Outreach with the Okinawa Tomonokia Drum Corp

by Tom Goodman

I asked Bruce Murray to give us a quick report on a program we hosted at Hillcrest. The program gave the Japanese Church of Austin an opportunity to reach out to the Japanese who attended. Here's his report. 

Bruce Murray and a performer

Our church hosted the New Year celebration of the Okinawa Tomonokia Drum Corp! Some 300 people gathered in the MPC last Saturday, many of whom speak Japanese, and pastor B'young Lee had the opportunity to speak to them about the Japanese Church of Austin that meets here at Hillcrest, Many of these folks did not know of the church's existence and indicated an interest in attending! We provided a great outreach opportunity for this church!                 --Bruce Murray

Japanese Church Thanksgiving Fellowship

by Tom Goodman

The Japanese Church of Austin meets at Hillcrest. On Thanksgiving Day they held a fellowship for Japanese students and families. Here is Pastor Byong’s report. You can find photos at the Japanese Church’s Facebook page here.
________________________

Hi Tom,

Thank you for your prayer and support.

Japanese Church of Austin had the 2nd Free Thanksgiving Lunch for Japanese students and Japanese family on November 24.

God sent various people who needs encouragement, comforts, and fellowship in Christ. Most of all, I really thank God for sending nonbelievers so that they can listen to the Gospel. God sent 8 nonbelievers and they have the opportunity to listen to the Gospel and have fun time with Christians in Jesus!

Seeing their dark faces become bright with gifts and delicious foods, I pray that they can be filled with real joy by believing in Jesus someday. We had lunch, special music, praising time, Gospel message, game and raffles time! Thanks God for blessing the Thanksgiving Lunch meeting.

We have several purposes to hold this Thanksgiving lunch.

1. To preach the Gospel to unbelievers who usually do not come to church. Many Japanese do not know what church is. That’s why they even do not think of going to church. But they like event to join. Especially, Free Thanksgiving Lunch is a great opportunity to present God’s free gift, Jesus Christ!!

2. To give encouragement some Christians who do not have family in the States. Thanksgiving Day is very lonely day for them. This time, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese and Serbian attended from Austin area, even from Killeen and San Antonio.

3. Wonderful opportunity of advertising: Many Japanese people do not know the existence of Japanese church of Austin. This event is a wonderful opportunity for them to know that there is Japanese Church in Austin. We uploaded our event advertisement on Japanese community bulletin and many people watched it and some of them even visited our home pages. One of new comers said that he has many Japanese friends and let them know about our church.

4. Give good impression about God and church: Usually, the center of Japanese community is Buddhism and Shinto, not Christianity. Therefore, many Japanese have no idea about church; what it is, what it does, what pastor does..etc. One of nonbelievers told me that she is so impressed of this Thanksgiving lunch and she feels that church is different from other Japanese religion groups: serving and sharing God’s love with people through this Thanksgiving lunch.

Please keep praying for the seeds sown in their heart grow and bear the fruit of salvation!!

Once again, I really thank for your support and prayer. Your support enables us to have this wonderful time!

Blessing,

Byoung

Japanese Church of Austin
______________________

Great report! Three first-time visitors came to the Japanese Church on Sunday following this Thanksgiving fellowship. If you’re available, visit Hillcrest at noon on December 7 when Pastor Byong holds a baptism service for new believers reached by the Japanese Church. 

Personal Reflection in Light of the Election

by Tom Goodman

In this Sunday’s service, I led a time of personal reflection in light of the November 8 election. Here are the notes and questions I had in my hand as I led you. I thought it might be helpful to post them as you continue to take personal inventory. 

Politics are important but not ultimate.

There's a lot at stake: immigration policy, health care, religious liberty, abortion policy, Supreme Court Justices. Not to mention the character of the man or woman we want representing our nation the next four years. Clearly participation in the political process is important. 

But let’s distinguish what is important from what is ultimate. What is ultimate is grasping what Jesus has done for us and living out what he expects of us.

In our church, we use the acronym “HILL” to remember what he expects of us. Each letter in the word “HILL” reminds us of one of four actions he expects us to take. Bow in prayer and let’s ask ourselves some questions at each of these four actions. I’m going to lead us in a prayer up the HILL.

H: Honor the Lord of Life: After I vote on Nov 8, will I wake up Nov 9 trusting that God works out his purposes? Does the way I express my anxiety about this election reflect a lack of faith in God? Does the way I talk about this election reveal that I’m more dependent on Washington than on the throne room of heaven?

(Lead in a prayer thanking God for revealing himself to us.)

I: Invite Your World to Life: Do I work as hard to persuade people to my Jesus as I do to persuade people to vote my way? Do I present my political opinions in such a manner that alienates me from the people I’m called to reach for Jesus?

(Lead in a prayer thanking God for the Great Commission he’s placed in our hands.)

L: Love the Fellowship for Life: Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you: Love one another so the world can see that I sent you.” Do I recognize that what I have in common with another believer across the political divide means more than what I have in common with a nonbeliever within my political convictions? Do I work to understand my fellow believers who differ with me on how the country ought to be run?

(Lead in a prayer thanking God for the spiritual family he’s placed us in.)

L: Live the Word in Life: Does the time I spend in the Word come close to the time I spend on TV and radio and social media? Am I letting my priorities and my passions and my way of dealing with political opponents be shaped by media personalities instead of by the eternal word of God?

(Lead in a prayer thanking God for his Word.)

Resources for Sunday's Message

by Tom Goodman

Today’s message on 1 Corinthians 14 can be found here. I found the following resources helpful in understanding tongues-speaking and it’s relevance for today.

D.A. Carson’s Showing The Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12-14.

Gordon Fee’s commentary on 1 Corinthians.

Journal Articles:

“Toward a Pauline Theology of Glossolalia,” by Gordon Fee.

“Sighs Too Deep For Words,” by Frank Macchia

Linguistic and Sociological Analyses of Modern Tongues-Speaking: Their Contributions and Limitations,” by Vern Poythress. Don’t let the technical-sounding name turn you away. Skip the first half of the article, which covers sociological and linguistic studies of the phenomenon of tongues-speaking. I found the second half of the article most helpful. It starts on page 379 and runs to 388.

This week's newsletter from Karen

Next week we’ll unveil the details around our upcoming AWESOME Club—the attendance campaign during the month of April. This will be a month long effort for the kids and they will need diligence to keep strong during the entire month. Below are activities you can use to help create a conversation around diligence.

What is Diligence?
What does diligence mean? Diligence means to be hard-working, staying with a job till it's finished, not quitting. The opposite is to be lazy, negligent, or not caring.

Pick a big task and work together (rake the leaves, organize a closet, clean out the garage, etc.) When the task is finished, go out for a special treat and ask:

How does it feel to finish a big job like that?

There is joy in staying with a job until it is done and seeing the end result!

Keep On Keeping On!
For young children, use familiar stories (The Tortoise and the Hare) or songs to teach diligence.
For example: The Itsy Bitsy Spider song

The Itsy Bitsy Spider
Went up the waterspout,
Down came the rain
And washed the spider out.

Out came the sun and dried up all the rain,
And the Itsy Bitsy Spider went up the spout
AGAIN!

The spider didn't give up when the web was washed away. It went up the spout and built another web. Being diligent means you keep at it. Don't give up or quit even if gets hard.

Chores = Fun?
One good way to teach kids about diligence is a chore chart. Decide on a few chores that are age appropriate and make a weekly chart. When the child completes the chore, a star or sticker can be added. Acknowledge their diligence with praise or a special reward (playing a game, staying up later at bedtime, etc.).


Activities taken from Splink, November 2009.

This week's newsletter from Michael

Happy Spring Break to all of you! It is one of my favorite weeks of the year in Austin. Can you guess why? One word: TRAFFIC; well maybe two: NO TRAFFIC! It sure is nice being able to get to work in less than 15 minutes.

I just want to say it is a real joy to be able to work for the King of Kings each day. It isn't always easy, but I sure love it. Thank you, Hillcrest, once again for allowing me the opportunity to serve you. If there is anything I can do for you, please do not hesitate to call the church (512-345-3771) and ask for me, or just send me an email. I have all the time in the world (ha)!

I hope you have begun to invite people to our Easter Weekend Celebration! Our music team has put together some great music we know you will enjoy, and I know it will bring honor and joy to the Lord.

