MISSIONS & OUTREACH FOCUS This week, we encourage you to pray for Russia
Quick facts on Russia Population: 140,366,561 Annual Growth: -0.39% Capital: Moscow Christians: 93,905,229 Christian and 1,636,627 (1.2% of population) Evangelical Christian Challenges for Prayer Christian leaders, who are few in number, must rise to many great challenges. Lack of training in the past, need for funding today and loss of many pastors and educators through emigration contribute to this lack of leaders. The role of foreigners will be highly limited; solutions must come from within Russia. Pray for the following issues: a) Biblical leadership patterns need to be instilled. Authoritarian leadership styles, a legacy of Russia’s past, sadly shape how most Russian pastors operate today. This is particularly difficult as women make up the large majority of churchgoers, men have a much lower life-expectancy and too few pastors have an extensive theological education. Christian Women in Partnership is a joint venture that prepares women to be effective in ministry. b) Discipleship patterns are inadequate. Many churches are filled with younger folk, most coming from non-Christian backgrounds and need grounding in Scripture and a Christian worldview. Systematic Bible study and expository preaching are rare. Cell-based Bible study groups are one key solution; pray for their multiplication. c) Theological education is crucial. Hundreds of theological institutions have formed since 1991, from discipleship schools up to seminaries. Pray for the Euro-Asian Accreditation Association that seeks to ensure high standards in academic institutions. Theological education needs to be indigenized and to address Russia’s unique situation. d) Various Training Tools and Institutions being used to assist the thousands of pastors and preachers who currently have minimal theological education. Please see http://www.operationworld.org/ for more information on this and other nations and people groups you could pray for. “Declare His glory among the nations” Ps 96:3
Weekly Bulletin
Sunday 29nd May 2016
Place for Pic / logo
Worship Service 9 am & 11 am
VERSE FOR THE WEEK
“Paul’s Letter to the Romans”
Romans 1:17[b] “The just shall live by faith.”
Preacher: Abri Brancken Reading: Romans 1:17[b]
Today’s Servers Worship: Ian
Knowing Jesus More and Making Him Known
Communion: (9) David Xu
Greeters: (9) Ping (11) Ping/Lesley
Translators: Alex/Ayako Readers: (9) Rosemary (11) Julie
Sunday School Little Lambs:
(9) Judy S/Lucy Z
(11) Helen X/Qing Ye
Kids for Christ:
(9) Kuniko/Mike
(11) Kuniko/Mike
Bible Explorers:
(9) Kuniko/Mike
(11) Ivy/Melissa
Pre-Service Prayer at 8:30 am in lounge – all welcome Prayer Meeting every 2nd & 4th Sunday at 7 pm 49 Maxwelton Drive, Mairangi Bay, North Shore, Auckland 0630 Ph 09 478-6314, Website: www.mairangichurch.org.nz, Email:
[email protected]
WELCOME TO MAIRANGI BAY COMMUNITY CHURCH (MBCC) 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. MBCC is an intentionally multi-cultural church and welcomes and celebrates all languages & cultures. 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 you would like to hear a Chinese or Japanese translation, please ask for a headset.
A WORD FROM OUR PASTOR
NEWS & EVENTS LIFE GROUPS LEADERS MEETING
GIVE THANKS FOR • You-Lan’s recovery from her recent surgery and the results which were good news! Praise God for her continued healing. • The success of Sunday School training and for those faithfully serving our children.
We will be having a 30 minute meeting for all our Life Group Leaders after our 11 am service. The purpose is to get to know one another better and discuss a planned upcoming equipping and training session. Please don’t miss this quick meeting. Date: TODAY Time: 13:00 – 13:30 Place: Lounge
PRAY FOR • Holy Spirit to lead and guide us in the search for His choice of a Chinese Associate Pastor. • Rodney and Terri Ching as they travel to USA for 8 weeks. • Debin Chen, husband and Cindy, daughter of Shouping, who recently passed away. • Grace Zhang travelling to be with her sister who is very ill – for healing, strength and courage for her and the family. • MBCC member’s hearts to be stirred to volunteer to serve in Children’s and other ministries. • Those needing God’s healing touch, & others needing visas, a job, or housing. • All students, teachers and Home Groups; that this term will be fruitful! • KO & Stella serving in Japan. • Simon & Alison North serving in Japan. • Ps Timothy & Julia Rinopisa, who we support through KiwiLink, serving in rural Zimbabwe.
TRIP TO EDEN GARDENS
Making the right decisions in life (part 2) We are living in strategic times and that demands of us as believers to live our lives by faith. These days a lot of emphasis is placed upon our human feelings. People live by their feelings more than anything else most of the time. When you live your life based on your feelings you can, and probably will, make the wrong decisions when faced with challenging circumstances. “The heart is deceitful above all things and it is extremely sick; Who can understand it fully and know its secret motives?” Jerimiah 17:9 (Amp) We cannot make major decisions based on what we feel all the time, rather, we should seek God’s will when making decisions and obey God in doing what is right. As followers of the LORD we have to learn how to live beyond our feelings. It is not that feelings are not important, but feelings should not be your primary guide in life, especially when making big decisions. We should rely on and trust the Holy Spirit to guide us. We should guard against letting our feelings dictate to us what we should do or not do. If you need to make important decisions, pray and seek God’s wisdom. Spend time in His Word and ask Him to lead you. Trust in the LORD and do not lean on your own understanding, for He wants to help you make the right decisions in life.
Abri Brancken Want to get to know more about us? Please visit our website www.mairangichurch.org.nz You’ll find our weekly bulletin, learn more about our Life Groups and other ministries, get linked to watch our sermons and much more.
There will be trip for those attending English Classes. Date: Saturday 11th June 2016 Time: 10:45 am depart from Church Travel: by car Cost: $20 entry fee (plus petrol & lunch money) Contact: Brian 09 479 2733 For catering purposes, please let Brian know by 4th June 2016
KAIROS COURSE You are invited to attend the life changing Kairos Discipleship Course that will help transform your world view to better understand God’s purpose for us as believers. Starts Monday evening 20th June and runs for eight weeks. Please register in the foyer or contact the church office. The course will be in English. Don’t miss it!
NEW MEMBERS GET-TOGETHER We extend a warm invitation to all of you who are new to the church to join us for an informal lunch. We’d love to get to know you a little better. Date: 26th June 2016 Time: 13:00 – 14:30 Place: Downstairs Hall To assist in catering, please let our Welcome Team know if you can attend or email
[email protected]
CONTACT INFORMATION Church Office: 09 478-6314 Pastor Abri Brancken: 027 2104730,
[email protected]
Church Administrator, Ann Yao: 021 2322009,
[email protected] Children’s Ministry Director, Chihiro Kami: 027 3104841 Chinese Pastoral Worker, Wendy Liu: 021 02654800
[email protected]
Service Roster for next Sunday 5th June 2016 Worship
Musicians
Sound
Communion
Reader
Greeters
Offering Counting
Translators
Flowers
Tea
Fran
Colin/Jeremy/Ting
Louis/George/Darren
Michael (11)
George/Colin
Jessica/Michael/Emily
Lesley/Melissa
Tommy/Hiromi
Pinky
Sakura/Annie Z/Li Hong
