New Life Christian Church

Dear Saint (s),

I love spring! It is probably my favorite time of the year. I love the new buds, the flowers, the colors, and planting my tomato plants for the harvest of harvests. Guess what? I planted them in April this year. I know, I know – some of you frost mongers will be saying – “what if it frosts, won’t they die?”. Well, I have some large planter boxes I planted them in and I just bring them inside and place them under a growing light during those frost nights and I will then have full tomatoes in July and be the envy of the town. See the wisdom? Just like Solomon…..ha!

All that to say and I really want to encourage you in this realm. Many times we are so busy in our summers of utopia that we don’t just sit back and relax and enjoy them. I know many summers with visitors and church life we’ve come to September and I’ve said to myself -
”I hardly enjoyed the summer”. Well, let’s make it different this summer and let me suggest something concrete for you to do. Go ahead and walk to your calendar. Pick two weeks out of the summer (they don’t have to be concurrent) and circle those times. Then agree to not fill in those weeks with any activities other than simple rest and relaxation. In fact, don’t even come to church on one of those dates. Take those around you and go on a picnic. What!!!?? The pastor is encouraging us not to come to church? Yep….but only for that Sunday – ha! I’m sure the Lord will visit you during your Sunday of R and R. But remember find a few weeks that you set aside just to enjoy the wonderful utopia we have up here in the North Country. After all, we are a vacation paradise and destination. Enjoy it!

The building is still coming along quite well. Wasn’t it great to have everyone together for the service at the new building? It just wet my appetite more to actually be settled and to be holding services there. Anything you could give would be greatly appreciated.

My neck surgery is scheduled for May 15. As you all know, I have three herniated disks in my neck and they are planning on operating on that date. I will then have 3-4 weeks of recovery with little or no activity allowed. The full recovery time is 2-3 months – but have no worries – I will still be around for those 2-3 months (other than the first 3-4 weeks). It’s great having great staff that will take care of any issues in my absence. They are all top notch.

Well, that’s about it! Love you all,
Pastor Kirk

A Five Dollar Bill and God’s Hope: submitted by David Hayner

Our church is on a mission.  A mission of developing a lifestyle of doing good.  Not just to people we know
go to church with, but even more so to the stranger, co-worker, etc…  We divided into small groups and my group decided to give someone we meet during the upcoming week a five dollar bill.  That evening, after visiting my wife at work, I was walking out to my car and passed a lady on a bench sitting alone.  I barely took notice of her as I walked by her.  Then the Lord spoke to me and said go back and give her some money.  I stopped with my back towards her and reached in my pocket, all I had was a five dollar bill.  I turned and walked up to her and said this is for you and may God bless you.  She looked at me in bewilderment and said, “How did you know?  How did you know?”.  I said, “Know what?”.  As I looked into her weather-beaten face of age, hurt, and hopelessness she began to tear up in both of her bruised and blackened eyes.  Yes, someone had beaten her up! She said, “I have been sitting here all day praying to Jesus”.  Again she asked, ”How did you know?”.  I told her that God hears our cry and he answers even through a stranger.  I told her God is always speaking to us if we’ll just listen and believe.  She said my divorce in a few days and my life is miserable and hopeless.  I said listen, “You are special to God.  You are not a mistake and God is talking with you right now through me. He’s heard your prayer and seen your tears”.  She asked me with the most sincere need of wanting and needing of God, “Are you an angel?’.  I wanted so to say yes and laugh but this was no humorous moment.  I looked at her and replied, “No, my name is David but God has sent me to you”.  I asked her if I could pray for her.  She couldn’t say yes fast enough, and as we held hands together, on that open bench just outside the entrance to the hospital, we prayed.  I spoke the truth and hope of God into her and as I felt the very power of God fill us I felt my hands begin to be wet from the tears that were streaming down her face.  When we finished I said God is with you and you’re going to be okay.  As I walked away, I said Lord I wish I had more money to give her.  Then the Lord laughed at me and said, “How long have I been with you David and you still miss it, most times?  You see, it wasn’t the money you gave her or the amount, it was my hope you gave and the reassurance that I am with her.”  Yes, God hears your prayers and he has and will send his answer to you.  Just be still and know that he is still the God who loves and watches over you and yours.  God’s hope will never depreciate in eternal value, although a five dollar bill will.  Well you know.  - Thanks for listening, Pastor David

33 LIVE Report submitted by Christopher Hopper

Wow! My God is amazing! Last night many of you joined us at Thousand Islands High School Auditorium for Jefferson County’s first ever Operation:HighLife. And what a night it was! Hundreds of people gathered for this event, featuring the band Out of Hiding (formerly Holyfire), skits put on by the 33 Live Drama Team, free pizza and soda (thanks Big M!) and the preaching of the Gospel.

