December 13th, 2009

It truly was a blessing to see that nice large group this morning. I believe God has a plan for our group and he is going to have some amazing things lined up for each and everyone of us.

UPCOMING STUDY
We will be meeting next week and then not again until January where we will decide on a study that we are going to do next. Please bring suggestions or ideas to the group.

SERVICE PROJECTS
~ As most of you (since most were there today), we are talking about supporting the Howlett's in their adoption of Julie.
~ Traci Moore has volunteered to take the lead roll in this and engage others in getting involved with the assistance of Blake Waddell. Traci will be working with the Howlett's to determine what needs there are.

THE IMMEDIATE NEED:
The immediate need of the Howlett's is financial help for Julie and her Aunt to get to the city in order to get their passports and apply for their visa. As a class, we decided, that we as individuals could give as we feel led. You can either give to the church and direct them to give it to the Howletts or give it to Traci or directly to the Howlett's.

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Big Brother / Big Sister program - it is just getting started in Mitchell, so we need prayer for the program and prayer for volunteers. If you would like to participate in any way as a mentor or financially, please talk with Melissa Waddell.

~ Hofer's little girl, Lauren (sorry, not sure how to spell it), is having surgery this week, please pray for the her, the doctors, healing and that everything goes well.

~ Blake's brother and wife are having their 3rd baby on the 15th. Please pray for everything to go well and for their whole family as they bring in their 3rd child under 3 years old.

EMAIL GROUP:
Sending an email to this address will reach everyone who has subscribed to this group.

northridgelegacybuilders@yahoogroups.com

November 22nd, 2009

Well, it's that time of year again! Thanksgiving and the kick-off to the holiday season!! It's during these times that I feel so very blessed and thankful and so prompted by God to help others feel that same way!

I hope we will all feel challenged to get out and be so focused on thanks and praising our gracious God that our gratefulness might be contagious to those around us.

THIS WEEK
~ We discussed Unit 10 this week and had special guests David, Beth, and Zane Roberts who are going to be missionaries in Argentina some time this coming January.

Please have them in your prayers as they travel the midwest and get prepared to go on this most awesome God assignment.

NEXT WEEK
We will plan to have Sunday School and will be discussing Unit 11.

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Hannah's friend going through a tough pregnancy - she is 21 weeks... Praise God! But still has a ways to go for the baby to be safe. Everyday she makes it is certainly a gift from God.

~ Hannah's friend that is going through the adoption process and have been accepted to get a baby February 14th, 2009. Please pray for the biological Mom and the baby and the whole situation.

~ Traci's uncle - mental illness - the family and his children need prayer for peace through the holidays

~ Matt and Kari are seeing some encouraging God movement in their work to get Julie from Haiti... Please continue prayer for Matt & Kari, Julie's aunt, and Julie so they can get here safely and quickly!

~ Marc & Tina (Jason Gebhard's brother) - missionaries in Africa - continued prayer through the holidays and for safety (and for their new monkey. :) You had to be there)

~ The Hart's - healing for Lexi's arm and praise for healing from her surgery.

~ Jen and Ben Klumb and there little boy who broke his leg.

~ Safety for Farmers (Ryan Storm) working hard to get their crops in before the snow flies.

~ Prayer for safe travel and a blessed Thanksgiving. Prayer that we can be examples of Christ and love in our families who might not be saved.

~ Will's sister - trouble with addiction - pray for her to come to Christ and for the rest of Will's family

~ Johnstons - Dave's Mom and Dad are in poor health and they have a lot going on with holidays, leading the church, etc.

~ Keep our church leaders in prayer and the people chosen to select our new pastor.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

November 8th, 2009

Our discussion was great this morning! It is wonderful to get together and be encouraged by all the things God is doing in our individual lives!

Hope you all have a wonderful week!

THIS WEEK
~ We discussed Unit 8 in our Experiencing God study
~ Melissa Waddell said that the Lifelight concert at DWU is this coming Friday, so if you are feeling led to volunteer, please contact her.
~ We talked about this website that has some pretty cool testimonies on it. www.iamsecond.com

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Continued prayer for the Howlett's and Julie (they are trying to adopt from Haiti)
~ Ben and Jen Klumb and their little boy Creighton who broke his leg
~ Healing for Mr. Mathis (Principal in Ethan)
~ Lexi Hart - healing for her shoulder
~ Amber and Will and Layla and God's plan for her.

SERVICE PROJECTS
~ Jason and Fredel have collected all the items from the church and will be donating them to DWU's clothing event. Thanks to all who donated! Those that brought totes for collection can now take them home.

November 1st, 2009

Can't believe it's November already! Christmas will be here before we know it.

THIS WEEK
~ We discussed Unit 7 of "Experiencing God" study.

