September 2020 Connections by College Church In Wheaton

Connections Proclaiming the GOSPEL

LOCAL & GLOBAL STORIES, NEWS AND EVENTS of COLLEGE CHURCH

“They were meeting in a home for worship. Thirty of them.” See The Story Behind the Burmese Christian Baptisms. with Emmanuel Tahear on page 12

SEPTEMBER 2020

I Believe!

Life Lessons

Locally Sourced

Our Perfect Priest and Mediator

Joys to Be Had

ANN LAWRENZ | 8

VIRGINIA HUGHES | 10

The Vulnerable Families Next Door VANESSA ROTH | 20

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

September Highlights

Growing Missions Impact Through Media Ministry

Our Perfect Priest and Mediator | ANN LAWRENZ

Prayer Gatherings

Joys to Be Had | VIRGINIA HUGHES

The Story Behind the Burmese Christian Baptisms

Celebrating Baptisms

Fall Staff Picks

The Vulnerable Families Next Door | VANESSA ROTH

Back to School | A CONVERSATION WITH MARY CERUTTI

COVID-19 Response: Helping Christians In Pakistan

Milestones | Looking Ahead

SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS Sunday Mornings Services NEW MORNING PREACHING SERIES | THE BOOK OF JAMES 9:30 a.m. Livestream service online, in-person worship in the Sanctuary (registration required). Registration opens at noon on Tuesday. 10:15 a.m. College Group worship service under the tent in the north parking lot. 11:00 a.m. Outdoor worship in the Commons parking lot (weather permitting), no registration needed. Sept. 9: James 1:19-27 | Putting it into Practice Sept. 13: James 2:1-13 | Love Your Poor Neighbor Sept. 20: James 2:14-26 | Faith Without Works Sept. 27: James 3:1-4:12 | No More Quarreling

Adult Communities—in-person and Zoom options start September 12-13 • Veritas: Saturday mornings 9:30 a.m. in Sanctuary

• Greek Class: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in C101

• Logos: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in Commons

• Forum 15: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in C002 A&B

• Joint Heirs: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in Commons Gym

• All Nations: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in CL03

Children’s Ministries—registration is now open for: • Sunday morning classes beginning September 13 and 27 • Children’s Choirs beginning October 4 • Wednesday evening club programs start up on September 16 for grades four and five, later in season for grades one to three

GriefShare—starts September 15 at 7 p.m. Despite it being part of life, death is never easy. It hurts to lose someone, and it may be hard to feel optimistic about the future. GriefShare is a 13-week class which features video seminars with experts, focused group discussions and personal study and reflection that can help you face your challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. GriefShare will be held at College Church on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m., beginning September 15. Please email Christy at griefshare@college-church.org for more information, or call (630) 668-0878.

High School • Sunday Night Live: All high school students are welcome! Sundays at 6:30 p.m. in the Commons Parking Lot. • Rooted Fellowship: Freshmen and Sophomores, Tuesday evenings starting September 8 from 6:45-8:15 p.m. in Commons Hall

Membership Class—Saturday, October 17, 8:30 a.m.-noon Ready to participate fully in the life and ministries of College Church? Come find out about College Church’s history, articles of faith, core values, initiatives for the future, ministries, missions and more. The one-day only fall membership class will be on Saturday, October 17, from 8:30 a.m. until noon in Commons Hall; registration is requested. For more info, contact Christy at membership@ college-church.org, or call (630) 668-0878.

Men’s Bible Study—starts September 9 at 6:45 – 8:00 p.m. We begin our study together of Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology – Chapters 44-53. In-person will meet in room C002 A&B where masks will be required, and social distancing will be followed. We will also offer a virtual option for those who are unable to attend in person. Please visit college-church.org/men for details and schedule.

Middle School • Weekly gathering happens Tuesdays, 6:45-8:15 p.m. for worship, teaching and small groups.

Grace Groups start September 14 at 7 p.m. in the Crossings Are you or a loved one dealing with anxiety or depression or another mental health challenge? Are you concerned about what others will think—those who don’t understand—when you share your struggles or those of child or spouse? Are you looking for a safe and welcoming environment of people who "get it?" Living Grace is a support group for those living with mental health challenges, and Family Grace, for those who support them. Time together is not intended to replace professional assistance when needed, but rather as an arm of the church to come alongside one another to encourage and uplift—to build a biblical and empathetic community of those who have or are living through it. Grace Groups are part of the congregational care ministry at College Church and are open to everyone. Each session allows for personal discovery and relationship building through discussion and practice of the tools learned. Scripture-infused, the Grace Group lessons touch on how God sees the individual in these challenges and gives hope as we share and learn from the experiences of others. Each session of the 16-week curriculum stands alone, which, if needed, allows you to come and go at any point and choose which topics are most beneficial to your situation and availability. Some of the topics covered in our meetings during the year include: • Mental Health Recovery

• Grieving and Grace

• God Is Bigger Than Our Weakness

• Cycles and Triggers

• Medication

• Life-Giving Community

• Whole Health Strength and Renewal

• Staying Resilient

These groups plan to meet twice a month by Zoom on Mondays at 7 p.m. beginning on September 14. Join us from the comfort and privacy of your home. The $20 fee includes workbook, or $12.99 for the e-book version. For registration information, email Christy at gracegroups@college-church.org, or call (630) 668-0878.

STARS • Sunday mornings - live Zoom class, 9-10 a.m. starting September 13. • Wednesday music - live Zoom class, 7-8 p.m. starting September 16. • Fall Parking Lot Kick-off - Friday, September 11, 6:30-7:30. More details coming, but everyone will remain in their cars.

Women’s Ministries • Women’s Bible Study—This fall we are studying Jen Wilkin’s God of Creation study on Genesis 1-11. This 10-week in-depth study (September 16–November 18) will look at fundamental truths about God revealed through the creation narrative. Given COVID restrictions, we have limited capacity, so please visit College Church women’s webpage for details and availability. • Mom2Mom—We are still connecting and encouraging one another during this time of COVID. Although our gatherings will look different this year, we will continue to meet the first Monday of the month in the evening from 7–8 p.m. as we discuss Courtney Reissig’s book Glory in the Ordinary. The third Monday of the month, we are planning a local group outing for moms and kids from 9:30 to 11 a.m. We hope that you will join us this year. For details and schedule, go to college-church.org/women. • Monthly Gathering for women—Save the Date. October 10 will be our first gathering. More details coming soon.

