We Are Going On the Road!

I have some exciting news! He Holds My Right Hand is no longer just a blog. It is also now a traveling ministry that will share Christian encouragement with Bible-believing, evangelical, protestant churches and Christian organizations.

David and I have been discussing and praying about this opportunity for - well, at least a couple of years. But, this past Fall we finally decided it was time to make the leap and go for it. It took some time to get everything set up to do this, but we are finally ready to go and look forward to seeing where the Lord will lead us.

WHAT WILL WE BE DOING?

• David will be available to fill pulpits with a challenging sermon.
• Our family puppet ministry, "Higher Hands Puppets," will give one or two short presentations to teach and entertain both children and adults.
• My books will be available for purchase at each location to help cover ministry expenses (i.e. the cost of our portable puppet stage, new puppets, music for the puppets, etc.) 
• David and I are willing to share our personal testimonies when time and situations allow.

Our goal is to minister once or twice per month with churches interested in having us come. Our FIRST church stop is next Sunday, January 14th, at Mendota Bible Church in Mendota, IL. We are looking forward to seeing some old friends there, as well as making some new ones. If you are in that area, we would love to see you!  

Click the photo below to be taken to our ministry page on Facebook. While you are there, please take a moment to "like" the page and share it with others. Thank you for your support.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Build On Truth Ministries

UPDATE: This ministry is no longer active due to the death of the founder in May 2017. 
 
In the past, I have posted about various Christian ministries to help make you aware of what is out there - who we can be supporting through prayer or financial support, who we can refer others to, etc. Well, today's ministry focus is near and dear to my heart, because it is for my dad.

Dr. James L. McIntosh has been involved in various ministry opportunities for as long as I have known him, but is now taking a new step of faith. He is retiring from Brookes Bible College in May, and will be venturing out to provide pulpit supply and interim pastoral services to area churches, as well as be available for seminars and revivals.

Check out his new website for more information:
BUILD ON TRUTH MINISTRIES

This is an exciting step for him, and also a new challenge. Please keep him in prayer as he follows the Lord's leading in this area; and, if your church is interested in his services, please use the contact form on the website. He would love to hear from you!

MINISTRY FOCUS: Russian Ministries

Peter Deyneka Russian Ministries  is NOT a traditional missionary-sending agency. It's an international, evangelical mission organization that is there to help people in Russia (and all of the former Soviet Union) to grow and reach deep into their communities. The ministry evangelizes and equips Next Generation leaders to become light in the darkness, and bring hope to areas where situations seem hopeless.

How can you make a difference? 

(1)  Support the work of Russian Ministries through your daily prayers. You can check the website for a LIST of prayer requests. There is at least one listed for each day of the week.

(2)  Join their RAPID RESPONSE TEAM. Rapid Response Team Members receive up-to-the-minute information in their e-mail inbox, timely prayer requests and practical ways to make a difference in the lives of post-Soviet people. There is no cost to join the team and you can leave at any time.

(3)  Make a monetary DONATION.  This ministry relies on the gifts of people, churches and Christian groups for their outreach to the former Soviet Union. Gifts given in the United States or Canada are tax-deductible.

(4)  EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES are also available to those who are interested. There is an office located in Wheaton, IL, as well as in Canada.  

MINISTRY FOCUS: Your Story Hour

 

UPDATE 1-6-2013:  A friend of mine directed me to several links pertaining to "Your Story Hour" products and, after reading through the information, I feel it is important to mention that this organization is owned and operated by Seventh-Day Adventists. They do not admit to using SDA theology in their recordings. However, intenitional or not, there are times when it does present itself. While some of their stories are basic history dramatizations, and some are just stories with good morals, there are many that also intertwine the Bible with the writings of Ellen G. White, a woman who the Seventh-Day Adventists believe to be inspired by God as a prophet (even though her teachings do not match up with Biblical teachings). For more information, take a look at THIS BLOG POST by Andy Naselli. (Scroll down the page to read all the comments posted by former SDA church members.) In my opinion, if parents are serious about wanting to raise biblically literate children without causing unnecessary confusion, then I would suggest being very careful about introducing them to "Your Story Hour" and other SDA-affiliated ministries.

 

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ORIGINAL POST:

 



YOUR STORY HOUR with Aunt Carole and Uncle Dan is "a global, non-profit, interfaith Christian educational organization working with children, youth and families of all denominations." Since 1949, their main vehicle for reaching children has been their radio broadcasts of character building stories.

Children can be inspired to make sound choices by exposure to dramatized stories evidencing the positive results of developing character traits such as honesty, integrity, courage and faith. Your Story Hour exists to provide children with this exposure.

Thousands of entertaining STORIES can be purchased on the website. Or, you can listen to full episodes of the most recent broadcasts for FREE at ONEPLACE.COM.

Other options for our children include: 

CLUBHOUSE MAGAZINE - available online for FREE - a colorful magazine filled with stories, jokes, puzzles and quizzes. Read it online, or print it out.

ADVENTURES IN THE HOLY BIBLE - 52 Online Bible lessons with quizzes, also available FREE to children.

THE RAVEN & THE RING - a FREE printable coloring book to go along with the story of "The Raven and the Ring," which can be listened to at no charge. My children and I recently listened to this story about how a poor family chose honesty over provisions, and how God provided for their needs. We all enjoyed it.

 

MINISTRY FOCUS: EvanTell

EvanTell  helps believers in Jesus Christ to "overcome the two biggest challenges in evangelism – (1) fear, and (2) not knowing how – so that they can go and have an immediate and eternal impact for the Kingdom."

Their website offers various resources, including FREE online evangelism training courses in personal evangelism, children’s evangelism, and workplace evangelism. Each course has 4 sessions, and each session lasts 15-20 minutes. The sessions include animation, narration, and video, as well as interactive exercises. They will help equip you to share the gospel clearly and simply whenever the opportunity arrises.  

MINISTRY FOCUS: Breath of Life Online Ministry

Breath of Life Online Ministry is a Christian site, run by Schuler Murdock, which offers FREE screensavers, greeting cards and graphics downloads.

Mr. Murdock is using this ministry to share the message of God's love by providing a place of  "inspiration and encouragement on the internet." He takes this outreach very seriously as he believes "something as simple as a screensaver or a picture can have an awesome, permanent impact on a life."

This is a non-profit, non-commercial venture. However, contributions are welcome, and they will be used to make improvements to the ministry.

Here is a sample of one of the many wallpaper choices on this site. I like this one because it goes along with the theme of this blog; but be sure to TAKE A LOOK at them all! While you are there, you can also find Bible Study tools, links to other Christian ministry sites, and inspirational music on various topics.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Wallbuilders

With the Presidential election coming up, I wanted to share the ministry of WALLBUILDERS, which is an organization "dedicated to presenting America's forgotten history and heroes, with an emphasis on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built – a foundation which, in recent years, has been seriously attacked and undermined."

The GOALS of Wallbuilders are to:

1. Educate the nation concerning the Godly foundation of our country.
2. Provide information to federal, state, and local officials as they develop public policies which reflect Biblical values.
3. Encourage Christians to be involved in the civic arena.

As you browse the website, you will find many helpful LINKS, information on radio and TV BROADCASTS, and a LIBRARY of articles on various historical topics.

And, don't forget to check out the VOTER RESOURCES to help you in your voting decision and in your RIGHT AND YOUR DUTY TO VOTE.

If you know you will not be available to vote at your local polling station on November 6th, don't hesitate to VOTE EARLY! I will be having minor surgery on November 6th, so my husband and I both went to our local County Clerk's Office and voted early with no problem. It is simple and painless.

Please take part in voicing your opinion about the future of our country. 

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA!

MINISTRY FOCUS: Jewish End-Time Ministries

JEM, otherwise known as Jewish End-Time Ministries, is a Bible-believing, independent Baptist ministry. Their desire is to "educate and encourage individuals to witness to their Jewish friends and co-workers in their community."  They provide resources to anyone interested in learning how to more effectively communicate the truth of the Messiah with Jewish people.

One of the resources JEM provides is FREE high-quality TRACTS. Anyone is able to order them free of charge. It does cost them money to provide these, however. So, they do request assistance in helping with this cost. If you would like to make a one-time donation, or even sign up for monthly donations, go to the DONATE  page.

For churches, JEM also provides Evangelism Seminars, Passover Demonstrations, and conferences on Israel and End-Time Prophecy. If your church is interested in any of these, please CONTACT JEM for more information. Please keep in mind, even though their headquarters are located in the state of Georgia, there are various partners located across the United States.

Romans 10:1 - "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved."

MINISTRY FOCUS: Righteous Rides

THE MISSION of RIGHTEOUS RIDES is to further the spread of the gospel message of Jesus Christ by assisting evangelistic organizations in meeting their transportation needs. Their primary ministry is leasing reliable minivans to evangelical missionaries for use during their trips home from the field.

