FYI: Joyfest is coming back to Great America Sunday, September 18.  This year's show features Relient K, Delirious, Barlowgirl, Kids in the Way and Dizmas. Joyfest will begin in the early afternoon. The combination festival ticket includes admission to Paramount's Great America and Boomerang Bay Beach Club.

This is not going to be an official Student Ministry Event.  We just wanted to let you know that this is happening so you cn go on your own.  Get a few friends together from youth group and make a day of it.

Purchase tickets by phone at (800) 965-9324 or online at www.Sonshineconcerts.com or www.ticketmaster.com.

Stenley
Indonesia
1996

Stenley was eager to take on the challenge of the mission field.  A recent graduate of Palembang Bible School in Jakarta, the Lord sent him to the very remote island of Mentawai, Indonesia.  Here, inhabitants mix witchcraft and the occult with Islam.  Stenley was very bold in preaching the Gospel, telling Muslims to burn their idols when they received Jesus Christ.

One day a newly-saved Muslim burned his idol, which contained a rolled-up scroll from the Koran.  When area Muslims heard of this, they became very angry and reported Stenley to the officials.  He was arrested and thrown in jail.

The pastor of the Bible school heard about Stenley’s arrest and went immediately to see him.  When Pastor Siwi arrived at the jail, he was told Stenley had been transferred to prison.  Days later , when Pastor Siwi finall found Stenley, hje found him severely beaten, bruised, and unconscious.  Repeated blows to the head had left him in a coma.

Pastor Siwi did what he could to care for Stenlely and make him more comfortable.  Stenley seemed to revive slightly as he did this.  Pastor Siwi asked with tears, “Stenley, this is Pastor Siwi.  Can you hear me?”  But Stenley could not move or speak.  All he could do was lie on his back and cry.  Soon after his pastor’s visit, Stenley went to be with the Lord.

Stenley’s death made a great impact on those who knew him.  In the middle of the night, seven of his fellow students went to the Bible school superintendent, requesting that they be sent to preach the Gospel on Mentawai Island, where Stenley died.

His death also impacted his hometown.  There, 53 people made decisions to attend Bible school, including Stenley’s mother and sister.  Soon after they graduate, seven of them are going to evangelize where Stenley died.

His mother was asked, “Are you not afraid to die?”

She answered, “Why should I be afraid to die?”

Stenley’s life made a lasting difference on the island of Mentawai.  Eleven Muslims there have converted to Christ because of Stenley’s faith.  There has also been a revival among the more than 300 traditional Christians on the island.  Most of them were once bound by alcohol, cigarettes, and gambling, but now their spirits are on fire to seek God and study the Bible

Pray for the many Christians whose courageous lives and vibrant, fearless witness are making a tremendous impact on nations such as Indonesia.  Although they have been burned, harassed, beaten, and imprisoned, they have refused to deny Jesus.  Pray for a harvest of souls from the seed they have sown.

The Audio Update Returns with a SWEET selection of Back To School Music, Kyle tells a story about how his phone got messed up, a visit from Amy, Medeline and Abby in studio, learn more about Mollie, the return of the Black Mamba, and much, much more....

If you want to stream the show CLICK HERE. Get it by clicking on the Attachment link below:

BACK TO SCHOOL::NEW BEGINNINGS

Today was the last day for people to start back to school,. The great thing Back to School is that it offers EVERYONE a chance for New Beginnings.  You backpack is probably full of fresh composition books, new peachee folders and pens just aching to be used.  The greatest thing about the first day of school is that you still have straight As.  The potential is endless.  This year can be the year that you turn things around, try new things, new possibilities, new clubs, teams, teachers, friends, decisions and choices. 

Choose to do some great things.  Its a clean slate.  A Fresh Start. Take advantage of that and aim high for your year.

Do something great with your year.  Be a person that makes a difference in your class, on your team, at your job afterschool.  Be a person that is DIFFERENT (Holy) in your attitude, behavior and sppech.  Let everything you do and everything you are a part of GLORIFY GOD.  Be that kind of person that people want to be around.  Be the kind of person living a life of faith that makes God smile.

