Praying for Europe & the Middle East In 2015 over a million people made their way to Europe fleeing persecution, war, terror, & economic hardship in the Middle East & North Africa. Millions more are refugees in Lebanon, Jordon & Turkey. At the same time multiple terrorist attacks have taken place in many countries (including Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Turkey, France, & the USA). Despite the killing & chaos, there is another story that needs to be told. Acts of kindness & love are being carried out in Christ's name among the refugees. Christians are at the forefront of helping those in need. Tent churches are being established in the refugee camps of the Middle East. Thousands are turning to Christ. More Muslims have come to faith in Christ in the past 10 years than in the previous 14 centuries combined! According to Brother Rachid, son of a Moroccan imam who now hosts an Arabic language Christian TV programme, many Muslims are questioning their faith: “Many are saying, 'If ISIS is Islam, I'm leaving.' Some are becoming atheists... many are turning to Jesus Christ. Islam was never faced with this crisis before.”
Knowing Jesus More and Making Him Known
Sunday Worship th
10 January 2016, 9 am & 11 am Passing the Torch, 2 Timothy Series (7) “Continue in what you have learned” Preacher: Peter Anderson Reading: 2 Timothy 3:10-17
Let us pray for Europe & the Middle East, for local Christians & for the authorities to be able to cope effectively with the huge stream of refugees. Let us pray for the security of those nations taking in refugees & for many Muslims to be reached with the love of Christ.
Missionary Couple Needing Place to Rent For many years Chaiyot Wansong (originally from Thailand) & his wife Gayle (from NZ) have been serving God in Thailand with World Outreach. They have been pioneering & directing The Kairos Course in Thailand. They are returning to NZ for home assignment from the end of February & hope to be based on the North Shore so their younger son, Yotsak (standing on the right in the picture) can stay with them for his last year of study at the University of Auckland. If you know of any suitable place (small two bedroomed flat) near a bus route for them to rent, please speak to Ps Peter or write to Gayle Wansong
Pre-service prayer at 8:30am in lounge - all welcome
Prayer Meeting every 2nd & 4th Sunday at 7PM 49 Maxwelton Drive, Mairangi Bay, Auckland Ph. 09 478-6314; Fax. 09 478-6312; Church Email: [email protected]
www.mairangichurch.org.nz
Pastor: Peter & Elizabeth (Su-Fang) Anderson Tel: 476-0919 Church Administrator: Jacky Sun Tel: 021 675669 [email protected] Children’s Ministry Director: Joji & Chihiro Kami Tel: 027 3104841 Chinese Pastoral Worker: Wendy Liu Tel: 021 02654800 [email protected]
MBCC is an intentionally multi-cultural church & welcomes and celebrates all languages & cultures.
CHURCH NEWS
Visit of Romanian Pastor Pustan
我们是一个多元文化的教会，欢迎中国朋友参加. どの国の方も大歓迎します。 If this is your first time worshipping with us, please go to the Welcome Corner after the service. We have a small gift for you & will gladly answer your questions about our church. If you would like to hear a Chinese or Japanese translation, please ask for a headset.
A Word from the Pastor Today in our series Passing the Torch based on 2 Timothy, we come to a very famous passage. It includes the statement, “All Scripture is Godbreathed & is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting & training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16 & 17) Having the opportunity to train in a Bible College or Seminary is a huge privilege & is usually very rewarding (if that College or Seminary truly teaches the Bible). However, every believer, whether we have had formal Bible training or not, can be thoroughly equipped for every good work simply by digging into God’s Word, & by loving & obeying God’s Word. I encourage all of us this year to make it a year in which we dig deeper into the Holy Scriptures which are able to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (v.15). God bless, Peter
Verse of the Week “…you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)
Today’s Servers Worship: Fran Communion: Michael (9) Translators: Tommy/Hiromi Greeters: Miyuki (9), Xiang Hong/Susan (11) Readers: Fran (9), Colin (11)
Service Roster for January 17, 2016
Next weekend well-known Romanian pastor Vladimir Pustan will be with us at MBCC. Please tell others about the special meetings being planned for Sat 16 & Sun 17. SATURDAY 10AM – Building Strong Family Relationships SATURDAY 7PM – I Care About You SUNDAY 9AM & 11AM – Testimony SUN EVENING 7PM – Who Cares For Me? For more details ask Mihaela or Raimond Todor or go to the event website: www.icareaboutyou.co.nz
February Baptisms On 5th of Feb 2016 we are planning a Chinese New Year Bring & Share dinner, special items, testimonies & baptisms. If you are considering baptism but have not yet attended the baptism class, please see Wendy. There is a class today @ 9am.
Hour of Power Tonight Tonight between 7 & 8pm we have the first all-church prayer meeting for the new year. Please do make a special effort to join us. Prayer is the secret of power in our Christian lives & in the life of the church. Without it we are vulnerable & weak.
Guest Preacher “The Second Mile”
Reading: Matthew 5:38-42
PRAYER ITEMS GIVE THANKS FOR:
The visa extension granted for Avva, Martin & Florence’s mother. The generous & expert service of Jun Luna who has been sorting various electrical & lighting matters in the church. Dan organizing the manse “house wash” in preparation for painting & for Ron Packer patching the plaster cracks in the outside walls. All helping with the holiday Sunday School programme – including Prescy, Chelscy, Jacky, George, Ivy, Lesley, Angel, Joji, Chihiro, Kuniko, Catherine Liu, Michelle Xu, Tina Ren & Cherry Iuoras. PRAY FOR: Jin who is out of hospital but needs time for recovery. Pray too for Lina & Jacky as they help Jin in many practical ways. Stella Okudaira whose nephew died tragically in a mountain climbing accident recently. Pray for Stella’s sister Naomi’s family. KO & Stella’s church in Tokyo has doubled in numbers since they started serving in 2014 but some members are having relationship issues. Pray for love & unity. Those preparing for baptism Feb 5. The visit of Pastor Vladimir Pustan from Romania. Europe & the Middle East – see back page of bulletin. Preacher: Ps Vladimir Pustan
Worship
Musicians
Sound
Communion
Reader
Greeters
Offering Count
Translators
Flowers
Tea
Peter
Rose
Louis/George/Fiona
Peter (11)
George (9), Sarah (11)
Sakura (9), LD/Ping (11)
Kevin/April
David R/Elizabeth
Annie Z
Helena/Kelly (9), Josephine/Harry (11)
