In the News ... "Bellview's pastor wants to share love of Southern gospel music"

Maggie Hyde
MRT Correspondent
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Ironically scrawled on a lonely chalkboard in an upper classroom of Voice of Victory Church, surrounded by gutted walls and a peeling ceiling, are the words, “Got rain?” The words were no doubt written by a tired volunteer trying to see the lighter side of the church’s recent plight.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

In the News ... "African preacher visits West Texas"

Matthew McGowan
Staff Writer
Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - In the Rev. Francis Mwansa’s home in Zambia’s northern province of Luapula, where he oversees about 120 Nazarene churches, he has a hard time getting the word out, but it’s not for lack of trying. He said his churches do not have sound systems, which makes it difficult for him to reach everyone in attendance.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story.

Life in Bangkok Restored 02

The second of three powerful testimonies from NL women who have come out of prostitution and who are now three of their most passionate worship leaders.

Annie Dieselberg heads the staff at NightLight, a ministry in urban Bangkok, Thailand, that reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of the Nana-Sukhumvit district. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness, and to combat the sexual exploitation of women and children, both Thai and foreign.

Right now, the greatest need at NightLight is to sell more jewelry. NightLight Design Co., Ltd. is a registered jewellery business which employs women coming out of prostitution or having been at risk of prostitution and/or trafficking. If you are interested in hosting a jewelry party please write to Charity at charity@nightlightusa.org . Charity will assist you in setting that up. Remember the beautiful jewelry is also available on-line at http://www.nightlightbangkok.com/ .

"God is going before us to the bars preparing the way. He is sending us to receive the women and give hope," Annie writes. "We ask you to join us in this adventure. Thank you to those of you who already do. You are saving lives!"

In the News ... "Rock the Desert speaker to focus on God's redemption after his DWI accident kills friend"

Jimmy Patterson
Online Editor
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Life and everything Casey Cease had learned about it in his first 17 years changed in July 1995 when, after a night of drinking, the Houston-area native got in his car, drove off, and struck and killed a friend, John Kimtantas.

As part of his sentence of five years probation, Cease also was given community-service hours. Speaking to groups of young people about the reckless decision that resulted in the taking of a life was part of his punishment. But those appearances also have given him the opportunity to talk about how God’s redemption and love have changed his life forever.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

New Orleans: Update #3

A team of our brothers and sisters in Christ - junior high students and adult leaders - are in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the purpose of participating in the Katrina relief effort, as part of Youth Conference Ministries. Here is a report from Midland's 2009 Son Servants Mission Team, courtesy of the FPC-Midland Youth blog, Postcards From the Edge.

Some Final Reflections from New Orleans …
The Mission Trip was inspiring in so many ways I can’t even list them all. Being there and experiencing a little part of what the New Orleans citizens had to go through was just amazing. I have had so many fun memories while meeting new people from different places. This week I chopped weeds, ripped out floor boards, and scraped paint off and old house than needed to be re-painted. Doing this work for these people gave me a sense of accomplishment. Everyone was extremely nice and so thankful for what we had come to do. Every person in New Orleans had so much hope for the future. It’s amazing how they can have an enormous amount of hope after Hurricane Katrina.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

In the News ... "Light to those in need"

Matthew McGowan
Staff Writer
Odessa American

ODESSA, TEXAS - Strung-out, drunk, skinny, broke, broken and dejected, they trickle in one by one, seeking a shower or a meal and maybe even a kind touch and a prayer. They emerge from the dirt and traffic fumes of North County Road West and knock on the door of Victory Life Church, an unassuming building that could probably use a new coat of white paint.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the OA story.

NightLight Bangkok 02

Annie Dieselberg tells about how NightLight got started and how Annie felt when she first began to go into the bars for outreach.

Annie Dieselberg heads the staff at NightLight, a ministry in urban Bangkok, Thailand, that reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of the Nana-Sukhumvit district. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness, and to combat the sexual exploitation of women and children, both Thai and foreign.