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Terry (superintendent in Ethan) - he has cancer and has caught some of the stuff going around.
~ Ben and Jen Klumb - Their little boy broke his leg and will be in a cast.
~ Prayer for the staff in this transition - Especially Pastor Paul who has been sick
~ Matt & Kari - The Adoption of Julie from Haiti - Pray for Julie's health & care
~ Melissa's friend going through a tough divorce
~ Hannah's friend who is having a risky and tough pregnancy
~ Farmers and their crops
~ Praise God for Lexi Hart's successful surgery and her health.

SERVICE PROJECTS
~ We are joining DWU's clothing collection and will be donating all the items collected to their event on November 21st from 8:00am to 5:00pm. They are giving everything away for free. Jason and Fredel have collected the items from the church and will do the last of the collection November 8th and will deliver to DWU. You can pick up your totes that you donated after next Sunday.

~ Melissa Waddell talked about the Lifelight concert coming up in Mitchell November 13th and if you are interested you can contact her to see how you can volunteer to help out.

NEXT WEEK
~ We will be discussing Unit 8.

October 25, 2009

SERVICE PROJECTS
We discussed our Winter Clothing Exchange and after seeing the flyers for DWU's large scale clothing drive that they are doing, we decided instead of having our own, to go ahead and donate all of our items to that cause.

We have quite a bit of stuff already collected from the church and we will continue doing that and get it donated.

We will be discussing Unit 7 of Experiencing God on November 1.

October 18, 2009

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Kari Howlett - medical missions trip to Haiti
~ Matt Howlett & their boys while Kari is gone
~ Hannah's friends who are pregnant and going through adoptions
~ Jenn Jacks - healthy pregancy
~ Dominican Republic team
~ Blake's sister - starting radiation and retiring from military
~ Jackson's dedication today
~ safety for hunters this pheasant season

SERVICE PROJECTS
Reminder that our "Children's Winter Gear Exchange" is coming up on Saturday, November 7th.

More details...
www.northridgemitchell.org
Under Current Events on the left hand side - click on "Children's Winter Gear Exchange".

October 11, 2009

THIS WEEK
~ Discussed week 4 of "Experiencing God"
~ Further discussed and assigned jobs for our Children's Winter Clothes Exchange


SERVICE PROJECT
Children's Winter Clothes Exchange
Saturday November 7th
9:00am to noon
Donate New or Gently used:
~ Coats
~ Hats
~ Gloves
~ Boots
~ Snow Pants

Donations excepted at the church collection areas through Sunday, November 1st.
Be sure and sign up to serve on a "team" for this event.
More Information on our website in the "Current Events" area.
Please contact Amber Quinn for more information.

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ A safe return for the Impact Lives team from the Dominican Republic
~ Terry, Ethan Superintendent, has Hodjkins lymphoma
~ Kari Howlett, safety on her mission trip
~ Blake's aunt Terra and her mental health

NEXT WEEK
~ Discuss week 5 of "Experiencing God" study

October 4, 2009

THIS WEEK
~ Discussed week 3 of "Experiencing God"
~ Discussed Clothing Exchange service project--October date is probably unrealistic--Need to confirm with the church that Nov 7th will work.

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Kari mission trip to Haiti
~ Dominican Republic mission trip
~ Lexie Hart's recovery / praise that surgery went well

NEXT WEEK
Discuss week 4 of "Experiencing God"

September 27, 2009

THIS WEEK
Week 2 of "Experiencing God" was discussed this week.


PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Harts surgery for their daughter this week
~ Dominican Republic Mission Trip
~ Kari to Haiti on Mission Trip
~ Pastor Jon and his family as they transition
~ The new pastor (whoever that might be)
~ Hannah's step-dad, friends adopting, friends high-risk pregnancy

NEXT WEEK
We will discuss week 3 of "Experiencing God"

September 20, 2009

Welcome Back to our blog!

THIS WEEK
This week we discussed the 1st lesson of the "Experiencing God" church wide bible study.

We also discussed that they are looking for a larger room for the group to meet in and that until then, we should try to fill in all the chairs starting in the back of the room first leaving as many open chairs as possible by the doors so people feel more welcome to come in.

