When: August 6-10 from 9-11:30am

Where: Mountview Baptist Church

Registration: Register Online

How do you give kids a high view of God?  We believe it is by modeling a high view of Scripture. Kids will focus on an attribute of God and then praise Him in response. This is a curriculum where kids will actively be using their Bibles. Through daily skits, crafts, snacks, games, and music, kids will have an awesome time while giving God the praise only He deserves. Each day kids will learn to:

• Praise God for His Greatness
• Praise God for His Authority
• Praise God for His Providence
• Praise God for His Power
• Praise God for His Love

Come and join us in this movin’ and groovin’ VBS brought to you by the Go Fish Guys! We will start and end each day with a “concert” and “encore” time of worship. Children will then take their backstage VIP passes and their Bibles to explore all of the areas of Vacation Bible School.

“How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth.” -Psalm 47:2

After the prayer walk my group continued on to the job site where we were installing sub-flooring in one half of the house and preparing the other half for occupancy. While on the site we met the owner, Larry, who has five kids at home and is currently living in an apartment. Through the course of the day I was privileged enough to hear Larry’s story. Seven years ago Larry was an unsaved man with a new marriage that was quickly falling apart, then Katrina happened. During the flooding, Larry and his family spent two days in the attic as their home was completely destroyed below. After borrowing a boat from a neighbor, his family made it to a bridge where they were rescued and taken to the Super Dome. From there, his family was sent to Arkansas where they lived for a year and a half. They finally moved back home to New Orleans to live in a FEMA trailer parked behind their home as a temporary living space while he worked to rebuild. During the reconstruction process Larry experienced some road blocks; including the loss of neighbors and friends. He even took a moment to show me the four foundations around his property where homes of friends once were; all of whom died, either in the flood, or from the subsequent stress.

While Larry and his family were out, their trailer caught on fire and exploded. The fire damaged the roof on his home, which was the only unaffected part of his house at that point. His family had to find an apartment to stay in while he worked to fix up the house. Unfortunately, this extra burden of paying for rent severely drained his rebuilding funds. After all this, Larry paid a plumbing contractor to install new water lines under the house, which were subsequently stolen for the copper. Again Larry had to pay a plumbing contractor to install water lines and replace the sanitary lines under the house. Larry had to pay upfront to cover the cost of material for the contractor, but the man only did a fraction of the work and never came back. Seven years later, Larry is stuck in a cycle of trying to maintain work, pay for an apartment he can’t afford, and rebuild his home; all in an attempt to provide a semi-normal life for his family. After telling me his story, this man who could be bitter towards God, tells me that shortly after Katrina hit, he gave his heart to the Lord and began serving as a deacon in his church. He tells me the events of Katrina saved his life, changed his heart, brought him and his wife closer together and pulled his family back from a dark path. Then he says how thankful he was for the events that brought him to where he is today. I came to that job site with the expectation of lifting up the least of these and showing them the love of God, but instead I was shown a powerful God already doing a good and perfect work here New Orleans.

Following the work day, we went to a church called the House of Hope for a block party. While we were there, we walked around the neighborhood and invited people in the community over for a cookout and some games. We got to meet more of the community and played “bottle soccer” with one of the local kids. I went there with the expectation of uplifting a community but was uplifted myself by seeing a church that is thriving in what I would have considered an inhospitable environment. I also saw the lengths God is willing to go to reach his children. After the block party, we finally took a break from our responsibilities; although God apparently wasn’t taking a break.

We went to the French Quarter for Beignets (french donuts) and coffee at Cafe Du Monde and enjoyed some Jazz music. Then a group of us decided to find some authentic Creole food. A group of thirteen of us went to a restaurant called “Gumbo Shop”. We said a quick prayer and had a wonderful dinner with friends. We reminisced about the week and had a great time just taking a break from the week. As we were finishing up, a man sitting behind us asked what we were doing in New Orleans. We told him we were on a mission trip working with EFCA to rebuild homes here in New Orleans. He gingerly said, “That’s what I thought and that is the reason why I paid for all your meals.” Then he disappeared out the door. I went there with the expectation of relaxing with some friends, but God decided to make another appearance to show us His love.

