The Art of Marriage

Marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a true art form. That’s why for more than 40 years, FamilyLife has been helping couples understand God’s plan for relationships. The Art of Marriage® weaves together expert teaching, real-life stories, humorous vignettes, and more to portray both the challenges and the beauty of God’s design.

In The Art of Marriage, over 40 ministry leaders provide biblically-centered teaching while couples who have struggled in marriage openly and honestly share their stories of pain, loss, forgiveness, and grace.

Whether your marriage resembles a Rembrandt or a toddler’s finger-paint masterpiece, you won’t want to miss The Art of Marriage. It’ll be a weekend that could reshape your relationship.

• Friday, Mar. 24 (evening) and Saturday, Mar. 25 (morning and afternoon)
• Cost: $45 for couple’s materials
• Register by Sunday, Mar 12 at the kiosk or on our website

Gift certificates are available to purchase either for sponsoring a couple you personally know or sponsoring a couple(s) anonymously. Contact the office to purchase.

Day of Caring – Pancake Brunch

• Sunday, February 26, 11:30am – 1pm at Eaton United Church of Christ
• Adult Donation: $6; Senior Citizens and Children under 12:$4
• 100% of all ticket sales goes to local Homeless Services
• The Bistro at Eagle’s Point is sponsoring an extended menu!

Pastor’s Retreat

Our pastors will be away on their annual retreat this weekend. Please pray for them and their wives as they spend the weekend together seeking the Lord for the future direction of our church. Specifically, we invite you to pray for wisdom and discernment from God. We desire to be dependent on Him as leaders as we listen and talk about our identity and direction as a church. Thank you.

Things to know this week…

• RockHouse Doer Groups Visitation: Sun, Feb 26 @6pm. Meet in the Gathering Area
• Etch: Wed, Mar 1 @6pm

Elder’s Retreat

Please pray for our elders and Pastor Dan as they spend the day tomorrow together on a retreat to seek the Lord for the future of our church. Specifically, we invite you to pray for wisdom and discernment from God. We desire to be dependent on Him as leaders as we listen and talk about our identity and direction as a church. Thank you.

Men’s Ministry: Indy Boat, Sport & Travel Show – Saturday, Feb 25

7am – Breakfast @Carver’s in Richmond; 10am – Arrive at Indy Fair Grounds; Pre-sale tickets: $12; $14 at the door. Join us for fellowship and fun as we explore the acres of boats, RV’s, fishing tackle and hunting gear.

Things to know this week…

• Men’s & Women’s Bible Study – Wed, Feb 22 @6pm; Dinner @5:45pm
• RockHouse Youth Doer Groups – Sun, Feb 19 @6pm, Gathering Area

Mark Your Calendar:

• Men’s Fishing Retreat – May 19-21
• Ellis Guthrie Golf Scramble – June 17
• Men’s Golf Retreat – July 28-30
• Family Camp – Aug 11-13

Men’s Ministry: Indy Boat, Sport & Travel Show – Saturday, Feb 25

7am – Breakfast @Carver’s in Richmond; 10am – Arrive at Indy Fair Grounds; Pre-sale tickets: $12; $14 at the door

Join us for fellowship and fun as we explore the acres of boats, RV’s, fishing tackle and hunting gear.

Join the Battle – Because Porn Kills Love

Saturday, Mar 4, 8:30am – 1pm  at Athletes in Action Headquarters, Schindler Banquet Center 1183 Tyndale Lane, Xenia  $30 per person

Resources and information to help deal with pornography and sexual addiction and their devastating impact on the church and the home. Email Scott Stemple, sstemple@familylife.com

Things to know this week…

• GriefShare begins Tue, Feb 7 @6:30pm
• A Night in Little Italy tickets on sale at the Youth Info Desk

Mission and Outreach Update: Jesse Witt, Story Team Austin Stone

Signs of Faithfulness

As a filmmaker, I often try to measure success by how many “plays,” “likes,” “shares,” “views,” etc. that my stories get. However, what I’m learning is that God’s measure of success isn’t found in statistics and metrics, but in people’s lives.

