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Alliance Prayer Requests, January 10, 2012

January 11, 2012 By

URGENT PRAYER REQUESTS

Indonesia

Pray that 2012 will be the year that God brings peace to Papua. The church breakaway situation continues to sadden and distract Alliance workers. Recently, five people from the breakaway group tore down the logo of a district office. The GKII (C&MA) church had planned a District Conference and elections in early January, but the breakaway group is trying to prevent this. Pray that God will intervene and protect His people.

CREATIVE-ACCESS COUNTRIES

Remember creative-access (CAC) workers around the world. Pray for protection, good health, and opportunities to share the good news. Pray that contacts will be drawn to Jesus. Pray that God will break down strongholds and give courage and boldness to national believers.

 For more requests, go to www.cmalliance.org/pray.
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The Purpose of Christmas

November 24, 2010 By

By Pastor Mike Mitchum

We need the message of hope that Christmas brings. In a time of financial uncertainty, political partisanship, and unrest in the world, hope can be hard to find. The same was true of the world that Jesus was born into and he provided salvation that changed the world.

One of my challenges each December is to help our Church family find practical ways to make the Christmas season meaningful. This year a book was recommended to me entitled, “The Purpose of Christmas.” It is a small book that talks about the purpose of Jesus birth. Rick Warren writes:

“If you stop to think about it, it is astounding that the simple, unassuming birth of a peasant boy born two thousand years ago in the Middle East has caused such commotion–his birthday even causes traffic jams today in places like New York City, Tokyo and Rio de Janeiro.”

Warren goes on to explain how Christmas is a time for celebration, salvation and reconciliation. He clearly explains the good news of the gospel and invites all his readers to accept it. I will be basing my sermons in December on the topics in this book. I would encourage all to get a copy and read it during the month of December. I think it will help us to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

I look forward to sharing these messages of hope.

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A major turning point

July 28, 2010 By

By Pastor Mike Mitchum

Next to the Coliseum in Rome stands Constantine’s arch. Robin and I were able to see it this summer in our travels. The following is an excerpt explaining its importance:

“The Arch of Constantine was erected to commemorate Constantine’s victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. This event is a highly important one for Christian history.

According to contemporary historians, the night before the battle Constantine had a vision. He saw the symbol of chi-rho (the first letters of “Christ” in Greek) – or the cross in some accounts – in the sky with the words, “By this sign, conquer.”

Facing an army larger than his own, Constantine was happy to try anything. He had his soldiers carry the Christian symbol into battle, and he was victorious. So Constantine adopted Christianity for himself and declared the religion officially tolerated throughout the Roman Empire.

With Constantine’s conversion, Christian persecution ended and the development of Christendom began. Thus, the event celebrated by the Arch of Constantine was a major turning point in the history of the western world”.

Back in the first century, the Apostle Paul had been imprisoned in Rome. He was chained to guards night and day. Paul was a preacher of the gospel, so these soldiers got an earful! As the following verse tells us, he had converted people even in Caesar’s household.

“Greet all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. ” (Philippians 4:21–22, NIV)

The gospel message would continue to be spoken by these people and their descendents until, finally, the message reach Caesar’s (Constantine’s) ears. I believe his conversion is a direct result of Paul’s imprisonment years before.

Perhaps someone you care about needs the Lord. Don’t stop telling of his love. Don’t stop praying for the Lord to change her heart. You might not be around to see it, but your words may bring a major turning point in someone’s life.

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Howdy! It’s VBS time!

July 17, 2010 By

Rancho Cordova Vacation Bible School

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Circle of Friends Book Club selections announced

May 26, 2010 By

Pick up a book and join us!

  • June – Sarah, a novel by Mark Halter
  • July – Healing Waters by Margaret Burn
  • August – Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
  • September – Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
  • October – Sacred Clowns by Tony Hillerman
  • November – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
  • December – The Winter of Our Discontent by John Steinbeck.

The Circle of Friends meets the second Tuesday of each month at 2pm at Starbucks in Gold River. All interested are invited to attend.


