We participated in the All-Europe TEAM missionary conference the first week of August 8th near Budapest, Hungary. The day before the conference started we stayed in Budapest and walked our feet off seeing the sights in this old capitol. It was great to be able to meet other TEAM missionaries from around Europe and hear about their experiences. Our guest speaker, Bill Hull, spoke on the importance of discipleship.
We are researching about using Google Adword to direct seekers to our churches web page. Our ads will be placed according to IP addresses. We can limit our ads to selected zip codes in our areas. By using key words like; Does God exist, family conflicts, Marriage counseling, etc our ads will show up to the right of a Google search that includes one of our key words.
This is new for us. Do any of you have experience with this? We are open to suggestions. Once someone is directed to our web page, we will offer studies, free booklets, how to connect with our church.
Melissa’s Operation
Distinguished Visitors!
Mike and Sarah Wilson, friends from way back, (since Mike was 9 yrs. old!) stayed with us a few days during an investigative trip to work at ECA, the school for missionary children.
We then received the Marcano family from Venezuela. They partnered with us in founding the IBM church in Lecheria. They are involved in a 2 week outreach in Tenerife. While they were here, IBM members met at our house for a total of 11 people!
Coming for a few days in August: the Schatte family from Lecheria, Venezuela. They have been instrumental in forming several home groups and we anticipate refreshing times with them.
I was very encouraged to continue to memorize scripture as I listened to John Piper shares 8 reasons for the importance of memorizing scripture.
Memorizing scripture…
1. 1. Makes meditation possible at times when reading the Bible is not possible and meditation is the pathway to deeper understanding.
2. 2. Strengthens my faith because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God…and that happens when I am hearing the word in my head.
3. 3.Shapes the way I view the world, by conforming my mind to God’s viewpoint on everything.
4. 4.Makes God’s word more readily accessible in overcoming temptation to sin because God’s warnings and promises are the way we conquer the deceitful lies of the Devil.
5. 5.Guards my mind, making it easier for me to detect error and the world is filled with error because the god of this world is a liar
6. 6.Enables me to hit the Devil in the face with a force he cannot resist to protect myself and my family from his assaults (what are you hitting him with? He is millions of times stronger than you and he hates you and your family and your marriage and the church and God. How anybody walks through this devil ruled world without a sword in your hand is beyond logic.)
7. 7.Provides the strongest and sweetest words for ministering to others in need
8. 8. Provides the matrix for fellowship with Jesus because he talks to me through his word and nowhere else (he sweetly, powerfully, authentically, really speaks to me through God’s Word… and then I speak back to him in prayer and if the word is in my mind then we can talk anywhere.)
It is sweet, it is very sweet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSAVXHE5COg&feature=related