Galatians 3:26 – 4:7 ~ Series: Finding Our Identity in the Gospel ~ November 1, 2009

 

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On the evening of October 17, Christian students from all over Richmond gathered at SPC to worship. Many brought unbelieving friends with them.  Some professed faith in Jesus for the first time. Hallelujah!

We plan to do it again on December 31, 7  to 10.  Very Happy New Year.

You can help support The Awakening by purchasing Awakening T-shirts for just $10 each or 5 for $45.  They make excellent Christmas gifts for your friends at school. To order, email Zac Collins. Let him know what sizes & colors you want & how best to get the shirts to you.  Thanks.

And please pray for the 12/31 Awakening.

In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

MANY THANKS TO ZACK BRYANT FOR THE AWAKENING ARTWORK & TO ROB PFEIFER FOR THESE EXCELLENT PHOTOS.

Galatians 3:15 – 25 ~ Series: Finding Our Identity in the Gospel ~ October 25, 2009

 

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Stony Point Church is committed to reaching out to its neighbors in and around Richmond with the hope of the Gospel and the love of God in Christ.  Sometimes we organize ourselves for Congregational Mission Projects. Other times, we partner with other churches and Missions Agencies.  Occasionally we travel great distances.  More often we serve close to home.  Always, our goal is to bring justice to the poor in Jesus name, expand His kingdom, and bring glory to His name.

The SPC Congregation reaches out to Richmond in these ways:

• SPC EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY ~ George Masiello, Coordinator

• LOAVES AND FISHES ~ K K Daly, Julia Boltz, and Sloan Hiscock, Coordinators

Loaves and Fishes is a meal ministry that serves the homeless and working poor of inner city Richmond.   With other area churches, we prepare and serve hot meals downtown every Sunday at The Conrad Center.  You can participate  in your own kitchen by preparing and cooking food in advance OR by joining the team at the Conrad Center on Sunday mornings to prepare, serve, and clean up after lunch.  To volunteer or for more information, contact Sloan Hiscock at SPCLoavesandFishes@gmail.com.

• VIRGINIA BLOOD SERVICE ~ Linda Johnson, Coordinator

• CROSSOVER MINISTRIES

• NEEDLES EYE MINISTRIES / Buddy Childress, Executive Director

• PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER / Kim Warburton, Director

• TIMOTHY HOUSE ~ Otis Smith, Director

Timothy House is ministry to men who making the transition from prison to life in the community. SPC  plans to help these men by forming teams to repair and remodel their home in the city.  Gary Grab is the SPC Timothy House Mission Project Coordinator.

• STEP – STRATEGIES TO ELEVATE PEOPLE / Tim Cole, Director

• SET FREE / Jeannie Smith, Director

• CHAT – CHURCH HILL ACTIVITIES & TUTORING / Percy Strickland, Director

Church Hill Activities and Tutoring (CHAT) is a Christian community development organization that is focused on the needs of the urban core residents of Church Hill. They work to “be neighbors” through inviting their friends, families and communities to “be neighbors” with them. CHAT operates from an approach of “open homes” as everything happens in the context of the home. From tutoring to life-skills training, it all happens in an actual house where real families reside. CHAT’s hope is that by making the residents of the Church Hill inner city community a part of their family, that God will be able to “transform hearts”, and in doing so, change the harsh reality of the urban environment. It is their hope that churches will get to know Church Hill and join them in this task.

The SPC Congregation reaches out beyond Richmond in these ways:

• UGANDA MISSION PROJECT ~ John Keltonic, Coordinator

Since 2000, Stony Point Church has been sending a team each summer for two weeks to work in Buziika, Uganda. This mission is a direct partnership with Pastor Isaac Wagaba, who founded and runs the Canaan Children’s Home orphanage, in Buziika.

Through Isaac our team loves on the 100+ children at Canaan,  trains hundreds of Ugandan pastors, conducts Bible Clubs for village children, encourages and trains youth and youth pastors, teaches in local area schools, and provides medical assistance, equipment, and medicine to the clinic at Canaan, the Jinja Children’s Hospital, and many other medical facilities in the region. We’ve also assisted in various building projects, including digging wells and assisting with building construction.

Exact numbers are hard to come by, but our best (conservative) estimate is that 600+ children have come to know Christ and joined local churches, 450+ pastors have received Biblical training, 1000+ children have attended Bible Clubs, 150+ youth and youth pastors have received training, thousands of Ugandan school children have been taught by Stony Pointers. Eleven+ tons of medicine and medical supplies have been delivered to medical facilities in Uganda (SPC provides almost 90% of medical supplies to the Jinja Children’s Hospital which sees 100-150 children per day – this medicine has conservatively saved the lives of 4400+ children). In addition, Ugandans have received training regarding HIV/AIDS, hygiene, infant and prenatal care, malaria, and have also received thousands of mosquito nets through Stony Point.

For more information about Canaan Children’s Home or to learn how you can sponsor a child at Canaan, go to www.canaanchildrenshome.org. To learn more about how you can be a part of this life-changing ministry, contact  John Keltonic at 272-6777.

• FAIRMONT MISSION ROJECT ~ Zac Collins, Coordinator

• DORNOCH MISSION PROJECT ~ Michael Bryant, Coordinator

Over the past couple of decades Stony Point Church has planted three daughter churches in Richmond:

All Saints Reformed Presbyterian in 1984 ~ Dennis Bullock, Pastor

West End Presbyterian Church in 1993 ~  Steve Shelby, Pastor

City Church of Richmond (formerly known as Franklin Street Community) in 2008 ~  Eric Bonkowsky, Pastor

Mission to the World is the mission-sending agency of the Presbyterian Church in America, our demonination.   Since its founding, Stony Point Church has had a big commitment to reaching out around the world with the hope of the Gospel and the love of God in Christ.  By supporting MTW Missionaries, SPC has invested in the growth of God’s Kingdom and reaped blessing upon blessing of God’s grace.

These MTW Missionaries receive financial support, prayer, and encouragement from SPC:

Jeff and Patty Borden ~ Seminary Professor in South Africa

Richard and Robyn Crane ~ Worldwide Internet Pastor Training, based in Miami, Florida

David and Barbara Cross ~ United Kingdom

Jonah and Jennifer ~ Evangelism and Church Planting in Pakistan

David and Myra Hamilton ~ Home Repair Outreach Ministry in Fairmont, West Virginia

John and Kathy Lesondak ~ Student Ministry at the Building in Trnava, Slovakia

Pat and Jane Maddox ~ Various ministries in Mexico (based in  Hopewell, Virginia)

Don and Merril Mountan ~ Pastor Training and Encouragement through Equipping Leaders International in Clermont, Florida

Kurt and Jill  ~ Evangelism and Church Planting in London

Robert and Linda Rahaim ~ Christian Counseling Ministry in Dundee, Scotland

Jeannie Tabb ~Bridges International, Austin, Texas

Will and Judi Traub ~ Seminary Professor and Training Coordinator for MTW Europe in Germany

Steve and Sarah Young ~ Church planting for Japanese speaking immigrants in Perth, Australia

Foe decades Stony Point Church has participated in campus ministries with prayer and financial support. Two former SPC students, Patrick Flynn and Jordan Maroon, have committed their lives to full time campus ministry. Many other SPC students serve in campus ministry leadership roles at their universities.

SPC supports these campus ministries in local high schools and universities.

Matt and Erin Bouknight ~ Young Life in Chesterfield

Carolyn Ogrosky ~ InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at , University of Richmond

Dabney DeHaven ~ InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University

Jordan Maroon ~ InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Wake Forest University (North Carolina)

Patrick and Christy Lynn Flynn ~ International Students Inc at University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Chris Daniel ~ Reformed University Fellowship, Virginia Commonwealth University

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PRAYERS ~ Jennifer & James Murphy (4.4.09)

All nine of the Scotland team have arrived safely and are, probably at this point, fast asleep in their beds.

Making the connection in New York was a very close call, but after an all-out sprint for about a mile through the airport, they re-opened the gates for them, allowed them to board, and were even offered refreshments as soon as they sat down (sounds like the sweat pouring down their red faces scared the stewardesses into thinking they might pass out at any moment!). And praise the Lord, all their baggage made it through as well!

We were very concerned about the team making it through customs, due to some brand new UK legislation and restrictions that have resulted in recent foreign Christian mission teams turned around at the gate and forced to leave the country immediately, but God guided them through that step of the journey as well.

Though they were all exhausted from the flight, they wanted to take advantage of being in Edinburgh by spending some time seeing the sights; so for three hours, they toured Edinburgh Castle, and walked down the popular street, the Royal Mile, checking out some of the shops.

Once in the van, the only sounds during the four hour drive came from James and Chris in the front seat, joking and laughing it up, while the rest of the team snoozed.

Upon arriving in Dornoch, each team member was introduced to and dropped off at their respective host’s home, where they each enjoyed a home cooked meal, and most likely went to bed right away.

Tomorrow the Stony Point and Dornoch Free Church Holiday Bible Club teams will meet and combine forces to put the finishing touches on the plans for the upcoming week.

We appreciate your prayers both thus far and for the rest of the mission, especially for the hearts of the kids who will attend the Bible Club, and the SPC and Free Church Team in leading the Club.

The SPC team looks forward to keeping you updated throughout their time here.

GOD WILL GIVE THEM COURAGE! ~ Anna Bryant (4.5.09)

Hiya! As Jennifer told you last night, we’re all here safe and only a little jet lagged. We slept in Saturday morning and then met in the afternoon with the Dornoch Free Church members who are helping with the Holiday Bible Clubs. It was SO cool to see how many people God had given enough courage to volunteer to help with the Bible Clubs. They have agreed to be Teacher’s Assistants and aids with the clubs, but none have jumped at the idea of being a head teacher. Most of them are still very timid about taking over the classroom but our prayer is that by the end of the week they will be leading the classes so that next year they can run the whole clubs on their own! Please pray that God will give them courage!

After that we enjoyed time teaching the songs that we will be singing with the kids all week. We decorated the sanctuary and classrooms. We’re pretty excited because we are blowing up hundreds of balloons, putting them in a large net, and hanging them over the balcony to have a “Balloon Drop” on Friday! Woo hoo!! Next, we were blessed with a great Scottish dinner at the Matheson’s house. God blessed us by allowing us time to fellowship as a group and have a debrief where we shared the many ways we’ve seen God at work already!
We went to the church service this morning where we sang a few songs beforehand. Mr. B preached (crazy, I know!) and God was once again faithful as we heard many ways that God used his words to touch people. Praise God!

