February News Letter

I Can’t Seem to Tithe

• By Lisa Pampreen

If God calls Believers to tithe, then why do most fail to tithe? According to Crown Financial Ministry, Evangelical Christians give between 2-4% of their gross income to God’s Kingdom. When asked, most say that tithing is important and they believe that God wants them to tithe.

The next obvious question is why don’t they tithe then? I have personally asked that question of many people, including family members, friends, acquaintances, and myself. Most people say that they don’t have the money to tithe. I used to think that as well, but God started speaking to me about this area of my Christian walk.

Here is what I learned. It is so simple and yet so profound at the same time. Frank and I didn’t have enough money to tithe because we didn’t commit to tithing! It doesn’t say this anywhere in the Bible, but I believe we are to give 10% because it is an amount that you must plan for ahead of time. At the end of the month, you will not have 10% left over, unless you carefully plan all of your expenditures. It dawned on me that God wanted us to plan and manage 100% of our resources for his glory. If you tithe, then that is the outcome. What an ingenious plan

By tithing, we become better managers of God’s resources. The Bible is very clear that all the resources are God’s, not ours. It may very well be that more than 90% of your resources are already committed. Once you make the commitment to tithe, you will have to reorder your priorities. Your house may be too expensive; you may not be able to afford that new car; and you may have to give up some of the comforts you now enjoy. You will have to create a budget to guide you along the journey. It may take weeks, months, or years to reach your goal of tithing as you extricate yourself from financial commitments that keep you from honoring God with your tithe.

Tonight as you pray and talk with your family, you can make the decision to tithe. It may take awhile to reorganize your financial commitments from the past, but you can commit today to not adding anymore to the schedule. Today you can take the very first step on your journey. You can create a time table for paying off the credit cards, trading in your car if necessary, and so forth. You are not doing this for the sake of downsizing; you are doing it to honor God. This is a spiritual journey and I hope you make that decision tonight.

I am personally committed to help every member of our church who chooses to undertake this journey to complete it successfully. I will write for the newsletter, I will recommend books, I will pray for you, I will sit down with you and help you with your plan, and I will teach classes on this subject at Church. You will not be going it alone. So seek God first and all the rest will be added unto you.

(Lisa currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee.)

Elders Introduce New Youth Intern

• Elders

The Elders have announced the selection of Nate Shrift as Youth Intern for the news few months.

Nate, 21, was born in New Jersey, the fifth of six boys and two girls. The family went to Brazil when he was three. There they served as missionaries in Northern Brazil

As a younger child, Nate was home schooled, but went to a missionary boarding school in Puraquequara on the Amazon River for his high school training. He later attended New Tribes Bible Institute and returned to teach in the boarding school.

Nate recently backpacked around South America by himself. Some of the countries he traveled through are Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, and Venezuela. Along the way he visited friends. The trip lasted 6-8 weeks. When asked why he did this, he replied that it was for the adventure.

When asked for his aim for the youth group, he said that he would like to lead them closer to Christ, make Christ central in their lives, get them excited about the Word of God and help them build a new relationship with Christ

Following his internship, he plans to go Missouri to a New Tribes Training Facility (MTC – Missionary Training Center) for 2-year course in linguistics, culture acquisition and learning how to present Word of God to tribal people. Once schooling is complete, he plans to return to Brazil to share the Word among the Yonomami Indians and then plant a New Testament tribal church once there are believers.

Be sure to welcome Nate as he begins his work among us.

Extreme Kitchen Makeover

• The Hospitality Committee

As many of you have noticed, the church kitchen has a different look. Many hours have been spent in cleaning and streamlining over the past few weeks. We hope you like what you see

There is now a place for everything and everything in its place. We are asking for your assistance in keeping it that way. Suggestions for accomplishing this have been prepared and will be distributed.

The refrigerator and freezer have been cleaned. A good amount of outdated supplies have been thrown out. Before you purchase any supplies for your event, please check the refrigerator or cupboards to see if we already have the needed item.

One thing we are hoping to do is provide someone to be responsible to check on the kitchen for a month at a time. Duties will be light, and suggestions will be made so this will not seem like a big chore. A sign-up sheet will be made available if you would like to be responsible for a month. February and March are already covered.

If you need to borrow anything from the kitchen, please contact a member of the Hospitality Committee in advance.

Over the past few months, Dover Baptist has been the recipient of a number of items for the kitchen, including a new commercial gas s tove which just arrived. We are so happy to have them and want to be good stewards of this equipment. With each one of us working together, we can accomplish this.

Thank you to those who came in with words of encouragement and helped in small ways. It was greatly appreciated.

Being the Hands and Feet of God

• By Bill Barner

God has opened another door for me to serve Him by helping those less fortunate. I have been asked by friends to join their group, CHRISTIAN MEDICAL MISSION for a short term mission trip to the Dominican Republic. The CHRISTIAN MEDICAL MISSION is "...dedicated to providing affordable (if not free) health care to the people of Moca province (and surrounding areas) of the Dominican Republic. They "do so via quality health care and the caring ministry of Christ-centered health professionals. They "also travel around the world to such places as Ecuador, Haiti, India, Nepal and Guinea, Africa to aid those less fortunate and to share the love of God with those they come in contact with". The trip is to take place from February 10th to February 18th next month.

The Christian Medical Mission was founded by a group of Christians who decided to use their time, talents and treasure for the glory of God and the work of His kingdom. Ten years ago a group of people went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic (DR). Doctor, dentist, nurses, and plain folk like you and me. It was there that the Holy Spirit moved their hearts for ministry in the DR. For Margie (Jon Roth's aunt ) and several others, it was at the end of a particular mission trip when one of the DR school teachers asked her when they would return and bring Jesus back with them to the school! The teacher knew and said that is what the children needed. Enough said. From there they knew they needed to minister there. Today, a doctor, a dentist, Margie, her husband Bill and another couple have built and own homes in the DR. One doctor has married a Dominican and has settled there to minister. They have built a Christian Education building and will be adding to it. "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be..." (John 12:26 NIV).