Right now, the greatest need at NightLight is to sell more jewelry. NightLight Design Co., Ltd. is a registered jewellery business which employs women coming out of prostitution or having been at risk of prostitution and/or trafficking. If you are interested in hosting a jewelry party please write to Charity at charity@nightlightusa.org . Charity will assist you in setting that up. Remember the beautiful jewelry is also available on-line at http://www.nightlightbangkok.com/ .

"God is going before us to the bars preparing the way. He is sending us to receive the women and give hope," Annie writes. "We ask you to join us in this adventure. Thank you to those of you who already do. You are saving lives!"

Please Take Note

Here is a wonderful way to spread the news ... AND spread the WORD. Notecards bearing images created by orphans of the Lulwanda Children's Home of Uganada, are now on sale at First Presbyterian Church of Midland. A packet of eight 51/2" x 3" cards, printed on heavy card stock, with envelopes, costs $10 and all of the proceeds from the sale goes to Lulwanda Children's Home.
All of the images that appear on the cards were created by the children this summer, when they were visited by FPC's 2008 Uganada Mission Team. You can choose from full-color landscapes, black-and white barnyard animals, or variable-color native plants from this region of Uganda. First Presbyterian Church is located on the northwest corner of Texas and A streets, on the west edge of downtown Midland, please use the Texas Street entrance near the intersection. The church office is open Monday through Friday, from eight o'clock in the morning until five o'clock in the afternoon. For more information, please call First Prez-Midland at (432) 684-7821.

Lulwanda Children’s Home opened its doors on December 1, 2004, the first children’s home established by the Grace International Children’s Foundation (GICF). Lulwanda now houses and cares for 90 orphaned or abandoned children between the ages of 3 and 12.

Before coming to Lulwanda Children’s Home, many of these children had no one to care for them, while others were living in desperate conditions with aging and overburdened grandparents. Now the children are thriving in a healthy, nurturing environment. The children not only live at Lulwanda, they also attend primary school on site, learning basic life skills, English, math, and a variety of other subjects. Pre-school, kindergarten, and first through fifth grades are held simultaneously for five hours daily, five days per week. The children receive regular medical care, nutritious meals, and lots of outdoor play time – all in a warm family environment that promotes bonding between the children, their house mothers, and the rest of the staff members

Facilities at the Lulwanda Children’s Home include boys’ and girls’ dormitories and bathhouses, living / dining areas, 6 classrooms, a large playground, a kitchen, laundry room, and a garden which provides some of the food for the Home. A 10 acre farm was recently acquired and food crops are being grown and harvested. The Home Administrator lives on site, as do the four housemothers.

CLICK HERE to view or download a 2 page color tri-fold brochure about Lulwanda, in PDF format.

In the News ... "Solid Rock Fellowship"

Staff Report
KMID-TV

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Churches come in all shapes and sizes. A very unique one will soon be open off of Interstate 20 in Midland. Solid Rock Fellowship has been having services in other places. But as their membership numbers grew, they decided it was time to find a permanent home.
CLICK HERE to read and view the rest of the KMID story

In the News ... "Bellview's pastor wants to share love of Southern gospel music"

Meagan Lea Buck
Assistant Lifestyle Editor
Midland Reporter-Telegram

MIDLAND, TEXAS - Bellview Baptist Church’s pastor Myron Unruh wants to give Midlanders the opportunity to experience the music he came to love at a young age. After organizing small groups from the church to travel to other towns to hear the big names in southern gospel, Unruh decided to bring the groups to Midland, so more people would have the chance to hear the music.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the MRT story