SIDE BY SIDE

Growing Missions Impact Through Media Ministry God Centered Life leverages the College Church pulpit for global impact. Once or twice a month Pastor Josh descends into an eerily quiet, almost tomb-like basement suite of offices across the street from College Church. In the hushed, soundproof studios of Gap Digital, over the course of just an hour or so, he records twenty radio programs for God Centered Life (GLC) with the help of announcer Todd Busteed. The completed sessions then eventually find their way onto the internet and over the airwaves to audiences not just here in the Chicago area, but also in Cleveland, Des Moines and Canton, Georgia (near Atlanta). Recently, the radio distribution expanded to cover all central Illinois, from the Indiana border on the east to the Mississippi on the west. Believers and the curious alike will now hear Josh’s teaching in cities like Springfield, ChampaignUrbana, Peoria and Quincy. Coupled with online listening opportunities in Dallas with KCBI radio online, the OnePlace teaching platform, and Transworld Radio’s TWR360 website, God Centered Life’s reach is nationwide and global. The recording sessions begin with preparations many weeks in advance of the airdates for the program. Making a daily radio broadcast is no small undertaking. Consider: five days a week, 52 weeks a year. That’s 260 broadcasts annually! The material presented each day grows out of past sermons Pastor Josh has preached at College Church. Each week as he preaches, the tech team captures a high-quality recording of the sermon. This recording is then edited by Todd and his staff into two segments, usually 18 to 20 minutes each. Almost every sermon provides material for two radio programs. At the monthly sessions with Todd, Pastor Josh records just a brief introduction for the beginning of the program and a closing conversation designed to apply the teaching to the listening audience. Todd introduces the program, then asks Josh a penetrating question. Todd plays the role of the listener, engaging in dialog and giving Josh a chance to set the table for the upcoming teaching. Todd, the announcer for GCL, is a recognized professional in the Christian radio and audio industry. He previously did on-air voicing and audio engineering for Moody Radio before launching Gap Digital, his own audio production company. Todd has worked on a wide range of radio and audio book projects and feels privileged to serve Pastor Josh and GCL. “Preparing for our recording sessions allows me to dig deeply into the messages from Josh, and I find myself challenged spiritually as I think through how we can best position the preaching to impact the lives of listeners,” he noted. Currently the series from the Gospel of John, Life to the Full, is playing for the radio and online audiences. Past offerings

included the series Romans - The Gospel of God, The Sermon on the Mount series iTeach, Genesis - A New Beginning, among others. Each program also features a selected resource designed to encourage spiritual growth in the listeners and is made available upon request for those who choose to support God Centered Life financially. If you have not had an opportunity to listen to the broadcast, you can do so easily by visiting the website at www.godcenteredlife.org. While there, why not sign up for the daily devotionals or the monthly newsletter, At the Center, which will keep you updated on the regular work of the ministry, and encourage you with a word from Pastor Josh. God Centered Life is headed by College Church member Stann Leff. He sees the growing reach of the broadcasts on the radio and online as good stewardship. “Week after week we benefit as a church from Pastor Josh’s gifted teaching of God’s Word. Through GCL we’re able to multiply the impact of his sermons, touching thousands of additional lives.” The total audience for the broadcast in any given week is difficult to measure with certainty, but conservatively more than 50,000 individuals hear the broadcast every month. Stann works closely with elder liaison Dan Lindquist, keeping the Council of Elders apprised of developments in the ministry and new initiatives planned. As Stann notes, “We are grateful for the ongoing support and encouragement of the elders on behalf of God Centered Life. The broadcasts are truly an extension of the mission outreach of College Church.” God Centered Life is officially an elder-approved partner ministry of College Church. To learn more, visit www. godcenteredlife.org. Your commitment to pray for the ministry and share the resources available at the site will foster greater reach of the gospel here in Wheaton and around the world.

I BELIEVE!

Our Perfect Priest and Mediator Ann Lawrenz As a first grader at St. Edward School, one of the first tenets of Catholic doctrine I learned—and can still recite after 60 years—was that “the Catholic Church is the one true church instituted by God to give grace.” My childhood neighborhood was comprised of many Catholic families as well as the nonCatholics. All my friends were from my school. We did not associate with the “publics,” the kids who went to the public school. I am not sure why. We just didn’t. There was a church down the block from my house that wasn’t Catholic, and I often wondered what it looked like inside, but I never went in. As a Catholic, I was not supposed to attend non-Catholic services. I enrolled in the nursing program at Loyola University Chicago, and at this renown Jesuit Catholic university, I began to question my faith. I occasionally attended mass on campus as an attempt to worship and connect with God. I still maintained the belief that the priest was the only one with direct access to God and would pray for us or intercede for us during mass. I knew the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary” but I had never prayed a personal prayer to God. That’s not how Catholics prayed. I had head knowledge about the Trinity, the Incarnation and the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus, but my heart was dry and lifeless. The Quest for Love and Approval After college I drifted into the lifestyle of a secular world. When I did attend mass, it was repetitious and empty—much like my now dormant faith. I grew up in a home with a father who was a binge drinker on weekends and a depressed mother who was a closet drinker, and this affected me more than I realized. I was seeking an identity, a purpose for living, love and acceptance— all the needs that were never met as I was growing up. I sought love and approval from relationships with men, which proved disappointing and unsatisfying. My identity came from how good of a nurse I was and my intelligence and looks. I was filled with pride, but in the long run, I felt empty. In God’s providence, he placed two Christian nurses on the same unit as me. We quickly became friends. I didn’t know what they believed but they cared for me in a way that was deeper than any other friends. On Sunday, nurse Kathy invited me to her church. It was the first time in my life I ventured into a non-Catholic church. Draw Near to God I remember little about the service. It just felt right to be there with Kathy. That afternoon I went to a park by Lake Michigan

Ann with her friend Jan in their nursing days. and asked God to make himself known to me and take control of my life. I prayed a simple prayer to God (another first). At that moment I knew I was not alone. Something wonderful had happened. God was with me. And even though I didn’t know the Scripture, James 4:8 rang true in my heart, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” The next day, my nurse friend Jan and I were assigned the care of four patients in one of the post-surgical rooms on the ICU unit. As we were caring for a patient together, I felt prompted to tell her that the day before I had a religious experience. Jan became more and more excited as I described to her what happened. She and Kathy began to disciple me in the faith. It was through a Navigators study in the Gospel of John that I became convicted of my need for personal salvation in Jesus. I had the head knowledge, but now, at last, I had the heart awakening. My identity was now in Christ alone. I was a new creation in Christ. My heavenly Father loved me. I began attending a midweek fellowship group for singles at Moody Church. I knew I needed to worship at a Biblebelieving church, and for me, leaving the Catholic church was the right decision. I began attending Moody Church under the teaching of Dr. Erwin Lutzer. A few months later I moved to Oak Park and began attending Calvary Church. My baptism by immersion came shortly afterwards. My initial step of faith was not a result of an evangelistic service, an altar call or a one-on-one presentation of the gospel as some believers come to faith as adults. I believe the Holy Spirit had been working in my heart and had his hand upon me to come to salvation at just the right time. Even though my problems didn’t disappear overnight, I was at peace knowing that God was in control of my life.

