OUR NEW WEBSITE!

Hey Everybody. Hope you are all well. We are currently moving all our info onto our new website. Exciting, our very own website. We are systematically moving everything across so you can see the progress so far at www.jbaybaptist.com. Take a look around the site.

You can download the latest sermons for the James Series as well as all the previous ones if you missed out.

See you all on sunday. : )

Jess

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MYRTLE

We celebrated a very special occasion with the 90th birthday of Mrs Myrtle Jenkins, a beautiful and blessed lady who has herself been a blessing to family, friends and to this congregation over the years.

We thank you Auntie Myrtle for what you have been to us, and praise the Lord for His hand upon you. A special thank you also to those who worked so hard from love to celebrate the occasion.

TEA TENT AT TECOMA MARKET

Thank you to all the helpers, donors and supporters who made the day a success. We had good fellowship with one and all who worked the morning there or who came past to visit and buy. The Lord was indeed with us.

We raised around R3 000 for the church funds which was very blessed.

Each precious child - TIMION

Timion -is the project run by Daniel and Anika Meyer and is a Greek word meaning the child is precious. Click on Timion to be taken to their website.

Daniel and Anika work with disabled children at clinics in the Koega region, training the mothers or carers in some physiotherapy that they can use to assist the child, and making equipment for them.

"We want to help these children by providing physical help, BUT much more important: We want to love them, as God loves them, and encourage their parents to love them, and show them that they are precious in God’s eyes"
PRODUCTS
In the new workshop at Lootpark Units 7 & 8, J Bay, Daniel makes the wooden standing frames and wheelchair inserts seen here, whilst Anika sews the cushioning for these and for cushions used to help the children lie in the correct position. As Daniel explains “Most severely disabled children spend most of the day lying in a poor position. This limits function and development, has a negative effect on spasticity, causes deformities which can lead to breathing difficulties.” It is also important that some sort of standing position be enabled to assist the child’s development, and hence the standing frames. For those with some standing ability, walking aids are produced.

Son Surf | Skate - People

When you have a moment, please ask them about the exciting things that they are doing to minister to this special group of people in Jeffreys Bay and surrounds.

Roy Harley(African Regional Director)
Jonty Bougas(Media Co-ordinator)
Richard Leonard(South African Director)
Bradley Jones(Son Skate Director)
Sam Leonard(Office Manager)
Jana Bougas(SA Prayer Co-ordinator)

You can also find out about the ministry that these folks are called to by clicking on the link on the right hand bar...

http://www.sonsurf.co.za/
http://www.sonsk8.co.za/

CAN YOU HELP? Joshua Project - Needs

Prayer, prayer, prayer.
Finances (Sponsors, big or small)
Staff
Volunteers
Resources

Specifics...
Food i.e sugar, mielie meel, rice, soya, soup, oats, margarine, cooking oil, jam, peanut butter etc.
Incentives for kids i.e. sweets, chips, cookies etc.
Sponsorship for kids camps, outings
Supplies for craft activities i.e.: construction paper, colour pencils, markers, glue, scissors, and colour paper etc.
Kids & Educational dvd's
Sport/games equipment: skate boards, rollerblades, balls (all shapes and sizes), volleyball net, puzzles, kids board games etc.
A trailer
Fold up stretcher/single bed mattress
Sponsorship for staffing positions
Caravan (cost R8 000)to use for HIV and AIDS frail care
Medical supplies i.e. plasters, paracetomol/pain tablets, cough medicine, mercurochrome, surgical gloves
Cleaning supplies ie: washing up liquid, washing powder, all purpose cleaner.

If you can supply any of these things, please email us or click on the link to the Joshua Project home page and email them directly. If you can't provide any of these things, please pray that God will prompt people to provide these much-needed items for the Joshua Project in Jeffreys Bay.

7th Heaven Children's Haven ** Special prayer request

*** Funding is a real issue and the family do not have their own home at the moment. Please pray for provision.***
The J-Bay Baptist Church is coming alongside in a very real way with the http://7thheavenchildrenshaven.co.za/. Let us tell you a little about this place of safety, love and restoration for vulnerable children.

Nelly Senong is pictured below left, and is the house mother. From her teenage years Nelly felt that God would call her to work with children – but where?

