Recently by Andrew

In August, we gave $72,450 toward our monthly budget goal of $80,650. $3,052 of that was special "Close the Gap" giving.

Watch these videos from The Gospel Coaltion website:

What Is The Gospel? - Mark Dever

What Is The Gospel? - John Piper

Here are the two financial ministries Pastor Richard mentioned in his sermon.

• Dave Ramsey
• Crown Financial Ministries

Here are some additional resources they offer.

• Dave Ramsey on debt
• Dave Ramsey on getting out of debt
• Dave Ramsey on budgeting
• Crown's spending plan calculator
• Crown's financial forms and downloads
• Crown's other online tools

 

If you shop at Basha's, link the Grace Chapel Kids Church ID number (24071) to your Thank You Card and the store will contribute a percentage of all your purchases during the year to our children's ministry.

It has to be relinked every year beginning September 1, so make sure we are still on your card if you've linked to us in the past. Learn more here.

Thanks for your support!

See more photos here.

In his last two sermons, Pastor Richard made the statement that "God is calling His Church to fervent, persevering, faith-driven prayer."

That phrase reminded me of something I read in R.A. Torrey's book, How to Pray.

In the first chapter of the book Torrey gives eleven reasons why "constant, persistent, sleepless, overcoming prayer" is so necessary.

1. Because there is a Devil.
2. Prayer is God's appointed way for obtaining things, and the great secret of all lack in our experience, in our life, and in our work is neglect of prayer.
3. Those men whom God set forth as a pattern of what He expected Christians to be - the Apostles - regarded prayer as the most important business of their lives.
4. Prayer occupied a very prominent place and played a very important part in the earthly life of our Lord.
5. Praying is the most important part of the present ministry of our risen Lord.
6. Prayer is the means that God has appointed for our receiving mercy and obtaining grace to help in time of need.
7. Prayer in the name of Jesus Christ is the way Jesus Christ Himself has appointed for His disciples to obtain fullness of joy.
8. Prayer, in every care and anxiety and need of life, with thanksgiving, is the means that God has appointed for obtaining freedom from all anxiety, and the peace of God which passes all understanding.
9. Prayer is the method that God Himself has appointed for our obtaining the Holy Spirit.
10. Prayer is the means that Christ has appointed whereby our hearts shall not become overcharged with surfeiting (gluttony or overindulgence) and drunkenness and cares of this life, and so the day of Christ's return come upon us suddenly as a snare.
11. Because of what prayer accomplishes

You can read more about those eleven reasons and the rest of the book online here or here.

In July, we gave $75,089 toward our monthly budget goal of $80,650. $19,678 of that was special "Close the Gap" giving.

Thank you.

Here are some web sites that I referenced or quoted from in my sermon.

• OpenDoorsUSA.org - Brother Andrew's ministry to serve persecuted Christians worldwide
• SecretBelievers.org - connect to persecuted Christians
• Wycliffe Bible Translators - Wycliffe's vision is to see the Bible accessible to all people in the language they understand best
• BareYourBookshelf.com - help Christians around the world get the books they desperately need
• Barna.org - this is where I found the survey results
• The Good Book Business - an article from The New Yorker about Bible publishing

In his message on July 20, Pastor Richard talked about the importance of learning to answer the arguments raised against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:5). Here are some websites that will help you defend the faith (apologetics) and confront doubts hindering you from a more fruitful walk with God.

And don't forget, Josh McDowell, one of the world's best known apologists, will be speaking at our church on September 6. Click here for more information.

• Answers In Genesis - Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to enabling Christians to defend their faith and to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ effectively. We focus particularly on providing answers to questions surrounding the book of Genesis, as it is the most-attacked book of the Bible.
• Apologetics Resource Center - ARC is a non-profit ministry whose mission is to reach the minds and hearts of people with the message and truth claims of the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• Bible.org Topics Page - The vision and mission of Bible.org is to leverage the power of the Internet to deliver the Word of God and trustworthy Bible study resources to people, churches, and ministries around the world...for free access by all.
• Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry - CARM offers a concise, comprehensive explanation of the Christian faith along with logical analysis of errors in popular beliefs, both secular and sacred
• IntelligentDesign.org - Explaining the science of intelligent design
• Ravi Zacharias International Ministries - Evangelism that focuses on skeptics, cultural influencers, and critical thinkers. Apologetics that addresses current issues and the needs of society.
• Stand To Reason - Stand to Reason equips Christian ambassadors with knowledge, wisdom, and character.

As Midwest communities along the Mississippi River face a difficult recovery from the worst flooding the region has seen in 15 years, Foursquare pastors, church leaders and congregants are on the scene to bring assistance to people and neighborhoods that are in the most need.

Iowa District Supervisor Jim Machen and Regional Supervisor Cliff Hanes are actively engaged in assessing the needs of our churches and the communities affected by the flooding. Assistant General Supervisor Jim Scott is also in the region, helping to mobilize Foursquare’s response as people determine how to clean up and rebuild their homes and their lives.

Two semi trailer-loads of supplies have been shipped to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, one of the hardest-hit areas to date. Cedar Rapids Christian Center, a Foursquare church pastored by Barry Foster, was flooded with nearly four feet of water. Jim Machen, who accompanied Pastor Barry as he walked through his church building, writes: “We had to wear boots and masks to go through the church building once the water receded. The four-and-a-half feet of water that was in the church many days did major damage.”

Other areas in Iowa impacted by the rising water include:

• Waterloo: Pastor Jerry Burrow’s home was inundated with three feet of floodwater.
• Waverly: Water flooded the home of a recent Foursquare church planter.
• Vinton: Scattered flooding caused much damage, but recovery efforts are going well.
• Iowa City: A trailer park and some businesses were flooded, and a large church in the community had water inside up to the roof. House of Praise Foursquare Church, pastored by Richard McCaslin is fine, but the homes of two families in the church were flooded.
• Fort Madison: Flooding of homes and businesses along the river was made worse by a semi-load of carbon dust inadvertently dispersed into the floodwater.

Several Iowa churches, while not directly affected by flooding, have strongly participated in local relief efforts. Foursquare congregants from both Living Hope Community Church in Davenport, pastored by Renee Holm, and Burlington Foursquare Church, pastored by Sam Fratt, are providing meals for relief workers. The city of Davenport alone received one initial damage estimate of $4.5 million. Cleanup and restoration of the damaged region could take four years or more to complete.

The Foursquare church family across the U.S. is encouraged to pray diligently for our pastors and fellow Christians, especially those serving the needs of people affected by the flooding, as well as those volunteers who are working tirelessly to help with cleanup and restoration.

The National Church Office released initial funding for flood relief in several communities in Iowa, and is accepting donations to assist as additional needs are identified and assessed.

Ways to help

1. Monetary donations may be made payable to The Foursquare Church and mailed to:

Disaster Relief
The Foursquare Church
1910 W. Sunset Blvd., Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Please clearly mark “Disaster Relief” on the memo line of each check.

2. The Iowa District office currently is establishing a process for coordination of work teams. Teams wishing to assist with cleanup and recovery should contact the Iowa District office by calling 563.243.0701.

3. Pray for God's grace to embrace those that mourn, “to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.” Isaiah 61:2-4 (NKJV).

Foursquare News Service #337