Its a new year, make a difference.  Volunteer, save and give to the needy, help those around you, serve others, be a GIVER.

Its a new year, make it better than the last year.  If you haven't had a strong Quet Time, do it today and start NOW.  Make the commitment to go to The Edge on Sunday Nights or Cross Trianing on Wednesday Nights and get CONNECTED with others in Student Ministry.

Decide to stop making some of the same mistakes.  Maybe drop some friends that are dragging you down and find some people that will help you strive to be your best, that will encourage you to do good things..

Colossians 3:16-17
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." 

So that homework assignment, that project, that band practice, that football drill, EVERYTHING you do, do it in the name of the Lord.  Do it FOR God.  Do your BEST.

Have a great year.

CLICK HERE to see pohotos from Freshman Orientation Night

FRESHMAN ORIENTATION THIS SUNDAY!

WHEN:  Sunday,, August 28  6:00-8:30PM
WHERE:  THE HELFS (ph 408.629.2050)
AGE: Those ENTERING 9-12th Grades

Join us for a mixer and a time of advice, fun and prayer as we welcome the next freshman class in to the world of High School.  Upper-class folk will have a time to share advice, wisdom and knowledge as to how to effectively survive the rigors of High School.  We will also have a time of challenge and prayer as you officially become members of the High School group.

UPPERCLASSMEN:  Those of you coming to the Freshman Orientation, think of your answers to these questions:

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

What is it that you really need?  I mean there are a lot of things that we want, but what do we really need?  As you take that mental inventory, how much of the things that we want are damaging to us physically, emotionally, spiritually? 

Week of Need is going ot be a time when we dive into that questions, What do we really NEED?  Maybe when we find the answer, we can start helping others with what they really NEED.  Join us for Sanctuary on September 21st from 7:00-8:30pm in the Birch Room when we kick off our Student Ministry Week of Need.

Thomas Hauker · England · 1555

“Thomas,” his friend lowered his voice so as not to be heard by the guard.  “I have to ask you this favor.  I need to know if what the others say about the grace of God is true.  Tomorrow, when they burn you at the stake, if the pain is tolerable and your mind is still at peace, lift your hands above your head.  Do it right before you die.  Thomas, I have to know.”

Thomas Hauker whispered to his friend, “I will.”

The next morning, Hauker was bound to the stake and the fire was lit.  The fire burned a long time, but Hauker remained motionless.  His skin was burnt to a crisp and his fingers were gone.  Everyone watching supposed he was dead.  Suddenly, miraculously, Hauker lifted his hands, still on fire, over his head.  He reached them up to the living God, and then, with great rejoicing, clapped them together three times.

The people there broke into shouts of  praise and applause.  Hauker’s friend had his answer.

My grace is enough; it’s all you need.  My strength comes into its own in your weakness…. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness.  Now…I just let Christ take over!  And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

Paul the Apostle
Martyred in Rome, 65 AD
(2 Corinthians 12:9,10 The Message)

EACH MONTH the FIRST $30 that we collect in Bible Class, The Edge, Cross Training or Sanctuary will go towards Babu, our missionary that we are helping to support through Gospel for Asia (www.gospelforasia.org).  So when you put a few dollars into the basket, this is one of hte things that YOU are helping to support worldwide!  You are making a difference when you SACRIFICE and give some of your money to help OTHERS!  I know that God smiles on this kind of thing.

HERE IS MORE ABOUT BABU:

Name:  Babu Moni Singh
Marital Status:  Single

Conversion Experience
I was born August 2, 1983, into a Hindu family in India.  Born into a poor Hindu home, I lived in poverty from childhood.  Though we observed all the rituals and religious practices, nothing could give us peace.  Tossed back and forth by the waves of deep despair and discouragement, I became restless and discontent.  As I looked ahead, I could see nothing but a shattered and bleak future.  But the merciful Lord met with me in a remarkable way.