Following 6 years of teaching and waiting in expectation for a call to the Congo or somewhere, Nelly realised she must not expect a particular thing, just wait. Sure enough she woke one morning knowing that what was on the radio right then was for her, but she had missed catching it! Badgering the radio station, she discovered it was a call from the Eagle’s Nest church in J Bay for a counsellor so off Nelly set on the bus, not even knowing where J Bay was till after she bought the ticket! Nelly soon however found herself working with homeless children, her first love and calling.

From a tiny house in Pellsrus, prayer led to the Lord’s provision of the house where the haven now is. However, things have not run smoothly with various management structures coming and going, and for the last couple of years, Nelly found herself without assistance and without a home church. However, God led her to the Baptist Church, and over the time she and the children have been coming here, people have really taken them into the church family and into their hearts.

The church has formed a little committee to assist with admin and finance, and this will eventually lead to a more formal structure to assist with funding appeals and so on.

GROCERY APPEAL
Meanwhile, the church has launched a grocery appeal. Whilst the church does buy groceries as part of its outward tithing, this does not go very far in a big household! Please do purchase an extra item when you do your grocery shop, whether weekly or monthly, and place it in the box in the church foyer, a bright yellow box – you can’t miss it! There are hardly any funds coming into this Haven from grants, so these groceries are badly needed. If you wish to confirm which items are needed, please speak to Irene Bradley of our church, or to Nelly Senong, the house mother.

BANKING DETAILS:

First National Bank Jeffreys Bay

Branch code: 210515

Account name: 7th Heaven Trust

Account number: 62227513969

Business cheque account.

pray for our leadership

Consider this prayer when you feel like grumbling about the leaders in your church:

'Good Shepherd,
Thank you for my church leaders, lay and ordained.
Thank you that you have called and equipped them.
Thank you for their vision, love and service.
Show me how I can serve them as they serve you.
Help me to submit to their authority without grumbling or complaining.
Help me to encourage and strengthen them in their ministry as they lead us in ministry.
Touch their hearts and heal them in every way.
Stir their hearts and embolden them.
Soothe their hearts and give them your peace.
Lead them into your presence and grant them wisdom and anointing to lead us.
I ask this so that your light will shine in and through every part of your Church.
Amen'

Manyano - A Place of Peace and Unity where you can Discover God

Manyano Centre in Paarl is where Tony and Tineke Litchfield from our church are now serving the Lord. They are running this large place which can accommodate around 135 people mainly for group conferences, or camps. Whilst these are not always Christian, the Christian message will always be there.


Facilities include a swimming pool, large well kept gardens and sports playing fields for volleyball and soccer, spacious meeting rooms and breakaway rooms.

They have links with the Paarl Methodist Church and Tony and Tineke ask for our prayers in working with this church to develop a vision for the centre.

Tony says “During 2008 we had over 500 people take the Alpha course and another 400 plus take part in an Emmaus discipleship course.

We had NGO's including Mother2Mother a one on one HIV programme. We also hosted the Western Cape Emergency Services regional conference.

On a personal level we are doing very well God has been so good. We have 'adopted' my brother in law's son and he has fitted in to life here at the Manyano Centre. Aidan and Bella our own kids are such a blessing from the Lord.

Manyano is Xhosa for unity and our desire is to see all churches involved here and other non church groups involved in training.

We are also involved in sports evangelism and last year we had the privilege of seeing over 1600 kids give their lives to the Lord.” This sports evangelism ministry with other youth ministry is the focus they want to develop during 2009, please pray for them as they seek God’s will for this.

What To Expect

Where are you located?
On Dolly Varden Street in C-Place, Jeffreys Bay. We are diagonally opposite the Caltex Wavelands service station which is on your left as you enter Jeffreys Bay on St Francis Street.

When are your services?
We have Sunday Morning Worship at 08h30. and JBay Java Café Church on Sunday at 18h00.

What should I wear to church?
You will see all manner of dress at any given service - from jeans to dresses/suits. Come dressed in what is comfortable for you.

What do I do with my children?
Your children can be part of an exciting and active environment filled with songs, games and loving teachers that teach Godly values at an age appropriate level. Our Sunday School worship together and are then divided into groups based on age for a lesson. It coincides with the morning worship service.