Faces of Children: Prayer Requests

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

Prayer Concerns for the week of 07/15/09

Democratic Republic of Congo
• Please pray for the girl children and women of the Democratic Republic of Congo who continue to be brutally raped and tortured. Rape cases have doubled or tripled in some areas since January and the perpetrators are almost never prosecuted or held accountable.
• Pray for the girl children born of rapes, who are now being raped.
• Pray for the healing-physical, emotional, and spiritual-of these terrorized girls and women.
• Pray that God will open the eyes of the leaders of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Africa's Great Lakes region and help them put a stop to rape as a weapon of war.
• Pray for an end to this 12-year nightmare of sexual terrorism for the women and girls of eastern DR Congo.
A report from The Washington Post

Northern Ireland
• Please keep in prayer the Romanian children and families affected by racist attacks against them in Belfast. Pray for their safety and that they will be able to live in peace in this community. Pray for an end to hate crimes.
• Give thanks to God for the people and churches that have come to the aid of these Romanian families.

A report from the BBC

Pakistan
• Pray for the estimated 200,000 children, youth and adults who work in more than 2,500 brick kilns across Pakistan. Pray for families that are trapped by debt bondage in this work. Pray that their children will be able to go to school. Pray that God will provide a way to break the cycle of poverty and debt to the kiln owners.

A report from the Washington Post

• Pray that the 100 Christian families whose homes were looted, then burned down by Muslim extremists will know God's comforting presence and peace. Pray for the women who have had acid thrown in their faces, and for their children. Pray for their healing and safety.

More information from the Jubilee Campaign

Pakistan/Afghanistan
• Pray that God will protect the children of Pakistan from being recruited or kidnapped by the Taliban and used as suicide bombers. Pray for peace and stability in this region. Pray for those who would use children in this way.

A report from the Washington Times

United States
• Give thanks to God for the work of a coalition of diverse groups in Atlanta working together to eradicate the commercial sexual exploitation of children in their community. An estimated 200 to 300 children are prostituted in Atlanta each month, according to the Juvenile Justice Fund,
• Pray for children who are caught up in this sexual abuse. Pray for their safety, their healing, and their restoration.
• Thanks be to God for the efforts of this coalition and for their help in securing additional safehouse for children who have been prostituted.
• Pray that God will continue to bind this group together in their efforts to end the exploitation of children.
• Pray for doors and minds to open to their work and to a vision of wholeness for each child.
• Pray for those who sell children's bodies and for those who use them.
A report from the Atlanta Journal Constitution

Zambia ( CURE International )
• Pray for the disabled children receiving treatment at the CURE International Hospital in Zambia and for the medical staff and caregivers there.
• Please also pray for these 13-year-old boys: Masauso and Kabuku.

Faces of Children
• Please continue to pray that more churches and individuals will join with the ministry of Faces of Children in spreading awareness about children in crisis and inviting more people to pray for children at risk.

In the News ... "Pastors use Twitter for church"

Jeremy HendersonStaff Writer
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal,
courtesy of the Odessa American
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - On Monday, Calvary Chapel Lubbock pastor Ben Martinez was up early. It was a busy day. And if you were one of the currently 98 people who follow him on Twitter, you’d know all about it.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the LAJ story in the OA.

Life in Bangkok Restored 01

The first of three powerful testimonies from NL women who have come out of prostitution and who are now three of their most passionate worship leaders.

Annie Dieselberg heads the staff at NightLight, a ministry in urban Bangkok, Thailand, that reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of the Nana-Sukhumvit district. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness, and to combat the sexual exploitation of women and children, both Thai and foreign.

Right now, the greatest need at NightLight is to sell more jewelry. NightLight Design Co., Ltd. is a registered jewellery business which employs women coming out of prostitution or having been at risk of prostitution and/or trafficking. If you are interested in hosting a jewelry party please write to Charity at charity@nightlightusa.org . Charity will assist you in setting that up. Remember the beautiful jewelry is also available on-line at http://www.nightlightbangkok.com/ .

"God is going before us to the bars preparing the way. He is sending us to receive the women and give hope," Annie writes. "We ask you to join us in this adventure. Thank you to those of you who already do. You are saving lives!"

