you heal my heart I PROMISE I'll do whatever you ask me to do.” Serving a God that responds, (which he certainly did!) he began to minister to me, in a way that changed my life forever.
My relationship with God became more intimate. A love grew inside of me so deep for him that all I desired was to be where he wanted me to be, to say what he wanted me to say, to do what he wanted me to do and to HAVE WHAT HE WANTED ME TO HAVE.
I became very active in my church and in the calling he gave me, the gift of service. The Lord began to call me into leadership within my church and asked me to do things I had never done before like, teaching Sunday School classes and becoming the church’s Special Events Director. He even began calling me to preach more in my church, services out in the streets and other churches. Always remembering that promise I made him and the gratitude I felt for what he had done in my life I could never find the way to say no.
I had recently started college in September 2009 and was majoring in dental hygiene but I was struggling in my studies. (maybe it was because I disliked science ALOT!!! Lol) So, I finally asked the Lord "Ok, God what is it that you want me to do?" He then put a desire in my heart to want to help women in my church and churches in my city find modest denim skirts, which were and still are extremely hard to find. After some time, that desire he put in me continued to grow and I began to plan.
I stayed in college and changed my major to Business Administration and graduated in 2012. In 2013 I continued my studies for Bachelors and open my first storefront in October of that year. By this time, I also worked in a hospital part time, had the store open only 3 days a week and juggled school.
After 4 ½ years of being single and waiting on God I began to date my husband, Chris. Chris was the president of my church youth group and I was his VP. Even though we knew each other for many years, God allowed us to preach together in a youth revival in July 2014. Little did I know that at the same alter God united us in ministry he would later unite us in marriage.
That same summer in August we had our official “chaperoned date” lol and from there on it was history! Chris was always extremely supportive of my dreams even before dating and I knew like many of my church members would say to me, especially my pastor, “he was a keeper”.
In June 2015, JDA had grown to the point where it required more of my time and space. So, I decided to quit my job and take on Jupe de Abby full time while still tackling school. On October 17, 2015, we were able to move to our new/current location 928 W. Ridge Rd, Rochester NY 14615, where Chris then proposed to me!
Even though to many Jupe de Abby is just a women’s modest clothing store, to me it my ministry. It a gift that God gave, the journey God took me through, to find the Abby he called me to be. The blessings and doors that God has opened are countless. Doing God's will and being able to bless others through JDA, I say it is an honor. I pray that my story touches those who may be facing similar situations as I did and that your faith can help you see that God has a plan for your life better than anything you had imagined ; )


Laoag Cathedral, canonically known as St. William Cathedral is a church in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, Philippines. It was built in 1612 by Augustinian friars to replace a wooden chapel. It is known for its Italian Renaissance design and its Sinking Bell Tower, which sinks into the ground at a rate of an inch a year.
St. William Cathedral serves as the seat or central church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Laoag.
Since Most Rev. Sergio Utleg's transfer to the Archdiocese of
Tuguerarao, the diocese at present is vacant. The diocesan administrator
is Very Rev. Fr. Noel Ian Rabago and the cathedral rector is Very Rev. Fr. Policarpio M. Albano.
The church has an unusual two-storey façade, supported by two pairs
of columns on each side of the arched entrance. The top of the façade
holds a recessed niche that showcases the image of the city's patron saint, San Guillermo (Saint William). It has windows made from capiz with wrought iron screens.
The cathedral was built to support a growing Christian population in
Laoag, which was known as Ylaua at the time. The settlement was a
mission detachment of Vigan during the Spanish era. The church was originally built using lime mixed with molasses for strength, with big stones, gravel and sand. Wood was used for trusses to support the roof, which originally was made of cogon grass and was later replaced with nipa. Much later the roofing was again changed to taleb, a corrugated galvanised iron sheet made with whole bamboo.
The church was damaged by hurricane in 1640, by earthquake in 1706, by fire in 1843. The church was restored in 1880.


At Bug Hunter’s school, the 4th graders study the Psalms and learn who wrote them and what they are. They then write a psalm of their own, and in place of a Thanksgiving feast, they do a “Psalm Reading and Brunch” in the classroom. The parents sit and weep softly as their children share their hearts, and the Spirit of God is very present. Here’s what Bug Hunter had to say:
You are my protector and friend; You gave your very life to save me. Thank you for going through all the perils you had to go through to let me go to Heaven. You are stronger than the strongest steel and kinder than the kindest man. You know the future and you saw the past. You have no beginning or end. You made all things and without you I would be nothing. You love me eternally You let me go to Heaven even though I sin. You rule over death itself. You tell the clouds to rain and they obey. You tell the waves to keep going and they never stop. You have no boundaries or end of love. You care about the worm, so how much could you love me? Nothing compares to you, Lord, thank you for all you have given me. Thank you for my parents, who cook and work. You have also given me a house and a bed to sleep on. You have blessed me with the chance to go to a great school with a kind teacher who teaches me a lot. You gave me a fun dog and you let Kayla, Lindsey and Ronny be my friends. Thank you for letting me live in a free country. You have given me more than I deserve. It was a hot summer day. I was nine and me and my mom were going to church. I was thinking about the Lord and I thought, “Do I have Jesus?” I then began my friendship with God. I prayed that I would never leave Him. Dear Lord, thank you for salvation. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with Thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” This is the verse that gives me the strength to do what I do. The Bible was written by You and we should not take it lightly.


The repetition is good
Hanging in my apartment is a framed quote that I need to see often in order to remind me of something very important.
The quote is from the first "spiritual" book I ever devoured, Conversations with God. But in order to appreciate the gravity of the quote, I have to give you a little context:
First, it's good to understand that Conversations with God was conceived out of pure frustration. As legend has it, when Neal Donald Walsch's life "seemed" to be crumbling, he fell into deep despair, and late one night he began demanding answers from God.
He then witnessed himself grab a pen and paper, and begin transcribing God's answers to his questions. Thus, an extraordinary dialogue began between Neal and God. Now, whether you believe that kind of thing is possible or not, all four volumes of CWG are well worth a read.
Anyway, the quote comes from a portion of the dialogue where God is dropping gems of wisdom. And Neal is growing frustrated because God keeps repeating the same fundamental spiritual principles over and over.
This causes an exasperated Neal to respond that he already understands those principles. Then, God calls him out in the most epic way:
"You keep saying you understand this already, Neal, but do you really??" And now the quote that I have framed:
"Your life lived is the truest reflection of what you understand and what you do not yet understand."
Until our life gets to the point of reflecting the level of understanding we claim to have, the repetition is not just good, it's necessary.


Earnest & Mingli are independent Christian songwriters from Singapore.
They're married to each other.
He plays DADGAD acoustic guitar.
Their faith is the theme of their art.
Since 2012, they’ve released 2 albums.
They perform their music at Christian venues and public places.
But they don't do weddings (sorry).
Sometimes they make short documentaries.
Sometimes they give long talks on “The Story of Christian Worship Art”.
But all the time, they hope to proclaim the mystery of Christ as winsomely, and as clearly as possible.
For concert / ministry enquiries, please message through the "Contact Us" section.
We'd love to hear from you :)


