BETHEL CHURCH

WELCOME

JUNE 2013www.bethelsarnia.com

CONNECTWelcome to Bethel! We are so glad to have you here! As

you look through this Connect Bulletin, we trust that you will quickly find that Bethel has something for you and your

family.

This Month

DONATE NEW OR GENTLY USED CLOTHES, SHOES, AND CRAFTS SUPPLIES TO UKRAINIAN ORPHANS.A team of 20 youth and adults from Bethel are travel-ing to Ukraine this July 24th to August 8th to minister at a Government Orphan Camp to over 600 orphan

youth. British Airways is allowing each team mem-ber to bring three 50 pound suitcases each. Each team member will use one suitcase for personal belong-

ings and the other two to bring supplies to the orphan children.

We will be collecting throughout the month of June, donated items of clothing for infants, children and teens; as well as shoes and crafts supplies. Your dona-tion of either new or gently used items will be a great blessing to the youth we will be ministering to. We will be receiving items throughout June at the church office.

PRAYER MEETINGSJoin us each Wednesday from 5:30PM to 6:30PM in our Sanctuary to pray for the needs in our church fam-ily and for our missions programs. Also for the ladies, there is prayer time each Tuesday from 9:30AM to 11:00AM in the Prayer Room. Prayer times also take place 30 minutes before each service. All are welcome.

THINGSTO KNOW

This Month

10th Anniversary | Saturday June 22nd

Volunteer at the Welcome Desk in Main Lobby

KATHLEEN AVE.OUTREACH PICNIC

OFLO QUOTES

Overlow 2013

As a Student Ministries Pastor there is noth-ing that brings me more joy than seeing a teenager passionately engage in worship and prayer. Times that by 2,700 students and you have Overflow, our district’s yearly Youth Convention. This past May long weekend 29 students and leaders from Bethel travelled to Waterloo to attend Overflow – a weekend centered on worship and the Word of God.

It’s hard for me to put into words what it’s like to stand in a room with 2,700 teenagers who are worshipping with all their heart. It’s loud, but it’s so much more than that, it’s a genera-tion who has decided that Jesus is everything to them and the answer to the problems that surround them. It’s the sound of love and joy and of deep desire to know Him more.

We were honored this year to hear from 3 dynamic speakers, 2 of which are lead-ing pastors in the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada. James Murray, a young adult pastor from San Diego brought a word on Friday night to kick off the whole weekend and 418 teenagers responded for salvation! On Saturday we heard from Steve Osmond who preached on freedom and turned the arena into a hospital room as hundreds of teenagers received prayer to be set free and healed from the brokenness in their lives. By Saturday night our hearts were ready and open for God to move in a great way and He did not disappoint. Following a message by Matt Tapley on the fire of God, the power of God descended in the room in such a

powerful way. It was a prayer meeting like no other as students and leaders stood in unison interceding for the fire of God to consume our lives. After God had done much in the hearts of students over the previous 3 ser-vices it was fitting for James Murray to finish the weekend with a commissioning service. He gave the charge for our generation to be a search and rescue mission for the lost.

There are not enough words for me to explain what God did and how amazing our weekend at Overflow was, so allow me to quote one of our teenagers who simply said: “It was life changing!”

To my students… I am so proud of you. It is my highest honor to be your leader and to have the privilege of watching you become everything God is calling you to be. Continue to endure!

To my leaders… You are the greatest. I honor you for all you did over the weekend, but more so for your consistent outpour of love and prayer upon our students. You are the best of the best and I am a better leader because I get to walk with all of you.

Thank you so much Church for your support of our Revo students!

- Pastor Tricia Gibb

“If you understand God’sintentions, you’ll have greater confidence.”

“Freedom comes from having your mind renewed in Christ… consider Him.”

”You’re not the savior, but you are the search party.”

“You will not endure for a concept, but you will stand for the reality of His love.”

“You don’t win because you start, you win because you finish.”