Will I feel uncomfortable as a visitor?
We have many visitors and believe you will feel right at home the first time you visit with us.

Will I know what to do when I get there?
There are greeters at the door who can help direct you or answer any questions you might have.

As a visitor, will I be asked to give an offering?
Visitors or members are never pressured to give any offerings. Visitors are encouraged to simply be our guest and find out who we are.

Do I need to become a member?
No, all are welcome to worship with us at JBay Baptist Church. However, we do offer information on membership for those who are interested in finding out more about opportunities to serve alongside us.

Do you have special communion services?
Every second week, communion is observed alternating between the Sunday morning service and the evening JBay Java Café Church service.

JBay Java - Café church - Bean there yet?

Sunday evening from 5.30 pm

2 Cor 2:15 For we are to God the aroma of Christ...

A worship service with a difference...

use all you've been given for God - some possible options

In no particular order:

If you'd like to get involved, please email jbaybaptist@gmail.com

Timion
-folks to help sand and paint equipment
-folks to sew
-folks to donate materials
Other needs

7th Heaven
-folks to visit and play with the children?
-folks to help with homework?
-folks to donate school materials?
-baby formula
-fixing up play room (lots of work – paint, roof, sealants etc.)
-prayer warriors
Other needs

Joshua Project

Project needs

Building Fund
-folks to come up with ideas for fund raising
-folks to help run with ideas for fund raising

Ladies' Dorcas Fund
-this fund is a benevolent fund and anyone can contribute to it by making crafts that are sold by the ladies at their meetings and at an annual fete.

Visiting Team
-folks to visit the sick and elderly
-folks to visit the members of the church family when there is a need

Small Group
-leaders and/or hosts

JBAY Java
-help setting up tables and washing table clothes
-help set up, serve and wash up in the kitchen
-stewards to give a warm welcome and to show newcomers to seats
-singers and musicians to join the worship team

Sunday School
- teachers

*** Special Prayer ***

Please continue to pray for Pastor Roy and his wife Joy especially now as they enter the last period of their sabbatical and prepare to return to ministry within the church tomorrow. The sabbatical is a time for rest, refreshing, renewal and re-envisioning. For those who don't know what the word means, a sabbatical (from the same word as we get 'Sabbath day') is meant to be a stimulating and refreshing break from ministry (but not a holiday) leading to a pastor returning better equipped to serve, through deeper understanding and new insights. Please pray that it will be so for them.

Building project - Sunday School - with hope and vision for the future generations

Just Another Brick in the Wall

How many I wonder can remember that song? The words go “You’re just another brick in the wall”. Of course you’re not a brick, but you could PUT another brick in the wall!

By the grace of God, the extension on the Sunday School building is up to floor level. Phase 1 was to bring it to the floor slab by the Christmas break, and we made it! On time and on budget – God is good.

This extension is so important for the children and youth in the church, and they are our future. God has such plans for them, its awesome to be a part of the watering and watching God make the growth.

Any contribution is such an assistance, a brick at a time sees growth. There is a long way to go to completion, but each step and each brick, or window, or door helps. Or you can volunteer to help with painting or in some other way.

Please place any contribution in an envelope marked “building fund” into the collection, or check the bulletin for banking details and reference the donation “building fund”.

Thank you so much, and please have a look at what has been done, and pray, please please pray that God’s will be done in the building of this extension and in its use thereafter.

~ blog from Irene Bradley

SonWorld Adventure Park - Children's HOLIDAY CLUB Pics!

Toffee Apple and Jelly Tot get better acquainted with the clown


Worship! Our love is BIG!

Mad Monkey Falls



The funnest of funny.

Leadership Summit 2008 - Jeffreys Bay

As you may know, some of our leaders attended the Willow Creek Global Leadership Summit 2008 recently. Over the next couple of weeks, we'll be hearing from them about how their lives have changed and the changes that they would like to bring to our church as a result.

Mark Knight, full time Student Pastor @ JBay Baptist, studying through Spurgeons College, UK.

I want to start with saying that this years summit was great. I have been blessed with having been to both this year’s summit and last years. I found that this summit had a much more spiritual sense about it. We are leaders in God’s Church and though we can learn from the business world we must remember that our nature and function are very different to that of the business world.

