"Connecting people to God through the power of the cross."
**An independent church of Christ/Christian Church**
Acts 2:42 (NIV) -- "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Welcome to the e-newsletter for Christ's Church at Monticello; a new church plant ministering to the Monticello, IN area. This newsletter is sent to members, attenders, prayer partners, and friends. If you know of someone you think should be getting this newsletter so they can keep up to date on what's happening with us, just send me their e-mail address and we'll get them added; or simply forward this newsletter on. (If you'd like to be removed from the e-mail list, please let me know that as well.) Also, if you'd like to have something included in the newsletter, just e-mail or mail it to me. Thanks! nydeggerfamily@comcast.net
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christ's Church at Monticello (CCaM) has so much to thank the Lord for. We celebrated our one year anniversary on March 18th. From humble beginnings on March 12th of 2006 with 14 in attendance that first Sunday, the Lord has blessed and shepherded us and now most Sundays our attendance is in the low 30s. We continue to have new folks visit with us; and instead of having a summer slump, all indications are we'll have increased attendance.
But maybe the biggest blessing of all is that two new names were added to the Lamb's Book of Life on April 29th. Shirley Cook and Bailey Roller were both baptized into Christ that day. Shirley is a good friend of the Roller family (and helps keep Andrea from getting out of control!) and Bailey is the daughter of Matt & Andrea Roller (and sister to both Eli and Riley). Tim McQuinn, elder from Burnettsville Christian Church, was the baptizer (friend of Shirley's and Bailey's). A large gathering of CCaM and Burnettsville Christian Church folks was on hand to witness the new births. As you can probably tell, we have an Olympic sized baptistery (that also doubles as a swimming pool).
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hispanic worship service to begin July 1st at CCaM. When you walk in the front doors of the Brandywine Conference Center starting Sunday morning July 1st, you'll have a choice of languages. Sunday School and worship in English will be in the right conference room; and in Spanish on the left. Assembly times will be the same for both groups; 9:30 SS and 10:30 Assembly.
This is an tremendous opportunity to reach out to the thriving Hispanic Community in the Monticello area; and make a difference for Jesus Christ. Rafael and Rut Tirado are excited at this new beginning. Since most of the children of the Hispanic families are bi-lingual, we'll have combined children's programs. (Rafael says even his own son, Juan Carlos, speaks much better English than Spanish!). We'll even be sharing doughnuts and coffee. They go well together no matter what language a person speaks. And I can't wait for the first combined fellowship dinner! Me gusta comer!
Please be in prayer about this new venture; and specifically that God will enable us to best use this opportunity to reach out with the gospel message. While most all of the Hispanics are learning English, it's a long, slow process to learn a new language. This opportunity to reach them with the gospel of Jesus Christ in their own native tongue can have eternal impact.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CCaM continues to financially support the Hispanic ministry of Rafael and Rut Tirado (the technical name for their ministry is H.O.P.E., an acronym for Hispanic Outreach for Preaching and Evangelism) with $500 per month. Rafael and Rut are currently teaching Bible study groups in Lafayette, Logansport, and the White County area. Rafael conducts worship services in Logansport and Lafayette. For more information about their ministry, check out the H.O.P.E. website: www.tiradoministry.org or you can contact Rafael & Rut at:
Toll Free: 1-866-633-9296
Office: 765-807-6689
Cellular: 574-870-6439
E-mail:rafael@hope-in.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IDES. The CCaM leadership recently decided to expand our mission giving by beginning to support IDES (an acronym for International Disaster and Emergency Services) with $100 per month.
"The purpose of IDES is to bring glory to God by bringing help and hope to our hurting world. Among independent Christian Churches and Churches of Christ, the work of IDES is unique -- the one source our churches and missionaries consistently turn to for help. IDES provides many services to individuals all around the world. We categorize our services among the following:
Evangelism: IDES channels funds through Christian Churches/Churches of Christ missionaries and congregations to offer help (benevolent assistance) and hope (the saving message of Jesus Christ) to a hurting and lost world. All benevolent aid is given for the purpose to have the opportunity to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Disaster: IDES seeks to help victims of man-made or natural disasters by providing for their immediate basic needs and assisting them in rebuilding their lives.
Hunger: IDES is committed to helping victims of malnutrition caused by man-made or natural disasters.
Development: Development projects are to empower people to not become dependent on IDES or other organizations to provide for their basic needs. It is a hand up and not just a handout.
Medical: IDES attempts to help out missionaries or members of their immediate family to receive emergency medical treatment if they lack the financial resources. Plus provide medicines, medical equipment or supplies for temporary health clinics sponsored by a missionary or mission organization.
For more information about IDES, please go to their website: www.ides.org
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A thank you note from IDES:
"Dear Christ's Church at Monticello,
Thank you so much for your recent donation to IDES. We are honored that you would support our ministry--and we look forward to a partnership that will be a blessing to you and fruitful for the Lord. For the past 30 years, IDES has served as a channel through which Christian Churches and people can meet the physical and spiritual needs of suffering people. IDES receives your gifts and passes them on to verified needs in all corners of the world. We work with missionaries and local churches to ensure that the funds are applied to the real need, and also to ensure that those who receive material help also receive the Word of God."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One other note about IDES. My brother and sister-in-law just returned last weekend from an IDES led short term mission trip to the hurricane ravaged areas of the deep south. Here's a note from Annette:
"Hello To All......
Our mission trip to Mississippi and Louisiana is coming to a close today. We have had a WONDERFUL time doing GOD's work this week!! All 4 of us received much more than we gave this week. I am amazed at the devastation still present here after almost 2 years. The people are amazing! They are so happy with what they do have! As we were driving from job site to job site, I cried several times just looking around at the fema trailers. Those who are still living in very small spaces have decorated their decks and yards just like we do at our VERY LARGE homes! We got to be a part of a house dedication this morning. This home has had several work teams building it since January of this year! To see "Miss Verna" take the first walk through her new home was something we will never forget! She is an 85 year old young lady who was left with absolutely nothing after the hurricane. At her age, she was left with little hope of ever rebuilding her life. I.D.E.S is a wonderful mission for those who have been struck by disaster. I would like to encourage all of you to pray about allowing God to use you here at some point in the next few years. From what I understand, it will be at least 10 - 20 years for the rebuilding to be completed down here! That is something you and I can not imagine. Just wanted to share a bit with all of my family and friends!
God Bless You All,
Annette"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our verse by verse study through the book of Hebrews continues each Sunday morning at 9:30. We're about to finish out chapter four. This is such an great book showing how Jesus Christ is so much superior to anyone or anything under the old Mosaic Covenant. This is an excellent opportunity to really dig into the Word of God in a relaxed atmoshpere. Y'all come!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Wednesday night verse by verse study of the gospel of John continues. We've finished Jesus' public ministry and are examining His teaching and prayer with the disciples in the upper room. We're about halfway through chapter 15. We meet at Matt & Andrea Roller's Pampered Chef building on Washington and Railroad Streets in Monticello (next door to R&M Foods). We start at 7:00 and are usually out the door by 8:20. This is an excellent study and can easily be 'joined in progress.'
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
White County 4-H Fair will be July 14th-18th. CCaM will have a booth there. This is an excellent opportunity to let people know who we are and what we're all about.
We'll also have a booth at the Spirit of Monticello Festival on Saturday, July 28th. Again, just another opportunity to reach out to the community.
Northmen and Northwomen Conference: Monday through Friday, August 6th-10th. See Jack Sparks for details or go to http://www.northmenministries.com/webpages/home.html for more info.
Rainbow Christian Camp Ladies Retreat will be Friday and Saturday, September 14th and 15th. See Barbara Nydegger for details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Troubled Children Missed Father's Blessing (Taken from Bill Glass, "The Power of a Father's Blessing," Christianity Today; January 2006, p. 48)
What is our country's biggest problem? A lack of a father's blessing. The FBI studied the 17 kids who have shot their classmates in little towns like Paducah, Kentucky; Pearl, Mississippi; and Littleton, Colorado. All 17 shooters had only one thing in common: they had a father problem. I see it so much; it's just unbelievable. There's something about it when a man doesn't get along with his father. It makes him mean; it makes him dangerous; it makes him angry.
On the day before Father's Day, I was in North Carolina in a juvenile prison. I ate lunch with three boys. I asked the first boy, "Is your dad coming to see you tomorrow on Father's Day?" He said, "No, he's not coming."
"Why not?"
"He's in prison."
I asked the second boy the same question and got the same answer. I asked the third one why his dad wasn't coming, and he said: "He got out of prison about nine months ago, and he's doing good, and I'm proud of my father. He's really going to be a good dad to me, and he's going to go straight."
I could tell he was protesting so strongly because something was still wrong. So I said, "How many times has he been here to see you since he got out nine months ago?"
He said, "He hasn't made it out yet."
"Why not?"
"Well, he lives way, way away."
"Where does he live?"
"He lives in Durham."
Durham was only 2 hours away. I had come 1,500 miles to visit the boy. His dad couldn't come two hours? There are a lot of fathers who are really deserters. When I'm in a prison, I always challenge inmates to bless their kids. If you want to keep your kids out of prison, bless them."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Christ's Church at Monticello
PO Box 211
Monticello, IN 47960
574-870-2387
nydeggerfamily@comcast.net
www.christschurchatmonticello.com
Meeting Sundays at the Brandywine Inn (Best Western) Conference room:
Bible Fellowship Class 9:30 am
Assembly for Praise & Worship 10:30 am
Monday Night Ladies Study 7:00 p.m. (Pampered Chef)
Wednesday Night Bible Study 7:00 p.m. (Pampered Chef)
[Please call if you need a ride to any activity]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
