June 2005 News Letter

God's Provision

By Pastor Ken Monahan

Jesus taught valuable truths in stories called parables. What I want to share with you this month is a true story thinking about fear and faith along with painful struggles that took place in our lives.

When Cindy and I were first married we moved into the married housing at PBU in Philadelphia, PA. Our rent for our two-room apartment was $90 a month. My pay was $75 a week without overtime. Our apartment was on the second floor and for safety reasons we entered the building through two sets of double doors, each with a different key. Our apartment required yet another key…three different keys. Did I mention that we were also paying for Cindy’s tuition and one class for me? Cindy was starting on her senior year.

We knew we were in the right place at the right time, but the struggles soon arrived. No matter what we did there was never enough money. Too much month and not enough money. We cut our food budget to 12 dollars—with the absolute limit of 15—dollars per week. Overtime and weekend jobs were non-existent. The refrigerator was empty except for milk and butter and half a loaf of bread. We had just about finished everything in our cupboards. This is when God decided to provide a test for us and we were going to find out how He was going to stretch our faith. After prayer one evening we went to bed and slept through the night. What happened in the morning still provides smiles and wonder every time we talk of this moment. When I opened our apartment door there were stacks upon stacks of grocery bags full and overflowing. We had not mentioned our need to anyone and not one of the four other student families had opened the doors for our mysterious benefactors nor had they participated in our grocery bonanza. To this day, we do not know who provided our gift; how they knew of our need; and how they got through the security of two double doors. I guess along the way as God provides the struggles and difficulties He also provides opportunities to grow and to experience His grace.

You see—what we experienced is not about us. These experiences were allowed and brought into our lives by God to demonstrate how freely God’s grace is given. He wanted to lavish His grace on us because of some very simple steps of faith we had taken during difficult times. When we were fearful of not having enough, He provided more than we needed. These early struggles helped us to lay down a foundation of faith.

God has stretched our faith many more times in our nearly 32 years of marriage. We have had to face down fear and doubt with prayer and these verbal reminders of God’s rich blessing. The retelling of these memories deepens the richness of God’s care for us. It refreshes us when our faith becomes weak and Satan crowds our hearts and minds with doubt.

I must say that I have enjoyed these few moments of traveling down memory lane. Once again, our fears have been faced down, our faith has been revived and refreshed and our spiritual walk seems alive again. Thank You, Lord, for the unique ways in which you choose to encourage us. Thank You, Lord, for times of testing.

How about you? When has God blessed you through testing?

Websters To Speak

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Phil and Erna Webster serve with International Students, Inc. at UNH and will be with us at the Morning Worship Service on June 5.

The Websters served in the ministry for nearly 30 years before being led to the ministry of ISI. They were involved in Buffalo and Boston for several years before establishing this ministry at UNH in 1994.

God has blessed this ministry and they have seen international students accept Christ. The majority of these students return to their own country and some to other areas of the United States and Canada.

Student activities take place each month and include a devotional time, a good meal and fellowship. They also hold classes in conversational English as the need arises. The purpose is to tell these international students about the salvation that is available to them through the Lord Jesus Christ and to seek to disciple them so they can grow in their faith as they return home.

Guatemala Mission Trip Planned

• Missions Committee

This summer a team of more than 20 from Dover Baptist Church will be going to Antigua Guatemala on a missions trip. Part of the team will be flying down on July 31st and spending 2 weeks doing intensive language study, the other part will fly in and join those already there on August 12.

While in Guatemala the team will be working at Escuela Integrada, a school for the working children. The school was founded by Andrew and Rebecca Loveall. (Andrew spoke at Dover Baptist in September of 2004.)

The team is going to be building a playground for the kids at the school, as well as a roof, and will be doing various odd jobs that are needed around the building. They will also be holding a 5 day VBS program complete with puppet shows and crafts, all centered around the theme of salvation.

• The construction part of this trip alone is going to cost around $6,000, and each person needs to raise over $1,000 as well for individual costs. In order to help raise the money for the mission project (the playground, roof, etc..) many fundraisers have been planned. To date the team has held 2 fundraisers, which have brought in a combined total of $551.93. Upcoming fundraisers are A Pampered Chef Open House to be held on June 4th, from 6-8 p.m. at the church. Drop in, get some free Latin American food, and order what you want at 70% off the normal shipping cost. The team will receive 25% of all funds raised that night. (Each team member also has a PC catalog so that they can get orders outside of church, and they will get 15% of the money from purchases to go to their individual support.)
• A Fiesta Dinner on June 18th, at 6 pm, at the church. Tickets went on sale May 29th for this event. The cost is $10 a person and there are 4 delicious menu choices available.
• Also on June 18th at the church there will be a silent auction. The auction will start at 12 noon and final bids must be placed by 8 pm. The team is still looking for donations, and people to seek donations, for the auction.
• On Sale Now are the Guatemala 2005-2006 calendar. These beautiful calendars are available for $10. All money for the calendar must be in by June 11, but you can order and then pay. (The final order will not be sent to the printer until June 12th.) The calendars will come in within a few weeks after that. These calendars are perfect for Christmas gifts, teacher gifts, anything!

For more information on the trip, or any of these events please e-mail guatemalamission@doverbaptistchurch.org, or contact Joy Eisner.

MOPS Update

• MOPS

MOPS finished this year on May 18th with a BBQ sharing day. The 22 women who have been part of MOPS had the opportunity to share their stories about what MOPS and Jesus means to them. The day ended with a BBQ celebration. The Moppets workers were honored for their dedication and service. Thank you again for sharing your love with the little ones.

MOPS Summer Fun

There will be a six week backyard Bible study at the home of Leah Roth, 153 Charles St., R ochester, on Wednesdays for mom's and their children starting May 25th at 10 AM, rain date Thursday morning. We will be studying Mothering Without Guilt. We will also have playdates July 27th at Amy Goodwin's house, August 3rd at Henry Law Park Playground and August 17th at Carrie Terry's house. Please contact Leah Roth for details. There will be a Moms and Pops night out at Bambi Schank's house on Aug 6th - potluck BBQ and volleyball, no kiddos please!!

New MOPS Group

A second MOPS group will be starting on Tuesday nights in September on the first and third Tuesdays from 6PM to 8:30 PM with childcare and supper provided. This will have the same format as the daytime group; social time, craft, speaker and discussion. For more information on the Wednesday morning or Tuesday evening groups please contact Leah Roth. Limited Childcare available - sign up soon.

Children’s Sunday School

• Christian Education

We are rapidly approaching the end of another Sunday school year! Children’s Sunday is June 12th, and will be our last Sunday school classes until September. The children will be working on a presentation for that Sunday during church service for the next several weeks.

Please be sure to have your child/children ages 4- 4th grade meet downstairs promptly at 8:30 am for Sunday School Opening so that we can work with them on their group song. Sunday school classes begin at 8:45 am; children in 5th grade – Senior High may go straight to their classes. We hope to see you there and please help us to finish this year joyfully!

Kathy Watson & Ginny Bannon, Children’s Sunday School Coordinators

Dover Christian Preschool

Dover Christian Preschool is taking registrations for the fall. We offer two programs.

The Monday, Wednesday, Friday program is from 9 – 11:30 during the school year and is for children who turn 4 by September 30th.

The Tuesday, Thursday program is from 9 – 11:30 and is for 4-year-olds, also. The school will take a few older 3’s (turn 4 by December 30) in the two day program.

We offer a comprehensive, Christian preschool program with lots of exciting activities at a reasonable price.

Brochures are available at the church. Contact Lyn Bullock at the church or at home 431-8378.