We took a long walk to Embo to eat lunch at the Mackay’s where we were able to rest up a “wee” bit more before the church service tonight. We sang (a lot) and had a great time of prayer and praise with the Dornoch Free Church congregation.

We’re now all sitting at James and Jennifer’s house having our nightly debrief. We’re being joined by seven of the teens of Dornoch, too! God is good! Please pray for our first day of Holiday Bible Clubs tomorrow. Pray that the parents would let their children come to the Bible Clubs and that God would use us to bring His saving grace to them. Also, pray that through this week, the parents of these children would be touched and have a desire to learn more about what their children have been learning! Thanks for all your support and we’ll be sure to post updates again soon!

Much Love,
Anna Bryant

p.s. To the Four-Dessert Club from last year, have no fear. This is a NEW year, and Harrison Jones has established a a new club: The Running Club to meet every morning…early. (I think I preferred the dessert one…) We miss you Big Momma and Coleman! Everyone’s asking for you!
p.p.s. LOVE you mom and helen and josh and zack and anna!

OUR FIRST DAY ~ Leslie Kolmer (4.6.09)

Greetings from Dornoch Free Church. Tonight will be our first day for Holiday Bible Club. And yes, we are excited! If you were here you would see a huge net suspended over the center of the sanctuary filled with around 1,000 balloons. Banners and streamers are everywhere and classrooms are set up. The music team has practiced hard. Our brothers and sisters here in Dornoch have made some changes to their building that should prove very suitable for classroom space. James and Jennifer have done a great work here and we see the fruit of Bill and Kathy Anderson’s time in the teachers and assistants who have a sense of the challenge before them but a marked enthusiasm.

Now as I write this we have finished our first evening of the Bible club and though we are certainly exhausted you can still hear Leigh Liles and Anna Bryant singing Bible club songs. Yes, really, and there is also plenty of laughter. I think we all have the sense that we are taking a small part in a big work that God has done and is doing here and feel tremendously privileged. I hope you who have supported us will also catch the joy and energy that comes as a by product of serving wholeheartedly in Jesus name. God Bless!
Check out the photo Gallery @ Dornoch 2009 on the church web site

Leslie Kolmer for the Dornoch team.

MONDAY MORNING ~ Lynn Liles (4.7.09)

Greetings from Dornoch.

On Monday morning we went to the Meadows (a nursing home/assisted living facility) to sing, share a testimony and visit with the residents. The music was lively and fun. Harrison and Mr.B put on quite a show! Sean Skinner’s (a Dornoch teen) mom Susan works at this facility. They were all ready for us-they even had a sign up announcing our arrival. We met many Margarets, John and Mae, Mary and several others. It was encouraging to us to see smiles on their faces and tapping the tables or clapping to the music. After and hour of singing and hand motions and hugs we left to go for a leisurely lunch and back to the church for final preparations.

Anna and Leigh were inviting kids to HBC as we walked around Dornoch in the afternoon coming back from lunch. HBC started with a loud and joyful opening ceremony lead by James as the MC and the SPC band. Us Stony Pointers learned a new song from Jennifer, ‘Feet Shod’—so get ready for some fun when the band gets back to Richmond. The first lesson in the HBC Bible curriculum is Jesus is the Eternal God—I AM the good shepherd. As part of the lesson we not only had a live sheep but—she had 3 baby lambs that morning at 7:00 pm. Do we have an awesome God or what?

There are 4 classes lead by 9 SPC adults and teens and DFC adults and teens and about 12 DFC Special Aids (teens and adults). There were 33 Dornoch children for the first night—with more expected.

The band – Mr. B, Chris, and Harrison with Anna singing, of course. They were really jamming. Everyone old and young alike were singing, dancing and doing hand motions for the songs.

Our Bible verse for the Gospel lesson for the night was Romans 3:23 “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

We went back to James and Jennifer’s for a debrief and dinner. The dinner was great. The DFC folks are preparing meals each night for the team and the youth that are helping. Kenny a youth made meringues for dessert! Everyone is so hospitable ad quite gifted with preparing desserts.

MIRACLES IN DORNOCH ~ Jennifer Murphy (4.8.09)

God is working miracles in Dornoch. From the very beginning of our ministry here, James and I have had two primary goals: to work alongside the Dornoch Free Church (DFC) congregation in youth ministry and, through God’s strength and wisdom, to equip and enable them to take over for us when we leave.

I have to be honest and admit that on more than a couple of occasions, I have truly believed that most of the youth events we lead would cease to exist after our departure from Scotland in the summer of 2009 as a result of no one caring enough or being willing to take over. But, after witnessing the ways God has worked in and through the people of DFC over the last few weeks, and how they have so willingly stepped out in faith to do something they fear, I have no doubt that God will continue to work through the people here in Dornoch for generations to come.

Getting the DFC to the point it is at today has been a long process, which we have only seen a portion of, but it has been exciting to observe all that’s happened over the last 20 months.

This is the second Holiday Bible Club (HBC) put on by the DFC and Stony Point Church (SPC), and I can’t help but compare and contrast the extreme differences between the two years.
Last year SPC sent a team of 12, this year the team numbers 9. The choice to send a smaller team was intentional, in hopes that the DFC members would realize how much they would need to step up to fill the roles of the missing team members.
Last year, the children who arrived on the first day seemed nervous, unsure, and almost anxious. Gradually, the kids really warmed up to the team and were bouncing off the walls with an infectious energy. That energy, and then some, is what the kids came in with on this past Monday evening. It was wonderful to see the joy and excitement in their faces; it was like they had been waiting all year long for the HBC to begin again.

Last year the club was run completely by the SPC team, with the help of some of the teenagers from the DFC. This year, the HBC is truly a joint effort. The for leading and teaching each class is shared by both SPC and DFC people. James and I have had the opportunity to listen in on the classes while some of the DFC people have taught lessons, and we are so encouraged to hear how God is speaking through them, despite the fears that nearly paralyzed them a mere two weeks prior. We have the privileged position of being here and seeing all of the factors that have contributed to the DFC people getting to the point they are at: willing to follow God’s leading while staring their intense fears in the face.
Last year, the DFC adults stood in the back and watched, taking it all in, but hesitant to get involved. This year, DFC people of all ages are interacting with the kids, putting all of themselves into doing whatever it takes to share the love of Christ with the children of Dornoch.

It has definitely been a process; this is not something that could have been achieved overnight. Due to my and James’s lack of experience in training people how to teach, we put out a request to all our supporters, and God answered that prayer in a very real way when Bill & Kathy Anderson volunteered to travel to Dornoch to train, encourage, and equip people here to teach HBC, Sunday School, and other youth events. That, paired with the help and encouragement the DFC people received from the SPC team that is currently here, has led to monumental changes in the mindset and attitudes of people here.

God is working miracles in Dornoch. And I give Him thanks that I am here to see them.

MUCH FUN HERE IN SCOTLAND ~ Chris Caldwell (4.8.09)

We’re having so much fun here in Scotland. John, Harrison, Anna, and I have been helping the Dornoch Christian Fellowship church with their soccer camp On Goal. Everyday from 9:30-2:00 we help a fellow group of Americans teach kids, ranging from 8-15, different skills and then stop for lunch to teach about God. We also had a nice time at the monthly tea at Dornoch Free Church with some of the more aged people of Dornoch. Between the desserts and the music we all had a great time. Holiday Bible Club has been a huge success and we’re all having a great time.  (Romans 12:4-6)

A BUSY & PRODUCTIVE DAY ~ Michaux Holmes (4.9.09)

Greetings from Dornoch!

We have had a busy and productive day. The morning started with a hike on Big Burn Mountain. After our hike we went to a Nursing Home facility called Oversteps. We visited the residents there and sang for them. Leslie led a devotion on the fruit of the Spirit, Elizabeth and Leigh shared a brief testimony as well. We joined them for their afternoon tea before we headed into Dornoch for a late lunch. There was little time to spare before we needed to be at the church for the last minute preparations for HBC. One of the things we’ve done before the clubs start is to make a big circle in the sanctuary and pray.

It is always such precious time of prayer with our brothers and sisters of Scotland. We really have connected with this Dornoch team. They are really getting the hang of things from singing the songs and participating in the hand-motions to teaching of the Gospel Lessons in the classroom..

During the debrief tonight, one of the Dornoch ladies shared that she had been so nervous and scared about teaching her Gospel Lesson but at the end of the day she loved it and didn’t understand at all why she had been so nervous! What an encouragement to hear that!

As I type this (it’s about 9pm), Michael is in the next room leading a study with the teens on Galatians. Most of these kids have been helping all afternoon with HBC and then they come here to James and Jennifer’s for youth group. They seem to be soaking all of this up and enjoying every minute. It is impressive what James and Jennifer have accomplished.
We all feel like these seeds being planted are going to produce great fruit in the future

Pray for us as we wrap up this last day of Bible Clubs. Tomorrow’s lessons will culminate all that we have been teaching about Jesus. Pray especially for Harrison as he leads the final Bible lesson.

JAMES’ & JENNIFER’S LIVING ROOM ~ Elizabeth Giffin (4.10.09)

Dear Stony Point Family and Friends,

I am sitting in James and Jennifer’s living room. Their youth bible study is singing of how Christ saved them from their sin by his death on the cross – “In Christ Alone.” In a few moments we will have our last lesson from Galatians – learning that the only thing that counts is our faith in Jesus expressing itself through love.

Earlier in the evening, we had our final Holiday Bible Club. The children came and had a great time singing our new favorite song, “Feet Shod”. The anticipation for the day was the big balloon drop, which went off without any trouble at all. Many of the kids were walking out of the Dornoch church with an armful of balloons. The children had a joy-filled week and we all enjoyed interacting with them.

After all the children left the building, we had a question and answer time with the Dornoch teachers about how to run a HBC on their own. Many of them requested that a SPC team to come again next year. We encouraged them to pray expectantly, knowing that God will answer their prayers in little and big ways. We thanked and praised God together for the many specific ways He has blessed our work this past week. We ended the night by praying for the HBC children, for one another, and for our churches.

I am still relatively a Stony Point “newbie” and it has been a tremendous joy to serve on this team. I must admit I was quite shocked to be included in this trip; I was still unsure why I was going while we were sitting in the Richmond airport! But I have made relationships with my SPC and Dornoch team members that will continue to be a blessing every time I look back on this trip. I was especially encouraged this week by the Dornoch church members. Their love for God is so evident in all that they do. Being able to come and support them in ministry to children and teens has been a true blessing for me.

