July 9, 2015

Faith talk Remember in prayer:

Congratulations to Chuck and Michelle Commeret who welcomed a baby girl, Jada Joy, on Sunday, July 5. Congratulations to Bryant and Amanda Russ who also welcomed a baby girl, Reagan Quinn, on Tuesday, July 7. We also congratulate Jeanette Overway who will celebrate her 90th birthday this Friday, July 17! Please continue to pray for Bobby Adams as he has been diagnosed with MRSA and continues to have further testing done. Elizabeth Schultz is asking for prayers for her Grandma, Eleanor Templin, as she is dealing with a lot of pain, and also for the family as they try to figure out the best way to care for her. Mike Jipping was able to return home from the hospital on Wednesday. Please keep him in your prayers as he recovers.

Deacon’s corner:

Here at Faith, we value Christian education for our children. Our members contribute to the Christian Education Fund in order to help families at Faith, who would not otherwise be able to afford to send their children to Christian schools. If you need assistance to provide Christian education for your children, please contact Mary Kiekintveld at 392-8187 or marykiek@hotmail.com to apply. Applications are due by next Sunday, July 19. The Christian Education Fund is in need of your support. Please consider a contribution to the Faith Christian Education Fund. Thank You, the Deacons

Info on website: faithcrc.org

THIS WEEK AT FAITH

Preaching: Pastor Chad Pierce

Psalm 7:1-5, 14-17 1 Peter 3:8-12

Sunday, July 12

9:30 AM Morning Worship

11:00 AM Refreshments – Visitors Welcome

Monday, July 13

6:00 PM Church Leadership Training

Wednesday, July 15 5:30-7:30 PM Faith Summer Block Party!

6:30 PM Worship Team Practice

SERVING THIS WEEK: TV CREW Ken Haveman, Trent Slenk, Aidan Baggech AUDIO Nate DeMaster PPT Ross Haveman GREETERS (N) Lynn Hillicoss (W) Jim & Sue Shoemaker USHERS Cary Hirdes, Karl Brink Jim Hekman, Stephanie Good TODDLER NURSERY Michelle Kooyers, Lydia Thiam Lilly Ryden, Nathan Disher INFANT NURSERY Jenna Teater, Sophia Snyder, Jenna Pierce PRESCHOOL Marla VanIddekinge, Lilly Parker, Allie teVelde KINDERGARTEN Grace Lemkuil, Abby Goodyke, Aidan Baggech COFFEE SERVERS John & Nancy Oudshoorn Mark & Amy Scholten Greg & Sarah Schemper VAN DRIVERS Jim Shoemaker

*If you are unable to serve, please find a replacement.

Faith Finances General Fund Offering last week $5,711 General Fund $ needed each week $11,818 Giving is currently at 87.1% of our budget July Offering Schedule: July 12: Benevolent Fund

July 19: Building Fund

July 26: Education Fund

SERVING NEXT WEEK: TV CREW Bruce Harkema, Steve DeZwaan, Ben Lambers AUDIO Eric Snyder PPT Rilee Bouwkamp GREETERS (N) Cary & Judy Hirdes (W) Bob & Muriel Renzema USHERS Ken & Nancy Haveman Doug Sall, Sumte Thang TODDLER NURSERY Ann VanZalen, Kathy Hekman Elia Schemper, Isaac Snyder INFANT NURSERY Ronda Busscher, Faith Lemkuil, Abby Goodyke PRESCHOOL Kristin Tubergan, Jenna Teater, Andrew DeBlecourt KINDERGARTEN Grace Lemkuil, Jennifer Lemkuil, Daniel Disher COFFEE SERVERS Lynn & Gloria Schipper Doug & Kristy Sall Tom & Sharon Schaap VAN DRIVERS Lee Tiemeyer

*If you are unable to serve, please find a replacement.

