To see the entire photo album from Lebanon go here: https://goo.gl/photos/KGAP1Y9d3WHzaUCX6

Journey to Lebanon 2015

Calvary Bapt i s t Church i s a Chr is t -centered communi ty o f fa i th devoted to the worship o f the l iv ing God.

Commit ted to a deeper unders tanding o f God 's word , we asp ire to grow personal ly and communal ly, to become a sanctuary for a l l God 's people , and to pour out God 's

love in the local and g lobal communi t y.Th

e Tower

To w e r N u m b e r 3 0 • J u l y 2 3 , 2 0 1 5

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God's Continual Work in Lebanon

This year, nine Calvarians participated in our trip to share life with the community at Dar El Awlad (House for Boys) in Lebanon. Below

are reflections and stories from this year’s team about their experiences.

Lanna Palmer:When asked to share my reflections about this year’s trip, I immediately thought about the words “family” and “hospitality”. A family has been formed from Calvary Baptist Church in Waco, Texas to Dar El Awlad in Beruit, Lebanon, but this family started way before our first trip 4 years ago. It’s so mind boggling to see how God used Sheila and Tim’s parents to establish these relationships through the orphanage, seminary, and Beruit Baptist School, and then over 60 years later God used Calvarians to continue His plan in this same area. God has a plan and what a blessing to be a part of it! The hugs were tighter, smiles wider and good-byes harder than other years, but one thing that we both knew is that Calvary would be back.

We experienced hospitality in so many ways: the boys and the house mothers wanting us to visit their apartments and sit in the best chairs, the boys sharing their cherished zip-lock bags of candy with us, the cards that they made us, wanting to be friends on Facebook; being invited for “ice cream” at one of the staff ’s home (which meant way more than ice cream), the gifts that they gave us before we left. Some of us had the opportunity to share a meal with Brent’s family that lived close to Syria. This huge family took in strangers (Americans who couldn’t speak Arabic) and welcomed us to their table and their humble surroundings. They have left everything behind in Syria and are living in a place that is not their home, but they reached out to us

and offered us all that they had. Brent said they were honored that we came, listened to their stories, and showed that we cared. They asked what we thought about the war in Syria: would it be over soon so they could return home?

What are we supposed to do with what we saw and heard? What does God want us to do? These are important questions that should be on our hearts after a mission trip. One thing for sure is that God’s plan is perfect, and I need to be listening for His voice.

Jennifer Whitlark: It has been 4 years since I first traveled to Lebanon and yet by the welcomes I received you would have thought I had only been gone a week. The depth of the hospitality and warmth that welcomed us was amazing and beautiful. I am continually amazed at the beauty of the land in Lebanon and those who inhabit it.

I loved tutoring 4th graders during the mornings. I am always struck by the similarities between 4th graders across the world. The

struggle with division crosses all cultural boundaries. And more than that, the need for love, acceptance, family, and friendships are needs for kids across the world. It was amazing to meet them where they are in life and walk with them. There were great moments of reflection and teaching, fun times with lots of laughter, singing, but also tears, times of sharing struggles, and heartache.

It was a joy and pleasure to join in the amazing work at Dar El Awlad in Lebanon. I left feeling filled to the brim with all that God is doing there. I can't wait to return again.

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Shortlines

YTD Projected Budget Receipts:

$307,644YTD Actual Budget

Receipts $268,450

2015 Receipts Under Projection$39,194

Up Ahead

Online Giving

www.calvarybaptistwaco.cloverdonations.com/regular-offering

Financials

Sunday, July 26thSunday SchoolWorship

Tuesday, July 28th

Meals on WheelsZumba

Wednesday, July 29thYouth Life Groups

Thursday, July 30thMeals on WheelsZumba

Monday-ThursdayGED & ESL classes

9:30a10:45a

10:00a7:00p

6-8p

10:00a7:00p

9-2p

NEW TO CALVARY?Connect @ CalvaryIf you’re new to Calvary, or if you’re looking for new ways to get involved, we’d love for you to join us during Sunday School (9:30-10:30 AM) in Room C201 for Connect @ Calvary. Discover how you can get connected with various Sunday school classes, life groups, ministry teams, or local and global mission opportunities. We will meet every Sunday in August; join us one week, or every week! For more info, contact Mary Alice (mab@cbcwaco.com).

SPECIAL DATESViola Concert by Erin TangOn Sunday, August 9, Erin Tang will hold a viola recital at Calvary at 6:00 PM. Desserts will be served following the concert, and donations will be accepted to help support Erin in purchasing a new viola. We hope you can join us for a night of beautiful music with her.

Baptism of Mallory CorleyCalvary will baptize Mallory, daughter of Randal and Emily Corley, on Sunday, August 16, 6:00pm, at her home at 9120 Pin Oak Drive in Waco. The entire church is invited to take part in this celebration.

Save These Dates for NEW Opportunities at Calvary in Fall 2015: Marriage Enrichment Retreat: Friday-Saturday, September 18-19 - Facilitated by Drs.

Preston and Genie Dyer Leadership Calvary: Saturday, October 3 - Engaging in conversations about leadership in

our church and community

FELLOWSHIPGroup Race TrainingA group of Calvarians will run in the Fort Worth Marathon/Half-Marathon on Sunday, November 8. To prepare for this, we will begin some group running in late August. If you would like to run in Fort Worth and/or run as a group in Waco this fall, please contact Jim Coston (jcoston@cbcwaco.com).

SERVICEPayday LendingFor more information on this issue that Phil York and Todd Stoner talked about in Worship on July 12, go to Calvary’s Facebook page for a download from Citizens for Responsible Lending or download it here: https://goo.gl/26jfe8

Meals on WheelsHelp Calvary to continue our partnership with Meals on Wheels by volunteering to drive meals to the elderly in our neighborhood. Two volunteers are looking to retire after serving for several decades each and three others have to take a short temporary leave. We are looking for drivers to help for an hour on Tuesday or Thursday mornings. If you can help, please contact Pat Sitton at 254-300-5729.

YOUTH Life Groups Youth Life Groups will continue every Wednesday in July. We will meet in the youth room from 6-8pm. Snacks will be provided!

Texas Rangers Day-Trip Calvary Youth will be traveling to Arlington to see a Texas Rangers baseball game on Wednesday August 5th. We will leave Waco around 4pm. The cost is 20$ + any extra food they would want at the ballpark. Contact Ali (achappell@cbcwaco.com) to reserve your students spot!

Birthdays this week

Abby Tankersley 07/25

Don Corley 07/27

Erin Tang 07/27

Kevon Burnett 07/29

Sheila Gloer 07/29

David Mclain 07/29

Thank You, Michael & Amy

There are several ways to reach us - pick your favorite! 1001 North 18A St. • Waco, Texas 76707.2977 vx 254•753.6446 • fx 753.1971 • cbcinfo@cbcwaco.com

Sunday, July 26th

Text:Isaiah 40:1-11

Sermon:Cry Out

Preaching:Mary Alice Birdwhistell

Prepare for Worship

Michael and Amy “hit the ground running” as soon as they walked in the door at Calvary with

Music Camp 2013. Their willingness to do whatever was needed with grace and professionalism made our week successful and fun. To say that we have bonded over three summers of Calvary Music Camp is quite an understatement! (I have already told them they will need to come back to help next summer.) For the past two summers, Michael and Amy have stepped in to take on many additional Music Camp responsibilities for me so I could care for my parents during critical health concerns, never complaining, always encouraging me. That is a tender memory and gift to me that speaks to their love for others and the important work of the church. Over these past two years, the Lord has used Michael’s incredible skills of organization and music to wash over me time and time again during worship services and rehearsals. He has been given much, and he willingly gives those gifts from God with a heart to serve others. I will be forever grateful that Michael and Amy are part of our Calvary family. -Sherry DeHay

Michael has shared with us countless gifts at Calvary, many of which we experience every Sunday through the beauty he adds to our worship, and we will dearly miss those gifts. But there is more. The work required to fulfill

Calvary’s unique commitments—to incorporating many voices and worshiping in diverse ways—is more significant than we all realize. Michael has done that work masterfully, innovatively, worshipfully. In the eleven years I’ve played music at Calvary, we have had some very gifted people in this role, but Michael has been in a league all his own. Indeed, it has been a joy not just to receive his gifts of music and

administration, but also to know the giver—a wonderful human being who will be dearly missed. -Andy Hogue

Thank you for your many varied contributions at Calvary during your time here. Your ability to step in and provide a quality solution in most every situation

was very much in evidence. In addition, your talents at the keyboard in helping lead worship will be sorely missed. -David Lintz

I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to make music with Michael over the past two years. He is a consummate musician, and a gifted worship leader, and he brings excellence to everything he does. Few things are more profoundly spiritual for me than music-making, and Michael has blessed me, both as a choir member and a church member, by inviting the presence of Christ at Calvary through facilitating and creating beautiful, sacred music. He will be so very missed! -Kristen Bulgrien

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Les Palmer: It was another special experience for the Calvary team and the boys at Dar El Awlad. We renewed old relationships and formed new ones. The boys updated us on their achievements and challenges of the past two years. We grew together with new experiences at River Abraham and the Cedars. Of course, as they received their shoes we shared stories of the Calvary family that cares so much for them. The routine has become familiar, consistent, comfortable. Sometimes, in friendships, those are the finest qualities.