Thanks for all the prayer and support from you at home. We miss you all and can not wait to see you when we return.

BENEATH MY FEET ~ Harrison Jones (4.13.09)

It has been a while since I have felt the softness of American soil beneath my feet or eaten a hot dog while listening to the national anthem, but nonetheless, I remain an American and was more than happy to assist our team in learning the ways of the UK. I am charged with updating you all on the goings on of the last two days in Dornoch and so I think I will just jump into things as if you already know the characters and the plot.

After a full English lunch with Londoners Stuart and Shirley Gamble, we began plans for our BBQ Easter egg hunt to begin at 4:00 on Saturday. James won’t mind if I say at 3:20 we were still waiting to begin our plans, as the first woods location we were looking to use turned out to be a big pile of logs. After some prayer and some hard searching for a new site, the BBQ came together in just 40 minutes. But more amazing than this quick turnaround was our students and their parents who showed up in full number (50+) about five minutes before the cookout was meant to start. They must not have heard of the Stony Point rule for BBQ punctuality. The easter egg hunt was an absolute smash with the kids and after this the parents and kids all gathered around the hollowed out barrel grill for some of our bible club worship songs. It was actually a special moment, we all thought in retrospect, because James explained that to see Scots singing in public is a very rare thing. We watched the apprehension on many of the parent’s faces turn to pleasant chuckles the more we sang, and soon all anxiety was at ease. It is very possible that this BBQ made significant “warm contacts” that hopefully the Dornoch Free Church can exploit over the next couple of weeks; but there is much prayer still needed in this area.

Next on the list was a spontaneous trip to the lighthouse around the inlet at the beginning of the firth. Our team took Sean, Glen and Dexter down to the point where we hopped around the rocks on the shore, watched the sun go down, and prayed again for the future of the church and the souls of the children at the club. Mr. B kept pointing out the pastoral scenes of sheep on green hills as we went by in the van, I guess because they looked like the windows screen you can select for your computer. The evening winded up at the MacKay’s with Mr. B having significant conversations about the challenges SPC and DFC face in reaching out to our neighbors with the Gospel.

Easter morning came quickly, especially for those of us who thought staying up to play video games with my host family until three am would be a worthwhile ministry investment. Church attendance was approx. 101 Sunday morning, which was a great encouragement for many in the congregation. It was the most James and Jennifer can remember seeing at the church in a long time, not to mention that the gospel was clearly preached by a veteran visiting minister in a very understanding way. That afternoon we spent much needed time with our host families for lunch, then returned to the church for the evening service. A handful of church members gave heartfelt speeches throughout about how God had challenged them this week to step out of their comfort zones and to make Phil 4:13 a reality. Mr. B finished off the evening with a state of the church address about how practically the church can fight to make the mission of the gospel more central (or the very center) to their church. Again, for more details here, please catch Mr. B in a doorway conversation at SPC and he will be delighted to fill you in on more. All this to say though, Mr. B was our MVP.

After a quick backyard football game and a “light” dinner at Eileen’s (soup course, meat and rice dish, another meat and rice dish, and puddings), the intrepid team retired to James and Jennifer’s to get our three and a half hours of sleep. Obviously this was to be impossible, and even more so when we attacked by hooded raiders banging at the windows at 12:30 am. According to some sources, they were breaking through the doors wearing gorilla masks and bike helmets. When Chris Caldwell unmasked the invaders, it was none other than the youth group and their fearless prank leader, Eileen. Mr. B and I were lucky to hear none of this as we were fast alseep in the conservatory. Great last minute decision to move out of the den for the Jones.

As lighthearted as I wrote, there are still very many pressing issues that need prayer and action. It was very encouraging to see how much excitement the HBC stirred in the town during the week, but we need to pray that this would not simply be a quick trip to a mountain top but a resolve by many to make changes and to invite others to church. Small town churches can often struggle for church attendance, but more important than numbers is that Christ would be preached and people would come to know him and invite him as president over their whole lives. We know that our God can do this. Please be in prayer for many to realize how God wants this church to proceed.

WE ARE HOME ~ Michael Bryant (4.11.09)

Dear SPC Family & Friends,
After a long day of flying, the SPC Dornoch Mission Team is safely home.  Our time in Dornoch was filled with almost unbelievable blessing all around.  Many thanks to the Dornoch Free Church for their partnership in ministry and world-class hospitality.  Many thanks to the children of Dornoch who attended our Holiday Bible Club and to their parents for bringing them.

Many thanks to Bill and Kathy Anderson for training and inspiring the Dornoch teachers and “assistant” teachers.  Many thanks to James and Jennifer for working out all of the details.  Many thanks to all of our friends and families for their loving support and encouragement.  But most of all, thanks be to God in Christ for everything that is good, beautiful, and true.  The glory is all His.
In His Love,
Michael Bryant

P.S. We plan to present a mission project report this Sunday (4/12) at 6:30 p.m. in the Stony Point sanctuary.  Please join us if you can.

THE END ~ James Murphy (4.11.09)

The final day of Dornoch Free Church’s Holiday Bible Club has come and gone. Ten Stony Pointers crossed the Atlantic and one took the train north from England. Forty-one Dornoch children were exposed to the gospel. So were many of their parents, grandparents and siblings. An apprehensive ewe and her ten-hour-old triplet lambs made a visit. Sandcastles were built. The lights were turned off. Harrison visited the Golspie Fish Monger and returned with some stinky props for feeding the five thousand. Captain Courageous flew in from the balcony. One thousand balloons descended from the sky. Five hundred Easter eggs were hidden and, mostly, found. Two hundred burgers and sausages were BBQ-ed and consumed. New songs were sung. New friends were made. Assistant teachers learned that they are really teachers. Certificates were handed out. Colorful streamers and banners were hung up and taken down. The church building was messed up and cleaned up. The Holiday Bible Club is over. The end.

But in reality, this is the beginning.

The congregation has gained a new confidence for teaching and zeal for sharing the gospel. Some of our neighbors attended church for the first time in decades, with over a hundred worshiping together on Easter Sunday. The church is usually that full only for funerals. Children came to an understanding that Jesus loves them enough to die for them, and now they want their parents to know the same. Many were encouraged in their own faith. Boundaries were pushed. Comfort zones shattered.

The Dornoch Free Church now has some difficult decisions to make. Like many churches in our generation, it must decide who will be more important – the people inside its walls who know and love Jesus or their neighbors who, living without faith in Jesus, are lost and bound for hell. Whatever course they take, the church faces difficult times ahead. If they choose the first option, the church will continue to die a slow and painful death. If they choose to take the gospel to their neighbors, they face a culture where Christ is cursed, life is not worth living for some, and where death is suffocating. They will also disappoint, and perhaps lose, some dear members. DFC needs Stony Point’s love, support, encouragement, and prayer.

This past week, two young girls attended Holiday Bible Club. The older one is four years old. Her sister is two. They are the most beautiful kids you have ever seen. Their hair is curly, their eyes are bright, and their smiles are big. Last November their parents separated. Their young father was depressed and his life falling apart. He walked over to the golf course, to one of the most breath-taking views in all of Scotland, and took his life. For him, life was hopeless and not worth living. So he ended it. His daughters are left to face the challenges of life without their father’s guidance, provision, and protection. At Holiday Bible Club, those two little girls learned that God is a Heavenly Father who will never die. They learned that through Jesus, they have access to the Greatest Dad Ever. For them, like the Dornoch Free Church, this is the beginning.

THE TEAM

Michael & Anna Bryant, Elizabeth Giffin, Michaux Holmes, Leslie Kolmer, Lynn & Leigh Liles, Chris Caldwell, Leigh Liles, & Harrison Jones

SPC’s Team of Holiday Bible Club Teacher Trainers.

James Murphy stirring it up.

Dornoch Free Church, est. 1843

Making the old folks smile – at least some of them.

James is my shepherd?

Dornoch is located on the northeast coast of Scotland, on the North Sea.

Dornoch teens helped us serve the children.

After a visit to the Bouncy Castle, back to class. All smiles.

Creating sand castles.

A courageous (now experienced & confident) Dornoch Free Church Holiday Bible Club Teacher

The view from above.

Leigh & Anna took some of the older girls out for tea.

Anna & Anna expressing the loving, unity of Christ’s body.

Big kids like the Bouncy Castle, too.

James, an expert in his field.

The HBC Kindergarten Class

Chris & Robbie comparing personal styles.

Glenn helped & hung out with us all week.  In July he traveled to Fairmont to serve with us in missions there.

“I hope you don’t think I always dress like this.”

Golden Scottish Sunset

The Lasers

1,000 balloons overhead as we “Praise His holy name!”

Worship at week’s end – celebrating God’s blessings to us in Dornoch. Hallelujah!

HALLELUJAH! ~ Michael Bryant (8.2.09)

On Saturday, July 25, 2009, a Congregational Mission Team of sixty-one students and adults (fifty-one from Stony Point and fifteen from Dornoch Free Church, Scotland) traveled to Fairmont, West Virginia.  In Jesus name, the team spent a week there doing repair and maintenance on five homes up and down Hamilton Street.  It was our best week in Fairmont ever. We built decks, walkways, bathrooms, closets, retaining walls, porches, handrails, and steps.  We repaired gutters, plumbing, and roofs.  We visited many of our former Host Families and the Wishing Well Nursing Home.  We even painted a mural.  God answered every one of our prayers, and (as is His custom) then some. Several of our Fairmont Hosts were Christians.  They inspired us with their depth of faith, courage, hospitality, and generosity.   Others are not Christians (yet).  We hope that our humble service and witness will somehow inspire them to seek and find their place in God’s kingdom. Our faith in Christ was certainly strengthened and one from our team professed faith in Jesus for the first time. It was a week we will not soon forget. Hallelujah!  (Check the PHOTO GALLERY for some pictures from the week.)

THE HOLY SPIRIT AT WORK ~ George Fohl (7.30.09)

It’s getting close to midnight here in Fairmont. And the news of how God is working through us and in us is, in my opinion, worth breaking a 10:30 camp curfew to share!   (I also have to admit that the front porch of our cabin is quite peaceful so late at night!)  Ever since God placed the desire on my heart this past spring, I have been so pumped about coming to Fairmont.   After so many years I was finally obedient to God’s call to serve and I was so eager to see the ways God would use our physical labor as a means to work in and shape peoples hearts!   Let me tell you what–our mighty God does not disappoint!   I hope I can provide a small glimpse of that to you.