Preaching next week… Pastor Chad Pierce

My Brothers’ House food offering is this Sunday, July 12. As some of you have heard, the residents of My Brothers’ House 1 have had their food assistance reduced by

70-90%. This has produced a great deal of financial strain on the house. Faith has decided to help our brothers by taking a food offering on the Sundays we celebrate communion for a while to help them in their need. The idea is that as Christ has fed us at his table, so now we feed others. If you desire, please bring an item or two from the list below. These items will be brought forward to the communion table at the end of the service this week. Thanks for your willingness to partner with our brothers in Christ. Pastor Chad

Snacks for lunches - (Swiss cake rolls/nutter butters are some favorites of the guys:)

Nonperishable food items Coffee, decaf and regular (any brand is fine) Coffee filters (8-12 cup) Bottled water (mini) Juice boxes Paper napkins Soup for lunches Salad dressings Cake mixes Cookie mixes Pancake syrup Pickles all varieties 12 packs or 2 liters of pop Barbecue sauce Instant oatmeal- large containers or individual packs Small cans of ravioli/beefaroni/easy mac/microwavable Meal starters and dry soup mixes Cream soups for cooking- mushroom, chicken and Potato Coloring books and crayons Clorox (or any brand) disinfecting wipes Kitchen trash bags All purpose cleaners Meijer gift cards for perishable foods and Gas Cards

BLOCK PARTIES AT FAITH We are excited to have you join us in reaching out this summer to our neighborhood and getting to know our neighbors. This an opportunity to have fun and serve together. We also want you to use this as an opportunity to bring people to experience the richness of our Faith community. So bring your friends, neighbors and family too. So here is how it works! Please take a moment to look at the sign-up sheet in the welcome center. We need every slot filled to make this happen. Please talk to Mark and Jane Lambers or Rachel Baggech if you have any questions. We have three fun packed nights. July 15, July 29 and August 12, 5:30-7:30pm. We will grill and chill, get wet, get artistic, get competitive, bounce, dunk, eat, chat, make new friends, reconnect with old. Its how community is made. Additional summer fun – Join us on the Heights of Hope 5K. Saturday, August 8, 6pm. Pig roast and ice cream to follow sign up online and wear your Faith Church shirt!

Additional Announcements For those involved in the new leadership structure at Faith, we will have a training session on how the structure will function Monday, July 13 from 6pm – 9pm. All committees will start together as a large group, and then we will break into individual teams for further work. Thanks to all who have committed to leading in this way! Seniors outing to Shipshewana this Wednesday, July 15, please meet upstairs in the theatre lobby at 12:30 to be seated together, I will have the tickets. After the musical meet downstairs at 4:30 for dinner together. Thanks! Jenean Mosterd Next Sunday, July 19, we will hear an update from Joel & Marilyn VanDyke, our missionaries in Guatemala City. You are welcome to come for a time of fellowship and to hear more about their work, following next Sunday’s service. Check out their newsletter that is attached to this week’s Faith Talk! Annie Niedzwiecki and her son Henry, are looking for a home/condo, to rent on the south side of Holland. If you have any information, please call or email Annie at 616-795-5677 or annabellseven@yahoo.com Old Time Kibbie Church Reunion Picnic, July 18 5:30pm to 9:00pm. Bring a dish to pass, and we will provide the meat and a beverage. Come share memories of the Kibbie Church and Kibbie Community in pictures! We are still at 68th St. next to the KalHaven trail. For information call 269-637-4263 Have you been taking pictures at Faith this last year? We are looking for great photographs that capture the heart of life and community here at Faith. If you have pictures that you could share with us, we would be grateful! You can email them to rachelb@faithcrc.org Thank you! Our Church Directory will be distributed at the start of our Fall Program Season. If you would like an updated picture put in the directory, please email this to Kari at karis@faithcrc.org by next Sunday, July 19. Thanks! Do you love to bake? We are looking for persons who would like to be part of a church hospitality baking team. Individuals would bake cookies at home and bring them to church once a month to be served during our fellowship time after the service. Please contact Kari or Connie in the church office to sign up. Lakeshore Little People’s Place Christian Childcare is now hiring teachers and assistants. Full time and part time positions are available in Holland and Hamilton. Applicants must be 18 or older and available year round until 6:00 p.m. A degree in early childhood or related field and/or experience working in a licensed childcare is preferred. Send your resume to llpp.office@gmail.com or visit llpp.org for more information on site locations. Sunday, July 12, Worship On the Waterfront 2015 welcomes, Mikeschair to the Grand Haven Waterfront Stadium from 7:30 – 8:45 p.m. Upbeat and uplifting describes this Christian band that creates songs that impact people from age 8 to 80. The DNA of the band has always been about bringing awareness of those in need. There is no cost, nor any tickets needed to attend W.O.W. Check out our web site at www.worshiponthewaterfront.org. Any questions? Call: (616) 842-6600.

