January 2015

Volume 11, Issue 1
January 2015
Avalon Connection
A Publication of Avalon Missionary Church
Resolve to Be Content this Year
January 1st is the day for many
that self-improvement
resolutions are made. Most will
be financial, business, or
personal fitness goals. There is
nothing wrong with any of
that. In fact, Proverbs 21:5
states that the plans of the
diligent lead surely to plenty.
Yet as children of the King we
should be cautious of the
motivation behind any
resolutions we might make.
Are our goals generated from a
state of discontentment? To
say "I won't be content until
this happens" means God is
not enough for us now. And if
God is not enough now, it
means we'll be striving to
accomplish that resolution by
our own strength. Paul says,
"Not that I speak in regard to
need, for I have learned in
whatever state I am, to be
content." Phil 4:11
Paul knew who he was. Paul
was aware of his identity as a
child of the King. When we say
to ourselves, "I'm lacking", or
"I'm insufficient in my current
state", then we are living below
our privileges. The prodigal
son left his father's estate to
work by his own strength. That
didn't turn out well. The other
son stayed, but lived below his
privileges because he was
waiting on something he
already had access to.
Remember, godliness with
contentment is great gain.
Unlike the riches of the world,
the riches of God cannot be
taken away from you. When we
are content we put ourselves in
a position for God to bless us.
Once we know who we are in
Christ, every resolution we set
should be in Him and for Him.
There is nothing wrong with
wanting to improve our
situation for the Glory of the
Kingdom. In fact, God
commissioned us to go out and
do the work of His Kingdom.
And when he commissioned
us, he also equipped us with
everything we need.
Perhaps a good practice for the
start of this New Year is simply
deciding to be content. Before
setting any goals or
resolutions, spend some quiet
time with the Father thanking
him for what He has done.
Thank Him for who He is, who
you are, and acknowledge that
Inside this issue:
He is more than enough.
Regardless of your state: in
debt, deployed in the military,
family health issues,
homeless… God is enough for
you. It's important to find that
place. It may be difficult at
first. It may only come through
prayer and worship. But God
would rather have you be
complete in Him with zero
resolutions than discontent in
Him and hit every resolution
you set.
Delight yourself also in the
LORD, And He shall give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalms 37:4
Another way to look at this
scripture is that if we delight
ourselves in the Lord, our
desires will begin to align with
his desires. So find that special
place of contentment where the
Father can show you just how
complete in Him you are.
Delight yourself in His ways.
When you do this, any goal or
resolution you set will be one
that God can bless!
Blessings,
Nancy
Special points of interest:
PK Ponders
2
1 Happy New Year
Preschool News
3
17 Upwards BB /CC games begin
ASM & Children’s Ministry
4
19 MLK day
Mission Home Updates
5
Monthly Calendar
6
Save the Date: Souper Bowl Sunday
Feb. 1st, after 2nd Service
PK Ponders
Welcome to a new year! Perhaps you joined many others this past week staying up until midnight to celebrate the arrival of a
new year. And it’s likely you’ve spent some time (intentionally or not) over the past couple of weeks reminiscing about all that
has happened during the year 2014. Some of those memories feel good. Others likely are reminders of pain or struggle.
It’s also a time in the church office when we’re wrapping up “end-of-year” stuff. And the finish to the year was a strong and
encouraging one for us in a number of ways! The Advent and Christmas season was one marked by meaningful stories of the
ways that many of you were celebrating “Christmas on Purpose.” My thanks to those of you who shared your stories. And a
word of gratitude to those who shared their talents in music on the Sunday morning Christmas celebration whether in voice or
instrument. And to Carol Bates and the rest of her gifted team who decorated our worship center in a way that drew us into the
vibe of the season.
It was also a season marked by radical generosity on your part when it came to our financial giving! Those of you who read the
numbers on the back of the bulletin have remarked about the faithfulness of the Lord and His people as you have seen the
response at the close of the year. Your generosity has been such an encouragement to me and to our leaders here at Avalon!
For much of the year we have been short of the goals we had set for giving. We have made that a matter of consistent prayer.
And we have seen the response! What a joy! Thanks for the ways that each of you have given so faithfully in this past year –
both over the course of time and here in the closing weeks! And we give praise to the Lord for His faithfulness in this season!
As we come into the new year, we’re getting ready to kick off another season of Upward basketball and cheerleading. I’m
excited about that! And I hope you are, too! Upward is a crucially important outreach ministry for our church – especially as
we seek to become a church that reflects and reaches a diverse community! Our Upward program already connects well with a
diverse set of folks. It will be critical for us to invest heavily in this effort and in building bridges from this ministry to other
opportunities in our church if we’re going to achieve this vision. Many of you have already helped as volunteers during our
registration and evaluation events. And several more of you have stepped up to serve as coaches and assistant coaches. Rachel
Niccum is serving as our commissioner for the cheerleading program this year. And we have a team of directors who will be
overseeing our basketball season – Micah Barcalow, Jordan Dillon, Brock Rauch, Pastor Jeff and myself. Lee DeTurk is serving
as our coaches commissioner. Jim Beard will be coordinating our referee team. And Don and Barb Yackley will be overseeing
concessions. I’m enthusiastically excited to be serving with such a capable team of leaders and servants!