My team is working on the home of an elderly woman whose name is Mary. Her adult daughter, Caroline, also lives in the house with her.  They are so gracious and patient as we work around their house!  Outside, we have installed a new storm door, built a walkway from the front to backyard, cleaned some massively clogged gutters, and rebuilt a rotten stairwell roof.  Inside, we have been scrubbing, repairing, and repainting the kitchen walls.  We’ve also been doing the same to ceilings throughout the house.  As enjoyable as that physical labor is, I can’t help but to remember that it’s just the vehicle for why we are really here.   As our team has worked around Mary’s house, God has used us in some awesome ways to encourage and build up Mary and Caroline.  For example, just today Caroline came home from work frustrated and discouraged.  How great is to see her eyes light up as we spoke with her!  Talk about the Holy Spirit at work.  YEAH!!  And the joy that radiates from their smiles as we showed them the progress on our various projects clearly shows us that God is doing some awesome things in their hearts.

It is also so incredibly great to step back and see how God is working in the hearts of our team members as well.  It’s such an awesome sight to see them serving so selflessly and so willingly.  It is so cool to see them pour out such a genuine love as they serve and talk with our hosts!

There is so much more to share of how God is truly answering your prayers for safety, etc., but time is short.  To sum it up–we serve such an amazing gracious God who truly provides, protects, and loves His children.  I hope and pray that our time here truly gives Him the glory that He so rightly desires!

REACHING OUT TO THOSE IN NEED ~ Eilenn MacKay (7.29.09)

This is my first experience with any mission project.  I, along with the rest of the team from Dornoch, feel so blessed to have the opportunity to do God’s work – reaching out to those in need.  Although, coming into it, I did not realize how hard the work would be, I truly have seen God at work every day throughout the week.

I am serving on the Special Ops Team. Our job is to visit host families from previous years.  Today we visited Gloria and, her daughter, Very. Although Gloria is very ill, she cares for her 16 year old daughter who has learning needs. What I observed was the look of bewilderment on the mother’s face.  She was emotional and could not understand why we would bother helping her family at no cost.  Witnessing the bond between Stony Point and this family, I was so moved.  God touches people through others.

Another example of God at work in Fairmont today was when a young man from Stony Point stood up in front of the whole team and told everyone he had asked Jesus into his life.  He was so brave to have done that and we all cried.

Finally, this week on Hamilton Street (where all our Host Families live) I have had the opportunity to build up a relationship with a neighbor named Charles.  He is blind and sits on his porch all day.  We just chat in general and I tell him some Scottish jokes.  We have a good laugh together.  Yesterday, John Linville (the musician) came by with his guitar. John asked Charles what he does to pass the time.  Charles replied, “Well, you see, I just take it one day at a time.”  John offered to sing that song to him.  He sang beautifully and afterwards Charles had tears in his eyes.  We all said ‘Amen!’

You are all such lovely people and we in Scotland are truly blessed that God brought you into our lives.

‘A MIND TO WORK’ ~ Zac Collins (7.28.09)

After only a few days here in Fairmont, we have already seen the Lord working in many ways. Our specific prayers regarding transportation and supplies have all been answered. But more importantly, He is fulfilling our desire to reach the hearts of our hosts with the Gospel.   Their thankfulness is shown through tears as, by God’s grace, we are able to do more than they (and we) could have imagined.

As Nehemiah saw in the young wall builders of his day, the Stony Point and Dornoch students serving in Fairmont this week also have ‘a mind to work’.   May God be praised as we continue to work in His name!

Everyone on the team is healthy and thriving in every way – mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We have already celebrated 2 birthdays and have another on Thursday.   There is also a great deal of mentoring going on for all ages.    Stay tuned for more more news of God’s faithfulness and loving kindness.

POST PROJECT REFLECTIONS

Fairmont was the best time I’ve ever had- I saw God everywhere and I got to know my church family so much more. I loved getting to know my brothers and sisters in Christ- it was so fun. ~ Emily Lehman

“West Virginia this year was an amazing experience, God was very evident in everything we did and I believe that we all grew more spiritually mature and formed unbreakable friendships. Our host families were wonderful people who I can’t wait to visit again. This past week was one that only God could have orchestrated so perfectly. Thank you all for your support and prayers.” ~ Jessica Deebo

I went on the West Virginia Mission trip because I felt God wanted me to step out of my comfort zone. The work done in West Virginia showed the love of Christ in action in two ways. First, the individuals and families that were served knew the work done on their homes as well as the expressions of caring were special and from God. It was not what you would expect from strangers. Second, our team’s common purpose to serve others for the Lord and our spiritual ties as brothers and sisters in Christ gave us a spirit of unity that spanned ages, personalities and abilities. Our team showed the love and acceptance of Christ to each other as well as those we served during the week. The trip to West Virginia stretched me. The Lord used team members, the young and the more “mature”, as examples to show me different ways to give of myself and to see how He can work when we are surrendered to Him. I saw faith and love in action. ~ Deb McFee

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world…let your light shine before men that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven…love your neighbor as yourself…Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” How kind of our Lord to call us to serve in His name, to be His ambassadors, to be a part of what He is doing in the world today! As we follow this call, needs are met and more importantly Jesus is seen. The Spirit was at work on Hamilton St. in Fairmont, WV…moving in the hearts of those we served as well as our own. We go because He called, but the grace of our God gives amazing joy as we obey His call. Grace upon grace. Blessing upon blessing…that’s how our God rolls. ~ Zac Collins

THE TEAM FROM SPC

Zac Collins, Steve & Mary Jo Ellis, Dave Gray, Tim Mauney, James & Jennifer Murphy, Debbie McFee, Michael & Cindy Bryant, George Fohl, Josh & Anna Bryant, Meg Andreson, Becky &  Tim Anthony, Michaux Arthur, Jordan & Emily Blair, Anna H Bryant, Ben Constable, Kristin, Laurin, & Sydney Dahlstrand, Jessica & Ryan Deebo, Julie DiNisio, Taylor &  Mary Katherine Dowell, Harrson Frazer, Matt Garman, Dan, Ben, & Jordan Holland, Laura Holmes, Michael Dunn, Hope Laramore, Emily Lehman, Chloe Spencer, Nina Mauney, Ryan Milby, Stephen Norris, Sam Park, Roger Cooke, Patrick Osen, & Maddie Zakulak.  Bookkeeper ~ Paul Sherfey

THE TEAM FROM DORNOCH

James & Coral MacKay, John & Elisha MacKay, Euan MacDonald, Cameron & Garrick Taylor, Ewan Cameron, Angus Mathison, Pat Mathison, Eileen Mackay, Caroline Cairns, & Glenn Williamson

JOINING US FROM MTW

Matt & Aaron Blick

GRACE THAT’S STILL AMAZING ~ John Keltonic (7.13.09)

I’m amazed at how I continue to be amazed by the way that God works in and through the Stony Point team each year in Uganda. This is Anita’s and my ninth year as a part of this congregational mission work, and yet I’m sure that I was as surprised and amazed by what I saw and learned as those who were on the team for the first time. I’ll leave it to the individual team members to describe their experiences for themselves (in a future posting here on this site), but I want to hit some highlights that I observed as team leader – watching (and being amazed at) God’s grace in working with and through the eleven of us. By now you all know that only two of our thirty-three trunks arrived with us in Uganda, meaning that all of us (except for Frank, whose stuff was in one of the trunks) had to do without clean clothes, Bible club materials, etc., for the first week. And yet (I promise I’m not kidding here), I didn’t hear one complaint about this. Every single member of the team was willing to pitch in, helping to make lots of decisions and changes on the spot. We were able to find some old material that we’d left at Canaan in previous years, and adjust the programs and teaching so that everything went off virtually without a hitch. In addition to having to do without our things, there were daily adjustments and radical changes in our daily schedule, and yet the team demonstrated God’s grace in each of these situations in a way that I still find amazing.

Frank and John Anthony again led the pastor’s teaching this year, and both of them said that they thought this was the best groups of pastors that they’d ever worked with in Uganda, based on the pastors questions and general enthusiasm for the gospel and the material being taught. It was a genuine thrill to see them teach God’s word to these hungry pastors.

Mike King, in addition to taking on the thankless job of team’s treasurer, was involved in teaching at the local schools in the mornings and working with Bible clubs in the afternoon. Although he delivered masterful and dramatic performances acting as several different Bible characters, possibly his best work was in our malaria skits, as Mike stunningly portrayed an emotionally confused and disturbed mosquito. I’ll let him describe his final “death scene” performance, but I will tell you that his back is much better now.

Lindsey Deebo (as usual) was the unsung hero of the group, supporting whichever group needed her the most (Bible Clubs, teaching at schools, medical teaching, etc., etc., etc., etc. Thanks, Linds! It’s just this kind of willing and helpful heart that makes people like Lindsey so crucial to a trip like this.

Clay took on the major job of teaching Peacemaking to the youth pastors the first week (as well as the last day of the second week), and went with Frank for two days to the town of Palissa to teach in local schools. Clay also served as our projectionist (projecting all those Bible club posters on the church wall proved to be an invaluable backup the first week, because our posters hadn’t yet arrived), all-around computer and tech guru, and even played the part of court jester whenever someone needed a laugh. Irreplaceable. If you get a chance, ask Clay for details on the new English to Lugandan phrase book he’s working on, containing only those phrases which he considers crucial for our team (sample phrase: “my hovercraft is full of eels”).

Megan Bryant again headed up the teaching in the local schools (in addition to working with Bible clubs) and again did a terrific job. There were lots of last-minute changes here, too. The team had prepared to work primarily with older high-school aged students, but were thrown a curve when the first several days were spent teaching in (surprise!) elementary schools. Again, lots of last minute changes handled well by Megan and the others, by God’s grace.

Anita worked with Clay the first week (co-teaching Peacemaking), and headed up Bible club teaching in the afternoons both weeks. She also headed up the teaching of Peacemaking to the youth the second week when Clay was with Frank in Palissa. I should mention that she did this with less than five minutes’ notice, as we first learned that there was to be youth teaching when the area pastor announced in our general meeting that the youth could now be dismissed for their special class. Talk about grace under pressure… That said, Anita’s greatest role was probably that of keeping her sometimes befuddled husband on an even keel. Thanks, babe.

