: 10-12 Bread Ministry; 6-7:30 Pizza and Ice Cream Party in Fellowship Hall (ALL welcome)
. Clothing Closet 9-12
> National Back to Church (Our worship is 10-11) Invite a friend. Many are open to the invitation and in light of recent martyrdom of Charlie Kirk, many younger people are saying yes to Jesus. Many just need an invite! ( we finish up our study of James with chapter 5)
Good Morning Very Loved, Sent, Disciples and Apostles of Jesus--Followers and Doers of THE WAY! That's a truthful mouthful to pronounce over you and us and those God is sending! We are very loved (say it), sent (pronounce it), gathered to learn from Jesus and follow His Ways (declare it). We are disciples (students) and apostles (sent ones) Believe it! Be these! Do these! Proclaim them and live them! And don't forget your prayer partners and teammates to encourage, pray and go with. If you don't have any, ask God to guide you and some to join forces for Christ and to learn to do what he did, His ways. Amen!
This mornings quiet time took me deep with our devotionals (below) and the thread through them and they tie to Mike's great message from as well. Begin by dwelling in God's Love. Just be still (no works) and know He is Love and with you always! Long for Jesus' loving presence like our dogs are longing for Karen's return from her trip. Remember as the Upper Room reminds us that we are never alone. God is always with us! he promises and we know he is faithful and and His promises are true. He is Love and loves hanging with you! Amen! The Word for You reminds us to speak life (and know and believe that your words matter)! When we are weak and weary He is strong and our rest. Stop speaking curses over yourself or situation and start declaring life!
My quiet time began with thinking about how I feel like I am failing as a disciple maker and how we all need to understand and define what a disciple is and learn from Jesus how to make one. I always beat myself up and feel like I am failing God as His sent apostle and disciple maker. Part of that is that we need to be a disciple learning from Jesus and others first. How we define "disciple" determines if we are producing fruit as a disciple maker. How do you define what a disciple is? For me and the working definition we use is, "Discipleship: Becoming who Jesus would be if He were me." Are we? Are you allowing Jesus to live and love through you as He transforms you by His love? Most of us are learning to incarnate Jesus and do what we can with what we've been given to help others to know Jesus and become more like Jesus. Keep it up and let us determine to unite in apostolic teams sent to lead others to Christ and teach them to become like Him and do what he did--even greater things! We have to practice. We need others to help us. And we need to go! Then as we connect to people and them to Jesus we can baptize and teach. Please pray into this and ask for teammates, prayer partners and harvest workers. Thank God for the harvest He is sending too. Who is He leading you to and what will you do about it?
Mike reminded us to be like Elisha who asked for a double portion from Elijah and then fully committed to following God and spreading His prophecies. And he became a miracle worker. We can be too as we experience and participate in the miracle of new life in Christ! Amen! And like Joseph (and like Sarah reminded us the other week..."No complaining! Just trust God and His ways as you follow Him and wait in prayer for Him to move." God's plans will not fail and they include us. Heck, we were created to worship Him and for His purposes. He has saved and gifted us and is teaching and sending us! PTL! let our lives be a sweet aroma to God and produce the good fruit he has gathered us to produce. Amen! What will you be as God grows you? Who will be changed by there encounter of God's love through you? Pray into that and know His love and peace, wisdom and direction. Amen! I'm praying for you and can't wait to hear the ideas and stories God is leading you and us to! rejoice! This is the season God has made and we get to become all he created us to be by His grace! Amen. Let's change the world together!
Sarah Young
UR: Not Alone
Jesus said, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” - John 14:26 (NIV)
My father was my first welding instructor. He taught me the basics, which became the foundation for my continued improvement. Then I went to welding school and worked with more experienced welders to learn my trade. Over the years, I gained skill and experience as I worked on more advanced welding projects. However, even as I improved, there were times when I would get stuck on a welding problem. I could always call my father, and he would give me advice on how to solve it.
Then my father passed away, and a couple of weeks after the funeral, I got stuck on another welding problem. As usual, I thought, I’ll call my father. I was halfway to the telephone before I realized that I couldn’t do that anymore. I suddenly felt very alone. I went back to the project, realizing I was now on my own and had to use my own skills to solve the problem.
I think this is how the disciples must have felt when Jesus said he had to leave them. John’s Gospel says they were “filled with grief.” They felt they would never again have a relationship with him or learn from him. However, Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be in relationship with us and guide us. We are not alone. We have the Spirit guiding us always.
's Prayer
Dear Father, thank you for sending the Holy Spirit to comfort us and guide us on life’s journey. Amen.
