October 2013 – Partner Update
This month celebrates my 75th birthday and I am thanking God for these many years of dancing in his love and proclaiming his grace throughout the world. I am also thanking God for every one of you who daily make this adventure possible with your gifts and prayers.
Our attention is on our winter retreat that is fast approaching in which we will be addressing the situation in the world and in your life. Evil has been with us since the day mankind welcomed Satan into the Garden of Eden. The Bible records the presence of evil and triumph of the believer in Christ over it; but it also speaks of the evil day – a time of intense darkness throughout history and our personal lives. We are living in such an evil day when evil is applauded and parades with arrogance across the earth. Like a poison gas it invades governments, personal lives, families, communities, the education system, the world of business and economics. It is with us in false religion and has crept into major Christian denominations bringing spiritual blindness and death.
The Gospel makes it abundantly clear that Jesus was manifested to destroy the works of the devil; it also warns us that the devil is like a roaring lion on the hunt. What did Jesus do in his death and resurrection? Are we missing something? Does Satan have power today? What is it that Satan lost at the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?
Is there a part that we play in bringing about the downfall of evil? What is the authority of the believer – do you know your authority over the powers of darkness and evil? Have you ever been taught to use it?
How do we live in midst of neighbors and fellow believers who are terrified and hopeless in the face of evil? What is the ultimate temptation that we face in such a time of evil?
What kind of praying is needed for these days in which we live? We must learn the power of standing with other believer’s rather than alone.
These are the questions that form the basis of our Winter retreat: 
The retreat begins December 6th at 7 p. m. continues all day Saturday and finishes Sunday morning December 8th, with our Sunday service. *(Please note this is a morning service on Dec. 8)
We will be facing these questions and more head on with the plain answers of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Call our office for details and make your reservation immediately as we are limited in space.
Again let me thank you for all of your gifts this last month. The summer has been a weekly adventure of faith but the Lord has used each one of you to carry us through triumphantly. May He abundantly bless you in all that you do as we come into these winter months so that you may continue to bless the world.
The Blessing of the Lord be with you all!
– Malcolm and Nancy Smith