A Daily Assignment of Rest Much has transpired in my life these 40 years as a follower of Jesus, including marriage to my godly husband, David, and three adult children who are following Jesus. Since retiring from a 45-year nursing career, my time in prayer and study of the Word has grown intentionally and energetically. My daily assignment from the Master is to seek his face and rest in his arms. My calling is to be to others what the Lord is to me. The circumstances of my life have changed, especially in 2011 with the sudden homegoing of my husband after a brief sixweek illness. But this I know: God is faithful, and he will never change. He is with me and will never leave me or forsake me. My future is in the hands of Jesus, my perfect high priest and mediator, the one who intercedes for me at the throne of grace. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Hebrews 7:25

Ann and Dave as young parents.

About the Author | Ann Lawrenz Ann Lawrenz has been a member of College Church for more than 25 years. Ann is active in a small group and Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bible Study and joins her voice to pray for the persecuted at the Friday prayer group for the persecuted church. Though retired, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to say about Ann, once a nurse, always a nurse.

Prayer Gatherings Online & In Person Call the church office or email info@college-church.org for details on how to join one or more of these prayer meetings. Hannah Prayer Fellowship will Sunday Morning Prayer (Online) 8-8:40 a.m. Led by Pastor Eric Channing Monday Morning Prayer (In person) 6:15-7:15 a.m. in C104A. Led by Elder Rob Wolgemuth Wednesday Night Prayer (Online) 7-8 p.m. Led by the Missions Office Friday Lunch Prayer for the Persecuted Church (In person) 12-1 p.m. in C103. Led by Glenn and Ann Deckert and Wil and Lorraine Triggs

Lydia Prayer Fellowship and friends (including visitors!), meet at the home of Joyce Patterson, 925 Wheaton Oaks Dr., Tuesday morning, September 8, at 9:15. Karen Bradley will share what God is doing in her life and we'll join in prayer for God's special workers.

meet on Wednesday, September 9, at 1:30 p.m. in the backyard of Elsa Maust, 1137 N. President St., Wheaton. She has six chairs, but you may want to bring one of your favorites for proper social distancing. Karen Bradley from Nairobi, Kenya, will be sharing with us. We hope you will be able to join us as we pray for our missionaries.

Abigail Prayer Fellowship will meet Thursday, September 10, at 1 p.m. in C104A at church. Please wear your masks and join us as we pray for College Church missionaries. Our weekly prayer pulse email goes out every Monday. You can get weekly prayer updates via that email. Sign up by clicking "Enews signup" on our website. Or, if you already receive other emails from College Church, click "manage my preferences" at the bottom of any of our emails and select prayer pulse to add yourself to the prayer email.

LIFE LESSONS

Joys to Be Had Virginia Hughes As children we weren’t concerned about our lack of resources, transportation or parental supervision. Boundless energy, long summer days that stretched into September and the company of brothers and sisters set us in perpetual motion to make something, play something or go somewhere outside. One day, the four of us who made up the younger half of the family—me at ten, the twins at seven, and my youngest sister at five—were on a mission to get to Matter Park. In the park reigned the aging gem of the summer stage, the old town pool herself waiting with her beautiful blue crumbling sides, deep drowning waters and fed up teenaged lifeguards. It cost 35 cents each to enter and the dime and quarter loomed large when multiplied by four. We needed a total of one dollar and forty cents to get into the pool, and we were determined to gain entrance. First, the scouring of the house began. We shook down the easy chair and couch cushions for coins. Dad’s Tootsie Roll bank with its tempting weight of quarters was offlimits, and we respected that order. He somehow knew how much was in it, and none of us wanted to end up as suspects in his fatherly sponsored line up of criminals who looked a lot like us. However, any stray coins that rolled under his desk or fell on his office chair were fair game since we didn’t ask, and he never said not to take those. The fact that Dad leaked change from his pockets speaks to a generous man who wanted the arrows in his quiver to work at least a little for things and expect no easy handouts. We kept quiet the dangerous details of how we fully funded our adventures. We never spoke about our forays into the sketchy woods or forbidden storm drain, where a late-night group may have left scads of bottles by smoldering campfires.

than recreation. Our brother donned cutoff church pants and a T-shirt, still not cool but looking more normal than we girls. We raided the towels and were on our way by high noon, barefoot or snapping on our flip flops, down tree-shaded Lincoln Street, to sunbaked Washington Street, alongside the Mississinewa River, across the Highland Bridge and up the long Matter Park Lane to our destination. My siblings recall we were shoeless and fearless, but mostly unattended by grown-ups. We were on our own in a world that our adults constantly warned was evil, unsafe, violent, in turmoil and ending. Yet there were paths to walk, pools to swim in and joys to be had. The pool smell assaulted the weary travelers standing in line to hand over their quarters and dimes. The puddling dressing rooms were next. And then the dreaded communal chemical sluice trench which smelled terrible and looked even worse. A wade through the trench was required to exit the dressing rooms. We never waded but jumped like Olympians with a shudder and groan lest a toe skim the top of the festering froth. At the pool we dared each other to try the high dive and the high slide at least once. The water was so deep on the high diving side, a swimming test had to be passed before diving. There should have been a required course in how to avert climbers overcome with fear who clambered down, knocking through the line of kids snaking up the slippery stairs. The upward climb built a shaking terror and the jump into the pool, a thunderous, regretful belly smack. Next came the high slide, a narrow, rickety thin metal tray with nonexistent side edges. Sit squarely in the center of this grill heated by the sun or fly right off the side. These were the glory days of playground construction rarely regulated for height, speed or safety.

We walked through back alleys and up and down crisscrossing railroad tracks looking for empty drink bottles to return to the corner grocery store. Indiana had not passed the ten-cent-abottle return like Michigan, but store owners paid a little on returns and every cent counted. It took hours until we finally arrived at our total of one dollar and forty cents.

Most of our time was spent in the shallow end of the pool on the lookout for “Jaws,” a palpable mental terror. We weren’t allowed to watch the movie, and shark bites at the local land-locked pool were zero, but that mattered not. A great white shark, big as a boat may be lurking if your sibling screamed “Jaws!” Swim quickly to the edge and jump out of the water just in time.

After a quick baloney sandwich on Wonder Bread washed down with grape Kool-Aid, we’d slipped into our modest swimsuits and layered our play clothes over them. Non- breathable polyester culottes and buttoned blouses designed by Mom adorned us girls and had us looking more ready for church

Our favorite game was retrieving our trusty diving rock, a small chunk of blue concrete extracted from the crumbling pool’s side. We used the same rock carefully tucking it back into place when we finished. It was always there waiting for us. What bliss we

had diving to retrieve it and how sunburned we soon were. No sunscreen was packed for a pale redhead who could have used a dollop or two.

tell stories, get up and walk some more and eventually make it home, usually running at the very end. Joy provided a second wind.

We had no spare money for sodas or snacks at the snack shop. Collecting snack and drink money would have used up valuable daylight hours and required additional fund-raising searches. Water bottles were also not in our lives. No one said or read the words, “Remember to hydrate.”

Church Family, we are all on an adventure we did not fully plan, doing our best, making the most of a pool whose beautiful sides are crumbling. It is not redundant to say how much we need each other. Our brothers and sisters need comforting words and prayers, our listening and all sorts of encouragement. The regular life stuff keeps rolling right on through the present issues. Recovery from surgery, chronic illness and deep loss are here. May we carry each other in the times our faith is tested and help our family to make it home. We are branches on our Lord’s vine, our divine resource who never runs dry.