PRAYER REQUESTS
~ Medical Missions trip to Haiti for Kari coming up in a month
~ Dominican Republic missions team
~ Jared & Angie Klock and their daughter Anna (2) who has cancer
~ Blake's sister who is currently being treated for breast cancer
~ Amber's brother and the tough things he has been going through this last summer
~ Our clothing exchange service project and each person's roll in that
~ Perhaps a larger room for our group to meet

SERVICE PROJECTS
We discussed having a Children's clothing exchange and Amber laid out the different teams that we would need volunteers for. We will be passing the sign-up sheet around again during class next week. Please pray about where God is asking you to serve in this ministry.
1. Event Team - people who are there for the actual event, bagging clothes and receiving donations, etc.
2. Promotion Team - Communicating event details and such to the community and other churches.
3. Set up/Tear Down Team - transporting clothes there and organizing them
4. Collection Team - finding totes to collect the initial donations, possibly washing some clothes, etc.
5. Prayer Team


Other Service Project Ideas given on Sept 13
Serving the Elderly
Prison Ministry
Helping to support the Gebhard missionaries in Africa (Jason Gebhard's brother)
Other ideas? Please let Amy Kahl know at ackahl@hotmail.com


NEXT WEEK
We will be discussing Session 2 "Looking to God" of the Experiencing God Study.

Verse to Memorize:
"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the Lord our God."
~Psalm 20:7

Praying that each of us will look for God in every situation and serve Him one day at a time!

Have a great week!

Prayer requests for the past few weeks!

3-15-09
1. Caleb's safety as he was called out on a SWAT call.
3. Karissa and Lexi safety as they were driving.
4. Jason's family in Africia as they move into their new home.
5. Thank you for Restoring Amy's health.
6. Raise up the city of Mitchell during these trying economic times.
7. Mary Jane's health as she is trying out new medications and struggling to come to terms with her loss.
8. Pray for all patients that are struggling with illnesses.

3-22-09
1. Pray for the officer killed in the line of duty last week. We also lift up all the wives of officers as they stuggle with the realities of their husbands jobs.
2. We pray for Casey's Aunt Faye in her battle against cancer.
3. Gary as he is struggling and that his family and ministry will turn to you in their time of need.
4. We pray for Diane and her family as they struggle with her fight against cancer.

These are our prayer requests for this week...

1. Casey's Friend Scott's Dad, Gail Jacobson) is recovering from an accident and we pray for a full recovery and that Scott and Gail's relationship will grow stronger as they face this challenge together.
2. Continue praying for Caleb's family and their relationship with one another as they are struggling with his Mom's drinking illness.
3. Thank you for Ben and Jen Klumbs healthy baby boy.
4. We pray that Chris's friend will make wise decisions is her new relationship.

Casey is taking us through a book each week. Last week was Joseph, this next week is Matthew? (i think) Well anyways, hope to see every one there on Sunday!

Blessings!
Austin

Prayer Requests

1. Thankful for Your Hand in Chris's mom's struggle with alcohol.

2. Please step in on Blake's brother in law and guide him to make smarter choices now that he has a wife and child.

3. We pray for safe travel of the youth group as they return from their trip.

4. We pray for Gary and Jane Heek and peace for their kids as they are going through a divorce.

5. We lift up Caleb's brother's to You so You can work Your magic into the family's life as they deal with their struggles.

Just a thought if you have a minute...

What does 'spiritual growth' mean?


Spiritual growth is a lot like physical growth. To stay healthy and grow physically, we must eat the right foods, exercise, and get plenty of rest. You’ve heard that since you were a child. According to Scripture, especially passages like Ephesians 4:14-15, growing spiritually involves the same formula.

Christians must eat the right 'spiritual food': God’s Word. Yet many Christians try to survive on spiritual 'fast food.' That is, they watch Christian shows on TV, read Christian magazines, and listen to Christian music, while cutting the Bible out of their diet. But nothing builds the body—the body of Christ—like the Bible. Everything else is supplementary.

Exercise is another body builder. Christians exercise through resisting temptation, enduring trials, serving others, and telling others about their faith. Temptation and problems test our character; serving others stretches our faith; telling people about Christ strengthens our love for him.

Christians rest through worship. Our world has a tendency to pull us in different directions like a rubber band stretched to the limit. We need sleep, rest, and times of vacation to get our physical batteries recharged. In the same way, we need worship to keep us spiritually renewed.

Spiritual growth takes time—a lifetime! This means growing in a relationship, not just changing our behavior. Growing a strong Christian life means learning how to love Jesus more each day, staying close to him, and getting to know him better.

Ideas...

Ok... I am slowly getting this blog thing. I will make it a point to get a list of the prayer requests and praises so we all can be going to the Lord with these needs.

Casey was asking for ideas concerning our next study , if you have any ideas (or if you want to lead!!!) please get with him.

Lets all pray for Pastor Jon as he leads us through the rest of the commandments... I don't know about everyone else, but I am learining a lot through this series.

Thanks for reading this weeks blog... I promise they will get better and more informative!

For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love. ~ Romans 5:5, NLT

New Site, New Blogger

Hey, it's been a long time... and because of that I am going to hand over the reigns on the blog to Austin. Sorry for the delay! Thanks Austin for taking over....

Casey