Missionaries have a temporary need for a dependable vehicle while they are home on furlough. Rather than face the challenge of finding reliable transportation, finding the funds needed to buy or rent it, and trying to maintain it, Righteous Rides will help alleviate those stresses. When missionaries know they will be flying into St. Louis, MO or Dallas, TX, they can REQUEST a vehicle from Righteous Rides, who will meet them at the airport when they arrive. They also coordinate all of the paperwork and insurance for them in advance. NOTE:  There is a small fee.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?  If you have a car or van you are considering trading in, you can donate the vehicle to Righteous Rides and receive a tax deduction for its full market value, and then go shopping for a new car without the hassles of negotiating on a trade-in. Righteous Rides will even remain in contact with you, and update you periodically on how your donated vehicle is being used. For more information on how to donate a car, check out their WEBSITE. 

If you would like to make a monetary donation to the ministry, please visit the DONATE PAGE.

There is an IMMEDIATE NEED for a FULL-TIME MISSIONARY MECHANIC to work in their shop in Moscow Mills, MO, servicing the fleet of late model Chrysler minivans, as well as repairing and prepping donated vehicles to sell. CONTACT Righteous Rides for more information on serving in this way.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Bible Related Ministries

Is your church experiencing problems from within that are making it difficult to thrive? Are you a Pastor, a Board Member, or a Layperson seeking encouragement and advice about how to improve the function of your church? BIBLE RELATED MINISTRIES, in Hinsdale, Illinois, is primarily dedicated to aiding churches undergoing internal strife and helping them through a reconciliation process.

Bible Related Ministries is a missionary outreach in that it is striving to keep Gospel preaching church doors open in America so that missionary support for those at home and abroad should not be terminated, and so the unsaved in the communities surrounding those churches can better be reached. 

BRM is affliated with IFCA (Independent Fundamental Churches of America), but will minister in any kind of church, as long as God's Word is the final authority. To name just a few, they have been active in Baptist churches, Bible churches, Community churches, Christian Missionary Aliance, Evangelical Free, Congregational, and Covenant churches.

There are NO upfront fees for their services. They do, however, request traveling expenses and a donation if possible. A Proposed Agreement is required to be signed by churches requesting arbitration.

HELPFUL LITERATURE for ministries is also available free of charge upon request. Or, you can download various articles from the website.

They do ask that any church seeking their assistance to please consider putting Bible Related Ministries on their missionary budget for monthly giving. By doing so, you will be travelling with them as an active participant in helping other churches. Donations and monthly support is also welcome by any individual who feels led to give.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Higher Ground Mission

I have never been to Higher Ground Ministry Mission, which is located in Sebree, Kentucky, but would like to visit someday.

The goal of this ministry is "to impart truth, zeal and purpose to today’s generations."

This is accomplished through many different forms such as:

~ Camps [including a Family Camp in the Fall]
~ Retreats [such as Leadership Retreat for ages 14 and up]
~ Weekly riding lessons
~ 'Pony Parties'
~ On-site and off-site LIFE Presentations
~ Children’s Programs
~ Gospel Chalk Art Presentations

Check them out on the WEBSITE or on their FACEBOOK PAGE for more information.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Bridge To Life Ministries

Located in Muskegon, Michigan, BRIDGE TO LIFE MINISTRIES began in 1983 and has become a ministry that "focuses on the needs of marriage and relational issues for the purpose of reconciling men and women to God and each other."

Aside from offering counseling, encouragement and mentoring for couples, it is their desire and commitment to also train lay couples in local churches, equipping them for an effective marriage ministry. Currently, classes are available at various churches in the state of Michigan.

Donation amounts are suggested for counseling and seminar materials. However, no one is ever denied help due to a lack of donations.

 

Bridge To Life is a 501(c) (3) organization and all contributions are tax deductible for Federal tax purposes.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Love Packages

LOVE PACKAGES is "a ministry aimed at putting Christian literature and bibles into the hands of people around the world." Christians all across the USA send bibles, Sunday School materials, tracts, magazines and books to Love Packages. Then, they are sent to ministries in poorer countries, who then distribute them to people who are hungry for the Word of God. For more information on what they will and will not accept, please visit their Needed Materials page.

If you - as an individual, a family, a church group, or Christian organization - would like to collect your used Christian literature to give to Love Packages, there are a couple of different options for getting it to them:

1.  If you live close to Butler, IL, you can bring the materials to their headquarters and drop them off. While there, feel free to stay and lend a helping hand. (See volunteer information below).

