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Do you have a hero?

Maybe you have more

than one? A hero is

someone you look up to

that does what is right

while standing out above

the rest. As a kid, I

watched a show about a

hero. As a young child

growing up in the early 80s when big hair was in, I

had big curly hair and I was compared to an

actor on television. He was the main actor on the

show, “The Greatest American Hero.” I was

compared to him because he had a big curly hair

as well. The Greatest American Hero would fly,

clumsily, to rescue poor souls in danger. Well, with

Hollywood and big hair aside, I want to talk about

two people that recently have become my

heroes. I recently went to the Middle East for a

week to visit two people that serve in an

organization in which I am a board member.

Since I chair the board currently, I was asked to

visit them to encourage them, to see their work

and to plan for the future. They told me they were

very much encouraged by my visit, but I really

don’t think they

understand just how

much I was encouraged

by my visit to them. I was

truly blessed by them.

They are people I want to

be like. They are people I

want to imitate, but

because they are in a

restricted-type country I cannot share their names,

country or specifics of their ministry. Should we as

believers want to be like other believers? You bet,

but it’s conditional as long as the believers are like

Paul when he writes in I Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate

me as I imitate Christ.” James 5:10 says we are to

“follow the example of the prophets who spoke in

the name of the Lord.” Furthermore, the apostle

John writes that we are to imitate good and then

goes on to give an example to imitate, Demetrius

(3 Jn.).

Now why, specifically, do I want to be like them?

First, they surrendered their lives to serve Christ in

the Middle East. For over 13 years they have

(Continued on page 2)

Heroes by Chad Dalton

Community Day Monday, May 28 , 11:30 - 2:00 Rocket Car, Inflatables, Pony Rides

Jungle Bob, Dunk Tank, Fire Truck,

Police Car, Hot Dogs & Hamburgers,

Cotton Candy & Snow Kones

Free to All! Join Us!

May 2012 Volume 7 Issue 4

UnVeil Run 2 NBCS Update 3

Family Updates 3 Upcoming Events 4

served faithfully and have not given up, no

matter how bad the circumstances became.

Through the course of my time there I listened as

they shared about their ministry over the years. I

listened as they spoke of the shells from a

neighboring country exploding not far from their

home. I listened as they shared how authorities

came to their door, arresting and hauling the

husband away, only later to be freed by a judge

for being arrested on false charges. These same

authorities threatened that they would deport

the mom and dad while their girls were in school.

Pray that they receive residency, this would solve

this threat! They shared how visa issues prevented

them from going home for four years—not even

for the funerals of two family members. If they

were to leave they would not be granted visas to

get back in the country and would be turned

around at the airport. They shared how their girls

were both mercilessly bullied in school, though

better now. They shared other hardships as well.

Yet, they weren’t just sharing struggles or

hardships. I couldn’t help but admire how

despite the fact that they faced such things they

had a spirit of perseverance, a love for God, and

a love for the people of the country they serve.

They exemplified perseverance by their trust in

the sovereignty of God. They trusted that God

was in control no matter how bad it got. They

believe it and they live it. They believe and live

out Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have

for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and

not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

They trusted that God would also see them

through hardships and give them the ability to

endure it. They showed a love for God as they

trusted His plan. They have grown so much in

their faith as they have trusted God and have

watched Him provide through the hardships.

They also shared how they wanted to please

God in all things. “And whatever we ask we

receive from him, because we keep his

commandments and do what pleases him,” (1

Jn. 3:22). Remember Jesus’ words in the Garden

of Gethsemane when He had the suffering of the

cross on His mind, “Yet not what I will, but what

you will” (Mk. 14:36b). Truly this couple seeks to

please God.

Finally, they exemplified a desire to reach others

by their continued sharing of the gospel. As it

was true of Paul, it is true of these two believers:

“Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God

for them is that they may be saved,” (Rom. 10:1).

Their lives are surrendered to God to reach

people in the Middle East no matter how hard

they continue to share and endure. Because of

their gospel witness they have seen people

come to Christ. Thank God they did not give up

and go home, but remain faithful, seeing lives

changed for Christ.

Have you felt like giving up lately because of

hardships? Consider their testimony.

Do you have an overwhelming desire to please

God? Consider their example.

