News & Views November 10

November 9th, 2021
by Mark Isaac

NOVEMBER MEMORY VERSE
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever."
1 Chronicles 16:34

NOVEMBER IS MISSIONS MONTH

NOVEMBER 14th WORSHIP
Life Lesson Classes
Adult Class - "What Makes You Happy?" - 8:30 A.M. - Room 110
Adult "Welcome" Class (Book of James) - 8:45 A.M. - Rooms 114-115

Connecting Point
9:30 A.M. - Dining Room

Worship
10:00 A.M. - Family Center Gym/Online
Pastor Mark: ROAD TO RECOVERY, Part 7 - MAINTAINING MOMENTUM
Read ahead - Matthew 5:1-12; Galatians 3:3; Zechariah 4:6
VIDEO and prayer focus for Ruddy & Cristina Ancheta, and Tom Regier

NLC Kids
10:00 A.M. - Rooms 101,103

Sunday, November 21, 2021
Mission Sunday, Meal, and Offering
10:00 A.M. WORSHIP
11:15 A.M. MEAL
We'll enjoy a turkey dinner while learning more about our Home Resource Center
and the video ministry of John & Geri over lunch.
For those unable to stay, the meal will be served as our Grab & Go Meal.

UPCOMING EVENTS

News from the Pacific District Conference

There are about 120 churches in the Pacific District Conference, NLC’s regional family. The “PDC,” as we call it, covers the states of Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah, and is larger than all of the rest of the nation’s Mennonite Brethren churches combined. Some of the closest PDC churches to NLC are Neighborhood Church in Visalia,
Reedley MB Church, Hope Kingsburg, Iglesia El Buen Pastor in Orange Cove,
and Calvario Community right here in Dinuba.

Every two years pastors and church members from the PDC churches gather for a convention. There’s worship and prayer, shared meals, some business,
and a night of testimonies from new church plants.

Copper Hills 4-Peaks Run
The most recent convention was November 4-6 in Phoenix, hosted by two churches. Copper Hills is in the northwest corner of Phoenix and has grown considerably since it was planted 20+ years ago. It’s focused on bringing the Gospel to its part of the city and has designed its facilities and ministries specifically with its community in mind. It has an Arts Center with a dance studio and music lesson rooms for kids in the community. It has a coffee shop they call “The Well” that serves as a place to meet people like how Jesus met the Samaritan woman. And it’s located so closely to a city park you can’t tell where the church property ends and the park begins.
They host a local 4-peaks hike each year drawing hundreds of participants.

Axiom Yard ministry
The second church was Axiom, in downtown Peoria, AZ. The church transformed an old lumber yard into a coffee shop and indoor/outdoor gathering space for worship and relationship-building. Their yard is a gathering place for families and kids from the neighborhood. They’ve also launched local businesses in the same block as the church. The goal is community development that gives them a platform to share the Gospel.

I was so encouraged by the testimonies of church planters across our district. They’re leading people to Jesus and serving their communities with love that shows they truly care.
I was happy to think of New Life Community and the many ways we’re doing the same.

Yes, there was also business to take care of. A new budget was passed. A new leader was elected: Dennis Fast, retired pastor and current chaplain at Palm Village in Reedley, will be the PDC moderator. Ron Brown from NLC will keep serving as Treasurer.
Some new churches were welcomed into the PDC including:
KCulture (an Ethiopian church in San Jose) and Mountain View Old Town in Clovis.

Dr. Joseph Jones and wife, Yvette
The PDC owns Fresno Pacific University. President Joseph Jones was present to announce his retirement at the end of the school year in 2022. He and his wife Yvette will be returning to the East Coast where their two daughters’ families live, including the Jones’ grandchildren.
Pray for the FPU Board as they launch a search for a new president. And pray for the PDC as they make decisions that fuel the growth of new and revitalizing congregations like ours.

PRAYER

Ask God to bring to mind NLC missionaries on a regular basis so you can keep them lifted to God in prayer.
Ask God what he wants to give through you toward our church's missionaries and their work. We will be gathering an offering on November 21 to cover their entire year's support.
Ruddy & Cristina Acheta--missionaries with Youth With a Mission (YWAM) in San Francisco.
- Cristina’s friend, Malou, has finished rehab and is in temporary housing. Pray she finds permanent housing.
- Pray for revival in the streets. The Anchetas hold a Pop-Up church on Sunday mornings out on the streets. Pray that people trust Jesus for salvation and transformed lives.
- Pray for the unhoused, the marginalized, and the poor in San Francisco.
Tom Regier--aviation missions to Alaska and Russia (Siberia)
- Pray that travel restrictions will be lifted so ministry can happen freely
- Pray that trips to Russia will be possible in 2022
- Pray for God’s blessing on this aviation ministry, pilots, planes, and the people they reach.
Johnny & Denise Esposito--missionaries to Southeast Asia (currently in Thailand)
- Pray for fruit to abound, and that people would receive Jesus and give him their lives
- Pray for the School for Ministry that provides skills and training to local pastors/leaders
- Operation Samaritan’s Compassion is their ministry providing food, supplies, and other essentials to families in need
Barbara Friesen was hospitalized on Saturday with shortness of breath. She has been transferred to Fresno’s heart hospital and is feeling better.
JR Southard’s spine surgery was postponed due to insurance issues. Pray that it is resolved soon and he can be scheduled for surgery.
Lyubov Heinrichs has returned home from the hospital.
Lois Brittel is recovering in the Fresno Armenian Home.
Pray for healing and strength for those dealing with health issues: Bruce & Laurel Smith and Ron Froese are recovering well, Chris Reimche’s shoulder is healing from surgery, and Glen Zimmerman is receiving an increased daily dose of chemo. Remember also Marilyn Chappell, Brian Smith, Lori Saubert’s mother, and Galen Wiest and Travis Jost with Multiply.
Thank the Lord for powerful testimonies of recovery and transformation during our Road to Recovery series on Sundays. Ask God to bless the motorcycle ministry of Broken Chains, and to protect its members as they travel and share the Good News.

Our Giving

Received Last Week (11/07):.…....$8,699
Received this year to date…...… $70,635
Budget to Date: …………...…..….. $85,194
Budget Goal: …………..…....….....$443,008
Needed Weekly: ……….…....….……$8,866

Please remember to ask God what He wants to give through you toward our November 21st Mission offering. The goal is $46,300 to cover our entire year's commitment to our missionaries.