But none of that will amount to much if we don’t have some committed prayer warriors who are lifting them and our Upward
ministry in prayer this season. Will you help us in this regard? Ultimately our Upward program will impact the lives of the
people involved beause the Lord is at work. A strong foundation of prayer is a vital part of that effort. Watch for updates and
suggestions on ways to pray for Upward in the prayer lists that are placed in your mail folders each week. If you’re on
Facebook, we’d love to have you as a part of the Avalon Upward group that we’ve created there. We’ll be posting regular
updates on ways you can be praying for this important outreach in our community.
All of that is a crucial part of a multifaceted effort to become a church that truly reflects and reaches a diverse community. Over
the next year we’ll need to be focused on several key components:
Building on the community outreach connections that we’ve already established through Upward, our preschool ministry, our
block parties, ENL outreach partnership with the Latino church that meets on our campus, Easter Eggstravanza, etc.
Developing and equipping leaders who reflect the diversity of community.
Shaping worship experiences that are welcoming – both in terms of the elements in the service and in the atmosphere of
hospitality that people experience, and…
Building a strong biblical understanding of mission, to the world whether it be across the ocean or across the street.
In closing, let me say a huge “thank you” for the generous Christmas gift to our staff this year! It is a privilege to be a part of this
church family and to hear the kind words of encouragement that many of you offer. And it is humbling to receive your
generous gift during this Christmas season. Looking forward to all that God has in store for us in the coming year!
Page 2
Avalon Connection
Avalon Christian School
Bits ‘N Pieces
Avalon Christian School
December flew by. To kick off our month we had Fire Prevention Week. The Fort Wayne Fire Department and “Spotz”
the Fire Dog came and talk to us about Fire Prevention and safety. The students got to participate in putting on the
Fire equipment, to see firsthand how it all works. The program ended with Spotz showing up and handing out coloring
books.
We had a special visitor “Santa” come for a visit. Dean and Marvel Embrey came as Santa and Mrs. Claus. They are
always awesome. Santa talked about the true meaning of Christmas. He shared with us the birth of Jesus Christ. This
is something that the students get excited about every year.
We ended our month with our Christmas program ”Mary Had A Little Lamb”. The children have been learning the
23rd Psalm in our weekly Chapel time. The students were fabulous. The Two’s sang of Baby Jesus, the Three’s sang of
the snowflakes falling from Heaven and the Pre-K sang about the birth of Jesus through the eyes of the animals. When
our program ended our staff and students started our two week break.
Classes resume on January 5th with new Chapel Lessons and exciting new
letters to learn and new Science experiments to try out.
Happy New Year,
Shelley Randolph
Volume 11, Issue 1
Page 3
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from ASM
Children’s Ministry
Well, another year is in the books! It has been my privilege to "Partner With Parents To Help Kids Find And Follow Christ" in 2014.
So, now that we're on to 2015, if I were a parent that wanted to resolve to help my kiddo walk with Christ even more closely this year,
what would I resolve to do? Research increasingly shows that there is no better plan of action than reading the Word with your kids at
home! Check out this blog post, and consider what you might resolved to do this year ... let me know how I can partner with you to
help your kids find and follow Christ in 2015! Pastor Jeff
“You can find the original blog post here:
http://christianmomthoughts.com/the-most-important-new-year%E2%80%99s-resolution-for-a-christian-parent/
Page 4
Avalon Connection
Mission Home 7111
Dear Friends at Avalon—
You will never know how grateful we are
for a home to stay in. We stopped in
yesterday to move a few things in and it
felt so much like home I was moved to
tears. We have been in such incredible
transition over the past few months as we
strategically withdrew from Guinea
because of the Ebola crisis a few months
ago. While our hearts remain heavy for
the situation there, we are so thankful for
this time to be in the US with our boys as
they are both recently engaged and
getting married next summer. We are
grateful that Hannah was also able to
return to the US for Christmas for a few
weeks. As you think of our family. Could
you pray for the following things…
· Pray for Hannah returns to Dakar
Academy in Senegal on Jan. 10th to
finish her second semester. She will be
returning to the US for a short spring
break in March and then for the summer
in June.
ourselves and other missionaries and
also in our continued pursuit of doing
development well - helping without
hurting and empowering people as they
seek, with God’s help, to improve their
living situations.
· Pray for us as we get to know Rachelle
(Ben’s fiancée) and Emily (Kaleb’s
fiancée) over the next months. Pray that
they will continue to grow together and
establish foundations for strong, Godly
marriages as they transition to a new
phase of life. Pray that we would be great
in-laws.
· PLEASE continue to pray for the Ebola
crisis in Guinea and all of West
Africa. Though it is basically out of the
news in the US, the battle continues
there and the ripple effects on families,
the health care systems, and the
economies are still not totally known.
· Jim and I will be taking several
difference courses to help us overseas,
both in the aspect of member care for
internship would have to happen no
matter where I go so at least I can
continue moving forward. My first prayer
request is that God would give me clarity
on where He wants me to serve. In
addition, I still have to continue support
raising and not knowing where I'm going
or what my budget will be makes it more
difficult. So my second prayer request is
that God would put me in touch with
people who understand the call on my
life and are willing to support me no
matter where I go. And lastly, that I
would not get discouraged. Satan would
so love to do that.
(counseling missionaries )for our return
to Uganda in 2016.
-that God continues to show His good
plan to use us to uplift His workers
So that question: when are we going
back? In 2016 when Aaron has
completed his required state license, we
will move back to Uganda where he will
counsel missionaries. That work will still
be under AIM like our last two years. In
fact, this year of work at Alongside is also
with AIM, but considered “study leave”.
That is great as the position at Alongside
is unpaid, and we will still need ministry
support.
Please pray for: -for right hearts about
another move/transition
Mission Home 7027
We pray this finds you full of the joy of
Christ. We are excited to report our joy
as God has been generous to us in 2014
and has made provision for 2015.
This summer we finished our assignment
in Uganda as the managers of Matoke
Inn. The four months since have flown as
we met with supporters and family and
received further training.
In February of 2015 we will begin a new
phase of ministry so that Aaron can complete professional hours for his
counseling license. We are excited to
report that Aaron will practice at
Alongside ministries in Kalamazoo,
Michigan in 2015. Not only will this
experience meet the state requirements,
but it will give him relevant experience
Volume 11, Issue 1
Blessings,
Jim and Dawn Anderson
Mission Home 7017
Just this past November, God said No to
the place I thought I would be serving,
so, kind of like Abraham, I've been called
but don't know to where! I am learning
quickly "to live by faith and not by
sight." For the next 5 to 6 months, I will
be training here in Fort Wayne and then
I will go into a one year discipleship
internship with a Missionary Church
somewhere in the US before I move on to
where God wants me. This training and
Thank you again for your grace and
kindness to weary travelers!
Praises: -that Aaron found a position to
meet his state and mission counseling
requirements
"Always work enthusiastically for the Lord,
for you know that nothing you do for the
Lord is ever useless."
I Corinthians 15:58b
Lisa L. Kay
(World Partners Missionary)
-for good adjustment for our boys in a
new city/church/ homeschool group
-for affordable housing in Kalamazoo
-for continued and new supporters in
prayer and finance
Blessings,
Aaron, Bobbie, Owen (10), Grahm (7), &
Cole (6) Howley
-that our transition back to the states has
been smooth
Page 5
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1
2
3
Regina
Frederick
Shirley Pitzer
Megan West
^Denotes
Anniversary
* Denotes
Missionary
4
5
6
^Wally &
Phyllis Hull
Eileen Stitzer
(100)
11
*Jean Coody
18
Andrea
Bauman
12
Sherry Blake
13
Lyle
Augsburger
Shelby
Johnson
Chuck Stewart
19
Nathan Smith
25
7
26
8
^Phil &
Bonnie Harris
Amber
Stephenson
20
^Neil & Delores
Shultz
^Mike &
Frances Brooks
Jonas Hubley
Derek Stewart
21
^Bill & Sharon
Maginnes
*Marla
Bettinger
Heather Lane
27
9
^Don & Alice
Grimme
Sophie Cour
Bob Dove
15 ^Mike &
14
Dana Kirby
*John Coody
Wayne Hanks
Michael
Lindley
Don Lindley
Bradley Miller
22
Michael
Brooks
If we missed you, we’re sorry!
Call or email the church office to give updates or
to provide us with new information.
[email protected] / 747-1531
29
Kevin Gibson
Sharon
Magginnes
Bob Wilson
10
Randy
Drummond
Micah Hubley
Cody Leming
Jim Oglesbee
Jeff Scantlin
16
*Stephani
Clouser
Mike Kirby
Rose Rabbitt
17
Andrew
Armstrong
Wally Hull
23
Drew Miller
Sarah Miller
Don Nobles
28
Phyllis
Brubaker
Cora Peters
24
Dorothy Hart
30
Carolyn Pillar
31
Don Gerber
*Valli Yoder