Early in the basketball season, the coach at our neighborhood middle school seemed to work hardest convincing his players to risk shooting the ball. “Shoot!” he pleaded from the sidelines. His players eagerly passed the ball. Dribbling was a favorite too. The season was half over before most of them would shed their doubts and try to shoot the ball to score. But “going for it” made all the difference. By obeying their coach, letting go of doubt, and trying—even if they often missed the target—they learned to win.
Jesus teaches us to let go of doubt to obey His call to make disciples. He explains, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20).
In practical terms, this can mean stepping out of our comfort to share our story of what God has done for us. Or getting involved in the lives of our hurting neighbors, showing them Jesus’ love. Such approaches work, but only if we let go and try them.
Above all, we go in Jesus’ authority to attempt what may look hard—making disciples. But we need not fear. Jesus promised: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (v. 20).
By Patricia Raybon
REFLECT & PRAY
What fears and doubts do you have about making disciples? Why? How can you obey Christ’s call?
I need practice making disciples, dear Father, but please encourage me to let go of doubt and try.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
The Gospels describe Jesus as a man who “taught as one who had authority” (Matthew 7:29) and one who “has authority on earth to forgive sins” (9:6). God has “granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those [God has] given him” (John 17:2). When Christ sent His twelve disciples out to preach, He gave them His authority to do the work (Matthew 10:1). Before He returned to the Father after His death and resurrection, Jesus entrusted to us the task of telling the world the good news. He commanded us to tell others about what He’s done for us and to disciple them (28:19-20). We can let go of doubt, for we’re not going out on our own. Christ promised, “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (v. 20).
K.T. Sim
Sarah Update
Good evening, warriors,
Just wanted to update you on a couple of our prayer needs that were mentioned during worship:
Praises:
Eric Schware has gotten a job and begins his new Data Entry job in October. Please pray for him as he will be looking for
housing when his lease runs out in Maryland. He is thinking possibly moving closer home, perhaps the Lancaster area.
Diane Huber/Schwenk is home and receiving care by visiting nurses. This is very helpful to the family
Rosa Cruz is still in the hospital however she is doing pretty good. She is loving that she is able to share Jesus with those around her
Prayer needs:
Yvonne has been transfered into the rehab unit. She will be there for several weeks. Pray that she continues to heal and is patient with her healing
Chris (Yvonne's husband) is in the hospital dealing with issues pertaining to his diabetes and his foot. Prayers for wisdom for his medical team
Barb Schware has been having trouble with her ankle. She has a doctor appointment on . She would appreciate our prayers that this issues is
nothing serious.
Kay Behle is asking for prayer for her friend, Rodney who is dealing with Cerebral palsy. He is seeking his independence. () he has a
meeting with the folks at Good Shepherd to hopefully keep moving towards gaining more of his independence.
Lindsay - friend of Sarah and Neen's will be starting her first round of Chemotherapy, , . Please pray for this treatment to help shrink her
tumors and for His peace to surround her and her family.
The Waterman's are improving with their health and hope to be in worship . Yay God Harry no longer has COVID. Prayers for Millidine's knee pain
Lisa Wenner is challenging us all and praying for all Christians to live out Jesus' love to all, to get rid of the anger that is brewing throughout our world.
This past week was a difficult one with the reminder of the events of 9-11 and then the assignation of Charlie Kirk. Please pray for our world, and for the Kirk family.
Also pray for Tyler, the young man that was responsible for Charlie's death. There is much anger built up inside of his heart. Prayers that his youth pastor will be able
to continue to witness and share God's love with him.
Please continue to pray for our finances; for our outreach programs; for one another, for our health as we approach the cold and flu season. Pray for each other
as many of us are facing doctor/dentist appointments, uncertainty of employment, meeting the needs of our families. God will provide for each of our needs, may we
all trust and believe that He will!
Praying you all have a great week! Don't forget , of this week, is our pizza and ice cream gathering at 6:00pm in our Fellowship Hall. Invite a friend!
Blessings,
Sarah
Wagner's news
Greetings Friends,
A LOT has happened since our last update in June!! Here’s the latest news!!
AP Calculus
It’s been 16 years since Brian was first invited by the College Board to score Advanced Placement Calculus exams. He spent nearly two weeks in June first collaborating with other teachers to refine scoring standards for the free response questions and then leading his table group as they evaluated tens of thousands of individual questions over the course of seven days. Brian thoroughly enjoys the annual opportunity to network with so many teachers, always returning with fresh ideas for the Calculus courses and the math curriculum here at RVA.