I also would like for you to begin praying for this service. Pray for those who are involved on the platform and those behind the scenes. Satan will do his best to disrupt anything he can get his hands on that weekend, so let’s pray him out and the Holy Spirit in!

I will leave you with this verse for the week: Colossians 3:16 (KJV) - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

To those who are traveling, have a safe spring break.

This week's newsletter from Gene

38+ years of my writing an article every Monday morning is coming to a close. We are changing the format of the Beacon starting next week, so this format will no longer be available. The new communication system will be electronic using email. In addition, a full color publication will be mailed out six times a year and will include a two month calendar so you can easily see upcoming events. The team working on this has done an excellent job and you will be impressed with the new look. What about those without email? We are working on how to make sure they are included in our weekly correspondence. These folks are very important to us and we are not going to leave them out simply because of technology.

We have a good group already committed to go to the Spring Fest in Branson April 19-23rd. This conference will feature some of the top gospel singers and preachers in the country. Cost is $300.00. It covers the conference fee and all lodging while on the road and in Branson. I have to finalize reservations next week, so if you wish to go, get at least a $150.00 deposit in this coming Sunday. Simply place it in an offering envelope with your name and mark it Branson.

This week's newsletter from Karen

You’ll hear more about the AWESOME Club in the weeks to come, but as an introduction, the children in Kinder-6th grades will be participating in a special attendance campaign during the month of April. To gear up for that time, take some time this week to talk to your kids about evangelism—telling others about Jesus. Below are activities you can use to help create a conversation…

A Treat You Should Share
Item needed: candy bars or treat that your family would enjoy
(Keep all but one of the candy bars hidden.)

Open one of the candy bars and eat it in front of your kids. Make a big deal out of how good it is. When they ask you to share, GLADLY share with them. In fact, bring out the hidden candy bars and pass them around.

How did you feel when I shared my treat with you? How would you have felt if I kept it all to myself? How would this be like keeping or sharing the good news about Jesus?

Knowing Jesus is far better than anything in the world. We must share this good news with others.

Good News!
Whisper some good news into your child’s ear (You can stay up an extra 30 minutes tonight; I’ll do your chore so you can go play; I’ll play a game with you now; you can choose the TV show, etc.) and see the smile it brings.

Did you like the good news I whispered in your ear? Why? Why is the truth about Jesus good news? (He loves us and died so we can go to heaven someday.) Who do you know that needs to hear this good news?

Say a prayer for family, friends, or even enemies who need to hear this good news. Ask God for a chance to show them Jesus’ love and a chance to tell them why His love is such good news.

This week's newsletter from Michael

Church family, I just want to say you are doing great learning the new songs we are preparing for Easter Sunday! I am sure the Lord was pleased with our worship. I hope you are inviting your friends and family for this special day. Looking forward to a packed house.

To all members of our music ministry, here is the schedule for the next couple of weeks. Please mark your calendars, phones, and tablets with these dates and times so you don’t miss out on important rehearsals.

Wednesday, March 9th: 6:00-7:45pm (Orchestra/Band)

Sunday, March 13th: 4:00-5:15pm (Choirs/Orchestra/Band)

Wednesday, March 16th: 6:00-7:45pm(Orchestra/Band)

Sunday, March 20th: 4:00-5:15pm (Choirs/Orchestra/Band)

Wednesday, March 23rd: 6:00-7:30pm (Choirs/Orchestra/Band)

Easter Sunday, March 27: 9:00am (Choirs/Orchestra/Band/Media)

It is important YOU show up to all rehearsals. For those that have missed Sunday rehearsals you should do your best to make these rehearsal times, especially those on Wednesdays.

For those of you who are in handbells, you will miss the next 3 Wednesdays of rehearsal. I still encourage those of you who are not in the orchestra to continue to make your rehearsal and work on techniques.

Thank you to all of our media volunteers who showed up this past Sunday at 7:30am for breakfast and our meeting. We continue to strive to improve what we do in our media ministry. Thank you to Marilyn, Phillip, and Rachel for cooking!

Hope you all have a great week!

This week's newsletter from Gene

It’s exciting to find out how many people we have that are new to our church and are unfamiliar with “how things work” that those of us who have been around for so long take for granted. Let me give you some basics.

