Chapel Newsletter, November 2004 - The Chapel in North Canton

It is an institution that has been around for thousands of years and yet its
very foundation is being attacked and challenged in our days. It is the subject of political debates as we look to the national elections in November. Some are calling for amendments to state and national constitutions in order to protect it, while others march in protest wanting to change it. It is a hot topic. Of course, I am referring to the “Institution of Marriage”.

Everyone has an opinion, but I thought it would be good to go back to the first marriage ceremony, which is found in Genesis 2:18-25, to see what marriage is really all about. As we examine Genesis 2:18-25 several points are clear.

God was responsible for every aspect of creation including marriage. Creation did not evolve over thousands or millions of years -- it was the direct result of God’s creation in six literal days. Marriage was also a direct result of God’s creation as Genesis 2 records that God made man and woman and then brought them together to be united in marriage (2:24). If God was the original creator of marriage, then certainly He decides what it will be. A government does not have that right to change marriage, nor do the times or the peoples; only its creator, and He says it is to involve a man and a woman. It is not a “marriage” if it is not a man and a woman joined together.

At the conclusion of each 24-hour day of creation, we find God looking at His handiwork and declaring, “It was very good.” It was pleasing to God’s eyes and all of creation was to honor and bring glory to God.

Marriage, as part of God’s creation, was also to bring honor and glory to God. The focus in marriage was not just about a man and a woman being joined together, but about glory rising up to God. I wonder if we focused upon marriage as an “institution created to glorify God,” would it not change the debates today on marriage? People today seem to view marriage as
just a “civil institution,” and not a creation of God meant to glorify Him. Marriage is not about man or governments, but about God.

Genesis 2:24 declares that “Adam and Eve were united together” and to “become one flesh.” The phrase “united” and “one flesh” indicate that marriage, as it glorifies God, is to be pure and holy -- the commitment of a man and woman only to each other. We have lost that concept in our days as we have allowed marriage to become not an institution that glorifies God, but an institution that is left up to the whims and desires of mankind. Therefore, society says that if your mate no longer interests you, or if you are tired of him/her, go out and find someone else. After all, society says marriage is about you and your fulfillment. No, it isn’t. It is about God -- His glory, our purity. It is about a commitment to each other for a lifetime. That is what marriage is. This leads to the final point in Genesis 2.

Marriage is not just a commitment before family, friends and a pastor, but a commitment before the almighty God. It is a commitment that He will one day hold us responsible for, and if that is true, then we need to go back to the first marriage ceremony and find out how the creator of marriage wants marriage to be. He says it does not change.

What better time to be a friend of the poor and thus a special friend of God than at the holiday season! During the past years, ABFs, families and Home Groups of The Chapel have experienced the blessings of bringing the love

“The righteous man who is the friend of the poor is very specially the friend of God.”

~Andrew Murray
(With Christ in the School of Prayer)

of Christ to financially-challenged families by their participation in the Bethesda Outreach Ministries’ “Adopt a Christmas Family” program.

These are families (mostly inner-city) who have received assistance from Bethesda throughout the year. Due to the economy, unemployment and other factors, this year the need is greater than ever. Without the help of caring people, Christmas to many will be just another day in a life of continual struggles. Let’s join together in sharing the true meaning of Christ’s birth with those who need encouragement most.

On or before Sunday, November 21, complete and return an Adoption Form to the church office (copies are at the Welcome Center and in the Sunday worship bulletins), or call Bethesda Outreach Ministries at the phone numbers listed below. If you have elected to directly adopt a family, within a few days you will be contacted to discuss the size family you wish to adopt. Shortly thereafter, you will be given the name, telephone number, address
and information concerning the family assigned to you.

You may then contact the family to discuss their needs and appropriate gifts for the members of the family. They will be expecting your call. Purchase the gifts you have decided upon. Food is optional. Deliver the gifts to the family a few days before Christmas. Please plan on visiting a short time and having prayer with the family. If you have children, you may want to take them with you. At your request, a receipt for your gifts will be provided. Your contribution is tax deductible.

#2: INDIRECT “ADOPTION”
For those who wish to participate but prefer making a cash contribution rather than following the “Direct Adoption” process, we can assure you that such contributions are most welcome. They are used to purchase Wal-Mart gift cards and/or food vouchers. Make your check payable to Bethesda Outreach Ministries and deposit it in an offering box or turn it in to the church office. Please make sure your contribution is over and above regular tithes and
offerings. Your contribution is tax deductible and a receipt will be issued.

