A Touch of Grace

Newsletter for February and March

A Personal Message from Sr. Pastor, Chris Knight

At the beginning of each new year I always purchase a daily calendar to sit in my kitchen window. My perennial favorite is "The Far Side." On December 25 it showed Santa sitting at his typewriter composing a recipe for 9 different ways to prepare venison. There is a reason it's called "the far side." Anyway, I had the "best" intention of acquiring a 1999 version until Debi began to strongly urge me to lead our family in a more spiritual direction. "Even with our kitchen window calendar" I asked. "Yes," she replied. So off to the Christian bookstore we went. After looking at several options, we agreed on one titled "365 Bible Promises for 1999" which also includes on every page a trivia question to challenge ones Bible knowledge. When I brought it home and pulled off the old days to the present it was January the 4th. The Scripturereading was from Isaiah 44:21-22 NLT " I, the Lord, made you, and I will not forget to help you. I have swept away your sins like the morning mists." As I pondered this passage my heart was filled with hope for this coming year. God made me. I was His idea. As He fashioned me, every moment of my life played through His heart like a familiar symphony. Every laugh, every tear, every bliss and blister, each headache and heartache, every blessing and betrayal, each selfless righteous act and every self-centered destructive sin. He knew them all before I had experienced any. And even though from my beginning He has possessed all rights to my entire life, He boldly did what love must do and give me my own will to choose His path for me or
attempt to make my own. But for those who accept His gift of life His promise from Isaiah is "I will not forget to help you."

I remember when my oldest daughter Jessea was learning to ride her bicycle. Aftermany failed attempts she looked at me through tears of anger and self disappointment and proclaimed, "I'll never learn to ride a bicycle." For an instant, time seemed to stop as I looked back through time and remembered the difficulty I experienced acquiring the proper balance of biking. My father had gotten so tired of helping me that we decided to quit. My bicycle sat in the garage until the tires literally rotted. One day, because of my intense humiliation or shear determination, I went into the garage, mounted my two wheel nemesis, and rode that metal monster until the sun went down and I was rolling on just the steel tire rims. My elbows and knees looked like I had been drug down a gravel road. But my efforts had brought me victory. I was riding. Yes! I looked at Jessea through firm but very compassionate eyes and stated, "Oh honey yes you will learn to ride. Your daddy is going to help you until you do." She looked at me with wondering, doubtful eyes. How could my dad know such things? He's seen what I can do. What does he mean, "I will ride?" How can he possibly help me enough to overcome my failings? Right now as I'm writing this Jessea is flying around the corner down the street on her new twenty-one gear mountain bike. Obviously she learned to ride. For a moment in her young life she
was wrong. She underestimated her potential and my knowledge. God says to each of us, "I will not forget to help you." I was able to steady the course of Jessea's bike until she learned to balance herself. My beloved, God is able to place His hand on each of our lives and whisper to the heart "all things are possible if you will believe."

Our desire to completely follow and obey God is only matched by our inability to do so. My altar of forgiveness is one of my closest friends. So the last portion of this Scripture is a river in the desert to us all: "I have swept away your sins like the morning mists." Can we enter 1999 with this Promise from God? He has daily designs for us to walk with Him in what He has for us. Our Heavenly Father will strongly support and bring to pass His purpose for our life and restore my soul and heal my heart sin. Please come to His table of hopes and dreams and dine with your Heavenly Father this year.

Debi was right you know. A window calendar with a more spiritual direction was a great idea. But, I'll probably still get a copy of "The Far Side."

Swiss HotelsA blessed 1999 to us all.
In His Grace,
Pastor Chris

Vietnam Ministry Update

Arnheim cheap hotels Our team of three will be in Vietnam for two weeks. They will be traveling to various parts of the country with the purpose of encouraging the persecuted church, taking our gifts*, and discerning the focus of future ministry to Vietnam. Details of their trip will not be posted due to the nature of the mission, but can be obtained if you feel led to pray specifically. (* see the bulletin for details regarding these needs of clothing and medical items.)

We are praying that many of you will commit to pray for the success of this mission. Prayer participation will absolutely be the Key! Several of you have had visions and dreams concerning Vietnam and your participation in the future. May the Lord continue to give us insight. If you have a gift to this ministry- contact the elder of missions, Bruce Kezer, mission deacon, Susan Barnwell, Bob Wendt, elder of intercession, or one of our leading intercessors for Vietnam, Scott Ballinger.

HOW TO PRAY....

1) For a protective covering- that all will abide and be hidden in Abba
-the Holy Spirit to give guidance
-angels to stand watch

2) That Our team will have supernatural ability and boldness to encouragethe persecuted church leaders with words from the Father
-stir the gift of prophecy
-engage the gift of faith
-open eyes to discerning of spirits

3) That communist officials cannot discern our activity and the lives of those left in Vietnam willnot be endangered because of our visit
-cause seeing eyes to become blind

4) That we can see what the Father is doing and how He would have us participate

Thank you to the ministers retiring!

How your service blessed the Lord and us also....