As we have had the opportunity to grow in our relationships with the boys at Dar El Awlad, we have also had the opportunity to grow in our relationships with the staff and families at Dar El Awlad. While the Calvary team visits the boys for a short time bringing excitement, enthusiasm, new faces, games and gifts, the Dar El Awlad staff and families provide consistent family for the boys. Their daily focus is to meet the boys' emotional, physical, educational and spiritual needs. Often, their giving comes with significant personal sacrifice. I am grateful for their living witness in the lives of the boys. I am grateful for their Christ-likeness in the Middle East.

Kimberly Bobbitt: Often times when someone goes on a "mission trip," they go as one seeking to give. Give of time, resources, energies, etc. As I stepped onto the airplane headed Lebanon, I went instead out a yearning so desperately to receive, to find space of rest and renewal.

This sacred space was exactly what I found in arriving back to Dar El Awlad. I found this space in arms of children who remembered me, loved on me, laughed and played with me. I found this space in deep conversations shared over meals or on van rides. I found this space in swimming in rivers and hiking through cedars. I found this space in singing ridiculous songs and playing “Minute to Win It” games. I found

this space as an honored guest sharing tea among a war-torn family.

I can not sum up in a few short paragraphs the number of profound and sacred spaces I leaned into while there. These spaces were simple moments, we did not do anything complex. Yet I left changed, because for a week it was enough just to sit with others, to share

life, to break bread, and to reflect on God's power and presence in it all.

Mary Alice Birdwhistell: I went on Calvary’s first mission trip to Lebanon in 2011, and it was such a gift to be able to return again this year, both to reconnect with boys I hadn’t seen in four years, but who still remembered nonetheless, and to build new relationships with new boys and staff members. In addition to working with the boys who are part of the residential program at Dar El Awlad, Kimberly Bobbitt and I also had the opportunity to work with Oasis, a new ministry that provides care and education to refugee children whose families have fled from the civil war in Syria.

When Oasis began in November 2014, many of these children were terrified and scared for their safety. Any sudden movements or loud noises would cause them to cover themselves in fear.

However, over the past nine months, God has already begun to do a work of transformation in their lives. Tears came to my eyes as I walked into the classroom each morning to children who were so eager to learn, because they are currently not allowed to attend school, and even more eager for love, attention, encouragement, and for people to believe in them.

It’s easy for us to gloss over news stories about unrest and violence in the Middle East. However, I have now seen the faces behind the news stories. I have read, sung songs, danced, shared meals, played games, said

bedtime prayers, and given and received hugs and kisses with children whose lives have been greatly impacted by such violence and unrest. I can no longer gloss over these news stories.

But I have also seen beautiful hope through what God is doing in the incredible community at Dar El Awlad in Lebanon. I’ve seen and experienced resurrection in the midst of brokenness. I’ve received radical hospitality and love. And because of that, I am forever changed.

Josh Caballero: I've been trying to find the right words for a few days now, but how can you wrap up a week-long, meaningful experience in a few paragraphs, much less the relationships that have been formed over the past few years? This was my fourth trip to Lebanon, and each time the experience has become richer. The first year Jenn and I went, we were overwhelmed by the amazing hospitality of the people we met. The second year we went, we were amazed by the way relationships were beginning to form and how it felt more like catching up with friends than a mission trip. The third year I went, I was grateful for the new ministry opportunities that had developed from these relationships. This time as we returned, we were greeted with celebratory hugs at the news that Jenn and I are expecting a baby this fall. News had spread before we had even arrived, and our old friends were very excited for us. A former house mother couldn't help but to grab Jenn's stomach and kiss her every time she saw us, and we were constantly asked by the boys if they would get to meet the baby next summer. We even brought back a gift for the baby that one dear friend gave to us and were invited to another friend's house to have a traditional Lebanese dish served to celebrate the birth of a child.

This trip was different than in previous years and not just because we will soon have an addition to our family. Our conversations with the staff were different than in previous years; they were a little more honest and vulnerable. Any facades were quickly torn down as they shared how this had been a difficult year for them with illness, difficult decisions about the boys, and fatigue at their overwhelming work at Dar El Awlad. We were friends with whom they could be real and share honest

prayer requests.

Our relationships with the boys were different as well. Like always, we had fun. We danced together (I know, hard to picture), played games, and shared inside jokes. However, we also talked about real ways that God had worked in our lives. We shared times when we've been scared and needed God's comfort and they weren't too proud to share sensitive prayer requests. Our hugs were tighter and the goodbyes were more difficult than ever as we cried together on the last night, even

if we knew we would see each other again. Perhaps, it was more difficult because we knew we would see each other again. Our relationships have become meaningful friendships, and it's always difficult to see a friend go.

Many of you who are reading this are a part of our community here in Waco. We care for you, love you, and feel cared for and loved by you. We share life with you. You know when we're frustrated, grieving, or happy. You are usually the first to know when we're hurting and some of the first to know when we have exciting news. But on this trip this year, we discovered that we also have that type of community in Lebanon. Thanks be to God.