MISSIONARY UPDATE Ed & Linda Speyers update Dear Partner Churches, When I read this article, I had to admit that I too, have been a liar at times. This article expresses well, what many of us have felt for decades but are afraid to say for fear of not looking like we have it altogether. While not everything you read here is true all of the time, many of the things are true at least part of the time. I hope you'll read it with compassion and understanding. We would love nothing more than to engage in an honest dialog with you. I welcome your comments, questions and feedback. Thanks for giving us an opportunity to be honest and open. The article is reprinted here below and can also be accessed via the link posted directly below this line. Ed & Linda Speyers http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2015/06/why-most-missionaries-are-liar.php Why Most Missionaries Are Liars No job description I have ever seen for a missionary includes the words "fast and loose with the truth." It is not my belief missions attracts the kind of people who are predisposed to being insincere. Unfortunately, I have seldom encountered a missionary who will tell the entire truth when asked important personal questions. The questions which would cause a typical missionary to light up a lie detector include: "How are you doing?" "How is your family?" "How is your marriage?" "How is your spiritual health?" These personal questions are frequently asked by friends, family, and supporting churches. What gives a typical missionary emotional fits is juxtaposing an honest desire to receive help with the concern he or she may be perceived as a ministry failure. The Truth The truth is most missionaries are suffering. They just don't want their supporters to know it. A typical missionary has an unspoken adversarial relationship with their supporters. It has to do with financial support. We missionaries think, at some level, if our supporters discover we are suffering, struggling or having a hard time while on the mission field, we will be viewed as a bad investment and our supporters will go find a better missionary who has his act together. Two of the most discussed topics in the Bible are sin & money. It should come as no surprise that money is at the core of much of our sin. Many missionaries are willing to suffer in silence for fear someone may discover we are ineffective servants. If the truth of a missionary's suffering was revealed someone may pull their financial support or a missionary may be called home for a season, or permanently. In a missionary's mind, what could be more painful than to be revealed as incapable of doing that which God has called and prepared them to do? To The Missionary Missions is hard. Humans are weak. God is sufficient. What could be more unnatural than to leave a culture where you know the language, you are succeeding at life and are surrounded by people who support you, to live in a culture where you speak like a child, have no support group and fail daily? Missionaries leave for the mission field with visions of Amy Carmichael, David Brainerd, and Jim Elliot in their heads. The reality is many missionaries spend some part of a typical day in emotional and spiritual anguish. Struggle and failure are typical items on a missionary's "to do" list. Missionaries, always remember what Hudson Taylor said, "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies."

