PRAY through Ramadan - (July 20th-August 18th)

Dear Friend of the Persecuted,

Beginning this week on July 20, and continuing for 30 days, Muslims around the globe will fast and pray from sunrise to sunset. Ramadan is the holiest time for a Muslim…and the most challenging for Christians.

Open Doors is calling on Christians worldwide to unite in prayer for our brothers and sisters living in Islamic-dominated countries; praying for strength when harassed, for comfort if fearful, but most importantly to be emboldened to share the Gospel when possible.

But this is also one of the most powerful opportunities to pray for Muslims as well. As they seek God during this time, we can pray that they find Jesus!

Here is what you can do!

• Unite and Pray - Register to receive the free 30-day Ramadan Prayer Calendar as well as a reference guide on Ramadan and the Islamic religion.

• Get Others to Pray - Please share this email with at least ten friends. Or more!

Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer.

Register today at: http://blog.opendoorsusa.org/ramadan--july-20--aug-18-?&t=34119
Sign-up today and receive the Open Doors 30-day Ramadan prayer guide and a quick reference guide on Ramadan and the Islamic religion. 

Standing and Praying Together,


President/CEO
Open Doors USA

Service Opportunity

An Invitation  to participate

In 

"Sweet Potatoe Drop"

  

Date:  July 14, 2012

Time:   5:30 a.m. - until completion

 

Place:  Sam's Club Parking Lot, 

1501 Sam's Circle, Chesapeake, Virginia

(near)  Battlefield Blvd

 

 All  non profit, church or school agencies that desire to pick up must RSVP by 5:00 p.m. July 13, 2012

 

Volunteers are needed to bag and load.  Volunteers please respond via email at tidewatergleaning@gmail.com

 

In His Service

Apostle Wallace
Tidewater-Eastern Shore Regional Gleaning Coordinatoremail:  tidewatergleaning@gmail

Chesapeake Project Homeless

Save the Date

International missions at ODU continues!

Living the mission opportunity at ODU!

Our church has been invited to assist other local churches in preparing 25 bags for a welcome party on August 25^th for new international students in partnership with the Global Student Friendship organization.  We have also been invited to have five of our members to serve as table hosts for this luncheon. For more information contact Craig at cclayton@firstnorfolk.org or by calling the church.  Below is a list of the items that they are asking to be included in each of the Welcome Bags.

        Soap

Shampoo

Toothpaste

Dish detergent

Dish towel

Sponge

Wash cloth

Hand towel

Laundry bag

Laundry detergent

Zip lock bags

Paper towels

Toilet paper (4 pack)

Hand soap (liquid)

Bar soap

Clothes hangars

Rags (several of the generic white cloths)

Local map

Sweets (mini candy bars or...)
****Global Student Friendship will provide us with the bags that need to be filled with the items you purchase.

Our First Baptist Builders did a great job at the ODU BCM in partnership with Brett Baddorf, director.  Pray for our Missions VBS team that will be serving here!

A new wall enhanced the welcome of the BCM

A stage addition will enhance the ministry and gatherings of the BCM

A cabinet for the dishwasher was a welcome addition

A sound system cabinet for the control board

More Summer Updates!

We have more opportunities that continue to arise even after we published our local missions newsletter!  Check these out:


ODU Block Party- We will be having a block party this Saturday, June 16 from 1-3p.m.  This will be a great time to pre-register people for our Missions VBS event and interact with the community.  Come early and help set up or participate in the MFC Training at noon!


What is MFC Training?  I'm glad that you asked!  Missionary Follower of Christ training is a time for us to begin the conversation of what is an MFC and how can we grow in this calling.  Join us at the ODU Baptist Collegiate ministry before the block party at noon for a brief overview of this training.  Another training is being planned for July as well.


Gosnold apartments Independence day cookout- Join our Gosnold apartments team as they have a cookout, music, and other activities for the residents of this facility who are recovering from chronic homelessness.  Be sure to note that this event is being held on July 1 from 3:30-6:30p.m. Contact the missions ministry for more information.

I'm sure that there are many more as our members continue to seek ways to intersect with Hampton Roads.  We pray that you find those opportunities to reach out to friends and neighbors over the days ahead as we live life together.  Keep living the mission!

Live the Mission this Summer!

     Are you ready for the summer?  When we consider being READY for the summer images of inner tubes, fishing poles, and lemonade fill our minds.  As we seek to be Missionary Followers of Christ we need to look beyond the rest and relaxation components of summer to ask God, "How will I actively and passionately follow Jesus this summer?"


     There are many normal activities that we embrace such as Vacation Bible School, fellowship gatherings, and substituting in needed areas as fellow members travel and vacation.  While these are wonderful things to engage in, we need to continually ask God  if he doesn't have something more in mind for us.


     A popular commercial right now shows a man who has mastered the word "and."  Every time he goes into job interviews, faces a firing squad, etc. he simply asks the one word question, "And?"  To which those with whom he is speaking expand the original plan for something bigger and better than he would have ever expected.


     We need to ask the same of God this summer.  I know that there are those standard experiences that I expect to have every summer, but as I step out in faith, when are some of those times that I could follow Jesus into if I simply asked "And?"  This requires us to be ready for God's answer as he leads us to greater opportunities to make a God-sized impact on our world.


     Many of our international teams are forming and preparing for great opportunities to take the gospel to the uttermost parts of the world.  There are needs with these teams and possibly even last minute opportunities to join them in living the mission globally.  Follow our blog www.bigserveglobal.org for updates and/or contact us if you have questions or interests in serving.  Will you ask God, "And?"


     In addition to our VBS efforts, we are preparing for two significant Missions VBS opportunities with St. Mary's home for disabled children as well as the International families at ODU.  These will be game changers as we impact families who are facing many needs that extend beyond a five day event for their children.  Will you ask God, "And?"


     Another way in which God is moving our members is to reach out to those living in some of our regions most challenging neighborhoods.  Works in the South Norfolk area of Chesapeake and the Park Place area of Norfolk are giving our members tangible opportunities to serve in the community among the least of these.  We are praying that God will continue to open great doors of ministry in these areas and that the Lord of the Harvest will raise up laborers to serve.  Will you ask God, "And?"


     While many of our members have engaged successfully in the mission of our church, there are still many who remain on the fence trying to find that point of entry for them and their families.  That is where MFC (Missionary Followers of Christ) training comes in.  We are planning a time in which we will intentionally invest a Saturday morning in June and July with the purpose of training and applying that which God is calling us to.  We will actively engage people on the Tide light rail, at cultural events in the region, at the World Market on Newtown road, etc.  Will you ask God, "And?"


     There are many more, but I am not writing this to sell you another program.  This call is for us as missionary followers of Christ to make an eternal impact through God's call to live the mission on a daily basis.  Where will you start today?

Will you ask God, "And?"