The Ohio Independent Baptist, October 2003

For The Sake OfThe Gospel by Susan Johnson Dear Ladi e ·. My heart was obered thi s unday as Joe and E ther Ke irn, with Mi. ion to A,n ish People (MAP ). hun1bl y presented hov. God ha~ taught the,n to . er e, to sacrifi ce and to . hare ·'for the . ake of the gospe l. ,. After describing his exco,11,nunicati on from the A111 i. h church and hi s . hunning by n1any, including hi s father. he said with detern1inati on and reverent jt)y. ·· 1 can do their ·for the sake of the gospel!"' The Ke i111s open their hon1e for people who leave the A111i . h chu rch. teaching then, \UCh Ii ing . kill s a · dri ing a ca r. After spea~ing of the dents in his car due to ··Driver. Ed:· Joe sa id \V ith a quick laugh ... I can do that for the \a1'e of the gospel~·· Jesu: sa id in Mark 8:35, "For whoever dc\ ires to save hi s life \Vii i lose it. but \.Vhoevcr loses hi s life for my sake and the gospel wi 11 save i L. .. What arc v.e v. 1 il ling to lose. or freely \acrifi ce, "'for the \ake of the gospel?" Ti ,nc? Money? Things? That' s the ca y stuff! What about fan, i I y? Friend s'? Church Body? Safety? Pride'! Ladi e", if God ' . Word is true. and it is. then we ~hould no lc)nger Ji ve for our\eJve~. but for Hi,n \vho di ed for us and ro\e agai n. If it i\ true that our life is but a \ apor that appears for a whi le and then vani~hes away (Jan1cs 4: 1-1- ). then we de) not have 111uch ti,ne to live "for the \ake or the gt)spcl. ' ' If it i\ true that we wiJl all appear before the judg,ncnt seat of Chri ') t and give account of how ou r ea11hly li ve\ had etern al value, then why do we gi vc \O n1uch ti,nc, energy, n1oney. and heart attentil)n to earthl y things and rclati c)n\ hip\ that are not ·'for the ">a ke or the gt>')pcl ?" Pl ca\c read Mark I0:29 ,3() . 2002-2003 OWMU Officers President Susan Johnson 16401 Mayfield Rd . Box 247 Huntsburg , OH 44046 440-636-5543 Vice-President Margaret Warren 83-24 th Street NW Barberton, OH 44203 330-825 7072 Secretary Betty Dyak 1911 Eldridge Ave Akron OH 44301 330-724 9676 Treasurer Franc1ne Beres 4331 Ellsworth Rd Stow OH 44224 330-945 9346 All things and relati onships ca11 be "for the sake of the gospel' ' but are they? What have you and I done today "for the sake of the gospel?'' Th is week? Thi s month? What can I de li ght to sac ri fi ce " for the sake of the gc)spcl?" A isit to the unsaved neighbor? Ori ing for Meals on Wheels and sharing God 's kindness? Taking a teenager out for ice crearn ? Designat ing one day thi s week to pray and fa st fo r a n1i ss ionary ran1 il y? God' s Spirit is tTl <)St capable and wi ll ing to direc t your heart. Pl ease li sten 1 God is pl ead ing with us through Hi s pi ri t, Hi s Word an<l His people. Lo. e you r life "for the sake of the go~pcl" and you wil l find it ! PRAYER NEEDS : Our state project, the Ojibway Indians in Kenora - \alvalion () f influenti al people co share Chri\t wilh 1nore Ojibway people, n1c)ney for the projec t, t)pening~ lo teach on three rc~c rva tion\ . Missionaries in Kenora : Carrie Thornpson, the Roherts and , yrotcuk s {Consider writing thcn1 a n<)te or cncouranernent ··ror the \ake of the b gospe l. ") The Amish Door retreat No cn1bcr 13. 14 for God t<) re rrc~h and re\ i vc heart\ ()f won1en. Other missionarv need. : .S'<tl!ie ~ McE/, roin- health needs, Joe 011<! Esther Kei111 - God '\ guidance in n1 ini~try lo An1i sh: Rochoel Cho111her., {on furlough). \peaking at the 111 i \h Door retreat. dental need~ and AR ~ project in Za n1bi a: Feliciu ()c111 c1 £1ncl (c11ni/y \.Vh<) arc back in . . Ron1ania se rving and \Ccking Jod'~ wisdt) lll a~ l<) how to reach n1orc Ron1anians for ( ' hri '-lt. ( 'hurc·l,e.\ f.:ducario11 f 'acilit1e., Recrea/1011 1-·acihrie\ Ma.,ter Pla1111 i11~ FELTY, HEINLEN ARCHITECTS & PLANNERS. INC. 336 STURGES AVENUE MANSFIELD. OHIO 44903 Phone (41 9) 526-1988 Fax (41 9) 526-1989 Website felty-he1nlen com OARBC Property Insurance Group Plan Participating churches have contributed annual dividends exceeding $13,000 to your State Association Ad111i ni .... 1crcu h\ f{UPP ,\ gene:\ . ~ . CoIu,nbu.... . <) h i o 614-486-591 I to ll -free : 1-800-282-9258 F. \ X : 61-t.--i86-2..i92 Jewish Awareness Minisfries of Ohio "Sfirrint! the pews for fhe Je"'s" - l ltlII I i Id • for in/o,mation contact · Bill Mc Vey 3606 Ceda,b,ook Rd Cleveland, OH 4./118 216-932-5029 - s S111Cd I 90·1 PO Box 21 100 Cleveland, OH 4412 1 (440) 684 0220 t I , • • • I 7