Last week I wrote about budget offerings going to missions. At the end of year, we adopt a budget for our church. These are all the anticipated funds needed for all of our normal operation, staffing, maintenance, ministries, etc. When we are reaching our budget, all of these areas can be fully funded, so we encourage people to give their offerings to our budget. In addition to our own “in-house” expenses to fulfill the ministries of Hillcrest, just over 10% of these funds go to missions. We fund those a couple of different ways which I won’t go into here, but a portion of your funds go to state, national and international missions. These funds go to support church starts, some of our Baptist schools, children’s homes, and missionaries here in the U.S. A significant portion of that 10% goes to support the SBC’s 4,500 or so foreign missionaries scattered all around the world. So when you give your offerings, they have impact from inside our own doors to all around the world.

About 3 times a year, we have special offerings. Right now it is the Annie Armstrong offering. This offering is for mission work in North America. I don’t know any organization that has enough money to do everything they want to do, and our mission organizations are no different. Although the NAMB receives funds from our normal giving, this special offering allows an emphasis to give additional funds directly to this cause.

Question: If God were to answer all your prayers regarding HBC and its ministries, would it be any more effective than it is now?

This week's newsletter from Karen

On Sunday in our Bible studies we talked about the purpose each one of our lives has in God’s plan. Try these activities this week to follow-up on the discussion with your child to help him/her to continue to think about what their purpose might be.

What’s This For?
While you’re in the kitchen cooking dinner, pull some utensils (potato masher, pizza cutter, grater, etc.) out of the drawer. Hold up each one and ask, “What is this used for?”

Each of these utensils has a special purpose—it was made to do something special  (mash potatoes, cut pizza, grate cheese, etc.).

Follow-up with something like this, “God made each of us for a special purpose—to do something special. Before we were even born, He knew all about us and what we could do to serve Him.”

Finding Purpose
The Bible is the best place to find God’s purpose or plan for us. We must KNOW God’s purpose before we can DO it.

Write the following Bible references on slips of paper and let each child read one to find out some of God’s purposes.

Psalm 100:2 (serve the Lord with gladness)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (give thanks)
Galatians 6:10 (do good)
1 John 4:11 (love others)
Proverbs 3:5 (trust in the Lord)

Activities taken from Splink, April 2010.

This week's newsletter from Michael

One of my favorite scriptures comes from Psalm 91:1: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.“

I hope that most of you are still in the word each day now that March is upon us. I know that in today’s world distractions are an everyday occurrence, no matter how hard we try to keep from being distracted as we read God’s word and spend time with Him each day. Even church work can get in the way of spending our alone time with God. We have to discipline ourselves to give God that time he deserves with us each day. He desires that, and I so desire hearing from Him too. I encourage you to have some praise and worship time with God. It will help change the focus of your mind. I know on my way to work each morning I love having my own praise and worship time. I get to sing as loud as I want, get to cry, get to talk to the Lord all by myself. I am sure many Austin drivers are wondering what that crazy guy is doing. Worshiping God on a regular basis will shift our mental and spiritual focus because when we worship, God “IS” the focus.

I also want to say thanks to those who have signed up to be a part of our Media Team! We can now begin rotating so that each of our team members can have a week of participating in the worship services. Don’t forget, all audio and media team members will have our first breakfast meeting this Sunday, March 6, at 7:30am in the fellowship center.

I look forward to worshiping with you Sunday! Have a great week!

This week's newsletter from Gene

When you give undesignated offerings to Hillcrest, just over 10% of those funds go to missions. These funds are administered by the Missions Team and they give a report each business meeting regarding these funds. There are a variety of missions that we support. The largest recipients are the Southern Baptist Convention, which supports our missionaries all around the world; the Baptist General Convention of Texas, and the Southern Baptist Convention of Texas.

In addition to these organizations, we fund some smaller ministries directly and want to keep you informed about these ministries. Here is a ministry that we are supporting directly. Luke and Mary Connally are working with the North American Mission Board, (which is part of the SBC) in Alaska. Because of reduced funding to the NAMB in recent years, they are having to raise part of their support, so we are helping with that. Mary is the daughter of David and Lori Kemerling. David is a former staff member.

