LCF Connection

LCF Connection Fall 2005

In this Issue

My Prison Ministry

My Trip to Nicaragua

Sunday School Highlights

City Challenge

Stats & Congrats

Elders’ Meetings

Library Spotlight

Small Groups

Upcoming Events

Larry sits prayerfully near me as we discuss Isaiah. He says little in discussion, yet is actively attentive. When Larry does speak his words are anointed. When discussions go awry or Biblical facts are twisted, Larry’s clear, concise wisdom refocus us on God’s truth. I am blessed to have him at my side each Sunday morning. God is using him in answer to my prayer for the Holy Spirit’s control.

Twenty-five years ago, Larry took someone’s life. He, like Moses and King David was guilty of murder. But God changed them for His glory.

If I had not been obedient to the Spirit of God I would never have met Larry. June, 1998 a Christian brother asked if I’d consider prison ministry. Living so close to London Correctional Institute, I had not ever given it much thought. After prayerful consideration, I decided to explore this service opportunity. August, 1998 I had my first prison visit.

Presently I visit and guide Bible studies twice a week. Sunday mornings I am on the main campus of London Correctional Institute from 8-9 a.m. We end the hour with prayer. On Wednesday evenings I am at an “Honor Camp.” This dormitory-like complex is less restrictive with 200 inmates. This evening service is a Bible study hour and prayer time.

I covet your prayers in this ministry as I prayerfully trust God for each visit.

LCFers Involved in Outreach

Members of the LCF family are involved in a variety of ministry activities outside of the official programs of our church. For this issue of the Connection, we asked two of them, Twila Snider and Marcus Freed, to share about their experiences.

My Prison Ministry

By Marcus Freed

My Trip to Nicaragua
By Twila Snider

This summer I was privileged to go to Nicaragua for a month. I spent two weeks at an orphanage on Ometepe Island. It’s a beautiful island and the orphanage was right by the water where you could watch the beautiful sunsets. It rained a lot and was extremely hot.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the children (as well as one can without speaking Spanish). Their ages ranged from 4 ½ - 23 years. The seven youngest girls shared a room. I would help them get their clothes changed after school, go with them to the dining room, play with them, and just show them lots of love.

I connected back with Lyndon & Krista Bontrager, my Nicaragua contacts, on the mainland my last two weeks and joined the Shiloh Mennonite Church youth group. They divided into two groups and worked on separate projects. I was able to spend a few days at each job site. One project was adding a room to a one-room house for a pastor, his wife and three children. The other project was finishing a church that had been started. Both projects were out in the country. It was neat to get a feel for the villages. Where we were adding on to the church, we had around 35 children hanging out. We played games with them out on the dirt road. On occasion we would have to move over for a bicycle or a herd of cows. We would just step to the side until they passed and then resume playing our game. Some of the children started taking us to their homes. They consisted of dirt floors, tin roofs, holes in the walls, and not a lot of room.

Yes, it has been good to see how people live in other parts of the world. We can learn from them to be more thankful. I encourage you to go to a poor country if you have the opportunity. It just may help give you a different perspective on your priorities. I am very glad for the opportunity to have taken this trip. Thanks God, for blessing my life.

From the Elders’ Meetings

LCF’s pastors and elders, along with their families, meet monthly to share a meal together and to discuss the life and direction of the church. Recent agenda items included:

· Planning and preparation for the Family Fun Day

· The upcoming Adult Discipleship Class schedule

· Small group structure for 2005-2006

· The possibility of purchasing a baptismal tank.

· Planning a meeting (to be held September 18) to report to the congregation on the activities of the past year and to share projections for the future

Minutes from the elders meeting are available upon request from Doris Swartz.

What do LCF’s Kids

Like about Sunday School?

On a recent Sunday morning, Candice Mast asked LCF’s kids, “What was your favorite thing about Sunday School today?”

“We had Rice Krispies. We learned about Peter.”

- Bryce, age 7

“There were two new people in my class.” - Austin, age 6

“I learned about Simon Peter and that he denied Jesus three times.” - Brenda, age 13

“We had fun and I liked the game where we said our favorite food, or sport, or something. My favorite food is noodles with chicken and mashed potatoes.” - Mikala, age 11

“I like taking turns reading out of the Bible and eating snacks.” - Kara S. , age 10

“I like doing crafts – people crafts.” - Alissa, age 4. “Me too, I like that too.” - Mandi, age 4. “I like crafts too.” - Josh, age 5

“I liked learning about different foods from different countries...like roasted monkey from Africa.” - Kara R., age 11

“I learned about God and mommy and daddy and that’s all I learned in Sunday School.” - Claire, age 2.

“It was light-hearted, and there was good discussion.” - Larissa, age 13

“I think it was very fun and the snack tasted good. We had two snacks.” - Rachel, age 12

“Phil was my teacher.” - Kendra, age 7

“It was really fun. Molly explains things really well.” - Emily, age 12

Stats

From January to August 2005

· Average attendance: 94

· Average offering: $2100

Wednesday, July 20 was the first day of City Challenge. Our youth group arrived at the SEND House in downtown Columbus and was welcomed by the staff. After orientation and a worship service, we went to the evening’s service project. Our youth group was assigned to the Manna Café, a soup kitchen that is run by a local church. It was a good introduction to missions, and I think we all had fun interacting with the Café’s customers and volunteer staff.

Thursday, after our morning devotion/teaching/worship sessions, we embarked on the Prayer Challenge. From noon to five o’clock we navigated the streets of Columbus, finding different stations with faith and service oriented activities at each. We learned a lot that day (such as, Ryan really knows his way around Columbus)! We also learned the value of group cooperation and that getting out of your comfort zone is hard but rewarding.

Friday, we and another youth group from Michigan, helped to organize a Kids’ Club at a local park. That was a fun experience for all and a great way to meet many different people. Friday night we broke up into a guys’ group and a girls’ group. We had a “hot seat” time (prayer for each of us) that was meaningful for all.

Saturday morning we did work projects around the SEND House. Some of these were quite unique, such as the rarely experienced pleasure of cleaning up week old chili (yum!). After a prayer walk, we went to services at Vineyard Church of Columbus. The church was a nice one but vastly different from London Christian Fellowship. The service was thought provoking. We had some nice discussion about it in our “huddle groups” that night.

Sunday we did a nursing home outreach. It was a good feeling to bring God into what can sometimes be a very bleak place.

My experience at the SEND House was one of growing. I had to go out of my comfort zone many times, but I found it was worth it. I think as a group we also grew. I felt we were more connected after we left. City Challenge was a fun and meaningful way of preparing ourselves to be better witnesses for God.

Youth Group Update

LCF youth group member Anna describes the City Challenge experience.

Would you like to learn about some of

the “Famous Sayings of Jesus”?

Come, learn, and grow spiritually by looking deeper at familiar verses in LCF’s Adult Discipleship Class at 10:00 each Sunday morning from September 11 to November 20. Reuben Sairs, teacher. Our worship service follows at 11:00.

Have you read any good books lately? The LCF library has a wide variety of books, music, and videos for your growth and enjoyment. We invite you and your family to make use of these wonderful resources.

Joy Freed and Kris Freed are currently serving as our librarians and would be glad to answer any questions that you have about the library, check-out procedures, etc.

If there is a resource that you would like to see added to our library, feel free to let one of the librarians know.

When you read a book that you would like to recommend for others in the congregation to read, we invite you to write up a short review of it and give or e-mail it to Doris Swartz We will feature those reviews in the LCF Connection as space permits.

Don’t hesitate; check out the LCF library today and enjoy reading a good book!

Library Spotlight