Hey Family,
I had a good time at the missions potluck last Sunday after the service. Three of our partners shared, Steve and Allison, Paul and Susan Condie, and Brandon and Heather Young.
Brandon and Heather talked about their ministry in Papua New Guinea. They live in the town of Wewak and their role is to buy and ship supplies to the 14 church-planting missionary families serving in five remote locations.
When someone at the potluck asked for clarification, Brandon explained their role with a visual. He said that they function like one link in an important chain. He called up his daughters to demonstrate. Here’s a picture.
Brandon (far right with the microphone) said he is like Valley Church, that is, all of us who invest in missions. Felicity (dark hair) is to the left and she represents the Young family as they work hard to buy, pack and send supplies. Charlotte-Amelie (blond girl leaning like the famous tower in Pisa) is next. She represents the 14 church-planting missionary families that are taking the gospel to the remote peoples of Papua New Guinea. And finally, there’s our own Duane Gifford at the end of the chain. He represents the people of Papua New Guinea whom God loves. They hear the gospel from missionaries who are supplied by other missionaries who are supplied by missions-minded believers at Valley Church.
I love this image. It’s also true for our Valley Church ministries. Each one of must be a link in one of the many chains that extend this way and that to get the gospel out.
Let me ask you: Where are you a link in a ministry chain?
- Are you serving at VBS this July 17-21?
- Maybe you’re helping with the food pantry on the fourth Friday of each month?
- Or serving in youth or children’s ministry?
- Maybe you’ll be a missions representative?
- Maybe you’ll help with receptions for memorial services? Joanne Beich and her team can’t do it forever.
- Maybe you’ll serve on the coffee team for Sunday mornings?
- Maybe you’ll lead a table in women’s Bible study?
- Or do tech for worship services?
- Or help with tennis and table tennis?
- Or smile at and serve dinner to ISF students at a welcome dinner?
- Or care for a sister in Women Helping Women?
- Maybe you’ll be a spiritual mentor with CityTeam’s Renew program?
- Maybe you’ll help us host the CityTeam Women’s Graduation on Sept. 29?
These are just a few ideas.
This Sunday we’ll be back in the Gospel of John in our “Believe” series. We’ll exit the upper room and descend into the Kidron Valley to the east of Jerusalem, cross the brook and ascend part way up the Mount of Olives to a garden where Jesus will be betrayed and arrested in accordance with a divinely ordained plan. It’s a powerful and moving scene from John 18. Please come and worship.
For Jesus the King,
Darren