For more information, please call Clarence Blasier at (330) 497-0355 or leave a message on the Bethesda Outreach Ministries answering machine at (330) 649-0249.

Sunday November 21, 2004 - 2:00 to 5:30 PM
Note: A light snack will be provided during a break in the class.

The Chapel is excited to introduce a series of Life Development Classes as part of our new discipleship program. Following the Purpose Driven Church model, this series takes individuals through four basic classes: 101 (Membership), 201 (Maturing), 301 (Ministry) and 401 (Mission). Sign up at the display in the lobby or call Pastor Dan Hanny at (330) 494-3419, ext. 307.

If you’ve never been in a small group, this might be a tough question to answer. If you have been in one or are in one now, you can probably write at least ten reasons why you enjoy small groups. At the top of my list, I would say, is sharing life together. We share laughter and tears. We share hopes and disappointments. We share encouraging words and challenging ones. We share in ministry to our community. We share our prayers. We share our love of the Word. We share our love for one another.

These are some of my reasons. What are yours? Take some time and think about your reasons and write them down. Then pray and ask God to help you think of ways you can provide more opportunities for people to enjoy sharing life together in a small group.

Final Collection date is Sunday, November 14, 2004!!!
Brochures are available at the display in the church foyer.

Operation Christmas Child is a unique project of Christian relief and evangelism to children in desperate situations around the world. It is distributed by Samaritan’s Purse, founded by Franklin Graham. The Chapel in North Canton, along with other churches and organizations around the globe, will share the true meaning of Christmas by filling gift boxes with toys for
these unfortunate children and their families.

1. Sign up and get a brochure.
2. Follow the instructions in the brochure on how to complete the gift box.
3. Include $5.00 in each box for shipping.
4. Bring box(es) to the church kitchen on or before the morning of Sunday, November 14, 2004

Questions? Call Sheri Miller at 330-644-1535 or Ruth Lair at 330-494-1035 to be a part of this project.

Operation Mobilization Ships International (OMSI) is a missions organization which travels to ports around the world, bringing knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world. Its vision is to impact the lives of its visitors with the Good News of God’s love, with a desire to help each individual, both serving on board and visiting, to take the next step towards knowing and following Jesus Christ.

In January, 2004, The Chapel in North Canton’s own Brett (Lioi) Hoskins, committed to give his time, energy, and love for Christ, to serve aboard the MV Doulos (pictured left). The Doulos is the worlds’ oldest passenger ship still afloat on the seven seas. Brett (age 20) has sent many wonderful and inspiring letters which share the struggles about ship life, but also the joys of seeing God working in the lives of people at the numerous ports where the Doulos has docked. We would like to share some excerpts from Brett’s letters to The Chapel and hope you find them as encouraging and exciting as we do.

Brett works on the ship. He says, “Everyone on the ship has a job...a 40-hour-a-week job that they do to keep the ship running. I thought I would be put in the engine room or in the deck department where the ‘real men’ work, but instead, I was put in the bookstore, the world’s largest floating bookstore.” He says that, “Every day we have an average of 1,800 people come to the bookshop, and about 75% of them know nothing about Christ! It is funny, most missionaries have to plant churches and do street work to really get out into their community and evangelize the people around them, but on the ship, the people come to us -- in masses. It’s one of the comparatively unique aspects of the ship’s ministry. Pray for us in the bookshop; our task in showing these people the love of Christ is not always easy.”

“In April, I spent 12 days in Rotterdam, Holland with three other guys from the ship. We were sent out as what the ship calls an ‘A-Team’. A-Teams spend time, a whole port away from the ship, helping local churches and organizations to do evangelism, run soup kitchens, or anything else the churches want them to do. In Ireland, one A-Team spent their whole time on
a farm helping a local church member whose farm was having a bad year.” (Brett says these are just a few of the outreach tools people aboard the ship use to share the Gospel with others around the world.)

“Let me just close by saying this: life on board the ship is hard to keep up with. I won’t lie … there are some days I just want to be home and have my mother cook me real food, and have a car and a real job...sometimes I just want to be left alone, but when your cabin has 15 people in it, that does not happen very often. As we speak, God is teaching me contentment.”

Please pray for Brett and all aboard the Doulos that each individual would be refreshed, and that the ministry taking place would touch the hearts of many. Also remember the many missionaries around the world whose ministries we support through our prayers.