This is a note from Luke Connally:
So you can know how to pray for us moving forward: We have been given open doors to a few different things but all of them deal with primarily outreach to military families and young active duty singles. Some of that will be working with Samaritan’s Purse this summer as we participate with Operation Heal Our Patriots. Most of it will be partnering with a Cadence International Hospitality House here in Anchorage. We are engaged in discipling and mentoring with them right now and helping to form disciple makers. We see this as a strategic opportunity because they will only be stationed here for about 3 - 4 years and then move on to other duty stations all over the world. Please pray for all of these things. We are so thankful for how God has continued to provide for all our needs and He has made everything very clear as we have transitioned into this ministry.

This week's newsletter from Karen

Ever been in a situation that needs a lot of prayer but you have no idea what your prayer needs to be? A situation where you’re not sure what God wants? A situation where it seems like there is no good thing coming no matter what happens?

I once taught a lesson on why we should pray, and one of the verses we studied was Romans 8:26, which reads, “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (NIV)

If you go on and read the next two verses (27-28, NIV) you see, “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

How comforting. When I don’t know what to say, God has given me the gift of the Holy Spirit to take care of the words. When I’m not sure what God wants, He knows the Holy Spirit is asking for God’s will. When no good thing is in sight, I can know that God sees things differently and will work things out according to his good.

This week's newsletter from Michael

Ask yourself, am I willing to let God use me? I hope your answer is YES! There is one person who does not want you to be used by God, and I am sure you know who that is: Satan! The one thing Satan fears more than any other is a child of God who is willing to say two little words each day, “Use me.” Don’t let Satan win this battle, child of God.

Many of you may wonder, how can I be used? Where do I start? Begin by praying that the Lord would reveal to you what it is you are to be doing. Some of you already know what you are to be doing, but you just haven't made the decision to begin what you know you can do. I challenge some of you to ask our leadership this week, next week, soon! How can I be used at Hillcrest Baptist Church for kingdom work! Here are some ideas just off the top of my head.

• Be a greeter
• Serve in our children & youth ministries
• Media Team
• Choir & Orchestra
• Soup kitchen once a month
• Share your faith
• Invite family & friends to church
• Missions

There are many options you can be a part of in our church besides those I have listed. Can you imagine what our church would look like if everyone was being used by God. This place would explode and hearts would be changed. I look forward to seeing what God will do in your life as you ask to be “USED” this week and for all eternity.

This week's newsletter from Gene

Spring Jubilee in Branson April 19-23
This is not the normal Branson trip to see their shows, but is a conference put on by an independent group, Jubilee Conferences, and features some of the top gospel recording artists and preachers. We will leave Tuesday, April 19th and arrive in Branson Wednesday afternoon. The conference begins that night with a concert by David Phelps, Speaker Herb Reavis and comedienne Chonda Pierce. The conference will also include Johnny Hunt speaking (one of my favorites), Karen Peck and New River, Dixie Melody Boys, Ricky Skaggs and Squire Parsons in concert. We’ll leave at noon Friday, spend one night on the road, and be back in Austin around 3:00PM Saturday the 23rd.

You can pay the full amount of $300 if you wish (which includes the breakfast meal only), but at least a $150.00 deposit will be required no later than Sunday, March 20th. We should have on-line registration set up in the next few days.

Go to www.jubileeconferences.com for more info.

Palacios, May 16,17,18
We have done many retreats in Palacios over the years, and one of the favorite formats has been a staff-led retreat. Many of you don’t get to interact much with our staff, and we should have a new youth person on staff by then. This will provide an excellent time with our ministry staff in a very informal, relaxed setting. The encampment at Palacios has nice motel-like rooms, double queen beds with private baths, and is right on the bay. The price is right, $125.00 per person, double occupancy, meals included. Departure is at 1:00 Monday and return about 4:00 on Wednesday. We’ll have four Bible study and worship sessions. Tuesday afternoon will be free for fishing, shopping, golfing, relaxing, etc.

The $125.00 is due no later than Sunday, May 1st.

If you are under 50 and would like to go on either one of these trips, contact me for a special “age dispensation.” 

