The Peanut Butter Story

There’s a story going around about an orphanage in Central America where nine young boys got full one Saturday afternoon. People are saying it was a miracle because it hardly ever happens. Orphans being full? Doesn’t even sound natural. They are saying that God did it. When I heard that I knew I had to set the record straight. God nudged me and told me to. You see I have three friends named David, Lorrie and Brittany and they were eye witnesses to this miracle. They came from Canadato serve at orphanage Emmanuel and asked these young men if they wanted to go on a picnic. They had never been on one and boy were they excited. They knew one thing happened on a picnic. Food would be involved. David asked them if they could have any kind of sandwiches, what would they want? Immediately they said peanut butter and jelly. Sounds like a simple request. Only problem is, there’s hardly any peanut butter in Guaimaca, Hondurasand there was none now. But on this Saturday there was peanut butter at the orphanage. People were saying that God had sent it, but I knew better because I received it! Oh God certainly wanted these boys to go on a picnic and have peanut and butter jelly sandwiches, but He couldn’t send them himself. He tells us in James 1:27 that WE are to look after the orphans in their distress. Psalms 115:16 says “The highest heaven s belong to the Lord, but the earth He has given to man." You see, God chose us to do his miracles through. Now it wouldn’t be like God to go back on His Word. God spoke to David about a picnic; David nudged me about some peanut butter. Story has it, some believers at the church at GracePointgot nudged to give and boy did they ever give! These nine young boys had their peanut butter, and not just any peanut butter, but peter pan crunchy. They gave their best! 33 sandwiches from one jar. The way I see it there are 66 more to be made. You see I was an eye witness to this miracle, but I had already experienced a miracle from these same people and some other friends of mine. That’s how I got here! I’ve learned that God doesn’t respond to our needs; He responds to our faith. "Mark 5: 21-34, Mark 10: 48-52 and Matthew 15:27, 28. These young men asked for a miracle and never doubted! They didn’t give a second choice. David said while at the river they started to talk about Jesus as they so often do. All had been saved by our Lord but two had not been baptised. I wasn’t at the river, but my friends tell me they were sure the two boys weighted more when their leader John (of course his name would be John) raised them from the water. You see, God dearly loves us and always will. He can’t love us anymore nor any less. But we don’t always please Him. “Hebrews 11:6.” Like when he nudges us and we don’t respond. Is he nudging you to do something? Maybe you just need to buy a jar of peanut butter. Like the gospel, you never know how far it will spread. I know, I was a witness to it. By the way the boys got full 29 sandwiches and 4 left over. The boys said no mas. To God be the glory!

Link to Orphanage Emmanuel

Michael D.

Sunday Services

As of 8:00 PM Saturday night we are still planning to have services Sunday morning. Please use your best judgement in the morning based on the road conditions were you live. Be safe and if we don't see you in the morning we hope to see you soon.

Matt

HAITI UPDATE, Medical Personnel Needed

BBA Haiti Earthquake Update & Needs (please share this with your church this Sunday)

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief assessments teams have returned from earthquake-damaged Haiti and are making plans for the long-term relief effort. Initial efforts will be focused on specialized medical teams, but volunteers will eventually be used in food distribution, clean-up and re-build efforts. Plans are also being made for the collection of food staples buckets that are being called Buckets of Hope for distribution for displaced families. We will be involved with our Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief (TBDR) in all of these efforts at various levels as needed. David Acres, state coordinator for Disaster Relief, has called for any medical personnel who are willing to go to Haiti to contact the Tennessee Baptist Disaster Relief office at (615) 371-7926 to sign up for a possible assignment. Baptist Global Response will make assignments and North American Mission Board based on specific needs criteria. Priority will be given to Creole speakers and healthcare professionals in the areas of Trauma Care.
TBDR will also be gearing up to facilitate the collection of the food staples buckets. These will be similar to the AIDS care buckets collected the last two years for Africa. The buckets should be standard five-gallon buckets with lids that can be purchased at Wal-Mart. A specific contents list will be forthcoming, but will include such things as rice, flour, beans, lentils, noodles and peanut butter. It is very important that only the five-gallon buckets be used in order to facilitate the shipping process. Once the contents of the buckets have been depleted, families will be able to use the buckets for a variety of daily needs. We will email you with more information and as welling as listing this on our bradleybaptist.org website as we receive the details. Also, Buckets of Hope for Haiti Information will soon be available on TBC's website at tnbaptist.org. The Bradley Baptist Association will serve as the collection point for our churches related to the Buckets of Hope for Haiti.
Please pray for following specific requests:
The many victims still living in makeshift squatter camps
Families both here in the U.S. and in Haiti that still have not accounted for loved ones.
Leadership of Baptist Global Response and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief as they continue to plan and work out necessary logistics for our recovery effort.
Here are a few things that our BBA Churches can do right away:

1) Please pray for the people of Haiti and those who are responding.

2) You may also help financially by contributing through the International Mission Board and Baptist Global response by going to the following imb.org link and click on the give icon: http://www.imb.org/main//default.asp

3) Or if you would like to help send BBA Disaster Relief volunteers to Haiti in the near future, you can give to the Bradley Baptist Association and designate your donation for "Haiti Earthquake Relief". Your donation will be used exclusively to help send BBA relief teams to Haiti when we are given that assignment by the appropriate entities.

We will keep you updated on Haiti relief news as we receive more info.

Highlighting Bethesda Outreach

The need for prayer, supplies and future trips to rebuild Haiti go without saying. Please continue to be a part of rebuilding Haiti. We here at Grace Point will continue to let you know of ways you can assist.


I would like to take a moment to highlight another part of the world with a high percentage of orphans and those in need. Bethesda is an outreach for orphans in South Africa who's mission is to encourage and assist the local church in meeting the needs of orphan children that may become disciples of Christ. That mission is accomplished through Bethesda's Children's Village, Orphan Care Resource Centre and Hands of Mercy Ministry.

Jr and Kristi Burke members here at Grace Point have fallen in love with the children, the families and the people of South Africa, in particular those at the Bethesda Outreach . Their love for and desire to see these children grow in the name of Christ goes without saying.

A trip led by the Burke's will happen this November, please consider being a part of nurturing others in Christ. If you would like to join in for this opportunity please let Jr. Burke, Kristi Burke or Matt Davies (mdavies@grace-point.com) know.

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
James 1:27

Recent news on Bethesda, including an intern opportunity

Haiti

Many have given and responded to the needs of Haiti and I know that our prayers and support will go a long way.

Here are a couple updates:

Video Update

IMB Report

Pray For Haiti

Please pray for Haiti and be a part of the healing process after the mass destruction and loss of thousands of lives.

The following two links contain information on the earthquake in Haiti and how we can get involved.

Pictures of the destruction.

How you can help.

Why Have a Fall Festival?

We had a wonderful celebration this past Sunday at our annual Fall Festival which takes place each year at the YMCA here in town. Two highlights that stuck out for me during the the evening were certainly the the baptisms that took place in the pool and the unity of a church that loves that Lord . It was a true joy to see young and old, families and individuals publicly committing their lives to Christ. Evidence of a church loving, disciplining and walking with those who are giving there lives to something greater than themselves. A close second to the baptisms was the unity involved in collectively pulling together to provide a fall celebration, a harvest festival or what was called in biblical times the Feast of the Tabernacle or The Feast of Ingathering. Unity in the body of Christ is something that we so often take for granite, something we don't often recognize until it is gone. What a pleasure to see a group of people gathering together in worship.

So why have a Fall Festival? We come together this time of year to celebrate the harvest of both the physical needs that God has provided for us and for the harvest of those who have committed their lives to Christ. God has given both physically and spiritually much more than we ever deserve here at Grace Point and I am so thankful to see a church come together in such unity to thank our Lord and Savior for all he has done.

Deuteronomy 16:13-15 gives instructions for this celebration: You shall observe the Feast of Tabernacles seven days, when you have gathered from your threshing floor and from your winepress, and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter...and all who are within your gates. Seven days you shall keep a sacred feast to the Lord your God in the place which the Lord chooses, because the Lord your God will bless you in all of your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you surely rejoice.

May we continue to find our joy in the Lord and all He has done and continues to do for us.

Matt