Welcome to our FAQ page, where we address the most common questions about the 40 Days USA event. Our aim is to provide clear, helpful answers that will guide you as you join us in this nationwide journey of prayer and reflection.
Can I donate to 40 Days USA?
No, 40 Days USA is not accepting direct donations. We are fully funded by private donors. To support our cause, consider donating to our collaborative ministries or to local radio stations airing our vignettes. Mention “40 Days USA” when you donate to show your support for our initiative.
Are Prayer Leaders and Radio Stations Paid?
No, our prayer leaders and participating radio stations generously volunteer their services. Their commitment is a testament to their dedication to prayer and national unity, aligning with the spirit of our non-commercial, collaborative effort.
Is 40 Days USA affiliated with any political party or denomination?
Absolutely not. 40 Days USA is a non-partisan, non-denominational event. Our focus is on uniting people from all backgrounds in prayer for our nation, without any political or denominational bias.
What Do We Believe?
We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.
We believe in the God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and in Jesus Christ who is God’s only son. That Jesus died on the cross, was resurrected, ascended to heaven and is alive today. It is through Jesus alone that salvation is found.
We believe that God answers Prayer!
How to Participate
Subscribe to E-Newsletters
Stay updated with our latest news and prayers.
Commit to Daily Prayer
Dedicate time daily for national prayer and reflection.
Involve Your Church/Organization
Engage your community in collective prayer and unity.
Support Local Christian Radio
Encourage radio stations to broadcast our prayer vignettes.
40 Days USA is a collaborative initiative of various ministries. Feel free to click on the links below to learn more about them. We are very grateful for the collaborative ministries making 40 Days USA a unifying force for prayer across the nation.
Be a Part of a Nationwide Prayer Movement
Your voice and involvement can make a significant impact. Whether you’re a radio station ready to share our message or an individual eager to contribute to this powerful journey of prayer, your participation is invaluable.


What Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day shared was a mysticism and a hunger for God and to a desire to love with no limit.
They found inspiration and strength in the ancient spiritual practices and disciplines of the Catholic Church through saying the Rosary every day, going to Mass, regular Confession, and lots of time in prayer and spiritual reading. At the heart of everything, for both of them, was the Eucharist and a mystical experience of Christ who, for them, was truly and really present not only in the bread and wine but also in the poor, the broken, and the vulnerable. We never knew that in private — in her prayer life, her interior life — she was in agony. So basically, in the mid s, she had a series of spiritual experiences — visions — that made her quit her job and start living in the streets serving the poor.
Then for the next 50 years, nothing. No communication from God. In fact, she had no religious feeling at all. She felt abandoned by God. She wondered if God existed. All this comes out in her letters — letters, by the way, that she had asked her confessors and spiritual directors to destroy. Now, why is it important? I said about Dorothy Day that in my opinion, God made her experience in her own skin all the false paths and false freedoms and dead-ends of modern culture.
It is not always easy to love those close to us. It is easier to give a cup of rice to relieve hunger than to relieve the loneliness and pain of someone unloved in our own home. Bring love into your home, for this is where our love for each other must start. Still, he feels empty and restless inside. But when he gets there, she tells him to turn around and go home. Is that where she went from super practical to mystical? I guess for me, it becomes an image of the depths of spiritual poverty.
We make our hearts a heap of ruins and broken things because of our sins, our selfishness, our addictions, our practiced indifference.
And we have to let our experience of the streets of Calcutta, the streets of our cities, change our hearts. But what we do know suggests something profound about her conversion. We know she was really comfortable. She was teaching rich kids in an all-girls school in Calcutta with ivy walls — a kind of oasis in the desert of poverty and misery in the streets outside the walls.
She was so complacent, it would seem, that her mother at one point wrote to her and reminded her that she became a nun to serve the poor, not to serve the rich. People who worked with her were shocked when she announced she was leaving her job to go live in the streets. There was no prior warning. So whatever happened to her leading up to her conversion, it was radical, life-changing. It was as if in some way she was bearing their sufferings.
And in this she seemed in some way to be sharing too in the sufferings of Christ.objectifcoaching.com/components/oktibbeha/site-rencontre-local-gratuit.php
A Revolution of Love: The Meaning of Mother Teresa by David Scott, Paperback | Barnes & Noble®
How can anyone share in the sufferings of Christ? Paul say he was trying to make up in his body what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ? But Jesus said we had to deny ourselves, take up our own cross, and follow him.
We have to lose our life to find it. So being a Christian means in some way sharing in that sacrifice of Jesus, in his sufferings. It means giving our lives for others in a way that is life-giving. Paul again, right? If one person suffers, we all suffer together. If one person is honored, we all rejoice. Article Browser Judicial-Nominations Update. More articles. Previous articles.
That might be what she means.
- The Secret Life of Mother Teresa: Interview with David Scott - Beliefnet.
- Tradition, change, creativity : repercussions of the new diaspora on aspects of British psychoanalysis;
- Horse of Karbala: Muslim Devotional Life in India.
- Saint Teresa of Kolkata: Home!
- Cliff Notes on The Chosen?
- The Changing Postwar International Legal Regime:The Role Played by Japan (International Law in Japanese Perspective, V. 8) (International Law in Japanese Perspective, V. 8);
Most Popular. By John Fund. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is desperately trying to apologize for the multiple times he appeared in blackface. Read More. White House. By Andrew C. This then becomes the analytical framework for every new controversy. There are at least two fundamental problems with They're facing charges.
- Can Institutions Have Responsibilities?: Collective Moral Agency and International Relations (Global Issues);
- Account Options!
- A Revolution of Love: The Meaning of Mother Teresa.
- The Cambridge Companion to Ancient Greek Political Thought (Cambridge Companions to the Ancient World).
By Kathryn Jean Lopez. As a second-grader, Raelyn Sukhbir used to cry every night. Life at home was miserable because the poor girl was so anxious and despondent — which had her parents worried about how bad things might be all the rest of the time, when By Kevin D. By David French. Her mother brings up this woman, File, who used to live at their house, saying, "You have to remember File. But we just don't know. I think it's part of her mystery and her meaning. All the biographies have little lines at the beginning that say "Mother Teresa was always reticent about the past," which means "she didn't answer any questions that I asked her.
It has to do with her overwhelming sense that it wasn't her that mattered, it was Jesus who mattered. They're not all the letters, but some from the s. There are probably more, but those are the ones we have. The initial vision from Jesus was, "I want you to serve the poor. It lays out the whole program for the Missionaries of Charity, including the name.
Jesus tells her, "I want missionaries of charity. In the last of the visions she receives, she has this very strange vision that she's on Calvary with Mary and Jesus. She's told that she's supposed to teach the world how to pray the family rosary. I'm not sure if, in , that was a concept that was widely known or not.
A REVOLUTION OF LOVE: The Meaning of Mother Teresa
Then, we didn't have any idea of the Fatima visions. The visions she describes are kind of similar-an apocalyptic sense of things. Makes you wonder where that all comes from. Your book says she only received that one "order" from Jesus-what happened after that? After that, it seems that for several weeks, at least, whenever she would take Communion and be reflecting afterwards, the voice would continue and they would be dialoguing. She'd say, "I don't want to do this" and the voice would say, "you've got to do this.
She details all of this in letters to her archbishop. Can you imagine being the archbishop and reading this letter and thinking this woman-she's either nuts or she's talking to Jesus.
- My Father Like a River;
- Mother Teresa, now a saint, was a giver.
- Born to Die (Selena & Regan, Book 3).
- Mother Teresa and Us | National Review!
What is your response to Christopher Hitchens' criticism of how she handled the charity's finances? I took the whole Hitchens book really seriously, even though it was written in a tone of derision. I've read almost everything Hitchens has done, even when I don't agree with him. But that book I think he'll live to regret, because it's so shoddy. I respect his journalism, but I think that's a hack job.
I don't see any evidence, any basis to swindling charges or even that the money's wasted. They did not have high-tech operations in Calcutta.
Mother Teresa and Us
This is a woman whose nuns didn't even have fans for the Calcutta heat. Living in India, what was her attitude toward Islam and Hinduism? The short answer is that she loved everybody, and thought any part of the truth that those religions contained was a beautiful thing. Everybody knew she was a Christian and that she believed Jesus was the way to salvation, but she would work with anybody and she would love everybody.
She was treating only Hindus. There weren't a lot of people who went in Hindu and on their deathbed became Catholic. Which is a remarkable lesson for the missions. She didn't proselytize? No, I don't believe there's any evidence of that. She said my job is to make people converts to love. If in the process of loving more and giving yourself more, you become a better Muslim or a better Hindu, then so be it.