I think more than anything on this trip God has shown us that we shouldn’t build up expectations when serving Him. We should do as we feel led, but let God do the revealing. When we put things in God’s hands we are truly able to see His blessings. I’m grateful for the opportunity to serve here and I’m grateful for loving a God that is actively working in our world.

Markus Lott

Lance’s team and Kurt’s team are working on a duplex. The homeowner, Larry, his wife and five daughters were displaced from their home and are renting a small place for $1200/month, while also paying to fix his duplex. We are working on one half of the duplex so they can move in and drop the apartment rent. Once they move into the renovated half, Larry will work to finish the other half; this will become his family’s permanent residence. We are painting, staining wood, doing electrical work and finishing work as well as some plumbing. Lance and some of the others have already met people from the community and spent time talking about their situations.

Justin’s team is working at Castle Rock church on a facility called “The Porch.” Renovated areas there will be made into offices for church staff, a sanctuary, classrooms and meeting spaces, including ” The Porch,” which is a safe gathering place for the community to grab a coke or coffee and hang out. Pastor John has a big vision and a growing passion to reach the community. This isn’t a guy who says all the right thing and knows the Word of God in his head, this guy is living out serving the least of these. The team even unloaded the baptism pool from the truck and installed it in the church. Can you imagine the people who will be baptized here? Awesome, God is just so awesome!

This morning we did a prayer walk through the garden district with Eric, a missionary preparing a church plant here. He and his wife have two small children and believe they should pray over all the streets in the neighborhood before planting the church. Today we prayed for the businesses; praying they will succeed and in turn, be able to pour more money into the local economy through wages. Many local residents are working all day at multiple jobs, most earning around $8/hour. With so many people working long hours for little pay, the family unit suffers, causing broken homes and broken people. Eric and his wife are meeting many people in the community in hopes of building long-lasting relationships through a method he calls “Eat, Play, Serve.” His plan is to engage people in each of these three categories of life. He is seeing and feeling some resistance, especially in terms of his home and car. His home has been vandalized, his car repeatedly broken into and just yesterday he experienced some verbal threats. Eric is experiencing real persecution, right here in the United States. This man is doing his ministry, working small jobs and being a father, while trying to provide for his family and put food on the table. The best praise from him was this comment, “I haven’t had a regular paycheck in 28 months, but God continues to provide and we will continue to serve, even though we are barely above the poverty limit.” As these stories prove, great relationships are being built with the people on site and within our own team, not to mention among the other teams working here.

As we head back to the job sites and back to the people, please be in prayer for these things:

Hearts – Those of the people we serve and our own. Some are seeing new things and spending time with God unlike ever before, pray that it continues.
Health – A few in our group are under the weather.
Strength – Some are starting to feel sore from the manual labor.
Safety – God has kept us safe thus far, pray that it continues
Tonight’s block party – We are hosting two community parties tonight for people to stop in and grab some food, pray for the people we will meet.
Leaders – Things are great from a leader’s perspective, pray that God continues to guide us.

Thank you Mountview Family for your support,
Justin Gardner

This Christmas we will be offering two worship experiences:

6pm Family worship service
This service is specifically designed for our children to worship with their families. The music, prayer, drama, and lesson will be for children and parents to share and experience together. Bring your children (fifth grade and under) and bring your parents as well, and enjoy singing, laughing, and learning all about the true meaning of Christmas together with your family.

7:30pm Candlelight worship service
This service is geared for older students and adults. With music, scripture, prayer, and teaching from our pastor, this time of worship draws us to the Christ child and focuses our attention on all that God has done for us through Jesus. The service concludes as we sing Silent Night by candlelight and we are sent out into the night with our hearts and minds focused on all that Christmas really has to offer.

Nursery care for children 3 years old and younger is available at 6 and 7:30pm. We look forward to you coming and celebrating the coming of the Christ child with us this Christmas.

Contact Henry Lee (outreach@mountview.org) for more information or to serve at this event.