Eventually we would be too tired to move, which meant it was time to go. Dry clothes were pulled over soggy swimsuits; and with a trudge, trudge, trudge, we began the trek home. Exhausted, hungry, burnt to a crisp with damp swimsuits trapped under our clothes, we were victorious. We had walked and somehow not fainted thanks to dribbles from the pool’s ceramic drinking fountain. We had delighted ourselves in cool waters under the searing summer sun, and it strengthened us. As we made our way, the youngest among us would get too tired to take another step. The older two would give piggyback rides or make a two-person arm-carry by holding each other’s wrists with a sibling sitting on our arms between us. The whole process gave us the giggles and we’d stagger forward, laughing so much that after a few steps, we would all fall down to rest in the nearest patch of shade. Depleted, we would sing a little, coax each other,

Lord, hold us fast at night when worry won’t bring sleep. Lead us when we walk through the valley, so we are not lost in the shadows. We are not alone whether it be for the next ballyhoo on earth or our eternal flight home into the arms of Jesus. We are all yet children calling for the strength we had earlier in our journey when we sought adventure and knew no fear. When we are together, there will always be paths to walk, pools to swim in and joys to be had. Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10 (ESV)

About the Author | Virginia Hughes Virginia Hughes is a frequent contributor to Connections, OneWord Journal and Saturday Musings. Gardener, reader and Kids’ Harbor volunteer (Virginia has a soft spot for preschoolers), she and her husband, Roger, have three adult daughters.

FACE-TO-FACE

The Story Behind the Burmese Christian Baptisms

Connections sat down with College Church member Emmanuel Tahear, a long-time activist for the immigrant and refugee church. Emmanuel is both a missionary and ministry associate for missions at College Church. As a missionary for 25 years, Emmanuel has a clearly defined mission when he meets people. “My mission is to reach out to them on Christ’s behalf,” explains Emmanuel. “Ever since I came here from Ethiopia, I have been working with different ethnic groups.” These groups have included Sudanese, Liberian and Arab immigrants. “In fact, I have been working with the Liberian church for ten years now,” Emmanuel recalls. When the Burmese church first began meeting at Compass Church (then Wheaton Evangelical Free Church), Emmanuel was involved, willing to preach or do discipleship training. He has also served the Vietnamese church in similar ways. As a ministry associate for missions at College Church, in pre-pandemic times, every Thurs-

day morning, Emmanuel had a coffee/teatime for the refugees in the ESL classes held at church. “We did this to get to know them, and once a month, we had a table with Bibles in different languages to give away.” Emmanuel said. “We also had an international fellowship once a month. We would gather to worship, and I would bring a short message.” Emmanuel’s hope is that this would turn into an international church. About 11 years ago, Emmanuel met a group of Burmese believers at World Relief. They asked him for help. “They were meeting in a home for worship,” he pointed out. “Thirty of them, and I asked why they didn’t look for a place to meet? “At the time the Evangelical Free Church was one of my supporting churches, and I asked if the church could host them.” About two years into helping this small church, Emmanuel made a discovery, “I found out how many different tribes and languages exist in Burma. About 30 of them in the Chin

language groups.” That was eight years ago, and the Burmese church now gathers at First Presbyterian Church in Wheaton. Emmanuel and the pastor of the church, Menar Chai, have become partners in the gospel over the years. “They are planning to buy their own little church,” shares Emmanuel. “They are now more than 70 adults and up to 100 when the children are counted. With COVID-19, they have been meeting by Zoom. And the children and youth have been struggling to connect with each other.” This was the cue for the summer Bible study Emmanuel had with the children and teenagers. “The pastor asked me for help,’ relates Emmanuel, “and I said as soon as the church was open, I would ask for a room. We began the study in July with about 20 youth, and the parents were so glad to have something for their children.”

“The parents were so glad,” Emmanuel reports. “I am planning to meet with these young people on Saturdays. My goal is to have these young people be a part of the Sunday service here, and then they can go to their parents’ church in the afternoon. I don’t want to take them away from their church, but to work with them.” The Burmese congregation continues to search for a church building. The church raised $9,000 at a dinner in November and has another $139,000 in savings for a church. Until the day comes, the church will meet at First Presbyterian Wheaton. “Pray as they look for a church building,” urges Emmanuel. “Also, pray for deeper relationships with the eight or nine ethnic churches around us. My goal is to have a monthly prayer gathering for these churches. Pray for the children and students to grow spiritually.”

He soon discovered that though the young people went to church, they struggled to understand the teaching, done in a language they didn’t speak. Emmanuel also discovered that they were not all followers of Christ. Ever the evangelist, Emmanuel took the time to clearly explain the good news of Jesus. As a result of hearing the gospel, eight of the students accepted Christ, and Emmanuel began to teach them about what it means to follow Jesus. At the end of each class, Emmanuel would ask if anyone wanted to accept Christ. “The first week, there were three students, the second week five.”

Emmanuel’s final prayer request reflects his heart and love for these growing congregations “And pray for wisdom for me as I walk alongside these congregations.” Emmanuel’s walk is one worth joining as we proclaim the beautiful gospel. The following young people are part of the Burmese church and were baptized by their pastor, Menar Chai:

Of that eight, six of the young people were baptized at College Church in the evening outdoor baptism service on August 2, which included 15 children and students from College Church.

Peter Naing

Lala San

Joshua Thang

Steven Cangmah

Solomon Thang

May Yupa Yati

Daw We Paw

About the Author | Emmanuel Tahear Emmanuel Tahear and his wife, Adu, are College Church missionaries with SIM Culture ConneXions. Emmanuel has a heart for reaching Muslims and Muslim-background belivers. He also serves with Burmese and Vietnamese churches.

Celebrating Baptisms The baptism service the evening of August 2 was truly international as young people from College Church and the Burmese church were baptized. Here are the testimonies of the people from College Church baptized that night. It was a great time of worship and celebration to see that many people baptized.

Lucy Sanders (age 11) I have grown up in a Christian family, and that has encouraged me to follow Christ. My love of Christian music has also helped me to understand God more. And at my school, Clapham School, through discussions with my teachers and classmates, I have discovered more about God and the Bible. When I was four years old, I became a Christian. My parents taught me how to pray to God to ask him to forgive my sins. Later, I went into a room by myself and prayed to the Lord to forgive my sins and asked the Holy Spirit into my heart. As I have gotten older, I have learned more about God's love, which has led me to love and care for my family and friends. I love God because of his love for me and because he sent his Son to lay down his life for me, even though I am a sinner.

Elliott Stringer (age 9) I go to church every Sunday, but since COVID I stay home and watch church. A couple days ago [prior to the baptism service] I believed in Christ and realized he was my only Savior. I wanted to believe and go to heaven. I wanted to follow Jesus. I wondered what heaven was like and if you would go. My dad said it’s not an if—you can know. My dad shared I could repent and believe in Christ. I knew I wanted to because Jesus is the best person ever and I wanted to go to heaven. My dad read me Bible verses. I didn’t know how, but my dad helped me. I want people to see me baptized so they might believe and choose to be baptized. I want people to know about God and his Word.