2.  If you don't live nearby, use sturdy boxes to pack materials in packages that are 35 pounds or lighter, then mail them via 4th class Media Mail through the United States Postal Service.

Aside from sending Christian literature, are there any other ways to support Love Packages? YES!

VOLUNTEER at the headquarters: If you are close enough, they always appreciate an extra set of hands. Ways you can help include:  painting, maintenance, office work, cleaning, organizing, gardening, etc. If you are interested in being a volunteer for a day (or more), please fill out the Volunteer form and they will get back to you.

DONATE:  Monetary donations are needed to maintain and expand the ministry. (A 20 ton container to Africa costs approximately $4,000.) If you do not wish to donate online, you can also send to the address listed above.

SPREAD the Word: Tell your family and friends about this ministry, send the information to other Christians, or ask a local Christian bookstore to place brochures on their counter to advertise the ministry. Bulletin inserts for your church can also be downloaded HERE.

PRAY: A vital component to having a successful ministry. 

Supporting Love Packages in any of the above areas is a great way to help make a difference in the lives of others.

MINISTRY FOCUS: ECS Ministries

Emmaus Correspondence School (which was originally a part of Emmaus Bible College) became an independent organization in 2002. They provide International correspondence courses, study resources for churches, and have a prison ministry.

The mission statement of ECS Ministries is "to glorify God by providing doctrinally sound resources and structured study materials for the purpose of teaching people from every nation to know Jesus Christ as Savior and to live in a way that is consistent with God’s Word."

In 2011, ECS distributed 1,450,000 Bible study courses worldwide, with a 72% completion rate!  Courses can by taken by anyone interested, including students as young as 8 years old, college students, professionals, retired persons, and homemakers. The cost of each course book (which is very inexpensive) includes grading of tests. Click HERE for a list of all the languages these courses are available in.

If you are not interested in taking a course,  but would still like to help out this ministry, DONATIONS and PRAYER SUPPORT are always welcome.

As Christians, We Are All Ministers

Continuing on with the "ministry" theme, here is a quote from Dr. James L. McIntosh, the Student and Academic Dean at Brookes Bible Institute in St. Louis, MO....

QUOTE: Many times folk will make the error that a minister has to be a person that a church hires to lead them. This is not always true. Ministry comes in many different forms. If you are a true believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, having trusted in Him and Him alone for salvation, then you are in ministry. Some may be in full-time vocational ministry, a pastor, a teacher, or a missionary; but ministry is what all believers are to do every day and it starts and is practiced at home.

I love that quote, for two reasons: 

1.  Because it shares my thoughts on Christian ministry, and how we are ALL ministers for the Lord in one way or another. We all have a story to tell, and we all have the ability to share our hope in Christ with anyone who will listen.

2.  Because it was written by my DAD. The quote came from an article he wrote for the August 2012 IFCA News Connection (NOTE:  IFCA International is committed to providing fellowship, encouragement, and identification for independent churches and men of like faith, as they work together in Biblical ministry).

Rather than copy my dad's article, I'm going to direct you to the PDF link where you can read it in full, and even print it out if you wish to do so...



Why Am I in Ministry?

 Short Answer: "I Love It!"

After you've read the article, please come back here and take a moment to share your thoughts!

Linked up with:

Why Focus on Christian Ministries?

Those who follow my blog have probably noticed the theme I have been focusing on since this past Summer up until now. Every Monday, I have been introducing a different Bible-believing, Christian ministry. Let me share with you the reasons for this current theme.

1.  These posts are easy for me to write about ahead of time, then schedule them to be posted on Monday mornings. It helps save me time, and helps me be more consistent about posting on a weekly basis.

2.  Introducing various ministries can help us to know who/what is "out there." It makes us aware of what various ministries offer, allowing us to take part in their services, if interested.

3.  As Christians, we need to be supporting each other - especially in our ministries. So, these posts give us suggestions for volunteer work, give us ideas of who we can make donations to if we don't already give to a ministry, and/or tells us how we can pray for these ministries.

That's about it! So, if you know of a ministry you would like me to mention on one of my posts, I would be open to suggestions.  Feel free to send me an E-MAIL and let me know about it. 

MINISTRY FOCUS: Military Fellowship Ministry

Military Fellowship Center is a "home away from home" for military personnel stationed in the Jacksonville, North Carolina area. They provide fun and fellowship in a loving, Christian environment, including day trips, recreation, home cooked meals, Bible studies, and Christian counseling.

Walt Croom is the director of this ministry, and it is his desire to "be a blessing to those sacrificing so much for this great country!"