Where do I start with what I felt God blessed me with from the various speakers?

In Bill Hybels first session he spoke about the need for church leaders to have to make decisions. Decisions will often affect others in either good or bad ways. In the business world one can say that we are basing those decisions on the good of the company, leaders can be firm and hard if needed under such reasoning. In the church decisions need to be made, sometimes hard decisions, but often we fear the consequences.
Bill gave us a four-point plan that if applied, should help us as we seek to make wise decisions:

FRAMEWORK FOR DECISION MAKING
1. Does the bible speak about it?
2. What would smart advisers say to me concerning this decision I have to make (seek the wisdom of worthy advisers)?
3. What have I learnt from the pain of past decisions (the good ones and bad)? Try journaling not just spiritual matters but our practicing of decision making for later reference within our future ministry.
4. What is the Holy Spirit saying to me concerning this matter?

I would actually put the point about the Spirit second but this structure, I believe, could really help us as leaders.

Gary Haugen, in his session blew me away.
One point that sticks out to me is the point he made concerning the things we strive for.
“Just because I'm passionate about something doesn't mean that God wants it for me and for those I lead”.
This links well with Bill’s points on wise decision-making and made me really sit up and think. I have a number of things running around in my head about church and even my private life that will affect others, are they things that God wants or am I striving towards my will?

A theme for the conference in my eyes was “Is this doing church”?
Am I doing church by striving for the things that really only matter to me? Isn’t “doing church” actually about getting down to the things that matter to God?

I’m going to close now by giving short feedback on other sessions, hoping that if I keep it short I won’t get marked down for going over my allotted three points!!

Efrem Smith - “Leading in new cultural realities”
What a timely word! We are living in a multicultural world where people living with us are not only from other countries but are often people that in fact come from the same country but are very different culturally. With such a truth in mind, shouldn’t we be doing church in a way that reaches everyone regardless of colour, creed or culture?

Craig Groeschel and, “IT: How leaders can get IT and keep IT”.
“IT”, being the life and presence of the Spirit in all we do as “Church”.
We can have “IT”, we can lose “IT”, but we can get “IT” back again.
What a mind bender this statement is! However, what needs to be understood is the need for the Spirit to saturate every aspect of church. If we don’t have such a blessing, we need to be taking every step to get “IT”!

Bill Hybels last session on “Relentless” and his study on the life of Mother Teresa. What a way to close the conference! What an amazing lady Mother Teresa was!
I’m sure at times we’ve all felt like giving up, Mother Teresa’s life shows us someone who never did, and reminds us that we must never give up on fulfilling the will and calling God has for us.

Last words… check out John Burke’s session (on the DVD). Messy church! Should we make people wait until they have their life looking all together before we welcome them in to church? If they were in such a “utopia state” wouldn’t they be out of place in our churches with all of us less than perfect people?

Bradley Jones, missionary with SonSurfSonSkate in Jeffreys Bay

I was really challenged by the world's top leaders - by their lives as well as their words. Some of the one-liners coming out of the conference were:

• “What do I need to stop doing?”
• “Do you have IT?”
• “Are you leading in what matters to God?”

The biggest challenge on my heart is: Are we leading in what matters to God?

The reason I love this so much is it challenges us to spend more time with God to find out what matters to Him. Secondly it challenges us to put into action what we are learning daily and thirdly to be an example (Christian witness and presence) to those people around us through our actions and lastly to stop doing things that take up time and have no real value. So the challenge is simply: 'Are you doing things that matter to God or not?'. I suppose the question needs to be asked too, though, 'Do you care if you are or not?' because that will determine your response to the question: 'Are you leading in what matters to God?'.

Alfred Coetzee, Christian businessman and Sunday School Superintendent

The single most meaningful thing I learnt at the summit was we need to be courageous and not sit in the visitor centre but go out and climb the mountain that God has put on our way.

I was inspired by by all the speakers that we shouldn't be afraid to take on new adventures. If we don't try we won't succeed.

In terms of our church, the most important thing that I learnt (or would like to implement) is we will have to look at the table and assess who sitting around the table and are we the right people to move forward.

