May 3, 2009

Photographic Memory

Resurrection Sunday 2009 included six baptisms!

“The Bible’s purpose is not so much to show you how to live a good life. The Bible’s purpose is to show you how God’s grace breaks into your life against your will and saves you from the sin and brokenness otherwise you would never be able to overcome…religion is ‘if you obey, then you will be accepted’. But the Gospel is, ‘if you are absolutely accepted, and sure you’re accepted, only then will you ever begin to obey’. Those are two utterly different things. Every page of the Bible shows the difference.” —Timothy Keller

Remembering His Grace, Begging His Mercy

Isaiah’s message to Israel attempt at gaining “peace” is what we need to hear today. Are we willing to heed it (34:16-17)? Paul’s teaching on the resurrection of Jesus Christ has ample proof (even from His enemy) that it should be believed. Continue to pray for Pastor Rigsby as he prepares and preaches that God will correct our erroneous ideas and enable us to live His truth.

God has allowed another tragedy to come into the Kiser family. Their son’s daughter was killed in an auto accident. Life support was removed from the daughter’s two year old daughter and has died since writing their letter. Pray.

Pam Holmberg has taken a couple of falls, the last time stumbling over her cat. She was not hurt extensively but bumped and bruised. Please pray that Pam can keep her balance and not fall.

Art and Carol Mead ask prayer for their son-in-law, John, who was diagnosed with carcinoma cancer this week and met with a surgeon. In addition Carol is adjusting to a new medication routine and has a follow-up appointment this coming Friday. As you pray for Carol, would you also ask God to guide and comfort John

Wanda Slaven had a follow up appointment with her surgeon last week. While the lymph node was clear of cancer, a further pathology report revealed a small cancerous tumor. A second surgery will be necessary. Please continue to pray for Wanda, Don, and their family.

The ladies special evangelism ministry in the Spanish congregation was Friday. Several of the men worked all day Friday to set up the backyard. There were about 120 ladies present to hear Belkis Deyanira sing and speak. God provided the lite rain. Would you continue to pray as God continues His work in each person involved and present for the meeting?

Pastor Yoon and others from the Korean congregation have returned with a wonderful report of some being saved and others strengthened in the faith. We praise the Lord for the great work He has done!

We rejoice with Pam Ozmon and Dr. David Price who will be married May 16, 2009 at 2:00 PM (ET) in Manchester, Kentucky at New Prospect Baptist Church. Please ask God for His strength as all the preparations are made and His blessing on David and Pam’s marriage.

“We want to thank our BGB family for your many labors of love on Maria and Chris’s wedding day. Our family was so impressed with all of you. They were amazed how everyone pitched in to help without even being asked. Thank you, Jim, for helping in so many different ways, not only on April 18, but throughout the weeks preceding the wedding. Thanks to all for the gift of your presence at the wedding, too. How you blessed our hearts! Once again we are reminded that God’s family is the best family in the world. Love, Armon and Elona Siemsen.”

We pray for the physical safety. emotional stability, and spiritual awakening of the men and women of our military forces who are engaged in fulfilling their responsibilities.

• Marvin Funkhouser—deployed to Iraq for 18 months
• Coleen—a friend of Woody and Barbara Blalock
• Tony Loving—flying troops in and out of various areas
• Bryan Miller—in Guam, will be in Iraq soon
• Sam Im
• Steven Henning
• Jorge Avalos
• Ryan Bareng
• Jeremy Peters—currently in Iraq
• Jeremy Thomas—currently in Afghanistan
• Jason Kiser—currently in the Gulf
• John Kiser—currently in Iraq

Hear God’s Word

Browse the audio sermons preached by Pastor Rigsby (or download for later listening).

Exposition of Isaiah

The Battle of Armaggedon, Isaiah 34.

The Resurrection

This special series is an exposition of 1 Corinthians 15, which is the most complete teaching in the Bible on the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of Christians.

The Risen Christ is Seen, 1 Corinthians 15:5-8.