During the final day of scoring exam questions, just 30 minutes from the conference center, our 2nd grandbaby was born to Rachel & Luke!!
JUDAH BENJAMIN arrived on th, making Cayden a BIG brother! What an incredible blessing that our grandson came a few days early, giving Brian three days to enjoy newborn baby snuggles before returning to Kenya! Micah & Lynnsi had already planned to be in the area at this same time, so they all enjoyed celebrating this precious new addition to our family together.
Coming HOME
During our last week of school, just two weeks after Brian returned to Kenya, Hannah & Jamie arrived back home for a visit! As our “Tribe of 9” finished the school year, we celebrated with a Mexican Fiesta, complete with a taco extravaganza, the Mexican Hat dance, and a pinata stuffed full of candy!
On the last day of school, the 6th grade class crossed the stage, receiving a Bible and certificate for successfully completing the course of study required to move on to grade 7. Our boys all finished strong, having grown both academically and spiritually throughout the year. We are SO PROUD of their perseverance through hard and challenging things; and there may have been more than a few tears shed as they moved out of our home later that day. We will miss our 6th graders as they move to another dorm and are thankful for the energy, laughter, and fun they brought to our home!
Alumni Weekend brought many former students back to campus to “walk down memory lane” with friends and staff from their years at RVA. We always enjoy watching sports games played between alumni and the current varsity teams. So much fun to cheer for Jamie as he scored a try in the rugby game and then watch both Hannah and Jamie as they played in the alumni field hockey game!
It encouraged our hearts tremendously to have long conversations with alumni we had in our dorms and classrooms years ago (some are now in their 30’s and 40’s), or those who were members of the classes we sponsored. What a joy to hear how God has been faithfully at work in their hearts and lives since they graduated from RVA. How grateful we are to have been part of their stories.
Kazakhstan & USA
After bidding farewell to the graduated Class of 2025 and spending a wonderfully relaxing time at the Kenyan coast as family, Brian was off to Kazakhstan to lead an AP Calc workshop for teachers. During the last year, he has had the privilege of teaching several online and in-person workshops, sharing best teaching practices for AP Calc which he has learned over 35 years of experience! While Brian was deep in conversation about limits, integrals, and derivatives, I was off to meet 6-week-old, Judah, and make new memories with big brother, Cayden. Before heading back to Kenya (which turned into an unexpected nearly 3-day European airport adventure!), I enjoyed a few days in PA with Micah, Lynnsi, and extended family.
MORE New Arrivals
With the start of a new school year, we welcomed many new staff, including a new school superintendent, along with 91 new students! Six of those new students are part of our dorm family this year, along with our one continuing from last year. We are excited to love, care for, and walk alongside this group of 4th through 6th grade boys!
This week we received a prayer letter from AIM’s new South America director. In the letter, he asked, “Why does God entrust us with tasks that go beyond our capacity to carry them out?” He went on to share, “The answer we’ve found is simple and profound: so that God may be exalted. The truth is, it wasn’t Moses who delivered the people from Egypt (Exodus 14:13–14), nor David who defeated the giant Goliath (1 Samuel 17:45–47), nor Esther who saved her people from death (Esther 4:14; 7:3–4). So, who accomplished all these wondrous deeds? The answer: it was God! He is the true deliverer, the invincible warrior, and the defender of His people. Moses, David, and Esther were merely fragile instruments, available in His hands, used by Him to reveal His power and fulfill His eternal purposes. And the same is true for us: if God uses us, it is by His grace and for His glory.”
Your prayers are a blessing as we step into a new school year:
Prayer Requests
New Arrivals!!
New school year – A new school year brings many new staff to our campus. PRAY for quick adjustments to life in Kenya and RVA, strength and energy to meet the responsibilities of each day, and time to rest and recharge each week as we head into a 13-week school term.
New students – SIX brand new 4th-6th grade boys in our dorm (out of 7), and 91 new students to RVA (~400 total enrollment). PRAY that each new student will feel loved, welcomed, and accepted as they transition to life at RVA.
New Superintendent – Our new superintendent, William Ripley, and his family arrived with many other new staff members in August. Relocating from Texas to the mission field is huge! PRAY that William will learn the rhythms and values of RVA as he seeks to provide vision and leadership going forward.
PRAY for our 7 dorm boys to feel secure, loved, and “at home” as we care for them this year.
PRAY for good balance as we serve students and families in a variety of roles both in and out of the dorm.
May God be exalted in all He’s asked us to do, by His grace and for His glory. Amen.
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