Pastor's Perspective - $31.17

Several years ago, a young family man in the church shared with me his vision and desire to reach back and help the hurting HIV-affected orphans in the community he was raised. As Anthony passionately spoke, his cause resonated with me as one that needed to manifest in rural Kenya. My wife Michelle and I spoke about his dream later that day and agreed to send him a check – a check to a ministry that didn’t currently exist! The amount of money was meager according to worldly standards, but according to Anthony, it helped bring an abstract ministry into reality. Simply put, Anthony couldn’t give it back; so it forced him to go forward and with God’s grace create a non-profit organization. Sneaky? Maybe. But it worked!

This past Sunday evening, my family and I were driving to rainy Suisun to spend some time with some dear families from the church. Our soon-to-be teen Emma without warning reached forward from her seat and handed me some cash. “Daddy, I want this to help the people in Japan.” It was money she had saved. A few minutes later, Lily (9) handed me the only money she had in the world, four dollars. “Me too Daddy. Give this to the people in the earthquake.” About two minutes passed before a crisp five dollar bill from their recent birthday was passed from the very back seat from our twins Sam and Abi (11). “This is from us for Japan. Half each.” Needless to say, my heart was bursting with joy, deeply moved by an unanticipated and unsolicited generosity from a few children touched by the need of a staggering country.

Last night, after our community group, Lily walked into my bedroom and gave me a red ‘no slip’ sock (courtesy of North Bay Medical) filled with loose change she had intentionally foraged from our vehicles, our dressers and various places around the house. “Here you go Daddy! More money for Japan.”

So, today in my office, I’ve got a red sock containing $31.17, that my kids want to be used to help Japan! Huh, so this is what Anthony felt.

We in FCC leadership have been looking for a way to help Japan; and honestly, the very last thing on my radar is giving my kids their money back! So beloved here’s the game plan. This Sunday (April 3) at the end of both services, we’ll have the plates out and available as folks exit the sanctuary. If you’d like to participate and add to the kid’s offering, please do so. All money collected will go directly and immediately to Samaritan’s Purse, a high-impact ministry already making big relief strides on the ground in Japan.

Jesus said that unless we become like little children we can not enter the kingdom of Heaven. Let’s follow the generous example of some children, and in the process honor our Lord while help the hurting.

Pastor's Perspective - This Generation

You, LORD, reign forever; your throne endures from generation to generation. - Lamentations 5:19

Just an encouraging reminder that God is alive and well and reigning over this generation!

Talking about generations, did you know that according to the Barna Research Group, only 6 percent of people who are not Christians by the age of eighteen will become Christians later in life? This statistic is alarming, sobering and indeed challenging!

Our Kingdom Kids Ministry needs volunteers immediately. With our current dedicated nucleus of childrens workers expecting babies, going on vacations and missions trips, etc, our ability to provide the children of the church specialized ministry during the summer is in question. The bottom-line: We need you!

This is our year to 'Go' - to stretch, to risk, to try, to leave our comfort zones in the rear view mirror. Please contact Maria Paluck at mjpaluck@yahoo.com today to explore opportunities.

The window of receptivity to Christ closes dramatically by 18 years-old.

What are you willing to do about it?

Go!

Pastor's Perspective - Real Help & Real Hope

Five years ago our congregation helped create a non-profit outreach ministry (Operation Orphans International) to begin a daily feeding program for the approximately 250+ HIV/AIDS orphans attending the Shisasari Primary School in Kakamega, Kenya. During the years we have been blessed to expand feeding the orphans twice daily to give them the best opportunity to survive and acquire an education. Likewise a few months ago we helped raise the funds necessary to create a fresh water protection project near the school to reduce the water-borne diseases these children and this entire community are experiencing.

This summer I will be personally traveling to Kenya for a variety of very exciting opportunities. These include: inspecting & dedicating the spring water project; conducting hygiene training; refurbishing & building classrooms; medical outreach (we’re taking two RNs from FCC); open-air crusades; vacation bible school & dramas; distribution of Bibles; regional soccer tournament to promote goodwill; pastoral house visits; distributing new dresses & shorts to our orphans our FCC ladies are currently making; pastoral training, and more. My role specifically will be to investigate the possibility of planting a church in the community, encouraging local pastors, preaching in public venues in the region, and touching as many people as possible in twelve days with the Gospel of peace.

If my blog or ministry has in any way been a blessing to you, would you prayerfully consider helping me in a couple of ways?

First, you can directly help my team and I by praying for us, that we might make a bright Kingdom difference in this region of eastern Africa. We are expecting a lot of spiritual warfare, so your intercession is an immeasurable and appreciated blessing!

Second, you can directly help us financially. We need donations for medical supplies, a 1,000 bibles in Swahili, and audio equipment and other supplies to conduct several outdoor evangelistic worship/preaching services. If you can help me, please make your check payable to: First Christian Church. It is important to write in the ‘memo’ section: Missions Team/Steve Kiefer (Kenya). Our mailing address is: First Christian Church, Attn: Missions Team, 199 Marina Blvd, Suisun City, CA 94585. All donations are tax-deductible.

Allow me to thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for helping us bring real help and real hope to ‘the least of these’ in Kenya! I look forward to reporting back to you upon my return of all that will be accomplished for Christ’s glory.