MBA Church Newsletter
May 28, 2003

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Monterey Bay Academy Church Newsbreak - May 28, 2003
A Weekly Communication for the Church Family & Friends
http://www.mbachurch.org
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Contents
1. Pastor Update
2. Prayer Request: Lisa Lara
3. Friday Sundown & Sabbath Offering
4. Church Budget Update
5. Church Visioning Questionnaire
6. ADRA Helps Iraq
7. God Gives Endurance & Encouragement

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1. Pastor Update

Namaste!

Let me share with you a bold passage of Scripture. Words that only a bold preacher (like John the Baptist) would use.

The setting was a baptismal service by the river Jordan. Crowds were coming to John to be baptized. John wasn't sure they understood the significance of this baptism. He was afraid that for them this was another "right thing" to do, another item of check off on their salvation "to-do" list.

So he spoke out (Luke 3:8-10): "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father.' For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire."

"What should we do then?" the crowd asked.

Here's how this speaks to me. God is not so much interested in how great a spiritual heritage we have in our church (Abraham, in their case). He is simply interested in whether or not we are producing good fruit in our personal and church life presently.

Are people around us experiencing the grace of Christ? Are there new conversions and re-conversions happening our midst? Is our life maturing in the likeness of Christ? Are we depending upon God for our daily activities?

Now, can we (MBA Church) be so bold as to ask the question the crowd asked of John… "What should we do then?"

If you want to read John's, very practical and down-to-earth, response to them, read Luke 3:11-14. Perhaps we could gather a few principles there.

I think it would prove to be of great benefit and blessing if we asked ourselves, "What should we do" to produce good fruit for God in our midst? May be God will reveal His will to us in simple practical terms.

Love

Samuel

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2. Prayer Request: Lisa Lara

As many of you know Lisa Lara suffered a minor heart attack on Monday. Today she is scheduled for triple by-pass heart surgery between 1:00-3:00 p.m. at Dominican Hospital. Please pray for Lisa and her family.

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3. Friday Sundown & Sabbath Offering

Sundown this Friday will be at 8:20 p.m. and the offering this Sabbath will be for the Local Church Budget. This Sabbath is the last regular Sabbath of the school year, so it will be a "testimony" service.

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4. Church Budget Update

Please remember the local church budget this Sabbath! Thank you!

Offerings to Date & Goals
a. Church Budget Monthly Goal $ 4,004 To Date $ 2,314.61
Need $ 1,689.39
b. Computer & Projector Goal $10,000 To Date $ 8,081.79
Need $ 1,918.21

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5. Church Visioning Questionnaire

The MBA Church Board needs your ideas and reactions to the church worship service and related issues! If you haven't done so already, please fill out the church board's visioning questionnaire. Either complete the email form that was sent out last week or download a pdf document (to be read with Adobe Reader).

Please return completed email questionnaires to Marilyn Eggers <marilyne@mbachurch.org> or hard copy questionnaires to Marilyn Eggers at MBA. We would like all of the completed questionnaires byJune 2, so they can be compiled for the next church board meeting onJune 9, 2003. Thank you for your help!

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6. ADRA Helps Iraq

Now that the first stage of the war in Iraq is over and the news media is not focused on Iraq 24/7, it is easy to forget the great difficulties that the people in Iraq are going through now. But ADRAis helping, and so can you. Find out more at: ADRA International Focus Need and ADRA International News, May 08, 2003

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7. God Gives Endurance & Encouragement

Ever feel like you could use some endurance and encouragement? God gives both liberally! He also gives a spirit of unity. Read Romans15:5-6.

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If you are not yet subscribed to this newsletter, please send a message to newsletter-subscribe@mbachurch.org or contact Marilyn Eggers <marilyne@mbachurch.org>.

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© 2003 Monterey Bay Academy Seventh-day Adventist Church. All rights reserved.