Will Stirling....Chairman of the Board of Trustees
Tracey Ingle....Board of Trustee member
Jennifer Gebbie....Tape ministry
Maureen Maholic....Women's Ministry
Nick Ingle.....Community Involvement
Eugenia Almeida, Grace Lotts.....Nominating Team
Dan Johnson, Christine Fricke.....Youth Ministry

New ministers we welcome:
New trustee members: Vickie Love & Michael Pacetti
Women's Minister: Theda Moore
New Design Team: Kathy Proctor, Sharon Gebbie, Ben Davis, Sherrill Gregory, Teresa Reed
Deacon of Worship: Scott Ballinger
Nominating Team: Brenda Burke, Barbara Candela, Jon Cranford, Sylvia Cranford, Scott Gebbie, Tracey Ingle, Lesli Harrell, Bobbie Stirling, Brenda Strevel and Wanda Williams

Welcome to our newest member: Vincent Gianni Leo. His parents, Vinny and Leisa, welcomed him on December 29th 1998 at 12:22 p.m. He arrived weighing 8lbs 13oz and measuring 21 1/2 " in length.

Children's Ministers Schedule: Jan 17 - Matt & Angela Pacetti Christine Fricke
Jan 24 - Jon & Sylvia Cranford Pastor Debi, Bethany Rice
Jan 31 - Karen Sumner, Angela Pacetti, Ana Reija
Feb 7 - Jim & Maureen Maholic, Scott Ballinger, Bruce Kezer
Feb 14 - Scott Jennifer Gebbie, Kathy Proctor, Robyn Randall,
Feb 21 - Brenda Strevel, Nancy Davis, Mary Lynn Tolar
Feb 28 - Michael Jester, Pastor Debi, Bob Wendt, Mimi Kezer
Mar 7 - Angela Pacetti, Tricia Michaels, Christine Fricke, Grace Pete Lotts
Mar 14 - Shannon Bowden, Diane Johnson, Barbara Candella, Amber Rice

Prayer Ministry Vision

Elder Bob Wendt has been before the Lord andhas brought forth to the Body of Grace Church a portion of what the Lord revealed to him for us regarding intercession. The vision is for a continual offering of prayer to be presented to the Lord "24/7" - twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. The purpose is to prepare the way for the Lord to move in our church, our community, our country and our world: to seek His face andto know His will in all matters.

Each of us is being invited to participate byselecting one 15 minute period during the day that you will "own" and commit to pray. These 15 minute periods will focus on the prayer needs that are published each month by Elder Wendt, and are to be external to the need(s) of the individual intercessor. Since God is eternal and not limited by time as we are, Bob believes that at this time it is less important from His viewpoint that each actual period throughout the day be staffed than there be a real commitment to intercession by those participating. For example,
if a person selects 3:00 am to 3:15 am, they may actually pray from 6:10 am to 6:25 am. However,
please be sensitive to the voice of the Lord, who may choose to discipline you to pray during your actual time period. What is important at this point in this ministry is that the individual commits to pray, and is faithful to pray every day for 15minutes.

On the bulletin board in the hall you will find a drawing of our church building on which we can sign-up for our 15 minute intercession slot, as well as more information regarding the prayer ministry vision and a list of areas to intercede for. Please contact Bob Wendt if you have any questions about this new vision and how you canparticipate.

1999 Leadership Chart

Chris Knight, Senior Pastor
Council of Elders
Care Group Leaders
Evangelism
Worship
Praise & Worship: Mimi Kezer
Visual Arts: Ben Davis
Olive Branch Dance Troupe
Ensemble: Maria Richardson
Worship Elements: Scott BallingerDeacon
Men's Ministry: Jim Maholic
Children and Youth
Champions Sr High: Lesli Harrell
Infant & Toddler Nursery, ToddlerChildren's Church: Lisa Ballinger

Deborah Knight, Associate Pastor
Care Group Leaders
Evangelism
Board of Trustees: Jim Maholic (chair), VinnyLeo (treasurer & vice-chair), Tricia Michaels, Teresa Reed, Mary Lynn Tolar, Michael Pacetti, Vicki Love
Facilities Manager: Joel Reed Roads & Grounds: Carl Gebbie
Interior: Darryl Richardson
Cleaning: Eugenia Almeida & AnaReija
Director of Technical/Sound: JoelReed
Women's Ministry: Theda Moore
Worship Assistance to Senior Pastor
Prophetic Team: Diane Johnson
Babysitting: Eugenia Almeida
Communication
Bulletin: Leisa Leo
Newsletter: Shannon Bowden
Assistant: Tracey IngleBruce Kezer, Elder
Missions: Susan Barnwell, Deaconess & chairof Missions Board
Missions Board: Raul Almeida, SusanBarnwell, Tracey Ingle, Bruce Kezer,
Angela Pacetti
Benevolence: Gerard Candela, Deacon & team leader
Bob Leo, Elder
Children & Youth
Children's Church: Bob Leo, Liz Leo, CJLinebarger, Gwen Wendt, RandyPudelek
Jr. High Youth Group: Bob and Liz Leo
Bus Ministry

Pete Lotts, Elder
Evangelism Support Team
Publicity & Bookstore: Brenda Burke
Newcomer Orientation: Grace Lotts
Newcomer Sponsor coordinator: AllenParker
Multi-national Outreach: Allen Parker
Tape Ministry

Bill Moyer, Elder
Christian Education Committee
Media Library: Sheila Moyer
Assisting: Sylvia Cranford

Bob Proctor, Elder
Design Team: Kathy Proctor, Ben Davis,Teresa Reed, Sharon Gebbie, SherrillGregory
Personnel and Administration

Randy Pudelek, Elder
Children & Youth
New Life Clubs: Randy Pudelek, ScottGebbie
Personnel and Administration

Bob Wendt, Elder
Prayer: Gwen Wendt, Deaconess
Nominating Team: Brenda Burke, BarbaraCandela, Jon Cranford, Sylvia Cranford, Scott Gebbie, Tracey Ingle, Lesli Harrell, BobbieStirling, Brenda Strevel, Wanda Wiliams