West Texas Mission Opportunities:Invitation to Prayer

Faces of Children is an ecumenical prayer ministry under the auspices of First Presbyterian Church of Midland, Texas. Our mission is to initiate ministries of prayer for children in churches, communities, and neighborhoods. In doing so, we seek to provide an opportunity for people of God to join together, learn about children and their needs throughout the world, and celebrate Christ's love (especially as it relates to children).

A message from Chris Laufer, Coordinator, Faces of Children

"When he attends to the prayer of the wretched,
He won't dismiss their prayer.
Write this down for the next generation
so people not yet born will praise God:
'God looked out from his high holy place;
from heaven he surveyed the earth.
He listened to the groans of the doomed,
he opened the doors of their death cells.'”
Psalm 102:17-20 The Message//Remix by Eugene Peterson

Greetings, Faces of Children Intercessor,

Do you know how a word or phrase will jump out at you when you read scripture sometimes? The word "wretched" was like that for me. It really stood out as I read this paraphrase of Psalm 102. Probably because I've felt quite wretched at times in my life and behaved quite wretchedly at others.

I decided to look up synonyms for "wretched" and see which ones fit this passage best. The list of synonyms began under the heading "miserable" and included the adjectives "desolate," "heartbroken," "pitiful," and "dejected." Oh boy, those would definitely be suitable in this passage. They describe the human condition of "being wretched" pretty well. Thanks be to God for attending to the prayers of the heartbroken and the dejected. Thanks be to God for not dismissing my prayers when I am miserable, pitiful, or desolate.

There was another list of synonyms for "wretched" under the heading "shameful." They included the adjectives "vile," "worthless," "inferior," and "despicable." Even though the words sounded harsh, I think they would also be very suitable in this passage. They describe the human condition of "wretchedly behavior" quite well. Thanks be to God for attending to the prayers of those who behave vilely or despicably. Thanks be to God for not dismissing my prayers when I have behaved shamefully or wickedly. Thanks be to God for not dismissing my prayers when I feel worthless or inferior, when I choose to ignore that I am a child of God created in God's image

Please join us on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 11:30 a.m. in the Bride's room at First Presbyterian Church-Midland, to pray for God's precious children - the dejected, the despised, the overlooked. Following our time of prayer, we'll have lunch ($5) and fellowship.

It is great consolation to know that our gracious God attends to and doesn't dismiss our prayers. And greater still to know that God hears and answers them. Thanks be to God! And thank you for praying and caring for the children of our world-for those who are desolate and heartbroken; for those who feel worthless; and even for those who behave shamefully.

If you would like to share prayer celebrations or concerns about children or those who care for them, please send them to me at claufer@facesofchildren.net or give me a call. Thank you for your prayers for the children of the world!

Thank you,

Chris

Got Prayer? ... Got Bear?

Available now at First Presbyterian Church-Midland

(there's no charge ... just look for one of the baskets inside any of the main doors of the church, which is located on the northwest corner of Texas and A streets, at the west edge of downtown Midland)

Dear Friend,

I'm Just a teddy bear, it's true,

but I have a message to bring to you;

I've been to church, and sat in a pew,

and I've been hugged by quite a few;

I've bowed my head when they said a prayer;

I've been charged with love by those who care.

And now I've come to live with you -

to bring you joy when you are blue,

to let you know that others care

and want all your days and nights to share.

So keep me close and squeeze me tight,

and know God's love makes all things right.

With our prayers for you,

In Touch Ministry, First Presbyterian Church

When you've had your time with me,

maybe you can set me free

to someone else who needs a prayer,

to show that God is always there.

New Orleans: Update #2

A team of our brothers and sisters in Christ - junior high students and adult leaders - are in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the purpose of participating in the Katrina relief effort, as part of Youth Conference Ministries. Here is a report from Midland's 2009 Son Servants Mission Team, courtesy of the FPC-Midland Youth blog, Postcards From the Edge.