Truett Stringer (age 11) I don’t remember the date, but I gave my life to Jesus late winter. My dad and I were in the car. I was asking him questions about baptism. Then I asked him how I could become more Christlike. I can’t remember all the details. I want everyone to know I have been saved by Jesus Christ, and to encourage others to be baptized.

Reilly Roman (age 17) I have been attending College Church for three years in HYACKS, and I am so grateful for the community and opportunities for service the Lord has provided for me through this. I grew up going to church with my family and have always been raised to value Christ at the center of my life. As a child, I struggled to fully grasp the enormity of Christ's sacrifice for my sins and did not have a very personal relationship with him. I was amazed at my dad's ability to live his life solely for Jesus and share so much love with every person he met. When I was six years old, my dad told me that God did not have to let his only son die on the cross , but he loved us so much that he provided a way for us to be in heaven with him one day through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This was the first time that I felt the weight of Christ's sacrifice for our sins, and I wanted to have a relationship with this Savior. I accepted Jesus into my heart and committed to living a life for Him. In elementary and middle school, I was relieved that it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to be hard to follow Jesus. I was surrounded by Christian friends at school and church, and I was dancing ballet full time outside of school. In eighth grade, my left foot started bothering me when I danced. I remember the doctor telling me that I had an extra bone in both of my feet, and it would likely get worse unless I took a break from dancing. I stopped dancing and put my foot in a boot to let it rest for a while. It was during this rehabilitation time that my right foot started bothering me. Two non-weight bearing casts later, I was now a

freshman in high school, not dancing ballet and unable to walk on either of my feet without pain. I was devastated not to be able to do the one thing in life that made me the happiest and prayed for a miracle to heal my feet. By the spring of freshman year, my left foot had somewhat healed, but my right foot steadily got worse. I ended up having to get two surgeries on my right foot; one to remove the extra bone, and then another to repair the first surgery which had gone wrong. At this time in my life, I felt abandoned by God. I did not understand why a God who loved me so much would allow my feet to break and keep me away from ballet. I had lost almost all faith in my Savior because of the hardship with my feet and was tired of fighting the battle against temptation every day for a God who would let me hurt this much. Yet in the middle of this dark place the Lord met me. I was reading my Bible and one verse stood outâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Jeremiah 29:11, "'For I know the plans I have for you', says the Lord,' plans to prosper you, and not to harm you; plans to give you hope and a future.'" I couldn't help but break into tears as I laid in my bed postsurgery. I felt the presence of the Lord who I realized had been with me the entire time. Who had illustrated every moment of my life before I was born, and who was in control of everything alwaysâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even when everything felt out-of-control. I realized that while I was out of ballet, I had time to join an amazing small group, make incredible Christian friends in show choir at school and have opportunities right in front of me to really grow in my relationship with Christ. By no means is my life (or my foot) perfect after choosing to follow Jesus, but I am filled with his endless love and have purpose in this world. I know that as many times as I fall short of his glory, he will forgive me. And no matter how many hardships I face, they were put purposefully into my life for a more perfect reason than I could ever imagine. I want to publicly declare my faith in Jesus Christ and choose to live my life solely for the advancement of his kingdom. Previously, I was scared to let go of my life to follow Christ with everything I am because it feels comfortable to be in control. I have realized that with Jesus, I need nothing more, and I want to completely surrender to his plans for the rest of my life and commit my life to him through baptism.

Parker Roman (age 14) I have grown up in a Christian family that has always gone to church and read the Bible. When I was very little, I learned that Jesus saved me and forgave my sins when he died on the cross. I asked my parents and Sunday School teachers more about Jesus and that led me to asking Jesus into my heart and putting all my faith in my Savior. I want to be baptized to publicly show my faith to the College Church community and to strengthen my relationship with Jesus Christ.

Rachael Farrell (age 15) I have grown up in a Christian home and have been read and taught the Bible since I was very little. The past couple years God has drawn me closer to him and it has been a remarkable experience. The Lord revealed himself to me through his Word and the discipleship of other Christians. By his grace, I have a relationship with him. I am so thankful for his perfect love and I want to seek my identity completely and fully in Jesus. It is a significant privilege to be baptized. It is amazing to me that there are people in other countries who are risking their lives when they are baptized, but they do it anyway and with great joy. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how important the symbol of baptism is, and I am so excited to take part in it. I want others to know that I have been born again through the wonderful love and grace of Jesus Christ.

Ingrid Oslund (age 17) I grew up in a Christian home and from a young age I was taught about Jesus and what he did for me. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior when I was very young but grew in faith and understanding as I got older. Throughout middle school, I realized the importance of making my faith my own and seeing Jesus as my personal Savior. Now I am involved in HYACKS and Bridge Fellowship and continue to grow in my faith. I want to be baptized because it is an outward acknowledgement and sign of my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior.

Nathan Gordeuk (age 16) I grew up in a Christian household where both of my parents are strong Christians. I have been going to church my whole life and was always familiar with the gospel message. I gave my life to Christ in fifth grade but didn't fully understand what it meant to be a Christian until I took a class at Wheaton Academy called "Spiritual Formation" my sophomore year. A theme of the class is pursuing spiritual maturity, which we defined as "consistently and accurately reflecting the image of God.â&#x20AC;? Through memorization of Scripture and analyzing how to pursue spiritual maturity in the class, I realized that being a Christian is more than a label that goes with attending church on Sundays. Being a Christian IS my life, and the Bible is not exaggerating when it tells us to give every aspect of our lives to the Lord. I also realized that it will often be a challenge to pursue Christ in my life, because of temptations, peer pressure or not looking as cool as others sometimes, but it is worth it to follow Christ because our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that awaits us in heaven, as Romans 8 says. I want to dedicate my life to Christ and follow him faithfully through the good and the bad. Being baptized is a public identification with Jesus, and I want my identity as a human to be a Christ follower.

Annabella Eckert (age 17) When I was seven years old, I asked Jesus to enter my heart, and from then on, I've been growing in my relationship with the Lord. A huge turning point in my walk with Christ was in eighth grade on a church retreat when I truly surrendered every aspect of my life to him. I remember feeling so weighed down by my sin and accepting that I couldn't do life on my own, so I laid it all down at his feet. Jesus has forgiven me, restored my soul and completely changed my life. He has given me hope and a purpose!! Making a public proclamation of my faith in Jesus through baptism is something that I've wanted and needed to do for a while. I believe baptism is an important way to symbolize my rebirth in Christ.