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The Alliance Responds to Haitian Disaster

January 14, 2010 By

Haiti Relief Fund

Haiti Update

January 19, 2010

Alliance Response to Haiti Earthquake

The Alliance family has quickly responded to the crisis in Haiti after a 7.0 earthquake rocked the capital city of Port-au-Prince on January 12. CAMA, the Alliance relief and development arm, is providing immediate assistance—including clean water, emergency shelter, medical aid, and other necessities—as well as long-term help in rebuilding efforts, integrating Jesus’ message of redemption with practical acts of compassion. The generosity of Alliance people continues to pour in, with more than $135,000 contributed to relief efforts less than a week after the quake hit. Praise God for His provision, and may He abundantly bless those who give.

From the Haitian District

The following quotes are from Rev. Jean R. Jean, president of the Haitian South Association and formerly from the Port-au-Prince area, and Rev. Rev. Emmanuel Seide, president of the Haitian North Association.

Rev. Jean: The U.S. government has provided a way for families in Haiti to make one phone call to a relative in the United States to let them know that they are safe. In the call from one relative, I learned that my family members are well; however, one sister-in-law has a broken leg. All of the Alliance-connected churches that my Florida church family works with in Haiti have fallen down as a result of the earthquake. I hope to provide aid to these hurting Haitian churches through the efforts of our CAMA Services and the funds donated by Alliance constituents.


Rev. Seide: On behalf of the Haitian Association, I want to thank you (the Metropolitan District) and the Alliance family for your help and attention given to the catastrophe that happened in Haiti. I had a chance to receive information on Pastor Frenel Cevedieu, an official worker of the C&MA who lives in Carrefour Port-au-Prince. He is okay. He started a service, and 30 people gave their lives to Jesus. With the little he has he feeds 300 people.


I contacted all of our pastors in the northern U.S. to learn if the believers had received news of their loved ones. At Peniel Church, Sister Imartha Bruno had five family members die, including her sister, who accepted Christ in the crusade last year when I was in Haiti. She also lost four nieces and their houses were destroyed. Several members of the Peniel Church have immediate family members whose houses were destroyed. Also, several families in the Ebenezer Church lost loved ones in the tragedy. Several Horeb Church members also had loved ones who died or had houses destroyed.


Learn more about how you can partner with Alliance relief efforts:  http://www.camaservices.org/

Urgent Need:

The Alliance Responds to Haitian Disaster

CAMA is gearing up to assist survivors of the 7.0 earthquake that destroyed Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, on January 12. According to a CNN report, the death toll may top 100,000. The hospitals are gone, and medical supplies are desperately needed. About 3 million people—one-third of Haiti’s population—were impacted by the quake.

In partnership with sister organizations already on the ground, CAMA will provide immediate assistance—including clean water, emergency shelter, medical aid, and other necessities—as well as long-term help in rebuilding efforts, integrating Jesus’ message of redemption with practical acts of compassion.

A compassionate response during a disaster tangibly expresses Christ’s love and opens doors for other ministries, says Phil Skellie, CAMA’s president.

Give to CAMA http://www.cmalliance.org/give/relief/

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Marriage Conference

October 16, 2009 By

By Christy Rovenstine

Andy and I have attended or volunteered at the Weekend to Remember Conference six times.  Each time God worked in our lives in amazing ways.  The speakers were passionate, encouraging and often humorous.  The conference provided well balanced breaks that allowed us to talk through the material and spend undistracted time together.  I always come away with a greater understanding of God’s design for marriage and practical ways for us to continue growing in the Lord as a couple.

This year’s Sacramento conference is scheduled for November 20-22 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.   The conference runs from Friday night through Sunday afternoon.  At the conference you will:

  • Explore God’s purpose for bringing you together in the first place
  • Understand the role hardship plays in making every marriage stronger
  • Learn to recognize hidden strengths of your marriage that disguise themselves as obstacles
  • Develop and exciting outlook for your life together

From engaged couples to empty nesters, it’s never too early or too late to make your marriage flourish.  Please prayerfully consider making this valuable investment in your relationship this fall. Family Life even offers a money back guarantee.

When you register by Wednesday, November 18 you can receive the discounted group rate of $158 per a couple.  Use group name “Rovenstine” to register.  The registration fee includes conference materials.  Food, optional lodging, and parking are additional costs. If you are interested in getting out of town, there will also be conferences in Monterey and San Diego this fall. You can register online at FamilyLife.com/Weekend or phone 1-800-358-6329.

Look for our display in the narthex on Sunday for more information or call us at 967-6031.