I don’t even know how to start describing the work done by the medical team (Gayle Park and Jeanette Deebo, and Amanda Kelland). They helped make purchasing decisions of about $9,000 in medical supplies for several clinics, taught basic health issues to women in local villages, teenage girls in area schools (as well as the teenage girls at Canaan), worked with clinics at Canaan, Iganga, and the Jinja Children’s Hospital, and even found time help out with all of the Bible clubs. Without a doubt these three women have helped to save the lives of dozens, and maybe hundreds, of Ugandans. What a clear and compelling demonstration of God’s grace.

So how did I personally see God working during these past two weeks in Uganda? You’ve just been reading how. In addition to seeing God work with and through the Ugandans we worked with (the pastors, youth pastors, and youth who came to the conferences, the kids who listened at the seven different schools where our team taught, all of the children who came to Bible clubs, the patients and staff at all the medical facilities that were visited), I got to watch God work with a team as they worked through emotional highs and lows, physical difficulties, and lack of what we would consider “basic” amenities such as water and electricity. Their willingness to work with each other in all kinds of surprising and sometimes difficult situations and surroundings was amazing evidence of God’s continuing grace.

So there you have it. The team members will be giving you more with their final thoughts soon, but I wanted you all to see how your team worked in these past weeks. Thank you all for your prayers, support, work behind the scenes, and (it’s worth mentioning again) prayers. Couldn’t have done it without you. Please forgive me if any of this posting is less than clear, but we’ve been back in the US for less than a day, and are still in a Ugandan fog. Webele nyo (thank you all very much), but even more importantly, webese Kotanda (thank God)!.

P.S. If you’d like to more about Stony Point’s work in Uganda, read the article “Why On Earth Uganda” in this month’s “The Point”.

THE 2009 UGANDA TEAM IS HOME (7.11.09)

We thank God with glad hearts for the safe return of the SPC Uganda Mission Team to Richmond.  We praise Him for His great generosity and faithfulness to us and to our beloved friends in Uganda.  He is teaching us to always love.

We also give thanks for all our families and friends in the U.S. who supported this project with prayer and donations. Praise be to God!

Clay teaching PeaceMaking in Palissa

ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY IN UGANDA ~ Lindsey Deebo (7.8.09)

Well here we are, another beautiful day in Uganda comes to a close. :) I’m sitting here with my trusty bag of Cheez-Its while Clay works on pictures for this post…I can’t really believe that tomorrow is our last day here, it always goes by so fast. Today was really good, the Pastor training has been a huge hit.  John Anthony has really brought a wonderful message to the village of Iganga and the pastors are absorbing every word like dry sponges. John and Anita’s youth training in Peace Making is going really well (especially after they were told upon arrival yesterday that they would be teaching at all…yay surprises!) Today Jeanette and Gayle got to deliver medicine to a local clinic.  They were thrilled with how it went. The clinic is six months old and has one room that serves as the exam/labor/delivery/recovery room… The staff is wonderful, but they have little to no medicine in their clinic.

To be able to fill their cabinets and shelves with desperately needed medical supplies was a huge blessing to us. Our teaching and discussion in the schools went pretty smoothly as well.  Meg, Mike, Amanda and I performed our Broadway worthy rendition of the Malaria skit. Mike makes a stunning mosquito, really.  You’ll have to ask him to show you his mosquito act when he gets home… hilarious stuff! Amanda and I got to talk to the older girls at the school about their value in Christ and the importance of purity, etc. Meg and Mike led a good discussion on culture and they reported back that it went well. Bible Clubs were great.  We had a good turn out. Our only issue is being able to find a time that will accommodate the most children possible as the younger ones get out much earlier than the older ones. Jeanette and Gayle also got to talk to local women today about pregnancy and women’s health issues.  Four of these seven women are pregnant, one with her first child – so it’s an awesome opportunity for teaching! Clay and Frank got back from Palissa tonight just in time for dinner. While they had a good trip, we’re all thrilled to have them back with us. Their time with Samuel and his community went well. They visited six schools with larger than average Muslim populations. They got to present the gospel and give gospel bead bracelets to the students. Tonight we distributed gifts to the children here at Canaan.  Amanda and I opted to take presents to Glory Dorm -  with the littlest of the Canaan kids. There’s nothing quite as awesome as watching little kids open presents. They get so excited.  It’s overwhelming! All their little faces lit up and they rushed to show their Auntie Jane their new clothes, toys, etc. It’s bittersweet to think that tomorrow is our last day here.  Time always goes so much faster than I anticipate. Just as we get fully settled in and adjusted, it’s time to leave again. Tomorrow is another busy day. The Cheez-Its have been devoured (thanks to Clay) and the kids are headed off to bed, so I think it’s time to sign off here and try to get some sleep. Thanks for all the prayers, notes, and support. We love and miss you all and will see you soon. All our love, for the team, Lindsey :) Emma Asbury – HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! XOXO, Daddy. Also, Charles says hello to Baby Emma and Mama Lesa! Mary Ann – i miss you! i miss you! i miss you!!! wish you could be here <3 Dad, Jess, Ryan and Stinky Pooch… Miss you guys, hope you’re doing well,see you in a couple of days, xoxo.

Micheal making some new friends at Canaan Children’s Home

ON COMFORT ZONES ~ Michael King (7.7.09)

Greetings from Canaan Children’s Home! Today, part of the team traveled to Iganga, marking the second week of pastor conferences, teaching, and Bible clubs. Frank and Clay traveled with Pastor Samuel to Palissa. They are ministering to the community until tomorrow night when they return to us in Buziika. Although we are glad they are serving with Pastor Samuel, it’s not the same without them here at Canaan! If a missions trip forces you to do one thing, it is to leave your comfort zone(s) at the airport. Some people have a difficult time adjusting, while others find a childlike freedom when swept away into the sea of Canaan children, teens, and staff. Never has the Gospel message rang with more truth…. strangers (to some of us first timers) welcoming us with open arms like our Father, who welcomes us over and over. In their simplicity and undying faith in God, the love and joy of Christ is seen through their eyes, smiles, and conversations…they minister to us every day.

It has been a blessing working with the team… not to mention sharing rooms and bathrooms with others. I woke up to Pastor Frank laughing in his sleep… his deep chuckle had me laughing for a bit. Last night Clay and I stayed up late talking about life, music, Calvinism and God’s grace in our lives. Clay is hilarious. I have learned something new about my lovely fiancee… she has the best African English accent I’ve ever heard. Her superior teaching has brought so much to the classrooms. She is amazing and has taught me so much. Papa Isaac and Mama Rebecca have been taking great care of us. Everything from the food to the transportation — excellent!

Please continue to pray for our team. We continue to need God’s strength and guidance!

TRULY INCREDIBLE ~ Gayle Park (7.6.09)

We are all well and are sorry not to have sent e-mails, but you understand our erratic power situation here. I wish you all could have been here on Saturday (7/4) to see the very moving Recognition Ceremony for the seventeen young people of Canaan Children’s Home who have or will be turning eighteen years old this year and leaving the orphanage. Their main speaker, Eliazar, said “We came here at a young age hopeless, and now we are leaving as men and women who love God.” The work that is being done here is truly incredible and we were honored to be told that Stony Point Church has been an important part of this ministry to orphans.

Today (7/6), we were very busy. We went to the Jinja Children’s hospital and delivered medical supplies and medicine. The waiting area was packed with mamas and their children, many of them babies. The team took Poloroid photos of the mamas and their children and they were very grateful to get them. I’ve loved being part of this team–everyone has pitched in and worked so hard and we can’t wait to tell you more!

Doug, Eric, Sammy, and Lara–I miss you so much and am so grateful to you for taking care of each other so that I can be here.

Renee, Keith and Lydia–thanks for being Lara’s second family and welcoming her into your home.

Eunice is growing and I love meeting the truck every evening when she comes home from school, as well as all of the other children. We hug one hundred children numerous times every day, which this mama loves to do! I will close before I am cut off–much love to all!!!!

A CALL FROM AMANDA (7.5.09)

Bobby and Margaret Kelland got a call from Amanda this afternoon. There is no electricity at Canaan, so no emails today.  But Amanda reports that all of the trunks have arrived and that everyone on the team is well rested after a weekend of shopping in Jinja, eating Afro-Chinese at Ling Ling’s, and napping poolside at the Nile Resort.  The team is very healthy and very ready for their next conference in Iganga.  We praise God for the faithfulness and loving-kindness He has shown us through our partnership with His Church in Uganda.  May He continue the good work He has begun in and through us.  MB

I HAVE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH UGANDA ~ Jeanette Deebo (7.5.09)

Greetings from Canaan!  I have fallen in love with Uganda and its people.  I was overwhelmed with our welcome the first day.   Despite not having all of our personal items and the supplies for our teaching, God has provided all we have needed and we have had a very productive week.  Clay and Anita finished the Peacemaker Course today and Frank and Clay ended the pastor teaching.  As I am writing we are waiting for John to return from Entebbe with ALL BUT ONE of our trunks!!!

The teaching team went to Liahona Secondary School where many of the Canaan children attend.  We continued speaking on cultural and adolescent issues with the students.  They presented us with songs and a warm welcome.  In the afternoon the medical folks met in the clinic with about 20 ladies from the village and had a lively teaching time.  They face many of the same issues we have in the U.S., but have few resources to help them.  Amanda received an ovation from them (more on that, mom and dad, when she gets home).  I hope we have been an encouragement to them.  They have asked to meet with us again before we leave.

The pictures and video of Bible clubs that we have seen in reports cannot do justice to the real thing!  We finished the week with a full  chapel and an invitation to receive Christ.  The children here are so well mannered and responsive.  Anita once again put together a wonderful week of skits, puppets and teaching for the kids.  As in previous years, the numbers go up each day.  It is delightful to hear them sing!!!

The team is united and healthy.  We are looking forward to a visit to Jinja after student graduation tomorrow.

Anne and Danny/Bill and Kathy – both of your girls send greetings and hugs.  Please pray for continued health and that we would serve well in our week ahead as our schedule will be changing tomorrow.  Our girls cooked dinner tonight – spaghetti with garlic bread – so Mama Rebecca could have a break. Mama has been feeding us well and taking good care of us all.

George, Jess and Ryan-I love and miss you. Hope CWR was fun. You have been on my mind and in my prayers. Thank you for allowing me to experience this wonderful trip-just wish you were here to share it with me.

Love,
Jeanette (for the whole team)

THE TRUNKS HAVE ARRIVED (7.3.09)

John Keltonic and John Anthony are picking up the trunks in Entebbe now.  They think most of them are there.  “All of the trunks will have to be opened and inspected since they have not been in our possession for the last week.”  Also, a new picture album for Uganda ‘09 is in the Photo Gallery.  We’ve already received a few pictures — check them out!

Lindsey, Meg, & Amanda loving on Canaan Kids ~ It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it…

WHAT A DAY WE’VE HAD HERE ~ Amanda Kelland (7.2.09)

Greetings from Uganda! What a day we’ve had here! It’s been a long and tiring one, but we’ve seen God do some amazing things with it. Before I tell you about today, I just need to say that even though I’ve been hearing about this place for almost 10 years now, nothing could prepare me for the emotion and joy of meeting and falling in love with the kids here at Canaan. Seeing them and being near them, even for a few days, makes all the preparations and all the stresses of getting here more than worth it. Words can’t describe (and you know if you’ve been here) what this place is like. But take my word for it- if you can ever get here, do it, don’t hesitate.

So on to today- Meg, Mike, Lindsey (she’s feeling MUCH better), Jeanette and I went to a school about 30 minutes from Canaan. After introducing ourselves to the school we performed a skit on the importance of using malaria nets. The kids seemed to understand our message and Meg really drove home the importance of saving your money so that you can buy a net to help save your life. Mike makes one pretty terrific mosquito; ask him to show you his acting skills when we get home. Meg, Mike and Linds took the older boys to talk about both American culture and the importance of critiquing your culture so as to follow Jesus in a world that’s telling you not to. I’ve been in the talk the last 2 days, and it’s been really eye-opening to hear the questions they ask about America and their misconceptions of our culture.  Jeanette and I took the older girls to talk about cross-cultural adolescent issues and applying the Gospel to these situations.  They were shy at first, but the teachers began asking questions and the girls soon began opening up to us as well. One of the girls opened up about losing her dad, and about her mom trying to care for her and her 3 siblings. It was a heartbreaking story but what a joy to be able to tell her that her heavenly Father loves her and has not forgotten her! We’re going to a secondary school tomorrow and are looking forward to getting to talk to the older kids. From what I hear, the pastor conferences and youth conferences are both going well. Tomorrow is the last day for each, so pray for Frank, John, Clay and Anita as they close out the week and send the pastors back home.

One neat thing that happened today was that we had a number of women (about 20) from the area around Canaan come to the clinic for a class with Jeanette and Gayle. We gave out peppermints so they were immediately receptive to our being there. They were enthusiastic to hear about how to care for themselves during pregnancy and are coming back tomorrow for another class. They asked for teaching on how they can talk to their daughters about these kinds of things. We’re excited to build on this relationship and open up the doorway to more discussions.

Bible clubs went really well. The number about doubled from yesterday, and we’re expecting the same for tomorrow. It’s so much fun to see all these little nuggets (as we’ve come to call them) gathered in one room, listening to the Gospel, singing and laughing at our silly skits. I know I’ve already said it, but there is really no way to explain the sweetness of these kids and the joy that their eagerness to just sit on our laps or be near us brings to our hearts.

We still have no trunks, so our clothes are getting dirtier, but we’re doing just fine. Pray that, if nothing else, we get the Bible Club and Medical trunks by tomorrow so that we can distribute what we’ve brought. We are all in good health and missing you back home.

Mom and Dad- don’t worry, I’m healthy and I’m loving it here! I ate one of your sandwiches on the way to the airport, Dad- thanks…

Joy- Frank says he loves you.

With Love,
Amanda (for the team)

BAGGAGE ASSASSINS ~ Clay Asbury (7.1.09)

Would you post a quick update just letting people know that we had a very good day despite not having but two trunks?  BA says that their initials actually stand for baggage assassins. :) Entebbe says we probably won’t have them by Friday either. Please pray that at least the medical items come through soon.

Mike, Megan, Gayle, Amanda, & Jeanette went to a primary school today and were well received there despite a downpour which interrupted their outside session!

Anita and I continued our second day of teaching Peacemaking to about 15 Ugandan Youth Pastors. That went alright, but Anita and I are having a hard time getting along – a lot of personal conflict – :) just kidding. It’s going very well.

Frank, John A, & Bruce Sinclair delivered more pastor teaching today which was very well received too.

John K. is preparing medical list with Jeannette and Gayle and clinic staff. He expects to go to Jinja tomorrow to buy drugs —- for the clinic and Jinja Children’s Hospital.

Lastly, Lindsey is feeling better after a two day bout with a stomach bug. Poor girl can’t stand to lose any more weight! Please pray for a speedy recovery. She’s looking better this evening – so we’re optimistic she’ll be up and about tomorrow.

A REQUEST FOR PRAYER ~Steve Constable (7.1.09)

Dear Stony Pointers,

I’m writing to ask you to be in prayer for our mission team in Uganda.  Due to a problem at Heathrow Airport their trunks are stuck in London and they have been (and probably will be) without luggage all week.  It would be a tremendous encouragement to the team if their trunks could be located and could arrive in Uganda on the next flight on Friday morning.

Please ask our kind and faithful Lord to sustain our team (currently without supplies or personal belongings) and to bring those things to them.

Thank you so much.  It will make all the difference.

By grace,
Steve Constable

GREETINGS FROM CANAAN ~ John Anthony (6.30.09)

It is almost 9 p.m. (Tuesday, 6/30) and most have headed for the bunks. There is still some lingering jet lag we are hoping to overcome by tomorrow.

I am very pleased to report that everyone here is in good health.

As is typical on these trips, we find our plans to be nice suggestions for the day.  Rarely does it unfold as planned. The team that Meg Bryant led to the schools found their audience younger than anticipated but had a good time sharing with the children and teachers.

Bible Clubs went well with the aid of a generator to power the computer and projector. This provided visuals to replace the absent posters, puppets, and other items still making their way to Canaan from London. A text sent to Pastor Isaac today reports that our trunks will arrive tomorrow.  We are praying that the use of the plural means 33 items will arrive tomorrow and not 2.  Please pray that we do get the trunks.

The pastor training got off to a good start, with Bruce Sinclair (of Westminister Bible College), Frank, and I getting a good start on our materials.

DeeDee – Happy Anniversary! I hope the flowers got there. I tried to call yesterday and today, but there was a problem with the phone system here.  I’ll try again later. I trust all is going well. Hi Nate, Becca and Tim.  I love you and miss you all.

Mr. B, all your Uganda friends say hello!

John Morgan, Keith Boswell, and Larry Julian – many pastors send their greetings, including Pastor Moses and Pastor James.

To all, thanks for praying. Please continue to pray that we will be used and found useful in whatever situation God may choose to take us.

Good night and God Bless!

WE HAVE ARRIVED.  OUR TRUCKS HAVE NOT. ~ Clay Asbury (6.29.09)

Happy to report that we are enjoying the late afternoon with the kids an staff of Canaan Home. Our trip was long, but uneventful with the exception of the wayward trunks. We hope to see them arrive on Wednesday when the next flight from London arrives. We had a great 11 hours or so in London – we even happened upon a spot near Whitehall where the buzz on the street was a scene for a Harry Potter movie was being filmed.

Frank remains clearly first among equals as his personal trunk and his sermon materials trunk were the ONLY trunks to get here. Please do pray that these trunks will arrive soon as they contain many important items for Canaan, the clinic, Jinja Children’s Hospital, and our lesson plans and clothes. The kids just arrived home from secondary school so we’re off to greet them!

Love and miss you all!

HELLO LONDON ~ Clay Asbury (6.29.09)

Just a quick update from Heathrow. We had a great flight and landed a few minutes ago – no complications. British Air even allowed us to take all trunks, including the extra, plus both wheelchairs for no extra charge….a total savings of about $500. God is good.

“FINAL THOUGHTS” FROM THE TEAM ~ John Keltonic (8.5.09)

Below you’ll find the “final” thoughts from individual Uganda team members. I put the word “final” in quotes, because of course these aren’t the team’s real final thoughts – just the final posting from the Uganda 2009 team. Individually and as a group, we’ll be emotionally and mentally processing this trip for years to come.

You’ve read my final thoughts in a previous post (”Grace that’s still amazing”), but it’s worth mentioning again how amazing God’s grace was this year in Uganda – not just to the team members, but to the Ugandan pastors, doctors, nurses, patients, youth, and children that we worked with. I have yet to comprehend how Ugandans can be so truly content with so little. I know of course that it’s because of God’s working in their lives, but from an American point of view I still find this amazing – again, His grace at work.

So, grab a cup of coffee, put your feet up, and settle in. Taking the time to read these comments, I’m sure you’ll glad you took the time to get to know God’s work in Uganda a little better.

From Jeanette Deebo:

Giving final thoughts of a trip that included so many different experiences and meeting so many people is difficult ,so forgive me if this comes out somewhat jumbled. The Lord certainly showed us that we are to depend on him and not ourselves and that He will be faithful to provide what we need, when we need it. It was demonstrated over and over and allowed us to press forward in frequently changing schedules and situations. I saw the global church in a new way-the connection between those that love Jesus knows no barriers (like the lack of a common language, or socioeconomic status, or even the color of ones skin-and this was pointed out to me daily with the frequent call of muzungu or white person). I can’t remember a time in my life where I have been more welcomed or treated with any more love than I received from those I met in Africa.There wasn’t a “warm up” time in getting to know people-you just jump in and its like you’ve been friends for years. When I arrived home last weekend, I was able to honestly say to my daughter Jessica (who has traveled to India twice and for much longer times than I was gone), that I now understand how ones heart can be divided and in two places at once. Something that she has expressed and I did not fully grasp until now.

I got to travel with a great team. There was unity and a willingness to be flexible(and we had to flex a bit with schedules and plans). Being one of 3 newcomers to this trip, I learned a lot from those with more experience, and yes, some of those were a lot younger than me. I was SO proud of these young folks that I have watched grow up in our church and even in my own home. They stepped out with such confidence and a desire to share and be used by God in the schools, at Canaan and in the community. This was Lindsey’s second trip to Uganda and she was one of the biggest influences in my going. Sharing this experience with her was very special. She would see me with a child in my lap or catch me after a teaching session with the  village women when I must have been grinning from ear to ear, and say as she hugged me “I told you!” Parents- don’t underestimate what God can teach you through your children!!

Before we left, Gayle and I had felt lead to pursue teaching about malaria, prenatal care, STD’s and womens’ health issues. We had no idea what to expect. We were incredibly pleased with the turnout of women who met with us and what we were able to teach. Amanda brought a candor and enthusiasm that was refreshing and the women loved her! The fact is, these are bright and caring women who want to care for their families just as we do, but there is a hopelessness that comes with poverty that they feel they cannot escape. We taught  each lesson from the perspective of being fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God and tried to bring hope through the gospel. Please pray that God will provide for these who have so little access to basic care.  We came home with much more information than we had hoped. (much of which happened when we had unexpected problems like a truck breaking down and getting stuck at the hospital where there just happened to be med students and nurses available to interview. This kind of thing happened more than once:). We will use this knowledge to better provide for the clinics and hospitals that we serve and also in planning future teaching needs. The medication order (which was by far the biggest stressor that we faced as a medical team) went through after hours of reworking with no problem AND just under budget!! God is so good!!

There aren’t word to describe getting out of a vehicle for the first time at Canaan. It just has to be experienced. ( so I guess you’ll just have to sign up for next year if you really want to know). The children are wonderful. Isaac, Rebecca and the staff have a huge job and it is great to see how well things run there. Getting to experience  the first gradation and hearing the history of Canaan again, along with the charge given to the ones who will be leaving was a testimony of the Lords work through those at Canaan and those that sponsor  the children there. These young adults love the Lord and have hope for the future because someone cared enough to take them in, love them, educate them. They have a desire to work hard and help others.

I could go on and on. I am thankful for having experienced this trip, for the new friends I made, for the deepening of friendships of many years and for all of you who prayed, encouraged, and supported financially.  I am most thankful to a loving and gracious God who hears our prayers and knows the desire of our hearts before we ask. His faithfulness is overwhelming.  I have been privileged to travel to Uganda and see Him at work there. Please continue to pray for the work being done there. The need is great, but He is greater.

Jeanette

From John Anthony:

Final thoughts,
·     The trip was tougher this time for reasons beyond my comprehension. I just struggled with jet lag both ways.
·     The Canaan graduation was a significant event that marks the next step in the life of these young people who will by God’s grace have a positive impact within their country.
·     The graduation of the Christian leadership institute in Kyunga was an incredible eye opener for me. I have never witnessed such enthusiasm at such an event in America. This was and is a really big deal for those who participated in the classes and perhaps more for the family and friends who celebrated with the graduants (as they call them). These
people take their training opportunities quite seriously and celebrate successful completion as a real cause for celebration.
·     I will always remember my two days with the pastors at Iganga. What a precious group of eager learners. We went from 9:30 to 5:00 and they would have stayed until midnight if  Frank and I could have held out. I left Iganga with a renewed joy in the LORD and a sense of contentment knowing that God had allowed me to be part of what He is doing – building His Church.
·     I hope that I will have an opportunity to return to Iganga and see Pastor John and Pastor Fred and the other pastors some day. The trip is never as easy as you hope it will be (for self and others) and it is never as difficult as you imagine it will be. God’s grace has been and is sufficient for all.

From Frank Crane:

Final thought?  Since I can’t seem to find a final resting place, I might as well give you my final thoughts.  Seriously, I’ve hit a wall!  Been up since around 4:00 a.m. so it seems a most appropriate time to offer my “final thoughts.”

For me the two most significant things were the “graduations” we witnessed first at Canaan and then at the Christian Leadership Training Center in Kayunga.  I guess it’s because they, above all else, signify the real fruit of our labors in Uganda.  Our Lord, of course gets the credit and I am thankful to Him.  But in his mercy he has allowed us this year to see a bit of the fruit of our ten years in Uganda.  Those 18 year olds were 8 when we first went to Canaan.   The Lord has done great things.  Just yesterday I clarified some issues with one of their sponsors so that Beatrice will get to go to the University.  So let’s pray that the others find a way to advance their education and careers.  Then at Kayunga I saw Pastor Moses and Pastor James (Headmaster and Academic Dean respectively) leading a procession of 25 graduates of the CLTC.  These are two men that John Morgan and I met in Kayunga in 2000.  At that time both were seeking a way to further the training of their fellow pastors.  Pastor James, with scholarship help from SPC, is doing advanced work at Westminster Theological College.

Speaking of Westminster, I’m delighted for the growing partnership we are developing with Bruce Sinclair and his folks at WTC.  This year Bruce took 9 of the conferees (the cream of the crop) through a Bible survey.  All but one passed the final exam and received credit at Westminster.  I know of one who plans to apply for full time study.  Perhaps there will be more.

So yes, after ten years we have some objective measures of success.  It’s great to be told how wonderful we are, but I’d never been persuaded that we were doing more than giving them a spiritual pep talk… until this year.  You win JDK!

One more thing.  I’ll never forget the sight of a Moslem headmaster in Palissa enthusiastically handing out gospel bead bracelets, yes, after hearing my presentation of their meaning.  Then he danced and clapped as his children’s choir sang gospel songs.  Even I forgot myself and wound up dancing at his side.  (Well, that wasn’t a pretty sight).

Enough final thoughts.  I might be getting a little sleepy.

From Anita Keltonic:

I have been reflecting on our trip this year, and thinking about some of the most memorable moments that there were to me. One that sticks in my mind took place during the second week, at the beginning of the conference in the village of Iganga. I realized as the conference was starting that I had met the pastor who was in charge some four or five years ago. During that time, he was driving several of us one Sunday morning to do presentations at three different churches (as is often the case of our experience in Africa, we found out about this the night before – John Morgan, you might remember this!) Anyway, this pastor was a dear, elderly man of God named John. As we were riding, he expressed a deep desire for us to come to the villages in the rural areas of Uganda, where he said no one comes to teach and there is great need for it. I tucked this away in my mind as a possibility for a future trip. Now as Pastor John began introducing our team in Iganga, he told us that they have been praying for 5 years for us to come and teach, and our presence there was an answer to their prayers! I was amazed at their patient persistence in prayer and that our team was standing there because of it! As Jeanette Deebo said to me, you never think about yourself as an answer to someone else’s prayer! It was humbling to me to reflect on this as we sang African praise songs to the beat of drums, and worshipped our God together with a small group of brothers and sisters in Christ on the other side of the world, in this little church down a bumpy dirt road in the countryside of Uganda, Africa.  What a great God we have, his ways never cease to amaze me!

I want to thank everyone for all of your prayers, financial support, donations, help with craft preparation, packing, gifts for children and workers of Canaan Children’s Home (they loved them!), and encouragement. Without your support this trip would not have been possible.

From Amanda Kelland:

I’ve found it really hard to write my final thoughts on something I’ve been waiting for and anticipating for so long. One thing I can say is that my experiences in Uganda far surpassed anything I could ever have hoped for. The trip wasn’t perfect, everything didn’t go according to plan, and I was uncomfortable and stretched again and again. But that’s part of what made this trip so real. It wasn’t a fairy tale; it was real life- the struggles of bringing the hope of Christ to a fallen world. That’s one of the reasons that I love nursing, and love what we were able to teach both the girls in the schools and the women in the villages. We were able to tell them that this is not the way they were made to live. We are able to explain that we were not created to be sick, that we are not supposed to be people stricken with malaria and AIDS, watching children die long before they are able to experience life. In a culture where they find themselves struggling to survive, doing whatever they can to make it through, it’s hard for them to know that there is even something more. We were able (or at least I pray we were able) to give them a glimpse of the life God intended for his children. One of our main messages, especially to the younger girls, was how specially and uniquely they were created. God, who made each one of them individually, cares about their health, and wants them to be healthy, lively, girls seeking to know Him and make Him known. I hope that in the midst of trying to separate God’s truth from what is going on in the world around them, they will remember how much God loves each one of them, and the perfect plan he has for their lives. One of the biggest things I came away with was the need the people in Uganda have for knowledge. Yes, they do need money and resources, but knowledge and education are what I think will begin to defeat and change the effects that sin has so blatantly brought to Uganda. So if you’re praying for them, pray that the doors would be open to education for not only the children there, but also the adults.

Not only do I hope that we were able to show them what life can be like, but I feel so incredibly blessed to have seen a picture of what is to come in our next life. It is a picture of pure joy and love, unhindered by worldly possessions and the consequences of sin. That’s what it’s like at Canaan. It’s a place where love is given freely and blessings are not taken for granted. We were able to see kids getting ready to leave and go out into the world as people fully trusting and relying on the Lord because they could so clearly see his provision and love for them throughout their lives. I wish I could describe what it was like to hug those kids, to hear their singing, or to see the smiles on their faces. It is a treasure that I will never forget. When I’m reminded of one of them, or I see a picture, I’m torn between the excitement of remembering and the pain of wanting so badly to still be with them.

I don’t feel like I can even scratch the surface of my experience, partly because I’ve only begun to process the trip myself. It will be affecting me for months and years to come, and I’m confident that only in time will I see the results of what the Lord did in my heart while I was there. Right now, I’m trying to deal the realities of living life here in my world, while knowing the reality of what is over there. I’m homesick for those kids, and am waiting anxiously to be back with them again.

From Megan Bryant:

Final thoughts:

When I think back about the trip, I can’t help but think: what a blessing to be a part of what God is doing in Uganda and in His people here through the testimony of believers in Uganda. I am thankful to have had the the opportunity to return to Uganda with this year’s team. God has used and will continue to use the experiences to stretch, try, shape, and grow me. Many thanks to all who helped by praying for the team, gathering materials for us to bring, and supporting the trip financially; thank you for trusting us to share your love and the love of Christ with the Ugandans we met. They feel known by you and loved by you.

I can’t recount all of the trips blessings, but I’ll share a few jumbled thoughts and sweet memories: bug spray and Doxy reminders; late-night girl talks and prayer under mosquito nets; mac-n-cheese on the little gas stove; surviving electrical shock in the showers; surviving NO showers … nor trunks; the vagina model (which arrived in Entebbe when nothing else did); laughing at Clay; laughing at Mikey laughing at Clay; God’s perfect timing and plan for causing break-fluid leakage; little dancing Robert and the singing cowboy (see videos); hugs, hugs, hugs; kids, kids, kids; and baby Moses’s flashing toothbrush.

There are many others.

Thank you for supporting us.
And for whatever you did to help make our trip possible.

-Meg

From Lindsey Deebo:

It’s funny to me to be sitting here even thinking about putting down any final thoughts on this years trip to Uganda-mostly because there’s nothing final about it at all. I’m only beginning to process most of it. So, with that said, I’ll keep it short and sweet. We’ve been back for a little while now and I am only certain of two things; first, I miss the kids. Second, there were moments in Uganda when I thought, “I may never get to come back here.” But, I say with absolute certainty that you would have to go to the extreme to keep me from being able to see Robert dance again, from seeing James smile, hearing Daniel sing, or hanging out with girls.
Each aspect of the trip- from pastor training to bible clubs and medical work- was neat to watch unfold and see how our original plans got stretched and changed to show just how in control God is and how he was using us and teaching us. The first item I was in Uganda I felt like I was simply soaking it all in. While I don’t think that I’ll ever be truly “used” to being there (because you’re always going to see/do something new and surprising in Uganda) I do think that the second trip gave me a different perspective. I knew somewhat to expect this time around and as a result I was able to focus more on relationships with the Ugandans and that was something I really enjoyed being able to do. I think each team member is still working through this year’s trip. My mom asked me this past week how we’re supposed to turn off the constant streaming video in our heads and I think that’s really the best way to describe where we are. We’ve all returned to our daily lives but we carry with us the faces, places, events and emotions from the trip whether we’re completely aware of them being there at every moment or not. I think that’s what changes us though, the fact that we cannot live the same way or think the same way ever again no matter how much we might like to. It’s there, engraved in our hearts and minds and God will use that to continue to use that to grow us here at home. I think that’s about all for now, except to say GO if you ever get the chance. Thanks for another wonderful opportunity to serve! -Lindsey.

From Michael King:

The experience in Uganda has been tattooed in my mind and on my heart. I can’t stop thinking of the Canaan kids, people of Buziika and Iganga. In their simplicity and solid f

Galatians 3: 1 – 14 ~ Series: Finding Our Identity in the Gospel ~ October 18, 2009

Dimas Salaberrios is the Pastor of Infinity New York Church.  He is also the New York City Director of Youth for Christ, an international para-church ministry that reaches young people with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  An evangelist and missionary, Dimas has shared the gospel of Jesus Christ on every continent, except Antarctica.  Dimas was honored to serve as Co-Chairman of the Youth Committee for the Billy Graham Crusade, which occurred in NYC in June 2005.  As Co-Chairman, Dimas coordinated the largest prayer breakfast in the phenomenal 60-year history of the Billy Graham Crusade.  Dimas was also privileged to open the largest night of the Crusade, speaking to over 90,000 people. Dimas is currently studying for his Master of Divinity degree at Alliance Theological Seminary and resides in the Bronx with his wife, Tiffany, and his daughter Dallas.

Over the past couple of years he has developed a vision and passion for reaching Richmond is a big way with the Gospel.  Dimas was in town this weekend to preach at Stony Point Church city-wide youth worship – The Awakening.

 

 Standard Podcast [32:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (66)

steveconstable@stonypointchurch.org

Steve was born and raised in England. After becoming a Christian in his early teens, Steve got involved in Christian student ministry in school and then university. In the mid-80’s he arrived in the US pursuing his dream of becoming a scholar of Shakespeare and also pursuing his American girlfriend whom he’d met in her junior year abroad from Georgetown University. Four years into graduate school, and helping with the local InterVarsity chapter, Steve and his former-girlfriend now-wife, Barb, concluded that Shakespeare should be left to greater mortals and that God was calling them to seminary (Trinity Evangelical) in Chicago. In 1992 Steve graduated from seminary, was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (PCA) and began serving a church in suburban Chicago as its first associate pastor. In the late 90’s Steve and Barb moved back to the UK where he served for a brief stint as pastor at the International Presbyterian Church in London. From there they returned to a PCA church in rural upstate New York until 2004 when they moved to Richmond to serve at Stony Point. Along the way the Constables had a little Constabulary – four children, Ben, Chrissy, Johnny, and Emma.

zac@stonypointchurch.org

Zac was born and raised here in Richmond. On a summer mission trip to Costa Rica during high school he first sensed the Lord calling him into full time ministry. During his college years Zac enjoyed working with youth and served on the leadership team of the University’s Community Relations Council. His summers were spent working at youth camps in North Carolina and Hawaii.  He also interned at his home church, Immanuel Baptist. After college he married Bethany, the daughter of his mom’s college roommate, and began work on his Masters in Biblical Counseling. In 2001, Zac accepted the call to a full-time position as the Pastor of Student Ministries at Immanuel Baptist. During his time at Immanuel he also served with U-Turn Ministries and the Christian Counseling and Training  Center. In 2007, Zac and Bethany were blessed by the birth of their son Samuel.  In September of 2008, he joined the SPC staff. He and Bethany are passionate about students, their relationships with Christ, and their roles as members of the Body of Christ.

mr.b@stonypointchurch.org

Michael (in the yellow rain slicker) is husband to one wife and father to four young adults. After graduating from Virginia Tech, he taught school, played in a Southwest Virginia country and western swing band and a Richmond cover band, made sandwiches, and served as Stony Point Church’s Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries. He is now SPC’s chief cook and bottle washer, worship band leader, website maintainance man, Point publisher, etc.

stonypt@stonypointchurch.org

Lynn was born and raised in Norfolk.  She moved to Richmond to attend VCU, graduating in ’74 with a degree in Interior Design. Following graduation, she worked for various design firms, banks, and office furniture companies as an interior designer and facility planner.  In 2003, she joined the SPC staff as Frank’s Administrative Assistant.  She also serves as one of SPC’s Sunday School Superintendents.  Lynn has two children – Austin and Leigh. A SPC member since 1983, she considers the congregation here her family.

stonypt@stonypointchurch.org

Bill and Kathy Anderson moved to Richmond from Ohio in 1986 and joined SPC in 1992.  They have two children, Colin and Meg (also SPC members, away at college).  Kathy was a stay at home mom until three years ago when she joined the SPC staff.  When she’s not in the office, Kathy enjoys traveling, reading, and spending time with her family.  She really loves being a mom.  “Stony Point is a great place to worship and, for me, a great place to work!” says Kathy. “Where else could I regularly contribute and also spend time with the people I love?”

Every teen must complete a Medical Release Form to particiapte in Youth activities at Stony Point Church.  To print a form, please click here.

SPC offers year-round, age appropriate Christian education for children from 2 years old through 5th grade.  These Christ-centered Sunday School lessons from Children Desiring God are designed to commend faith in Jesus and promote basic Biblical literacy. Our gifted Sunday School teachers are relationship oriented and very experienced.  Each class is taught by a team of teachers to provide a safe and secure environment.

The primary goals of CAT Clubs are to promote Christ-centered friendships and to introduce our children to the truth of the Bible through catechism memorization.  CAT Clubs meet each Wednesday evening from 6:30 – 8:00. Four-year-olds -Kindergarten meet in Kitty CAT Clubs and First – Fifth Grades meet in Cat Clubs from September through the end of May.

LEARNING FROM THE BIBLE ~  January – March, 2010
Christian Education Classes – Adult Sunday School ~ 9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.

• NEWCOMERS CLASS ~ Room 117 ~ Steve Constable (Pastor) welcomes new-comers to Christianity and to SPC by teaching the basics of the faith and an introduction to all things Stony Point – what it means to be a Christian, investigating Christianity and how to grow as a Christian in a local church like ours.  (1/3 – 2/21)
• HOT TOPICS FOR TODAY ~ Room 206 (TF 2) ~ A semi-Socratic discussion of whatever topics the class chooses. John Morgan (Elder) and Jim Campbell-Robertson (Elder) will moderate the process of voting on topics and then play Socrates during the discussions. This means that mostly John and Jim will ask questions.  However, since we will be looking to eventually ground our discussion in the Bible, there may be times when they will interrupt the discussion to teach.  We expect this to be a free-flowing, dynamic discussion. (1/10 – 5/30)
• CHRISTIAN ESSENTIALS ~ Room 208 (TF 1) ~ Gregg Brooks will teach the basic elements of Christian growth that we must never take for granted, no matter our level of maturity or abundance of gifts. Special emphasis will be given to developing practices to avail ourselves of the resources God has ordained for feeding, transforming, and equipping us to live as His followers in a culture that often presents itself as uninterested, skeptical, or even antagonistic to the claims of Jesus Christ.
• THE COVENANT STORY SEMINAR ~ SPC Café ~ In 2010, the Covenant Story Seminar begins it’s fifth two-year cycle through the Bible.  It features a Bible reading schedule, short introductory comments by the Lead Teacher and table discussions of key chapters taken from the week’s reading.  Each participant receives the discussion questions by email early in the week prior to class.  The Seminar examines God’s plan of salvation as it is revealed in the Covenant of Grace.  (1/10 – 12/26)
• PRAYER CLASS ~ Room 111 ~ Each Sunday morning this small group meets to spend the Sunday School hour in prayer together.

Throughout the course of a student’s middle and high school years (6^th -12^th grades), he will be led through the entire Bible with his class and a core of committed teachers.   The years spent in Youth Bible Class will encourage both the students and teachers as they gain an intimate knowledge of God’s amazing story of redemption.  These classes meet upstairs in the education wing.

This class is especially designed for people who are new to Christianity or to Stont Point Chucrh.  It  is taught by Pastor Steve Constable.  In the fall (September – December) there will be a video series ‘Discovering Christianity’.  From January to March the class will include an introduction to membership at Stony Point Church, and from April – August the class will study Mark’s Gospel. The New Comers Class meets upstairs in Rooms 204 & 205.

SPC takes the responsibility to train children seriously, but we have a ton of fun doing it!  Many teachers and helpers gather each Sunday to encourage growth ‘in the knowledge of our Lord & Savior” using the Children Desiring God Curriculum.   For children 2yrs. old (by 9/30/09) through 5^th grade, these classes meet downstairs in the education wing.

Summary financial reports are available on this website to registered SPC members.  If you have questions about these reports, please contact the church office at Stony Point Church.

Email stonypt@stonypointchurch.org or call 272-8111

The SPC Drill Team

If I had a hammer…

The Big Boss

A hard worker. A changed heart.

A happy SPC missionary.

Old enough to use power tools.

Dornoch Civil Engineers.

Josh getting high on a mission trip.

Ready to serve.

Looking better.

Old enough for power tools?

Clyde, one of our hosts, worked along side us all week.

Making friends up & down the street.

Cool shirt!

Working in the rain.

Lots of mud to move.

Paradise!

Artist.

Dave, doing it right.

Building a wall.

Stuck inside all week & still smiling.

Thinking hard.

The completed deck.

The finished front porch.

Thelma’s steps.

Outworks both her brothers put together.  Smiles better, too.

Cleaning up Thelma’s retaining wall.

Simply Beautiful!

It rained.

Team work.

Someday, I too shall drill.

Happy campers.

Picket installers.

Pickets installed (& stained).

Mid-week bathroom.

Co-pilot.

The long and winding road home.

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