Glad Tidings

Upcoming Youth Events:

Frankenstein sounds like a strange topic for a preacher to address but allow me to give it a try. Believe it or not the topic wasn’t suggested by the time of year. My oldest son Seth was required to write a ten page research paper, as well as lead a discussion, on the novel written by Mary Shelley. As so often the case is in our home when one of the boys has a major project for school it’s the dominant topic of conversation. I confess that I have never read Shelley’s original version. The picture I had in my head of the monster comes from the old Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi movies. Seth straightened me out and let me know that the monster while still hideous wasn’t a mindless and emotionless beast (I understand he even teaches himself French). Nonetheless, it boiled down to me to be a story of alienation and animosity between creator and creature. Dr. Frankenstein created the monster and was horrified by how it turned out. The monster blamed Dr. Frankenstein for his isolation and loneliness. In the end they both sought to destroy each other.

What a contrast to what we read in the Bible. God created mankind and after sin entered the world He too was horrified by what He had made. Genesis 6:7 tells us he was grieved He made man. However, God sought to redeem and reconcile us through Jesus Christ instead of destroy us. He sought to end our alienation with Him and our fellowman. I’ve always liked the verse Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. In other words, when our sin made us hideous monsters to God, He still reached down to us in love through Jesus Christ, His only son.

On the days leading up to Halloween when I see all the Frankenstein like monster trappings that go along with this time of year, instead of just lamenting that the devil seems to be having his day I’m going to recall how much my Creator loves me, His creature.

Grace and Peace, Jon

Richard Uriah has safely returned to India. He immediately resumed his administrative duties at his school, and held an evangelistic rally and as a result baptized twelve people! Richard’s parents have arrived in the states and will be at JBC in mid October. His father will preach in chapel on October 12th. His parents will be sharing their work with our church on October 15th in the morning and evening services. There will be a dinner at 6:00 pm.

November 16-19, 2006—National Missionary Convention , Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

Brothers and Sisters, Praise the Lord for all the good things taking place at Gap Creek! We had our first high school monthly Bible study on September 16th at my house. If you would like to know what we studied or how it went ask Alex, Erica, Seth, or Robert.

On September 9th, the youth had a great time going on a hike at my house. We hiked for about an hour and 15 minutes. Afterwards we had a good ’ole campfire where we cooked marshmallows. Bible Bowl continues to become more exciting each week. The youth are excited to see how they will fare in their first competition on October 7th.

Our youth ministry team will meet in the next couple months. I look forward to telling you of several exciting upcoming plans for the youth at Gap Creek.

Please continue to pray and encourage our youth.

With love, Jason

On September 29th Stephanie Kaufman was baptized into Christ. We rejoice with Stephanie’s family and pray for God’s guidance and blessings always in her life. Vernon Eaton, her Papaw, had the privilege of baptizing her.

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Luke 18:16

Hello, Gap Creek friends! This is Tim and Erin MacSaveny with a quick synopsis of our summer internship with Pioneer Bible Translators in Tanzania.

We stayed in Africa for 10 weeks, with most of the time in a large inland town called Morogoro. While our job there was primarily to observe the work of Bible translation into seven of the languages of Tanzania, we also got to be involved in some unique opportunities to help the mission work.

When we first arrived, we studied Swahili with a private tutor, and soon were able to converse with people to carry out business and form relationships. Then we re-organized the branch library and helped train a group of translators on how to use their new laptop computers.

Next, we were swept into two trips across the country. One, to a village called Matombo, was to distribute Scripture booklets written in the Lughuru language. The people there had never seen anything printed in their own language before! Second, we took a trip to the Dodoma region where there is a severe famine. We took a $25,000 gift from the Christian Churches through IDES, and distributed corn to over 20,000 people.

Lastly, we were involved in a month-long training seminar for Tanzanians, teaching them how to do translation work in their own language groups. More than 20 languages were represented by some 65 translators. Tim helped every day with teaching and assisting the class for first-year students, a task that allowed him to use his Swahili skills and help both the busy missionaries and the new translators.

Erin’s primary contribution during the last part of the trip was typing in rough drafts of Gospel text in six of the language groups that are currently being translated. This will allow the translators to access what they have written on their new computers and input it into translation programs.

The trip was a success because we learned so much about Tanzania, Pioneer Bible Translators, and ourselves as well. Thank you so much for all the prayers and support. We are truly blessed to have loving church friends like you!