Little Seeds

Funny how something that starts off so small can one day grow to something so big.

I am blessed to be the father of two boys who collectively started off less than 4lbs. Judah was 1lb and 12 oz and Jedidiah was 2lbs and 2 oz. Just last night I was remembering how tiny they were and how many tubes and wires they had on them as they literally fought to live. You wouldn’t know they had it so hard today if you saw them. They are normal 3 year old boys who have more energy than the energizer bunny. I say all of that to consider this contrasting and yet somewhat similar thought.

Where do things like murder, rape, wars and genocide begin? I would suggest that they begin as little seeds. Seeds of hate, lust, jealousy, greed, neglect and abuse. These seeds are planted and given different environments and opportunities they grow. They one day take a life of their own.

What may begin as a thought deep in the recesses of ones heart, one day finds words and then one day day leads to action. Now many of us will never let our actions or thoughts lead to such horrible acts but make no mistake as I read something today…that seed lies in each of us.

God warned Cain that sin was crouching at his door and he failed to heed that warning. I myself have sin crouching at my door and no matter what the seed is – I must starve it from anything that would allow it to grow or take root in my life. I have hated, lusted, been jealous & greedy. I have neglected things that ought not be neglected and abuse is not foreign to me. Today I am reminded of this powerful truth…

Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. (Romans 6:12-14)

I saw some amazing men and women in the NICU allow themselves to be instruments of God to foster life into my boys. I saw two boys being moved from apparent death to life and now the life and joy they bring to our family is amazing. God has done the same for me.

I moved from death to life on August 21, 1988. I made a decision to believe in Jesus and I received His grace. Now I pray that I am the instrument that He can use to foster that life and freedom that comes from knowing Him. I offer grace freely because that grace has been so freely given to me. I know those ugly seeds remain and stand ready to find root in my heart but I want to be diligent to empty myself daily to Him.

I want to plant seeds like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self control in my life and the lives of others. So that one day those little seeds will grow into something bigger than myself. This is my prayer.

Year End Report From Cissy McNickle

I must admit that, so far, the experience of being a Church Plant Core Team member has been difficult but incredible!

The things I thought would be most challenging have proven to be easier, such as making connections with New Jersey natives, seeing where God is working, and finding ways to join Him, and yet, the things I thought to be easy have been more challenging– especially communal living! God is so good and the ways He has provided have been nothing short of miraculous!

I am most thankful for our amazing team. Before moving up here, God confirmed to me that he would provide a team, if I would just trust Him. As a result, I could not ask for a better team!

Since moving to New Jersey in May, I have found that I am most surprised at the ministry opportunities that are already opened to us.

Twice a week, we are tutoring at an after-school program. This responsibility has been wearisome, but a meaningful experience. We have 25 children on the roster and new students join us almost each week. The kids are warming up to us and have really embraced our structured program.

Most recently, I have been blown away by the positive reception we have received at the strip clubs we are reaching out to through our “Loves Way Out-AC” ministry. We hope to visit the employees of these clubs every 3 to 4 weeks.

You can join us in this exciting ministry by:

1. Joining the prayer team. You will receive emails from me with the prayer requests of the women and men we meet.

2. Financially contributing to the gifts and baked goods we take into the clubs.

These gifts have proven to be crucial in breaking the ice. To get involved, email me at cissyloveschris@hotmail.com

Year End Report From Shelby Moreland

I never could have imagined that the way that God had refined me over the years would be one of the biggest reasons for coming here to serve. I am constantly surprised by how the Lord works in and through me. God has molded me to do the work that I am involved in at Grace Falls. He has made me with a desire to love on young women, to help the homeless and to teach children.

Before I moved to AC, I was serving at a homeless ministry every Thursday night. As God allowed me to fall in love with serving in that environment, He was shaping me to volunteer at Sister Jean’s Soup Kitchen, here in Atlantic County.

During my time here I have also learned that many times I put God in a box and doubt what He can really do. Time and time again, when I’m doubting God he comes through in a simple way and says “See, I Am bigger than you think.”

In the new year, I really look forward to developing relationships with the girls through “Loves Ways Out,” to continue to get more grounded here, to get to know my neighbors better, to continue to love on and be an influence to the kids we tutor in the Pleasantville community. I look forward to growing in Christ and experiencing His love on a deeper level, and I also look forward to growing closer with my team.

While I have been here, I have made a point to look back every couple of weeks and recognize how much I have changed and how my relationship with the Lord has grown. I get excited when I look to the future and think about the changes that God will be making as I continue to grow.

Year End Report From Tami Webb

Privileged!

That is how I would describe myself these days. I am so honored to be a part of the start of this church plant. For many years I loved being a part of the history of Exciting Idlewild Baptist Church. I am aware of the sacrifices made by those who started that church in a small neighborhood. Now I have the honor to witness the history in the making of Grace Falls from the very inception!

