Thursday, April 08, 2010

Haiti Mission 2010

Juli and a team have been in Haiti for the last week doing missionary relief work. Andy and I join them this coming Tuesday.
I have received news from Juli and the team that things are going very well. Some of you may have seen updates on her facebook as they have wifi there, Praise God. This really helps with inexpensive communication.
Easter Sunday they ministered at the local church; Juli taught the children a simple resurrection lesson using the butterfly. Afterwards there were tons of butterflies outside!
A few people from team 1 are returning already. The church had a sending home service for them giving them all nice gifts! Can you imagine them in their deep poverty having the hearts to give and be generous to us "rich" Americans?! It moves me to tears thinking about it.
It reminds me of the Macedonian Church, (Philippi, Thessalonica and Berea).

II Corinthians 8:1-2 GW Brothers and sisters, we want you to know how God showed his kindness to the churches in the province of Macedonia. 2 While they were being severely tested by suffering, their overflowing joy, along with their extreme poverty, has made them even more generous.

They had a revelation of God's generosity and promise to care for us. They chose to be a reflection of Him. Wow. It gives me pause to ponder the pursuits of my life.

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

The Tree of Life

2009 was a great year for our church!
For starters, we relocated to an actual church building. We went from meeting in the "upper room" of the Win-Jeff Plaza to an amazing facility with sound, lights, chairs, children's ministry rooms all set-up...it was like we missed the rapture and walked in to take over an empty church. This was greatly due to the kindness of Mosaic Faith Community and their willingness to lease it to us.
We also started 2009 with a name change; from the Church @ Rochester to LifeTree Fellowship. We continue with the vision God has given us: Relationship. Community. Our World. The Tree of Life is such an interesting study in the Bible.

Check out these scriptures:
Proverbs 3:18 Wisdom is a tree of life for those who take firm hold of it. Those who cling to it are blessed.

Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of a righteous person is a tree of life, and a winner of souls is wise.

Proverbs 13:12 Delayed hope makes one sick at heart, but a fulfilled longing is a tree of life.
Proverbs 15:4 A soothing (healing) tongue is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue breaks the spirit.

It is our desire to be the Church that reaches people in our culture, healing broken hearts and loving all God brings to us. The Tree of Life is not only metaphorical, but a real literal tree. it was first seen in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve, but those who put their faith in Christ will one day see it again.

Revelation 22:1-3 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: