Glad Tidings

A Word From Jon….

Our family’s trip to India (February 16th to March 2nd) is upon us. While there always seems to be something in our home that demands attention, here lately it’s been planning the trip to India. All the travel arrangements have been made and now we’re finishing up preparations for the work we will be doing there. I’ll be preaching four messages on the church as well as leading a Bible study on church leadership at the annual convention of the Jaintia Churches of Christ and Mushai Laishnat in the village of Iooksi. Don’t be too surprised if you hear some messages on these topics at Gap Creek. Lisa will be leading a omen’s workshop on, “What Dedicating Our Children To The Lord Means” at the convention as well as working with the North Liberty English School. Richard, Bana and Marguerite assure us that the boys will be put to work as well. For example, Clay who is a Boy scout, will be speaking to a scout troop that meets at the North Liberty School.

It’s exciting to say the least. However, I must be honest, there is some apprehension as well. It’s no secret that I don’t like to fly and spending twenty-two hours in the air one way doesn’t really appeal to me. I also find going into a new culture that I’ve never experienced and being in the minority to be a little scary. However, the opportunities to share the gospel where the fields appear white unto harvest as well as for my entire family to gain an understanding of another culture different than our own, out weighs any hesitation. Not to mention we’ll be able to visit with and assist in the work of our new friends, the Uriahs.

Whenever I get a little apprehensive about what the Lord has given me to do, I think of Ananias in the book of Acts (not the husband of Sapphira but another one). He was the individual that the Lord called to go and speak with Saul (soon to be Paul) after his experience on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:10-19). Ananias was somewhat reluctant to go in light of the fact that Saul was best known for persecuting Christians. Nonetheless, Ananias goes to see Saul and you know the rest of the story. Saul is baptized, changes his name to Paul, becomes the great missionary to the Gentiles and writes a good part of the New Testament. Imagine what would have not happened if Ananias had given into his fears and not gone to Saul.

All of us have those times when we’re a little reluctant to go through a door that the Lord has opened for us. It may be witnessing to someone about Christ, leading a Bible study, teaching a class, visiting someone who is seriously ill, getting involved with those who are down and out or going on a mission trip. When faced with such reluctance, just recall what happened when Ananias overcame his tentativeness and went to Saul. Great things happened from a shaky step of faith.

Please pray for us on our trip. Take care and God bless.

Jon

Sympathy - To the families of Frances Wallace and Leona DeArmond. These ladies were members of Gap Creek and friends of many. Frances Wallace passed away on December 14, 2006. She had been living in Lexington, KY for the past few years. Leona DeArmond passed away on December 24, 2006. Mrs. DeArmond was a charter member of Gap Creek Christian Church.

Welcome - To Chris Brundige who is our newest member at Gap Creek Christian. Chris lives in Sevierville, TN.

An Invitation - Jeff Farley began teaching a new study on Jan. 28th. If you are interested in a study on “Freedom from Busyness: Biblical Help for Overloaded People”, please come join the Sunday School class that meets in the fellowship hall.

What a great time this has been! Thank you Gap Creek Christian Church for allowing our youth to participate in Bible Bowl. It has been a great learning experience for the team, including the coaches. We have four students who have dedicated their time and energy to learn more about the Bible through Bible Bowl. At the Round Robin this month, the team placed 3rd in Division I. The matches were close. Please pray the students will continue to excel in this team building experience.

Besides having team matches, there is a written test each month. In January, Erica Kobel scored the highest, not only in senior division, but overall in our round robin. She is tied for 1st place with a 132.5 average for this year's test which is a total of 4 tests so far. Alex Kaufman is right up there with Erica. Alex placed 2nd in December and January and is 7th overall for the year. Clayton Hale and Becky Quesinberry have continued to improve on their scores and rank in the top 15 of the Junior division. Again I ask for prayers for each of these students to recall what they have read and studied as they take the tests.

Last of all, I want to invite you all to the Valentine Dinner the Bible Bowl team will be having. This is to help raise funds for these students to go to Nationals in July. So make plans to attend and sign up!

Penny Kobel

Valentine Banquet
February 10, 2007 6:00—9:00 p.m.
Gap Creek Christian Church Fellowship Hall
Your choice of - Lasagna or Spaghetti
Childcare will be provided

February
Feb. 3rd - Bible Bowl Round Robin
Feb. 9th - Lockin -Time TBA
Feb. 10th- Bible Bowl Fundraiser Dinner
High School Further Study - TBA

In the words of Robert Alexander, "We just roll like that", and roll we did, all the way to Cincinnati, OH. I want to express my pride in the youth that participated in the mission trip to Ohio. All of them worked hard and showed the light of Christ in the Cleves and Price Hill communities. They did a great job!

In addition, all the youth would like to thank the congregation for their overwhelming support and encouragement leading up to their trip to Cincinnati. Your prayers and financial gifts were more than helpful. Not only were they blessed by the opportunity to go and minister but they were able to provide a blessing through their presence and physical labor.

Please continue to pray for BLOC Ministries in Cincinnati as they continue to shine a light in the darkness through their BLOC houses, providing services that include after-school tutoring, family counseling, community sports leagues, drama classes, and computer labs. God is doing good things through BLOC Ministries and Gap Creek has now partnered with them, sharing in their ministry of the gospel.

Continue to pray for the Youth Leadership Team as we move forward with concrete plans. We remain steadfast in our goal to further the spiritual development of our youth, while reaching out to a community much in need of Christ.

Jason

We have been in Australia for eight years now. In that time we have seen the work at Charlestown grow and the congregation is preparing to stand on it's own again. At the moment, the church is actively seeking a future minister, indicating that our work here is just about done.

But that doesn't mean we're done in Australia! On January 30th, we will break ground on our new home in Cameron Park, about 20 minutes away. In a few short months we will make the move into this new suburb of Newcastle. In another year or so, Lord willing, we will begin a new church plant in what will become one of the fastest growing areas in this part of the state.

Please pray for our finances during this time. It certainly has been a bit lean with all the extra expenses. Pray also that the transition at Charlestown (taking up to a year and a half) would go well and be an encouragement to all. And finally, pray for the future work at Cameron Park. That contacts would be made and a nucleus of God's people be drawn together to serve Him there.

Thank you for your continued support through encouragement, prayer and financially. We couldn't be here without you. God Bless!

In His Grace,
Tim, Dawn, Lauren, Leah & Anna Yates

PS - We have a ladies' conference coming up in March with Julie Nevel and Lisa Jones coming to lead. Also, we have an intern coming probably in July and then the Australian Christian Convention in October. We will have a couple from Canton, OH coming for the ACC.

When my family and I moved to Honduras in May of 2000, one of the first Spanish phrases to catch my attention was written across the top of the chalkboard in a classroom at the Instituto Biblico Cristiano. It said, "La evangelization de Honduras es la tarrea de los Hondurenos." Translated, "The evangelization of Honduras is the work of the Hondurans." The focus of Bajio Christian Mission is to train nationals to preach the Gospel. This work is accomplished through the Christian Bible Institute (Instituto Biblico Cristiano). Rather than plant churches dependent upon funds from the United States, it is the goal of BCM to build up the Institute so that it becomes a center of Christian learning for Central America.

Bill and Margy Hoff founded Bajio Christian Mission in 1972 as a ministry to the low-land population of central Mexico. Their time in Mexico saw the creation of an orphanage, a Christian camp, various churches and a Bible institute. In 1992, missionaries in Honduras saw the need to start a Bible Institute that would train and equip nationals to teach their own people the Word of God. Bill and Margy moved to Honduras in 1993, found property , and built the first Christian Bible Institute in Honduras. From the beginning of classes in 1997 through today, 27 students have graduated from the two-year program at IBC.

Gap Creek began supporting Bajio Christian Mission in May of 2000 when our family moved to the country to assist with the operation of the Bible Institute. On two occasions, Gap Creek sent Phil Zook and Don Dickinson to help with the construction of a new Institute facility. Jon Hale helped prepare our living quarters at the old institute a few months before we arrived. When we returned from Honduras in 2002, we urged Gap Creek to continue to support the mission and it's ministry in Honduras. The church leadership graciously continues to support the work in Honduras and is helping BCM see that the evangelization of Honduras is accomplished through the efforts of the Hondurans.

Tyson Chastain