Because of this, it’s essential to ask the question, “What is God doing through our work?” By God’s grace, I recently heard a testament of God’s faithfulness through a story that we told.

Last week, my team and I returned from a mission trip to Spain where we captured stories from missionaries serving all across the world. From the Middle East and Northern Africa to Central America and Southeast Asia, it was incredibly encouraging to hear stories of God’s faithfulness in their personal lives and ministries.

While there, a missionary couple approached me and thanked me for the work that our ministry (Story Team) is doing. Last year, we told the story of their ministry—a deaf community in a remote area of Honduras where they teach sign language and share the gospel.

I quickly turned the compliment back on them. For my team and I, it truly is an honor and privilege to get to share stories such as theirs. The wife went on to explain just why she wanted to thank and encourage me. They have been faithfully serving in Honduras for more than six years. Those first five years were incredibly difficult. They have seen fruit, but it has come at the cost of much personal suffering for them and other members of their team. While on furlough, they stopped by the church office to consult with our missions board about leaving the field.

Unbeknownst to them, we had coincidentally just finished a story that we had captured throughout their time on the field. While in the break room, we bumped into this couple and proudly showed them their story—a film called, “Signs of Love.”

What I learned next is that God used that video that day to remind them why they had been called to the field and of all the good work that has been accomplished in Jesus’s name. Our film directly motivated them to stay on the field. It is has since served as an incredible resource for their ministry in both generating awareness for prayer and sustainable financial support.

She shared with me that not only had God used one of our stories to keep them on the field, but they had originally felt compelled to go to the Nations when they saw one of our first films almost eight years ago.

As I stood there listening to her tell this story, I wept. What an amazing testament of God’s providence and faithfulness. I hope that this serves as an encouragement in your own ministry and walk with Jesus. Beyond numbers and metrics, we serve a living God who is moving radically in the hearts of His elect.

Your brother in Christ,
Jesse

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” –Psalm 46:10

Things to know this week…

• Sunday, Jan 29 is the last day to register for Men’s & Women’s Bible study
• Sunday, Jan 29 @6pm – RockHouse Youth Doer Groups
• Wed, Feb 1 @6pm: Etch
• A Night in Little Italy tickets on sale at the Youth Info Desk

Thank you to the 25+ who came out last night and helped install the insulation!

MOM’s Ministry

Tuesday, Jan 24, 11am in Rm 101 Calling all moms! Join us for relaxing time of fellowship. Moms of all life stages are invited. There is no cost and children are welcome. Questions: Bev Heindl, 533-9856.

Child Protection Policy Training/Re-certification

Thursday, Jan 26, 7pm and Sunday, Jan 29, 9am, in the Conference Rm. Anyone who works with children or youth at ECOB, must attend a CPP training every two years. Contact Lois Simmons, 456-6068 (lois.simmons8890@gmail.com) or Diana Oburn, 456-9512 (mothermedic@hotmail.com).

Things to know this week…

• Sunday, Jan 22 @6pm – RockHouse Youth Doer Groups
• Register now for Jr High Believe: Feb 17-18
• A Night in Little Italy tickets on sale at the Youth Info Desk

2016 Financial Giving Statements

To be good stewards of our resources, we are making a change this year in how we distribute ECOB’s Financial Giving Statements. If we have an email on record, giving statements will be emailed to those who have Offering Numbers. If we have no email on record, statement will be mailed. The Church Office does not keep a record of your giving unless you use the offering number assigned to you. Numbers are available through the office, 456-5507. Thank You!

Storage Building Project

On Tuesday, Jan 24  @ 5:30 pm, we will be installing insulation in the new storage building. Anyone who would like to help is welcome to come. Dinner will be provided. See Matt Deaton Sunday at the Kiosk in the Gathering Area to sign-up.