Birthdays

Doug Smith 8-6

Roger Lee Smith 8-8

Stacey Sorrell 8-16

Mary McHenry 8-14

Drayton Willey 8-19

Kay Jones 8-20

Kay Hedges 8-20

Diana Spinks 8-23

Betty Holmes 8-23

Terry Nichols 8-24

Carol Willey 8-25

Fred Harper 8-29

Myron Willey 8-29

John Tompkins 8-30

Anniversaries

Greg & Cindy Ford 8-12-72

Bob & Stephanie Paul 8-14-82

Louis & Nancy George 8-14-99

Myron & Carol Willey 8-16-65

Trent & Melissa Dingey 8-27-86

HEAVEN'S HOTLINE(continued)

Call anytime - 24/7

No Waiting - Always Available

Symptom Call

Feeling Downcast Psalm 42:11

Thirst John 4:14

Faith Needs Stirring Hebrews 11

Lying Colossians 3:9-10

Not Being Generous 1John 3:17

Facing Trials James 1:2-4

Weariness Galatians 6:9

Poverty Philippians 4:19

Persecuted for Christ Matthew 5:11-12

Evil Desires 2Timothy 2:22

Suffering Psalm 22:24

Unconfessed Sin 1John 1:9

Fear of Harm Proverbs 1:33

Timidity 1Timothy 1:7

Spiritual Orphan Romans 8:15

Quick Temper James 1:19-20

Living in Darkness John 12:46

Bragging Matthew 6:1-4

Fear of Death 1Corinthians 15:55

Oppressed by Enemies Hebrews 13:6

Sharing Jesus Without FearMatthew 28:18-20

Most Christians want to share their faith. But many believers avoid witnessing because of fear—fear of being rejected, fear of not knowing enough, fear of offending others, or fear of being ridiculed. So how do you overcome this fear in order to share the good news?

God has called all Christians to witness by personally showing lost people how they can bespiritually reborn. The Bible does not present witnessing as an extra activity done only by a few special people. Witnessing as a Christian is normal. God provides the opportunity to witness, and He promises His power to help us. Yet we simply say no. Because of fear, our no is accompanied by much defense and justification. Listen to the words in 1 Peter 3:15-16. “Setapart the Messiah as Lord in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to anyone whoask you for a reason for the hope that is in you. However, do this with gentleness and respect.”

Most of us can recall times when we chose to be silent when we could have witnessed. When we are silent, we, like Peter, deny Jesus. Peter probably thought it only made sense not to puthimself in danger. Many of us have also decided that it is only reasonable not to risk beingrejected, embarrassed, or persecuted. So we choose to be silent. Here is some food for thought.If we don’t share our faith, our friends and families may never understand the gospel and maynever have an opportunity to be led by the Holy Spirit to believe.

So the question that remains is how do we share Jesus without fear? We must first realize thatwitnessing does not require intense training or the accumulation of intense theological learning.It is supernatural work. Prayer connects you with the supernatural power of God. With God’spower your personal witness becomes more than a science, it becomes a way of life. For somereason, many people believe it is much more difficult to become a Christian than it actually is.Through prayer which prepares the heart for any encounter and obedience to what God’s Word is saying and the fact that God promises to go with us should cause the fears we possess todissipate. Remember that God is with you always.

God Bless,

Pastor Gordon

Prayers needed for: God’s will to be clear in the selection of a new Exec.

Director for ECMI-USA sending section. God’s blessing on my time in the US to rest, replenish

and reconnect.

DONATE: ECMI-USA, PO Box 2217 Monument, CO 80132.

(Sharon Graves # 4060)http://www.ecmi-usa.org/get-involved/give/

Does God Like Waffle Berry Pudding?Of course he does, especially when it is served up to 36+ volunteers who worked hard for two weeks in June and July to make His name known through the Upward Basketball and Cheerleading summer camps for 350 children and their families in the communities of Meco and Alcala de Henares, Spain. What was my part in all of this? I served on the team that prepared lunch for these volunteers every day for two weeks straight. Tania Deering, our team captain and chef extraordinaire, purchased the food, chose the recipes,

planned the daily menu and expertly guided myself and her husband, Charlie through the preparation of amazing appetizers, entrees and desserts and even clean-up. Here is where I learned to make Waffle Berry Pudding among many other tasty dishes. Making this dessert reminded me of the great opportunity and privilege it is to work as a team to share God’s love and make His name known to others. Just like the pudding’s individual ingredients (crumbled sweet waffles, chunks of white chocolate, mixed berries and topping) that all came together in the oven to make a glorious explosion of flavors in one’s mouth, so it happens when people work together to be salt and light to those yet to have a taste of God’s goodness.

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalms 34:8

Beginning Life a New…Sunday, June 17th was a day of celebration and rebirth for 10 believers in our Camarma Church who declared their faith and commitment to Jesus through baptism in the still waters of the Rascafria Natural Park. The baptism service was following by a family picnic, games and fellowship.

“We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the deadthrough the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”Romans 6:4

June 2018

CrossworksMission in Europe

Pleasant Views

Pleasant Grove United Office Hours: Sunday School 9:45amMethodist Church Monday-Friday Worship: 10:45 am400 Pleasant Grove Road 9:00 am-12:00 pmZanesville, Ohio 43701Phone: 740-453-2627

Church: pgumceoc@yahoo.comWebsite: pleasantgroveumchurch.com

Church Staff:Rev. Gordon Ferguson, PastorErnie Boggs, Interim Custodian

Jill Jones, Secretary