“What you focus on, you’ll follow”

STUDY: CHRISTIANS WHO TITHE HAVE HEALTHIER FINANCES THAN THOSE WHO DON’T A study co-sponsored by Christianity Today

as reported by Christian Post Magazine.

The finances of Christians who tithe are generally healthier than the finances of those who do not, according to a new report that takes a close look at the financial, spiritual and giving practices of people who give 10 percent or more of their income away to churches and charities each year.

Researchers compared tithers to non-tithers using nine financial health indicators, and found that tithers were better off in every category. Among tithers, for example, 80 percent have no unpaid credit card bills, 74 percent don’t owe anything on their cars, 48 percent own their home and 28 percent are debt free.

“The weird thing is, a tither looks at that and says to himself, ‘Well I’m better off because I give.’ A non-tither looks at that and says, ‘Oh, they give because they’re better off,’” said Brian Kluth, founder of the study and Maxi-mum Generosity, who called the findings “unprecedented.”

There are an estimated 10 million Christians in the U.S. who tithe more than $50 billion

annually, according to a press release for the annual State of the Plate report. The report encompasses survey responses from 4,413 tithers from all 50 states and a variety of dif-ferent churches and income levels.

The fifth annual study reveals that 97 percent of tithers make giving to their local church a priority, and 63 percent started tithing between their childhood and their twenties. It also found that 70 percent give based on their gross income rather than their net income, and 77 percent give more than the traditional 10 percent.

“Never before has this group been stud-ied, and I think for every pastor and church leader and parachurch leader it would be valuable if they understand this,” Kluth told The Christian Post. “We’re in the midst of a 40-year decline in the percentage that Chris-tians give, and we need to see a generosity movement in America, that Christians re-embrace generosity as a spiritual value, but not for the sake of the church budget, but because of the Bible. Churches have made giving all about the budget, and it’s not

about the budget, it’s all about the Bible.”

Kluth started conducting State of the Plate studies five years ago in part because he wanted to help the media present accurate information regarding church giving. For the first four years the research focused primarily on church giving trends, he says, but this year’s focus on individuals who tithe is unique.

“Without this group of givers, most churches would cease to exist within months,” he said.

The “saddest” result of the survey, he says, was discovering that few tithers have included giving to churches and charities in their estate plans.

Tithers make up between just five and 20 percent of the givers in a typical congrega-tion, but they donate 50 to 80 percent of the money. Among non-tithing Christians who struggle to give, 38 percent say it’s because they can’t afford it, 33 percent say they have too much debt and 18 percent say their spouse doesn’t agree with tithing.

I volunteered to do something that I found very difficult to do- write my impressions of our trip to Israel picking out a few highlights.

I found the trip to be informational, awe-inspiring and emotional!

Our tour group, Christians for Israel Canada, consisted of 34 persons from Canada, 14 from Bethel Sarnia. We were given a huge amount of information at each site we visited. Our Jewish guide, Ofer, gave us the his-torical perspective related to each place we stopped to view. Also at each site Pastor Tim read a passage from the Bible that helped connect everything together. Many times

you would just stand in awe thinking that Jesus and the disciples walked and taught in the very places where you were standing. Then there were the emotions you felt as you experienced the entry into Jerusalem, being in the Garden of Gethsemane and entering the tomb at the Garden Tomb site.

Of all the many moving experiences we encountered, here are a few highlights.

Toward the end of the first full day of touring we stopped at Yardenit on the Jordan River where Pastor Tim and I were privileged to baptize 20 of the 34 persons in our group,

some for the first time and others as a recom-mitment of our vows to follow Christ for the rest of our life. Pastor Tim read the passage of Jesus being baptized in the Jordan by John the Baptist. Many of the folks gave a short testimony of what the experience meant to them and one began singing “I Bless Your Name” and we all joined her.

The boat ride on the Sea of Galilee knowing the disciples fished here and Jesus walked on these waters was awesome. We sang many praise songs while on our ride. Later that evening some of us went swimming in the chilly water.