Lydia Garrett (age 18) I have been fortunate enough to grow up in a Christian home my whole life. As a result, I was instructed on what it looks like to live a life honoring God. When I was eight years old, my mother helped me give my life to Jesus. Since then, I have been surrounded by supportive and loving friends and family who have helped me along my spiritual journey. Though baptism has always been in my mind, I never truly understood why I should be baptized. After conversations with my peers, I realize how important it is in my walk with the Lord. One of my favorite verses is Romans 6:1-4. It says, "What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." I want to be baptized because I want to publicly declare my commitment to Christ. In Matthew 28:18-20, it says, "Then Jesus

came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'" My church and family have already helped me become a disciple, and the next step is to be baptized. Because God instructs me to be baptized, I want to obey him and carry out his command.

Jin Nam My name is Jin Nam from South Korea. I'm 29 years old. I got married in 2018, and I came to the USA in August. I came with my wife because she goes to university in U.S. I had already studied Bible in high school because of my teacher. My religion was Buddhism, but I used to read the Bible out of curiosity because I liked to read books. But when I came to USA and met my wife's professor, Dr. Sojung, I got to know about Christianity once again. I was originally a baptized Buddhist. But I met God for the first time in America, studied, and learned about the truth of the world. Now I want to live in God.

Hyeon Jeong (Alice) Gong I met Dr. Sojung at Judson University. She is a great piano professor to me. Judson University is a Christian school. This was my first time with Christianity, so she taught God by giving me stories and information. And every Sunday, I went to the university church as a visitor for three years with my husband. At first, I was excited. And I was curious to get interested in singing praises together. Also, I was not forced, and I was free to attend church with an open mind. As a result, I naturally developed an interest in God and a belief in God's presence of God's existence. I couldn't believe God and Jesus. Because I didn't know. Because he was there, and I couldn't see. Now I thank Judson and the College Church community that helped me understand these sacred things, and it fell together for me. I felt and understood about life when I studied the Bible with a choir professor at school. And I knew the reason of history and life at university. And I felt and learned more about my values and love for myself. I can now believe and love God without refusing. So, I want to be baptized because my mind has become clear.

Devin Moore I grew up in a Christian family and attended College Church from a young age. At some point early in my life I prayed with my father, seeking to devote my life to Christ and welcome him into my heart as Savior. I believe I meant that prayer as much as a little kid can! I remained devoted to Christ through my childhood. In my high school years, I walked alongside my closest friend, Matthew, during his battle with Leukemia. I wrestled with faith and pain and suffering for three years as Matthew ultimately went to be with Christ. I believe it was during those formative years that I really committed to walking with Christ and surrendering to him as Lord. I believe the Bible is clear that we are to be baptized as followers of Christ. I was dedicated as an infant in College Church, but I feel a pull to acknowledge publicly as an adult that I am a Christ follower. I want to be baptized to be faithful to what I believe the Bible calls me to do.

Lia Hurley (age 12) My family has been reading the Bible to me ever since I was born, and over the years I slowly came to know more and more about God, until I decided to give my life to him. The reason Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m being baptized is because I want to have a new life with Christ and die to sin. I want God to be my master and not sin. I love God and want to let others know.

Hope Kowallis (age 15) I came to know Christ truly this past year. I had struggled with my parentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; divorce that happened when I was in Kindergarten. A lot of very life changing events happened to me at a very young age. My parents both got remarried and moved into their new houses. At the time, I had believed in God and knew what he did for me on the cross, but it wasn't until eighth and ninth grade that I had realized God had a better plan for me and was working on my behalf. At a young age, I never thought my life would be any different and I would continue to struggle and struggle every single day. To this very day, I still do struggle, but it doesn't compare to how I was when I was younger. God has shown me that he is in control and he changed one of the worst things that ever happened to me, to something I thank him for. If my parents hadn't divorced, my life would have been so much worse. I consider life to be pretty great, and I don't think I ever would have thought that I would be saying that when I was younger. I want to be baptized because Christ died for us on the cross while we were still sinners. As believers, we believe that Jesus did this for all of us so that we could be in heaven with him forever. Like when Jesus died and was resurrected, going down into the water and coming back up symbolizes you becoming clean from your sins.

FALL Staff Picks Visit our online bookstore 10ofthose.com/us/partners/collegechurch for these tiles and more!

Cheryce Berg

Zach Fallon

Josh Stringer

Family Discipleship: Leading Your Home through Time, Moments, and Milestones by Matt Chandler and Adam Griffith

The Promises of God by Charles Spurgeon

Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund

Josh Maurer

Curt Miller

Ben Panner

On the Road with Saint Augustine: A Real-World Spirituality for Restless Hearts by James K. A. Smith

Evidence Not Seen: A Womanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Miraculous Faith in the Jungles of World War II by Darlene Deibler Rose

Enjoying God by Tim Chester

Diane Jordan Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption by Katie Davis

Watch for more staff picks in October! 19

LOCALLY SOURCED

The Vulnerable Families Next Door Vanessa Roth

Outreach Community Center Helps Residents Navigate the Pandemic “I don’t know how I’m going to pay rent,” said the single mom of two kids to the case manager at the Outreach Community Center in Carol Stream (OCC). “I’ve worked my whole adult life and now I’m laid off. I’ve never been in this situation before.” These anxieties and new realities are all too common for the residents living in the southeast Carol Stream neighborhood surrounding the Community Center, with the unemployment rate estimated at 30%. OCC’s presence in the community has brought relief through the disbursement of approximately $20,000 per month in rental assistance to stabilize families and prevent homelessness. Praying for and with residents as they struggle to make their budget work is an honor each day for the staff of OCC. Since March, OCC has assisted 64 households and just under 1,800 individuals remain in their housing and out of homelessness. Everyone is affected by the changes the pandemic is bringing to our daily lives. For the most vulnerable families in our community, it also brings tough decisions. When the stay-athome orders went into place and the schools were closed, a single mom commented, “I don’t know if my kids are getting online for school or not because I’m at work.” The mom, an essential worker, feels fortunate to be working every day, but when she went to work and left her children at home, she wasn’t sure they were doing the online schooling. As OCC staff checked in with each of our families during the spring semester when school was completely online, this turned out to be the number one concern among our parents. No parent wants his or her child falling behind in school.

OCC (as well as our Center in Warrenville) is working with Community School District 200 to provide neighborhood school children and youth on-site access at OCC on days they are not in school this fall. OCC will have our education and youth development staff available throughout the day to assist students with homework, academic skillbuilding and reassurance to parents that students’ schoolwork is being checked. This will be in addition to running our afterschool programs each day as well, which will include the elementary students. The parents in our communities are overwhelmingly appreciative of this option. OCC has been “practicing” our safety protocols for having students on-site this summer. For the past five weeks, OCC has been hosting 50-60 middle and high school students for a six- to seven-hour-a-day summer school program. Students are divided into classrooms of 10 with desks six feet apart.

All students are required to wear face coverings while in the program each day. “The safety measures we are taking and the student’s cooperation with these measures has allowed us to continue serving students and families on-site with no COVID cases within our building!” said Dina Hilliard, OCC executive director. As we make plans for this on-site academic assistance in the fall, OCC needs tutors. We are putting together plans for both safe on-site tutoring and for a virtual tutoring option for those who want to volunteer but choose not to come on-site. All are

welcome. Tutoring is a once-a-week commitment for one hour each session. If you are interested in becoming a tutor, go to the Outreach website at outreachcommunityministries.org and click on “Volunteer” at the top of the webpage, or email our director of volunteer services, Mindy Inman, at minman@ outreachcommin.org. As the pandemic rolls on, how wonderful it is that OCC, our volunteers and donors can partner with us to assist and show Christ’s love to the most vulnerable in our community. Thank you to College Church and the many people in the church who support our work through their time and financial generosity.

About the Author | Vanessa Roth Vanessa Roth has served as chief operating officer at Outreach Community Ministries for more than twenty-five years. Her heart for service carries over to College Church where she has served as a deaconess and STAMP participant.

LOCALLY SOURCED

Back to School A conversation with Mary Cerutti, education director for World Relief

Noticeably absent from College Church this fall is World Reliefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ESL classes. Mary took the time to answer our questions about ESL and how the pandemic affected them early on and continues to do so. When the stay-at-home order went into place in March, how did it affect World Relief? What did it mean for the students who were registered? When the stay-at-home order went into effect, World Relief was only able to provide life- sustaining services so that meant classes could not meet. Initially, teachers kept in contact with students through phone calls and texts to explain the protocols that were put in place related to the virus, to address studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; concerns and to assure students that classes would resume. Students who were registered were allowed to continue in their classes. The teachers worked with students on Zoom and WhatsApp. Because the in-person classes closed so quickly, some of the teachers did not have time to prepare the students with the digital literacy skills needed to move online. Your teachers are so excellent in the classroom and the teaching so hands-on, what were some of the challenges in moving online? We were able to move our classes online for most students. Our greatest challenge was with our lowest level students who do not have the digital literacy skills needed to connect virtually or do not have the literacy and English skills to adjust to the changes. We also have a few students who are only interested in in-person classes. We were also able to connect with the early childhood program participants. The early childhood teachers created videos that were sent to families on WhatsApp. At the end of May, a package with a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mask and a note from the teacher was sent to each child. We were able to provide programs for children during the time away from in-person classes. How will ESL look this year? For the teachers? For the students? Currently we are only offering virtual classes. Unfortunately, that has meant that our lowest level class, referred to as Gateway, will not be meeting until later in the year. The Gateway students need in-person instruction to support their English and digital literacy skills. We hope to be able to run a hybrid class with them later in the year. Virtual classes are being held over Zoom and other online tools. In addition, World Relief received a grant to purchase an online curriculum and Chrome books to support our students. The curriculum has been piloted with the summer classes.

Any idea of when classes resume? Over the summer we have had one virtual ESL class that usually meets at College Church and a Saturday morning virtual class that meets in West Chicago. We are currently recruiting, registering and testing new students to begin in September. We hope to be able to hold three virtual classes that formally met at College Church. Right now, our numbers are lower than usual for classes, but we hope that will change as the year progresses. Are you anticipating fewer classrooms because of COVID protocols and the cap on refugees allowed into this country? Both the COVID protocols and the cap on refugees have affected the number of students in our classes. We know there are many immigrants who need assistance with English, and we are trying to find creative ways to connect with them.

If you had one main message to communicate to ESL students right now, what would it be? World Relief is doing all we can to support students in learning English. While virtual learning may be challenging and difficult, we are here to support them. We firmly believe that ESL students can benefit from the virtual classes, and we want to help them in this process. Likewise, what one message would you like the people of College Church to hear?

We appreciate your flexibility and ongoing communication during this time. Please continue to pray for the ESL program and that we can effectively recruit and engage students in learning English. Finally, what are some practical ways we can help World Relief and become more involved with our refugee neighbors? Your prayers, your volunteers and your financial support are all needed and greatly appreciated.

Thank you for your continued support and thank you for your patience as we have tried to navigate these challenging times.

About the Author | Mary Cerutti An experienced and creative ESL teacher, Mary Cerutti is the educational director of the adult ESL program. Mary has a master's degree in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages) from Wheaton College.

GLOBAL VOICES

COVID-19 Response: Helping Christians in Pakistan

The College Church Board of Missions approved a special gift of $2,500 to help Christians in Pakistan facing difficulties as a result of the global pandemic. Working with International Christian Concern (ICC), Wil Triggs, communications director and a leader in the church’s weekly persecuted prayer group, and Yousaf Sadiq, member of our Board of Missions, met by phone with William Stark of ICC to determine how and where the gift would go.

Christian families were selected from the following neighborhoods of Quetta: Bashirabad, Youhanabad, and Zargoonabad. Home visits took place in the following neighborhoods: Spinay Road, Bael Ahata, Jimkhana and Nawa Killi. Praise God that we were able to provide help for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan at this time of global struggle!

From Pakistan himself, Yousaf was instrumental in identifying locations where Christians live, but are less likely to get support compared to some of the larger and better-known cities. He selected Christian families in Quetta, the provincial capital and largest city of the Province of Balochistan. To ensure the food aid was delivered to the most vulnerable, ICC worked with local church leadership in Quetta to provide food aid to the families of Christian sanitation workers, domestic workers and daily wage earners. In Pakistan, Christians who earn their living as sanitation workers, domestic workers and daily wage earners all reported struggling to support themselves and their families during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the national lockdown, Christian daily wage earners and domestic workers were unable to get work and income for their families. On the other hand, sanitation workers who were required to work without protection throughout the pandemic, reported concerns about having to choose between their jobs and the safety of their families. Food aid purchased with the donation from College Church was marked to bless 50 deserving Christian families in Quetta from these backgrounds. However, the on-the-ground team in Quetta was able to extend the funds to accommodate 60 families in all. The food aid took place in July and in keeping with COVID-19 social distance restrictions, large public gatherings were not allowed. Therefore, a two-step delivery plan took place: • The first phase delivered 30 food packets to 30 families at an outdoor evening prayer service, • The second phase delivered 30 food packets to 30 families through door-to-door visits.