Daleville, Alabama is home to another fellowship center with the same types of activities and atmosphere.

This ministry would be happy to receive donations for general operational expenses, and for a building project. Feel free to CONTACT THEM for more information.

MINISTRY FOCUS: AWANA

Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed

The goal of the AWANA programs is to equip churches and parents to help train children in knowing, loving and serving Jesus Christ. Kids have fun at weekly AWANA meetings, learning through songs, Bible lessons, games, and memory work.

The acronym for AWANA is taken from 2 Timothy 2:15:

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. (NIV)

My family and I are currently involved with an AWANA program at our local church. Other programs can be found all over the country. If you are interested in knowing more, you can check out the website for more information, and you can also access a "locator" there to find a club in your area.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Kids' Klubs, Inc.

Rene and Lynn Noble are the current directors of KIDS' KLUBS, Inc., a non-profit ministry dedicated to reaching children for Christ through weekly clubs and Summer camps. The ministry has continued now for more than 53 years with the same purpose: to reach and teach children for Christ.

Rene and Lynn began their ministry with Kids' Klubs in the fall of 1988. With headquarters located in Malden, IL, they have clubs located in various towns throughout IL, as well as a few clubs in other states. 

Several years ago, my husband and I (along with a few friends) were involved in helping get a club started at our church in central Illinois. This club is still going and has been a great outreach to the children in this community.

Clubs generally follow a format each week that looks like this:

• Open with pledges
• Song Time
• Contest Time
• Missionary Emphasis
• Weekly Memory Verse with Game
• Weekly Bible Lesson
• Sword Drill

Check out the Basic Requirements if you are intersted in starting a Kids' Klub in your own church. The Nobles are great people to work with and will provide many helpful materials for club hosts, including lesson plans and awards. Other materials can be loaned for a deposit, or purchased on your own.

To help support this ministry in other ways, feel free to contact the Nobles at the address listed on the website.

MINISTRY FOCUS: Child Evangelism Fellowship

If you are looking for a Bible-centered ministry dedicated specifically to reaching children with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and getting them established into a local church, then Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) is the organization for you.

VARIOUS MINISTRIES OF CEF INCLUDE:

* Good News Clubs - Trained teachers meet with groups of children in schools, homes, community centers, churches, apartment complexes, or just about anywhere the children can easily and safely meet with their parent's permission. Each week the teacher presents an exciting Bible lesson using colorful materials from CEF Press®. This action-packed time also includes songs, Scripture memory, a missions story and review games or other activities.

* 5-Day Clubs - Fun-filled club, one and one-half hours, held each day for five consecutive days. It includes:  Bible lessons, creative learning activities, missionary story, songs, and Scripture memorization.

* Camp Good News - Various Summer camps are located in Indiana, Illinois, New Hampshire, Texas, Maine, Florida, and Wyoming. (When I was a child/teen, the camp my family attended/worked at on a regular basis was located in Minnesota. That camp is still there, but I am pretty sure it is no longer operated by CEF Ministries. I have such wonderful memories of being a part of this camp! My brother put together this VIDEO in memory of the times we all shared there in the 1980's.)

* FREE ONLINE WORDLESS BOOK TRAINING - A Wordless Book is a small book with no words that uses five colored pages in presenting the Gospel message in an easy way. The colors represent Heaven, the darkness of sin, the blood of Christ, a clean heart, and Christian growth. CEF has a free training session you can sign up for online. Books and instruction leaflets can be purchased inexpensively at the CEF STORE. (Note:  I have also seen some individuals make their own booklets out of construction paper, or make a beaded bracelet with the various colors.)

WAYS TO SERVE:

~ Christian Youth in Action - A program for Teens, designed to train them to teach children about the Lord in effective and engaging ways. I took part in this ministry during the summer when I was 16. It was a great experience and one that I will never forget. I believe my sister also took part one year; and my brother couldn't get enough of it. He served for several years.

~ Volunteer at International Headquarters - Located in Warrenton, MO - 50 miles west of St. Louis. Local area volunteer missionaries serve during the week (Monday-Friday), while visiting volunteer missionaries stay a minimum of one week (Arrive Sunday; depart Saturday after breakfast.) Lunch is provided for local volunteers. Visiting volunteer missionaries enjoy full meals and lodging (private room or RV site) and are charged $10 per night, per person, to help offset volunteer costs.

~ Prayer Support - Join in prayer for the needs of children and CEF missionaries around the world. Pray specifically by selecting a prayer request from the list provided on the website.

~ Monetary Donations - CEF is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and all donations are tax deductible.