CONNECT | May 2013 by Bethel Sarnia

CONNECT BETHEL CHURCH

WELCOME

Welcome to Bethel! We are so glad to have you here! As you look through this Connect Bulletin, we trust that you will quickly find that Bethel has something for you and your family. Our hope is that you will take the next step into our community and get involved. As you do, you will begin to see that Bethel is more than just a Sunday service, it is a family of everyday people following Christ to bring hope and change to the world - one life at a time.

www.bethelsarnia.com

MAY 2013

This Month

THINGS

TO KNOW Thank You From Huldah Buntain Missionary to Calcutta, India, Mrs. Huldah Buntain was at Bethel on Sunday, April 14th. The offering received that day for the Mercy Mission of Calcutta was $10,968.02 plus $1,550 in book sales which provides for the feeding program. Huldah’s messages from April 14th are available at bethelsarnia.com Dear Pastor Tim and Kim: I do not have enough words to thank you both sufficiently for your love and kindness to me last weekend. It was such a joy and privilege to have been with you and share our Calcutta Ministries with your most wonderful and responsive church family. I cannot tell you in words how grateful I am for this most generous offering. Please convey my deepest thanks to your wonderful congregation. I know that there has been an economic crisis and recession in Canada as well as the USA and therefore offerings now mean real sacrificial giving which I appreciate so much. Thank you so much for your kind interests in our Calcutta Ministries. I do trust that you will be able to visit and minister in Calcutta at a later date. With much love and grateful thanks. Huldah

Overflow Youth Conference Pastor Tricia, along with our youth & youth leaders, will be attending our Western Ontario PAOC Youth Conference called Overflow on May 17th-19th in Waterloo. Please pray for our youth and this conference that the Spirit of God will move in a powerful way.

Congratulations Graham! Congratulations to Graham Pedregosa for his success in being selected to win the Peter Mansbridge Positive Change Award. Peter Mansbridge is the chief correspondent of CBC News and anchors CBC’s flagship TV show The National. Graham will receive a $10,000 University Scholarship. He has been attending Bethel since he was born and is part of our Revo student ministries and will be going to Ukraine this summer with our youth team.

Baby Bottle Campaign The Lambton Crisis Pregnancy Centre will be holding their annual Baby Bottle Fundraising Campaign again this Mother’s Day. You are invited on Mother’s Day to pick up a baby bottle in our church lobby and fill the bottle with cash/change donations. Then bring the cash-filled bottle back on Father’s Day. Many churches throughout Lambton county participate in this important fundraiser for the Pregnancy Centre.

Public Meeting

Coming In June

Coming This Summer

HELPING OUR YOUTH MISSIONS TEAM GO TO UKRAINE THIS SUMMER This summer we have 9 students who have stepped out in faith and are going to Ukraine to teach and lead children at a government sponsored camp for orphans. Our 9 students are all part of our Bethel Church family and Revo youth program and range from ages 14 to 18. For the past couple of months our students have been working hard, saving and sending out sponsorship letters to family members. But they need our help! We are running a number of fundraisers in the next 3 months to help with the cost of the trip to Ukraine. Here are a few ways you can help our students be missionaries to the orphans.

UPDATE FROM THE BANTSEEV’S

Sticky Fingers. Roses fade and ties go out of style, but the sweet taste of fresh cinnamon buns is memory that will last forever. What could be a better gift to give this Mother’s and Father’s Day? This year for your purchasing convenience we are offering gift cards to Sticky Fingers bakery for the cost of $10. Gift cards are available at the Church throughout the week and on Sunday May 5th and 12th.

Let us help you! Do you have a job around your house that you are not looking forward to? Yard work, washing your car, cleaning out your garage? We will do it all! Hire a student to help out and make a donation in their name. It’s as simple as that! Contact Pastor Tricia at the Church Office or sign up at our Ukraine table during the month of May.

Yard Sale. We are hosting 2 yard sales in our city with all profits going towards our youth. You can help by bringing good condition items to the Church the week of May 21st - 24th. We cannot accept items before that date. Please do not bring items that would not fit inside a van as we have to transport items.

Hi Pastor Tim, We’re so grateful for your prayers! Please express our sincere thanks to those in your congregation who are praying for us. Here is the latest news on the court case. The prosecutor couldn’t find any more witnesses against the two former Teen Challenge staff who are on trial. Today was the last court hearing where the prosecutor and our lawyers presented their cases to the judge. Our lawyers did an excellent job defending our brothers by proving that there was absolutely no evidence of any crime. They brought to the attention of the judge that there is an ulterior motive on the side of the prosecutor because he has tried to

close the program four times before which resulted in over 20 court decisions in favor of the Teen Challenge program. The prosecutor asked to sentence the brothers to 2 1/2 years. The judge said that on May 17 he will announce his verdict. Please pray for God to give the judge boldness to make an honest decision against the corrupt legal system and pronounce the verdict - not guilty. Thank you for your faithful prayers! We thank God for you. Ilya and Janet Bantseev