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Greetings from Chiang Mai. I’m thinking of you as you are preparing to send a mission team over next month. Please know that you are in my prayers. I also want to thank you again, for your faithful financial and prayer support. Your partnership uplifts and strengthens me to press forward in ministry. The work of the NewLife Center continues to go well. We are celebrating the success of our graduates at all levels.

Within the last three years, we have seen many exciting ministry outcomes. We cared for 45 new emergency cases, including victims of forced labor, sexual abuse, domestic violence, and human trafficking. Fifty women completed vocational training and secured viable jobs. And I was honored to baptize 53 NLC residents who made commitments to become followers of Jesus Christ.

The NLC continues to provide counseling and other therapeutic services. Students recently participated in a story blanket workshop in which they created art quilts depicting parts of their stories.

This 2010–2011 year has been an unusually challenging one, as many of our residents had academic problems, behavioral issues and were particularly resistant to staff guidance and authority. Working with teenage girls who have been victims of trauma is not easy! But we are encouraged by God’s grace to press forward and not give up on these beloved daughters whom God has entrusted to us.

Thanks again for your participation in this ministry.

Blessings,

Kit

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What: Kickin’ it Old School Vacation Bible School
When: August 1–5, 2011 from 9–11:30am
Where: Mountview Baptist Church

In a world that is always searching for the “next big thing,” some things will never change and can never be improved upon. God, His promises, His Word, and the Gospel are unchangeable, which is why the Go Fish Guys and Mountview invite you to KICK IT OLD SCHOOL!  Each day of VBS, our kids will learn:

* God is our Creator
* God is our King
* Jesus is our Savior
* God is our Truth
* God is our Rock

Come and join us in this 80s “old school” rock and roll concert environment brought to you by the Go Fish Guys!  We will start and end each day with a “concert” and “encore” time of worship. Children will then take their backstage VIP passes and their Bibles to explore all of the areas of Vacation Bible School.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” —Hebrews 13:8

Registration

Registration and check-in on Monday, August 1, will begin at 8:30am

The ages of kids for registration are 3 years old through fifth grade. Registration is free for all kids and also includes a CD with music from the VBS. An e-mail confirmation will be sent after you have registered with a reminder of times and dates. Don’t forget to order your Kickin’ It Old School t-shirts, which are available for purchase for $10 online and during registration. On Friday, August 5 from 11:30am–12:30pm there will be a VBS celebration for families.

Service Projects:

One Verse/The Seed Company

Throughout the week of VBS, we will be accepting donations for One Verse/The Seed Company, an organization which partners with Wycliffe Bible Translators to translate the Bible into different languages. Every $26 raised will help raise the funds needed to translate one Bible verse into a different language so that people all over the world may know the power and truth of God’s Word. At the end of the week, kids will see exactly what verses their contributions translated into what language.

Youth for Christ Ministry Book Drive

We feel it is important to give both locally and on a world-wide level, therefore we will also be taking donations of new and gently used children’s books to help stock the library at the Youth for Christ Tutoring Center in Franklinton. Youth for Christ has a tutoring program for at-risk youth grades K–3 on the west side of Columbus and is in need of more children’s books for their library. Kids can drop off books at the registration desk as they check-in each day of VBS.

As April has begun and we approach the end of our fundraising efforts, we begin to set our sights on the actual installation of the elevator which will begin in early June after our preschool lets out for the summer and should be completed before school is back in session in mid-August.

As this church, entrusted to us by Christ, continues to grow, so do the needs of the people that God is drawing here. Properly and effectively caring for our entire congregation now and in the years to come through the addition of an elevator is one more way we “love our neighbor as ourselves.”

Please continue to pray that the project goes according to plan and that God would present us with many opportunities to reach out and share Christ with all those who will be a part of this project. One of the best parts of the sanctuary renovation was that following that project, two of the men working on site began attending Mountview and are an integral and active part in our church today. Pray for more of the same to happen this summer.

If you would like to help fund this project, please contact our Finance Team Leader, Terry Lambert, at finance@mountview.org for more information.

In His Love,
Pastor Kevin

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February Mountviews Newsletter