New Orleans … Day 2
Greetings Blogosphere … Today was our second day of work. A lot of groups switched up their jobs and it sounded like everyone had a great day! We had some really special encounters with some New Orleans residents: a man named Cliff who carried his siblings on his back in water up to his chin to get out of the Lower 9th Ward…Pastor Washington whose church was destroyed and he started rebuilding it himself at the age of 78!, and even a UPS lady who was incredibly touched by the fact that a bunch of kids would come spend a week rebuilding the city. Enjoy this evening’s installments from the kids. They’re well worth the read! PLEASE LEAVE COMMENTS AT THE BOTTOM AS WE LOVE READING THEM TO THE KIDS IN THE EVENINGS!
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

New Orleans: Update #1

A team of our brothers and sisters in Christ - junior high students and adult leaders - are in New Orleans, Louisiana, for the purpose of participating in the Katrina relief effort, as part of Youth Conference Ministries. Here is a report from Midland's 2009 Son Servants Mission Team, courtesy of the FPC-Midland Youth blog, Postcards From the Edge.

New Orleans 2009 Underway …
Hi everybody. Yesterday was a hectic workday, so we didn’t get a chance to blog. Now I’m up an hour and half early (not by choice) so I figured I’d fill you in. Hopefully, we’ll be able to have some posts from some of the kids tonight. Yesterday, we got started on our worksites. It was a slow start for some of us as weather held up the start for some of us. My group almost went on a tour of the Lower 9th Ward before the weather broke and we were able to head on to our worksite.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of this post

West Texas Mission Opportunities:Upward, Onward

More than once, I've posted something in this space about Upward, and urged your participation in a program that aims "to introduce children to Jesus Christ by creating opportunities to serve through sports ... a parachurch organization which currently partners with churches in over 40 denominations to share the gospel with children and their families. "

According to their website, "Upward is a fun, reliable, passionate and encouraging sports experience for boys and girls, in K5 through sixth grade. Upward provides first class, organized and detailed sports programming in basketball, soccer, flag football and cheerleading."

"Unique aspects of Upward include an evaluation system that promotes equal and competitive teams as well as a substitution system which allows for equal playing time for all participants.Through Upward, children are exposed to quality coaching and sport development. Upward emphasizes character and integrity instead of a 'win at all costs' mentality associated with today’s sports world."

Up till now, I've focused on the basketball and cheerleading programs available locally ... but according to yard signs popping-up around town, they will have a flag football program at Kelview Heights Baptist Church, and the time to get involved, is NOW.

In the News ... ""Gangstas 4 Christ" Takes Men from the Street into Church"

Beau Berman
Reporter
KOSA-TV

ODESSA, TEXAS - It's called "Gangstas 4 Christ" and it's Odessa's newest ministry with a former gangster preaching Christianity to those on the street. Jaime Udave was a gang member, strung out on drugs and depressed until he found God. Now he's using his gangster looks and troubled past as a way to motivate others to get on the right track.
CLICK HERE to read the rest of the KOSA story

NightLight Bangkok 01

Annie Dieselberg speaking about the vision of NightLight and how the women's lives are impacted.

Annie Dieselberg heads the staff at NightLight, a ministry in urban Bangkok, Thailand, that reaches out to women and children working in the bar areas of the Nana-Sukhumvit district. Located in a neighborhood with a growing sex trade, Nightlight’s vision is to share the Light of the world in both word and deed to those who live in darkness, and to combat the sexual exploitation of women and children, both Thai and foreign.

Right now, the greatest need at NightLight is to sell more jewelry. NightLight Design Co., Ltd. is a registered jewellery business which employs women coming out of prostitution or having been at risk of prostitution and/or trafficking. If you are interested in hosting a jewelry party please write to Charity at charity@nightlightusa.org . Charity will assist you in setting that up. Remember the beautiful jewelry is also available on-line at http://www.nightlightbangkok.com/ .

"God is going before us to the bars preparing the way. He is sending us to receive the women and give hope," Annie writes. "We ask you to join us in this adventure. Thank you to those of you who already do. You are saving lives!"