This week's newsletter from Karen

Sometimes when I look at my watch, I panic because I see time just whizzing by. Each and every tick of the clock’s second hand is a reminder that I am losing a resource that is not renewable – time.

Many things in my life right now are time-driven. My vacation is coming up and I have not started getting things ready, a special April emphasis for the kids is being launched, and summer camps for the kids need to be planned and staffed. The closer each of these events gets to fruition, the faster the days seem to approach. The faster the days approach, the more anxious and uneasy I get about all the things I want to say and do.

These feelings remind me of Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4-7. “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

If you are feeling like I am, join me in rejoicing that God is in control. Join me in remembering that God is with us. Join me in giving thanks to God for all his provisions for our church family. Join me in receiving the peace only He can give. Join me in realizing that each tick of the clock is a gift from God that isn’t to be worried away, but to be used for His glory.

This week's newsletter from Michael

What a great day of worship we had Sunday! I love seeing all generations play a part of our worship services! Thank you to the Sunshine Choir and our trio for blessing us with your special music. God has really given us some great talent!

Our choir is gearing up for Easter Sunday and we are only 6 weeks away! Start inviting your friends and family to join us that Sunday. We have some great music lined up. So, no vacations, no sleeping in, and no excuses that Sunday.

I am still looking for a few good men and women to help serve in our video ministry. I have talked to a few of you already, and still I need a couple more. If you are willing to learn, we are willing to train you! Email or call me this week.

Our Church APP: We have a church app! Check it out in your app store today. We are also in the process of doing some updates to our website and a few tweaks to our app, so keep a lookout!

We have lots going on in our Music & Media ministry, and I just want to say, THANK YOU, Hillcrest for allowing me the opportunity to serve and be a part of this great family! Looking forward to seeing you again next week together in worship.

This week's newsletter from Gene

Well, spring has sprung on us and summer isn’t far behind. We have a couple of trips coming up for the 50+ crowd. If you are under 50, see me for a special dispensation!! I’ll have final costs on these trips in the next few days, but wanted to let you know they are coming so you have more time to consider them.

Spring Jubilee in Branson April 19-23. This is not the normal Branson trip to see their shows, but is a conference put on by an independent group, Jubilee Conferences, and features some of the top gospel recording artists and preachers. We will leave here Tuesday, April 19th, and arrive in Branson Wednesday afternoon. The conference begins that night with a concert by David Phelps, speaker Herb Reavis and comedienne Chonda Pierce. The conference will also include Johnny Hunt speaking (one of my favorites), Karen Peck and New River, Dixie Melody Boys, Ricky Skaggs and Squire Parsons in concert. Exact numbers later, but trip cost will probably be about $350.00 per person, double occupancy, including meals. Go to www.jublieeconferences.com for more info.

We have done many retreats in Palacios over the years and one of the favorite formats is a staff-led retreat. Many of you don’t get to interact much with our staff, and we should have a new youth coordinator on staff by then. This will provide an excellent time with our ministry staff in a very informal, relaxed setting. The encampment at Palacios has nice motel-like rooms, double queen beds with private baths, and is right on the bay. The price is right, $125.00 per person, double occupancy, meals included. If you are under 50 and would like to attend, let me know.

I’ll provide more details and registration deadlines by next week.

This week's newsletter from Karen

With Valentine’s Day approaching, there is a lot of talk in advertising on television, social media, the radio, etc. about love and how love is shown.

Take some time this week with your family and try this activity* that focuses on God’s love for us.

Items Needed: a different colored piece of construction paper for each child;
Special “Valentines” Snack

Have a “party” to celebrate God's love for us. (It doesn't have to be on February 14; pick any day and celebrate together.)

Write "God Loves You" on each piece of construction paper. Cut the letters apart (into 11 pieces) and hide them around the room (while the kids aren't looking). Assign each child a color and invite him/her to find a special message. When all the letters have been found, unscramble the letters to decipher the message. (Older kids can help the younger ones.)

Ask:
How do you know God loves you? (He created you special; He watches over you; He answers your prayers; He sent Jesus to die for your sins; He's making a place for you in heaven; He shows us the way to live in the Bible, etc.)

Share the special snack while reminding the kids of God’s love shown in John 3:16.


*Activity provided by Splink (February 13-19, 2014)