Read the Bible

In April, May, and June our Bible reading centers in Hebrew History, from Joshua to Esther. In May we’ll read I Kings (22), II Kings (25), I Chronicles (29), II Chronicles (36). The chapter totals are listed to help set your reading pace. Remember to include 3 Psalms and 1 chapter from Proverbs each week.

The suggested 2009 Bible reading guide (1 page) can be downloaded here.

“The spiritual life of a nation decays behind the veneer of prosperity.”

The Kisers

April 28, 2009

Once again God has seen fit to allow tragedy to touch our family. Two years ago this month our son, David, lost his 22-year-old son in an accident in Texas. This was difficult for all of us. Then yesterday, he lost his 28-year-old daughter in an accident near the same town. She had her 2 1/2 year old daughter and her 5 1/2 year old son in the car with her. The girl suffered head trauma and now has brain swelling and NO brain activity. The doctors think she went too long without oxygen after the accident on a country road. The boy is in surgery with a broken pelvic bone, two broken legs, a lacerated kidney and a bruised lung. He is expected to survive. So, two years ago our son had his two children, his two grandchildren and his son-in-law. Today he may end up with just one grandson and son-in-law. Of course, he is devastated.

HOWEVER, our grand-daughter and her family were very active in their church. That is our greatest comfort. We all know the Lord.

Funeral arrangements are being held off for our grand-daughter until a decision is made about our great-grand-daughter. If, after 48 hours, there is still no brain activity the decision will have to be made about pulling the plug.

I (Bro. Don) will go to Texas when we know when arrangements will be made. Edna is not able to go so it is VERY difficult for her. Pray for all of us and especially the husband. At 28 he is now a widower and may lose his daughter. They were high school sweethearts.

Besides all this there is the swine flu. They expect it to hit the Baja soon. No schools in Mexico are open and they are talking about the possibility of closing the border. If so, our family plans to go to our trailer in San Diego to be near medical attention, etc..

Also, Oskar and Beatriz are to leave next Tues. for their sabbatical in Michigan so I will have to be back from Texas to take care of their children.

At this time we just have to exercise our faith to know our Heavenly Father only allows what is within the bounds of His perfect will. Once again we are finding his grace is sufficient.

In Christ,

Bro. Don and the Kiser Family
Baja, Mexico

Richard & Ellen Hayes

April 27, 2009

Dear friends at Bell Gardens,

Thank you for faithfully praying for our ministry and the ministry of Village Missions. We have appreciated so much our relationship with you over the years.

Please continue to pray for us as we prepare for summer ministries and outreaches. Pray for our finances and the finances of Village Missions, these are trying times. But our God is great and our trust and confidence is in Him.

In Christ,

Richard & Ellen Hayes
Village Missions, Spokane, Washington

Sue Watt

May 2009

I want to always have enthusiasm! However, I felt burnt out from working so many hours on the book. I was weary of facing so many areas of my life alone. I announced to my checkers, “I quit. The project is too much for me.”

The next weeks were not easy. I was not sure of my direction. I also started having a back problem that caused greater pain that I had ever experienced. (The sciatic problem is slowing getting better with continued treatments.) During this time, the Lord showed me several things. One thing was how to shorten the book to make it more manageable.

I have good news! Yesterday I sent the completed book to be checked. At this point, it is 60 pages, with 435 scripture verses at a third grade reading level. I feel it is much better focused on the Gospel.

Please pray for the Americans that are checking it. Another important step is to have people who are learning English read it. This could be with me or other people testing it and giving me feedback. Please pray for the right English learners to check it. Right now, I have some people that I will ask to check it, but all of them are too advanced in English to give comprehensive feed back. I need someone at the right level of English who is willing to read 60 pages about the Bible. This is not an easy part of the process for me, because I would rather teach people than read with them.

Please pray for God to teach me, and open doors.

Sue Watt
International Student Ministry

“God’s blessings are given by grace but they are enjoyed by obedience.”