Louise Knight, Office Manager and wife of Student Pastor, Mark Knight.

The single most meaningful thing I learnt at the summit was how God can use someone who vows "I will deny Him nothing." (Mother Teresa of Calcutta)

I was inspired by her relentlessness despite the obstacles in her path, simply because God had called her.

In terms of our church, the most important thing that I learnt was to ask the following questions of my church leaders:

Have we got the right people around the table?

Are we discussing the right challenges?

Are we pursuing things that God cares about?

Donovan Holmes, our Associate Pastor:

1) “Just because you are leading and just because people are following doesn’t mean that you are leading in the things that matter to Jesus” Gary Haugen

2) Ordinary people changing the world because they are listening to God and they are boldly leading where angels fear to tread. I’m ordinary too, watch out world!

3) Unapologetic leadership as the Holy Spirit is listened to and obeyed.

Willie Uys, an elder in our church and Christian businessman. Willie felt that there was still a lot that he wanted to unpack from the sessions, but for now his responses are:

The single most meaningful thing I learnt at the summit was the fact that God only wants what we have and NOT what is needed to get something done.

I was inspired by the fact that so many of the speakers started off on a dream/vision/calling without actually sitting down and calculating the costs and what was needed. If they had, they may never have started!!

In terms of our church, the most important thing that I learnt (or would like to implement) is...the realisation that I need to see where God is working and to join Him in that, and not to try and start something "new" which may not be at all important to Him.

Jana Bougas, SonSurfSonSkate Prayer Support and musician (use the link further down on our blog to find out more about this fantastic ministry):

The single most meaningful thing I learnt at the summit was... "How will the poor, despaired and sufferers know that God is good if we don't show up?" Gary Haugen

I was inspired by... "The video clip 'A Thousand Questions" about a girl travelling the world filming different people and places and as she edits the video and visits these different cultures, she's asking God why she still sees all the heartache, pain and suffering in the world and why can't she feel Him here on earth... and in the end, she sings a song of Praise to God and she says "Here Am I... Send Me!"


In terms of our church, the most important thing that I learnt (or would like to implement) is... Mainly to go out there, into the communities where help is really needed and show God's love to them and bring them into His house.


http://www.willowcreek.com/events/leadership/2008/

SonForce Kids - Special Agents Holiday Club 007

What a fantastic time we had! If you became a Christian at this year's holiday club, please contact us for Sunday School details and Kidz Klub details to help you GROW. We will also be able to send you a booklet about how to spend some time with God every day...just email us. jbaybaptist@gmail.com Look forward to hearing from you

Remember Kidz Klub every Friday night at the church! In recess for school holidays only.

Meet the Pastors - Donovan Holmes

So, Donovan:

Describe yourself in three words: Contemplative, Slow, Patient

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music sings about some of her favourite things...what are some of yours?
Books next to my bed on the one side and my wife and daughter on the other. Sarah Mclachlan and Andrea Bocelli, milk chocolate, Milo, Pringles and a good home movie. Hmm, I can just see my waistline growing.

What's your pet peeve? Empty milk cartons at 5:30 in the morning and institutional bureaucracy/ apathy

What would be your dream holiday? Anywhere with play facilities for kids, mountains are cool too. The Cavern, Drakensberg has it all.

How were you called to be a pastor? Mainly through listening to a terrifying inner compulsion and the counsel of more experienced pilgrims.

What's the best thing about your job? People, people, people

What's the worst thing about your job? Evenings out.

What's on your bedside table (what are you reading)? “Surprised by Hope” N.T. Wright

Favourite quote?

When God sets out to embrace the enemy, the result is the cross. On the cross the dancing circle of self-giving and mutually indwelling divine persons opens up for the enemy; in the agony of the passion the movement stops for a brief moment and a fissure appears so that sinful humanity can join in. We, the others – we, the enemies – are embraced by the divine persons who love us with the same love with which they love each other and therefore make space for us within their own eternal embrace”. Miroslav Volf “Exclusion and Embrace”

What's your favourite thing about JBay? The wind, not! The beaches.

If our church was to begin another outreach program in Jeffreys Bay, what would you like that to be? Dream a little... An employment creation programme, teaching skills, setting people up in micro-businesses

Dates to Diarise

...tba