As the altar began to fill with students at the invitation, I kept hearing one phrase over and over, “The revolution has begun! Revival is here!”?

Now is the season for taking the county. The anointing of the Lord is present for this time–this moment in history! Remind yourself and those around you today that you we were born for moments like these! Jesus desperately wants to manifest His presence in every situation: in your job, your home, your car…even a high school auditorium.

Initial counts show that at least 60 teenagers came forward to receive Jesus last night! But now we have a tremendous task before us; these students need to be discipled! While those of us at 33 Live have been busy preparing and training up leaders for these moments, it’s not just a “youth leaders” job–it’s the Church’s job. So I would ask you to become active in the life of at least one student, as a dad or a mom in the faith. If you don’t know a student, we’ll introduce you to one. We have plenty…

Many thanks to everyone who helped put Operation:HighLife together, from Principal Joe Gilfus, Sally Switzer and the incredible staff at T.I. High, to the altar workers from different churches, to New Life volunteers, to the Dibor who organized the entire event. You all have given so much. But your sacrifices are far from in vain. Quite the contrary! Look what the Lord has done!

The revolution has begun!

KIDS CHURCH submitted by Leah Woodkirk

D.L. Moody once said, after he had preached at a meeting, that, “two and a half people had come to know Christ.”  He was asked, “Do you mean one child and two adults?”  ‘Just the opposite’, he replied, two children and one adult. For when a child comes to know Christ an entire life is saved!”

I have been honored and privileged to work with the children of New Life Christian Church for the last three years.  It has been an incredible time in my life!  I have been so blessed to teach such awesome little people.  I have learned so very much from the experience.  May 18th, will be my last Sunday at New Life, at least for three months, possibly for longer.  I have been offered an opportunity to go to Fairfield, Texas to work for an international children’s ministry called, “Global Heart International.”  I will be going for the first three months as ‘missionary’ status, if it is a good fit for me and for GHI, then I will stay in Texas, indefinitely.  If it is not, then I will be back at NLCC.  A wise man once said, “Seize the opportunity of a lifetime, during the lifetime of the opportunity.”  Working with the GHI, is an answer to my dream, to work with children on a global level, it is ‘my’ opportunity of a lifetime that must be seized.  I am so excited, and yet will miss each life here so much!  Please, keep me in your prayers, as I embark on this great adventure. I will be praying for you and love you all!
- Miss Leah

DIBOR REPORT submitted by Robin Ringer

has been working hard and facing a lot of challenges over the past month. They are engaging in Physical Training 3 mornings a week with David Hayner and loving it. They have been reading and writing reports by authors such as A.W. Tozer, C.S. Lewis, and Fritz Ridenour. They are required to memorize approximately 40 verses by our next conference. Some are thriving, some are struggling. Please pray for them. Dibor is “Training spirit, mind and body for a lifetime of serving Christ.”

Our next and last conference of the year will be held May 8—10 in Buffalo.
Here are some of the teachings that will be taught at the conference;

Rev. Mike Stephenson—HS Bible Teacher—The Incarnation of Christ
Rev. Ron Freidersdorf—Pastor of Victory AOG—Inspiration of the Word
Rev. Tommy Reid—Sr. Pastor of Full Gospel Tabernacle—Revival
Rev. Jon Hasselback—Associate Pastor of Full Gospel Tabernacle—Evangelism and the Gospel
Jackie Stroh—Professional Consultant/Lecturer—Life Lessons and Personal Crucifixion
Rev. Brad Ringer—Director of Pure For God & Dibor—Mission of the Evangelist, Where are the Prophet’s and What Should the Kingdom of God Look Like?