Areas of Service
Place of Hope, Inc. is a non-profit organization with a mission dedicated to provide individuals who are less-privileged with access to quality healthcare, food, and clothing.
Place of Hope began in 2002 to help restore personal dignity and provide basic necessities to economically disadvantaged individuals, senior citizens, the disabled, the unemployed and families in need.
We provide basic needs (food, clothing, quality health care) to residents within 5 counties (Clayton, Henry, Fulton, Delkab, and Fayette); The Place of Hope has partnered with several organizations, business, and churches, including MAP International, Americare, GCCN, CVS Health Foundation, National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics.
In recent years we have expanded our reach of hope and dignity by developing partnerships with agencies in and around Georgia.
Place of Hope, Inc. is a non-profit organization with a mission dedicated to provide individuals in poverty with access to quality healthcare, dental care, food, clothing, and education.
To provide health and dental services, as well as food and clothing, to members of our community. Eradicating poverty one person at a time
Be the One That Breaks the Cycle of Poverty.
Meet The Founder
I have always desired to do big things for the community based on my love for God and humanity because there are far too many people forced to choose between having food on their table or taking their coughing child to a doctor. This passion led to the establishment of Place of Hope Inc. in 2002 and with your help and donations, Place of Hope Inc. has continued to positively impact our wonderful community that we are amazed at what more we can do with your continued support. We believe that giving reveals our purest nature, our unshakable commitment to the wellbeing and welfare of our communities, and our obligation and love for Jesus Christ.
In the past years, we have remained focused, resilient and have made consistent progress. It is remarkable – frankly, a dream come true that we have a free clinic, food bank, and a thrift store available for our community. A dream that would have never been possible without your donations.
Thank you! You are the ones who keep our doors open. You keep us from making that hard decision of looking in the eyes of sick patients and unable to help them; or on low income residents in need of care and not able to feed or clothe them due to no available resources. We are so grateful for your partnership and pray that you see your commitment as valuable to our community and never stop supporting Place of Hope Inc.
To all our volunteers, thank you for helping us to achieve this great vision.
Indeed, a partnership with Place of Hope is a partnership with God and the community; a partnership with Place of Hope is a partnership to save lives.
Team up with Place of Hope Inc. today to support people who make the difficult decisions every day between having a covering, putting food on the table and going to the doctor for care.
Founder/CEO, Place of Hope Inc.


Christ’s Ambassadors is a non-profit organization. It was founded by Father George Gobrail in February 2008. The purpose of this non-profit organization is to deliver the message of salvation to everyone and to spread the word of the Bible through Bible studies in English and Arabic in person or through the Internet. We Also provide recorded Bible studies and spiritual/theological sermons. We have also made available PowerPoint presentations for those who would like to use them for the glory of God. We have online devotions to deepen the understanding of Bible verses.
The other main ministry we serve is to help college students from poor families in Egypt through our program (Need Based Scholarship) to help them through college years. The goal is to raise the level of education of our brothers and sisters so they would have a better opportunity to get a job and help themselves, their families, and the community.
Also on Christmas and Easter we assist Churches and Dioceses to provide food and money to needy families to celebrate the feasts as we do.
The team who serves with Father George Gobrail are: Samuel Gobrail, Norm Toma, Nivin Elgohary,Maha Farag, Nardine Asaad, Tony Gharbawi, and Richard Guirguis
Christ Ambassadors welcomes everyone who would like to help with us.


Thanks to those who participated in the caroling at St Louis City Hall!
Uniting as one, appealing to heaven to change the spiritual climate in our nation.
“So that with one mind and one voice, you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Rom 15:6
Gateway National Day Of Prayer is a non profit organization, joining with millions across our Nation in prayer. We hope you will support and join us to stand in the gap with others all across this great Nation, as we declare
“One Nation Under God”.
Check: Payable to Gateway NDP
Mail To: PO Box 220791 St. Louis, MO 63122.
Credit/Debit Card using PayPal: