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Grace Partner Spotlight: World Relief

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World Relief: A Look Back at 2017

World Relief: A Look Back at 2017

World Relief is an organization we are proud to serve alongside. Their commitment to compassionately serving those that need it most while sticking to the foundation of the gospel is inspiring. 2017 was a year of ups and downs, not to mention it was a year of treading new waters. Read their update to get a glimpse into their world and find ways to pray for them as they lead the way for us to serve the community arm in arm.

“As some of you might know, the fiscal year for resettlement runs from Oct. 1-September 30, so we are just starting the “New Year” for Fiscal Year 2018 (FY18). We are so thankful to be closing the door on what was a very challenging and unpredictable last year. However, we are so thankful for God’s incredible faithfulness and the provision he showed us through our trials!  Fiscal year 2017 (FY17) brought many unexpected changes to World Relief as a whole, and to our local Akron office, but ultimately it was a time of patience and setting the stage for growth.

Before giving you a glimpse of what this next year has in store for us, I first want to give you a quick recap of this past year for World Relief Akron.

In the last year….

  • Our Akron office remained open amongst office closures & reduced refugee arrival numbers due to the 60,000 person cut in the US Refugee Admissions Program. We resettled 30% less refugees than originally planned, 48 individuals who were scheduled to arrive in FY17 did not enter the US because of the reduction.
  • We navigated the tension of the 4-month refugee ban. In the midst of zero families arriving, we took the opportunity to create an in-home ESL program, start a housing strategy, seek out opportunities to educate the community & church and advocate on behalf of refugees, present at NUMEROUS speaking events, begin the groundwork for a refugee employment program, cultivate deeper relationships with previously resettled refugees and… much more!
  • Our office has experienced staff transition – We lost Grace and Peter, two of our wonderful case workers. We hired a new Case Worker, Matt Scott, and added an Office Coordinator, Heather Lawrence.
  • In July, we hosted a visit from World Relief’s CEO – Tim Breene, VP of US Ministries – Emily Gray, and several other staff members from our Corporate Office. They chose 3 of our US offices to visit in effort to see what’s happening from a variety of viewpoints – beneficiaries, staff, church partners, volunteers and locals from the community. It was a great honor to have our Akron office chosen as one of the 3, and it was even more of an honor when we received a great deal of positive feedback from our Executive Team after their visit.  Your engagement with us in Akron has set an example for all of our World Relief offices.

In short, it has been an eventful year! And we want to say thank you so much for the support you have been to our ministry and for the grace you have shown us by your flexibility!

 

Thank you for being a part of our Ministry!

Kara, Christian, Samuel, Matt and Heather
World Relief Akron Team”


Houston Update

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Scott Farwell has been coordinating our relief efforts in Houston and Puerto Rico. Below is his recap of the last two months.
    • WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR: Grace teams have completed 8 successful teams and at least 1 more team is coming. The main focus was clean-up only. First it was all of Bayou City Fellowship’s work orders (some 800+ of them between 2 campuses). Then we drummed up work and made connections with community leaders and brought on translators to get into the areas where folks would not ask for help or did not know where to turn.Bruce Lightle from Grace Bath stayed down there to cook for everyone at BCF Cypress and just returned a week ago.
    • WHAT THE FUTURE LOOKS LIKE: BCF Cypress has committed to rebuilding select houses for families that are susceptible to the storm chasers that are buying houses for pennies on the dollar making people believe their houses aren’t worth anything and conning them into selling. We are looking for skilled workers to continue to travel to Houston to help with the rebuilding efforts. We will be able to continue to stay at BCF Cypress.
    • WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD ABOUT WHAT WE HAVE DONE SO FAR?
      I witnessed at least 2 people come to Christ in this mission, Countless other loving hearts in action and groups and individuals from all over North America dropping everything to come to Texas. We (Grace Churches/Encompass) have formed an amazing partnership with Bayou City Fellowship, Brook Church, Churches Without Walls, Firefighters For Christ and many other organizations.

There are still ways that you can be involved in the relief efforts in Houston and Puerto Rico. For more information email Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org.

Love Differently

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The only way to love differently as a follower of Christ is to hit the pause button for a moment and take time to think about what it means to be loved. This weekend, Pastor Jeff shared with us 1 John 4:19 which says, “We love because He first loved us.” Many times, it is easy to read this verse too quickly out of an energy and excitement to come up with ways to love, and this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, in order to live a long-term lifestyle of loving differently, it’s important to think first about the phrase, “because He first loved us.” What does it mean to be loved by the King of the universe?

 

God does not love His children with a generic, one-size-fits-all kind of love. He loves each child uniquely. The Psalms are a great starting point to see some of the specific ways that God “first loved us.”

  • “Yet I am always with You; You hold my right hand.” (Ps. 73:23)
  • “You understand my thoughts from far away.” (Ps. 139:2)
  • “You reveal the path of life to me; in Your presence is abundant joy.” (Ps. 16:12)
  • “He rescued me because He delighted in me.” (Ps. 18:19)
  • “My every desire is known to You; my sighing is not hidden from You.” (Ps. 38:9)

He loves you. He loves your personality. He loves the way that He made every part of who you are. He loves the unique way He’s gifted you. And stopping and soaking up all that love – that’s what will transform you and enables you to have a long-term, life-changing ability to love differently.

Henri Nouwen describes it this way: “Once I know that I am the beloved, once I start discovering that in me, then the Spirit can work in me and others, then we can do wonderful things.”

When you realize how loved you are, actually declare that truth over your life out loud every day, that’s when “Give it away” and “love differently” changes from being a thing that you do to the way you see the world. I recently heard it described that serving Christ is a lens that defines how you see every situation you are in.

Living loved is what enables us to look for the little ways to speak life and encouragement to the people we are around every day at work. When we grasp that we are beloved children and that each person around us is capable of being transformed by encountering that same love of the Father, it changes the way we talk to the person serving our food or the cashier at the store. It inspires us to look for ways to show kindness to our neighbors. Loving differently is all the little ways every day that we spread the abundance of the love that we have received.

This identity of “because He first loved us” changes everything about us. It becomes the shoes we wear when we walk into any situation. Author Brennon Manning summarizes it well: “Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion.”

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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The Hope Project started this weekend! Each week we will have ways that you can serve as a family and some ideas to serve as a life group (check the program insert)! A part of The Hope Project is taking a tag and buying a gift for one of our city partners (check both the lobbies for tag boards). You can also find all the information at bath.graceohio.org/hope

 

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Kids Club is Urban Vision’s biggest community outreach program, reaching 150-200 kids each week! They will be wrapping up their fall session in a few weeks with a party and they still need 20 more apple or pumpkin pies by Friday, November 17. If you’re able to fill this need, please contact Fiona Paisley (fiona@urbanvisionministry.org).

 

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World Relief has started a new program, teaching ESL to newly resettled refugees. They are excited to train the next group of people who would be interested in helping refugees through conversational English. Their training is tomorrow, Wednesday Nov. 8th from 6:00-7:00pm at their office (647 E. Market St. Akron 44304). Follow this link to sign up: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e044daeab2ca5f85-esltraining

 

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Now is the time to sign up to serve at either South Street or Urban Vision’s Christmas Store! South Street (Summit Lake) and Urban Vision (North Hill) are two of our city partners we support through the Hope Project! Both of their Christmas Stores happen on Dec. 9th and could include helping kids shop, wrapping presents, or helping set up/tear down. To sign up for South Streets store, email Toni Code at tcode@southstreetministries.org and to sign up for Urban Vision’s store email Regina Lewis at regina@urbanvisionministry.org

 

Join us in praying for our Haiti medical team, leaving on November 8th. The medical team needs prayers as they will see around 300 people in 3 days. Pray for opportunities to share the gospel and build lasting relationships between the community and the local church. Pray also for our team that is headed to Thailand on the 8th as well. This team will be meeting and encouraging our missionaries, Becca and Brendan Miller, and exploring new ministry areas! Pray for wisdom as they spend 11 days in Chiang Mai and Mae Sot.

 

 

Live It Leadership Podcast: Vision Drift (Retreat Recap)

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We have recorded this podcast for you to engage the conversations from the Life Group Leader Retreat. Listen to Nate Rayl and Josh Taylor discuss the big concepts and takeaways from last weekend. This is a great recap for anyone who missed the retreat or for someone who wants a refresher. Topics include:

  • Fighting Vision Drift: God’s Vision for His People to Stand
  • The Power of God Given Vision: A Renewed Heart and Passion
  • Life Group Assessment
  • Vision Will Be Tested: No Neutral Ground

World Relief: Looking Ahead

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World Relief is an organization we are proud to serve alongside. Their commitment to compassionately serving those that need it most while sticking to the foundation of the gospel is inspiring. 2017 was a year of ups and downs, not to mention it was a year of treading new waters (Read part 1 of their update here). Continue below with their update to get a glimpse into their world and find ways to pray for them as they lead the way for us to serve the community arm in arm.”

Grace Partner Spotlight                                  World Relief: Looking Ahead

Now it’s onward and upward!

It is by no small miracle that through the ups and downs of the last year that we are still here working with Akron’s new refugees, but also starting out FY18 in a position of strength and growth.

Akron has been receiving a lot of attention from our Executive staff because of the success we have had in effectively resettling refugees in our city. This success is a combination of several factors – Akron remains a very welcoming city to immigrants and refugees, there are low cost and available housing options, high refugee employment rates, many avenues for community engagement for heathy integration, and most importantly an abidance of God’s grace!

Because of this, our Akron office is expanding!

We have just received our new numbers for this year, and we will be resettling roughly 195 refugees. This is a 50% increase over FY17 and we are excited for the growth.

We are also in the process of launching a new employment program. Until now we have been partnering with the International Institute of Akron’s employment program for our clients. By launching an employment program on our own we will be able to establish relationships directly with employers, provide avenues for higher quality jobs, and continue making inroads for refugees in the workforce. This is a great steppingstone for us as we continue to pursue healthy long-term integration for resettlement.

We will also be adding 2 additional staff members to aid the growth in numbers and manage the new program. That means our office staff will double in this next year!!

Now that the new year as started and the refugee ban is soon ending (Oct. 24th), we are hoping that we will see more consistency with arriving refugee families. As many of you know, the last several months have been very inconsistent with arrivals making many of our volunteer programs equally as inconsistent. We are extremely hopeful that this will no longer be the case! Each of us here is ready to get back to “normal” and start serving as many families as we can!

We are really looking forward to what this new year has to bring and we would love to have you join us in thanksgiving and prayer over what is to come!

Thank you for being a part of our Ministry!

Kara, Christian, Samuel, Matt and Heather
World Relief Akron Team

 

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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The Hope Project is an easy way to intentionally engage other people as you move through your days. Stop and pray for someone this week, pack a Thanksgiving meal for someone, sign up to serve at Urban Vision or South Street’s Christmas Store (see #3) and read Isaiah 11:1-10. 

 

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Kids Club is Urban Vision’s biggest community outreach program, reaching 150-200 kids each week! They will be wrapping up their fall session in a few weeks with a party and they still need 20 more apple or pumpkin pies by Friday, November 17. If you’re able to fill this need, please contact Fiona Paisley (fiona@urbanvisionministry.org).

 

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Urban Vision is prepping for their Christmas Store and they need your help to make this a success! Email regina@urbanvisionministry.org with your availability from the dates below (Wed and Thurs are set up days and Sat is the store). December 13th from 9-11am and 6-8pm; December 14th from 1-4 and 6-8pm. December 16th from 7:15am-12pm.

 

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Grace is hosting an informational meeting for a Haiti GO Team (May 25-31) on December 3rd at 9am in Classroom B/C. This trip is open to anyone age 18 and older (or families). There will also be a second informational meeting on December 3rd at 10:45am in Meeting Room 3 for a Women’s Ministry trip to Haiti. This is a new ministry in Haiti reaching women and their families. Be a part of the exciting life change that is happening in Haiti! Questions? Email Sarah at syajko@graceohio.org with any questions.

 

Gameday is looking for people who are passionate about sports, kids, and helping make people feel welcome! You could greet, serve food, provide childcare, or coach a team! If you or your life group is excited about this email Ken Young to get connected at kyoung@graceohio.org

 

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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The Hope Project is an easy way to intentionally engage other people as you move through your days. Support South Street by eating at the Front Porch Cafe, treat a co-worker to breakfast, bring a treat to someone working on Thanksgiving, purchase your tag items on Black Friday and read this week’s verse, Isaiah 9:2-7.

 

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South Street could use a few more volunteers for their Christmas Store on December 16th! This store helps the kids in the community the chance to shop for presents with dignity and fun! Come help them have fun while they shop! To sign up please email Toni Code at TCode@southstreetministries.org.

 

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World Relief, a refugee resettlement organization, will be hosting an orientation on Wednesday, December 6 from 6:00-8:00pm at the World Relief office – which is on the lower level of The Well (647 E. Market St. Akron OH 44304) You can park in the lot behind the building. Please enter through Compass Coffee. The people working the counter will direct you to our office. You can RSVP here!  World Relief will be welcoming 80 people in the next few months and would love to have more people ready to serve and love on them! 

 

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Grace is hosting an informational meeting for a Haiti GO Team (May 25-31) on December 3rd at 9am in Classroom B/C. This trip is open to anyone age 18 and older (or families). There will also be a second informational meeting on December 3rd at 10:45am in Meeting Room 3 for a Women’s Ministry trip to Haiti. This is a new ministry in Haiti reaching women and their families. Be a part of the exciting life change that is happening in Haiti! Questions? Email Sarah at syajko@graceohio.org with any questions.

 

Would you like to learn more about Global Missions? On December 10th from 9am-12pm we will be hosting our Discovering Global Missions class in Classroom D. You can sign up here: https://gracelink.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1649/responses/new

 


Life Change Happens

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Jeri Ball shares the path that led her to Haiti in this blog post and the impact it had on her.

I was sitting in SHAPE class discovering my spiritual gifts and the conversation revolved around my creativity. The thought was that being part of the children’s ministry would be great for me. But, honestly, that didn’t sound all that great. I love kids, don’t get me wrong, but I had more interest in adults. And at the end of the conversation, the leader said “Oh, you’re a Lactation consultant! Bobbie Claypoole may be able to use you on her missions trips”. She happened to be one of the people at that class, so I decided to give her my number, just in case. About a week or so later received an email about Haiti. I didn’t even imagine that this was something that would happen this year. I emailed the give it away team back and made arrangements to talk on the phone to go over details.

As it turned out, there was time to raise the money and really pray about this trip! So that’s what I was committed to do. I asked everyone who had been on previous trips about how to raise the money. They all said the same thing…faith. Pray about it. So I did. I prayed. And stopped worrying. I posted a picture of cupcakes I baked on Facebook, and a friend asked if I ever sold them. I told her that I didn’t, but she could buy them with a donation to my Haiti trip. That was the first of MANY orders I received, almost completely paying for my trip!! I had tried to start a cupcake business a couple of years ago that never took off. This was God. He paved the way for me.

I really thought I had a handle on what my mission in Haiti was all about. I was going to show people Christ’s love. And I did that. I did home visits in the village for those that were too sick to come to clinic. I had a beautiful opportunity to pray with a dying woman. I was loved on just as much as I loved. This was the part that was so amazing. I shared a piece of my testimony, and the Haitian people prayed over me. That was life changing. But, even more importantly, my showing love to these people spoke to a member of our team. Christ working through me impacted a teammate. I didn’t see that coming. Jesus is amazing, and the lesson is that you can’t always know your purpose, but you can know that there is one.

I have a new family in my team. We shared some beautiful moments that cannot be duplicated. We ministered to the sick, and each other in ways that are life changing. Seeing God work through us and in us is simply beautiful. I know that my faith is even stronger because of this trip.

If you would like to explore being a part of a GO team with Grace Church you can check out the upcoming trips on our GO Teams page at bath.graceohio.org/goteams or you can email Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org for more information. 

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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Grace is hosting an informational meeting for a Haiti GO Team (May 25-31) on December 3rd at 9am in Classroom B/C. This trip is open to anyone age 18 and older (or families). There will also be a second informational meeting on December 3rd at 10:45am in Meeting Room 3 for a Women’s Ministry trip to Haiti. This is a new ministry in Haiti reaching women and their families. Be a part of the exciting life change that is happening in Haiti! Questions? Email Sarah at syajko@graceohio.org with any questions.

 

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South Street could use a few more volunteers for their Christmas Store on December 16th! This store helps the kids in the community the chance to shop for presents with dignity and fun! Come help them have fun while they shop! To sign up please email Toni Code at TCode@southstreetministries.org.

 

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Parking Volunteers are the first smiling face that a visitor sees when they come to Grace. We would love to have a few more people join this team at Ghent Rd on Sunday mornings. Could you give 1-2 services a month to serving on this team? If you are interested you can contact Kellie Abbott at kabbott@graceohio.org

 

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Talk to your life group about choosing one of the Hope Project ideas this week and doing it! You could choose to sign up and help at First Glance for their Christmas party, host a game night at your house, invite a new friend or neighbor over, and read John 1:14-17. You can find all the ideas and links for sign up at bath.graceohio.org/hope

 

 

Would you like to learn more about Global Missions? On December 10th from 9am-12pm we will be hosting our Discovering Global Missions class in Classroom D. You can sign up here: https://gracelink.ccbchurch.com/goto/forms/1649/responses/new

 

When Christmas is Hard, Hope is Still Possible

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There is more than one side to Christmas. For some, this can be the most joyful, life-giving times of the year through a whole season of celebrating. There are so many stories hidden in the chaos of the season: the first year celebrating without a loved one; receiving a life-altering diagnosis in the middle of December; seeing the words joy and peace plastered on every wall while battling anxiety or depression.

Sometimes this is Christmas… It’s everywhere and for some, it’s a reminder of all the emptiness. The laughter and the Christmas spirit from everyone around you is a painful reminder of the loneliness. The cheerful sound of Christmas music on the radio is deafening, and all of the lights are merely a blur of colors, looking at them through the tears that don’t seem to end. And then there’s the dread: making it through Christmas Day with a piece of your heart gone, and wishing that your New Year’s resolution could just be the tiniest glimmer of hope that everything will be okay.

There are some seasons where rejoicing in the stable and singing “Peace on Earth” with the angels seems impossible because a silent night where “all is calm and bright” is simply not the reality. If this is Christmas, there is no shame. But maybe it’s time to step back…If this describes you, you are invited to step far away enough from “Away in a Manger” and “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” until you are in the Old Testament book of Isaiah.

In Chapter 9, Isaiah described  the present reality for the people of that day and prophesied what was to come with the Messiah. The chapter holds words that described right where the people are at and gave them hope. The promises were first written to a people experiencing “the gloom of the distressed,” “a people walking in darkness,” and an “oppressive yoke.” And maybe that’s where you are at this Christmas too, and if that’s you, in this season, here’s your promise: “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light…For a child will be born to us: He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

This Christmas is your season for hope: to rest knowing that the One who has come is the Wonderful Counselor, ready to listen to your pain and guide you in wisdom. He’s the one who is called Mighty God, ready to work a miracle in your impossible situation. His name is Eternal Father: when you’ve lost someone or something too soon, He’s the one who is with you always. The Prince of Peace is a friend who invites you to lay on him all of your burdens and anxiety.

Sometimes Christmas is hard, but the bitterness of winter carries its own beautiful meaning in the season. Without experiencing hopelessness, it’s impossible to see the beauty of the hope in the coming of Christ. Without knowing what it means to experience anxiety, there’s not the same value in getting to know the Prince of Peace. Without sorrow, there’s no need to be transformed by the joy that Jesus came to bring.

Christmas is here. This year, maybe for you, Give it away means that in your grief, you are giving away the burden of carrying this alone and you are letting someone in to walk with you in this season. Maybe this year, this isn’t what Christmas looks like for you, but you’ve been there before. Give it away means sharing the comfort you have received, knowing that many times, the perfect gift is a hug, a listening ear, or praying for and with someone. Wherever you find yourself this season, ask yourself what it means for you to “Let Jesus be peace,” the way the prophets described as they told of the coming of Christ.

