Good morning,
If you were not able to be with us on Sunday, Jennie Straub from Cornerstone Reproductive Health gave a ministry update during the worship service and everyone was given an opportunity to tour the ministry’s mobile ultrasound unit. This coming Sunday there will be baby bottles available for you to take home and fill with change/cash/checks if you would like to personally support the ministry. Bring the bottles back next Sunday (2/9).
On Sunday we also approved the 2025 annual budget. With that budget being approved, the Missions Budget can also be set. The Missions Commission met earlier this month to discuss our partners and put together a preliminary budget. Copies of it will be available by the mailboxes at church for the next couple of weeks, but I wanted to share some of the “highlights” with you.
We are continuing our support for three international missionaries:
O.M. Panicker – ICCM (Africa and India)
J.C. Ebersole – All Nations (Africa, Central America and South America)
Kendall Keeler – Serve Now (Many Countries)
We are also continuing our support for three international mission agencies:
Compassion International (2 Children)
Gideons International (Bible Distribution)
SAT-7 (Christian Media in Muslim Countries)
We are continuing our support for all of our local ministry partners:
Solanco Neighborhood Ministries - Quarryville
New Hope Community Ministries - Quarryville
Solid Rock Youth Center – Quarryville
Lighthouse Youth Center - Oxford
Oxford Neighborhood Services - Oxford
Onesimus Ministries – Chester County Prison
Cornerstone Reproductive Health – Gap
We have also added the Oaks Ministries, based in Oxford with facilities in Wakefield and (Lord willing) Parkesburg, to our annual mission budget. We have given to the Oaks several times in the past and feel that the time is right for them to be on the annual budget.
We have also designated one-time gifts to two missionaries:
Cassie Kehs - “Launching” as a full-time missionary stationed in Zambia through Overland Missions. - $500
Brandon and Samantha Hoover – Currently serving in Costa Rica through CMC Missions. - $1000
Finally, we have left $1000 of the budget undesignated for now in anticipation that an opportunity to give will likely come up at some point in 2025.
Please continue to pray for our missions and ministry partners. We hope to continue to have many of them visit the Bridge and give updates in 2025!
Here’s what’s happening:
1. The Youth Group has its winter retreat at Black Rock this weekend. Next youth group night is 2/13. Youth group nights are tentatively scheduled for the 2nd and 4th Thursday of the week in the winter/spring.
2. Devon Fite will be leading a time of prayer at 8 am in the fellowship hall on Sunday.
3. The Double Nickels next meeting is on 2/9 for a light luncheon after the worship service.
4. Solanco Meat Canning is right around the corner. ABCF’s slot is from 3 to 7:30 pm on March 11. Sign up sheet is in the lobby. See Lloyd Kreider or Vernon Myers for more information.
5. Onesimus Ministries is holding a breakfast fundraiser on Saturday, March 1 at Waterway Church in Oxford. See Vernon Myers for details.
On Sunday we will be looking at one of the more unusual chapters of the Bible. King Nebuchadnezzar had it all and believed that all he had was due to his efforts and abilities alone. In Daniel 4 he gives a testimony to the dramatic way that he found out how wrong he was! We will journey together through this remarkable story and learn why God doesn't want our recognition, but our surrender.
See you on Sunday,
Scott
PS – We are now gaining at least 2 minutes of daylight every day! Think spring!