Pakistani Christians Say Thanks! I am thankful to College Church for providing us food in this difficult COVID situation. I consider myself honored to be among the chosen ones to receive aid. This is a great service to God and His people. I appreciate and thank the team." Saleem Masih, a daily wage earner

"I am thankful to College Church for this gift of love and food aid. This is a wonderful concern for taking care of poor families like mine. In the midst of COVID, College Church has done a great job for us. We will praise God and thank College Church." Younas Raza, a daily wage earner "On behalf of my family, I thank College Church for this food aid. I was worried during this pandemic situation and have borrowed a lot of money from relatives and friends. This food aid will make my life easier for a month. I believe that God never leaves His people in difficult times. Therefore, He has sent College Church to feed us. Thank you, College Church." Abid Masih, a daily wage earner "I am happy and thankful to College Church for extending their love with my family. A week ago, my husband died and therefore it was a challenging time for me. I was worried about my children, but College Church has a marvelous work for my orphan children. This is amazing! What a wonderful way of loving neighbors. I love it and thank you College Church. God bless you all." Maya Bibi, a widow

"My Muslim employers have discontinued my job since April. It is a tough time for us poor people to survive. Last month, I sold my washing machine and purchased food for my children. In this present situation, God has sent College Church to us. I am happy and thankful to College Church." Fozia Bibi, a domestic worker "What a wonderful way of loving people. Feeding the hungry is one of the teachings of Jesus Christ. College Church is doing a great job of promoting Gospel values. In the last 90 days, I went to work for 17 days only. I have seen a lot of hunger in my family. However, we survived as we received help and loan from the locals. I am happy and highly thankful to College Church for sharing their love with me. God bless." Fazal Inayat, a daily wage earner "My job is to touch people and make them feel relaxed. In this pandemic situation, I am jobless. Therefore, my family is suffering. My husband is a motor mechanic and we have two children. This food means a lot to us. We will enjoy life and will pray for ICC. Thank you, College Church!" Humaira Bibi, a beautician

"I am very thankful to College Church for helping us with food stuff. This is a good way of expressing your love with the downtrodden in this very critical condition. May God bless you always." Hussain Sarwar, a sanitation worker

Faces have been blurred for security 25

LOOKING AHEAD

MILESTONES Marriages & Births

Condolences

• John McKenna married Lauren Schweitzer at College Church on August 29. John is the son of Steve and Lisa McKenna.

• Pray for Alta (Paul) Johnson and family as they grieve the loss of Alta's mother, Virginia Morries, who passed away on August 25 in Warrenville.

• Emmanuelle Enlin was born to Nathan and Grace Bliss on August 19. Emmanuelle joins her brother, Moses.

• Pray for Norm (Sue) Kapp and family as they grieve the loss of Norm's sister Carolyn Mardirosian, who passed away on August 22 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

• Ethan Timothy was born to Edward and Kathleen Herbert on August 10. His paternal grandfather is Ned Hebert. • Isaac “Zaks” Michael was born to College Church missionaries Stephen and Karis Rigby on August 10 in Nairobi, Kenya. He joins his siblings Abigail and Eoin. • Isaac George Warren was born to Paul and Ashley Glaze on July 28. He joins excited siblings Noah, Emeline, Eden and Levi. • Jonah Casey was born to Ryan and Emily Bourque on July 23. Jonah’s maternal grandparents are Kevin and Carol Casey. • Liam Matthew was born to Kirk and Elizabeth Heuer on June 10. Liam's maternal grandparent are Do n and Heidi Lomasney. • Luise Adelheid was born to Chris and Gisela Gottlieb on May 5. Luise joins her siblings Renate and Johannes. Her maternal grandparents are Henry and Cheryl Parker.

• Pray for Donna McAlister, Lindsay (Dave) Terhune, Kris (Steve) Roth, Meg (Mike) Zaino and other family and friends in the unexpected loss of Donna’s husband and Lindsay, Kris and Meg’s father, Ron McAlister, on August 20. Ron died in a private plane crash near Rockford. • Pray for Jon (Sarah) Gieser and family as they grieve the loss of Jon's father, Paul, who passed away on August 18. • Pray for Paul (Linda) Murphy and family as they grieve the loss of Paul’s sister Sharon, who passed away in Virginia on August 18. • Pray for Heidi (Don) Lomasney and family as they grieve the loss of Heidi's mother, Mary Pfingsten, who passed away on August 10, in Danforth, Illinois. • Pray for Dr. Ben Kietzman, Dr. Tim (Laurel) Kietzman, extended family and friends as they grieve the loss of Ben’s wife and Tim’s mother, Sylvia, who passed away in Carol Stream on August 7. • Pray for Mary Anna (Wes) Steffen and family as they grieve the loss of Mary Anna’s brother, Hudson Moore, who passed away in Newport News, Virginia, on July 23.

Missions & Community Outreach Festival 2020 May the Lord of peace himself give you peace, at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. - 2 Thessalonians 3:16 As we take stock of what life looks like here in Wheaton and the mandates in place, we have reconsidered our plans for October’s Missions & Community Outreach Festival. The Board of Missions agreed that the wisest choice was to move to an online festival for this year. We will still celebrate Global Missions Sunday on October 11, Community Outreach Sunday on October 18 and Missionary Christmas, but it will look different than previous festivals. We’ll focus both Sundays on The Faith Centered Mission—how faith is an indispensable part of God’s plan for the world. Keep an eye on the Missions section of the Friday Church Family News email as well as our website page as we firm up what this year’s festival will look like. We hope to have a few smaller in-person gatherings which you are invited to join as you are able and comfortable. We will continue to follow the guidelines set by the State of Illinois and the CDC. If you are interested in participating in these gatherings or connecting with one of our missionaries, please email Michelle at mkelley@college-church.org to let her know. To say that this has been a difficult season is an understatement, but through it all, our missionaries have persevered as lights and witnesses to their families and neighbors. It’s encouraging to see how they have weathered transition and change with great faith and to see how God has answered prayers for healing, strength and new opportunities to share his gospel. In Connections and in our weekly emails, we have already shared some stories of how God has been at work around the

world, and we look forward to sharing more with you as well. Stories about. . . Isaac and Jennifer Stough in Spain who ran five modified weeklong summer camps. They had conversations with many young people and witnessed spiritual openness and growth. Jesus worked in the life of one student, teaching her about forgiveness and his love for her and allowing her to be honest about her failures and be changed by him. Greg and Faith Hurst report that in Bolivia, lights of Christ shine throughout La Paz as children invite their friends to virtual Sunday school, women participate in Zoom Bible studies, and church members drop off food and money to those whose income was wiped out by quarantine. People are being the hands and feet of Christ as they pull their resources together for the good of the church. Joe and Holly Greeson in Alaska experienced God’s power and presence during a virtual teen retreat for missionary kids as they explored the theme of God’s faithfulness and discovered different ways to play games and deepen relationships, creating community and bringing encouragement. Though we are not able to be together in many of the ways that we want to be right now, the Lord is with us. Let us rejoice at this truth, and marvel at ways he is at work in Wheaton and around the world.

Missionary Christmas Help us bless our missionary family. We want to continue the tradition of Missionary Christmas this year—virtually! Please consider giving online, starting October 1, in order to give our workers a special Christmas gift for non-ministry related purposes. 332 E. Seminary, Wheaton, IL 60187 • Phone: (630) 668-0878 • www.college-church.org Connections is a monthly newsletter published for and about the people of College Church. Send news items and suggestions to: connections@college-church.org.

September 2020 Connections

Articles inside

Fall Staff Picks

Milestones | Looking Ahead

COVID-19 Response: Helping Christians In Pakistan

Back to School

Celebrating Baptisms

The Vulnerable Families Next Door

Prayer Gatherings

Our Perfect Priest and Mediator

Growing Missions Impact Through Media Ministry

Joys to Be Had

The Story Behind the Burmese Christian Baptisms

September Highlights