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.

Everything the Bible Says About Prayer (Book Review)

This is an interesting little book by Bethany House Publishers. There is no specific author mentioned, although, an inner page says it is compiled by Keith Wall and edited by Andy McGuire.

The book is basically a compilation of Bible verses (in various translations) that point us towards prayer. Topics include things like praying with boldness, elements of effective prayer, and Jesus’ teachings on prayer.
It is not a book I would necessarily just sit down and read, but is a good little resource to have when looking for verses on the subject.

Disclosure: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers, and I have expressed my own opinions. If you have a blog of your own, and are interested in receiving review copies from Bethany House, here is a link where you can sign up: www.bethanyhouse.com/bookreviewers

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.

Easter is About Jesus (Mukkove Johnson's New Book)

My friend, Mukkove Johnson, has recently published her newest book "Easter is About Jesus." Back in January, I did an INTERVIEW with Mukkove about her first book, "Christmas is About Jesus," and am looking forward to using it with our children this coming Christmas season. After looking over a PDF version of her new Easter book, I am excited to use it in the Spring. The book is laid out very nicely, and includes 15 short devotionals to read with younger children as Easter Sunday approaches. Along with the devotionals, there are also a few thought-provoking questions and easy activity ideas.

One note of mention is that this book does not describe or define how each symbol of Easter was originally incorporated into the holiday. For example, there is no history of the Easter Bunny, and it does not say that "doing" the Easter Bunny at this time of year is right or wrong. The focus is not on the history or the meaning of the symbols. Instead, it uses these symbols (Easter Bunny, Easter eggs, Jelly Beans, Palm Branches, Empty Tomb, etc.) to bring about discussion based on the things we SEE during this time of year. It is a unique approach. The only thing I think the book was lacking in was a clearer explanation as to the purpose of Jesus' death and resurrection. But, that can easily be incorporated into your discussion time. 

Here is Mukkove, writing to us in her own words about the book:

Vicky, Thank you for having me on your blog! It’s an honor to share with your readers.

I live and write in Alaska with my wonderful family. My parents moved here from Minnesota when I was 9, so this is definitely home. We live on our own 5 acres and enjoy seeing mountains on the way to the store, and well everywhere else, too. I home school my three children. We’re just getting geared up for that now. We have a “soft” start date of September 10. This time of year is a bit like Christmas because of all the new supplies and curriculum arriving.

I have always enjoyed writing and producing works. I started with the 6th grade class newspaper and never stopped. I worked on school newspapers and yearbooks all through high school. I write, journal, and scrapbook. I have one scrapbook from when we didn’t have a camera – more writing. I even wrote things and made them into books for my children. One of those is my first published book Christmas is About Jesus: An Advent Devotional.

My second book is coming out in stores online September 18, 2012. Easter is About Jesus: Family Devotions for the Easter Season contains 15 devotions geared mainly towards younger children. Each devotion takes a common sight of the Easter season and explains how it can remind us of Jesus. There are discussion questions and “More Time with God” activities to help children grow in their relationship with God. The questions and activities should also help the devotions be more relevant to the entire family.

If you have read my books I would love to hear from you.

Thank you for reading,
Mukkove

http://kovesblog.blogspot.com/
http://christmasisaboutjesus-devotion.blogspot.com/
http://mukkovejohnson.blogspot.com/
http://www.KovesCove.com

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.