Lastly, at our March conference, we spent a lengthy time discussing Spiritual Pride and the lack of holy and pure living among His saints. We discussed the need for personal confession of sin and not a ‘blanket’ prayer of asking for forgiveness of sin. Because we stand holy and pure before Christ, our living Head, all the more, we must chose to live each day with pure and holy minds and hearts. In Dibor, we are all working through this prayer list in prayer. One of our Dibor keeps his under his pillow. Join with us in our call to be a “Holy an Set Apart People” for our loving, merciful God.

Ask yourself these questions and bring them to God through prayer. These are not meant to cause unhealthy guilt, but to bring us to repentance so times of refreshing may come!

Do I think of myself as more spiritual then those around me?
Am I quick to find fault in others and then verbalize this to others?
Am I driven to receive approval, praise or acceptance?
Do I think my right or the only way?
Do I have a hard time confessing my sins to God or others: not generalities, but specific sins?
Do I hide my real spiritual needs and struggles from others?
Do I become defensive when criticized or corrected?
Do I replace prayer with study too often?
When was the last time I said “I was wrong”?
Do you think these questions apply to someone else and not to me?

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD submitted by Karleen Bognaski

“April showers bring May flowers”.  Who loves flowers more than little girls, and those little girls are this month’s Operation Christmas Child focus.  We are collecting items for girls.  Items like barrettes, bows, dolls, jump ropes, purses, mini sewing kits, and anything that would make a girl smile and will fit into a shoe box.  
 
Christmas seems so far away and many of us certainly are not thinking of gifts and giving, but please be faithful and remember these children with a little something each month.  Of the 2.2 billion children under 12, half live in poverty.  Your gift doesn’t have to cost much but will seem like gold to children who have so little.  Thank you for giving and may you be blessed as you give to others through this ministry. 

Prison Ministry submitted by Nancy Gardner

Go To Jail! Go Directly To Jail!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP CHANGE LIVES!
If we don’t bring in the Gospel, who will? Join us in acting out Matthew 25:35- 40.

Our team goes into Cape Vincent and Watertown Correctional Facilities to share the love and compassion of Jesus. Lives are changed! In the past couple of weeks alone 11 inmates have given their lives to Christ

Classes Offered:

Marriage and Parenting - A Bible based 10-week program, once a week 7 PM on Tuesday at Cape Vincent or Thursday at Watertown. Materials from: the Bible, Christian Psychologist Dr. James Dobson, Dad’s Clinic (written by the Assemblies of God Ministries) and a movie - “A Vow to Cherish”. We usually have 8 - 20 participants.

Koinonia - Monday 7 - 9 PM at Cape Vincent. Great Bible study - book by book and verse by verse. They are studying the book of Hebrews at present. We have between 12 - 20 participants.

Fatherhood: A Parenting Class For Men—Developed originally for military deployed parents to stay in touch with the growing and training of their children while they were away from home. This program has been adapted for incarcerated fathers. Studies show that a close relationship with their families cuts down on recidivism (returning to prison). Help the children on Thursday 7—9 pm at Watertown.

God is moving mightily in the prisons. Join us in prayer or in person. To contact us, please call or e-mail the Gardner’s at 686-0086 or d.ngardner@juno.com.

MISSION REPORT

Costa Rica

Capital:San Jose
Size:51,000 sq. km.
Population: 3,374,000
Religions: Catholic 80% Protestant 11%
Other 6 % Jewish 3%

CHALLENGES FOR PRAYER

Pray that charismatic and evangelical Catholics will stand firm .

Pray that leaders will be filled with wisdom, humility and dependence on God, and for effective discipleship of new believers.

Pray for leaders who will inspire the churches to missionary vision and outreach.

Students have proved less responsive to the gospel, and drug addiction has become a serious problem, please pray for strong student leaders to take the gospel into the schools.

The Lord has challenged us (NLCC) to touch every country in the world. So every month we choose a nation (alphabetically) and we target them by prayer and giving. Souls are ripe; please join us in taking this opportunity to bring in the harvest! If you would like to give, please add a note on your offering that it is for the “Country of the Month”. Thank you.

BULLETIN BOARD

SALE: Fill your freezer! Butchering pigs, 200—250#, all grain fed—pasture raised. $1.25 hanging plus butchering fees. There is a trucking fee if trucking is needed. Call: 773-4417, Jen or Richard.

It’s maple syrup time! Get some of the best in NNY! Gallon $33, 1/2 gallon $19, Quart $10. Call Patty Jennings 232-2690.