Pastor Tim Gibb led a tour to Israel from April 22 to May 2nd, 2013. The tour was through the ministry of Christians for Israel Canada based in Brantford, Ontario. 34 participants were on the tour including 14 from Bethel Sarnia. The tour included all the major Bible locations in Israel including Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee, Garden Tomb, Jordan Baptism, Garden of Gethsemane, Mount of Olives and so much more.

Traveling to Israel is truly an experience of a lifetime! The Bible comes alive in living colour! It also affords the opportunity to really understand the Jewish people and their culture and issues they are currently experiencing! Below is a report from Ken Steenwyk, who along with his wife Marti, was on this tour. If you would have a de-sire to be a part of a tour to Israel in the near future, speak to Pastor Tim. A tour can be arranged for next Spring 2014 if there is sufficient interest.

A Report by Ken Steenwyk

Visiting the city of Old Nazareth was a great experience but later in the day we had a real emotional experience when we drove into Jerusalem as Ofer had the song “Jerusalem “playing on the stereo. I had often sung the song but to actually see the city caused tears to come to my eyes and I noticed I was not the only one.

The following day we walked the road Jesus took when He made His triumphal entrance into the city of Jerusalem. Again the song “the Palms” that Dorothy plays so beautifully every Palm Sunday during the offering was ringing in my ears. We were then led into a private portion of the Garden of Geth-semane where we had a time of prayer and reflection led by Pastor Tim reading the pas-

sage of the account of Jesus and the three disciples on the eve of His judgement. Again a very emotional time.

Yet another awesome experience was at the Garden Tomb. We got to enter the tomb and view where Jesus lay after He died for each of us. Then we had communion as a group in the garden. Pastor Tim conducted the service which was followed by many songs of thanksgiving for His taking on Himself the punishment that we deserve.

The Holocaust Museum, the time at the Western Wall, Masada and En Gedi were again very emotional times. The dip in the Dead Sea and worshipping at King of Kings Church where Ann Graham Lotz, Billy

Graham’s daughter was interviewed by the pastor were also memorable experiences. However, the trip to Abraham’s Tent at Genesis Land was the frosting on the cake. We came to the reception area and were greeted by Abraham’s assistant who gave each of us a toga and helped us mount the camel needed for the ride to Abraham’s tent.

We then had to holler loudly to get Abra-ham’s attention as he was very old. He then came and welcomed us to his tent. We were served a dinner prepared by Sara of honey date chicken and meat balls and rice with lamb gravy. Then those who did not get to ride the camel to the tent rode back along another pathway. When we got back to the reception area we got our camel rider’s license.

Our days usually began with breakfast by 6:30am to get on the bus by 7:30am or 7:45am We usually returned to the hotel by 6:30pm in time for supper. There was a lot of walking and I think all the roads in Jerusalem go up.

This was a trip I signed on for only because Marti had always wanted to go but I was totally blown away by the awesomeness of the tours, Pastor’s contributions connecting all the dots, and the way Christians for Israel organized everything. If at all possible you should take this trip. You will be blessed!

The trip to Israel was truly a dream come true and the experiece of a lifetime. We

were led through the Holy Land by Moses (our bus driver) and taught about the promised land by Ofer (our Jewish tour guide). When Pastor Tim opened the Bible and read - the Word truely came to life. If there is any way possible, be sure not to pass up an opportunity to go; for the Word will not only be alive to you, but you will live it.

Dalton & Robyn Burke

Israel was a life changing experience for us. We now read the Bible with more clar-

ity and understanding after visiting many of the places mentioned in the Bible. We will never forget being baptized in the Jordan river, seeing Jerusalem for the first time and walk-ing down the Via Dolarosa. Thank you, Pastor Tim, for your leadership and insight.....oh yes, we will never forget the camel ride and the great pictures!!!!!

Perry & Sandy Routley

Walking in the footsteps of Jesus was incredible! Israel is an amazing trip, and I can’t

wait to go again! If you want the trip of a lifetime go to Israel!

Cayden Gibb

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