Tell your supporters and friends the truth. Get people to pray for you often. Let those who love you know you are in pain. When missionaries are honest, supporters don't run from you, they run to you. When you left for the mission field you asked individuals and churches to partner with you in ministry. Give others the opportunity to glorify God by serving you. You may be surprised how your honesty results in a deluge of compassion. To The Church You agreed to partner with missionaries. Now do it. This is not simply a financial relationship. John Piper said, "All the money needed to send and support an army of self‐sacrificing, joy‐spreading ambassadors is already in the church." It is not about the money. Care for your missionaries at least as well as you care for your stateside congregants. Ask them frequently how they are doing. Assume they are struggling and lying to you. Probe deeper. Ask them hard questions. Remind them frequently you are praying for them. They know you are praying, but they love to be reminded. Remember their family. Don't forget anniversaries and birthdays. One short e‐mail or phone call will provide energy for months. You may not be called to go, but you are certainly called to pray for or support God's Great Commission. Every Christian is a participant. Visit your missionaries on the field. Counsel them. Dive into their lives and invest in their spiritual health. Send them personal Christian resources. Conferences, books and CDs aren't as prevalent outside the U.S. Loving on a missionary isn't hard, but you'd be shocked at how few churches and supporters do it. Be the one to make a difference. Focus On the Big Things I have explained to dozens of churches I would rather see them invest sacrificially in two missionaries than superficially in two dozen missionaries. Instead of giving a $100/month to two dozen missionaries and ignoring their personal needs, give $1000/month to two missionaries and pour your time, effort and soul into their personal wellbeing. Invest deeper into fewer missionaries instead of going a mile wide and an each deep. Missionaries, quit being so prideful. It is better for you to be spiritually healthy and able to serve for decades, than burning out after a couple of years. Be willing to be vulnerable so you can recover. Sorry, to break the bad news to you. Most of your missionaries are lying to you. As they see it, they are sacrificing their personal wellbeing for the advancement of God's work. It is this type of self‐sacrifice that makes them good missionaries. Let your missionaries know you love them and want to provide a safe place where they can heal their wounds. Mike Pettengill is a full‐time missionary serving in La Ceiba, Honduras, with Mission to the World (www.mtw.org). Mike is a team leader of a 12‐person mission team. To learn more about the Pettengill's work in Honduras visit Pettengill Missionaries (www.pettengillmissionaries.org)

FAITH IN ACTION Today

MISSIONARY UPDATE

Zach & Sharon Segaar-King update Dear Friends and Family: Greetings from Haiti! On June 9 we arrived safely in Haiti with our whole family. Honestly, it has been a challenging readjustment to life in Haiti. Nine months is a long time to be gone. Also, June and July are among our most busy and stressful months with teams and projects. By God’s grace, we are re-adapting to life in Haiti little by little. We would like to thank you for your prayers and also thank our colleagues in Haiti who worked so hard in our absence. Please join us in giving thanks to God for: 1. A safe and successful trip for the youth team from Cascade CRC and Thornapple Community Church (Grand Rapids, MI). This team of 34, our second largest team ever, had a busy and impactful week with us. See our blog for more details. 2. Safe arrival and good health. Though one of our children was traveling with strep-throat, we finally found the right anti-biotic to treat it. 3. A good reception from our colleagues. We have been blessed by many phone calls and visits from our colleagues whom we have not seen for nine-months. 4. Lots of ministry needs and opportunities. It is nice to feel needed! Please join us in praying for: 1. Our greatest prayer request for the next year is that God would lead a new missionary family to Haiti. It is critical that we find a qualified candidate as soon as possible. Please help us spread the word. The job description is posted at: https://re21.ultipro.com/CHR1005/JobBoard/JobDetails.aspx?__ID=*0BF55BF46DB8E951 2. The director of Back to God Ministries International (BTGMI), Pastor Kurt Selles, will be visiting Haiti in July. BTGMI is the primary supporter of Perspectives Réformées, our French-language radio ministry. Pray that Kurt’s visit will help shed light on the future of PR in Haiti. 3. Pray for the ongoing conflict within our partner, the CRC of Haiti. Since part of the conflict is about money, we have engaged an auditing firm to analyze four years-worth of transactions. We know an audit will not resolve the conflict. However, pray that it will provide information that can help lead to a resolution.

FOR MORE PICTURES, STORIES, AND INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MINISTRY AND FAMILY, PLEASE

SEE OUR BLOG AT segaarking.blogspot.com

Thanks for your prayers and support,

Zachary, Sharon, Hannah, Vivian, Isaiah and Esther Segaar-King

Missionaries to Haiti through Christian Reformed World Missions