We will be working in the village of San Jose Adentro which is located outside of Santiago. If you look at a map of the island of the Dominican Republic (which is shared by Haiti), we will be in the north western area of the island. From the informational slide show I saw, it looks extremely similar to Guatemala. We will be working at the local school with the children and helping in the construction work at the school as well as on a different Christian Education Building already in progress (close by). I will be part of the group that will be performing the concrete and brick work in the building additions. The school addition will be for High School level children. The Christian Ed building will house a woodworking shop, a small engine workshop, be available for eyeglass clinics, hair design schooling and other service-type programs to teach the native people. We will also bring free dental care to the Dominican people who in no other way would receive any. And most importantly, we will be bringing the love of God to a needy people. We will do this through the dental care, puppet shows, drama presentations and other means of out-reach where Jesus Christ will be the focal point.

As you can see, the Holy Spirit prompts us and God waits to see how we will respond to His call. We can either not hear, not see the open doors, ignore Him, make excuses, rationalize it away or we can act upon it out of love and gratitude to Him "in truth and in spirit". All it takes is for people to use whatever they have as a talent, gift or treasure, and make time to use these God given items for His purposes. The people of the Christian Medical Mission have done exactly this and they know just how profoundly their lives have been changed and how richly they have been blessed. I am anxiously awaiting to see what God will show me about Himself and what He wants to teach me.

"So my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless." (1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV)

" ...He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature..." (2 Peter 1:4 NIV)

Missions News

• Missions Committee

Dr. Jennifer Hall

After a long interlude, (which is self explanatory!!) we have heard from Dr. Jen Hall in Cote d’Ivoire. Jen is sure that many of you have been wondering about her. Jen is well. She has been extremely busy at the hospital. Work has frequently been overwhelming.

2006 was a very busy year at the hospital in Ferke. Occupancy has been around 85%, so the work in the hospital and emergency surgeries was as high as ever. They do continue to see the effects of the ongoing political crisis in that the number of outpatients was the lowest in years. Many just don’t have the money to be treated. One of the most difficult things is dealing with patients with diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure. They just don’t have the money to come for regular treatment often causing more serious illness.

It is hard to see this in the patients, but it has an effect on the hospital finances. Hospital staff salaries are paid by this revenue and often it is difficult to meet obligations. As one of the administrators, Jen needs to constantly look at how they can reduce expenses and still meet needs of patients. While 2006 ended in the black, it is always a source of concern.

They have been working to renew their working agreement with the Ministry of Health. This is a long story, but their ministry as a Christian hospital was jeopardized. Their lawyer has re-submitted the document. Unless they have a current agreement, they cannot continue to import less expensive medicines and medical supplies from Europe. Continued operation of the hospital hinges on this agreement.

The biggest concern right now is the need for doctors. They are awaiting the return of an Ivorian doctor who has already worked at the hospital and has been in Abidjan doing a surgical residency. He has returned on a part-time basis until his children have finished the school year. Another doctor (Dr. Ballo) is expected to do OB/gyn and general surgery programs in Burkina Faso, Mail. He probably will put off this training for one year. Otherwise, Jen could be at the hospital by herself.

They need doctors, but the government is ready to hire all the doctors in the country for positions in government hospitals. As you can appreciate, the situation at the hospital is critical. There is the possibility of “importing” doctors from another country or staffing with short term workers.

Jen would like to do a 6-month home assignment, but under these circumstances, she is unable to leave the hospital at this time.

While Jen is learning more and more to lean on God for each day’s strength, often she has felt she was approaching “burn out”. She needs our love, concern and encouragement to continue from day to day. She thanks us for our prayers, even when we are not hearing form her.

We need to continue to pray.

(An update from Jen Hall.)

Dear Friends,

I know that many have you have been praying since getting my last update. THANK YOU! I know that the LORD is listening and will bless both you and me because of your faithfulness in supporting me.

I just wanted to send a quick note to let you all know what Dr. Ballo has decided.

He will be leaving Ferke in a week to start his training in Bamako. The training program actually started already, but he has accepted to go late to ease the transition. Dr. Sidjani should be here to do his first two-week stay right after that, so I won't have to bear the load as the only doctor until February 19th. Actually, I won't be the only doctor then as Dr. Marshall, the retired OB/Gyn is here until mid-April. However, he does not take call and so a heavy load will be on my shoulders. We are working out how our nurses (African and missionary) can help out with some of my responsibilities.

In my good moments, I know that the LORD will give me the strength, health, patience, etc. to handle this challenge....the hospital staff...assure me daily of their support in prayer. However, I keep having moments of panic when I doubt that I'll get through the coming months.

...He has assured me that he will be back and I believe him, but it is just another hard thing that God is asking me to go through right now.

Meanwhile the work continues. There have been many encouraging aspects of it...2006 saw over 100 people come to the Lord through the ministry...

Thanks again for your faithfulness in prayer.

Love, Jen

Andrew and Becky Loveall

The Lovealls report that Escuala Integrada in Antigua was broken into this past December. Even though the break-in caused great loss which they are still dealing with, the school was able to open on time and it has not stopped the work that helps the children. As soon as funds are available, a new security system will be installed at the school.

They have participated in a medical/dental outreach in a nearby refugee town where people have suffered terribly.

The Lovealls especially covet your prayers concerning the stability of the country. It is not just their school that has been victimized. Everyone there experiences the results of a nation slipping further out of control.

(You can read the entire letters in the Missionary Prayer Letter Book in the Main Foyer.)