Thanksgiving Party-November

This Thanksgiving dinner has been a wonderful turnout and we have been recapping the whole year's event. We have seen what God has done for us. We realized how great it is when we trust God and miracles are performed according to God's will every time. Everyone is so special in every way and gifted. It is our very wish to bring the best versions of each other and ourselves in this life time.

Enjoy the photos and guess who is in it!!

Patty Cardona’s parents enjoy dessert.

President Patty Cardona

Volunteer, Jack Wilson with Chris Dueker

Elaine Biser, guest, and Patty

Alex, from Verbo after school program with Dad.

Terrell Slawson, supporter, with Barb Siegal VP  Project Lost Sheep

Catherine Parlanti, treasurer, with guests: Irma and Sue Stevick.

Doris Bates, camp co-ordinator, and hospitality co-ordinator, sets out desserts.

Joyce Dueker and Jack Wilson clear tables with smiles.

Joyce Dueker with husband, Chris Dueker.

Pastor Orlando Cardona and volunteer from camp.

Alex with Teacher/Guide

Alex with parents.

Alex's cousin

Darlene Stethem, Bible teacher, with guest, Michelle Bedecarre

Alex's cousins

Elaine Biser, Circle of Prayer

Jack..always helping

Pastor Cardona, camp volunteer, and founder, Joyce Dueker

The World Would Be A Better Place

Are you discouraged about this world? 

Here what a Dad whose son, Alex, is in the Verbo after school program said, in front of us all before the meeting even started.

We were all a little surprised at this honoring statement. Later we heard from Alex, his son who said. “I like multiplication tables.”

The after school program is going well. There are 24 children who went to Touchdown Camp and are now “in” this free program. The ball is rolling. The school has a waiting list.

How did this come about?

Ingredient #1
VISION. A pastor who saw the church as a place that could be used more than on Sundays.

Ingredient #2
PRAYER. Prayer with pastors from a larger church.

Ingredient #3
NEED. A small child “The Little Man” who talked to an adult about how he couldn’t go to an after school program.

Ingredient #4
MIRACLE GIFT. The release of funds from the large church to the smaller church for this program for one year.

Last time I was talking about miracles. Do you think this would be considered a small miracle or not? When the kingdom of heaven comes down to this sorry earth, something should change that you can see, feel and touch.

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Come visit the school
2798 Bay Rd. RWC 
Weekdays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

It might be a good idea to call Verbo Church first.

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What kind of miracle could God do if He made
you one of His ingredients?

Miracles Do Happen-Trust. Believe.

The crowds around Jesus were watching to see what would he do next.
Some came with personal needs like the woman who had suffered much from doctors and still was not healed. Some came because they were outcasts-lepers...unconnected to only the unclean. Some came to hear Jesus speak words of truth in a time, which like ours, was filled with lies. Some parents came because they had a desperate need: a sick child, a dead child. These all came to Jesus because they had a smidge of faith that HE COULD DO THE MIRACLE.

Today we are rather casual about all this, aren't we? We hear "talks" rather than the word of God preached. We don't really expect "intervention" by God in our problems. We for most part in America have sunk into a pond of unbelief so that these things we read about really seem like fables. But, wait, they aren't.

Katherine Kuhlman had a healing ministry years ago and I had the privilege of attending. Real miracles of healing happened. She was a pretty funny woman because behind her she had a bunch of pastors and at one meeting I heard her say. "If you were doing your job I wouldn't have to be here."

A miracle draws attention to the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven in our midst. A miracle is not normal. A miracle is "super normal". What happened that we have sunk so low? We are so unconnected to the power of God. And yet, every Christmas, we are reminded that a small baby was born, who was CHRIST THE LORD.

HE IS STILL LORD AND HE STILL DOES MIRACLES.

Our Blessed Community 2010

As we come to the close of another year of serving local children we are rejoicing as a team that we are growing in seeing God at work in our midst.

We saw God working as he greatly blessed our pre camp information brunch and a dinner. We anticipated the largest camp ever and we saw God bring an average of 150 children a day. Thanks to God's provision through his people camp was funded before it opened and we had the great joy of seeing God feed the multitudes both physical and spiritual.

Also, because of the generous gift of a local church Verbo was able to open an after school program for children that had attended camp. 25 of the most needy children now get tutoring in English, Math and are well cared for. The prayers are answered and we see this as a model for other cities i.e. start a Touchdown Camp, encourage the other local churches to see what is happening and then open a school.

One of the things God has impressed on my heart is the miracle we are seeing are coming out of us being in Christian community. We continue to grow in our understanding of the Lord's words to "love one another as I have loved you." It is impossible to experience community without a close connection to the body of Christ. To just "attend" church does not get one to this level. Community involves a life commitment to each other to care for, care about, and sacrifice for the needs of the others.

Salvation comes from the Savior of the world, Jesus Christ who really is with us and for us. There is no other name whereby man may be saved.

We are bearers of good news. We are bearers of the miracle of God to the poor, the lost, and the sick. But, we do not do this "on our own". We link ourselves together in a committed community and then we reach out our arms with strength.

Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and true community.
Joyce Dueker, Founder
2010