One day as I was sitting in my room, a few missionaries came to our home.  Sensing our desperate need, they started telling us about Jesus and His sacrificial love for the lost humanity.  As curiosity aroused within to know more about Jesus, we listened to them and they beautifully shared the Gospel and gently clarified all my doubts.  Greatly touched by the Word, I wept bitterly and asked His forgiveness.  When I received His Lordship, all the burdens and worries of my heart departed. 

Soon after my conversion, I joined a local congregation where I testified the Lord in water baptism.  When I began to study His Word I experienced Him more and felt a great burden for the perishing souls who are lost without Jesus.  In the following days, the Lord confirmed His call upon my life, and I enrolled in a Bible school to prepare myself for the ministry.

 Present Ministry:

At present I work as an evangelist in the villages of Assam, India where the majority of the people are Hindus.  The Word of God is being presented to them through literature distribution, house visitation and church planting.

Please pray for me that I may fulfill God’s plan to expand His Kingdom.

WhereYour missionary serves:  Assam

The name  “Assam” is the anglicized version of “Asom,” the name given to the region by the conquering Ahom tribe in the 13^th century.  Assam lies at the foot of the Himalayas in northeast India.  This state has an area of 30,294 square miles and a population of 26.6 million.  Of this, less than 13 percent live in the urban areas.  Main languages include Assamese, Bodo, Bengali, Nepali and Mizo.  Hinduism is the majority religion (65%), followed by Islam  (31%), Christianity (3.1%) and Buddhism (0.3%).

 A land of hills and valleys, Assam is dominated by the Brahmaputra River, which is an important means of irrigation and transportation.  Devastating floods result from some of the highest annual rainfall totals in the world (from 70 to 120 inches) concentrated between June and September.  But these floods also deposit rich fertile soil, causing the river to be considered both a blessing and a curse.

Tea is a major industry in Assam, which has nearly 750 tea plantations.  Assam contributes 16 percent of the world’s tea production and 55 percent of India’s tea output.  Other industries include oil drilling, paper production and silk manufacturing. 

There are three major groups of people in Assam:  Hindus, Bengali Muslims, and tea estate workers.  The 15 million Assamese Hindus are one of the least evangelized Hindu peoples in India; Christians make up only 0.07 percent.  Eighty percent of Assam’s 8 million Muslims witness among them, and only a few Bengali Christians are known to exist.  There are 6 million tea estate workers in Assam; only 3 percent are Christian.  They are open to the Gospel, but few missionaries are thee to share it.

After two centuries of Christian work in Assam, the number of professing Christians is small.  However, there is continuing growth of the Church among a significant minority of the tribal peoples.  The Bible and other Gospel literature are available in both Assamese and Bodo. 

Gospel for Asia in Assam:

Work began in 1996

- Personal evangelism

- Church planting

- Bible schools

- Ministry to children

- Mobile Gospel teams

- Radio broadcasts in Assamese,

- Bodo, Nepali, Bengali and Muslimi Bengali

CLICK HERE to learn more about Gospel For Asia and how you can help.

MEET PAUL RUSESABAGINA OF "HOTEL RWANDA"
MONDAY, Sepbember 19th at 5:30PM
Spangenberg Theatre, Palo Alto. 

See a real hero in real life,  Paul Rusesabagina, Paul is the man that the movie "Hotel Rwanda" was about.  Paul is going to be giving a talk in Palo Alto for FREE next month!  You will need to reserve your tickets NOW onlie to save a space for yourself.  You can reserve up to five tickets and they are free.  THIS WILL NOT BE AN EVENT THAT YOU CAN REGISTER FOR LAST MINUTE!  If you haven't seen "Hotel Rwanda" yet, go to Blockbuster and rent the movie and watch it tonight.  It will change you.

RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY!:

CLICK HERE for more information about the event.

CLICK HERE for online RSVP FORM

The audio update is on a two-week hiatus.  Sorry for any inconvenience this may cuase to your listening schedule.  We will be back with a new show on Monday, August 29th.