Do you have a desire to share the love of Christ

with those that don’t know Him? Consider their

witness.

Imitate this couple as they imitate Christ!

(Continued from page 1)

2 the connection

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Heroes

They exemplified perseverance by their trust in the sovereignty of God. They trusted that God was in control no matter how bad it got. They believe it and they live it.

Chad Dalton is Pastor for Student Ministries

& Outreach at Northfield Baptist Church.

May is a busy month for NBCS as we wind down the school

year. Listed below are some of the events that will be

happening at NBCS in the coming weeks.

May 2 - Third Grade Chapel with Miss Mencarini and Miss Price

May 3 - National Day of

Prayer observed at 8:35

a.m.

May 4 - Field Day,

President’s Fitness Test

during the morning.

May 8 - NBCS Spirit Day at

Chick-fil-A in Macedonia.

Mrs. Mencarini gets a pie in

the face at 5:15.

May 9 - Grades three to six go to Akron Aeros Learning Camp.

May 10 - NBCS School

Program at 7:00 p.m.

May 24 - Sixth Grade

International Food Fair

May 25 - End of Year Trip for

grades three to six.

May 30 - Pre-K program in

morning.

May 31 - Kindergarten and Sixth Grade Graduation at 7:00 p.m.

June 1 - Award Assembly for first through fifth grade at 11:00

a.m. Dismiss at noon. LAST DAY!!!

3

Missions Update Waad E. Haddad, Baptists Equipping Nationals

On Sunday, April 22 the church voted to take on support for

Waad Haddad.

Mr. Haddad was born into a Chaldean Catholic family in

Baghdad. He received Christ at the age of 17 while living in

Baghdad. He immigrated to America in 1995 and served among

Chaldean and Arabic Christians in Southeast Michigan.

He is a graduate of Maranatha Baptist Bible College and Detroit

Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves with Baptists Equipping

Nationals and is anticipating a ministry with the National

Theological College and Graduate School. Both of these

ministries exist to train nationals in their culture to establish, equip

and multiply local churches. He has just finished a four week

ministry at the school.

His vision is to see God use him in many restricted countries by

training the nationals, preaching and teaching in restricted

countries and writing Christian books.

He is praying to soon reach a support level that will allow him to

leave his job and go into the ministry full-time. Pray for him as he

visits churches and trusts God to provide his support.

Sympathy

F a m i l y U p d a t e s

NBCS Update

We extend our deepest sympathies to

Barbara Salzman and the Salzman

family in the loss of her mother,

Dorothy Knappenberger. Dorothy, 80,

went home to be with the Lord on

Saturday, April 14.

We pray for them to feel God’s comfort and peace with them

during this time of loss.

NORTHFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH

311 W. AURORA ROAD

NORTHFIELD, OH 44067

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. Postage

PAID Permit No. 25

Northfield, OH 44067

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Northfield Baptist Church

311 W. Aurora Rd.

Northfield, OH 44067

Phone

(330) 467-7939

Newsletter E-mail

news@northfieldbaptist.org

www.northfieldbaptist.org

Friday,

May 4

NBCS Field Day

Youth Night

Sunday,

May 6

AM - Dr. Eddie Hawkins

Nursing Home

PM - Hebron Annual Meeting - FBC, Elyria

Thursday,

May 10

NBCS Spring Program, 7:00 p.m.

Friday,

May 11

NBCS Walkathon

Saturday,

May 12

Church Workday, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Sunday,

May 13

AM - Parent/Baby Dedication

PM - Communion

Saturday,

May 19

Ladies’ Banquet, UnVeiled Hope

Sunday,

May 20

PM - ABF Sunday

Friday,

May 25

Ladies’ Scrapbooking

Saturday,

May 26

Lauren Watt Graduation Party

Monday,

May 28

Memorial Day Parade

Community Day

Thursday,

May 31

AM - NBCS Pre-K Program

K & 6 Grade Graduation, 7:00 p.m.

May Events

Ladies’ Banquet

Saturday, May 19

5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

NBC Ministry Center

Featuring:

Sarah Rogers from

Women at Risk

Salad and Dessert will be served

And Jewelry will be

available for purchase

Cost is $5. You may prepay

or pay at the door.

You may call the church

office to sign up.