Central Baptist’s New Pastor!

Central Baptist, where we have been attending church since late March, ordained their new pastor this evening. Pastor Omar Segovia has taken over the leadership since Pastor Jon Moody and his family were sent out as missionaries to Ivory Coast in Africa the first part of June. The Segovia family lives across the circle from us and we have gotten to spend quite a bit of time together. Our kids are even the same ages! They are a neat family and definitely being used in mighty ways for God's kingdom not only at Central, but also in our own family. Chris and Omar have spent countless hours praying and planning for Central's future (and some time playing XBOX too!). Their children, Elijah-3, Keziah-4, and Titus-4 mos, play well with Hailey and Noah and have easily become their best playmates. Jana and I have also gotten to know each other pretty well and I have really enjoyed getting to see her heart as she seeks to be a godly wife, mom, and role model for women around her. We are blessed to have friends like the Segovias and Central Baptist is also greatly blessed to have such passionate leadership. Please keep this special family in your prayers as they seek to lead Central Baptist towards all that God has for her future.

Tour De Nebraska 2008

Chris returned alive and well from his 3^rd consecutive 5-day bike tour of the sand hills of Nebraska. He had a great time peddling, sweating, tent camping, and surviving hailstorms with his dad, Nick (brother), and Dan (family friend). He rode 250 miles this year. He had a great time and said it was the best tour so far! He hasn't biked at home again yet, but he is planning to bike to Omaha from Kansas City one of these days before summer is over! We'll keep you posted so you can come cheer him on! J

Swimming in "Arizona"

We were reminded today just how amazing kids are at adapting! Hailey and Noah were "swimming in Arizona."

The gutter runoff was their diving board and the puddle of water... their swimming pool. 

 

    

Family Newsletter - 1st Edition!

In an effort to keep in touch with friends and family, we've created a newsletter that we hope to mail out every couple of months or so.  Our first edition was a lot of fun to put together, complete with pictures and little notes on what each of us have been up to, plus ways that you can be praying for us!

If you would like to be put on our mailing list to get future newsletters and updates, send me an email at ani_ldodi@prayer-warrior.net . Or you can download it directly from here! Keep in touch!

Love,
Rebecca 

Attachments: March 2008 Newsletter

Proclamation Evangelism

Today we went out witnessing with an inner-city church, Central Baptist and it was AWESOME!  God is so very good! The majority of the people we were sharing with today were Hispanic and Rebecca and I were able to go through the Gospel message (in very broken Spanish) with about 12 different people. Please keep this area in your prayers, as the majority of the people in this neighborhood have not accepted Christ as their Savior.

As we were leaving, I had the privilege of getting to share the Gospel with Caesar. It was a really good and open conversation. Caesar wasn't ready today to commit his life to Christ, but the Holy Spirit is definitely working on his heart and he committed to reading through the tract and the Gospel of John. So please be praying for Caesar and all of those around the Central Baptist Church.

I must admit that one of the most drastic changes in my life these past few months has been that God has placed a burden on my heart to reach people through proclamation evangelism. It was scary at first (and still is), going door-to-door and talking with people in the "party" section of Kansas City (Westport); but oh, how mightily God uses the seeds that are planted.

It has been so humbling to realize that God has used me these past few months to share the Gospel with no fewer than 50 people; some of the seed will fall on rocky or thorny ground, but God promises that some of the seeds will fall on good ground and will bare fruit. When was the last time you have sown some seed for our Lord Jesus? If it's been a while, I challenge you to sow some seeds - evangelize a stranger and see how God uses it - yes, some seeds will fall by the wayside, but, we never know which of those seeds will fall on fertile ground and be used by the Holy Spirit to lead that person into a relationship with Jesus Christ! How amazing it is that He uses and trusts sinners like us to ensure His message is taken to all that may hear.

God bless!

Chris

Evangelism Response Center

The Evangelism Response Center (ERC) is one of the amazing entities which is supported by your local church's support of the SBC Cooperative Program. 

The Evangelism Response Center (ERC), a ministry of the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, combines all of these in an evangelism resource designed to equip and mobilize Southern Baptists to offer prayer and spiritual counseling with people all over North America using the telephone and Internet.  A unique feature of this ministry is that it uses at home volunteers rather than gathering volunteers in a phone center to respond to calls. This enables us to provide twenty-four hour outreach to individuals seeking spiritual encouragement.  Callers then can be referred to a Southern Baptist church in their community for continuing ministry and discipleship. (http://www.erconline.net/)

Rebecca and I went through the training to volunteer for the ERC last night, and I must say, I am so excited to see God use this ministry to reach people for Him. God has really convicted me about proclamational evangelism lately and has really lead me to step outside of my comfort zone and make intentional efforts to reach the lost for Him.

It is so amazing to see what God will do in the lives of those he places in our paths.  God is so very good, is He not?! When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone God placed in your path? If it's been a while, I challenge you to try it this week - share the Gospel with someone at the checkout counter, with the waitress at the restaurant, or your next-door neighbor! It is so humbling and awesome that God uses sinners like us to reach people for Him.

evangelizo - Proclaiming the Good News. Evangelism

God Bless,

Chris

MS Live - Writer

I know I'm new to the blogging world - but hey, I think it's cool.  I got a new computer today and was installing MSN Messenger and it asked me if I wanted to install 'Writer.' 

Turns out that Writer is a blogging WYSIWUG editor for blogs! I know that this is probably old news to most in the blogging community (and heck, there may even be better ones out there) - but for the time being, I'm really liking it.

It'll make it much easier to keep the blog updated, now that I don't have to use Bloggers editor to do it!

Well, just thought I'd share (and test out) Writer.