Rozanne Leystra Painting Featured In Christian Week Rozanne Leystra, a member of Bethel, is a local Christian artist. Recently, Rozanne felt inspired in prayer to paint a portrait of Jesus mending a torn Canadian flag. When Rozanne showed the painting to Pastor Tim, he sent a copy to some ministry leaders in the nation feeling that they would be inspired by the painting. As a result, Christian Week, a national Christian website and publication contacted Rozanne and ran a feature story on her painting. Below is the article published by Christian Week this past February. Rozanne is offering to sell prints of her painting for purchase and all proceeds will go to the Orphan Missions Trip to Ukraine this summer. Regular postcard size will sell for $4.00 each and 5X7 art cards (good for framing) will sell for $8.00. Larger sizes can also be purchased. You can order your copies at the Offering Desk in the Lobby. SARNIA, ON—The fabric of our country is torn and frayed, says artist Rozanne Leystra, and the potential for its healing lies in Jesus’ hands. In one of Leystra’s recent paintings, she has depicted her vision for Canada as a damaged flag, lying on Jesus’ lap. “I just see Canada falling apart at the seams,” she says. “The fabric of our society is fraying and fading.” Jesus’ crucified hands are shown mending it. The thread is red, to signify His blood. “To me, the painting just represents who Jesus is,” she says. “He is very personal. He is very intimate. He’s very hands-on. Throughout the Scriptures there is a lot of talk about the hands of God, and Jesus’ hands are always in-

volved with His healing work in the Gospels.” Several Christian ministries have expressed an interest in hanging the original painting in their offices. But Leystra is currently considering keeping the original in her family and making prints to sell. She is also considering sending a copy to Parliament Hill.

“In our generation, there is a healing which needs to be done in our land,” she adds. “Canada needs the healing unity which can only be found in Jesus. Jesus is the answer for Canada.”

A Word From Your Pastor Pastor Gary Beesley, a dear friend of mine who pastors Evangel Temple in Toronto, called me a couple months back. “How would you like to have Huldah Buntain come to your church?” he said. I knew of Huldah, though I had never met her. As a boy growing up in the Pentecostal church, I had heard some great stories of the missionary couple, Mark and Huldah Buntain, and their remarkable ministry in Calcutta, India. Then when Mark passed away suddenly in 1989, it sent shock waves through the Pentecostal fellowship. My wife, as an older teenager, read Huldah’s book “Treasures in Heaven.” We never could have imagined that we would have the opportunity to now meet Huldah and enjoy fellowship with her around the dinner table. When Huldah came to Bethel on Sunday, April 14th, my wife and I had the amazing privilege of taking Huldah for dinner on Saturday evening, and then to spend all day Sunday with her, including services, lunch and fellowship after the evening service; before she and her assistant flew back to Salt Lake City on Monday. In the time spent with Huldah, we came away from that experience not only with a tremendous appreciation for the ministry, but also for her as a person. After our time

with her, I wrote down 8 life lessons from my conversations and observations of Huldah. 1st: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. Being with Huldah, we recognized almost immediately that Huldah is an extraordinary woman, but also at the same time a very ordinary woman. She is very comfortable to be with. She is very down to earth. No airs. Ordinary. And it powerfully reminded me, that in spite of all of her many great accomplishments: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. 2nd: Great things usually start small. Huldah spoke much more about the beginning of her ministry in India than she did of all the accomplishments. The ministry did not start in a big way. It started very small. A one year term, that became over 60 years. A small tent for a church, that has become over 900 churches. The Bible says, “Do not despise small beginnings!” 3rd: God’s plan for our lives unfolds. I never got the impression from Huldah that when they went to India they had a vision of all that God would lead them to do. That’s not to say that they did not have faith and vision. It took amazing faith just to go. And Mark certainly was a great visionary. But rather each step of faith they took led them to another step. God’s plan for our lives unfolds. 4th: Faith without stepping out is no faith at all. This statement was actually a point Huldah made in her Sunday night message. Over the years I have met many people who claim great faith and boast of great things they declare they will do, but too often it is just empty words. The faith that I picked up from being with Huldah was not in big declarations, but rather in simple steps of obedience that were God-initiated and God responded to. 5th: Ministry begins by meeting a need. Huldah spoke a few times of when Mark first started preaching in India, a begger yelled out, “Preacher, feed our stomachs and we will believe your God.” Tommy Barnett of the great First Assembly of God church in Phoenix, Arizona has famously stated: “Find a need and fill it - that’s where ministry begins!”