In an effort to develop a ministry purpose and plan, our core team read and studied the book, “Barefoot Church - Serving the Least in a Consumer Culture” by Brandon Hatmaker.

I must confess that I struggled through most of it. Not because I disagreed, but because I was so ill prepared to participate in any sort of relational ministry. For years, I have sat in the church office and I have forgotten the value of personal relationships. That is part of what motivated me to join this ministry effort. As a result, God has led me into places I would have never imagined.

While I still have the honor to support the ministry of Idlewild, as well as the administrative needs of Grace Falls, I am excited to get out from behind the desk and participate in ministry!

Twice a week I get to encourage children who need someone to help them finish their homework. Each Friday we gather with a small group of believers as we “Experience God,” not only through the workbook, but also as we see how He is transforming our perspective for eternity. But, most challenging of all has been to participate in the “Loves Way Out” ministry.

As the mother of two young men, I have struggled to connect with young women, yet on the very first night of ministry at the clubs, we met a dancer who reminded me of a girl who had been in my 6th grade Bible Fellowship class many years ago. It was her first night at work and she looked scared. That was how God taught me the value of why are here - to bring Light to the darkness.

Yes, it has been hard to leave our family, our house, a job that I have loved and served at for 33 years, but I pray that as I learn to engage in a new way that someone else might be challenged to step out also.

Jim and I cannot begin to express how much we appreciate the generous support you have shown to us and we look forward to sharing more in the new year!

Merry Christmas From Atlantic County!

There is a worship song that I love and although it isn’t one that finds its way in our Christmas playlist – it should! The song is called One Thing Remains and the lyrics are very powerful:

Your love never fails, it never gives up and never runs out on me Your Love, On and on it comes, Yes it overwhelms and it satisfies my soul, And I never ever have to be afraid Because this one thing remains… Your love never fails, it never gives up And never runs out on me.

Isn’t this the essence of what Christmas is all about? Christmas marks the event when God’s love came down and revealed itself in the form of a baby. This was no ordinary child and it sure wasn’t an ordinary birth. This was God keeping His word by giving us the WORD. Listen to what the apostle John says in John 1:14, as translated in The Message…

“The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. We saw the glory with our own eyes, the one-of-a-kind glory, like Father, like Son, Generous inside and out, true from start to finish.”

When Christ came to us, He came not only demonstrating the Love of the Father, but to also declare His love for you and for me. His love is a love that never fails…it is a love that never gives up or runs out. Christmas is a time that helps each of us slow down, to reflect, to remember and it is a time we gather with those we love.

We don’t just take the time, we MAKE the time to be with the ones we love. We go to great lengths to express that love in various ways. We want each of those family and friends to know the difference they make in our lives. This is why we love Christmas. It affords each of us to value the things that matter.

Your love and support has been a clear reflection of God’s love. It has been a love that has been with us every step of this journey. It has helped us not give up, but to press on. It’s helped us when it’s been tough, scary and lonely. It has encouraged us to know that we aren’t alone and that God is with us.

Your prayers, your encouragement, your gifts, and even presence here have been a HUGE BLESSING to US! We hope you know that:

❄ We love you and thank GOD for you! ❅ You are our family and you are a part of every aspect of what God is doing here. ❆ We couldn’t accomplish what we have seen so far without your support. ❄ We won’t be able to see it through without you’re continued prayer and support. ❅ Miles may separate but it is God’s love that UNITES. ❆ May you and your family have a MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Year End Report From Jim Webb

I had no idea of what to expect when I started this journey of faith but through the teaching of my Bible Fellowship teacher Bob Sprinkle I was willing to learn. Bob had made a big impact on me through his teaching.

I was learning that there was more to serving God than sitting in a pew and just listening to the sermon. I recognize now that God was preparing me for this step of faith and that the best thing that I could do was to put myself in God’s hands, which was a very new concept for me.

After getting here, things were very complicated, but I have seen God’s hand in everything that is going on. I saw him at work in meeting our need for economical housing, in meeting new people and in providing for our finances.

For the first time in my life I am beginning to care about my walk with Christ. Being a part of this church plant team has opened my eyes to what and who God really is. I have seen and experienced God’s work and have marveled at the things that He can do through me, if I will only make myself available to Him.

I did not join the team with a lot of spiritual knowledge or experience, but I know that God is using what I have and is allowing me to make a contribution to this team and this ministry. I am happy to be able to use my years of construction experience, as well as the skill and knowledge I learned from my father, to be able to oversee the maintenance of the beautiful property that has been granted to this ministry.

Most rewarding to me has been that during the early months, while we have had to live very closely with one another, I have been welcomed and accepted like a friend and brother to the rest of the team.