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Learning to Listen

October 13, 2009 By

By Pastor Jeff Davies

Back when I was in high school, we had a youth staff member named Johnny.  Johnny had been hugely successful in the dog-eat-dog, corporate world.  After finding faith in Christ he turned his back on that life.  Johnny grew out his dark black hair, sporting a pony-tail that reached the middle of his back.  He often rode a Harley to church, but could also be seen driving the old limousine he used to chauffeur around his giant St. Bernard dogs.  Johnny was regularly heard laughing out loud and also had a deeply spiritual side.  He took particular pleasure in conveying deep truths of life to youth in a way that made their heads spin as they grappled with these untapped mysteries.

A few weeks before my wife Jessica and I were married, I ran into Johnny again.  Amidst the laughing and catching up, he gave me one of the best pieces of marital advice I think (continued on page 10)

I’ve heard.  Johnny shared that if I could learn to hear what God was telling me through my wife, life would

be far better.

The idea wrapped in those words of wisdom has proven true in areas far beyond marriage.  All of us are surrounded by people and situations that at times build us up and at other times tear us down.  How well are we hearing God in the midst of our lives?  Do we see what he wants to show us as we talk with a family member who seems so skilled at irritating us?  What is God saying to you when you find your pocketbook has a little more–or a little less–in it?  Our Heavenly Father promises to use “all things for good” (Romans 8:28), so what is he saying to you through the struggles and joys you currently face?  Let’s listen for his voice, and find the abundant life he has for us.

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Season Of Life

October 13, 2009 By

By Pastor Mike Mitchum

Once in awhile, I read a book that I get excited about.  Most often books that excite me are stories about real people who do extraordinary things.  Quite unexpectedly, I read such a book recently.

Robin and I went to the mall.  She wanted to shop and I wanted to sit.  I wandered over to the bookstore and noticed a display in the front window with multiple copies of a book entitled, “Season of Life” by Jeffrey Marx.  I sat down in a chair and started to read.  One and a half hours later, I was still reading.  I had stumbled onto an inspiring story.

The subtitle of the book is: “A football star, a boy, a journey to manhood.”   In the pages of “Season of Life,” we learn about Joe Ehrmann.  He was a professional football player who now coaches high school football.  He is also the pastor of a church.

The following excerpt will reveal that Joe Ehrmann is coaching, not to win football games, but to teach boys how to become men.

“Joe Ehrmann had already seen and heard it all too many times for any of this to affect him a whole lot. He’d seen and heard it as an All-American defensive lineman—big mountain of a man, six-foot-four, 260 well-packed pounds—at Syracuse University. He’d seen and heard it throughout his thirteen years as a professional football player, most of them as a star with the Baltimore Colts, one of the most storied franchises in the history of the National Football League. He’d seen and heard it during five years of coaching at Gilman. At the age of fifty-two, Joe was no longer fazed by the specific circumstances of any single game. No victory or defeat, no matter how glorious or excruciating for his team, would ever eclipse the only reason he was there. What do points on a scoreboard have to do with teaching boys how to be men of substance and impact? Nothing.”  [Jeffrey Marx, Sample of Season of Life]

“How to be men of substance and impact?” is a crucial question in our culture.  It is answered in a way that will leave the reader anxious to be that kind of man.

By the way, this is not just a book for men.  I suspect women will find it though provoking as well.  I could tell you more, but I would be spoiling the story.

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Children's Ministry is making ornaments for Christmas

October 13, 2009 By

Silver Bells…and white snowmen and brown gingerbread men!

Children’s Ministry will hold a fundraiser in December and you can help by providing supplies.  This fall in Sunday School and Children’s Church, the kids will be assembling, painting, and decorating ornaments to sell at their Christmas Program. Funds raised will be used for Kids’ Camp next summer.

Here are some ideas for ornament kits that are available at Michael’s:

Color a Holiday Mug – $1

Foam Figurine Kit, Angel – $1.99

Decorative Garland, Snowmen – $1.99

Ready to Decorate Ornament Kit – $1.99

3D Foam Kit, Nativity Scene – $7.99

Ornament Melty Beads – $1

Clear Glass Balls – $4 – $6

Folk Art Acrylic Paint – 89¢

Contact Lori Storey with questions or for more details at 363-1188 or lori@cnchurch.org.

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