A NICHOLS WORTH

A New Year a New Beginning

Philippians 3:13-14
"No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. "(NLT)

As I contemplate this brand new year, with unlimited potential and possibilities, I am reminded once again of the goodness of God. If you're like me the mistakes of the year before seem to come to mind before any good that God may have done. I am so encouraged that God loves me enough to forgive me of my failures and give me another chance, a clean slate, a do over, a new beginning, and a literal re-start! I am so thankful that my failures and shortcomings are not final; I can start over by humbly confessing my sins and accept God's loving forgiveness. I can seek God's face with a renewed energy and a new devotion. I can be reminded over and over again through His word that He is the God of Second chances. I can look to the story of Noah, of Jonah, of Simon Peter who even denied Christ. I can look at Abraham and how he lied about Sarah, and Jacob who cheated his brother out of his birthright. Moses was a murderer, David was an adulterer and a murderer, and of course Paul, who made it his mission in life to persecute the Christians. Yet we know that everyone of these men is a one of the greatest men in the history of Christianity. God forgave these men, strengthened them, and renewed them, and then He used them for His good purpose. Knowing these promises hold for me, it helps me to move forward, to learn from last year's mistakes and pushes me forward with a renewed vigor to follow Him more closely. I look forward to 2010 with intense excitement, prayerfully asking God to direct my steps, to give me a vision of His will for me this coming New Year.

Hebrews 12:10-11
"Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." (NIV)

 

Maranatha Bible Clubbers wish Jesus a Very Happy Birthday

We finished up our 2009 year on an encouraging note. We currently have about 17 children in regular attendance and can usually expect up to 25 each week. This has been a fun group to work with as I can spend more one on one time with the children. We can also do l more creative activities that we cannot do on Wednesday, because of the number of children. We still hope to attract the children from Ecuador but up to now we only have two children coming from that area. Please pray that the church will become more involved with this outreach, our goal has and will continue to be to train the church members to hold the club.

JAMAICAN OATMEAL

             Jamaican Oatmeal Recipe

Use Regular Oats not quick cooking

Measure out oats according to package directions and to amount of servings you want

Let oats soak for about 1 hour

Cook oats at medium heat adding cinnamon leaf, stick, or powder.

Stirring oats so they will not hitch up to the bottom of your pan

When oatmeal is thickened and cooked, add vanilla, fresh grated nutmeg, sweetened condensed milk and a little brown sugar to taste- stirring constantly-This is the secret to creamy consistency

 serve immediately

Will store in Refrigerator and can be warmed up on the stove or in the microwave

Last Bible Club before spring break

We finished our lessons on the Life of Christ this week. I made coloring books for the smaller children that began with the Birth of Christ and ended with the Resurrection. The older children made wall hangings with “He is Risen” at the center. We will have a two week hiatus while the kids are on spring break and I will use that time to prepare lesson plans that will take us into the first week of July.

One of the highlights of our lessons since January was having Pastor Rod Hawkins do a lesson on “Jesus Teaches” while he was in Jamaica. Another big highlight was teaching the children about the Last supper and communion. We had a short communion service with the children during the lesson. We are looking forward to having another VBS this year in July for our Bible Club kids. This year we will also have a concurrent discipleship course for some of our teens, which will run parallel to the VBS times. We are very happy to have our Maine friends back with us again. Please take the time to see the rest of the pictures from this day.

 

From Harold's Corner

Harold has been busy with many building projects this winter and spring. He has been involved with projects at both Maranatha and Jacks River Baptist churches. He has  been able to assist four other ministries in building projects. He helped build a greenhouse for our good friends at Won by One, and assisted C.S.I.in building for a long time friend of ours in Windsor Castle. He assisted previous co-worker David Goode, From Going to Serve with a house project, when one of David's builders fell and broke their shoulder. Most recently this week he is assisting a friend and co-missionary Monica Burger by leading a building team from America for her. They added a room for an elderly woman  and built a small house for an elderly man so he could come out from the infirmary. We love when we can work along side other organizations and be co-workers in the Gospel. Harold currently fills the pulpit twice a month and continues to do a devotion on Thursday mornings with Teen Challenge. Harold visits our previous building recipient's on a regular basis and does follow up for clinic patients. He is busy preparing for our May J-team building project and organizing the clinics.

"Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God"

 

Please will You join with us in Prayer

“Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:3

1.     First and foremost we ask for prayer for the salvation of the children and Adults this ministry works with and for prayer for the Jamaican church.

2.    Please pray for Ruth Shive our director’s wife who is beginning her radiation treatment for Breast cancer.

3. a. Probably the biggest need we have is financial. We have an average of 78 children on Wednesdays with that number increasing with school schedule changes. We need money for food, Teaching supplies, Bibles, Craft supplies, birthday and Christmas presents and for special occasions such as our annual Back to school party where each child receives school supplies and a backpack. 

b. Our youth group has an average of 22 children coming weekly on Friday nights. We provide a snack and a drink. We need funds to support special trips, awards, and now a Christian Camp opportunity has arisen. We also have started a music drama program but we are in great need of a sound system to travel with. These kids have already performed, but we do not have the sound we need to make their presentations as effective.

c. Maranatha Bible club has the same needs as our Teams house Bible club

3. Harold is involved regularly with people who have special needs, especially with their housing situations. Sometimes it is just a piece of zinc for their roof that can make such a huge difference. We have people who run out of money to feed their chickens and will lose their income over 10.00$USD. If we could receive even a little money each month for home repairs, it would make such a difference and give Harold the opportunity to share the gospel while building.

4. Pray for the men at Teen Challenge, Pray the Lord will get a hold of their hearts and they will be freed from the bondage of drugs and alcohol. Pray for Harold as he ministers to these guys each week.

5. Please pray for Joseph (beanie man) for his physical health, his emotional health and especially for him to develop a deeper relationship with his Savior. Pray for those who will rise up and help us with his education costs.

6. Please pray for co-workers. We have decided to step out in faith and begin outreaches where ever the Lord leads, with or without the personnel. The dental ministry is back in full swing with clinics being held on Monday’s at the house. We hope in the very near future to have clinics in the local churches also. Every day is filled to the brim, but the Lord had honored our endeavors and given us the much needed energy to work!

7. Please pray specifically that we would be filled with the Lord’s wisdom, strength, and power to reach out to those around us.