MIDWEEK MESSAGE #166
Hello and welcome to Midweek Message #166! Thanks for taking the time to read this and
allowing me to share my heart, as well as some information with you. I hope you are having a
good week so far.
Remember to pray for our military person for this week: Christopher Erb. Christopher is a Staff
Sergeant, Air Force instructor at Fort Leonard Wood, MO. Christopher is married to Alyssa, and
they have two children, Annabelle and William. He is the son of Dave and Heather Keith.
It was a real joy having Jacob and Mia McCall and their two children, Zion and Izzy, with us
Sunday. They were involved with Pastor Ryan and Hope at Hilltop Camp during Wilderness
Week (that week’s mission emphasis) and now partner with Freedom International Ministries.
They are one of the missions OVCF supports on a monthly basis. Jacob is an English teacher and
Mia is a nurse by trade and a stay-at-home mom by design. If you are interested in learning
more about the McCalls, please visit their website:
https://itisforfreedom.com/our-team/missionaries/jacob-and-mia-mccall.html
Here is something you can put in your FYI file and be amazed about: this past Saturday was the
Back to School Expo at the OC Fairgrounds. We started handing out backpacks filled with school
supplies for appropriate aged students at 10:00 and it was almost 12:30 when we finished. And
here is something which may astound you…we started with 600 backpacks and they were all
gone with a need for more!! OVCF helps with the Expo because we believe it is a good thing for
the students of Owen County. We even had some from surrounding schools and communities!!
What a great thing to be known for. Hats off the S-OCS system, the teachers, cheerleaders,
choir, Mark Ruble (he wore the un-air-conditioned mascot suit), the Owen County Chamber, the
LEOs, firemen, EMS, and all the miscellaneous volunteers who helped on a sweltering day. It
was a lot of fun (for me) to see past Kindergarten students I read to, and future K students I will
be reading to this year.
The really big item on the agenda for this coming week is Sunday’s special day. Two things to
remember:
- First, is it a 5th Sunday so that means all the elementary age young people will be
involved in the adult worship. The nursery and preschool class will still be meeting at
10:45. Miss Stacy has something special planned for the preschool students, including
those who will be moving up next week into the early Elementary class. - Second, Terrie MacMorran will be leading the Move Up Sunday program since Pastor
Ryan is on sabbatical. The teachers and volunteers who help with the children’s
programs will be recognized. We will recognize the students who will be advancing
from Early Elementary (grades 1-3) to Late Elementary and special recognition will be
given to those moving from Late Elementary (grades 4-6) to the world of “Big
Church”. If you attend the 1st service you are invited to stick around for the beginning
few minutes of the 2nd service to witness the program. They are a fantastic bunch of
young people who deserve our support.
There is a ROOTS Reconnect planned for August 12th. Cassie Linville is the one you will want to
see for more information.
Sunday was such a good day in the life of OVCF. I was honored to present Keely Wills with a
Bible, as well as Amelia Biggs. Keely gave her life to Christ at Senior High week at Hilltop and was
baptized on July 7th. Amelia gave her life to Jesus and was baptized at the end of the Junior II
week on July 23rd. Keely is part of our youth group family and Pastor Ryan was sorry to miss
giving Keely her Bible. Amelia went to Hilltop at the encouragement of Linda St. John and you
see the result of that. This is one example of why the elders of OVCF believe in making sure
our young people and their friends have scholarships to go to camp. More exciting news to
come!
I had someone text me Sunday saying, “I cannot believe how many beautiful things are
happening right now!” I responded by saying, “God is in the good and the bad. You relish the
good; learn from the bad; and grow through them both. Above all, you keep your heart for
God.” That brought to mind something I read recently in a book called Fractured Faith by Lina
Abujamra. Lina was born in Lebanon and migrated here with her parents as a young child. She
came to know Christ and was on staff of a large megachurch as a Bible teacher in the Ladies
Ministry when the Senior Pastor imploded and took down others with him. Lina was one of
them. Her job was gone and her identity (and her faith) took a major hit. This book is her way
back to a vibrant faith. I’d like to share a couple quotes from her book to go along with what I
texted:
- “The longer I live, I wonder if my inability to see God in my pain is rooted in the fact that
I’m not really looking for God. I’m looking for a god to show up in the way that I want
him to and to give me what I want him to give me.” (p.30) - “The reality is that often we’re never as close to our Father as we are in our suffering.
We’re never as alive to God’s purposes as we are when we suffer.” (p.30) - “Pain’s gift is that it increases awareness. Suffering heightens our sense of need and
deepens our heart’s cry for help. While suffering hurts, a growing sense of God’s
presence heals.” (p.31)
There is more but I’ll leave you with those and with what I said Sunday in the sermon. “You can
trust God. He never wavers. He never changes. He never waffles. He is a rock. Run to the rock!”
With that in mind, have a good week. I love you all.
Pastor Bill
