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.

It’s time for the next season of Etch! Join us Wed, Jan 18 – a time for all ages to interact with one common purpose: Discipleship. We begin with dinner, promptly at 6pm. Meal costs are by donation. For more information, go to our website, www.eatoncob.org/connect/etch.

Men’s Ministry

Men’s Breakfast: Saturday, Feb 11, 7:30 – 10am in the Gathering Area $5 Per person. Food, Fellowship and Guest Speaker, Dr. David Roadcup, Professor at Cincinnati Christian University. Men’s Ministry Team will share information about upcoming ministry events. Sign-up at the Kiosk.

Men’s Bible Study: Ephesians – Your Identity in Christ By Tony Merida. Wed evenings Feb 8, 22, Mar 8, 22, Apr 12, 26,  from 6-7:30 pm (Meal provided for donation) in Rm 101. Registration and $20 due by Jan 29 for workbook/materials.

Women’s Ministry

IF:Gathering Simulcast: Friday, Feb 3, 7-10pm and Saturday, Feb 4, 10am-6pm Hosted by ECOB at Community Christian School 500 Elks Road, Richmond. Disconnect, come as you are, and gather with women to experience the Spirit of God.$30 donation includes Friday snacks, Saturday continental breakfast & snacks and cost of simulcast. Register by Jan 22 at the Kiosk or the Church Office.

Ladies Bible Study: Finding I AM by Lysa TerKeurst. Wed evenings Feb 8, 22, Mar 8, 22 and April 12, 26 from 5:45 – 7:30 pm (Meal provided for donation) in the Great Room; Wed mornings Feb 8 – Mar 15 from 9:30 – 11 am in Rm 101. Registration form and $20 due by January 29 at the Kiosk or Church Office.

Things to know this week…

• Sunday, Jan 15 @6pm – RockHouse Youth Doer Groups
• Sunday, Jan 22 – One Another Group Leaders Huddle. RSVP by Jan 15 to Rich or Karen Charles

Celebrating Luke 3:11

Because of your generous giving, 5000 pounds of food was donated to the Preble County Food Bank during the months of November and December! Thank you for showing the love of Jesus. Please continue to bring your filled bags!

Women’s Ministry:

Ladies Winter Bible Study

This 6 week study will follow Lysa TerKeurst on the streets of Israel to explore the seven I AM statements of Jesus found in the Gospel of John.

Wed evenings Feb 8, 22, Mar 8, 22 and April 12, 26 from 5:45 – 7:30 pm (Meal provided for donation) in the Great Room; Wed mornings Feb 8 – Mar 15 from 9:30 – 11 am in Rm 101. Registration form and $20 due by January 29 at the Kiosk or Church Office.

IF:Gathering Simulcast

Friday, Feb 3, 7-10pm and Saturday, Feb 4, 10am-6pm at Community Christian School 500 Elks Road, Richmond

Disconnect, come as you are,and gather with women to experience the Spirit of God.$30 donation includes Friday snacks, Saturday continental breakfast & snacks and cost of simulcast. Register by Jan 22 at the Kiosk or the Church Office.

RockHouse Youth Doer Groups Kick-off

Sunday, Jan 8 from 6-8pm, Gathering Area & Great Room

James 1:22 ESV “But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only…”

Doer Groups meet on Sunday evenings from 6-8pm and is for students in grades 6-12. There is a time of students worshiping and learning together, and also a time of small group breakouts. Then, each lesson series students are provided with the opportunity to DO the very words we’ve been learning.

Our approach to ministry is to give students the freedom to experience what we hear from the word of God. We hope to help each student develop an all-encompassing view of what it means to be a follower of Christ. There will be elements of fellowship, worship, prayer, service, study and challenge. We are helping develop DOERS of the WORD!

Join us Sunday, January 1 for one service at 11am.

Sermon Series Beginning January 8

In his first appearance, Jesus’ mission was to reconcile all people to God the Father. He accomplished this by dying sacrificially for our sins and resurrecting gloriously to give spiritual life to those who receive God’s free gift of grace. As a result, we are transferred from the kingdom of darkness to God’s kingdom, and so we must learn how to live as citizens of heaven.

Jesus taught primarily in parables that, to many, amounted to riddles, but in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spelled out quite clearly what living in his Kingdom looks like—both for his glory and our ultimate satisfaction.

Things to know this week…

• Monday, Jan 2 – Office Hours: 10am – 2pm
• Sunday, Jan 8 – GreenHouse Kid’s Worship resumes
• Sunday, Jan 8 @6pm – RockHouse Youth Doer Groups