This is Christmas, and no matter where you find yourself, know that you are loved more than you could ever imagine and that peace, joy, and hope are yours in Him.

 

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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Take the challenge this week of praying over and inviting a few people who don’t attend church and/or who don’t know Jesus to the Christmas services. There are 12 services to choose from. For all the details you can go to http://bath.graceohio.org/christmas/! We hope to see you and some extra guests at our services this year! 

 

il_214x170.470933299_t4fnThe skill of a photographer is greatly needed at several of our city partners! A good picture tells the story of the community, the people and the ministry and is such an important part of what they do. If this is a talent you possess and you’d like to share it with them, please email Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org

 

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Parking Volunteers are the first smiling face that a visitor sees when they come to Grace. We would love to have a few more people join this team at Ghent Rd on Sunday mornings. Could you give 1-2 services a month to serving on this team? If you are interested you can contact Kellie Abbott at kabbott@graceohio.org

 

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Check out the Hope Project ideas for this week! How are each of you intentionally engaging one or more of these ideas to love on others. This week’s ideas include ice skating with a friend or driving around to see Christmas lights. Remember one of the many behind the scenes workers with a note and small treat/gift! And as you spend time with your family read Luke 1:26-38. Encourage your life group to share what they are doing!

 

South Street is looking for a life group who will stuff their newsletters every other month! This would be a great way for a life group to serve together and make a difference for South Street. The preference is for the group to stuff envelopes at the Front Porch Cafe in the Summit Lake neighborhood (evenings would work) but it might also be possible to bring the supplies to your host home! If interested connect with Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org to find out all the details!

 

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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Take the challenge this week of praying over and inviting a few people who don’t attend church and/or who don’t know Jesus to the Christmas services. There are 12 services to choose from. For all the details you can go to http://bath.graceohio.org/christmas/! We hope to see you and some extra guests at our services this year! 

 

il_214x170.470933299_t4fnHave fun with the Hope Project this week by giving something up and donating the money to a ministry, visit your neighbors and deliver Christmas cards, take someone a treat who has to work on Christmas day, and read Luke 2: 8-14. 

 

 

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Ever think about serving with Power Kids, they are in need of additional volunteers at the Extension for both services! Creating a safe, loving space for our kids is a way to welcome new people into the church. Consider serving once a month or even every week! To connect with Power Kids email Hannah Shaffer at hshaffer@graceohio.org

 

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Several of our partners have some big needs financial needs at the end of the year into the start of the new year. Consider pulling money together as a life group and donate towards those needs. Or choose to become a monthly sponsor of one of our city ministries to help alleviate their financial needs on a regular basis. For a list of some of those needs or how to contribute financially you can email Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org

 

Gameday basketball and cheerleading begins in January! Sports Ministry is expecting over 300 youth and their families to flood the Extension every Saturday for games! This is a great time opportunity to reach the community and share the love of Jesus in very tangible ways. Considering signing up for a shift each Sat during the basketball season. To sign up or for more info on the types of serving opportunities you can email Ken Young at kyoung@graceohio.org

 

Christmas Day Devotional

Welcome to Haiti

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Five Reasons You Should Consider a Missions Trip to Haiti

 

1- The People and Culture 

Going to Haiti will undoubtedly mean encountering some of the most gracious people you will have ever met. In Haiti, the way of life is characterized by simplicity and community. Even though it is a country that has little materially, a heart of generosity overflows. Haitians often eagerly welcome visitors and meet needs in the community as they come up with a wealth of kindness and care for each other.

2- The Needs in Haiti

In Haiti, some of the biggest needs are food, jobs, and education. Often, in our American culture, the first response to a need is by sending material goods, but what’s really needed is much more complex. Going on a missions trip helps you to see what the needs are and how to partner in prayer and with long-term solutions.

 

3- Explore Somewhere New

Haiti is a county full of unique beauty. Travel is constant childlike wonder at every landmark and sight, every new food, the way another language sounds. The awe of taking in the mountains, the tropical palms, or a waterfall you’ve never seen before is a way to get to know the Creator in a new and powerful way.

 

4- There’s a lot to learn about faith from Haiti. 

Traveling to Haiti and interacting with followers of Christ there will teach you immeasurably about trusting in God. One missionary to Haiti described how she met a girl who talked about how she didn’t have food for nearly three days, but said that was okay because God was her food. Trust in God’s supernatural provision is often an everyday part of life, and any time is the perfect time for powerful prayer and worship.

 

5- Going to Haiti is a way to build relationships!

One of the most adventurous and exciting callings that God has given to each believer is to be His ambassadors! We are called to give our lives as a “recommendation letter” for Christ! He’s equipped you and provided for you to serve Him. Going on a missions trip is one way to build relationships through encouraging long-term missionaries, engaging with the community in Haiti, and growing in your own relationship with Christ.

 

If you read this blog, especially through the end, it means there is something in you that has a heart for global missions. Let your challenge for this season of your life be to ask God how He wants you to use this heart of yours to spread His love! Maybe it’s going on a first trip, going back to a county on your heart, or even committing to writing to and regularly praying for missionaries. Whatever it is, go for it, knowing that God will equip you for what He has called you to do!

 

Photo credits: Anna Graft, missionary to Haiti from Akron Ohio


WEEKLY HIGH 5

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Urban Vision is collecting food for their Kids Club programs. They will use these supplies to help with their Valentines Day celebration for the 200+ kids. They need sprinkles and candy for decorating sugar cookies, 20 cans of vanilla frosting, and 15,000 pieces of individually wrapped candy. To provide some or all of these supplies you can email Regina Lewis at Urban Vision and let her know what you would like to do. Her email is regina@urbanvisionministry.org

 

il_214x170.470933299_t4fnSouth Street will be kicking off their Open Gym program next week on Thursday evenings. This program is a great way to get to know the kids in a relaxed environment either by helping to tutor, bring a meal, or play basketball with them. You can use this form to sign up to help or to contact South Street with questions or more information! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OgVWifEWp8c1b0DAh8h5MYMoWE-MCXfJIC2qAB9wo4M/edit?usp=drive_web

 

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Gameday basketball and cheerleading begins in January! Sports Ministry is expecting over 300 youth and their families to flood the Extension every Saturday for games! This is a great time opportunity to reach the community and share the love of Jesus in very tangible ways. Considering signing up for a shift each Sat during the basketball season. To sign up or for more info on the types of serving opportunities you can email Ken Young at kyoung@graceohio.org

 

images (4)World Relief, a refugee resettlement ministry, is hosting their next orientation on January 24th. It will be held at their office at 647 E. Market St. Akron OH from 6-8pm (enter through Compass Coffee and they will direct you to the offices). This is a great introduction to the ministries of World Relief and will get you started serving with them anywhere from once a month to weekly! You can sign up following this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e044daeab2ca5f85-june

 

Would your life group be interested in a project at one of our city partners? I’ll be posting some different opportunities each week for a bigger project that your life group (or even 2-3 life groups) could financially and physically support. This week’s highlighted project is for South Street. Their basement is in need of a good cleaning, sorting, and purging. 1-3 life groups could financially invest by purchasing the necessary shelving and containers to get them completely organized! If your group wants to help with this in any way email Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org

 

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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For all of you who have considered serving with Rahab now is the time to connect! They are hosting their Essentials training on Saturday, January 20th beginning at 8am. This is the first step to serving in any of Rahab’s program but full of good information as you strive to serve and love the women that Rahab serve. Here is the link to sign up: https://rahab-ministries.org/event/rahab-essentials-training/

 

il_214x170.470933299_t4fnSouth Street has begun their Open Gym program this week on Thursday evenings. This program is a great way to get to know the kids in a relaxed environment either by helping to tutor, bring a meal, or play basketball with them. While some slots have filled up there is still space for many more life groups to jump into this cool serving opportunity. You can use this form to sign up to help or to contact South Street with questions or more information! https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1OgVWifEWp8c1b0DAh8h5MYMoWE-MCXfJIC2qAB9wo4M/edit?usp=drive_web

 

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In two weeks at Gameday (January 20th), Give It Away will be collecting food for our city partners! We are hoping to stock up each of our partners for the next few months so that they don’t have to worry about these items and can focus on other ministry opportunities! We know that your life group may be serving at Gameday during the season but if you’d like to contribute any food off the list you can bring it to the Extension on January 20th from 7am-6pm or drop it off at the office during the week. You can find the list of needed items here: https://graceohio.box.com/s/e0cguzhtr649346dvdd92387lpdbrp4a

 

images (4)World Relief, a refugee resettlement ministry, is hosting their next orientation on January 24th. It will be held at their office at 647 E. Market St. Akron OH from 6-8pm (enter through Compass Coffee and they will direct you to the offices). This is a great introduction to the ministries of World Relief and will get you started serving with them anywhere from once a month to weekly! You can sign up following this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e044daeab2ca5f85-june

 

Do you enjoy Creative Arts? There are so many ways to serve with Creative Arts Ministry at Grace including set design, sound board, tech, camera, photographers, storytellers, and the list goes on and on! Even if you don’t know how to do these things we can teach you how. If you are interested email Jenny Baird at jbaird@graceohio.org and she will get you started!

 

A Look Back: The Last Five Years in Haiti

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At Grace, we do hard things. When given two options, we will choose the one no one else wants to tackle. We will intentionally go where hope is hard to find.
One of these hard things includes our partnership in Haiti. For the last few years, we’ve been working in the community of Bercy, about 25 miles out of Port-au-Prince. Pastor Chelo started a church about 5 years ago, called Iglese de Grace (Grace Church in the language of Creole). In that amount of time, they’ve grown to about 80 people on the weekends and seen lots of folks lives already begin to make great and healthy changes.

In the past 5 years we’ve seen these amazing things happen in Bercy:

  • Eglise de la Grace in Bercy was built in part through funds raised by Power Kids and regular giving of Grace Church. The church now has 80 regular attenders and they are working on Phase 2 of the church that will be a children and teens wing.
  • Power Kids purchased a motorcycle to enable our pastor to engage more of his community and as his family grew we were also able to help purchase a car.
  • We have had a hand in teaching Know It, Live It, and Give It Away to the church, the SHAPE class, and soon a marriage conference!
  • Helped lead children’s bible camps and other summer programs
  • Ministry with Young Lights, the Haitian led youth group (see video here: https://graceohio.box.com/s/hs187sanabcks9ipvtq410cvkxnq2po0)
  • Among many others, 2 voodoo priests have accepted Jesus
  • We assisted with the building of the mission house, Sant Mouvmant
  • We assisted in getting a well dug and operable
  • We help sponsor 82 children in Bercy
  • We’ve seen FMSC manna packs delivered to Bercy
  • Fruit bearing Trees planted to provide food and jobs selling the fruit but also increased vegetation in the area.
  • Medical/dental clinics have seen almost 2000 people through the years. These individuals were not only given medical care but were prayed for and heard the gospel.
  • We’ve sent over 200 people to be a part of the work in Haiti!
To add to these exciting things, Paul Vespoli recently traveled to Haiti as a part of a FMSC team and he was able to see first-hand how the meals you’ve packed (and more like them) have been used to not only meet food needs but promote a better way of life.
We have another group of women who are getting ready to take their 3rd trip to Haiti in April. They minister to women and children who otherwise might be completely overlooked. They have been allowed into maternity hospitals and the women’s jail sharing the gospel and encouraging women to see their worth and value in Jesus.

Haiti Through the Years

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 We are so excited about what God has done and continues to do through the work of the local church, the missionaries, and our short term teams. For more information on how you can be a part of a GO Team to Haiti email Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org and you can visit our GO Teams page at bath.graceohio.org/goteams

Things I Learned in Haiti

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This is a great recap of Angela Mendise’s time in Haiti with our team in November! Not only does it share insight into her journey to Haiti but also to how God uses each one of us if we let him. 

Things I Learned in Haiti…

If you don’t already have a heart for the people of Haiti you will immediately when you arrive.

I decided to go to Haiti because I felt God was calling me to stretch myself, get out of my comfort zone, and do something that really ‘took some faith’ in Him. Going to Haiti wasn’t the only way but A way to do this.  I’ve always had a heart for the people of Haiti.  I remember as a small child listening to sermons of a visiting pastor from Port-Au-Prince.  Pastor Point, tall, dark and with a thick French accent was very intriguing to me.  He left me wanting to know more about this world he came from.  During my teaching career I had many students that I loved from Haiti.  They enlightened me with stories about their family and culture. I learned I was pregnant with my first child while my husband was in Haiti serving on a medical team.  So, throughout my life, God was introducing me to this country he loves and capturing my attention again and again.

But…all it really took was that first Haitian smile and “Bonjou” in the village of Bercy.  They had me at hello…

 

God honors our faithfulness not our effectiveness.

I signed up for a medical mission trip, with no medical education or background.  Many questions from many people about why I would do such a thing. I could not diagnose a disease, prescribe medication, mend a wound, or save anyone’s life.  I could, however, show up in a time of struggle, and show the people of Bercy that I see them, I see their pain, and they matter. To me and to God.  I could pray over them, hold their hand, I could help set up the clinic, I could hold their babies, entertain their children, have a conversation with them.  I could share Jesus with them.

Ruth is one of my favorite servants in the Bible.  Her mother-in-law, Naomi, has lost her husband and two sons.  She feels God has turned his back on her. Naomi dismisses Ruth to live in Maob with her fellow Maobites. But no… Ruth clings to her.  She had nothing really to offer Naomi- no wealth, status, skills. Only her friendship.  She vowed to go with her to a foreign land with foreign customs and walk alongside Naomi in her grief.  And they would both be greatly blessed.  I think God calls us to be Ruth’s to Naomi’s.  To simply love and walk alongside people in pain and hardship.  We are not their savior but we can show them that they have one. A savior that will never leave them or forsake them.

 

God is so BIG.

Jesus is not an American thing. A western thing. A thing for people financially blessed or the educated.  Jesus is everywhere.  Even in the darkest corners of Haiti.  I could see the light of Jesus in the eyes and on the lips of hungry children, passionate teenagers, welcoming mothers, dusty, hardworking fathers, the hopeful elderly, and even the former voodoo priest.  And more than a physical hunger I saw a thirst for righteousness.  I saw worshipping and praying and preaching like nowhere else.

A broken heart allows for new growth.

“Sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, until he comes and showers his righteousness upon you. “ –Hosea 10:12 NIV

A friend shared this verse with me when I returned.  It helped me make sense of some of the broken heartedness I was feeling.  Your heart will break when you catch your first glimpse of Port-au-Prince.  When Grandpa asks you to hold his malnourished, 6-month-old granddaughter with rust colored hair while the doctor sees him.  When you see children wading in a garbage-filled stream.  But also in your own times of doubt and frustration.  Things don’t always go as you plan them in Haiti.  You are physically and mentally exhausted, and sometimes feeling tapped out on faith and love.  But “ unfailing love” will shower on your broken up ground-IF you seek the Lord -and you WILL bear fruit.  Your heart will grow.

One of the best ways to disciple someone is to let them serve alongside you on a missions trip.

I decided to take our 12-year-old daughter on this trip.  Going to Haiti was on my heart, and without prior conversation, my daughter also mentioned a desire to go.  She, like most adolescents, was experiencing some “identity crisis”.  She was seeking ways to stand out amongst her peers.  She wasn’t a stellar athlete, a straight A student, or even the class clown.  She seemed to be struggling to define herself.  Perfect time to dive into serving an know her identity comes from Christ.  Sports and grades aren’t the only things to get passionate about and not necessarily what she was created for. Even in preparation for the trip, she constantly asked, “But what will I do? How can I contribute?” Admittedly, I struggled with this question myself.  The short answer—begin by doing what no one else wants to do.  Do the paperwork, clean the VIPs (latrines), make the Haitian nurse a tuna fish sandwich, do the dishes, exterminate the obnoxiously loud cricket in the sleeping quarters, eat the goat stew… and tell the cook it was delicious in your best Creole.Then, look for little opportunities.  Hold the children. Let them braid your hair. Paint their dusty toenails.  Go to their home and enjoy their amazing hospitality.  Pray for their loved ones.  Sing to them when they serenade you.  Help the children carry the five gallon buckets of water back to their house.  Celebrate with them.  Cry with them.  Get righteously angry with them at the injustice they suffer.  Listen to them.  Read God’s word with them. I’ll always treasure the quiet conversations in the kitchen about our day over banana sodas and pop tarts.  Stories about new faces, discoveries of hidden gifts and strengths, but also of weaknesses and regrets.  Questions about what next.  Answers about our purpose there.

I’ll never forget the look on her face when I agreed to share my testimony during church. Wide eyed. “What are YOU going to say?”  Weeping on the plane home trying to sort it all out and her comforting me with her newfound confidence.  Loving our new friends from our team and from Haiti.  She didn’t see me share a testimony that was particularly moving to the audience, she didn’t see me as an expert in the Bible or shine in the field.  She saw me vulnerable.  She saw my ground tilled…

God is working in Haiti.

We plant the seeds.  We might not ever see the plant or reap the harvest or even know about it this side of heaven.  Sometimes it’s all a bit overwhelming and you question if anything you did mattered.  Haiti is a country that is so impoverished in so many ways.  It’s easy to feel hopeless.  One of my favorite verses that one of our host missionaries shared with us is from Habakkuk.

“Look at the nations and watch- and be utterly amazed.  For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told.” -Habakkuk 1:5

One of the exciting things about going to Bercy is knowing that the few days you spend there are part of a bigger picture, an ongoing relationship between Grace Church and the village.  I’m looking forward to returning there some day and standing in amazement of what God has accomplished. We can’t even imagine some of the ways God is changing hearts in Haiti.  But I do know the ways he’s changed mine.

I’ve learned to love people more like he does. He handcrafted a team of people that were complete strangers to me before this trip. I learned to love my team, appreciate their unique gifts and understand them through their stories and working alongside them.

My heart was filled with His love for me.  Not a love that I earned but a love that he freely gave when I felt challenged or afraid or discouraged. I felt His presence and that I was in his hand-not only for protection but also so he could mold me and shape me through this experience.  I was in a place where I needed to depend on him and he showed me that I could. I could see the people of Haiti as he does. He’s passionately pursuing their hearts and desires healing for their country.  And I’m humbled he allowed me to be his hands and feet in his glorious work there.

 

WEEKLY HIGH 5

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Does your life group have a hard time serving all together? One of the great ways that you can serve from home (but doing the same thing as a life group) is to bake for Student Ministries. You could sign up for baking once a month or even every other month. Helping with this need frees the Student Ministry leaders to focus on relationship building with the students! If you are interested connect with John Gressock for all the details at jgressock@graceohio.org

 

il_214x170.470933299_t4fnFirst Glance is starting a new teen moms program in February called Connect! Be looking on Grace Church’s social media accounts and the Give It Away Blog for more exciting details on how this program will be loving on the Kenmore Community and how you can be a part of it! For more information you can email Jessica Swiger at jessica@firstglance.org

 

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We are excited to already be thinking about sending two medical missions teams in 2018! We are putting together a team to head to Haiti and one to go to Chad, both in the fall. If you are interested in being a part of either of these teams email Sarah Yajko at syajko@graceohio.org for more information!

 

images (4)World Relief, a refugee resettlement ministry, is hosting their next orientation on January 24th. It will be held at their office at 647 E. Market St. Akron OH from 6-8pm (enter through Compass Coffee and they will direct you to the offices). This is a great introduction to the ministries of World Relief and will get you started serving with them anywhere from once a month to weekly! You can sign up following this link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e044daeab2ca5f85-june

 

About every other month Grace hosts a new Discovery Group! This is often new visitors first opportunity to really understand the DNA of Grace Church. The Know It Team is looking for a life group or even a few people to be their Week 1 First Impressions Team! You could be the welcoming face to talk with and serve those attending Discovery. If you are interested connect with Brent Spillan at bspillan@graceohio.org!

 

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