6th: Investing in people yields great results. I actually heard very little from Huldah about all the different ministries they have started and all the buildings they have built, but I heard her speak often about young people they rescued and helped, and are now serving as CEO’s of the ministry. It was a powerful reminder to me that ministry is people, and investing in people brings great results. 7th: Vision for tomorrow gives purpose for today. We were absolutely blown away at the physical energy and mental alertness of Huldah at her age. She could easily and deservingly retire and enjoy remaining years for herself. But it is obvious, that Huldah is not living for today, she lives for a better tomorrow for those she serves - and this gives her the energy and purpose of her today. 8th and lastly: Humility brings true and lasting honour. Huldah did not come to us with demands or expectations. She did not come with a sense of superiority. In fact, her communication to me, both before and after her time with us, was gracious, full of appreciation, and affirming. The Bible says that God exalts the humble. Truly Huldah is a woman of God to be admired and respected. Her 30 hours with my wife and I, truly left a impressionable mark on our lives that we will always remember. Mark & Huldah Buntain traveled to Calcutta, India in 1954 for a 1 year term of Missions service. Through their ministry, over 900 churches have been established, a 175 bed fully functional hospital, a school for the blind, a school for nurses, over 200 public schools, 5 Bible colleges and much more. Mark suddenly passed away in 1989. Huldah continues the work even today. It was our honour to have her as our guest at Bethel on Sunday, April 14th.

Kim Gibb & Huldah Buntain

Marriage Mentoring - A program that matches experienced married couples with couples that want to improve their marriage, fix problems, or are preparing for marriage.

CHILDREN’S MINISTRY Sunday mornings during service: Nursery - Newborn to Age 3 Pre-School - Ages 3 to 5 Kidsplosion - Grades 1 to 4 YOUTH MINISTRY Revo - Thursday night Jr. & Sr. High Youth service [Grades 7 - 12] Additional activities planned throughout the year. ADULT MINISTRY We have many groups with ongoing activities, check the bulletin and website for details of what’s upcoming! Young Adults - Weekly Bible Study group called “Life” meets Tues. nights at 116 Paul Sloggett Crt. Led by Chris & Linda Guerette and Steve & Kathy Fraser. Real Women - Ongoing activities for women of all ages. Led by Pam Lozon. The Core Men’s Ministry - Activities for all men. Led by Shannon Smith. Keenagers Seniors Ministry - Monthly lunch or special activity. Led by Carl & Faye Johnson. Music Ministry - Is always looking for new talent, including choir, audio and visual personnel. Speak to Caleb or Stephanie Courtney. Home Fellowship groups - New to Bethel or desire to connect with others? Join one of our Thursday evening Home Fellowship Groups. Contact Darwin & Angela Armstrong or Pastors Keith & Patricia for more details. A great way to connect with others. Bible Study - Tuesday night Bible Study & Hymn Sing. Restoration Course - A course on the essentials of Christian faith followed by a retreat weekend. Led by Pastor Keith Patrick.

Connect At Bethel

12 Mother’s Day

6:30 PM Discipleship Class-Fellowship Hall

6:30 PM Service Pastor Tim Gibb 6:30 PM Alpha

11:30 AM Mom’s in Prayer

10:30 AM Service Water Baptism

OFFICE CLOSED Victoria Day 6:30 PM Alpha

6:30 PM Alpha

6:30 PM Discipleship Class-Fellowship Hall

6:30 PM Service Pastor Tim Gibb

10:30 AM Service Pastor Tim Gibb

6:30 PM Discipleship Class-Fellowship Hall

6:30 PM Service Margaret Gibb

11:30 AM Mom’s in Prayer

7:00 PM Encounter Service Ted Shuttlesworth

6:30 PM Service Ted Shuttlesworth

10:30 AM Service Margaret Gibb

11:30 AM Mom’s in Prayer

Mon

10:30 AM Service Ted Shuttlesworth Communion

Sun

Sloggett Crt

7:00 PM LIFE-Young Adults at –116 Paul

6:30 PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room

Sloggett Crt

7:00 PM LIFE-Young Adults at –116 Paul

6:30 PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room

Sloggett Crt

7:00 PM LIFE-Young Adults at –116 Paul

6:30 PM Bible Study & Hymn Sing-Prayer Room

5:30 PM Prayer 6:00 PM Rescue

7:00 PM Encounter Service Ted Shuttlesworth

7:00 PM REVO

7:00 PM JUST SO YOU KNOW Public Education Curriculum Seminar Bluewater Baptist Church 1256 Wellington Street

7:00 PM REVO

5:30 PM Prayer 6:00 PM Rescue

Thu

Wed

Tue

Fri

Club

5:30 PM Men’s Trap Shooting & BBQ-Lambton Sportsman

9:30 AM Mom’s Group

Sat

Overflow Youth Convention Waterloo May 17th-19th

1:00 PM Keenagers Movie & Pizza

9:30 AM Mom’s Group

MAY 2013