Take the Friday Night Challenge

By: Kathy C.

I would like to challenge the adults (including myself) at RFC to go to two Friday Night Explosion youth services. I went to just one and I am a believer. I have seen the move of God as His Presence falls and His Spirit moves. I have caught a peek/glimpse of where He wants us (the whole church) to go. He moves mightily in these services because the youth's hearts are pure and unadulterated. They know who satisfies. They know who can change lives. They have issues but they are so willing to give them up to Him. As they lift up holy hands to worship Him, the things that entangle and hinder break off. The same Spirit that speaks to them speaks to us (the adults), but as a child they take what the Father says and believe wholeheartedly.

Take the challenge. Be changed.

Home Group News

By Sandy G.

Acts 2:46 "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"

When RFC first started Home Groups, I was with Bob's group. I kept asking if I should bring something to eat and Debbie always said no. After weeks of starving and asking about supper, I figured out that Home Groups was not just about eating but that the breaking of bread really meant communion and fellowship. Becoming one with each other as Jesus broke bread with His disciples. We are all part of the same loaf.

The Home Group I am in now is Herb's. God is teaching us about covenant in my Home Group. His covenant that He has set up before us has blessings and cursing, life and death. He wants us to know Him and He wants to communicate with us. He wants us to learn His word. The word is near us - it is in our mouth and in our heart so that we may obey it.

The word "will" is defined as "desires, pleasure, passion, purpose, choice, intention, a request, command or decree, to ordain." He has chosen and called us to walk with Him.

2 Cor. 6:16-18 "... I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. ... And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

I am amazed and humbled at what is coming forth from the youth and the adults in my group. Everyone has something encouraging to share because we are all uniquely designed in His image.

Heb. 10:25 "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."

Kid's Church News

By: Erin S.

God has been revealing Himself powerfully as we've been ministering to the children in this body. Not only has He shown Himself to the children, but also to those of us who've been teaching them. The Spirit of God has been so heavy during Kid's Church; it has been incredible to see the response from all involved. There has been impartation of many things: unconditional love, servanthood and a giving of oneself, obedience, compassion, and many other things we do not even realize have been released.

Though there are days when our children are not well-behaved and can try our patience, may the Spirit encourage us that God is planting seeds of love, righteousness and truth deep within their hearts.

As parents, please be encouraged that God is having His way in your children's lives. He is raising a people of true legacy in this body -- a vision for disciples that is being handed to even the youngest child. Please join with us in prayer that the power of God will continue to change not only the hearts and lives of our children, but also the lives of all who seek His face.

Woman2Woman Review

What a glorious time in the Lord the ladies had at the Woman2Woman conference in November. I was awestruck with what God was doing around me. My view of God's people widened as I fellowshipped with my sisters beyond RFC walls.

Beth Moore spoke from the heart of the Father as she taught nearly 4,000 women gathered in the Events Center. The Lord used this time through Beth to confirm several of the things He has been teaching us over the last few months. Touching on the fact that we serve a Father God who truly cares for us, Beth challenged and encouraged us to live and walk in a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ.

Travis Cottrell led us into the throne room of God with worship, reminding us to walk in that place of worship and praise to God, and Kathy Troccoli shared her worship with us as she sang to the Lord.

After the conference we spent time in fellowship and prayer with other ladies from around the state and shared what the Lord has laid on our hearts.

Friday Night Explosion - Youth News

By Jennifer W.

Isn't our God awesome? It is wonderful to watch Him move among our young people. He is doing amazing things!

In so many places the youth group is just another "program" a church has made available to anyone who wants to come. And though all are welcome here at RFC, it is so much more than just a program. It is a God Explosion

There is only room for one thing during our meetings and that is to seek God's face in worship, teaching, and prayer. There is such a call of God on this youth group, if we do not seek Him, where will we go? How could we even imagine doing His will, if we never sought Him to find out what His will is.

Being open to Jesus, and allowing Him to take us where He is, has led us to very exciting places! I never would have thought it possible to belong to a group so hungry, that we spend 2+ hours just worshiping our Father. After visiting these places just a couple of times, we no longer want to go back to things as usual, but are beginning to make these higher realms our dwelling place. In fact, a portion of scripture that often gets prayed is Psalms 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple." Praise the Lord we are gaining revelation on this!

Scott's Corner

You may have noticed some new faces greeting you at the Sanctuary doors over the past few weeks. They are there to welcome you and invite you to enjoy your time in praise to the Lord. As time goes on, more people will be moving into these places of welcome.

As people have come in over the last few weeks there have been a few empty chairs left between families. We need to be mindful of these open spaces and move to fill them so that people coming in after us will have room to sit.

As we see continued growth, we praise God and we thank each of you for your help in making those visiting us feel welcome.

Friday Night Explosion (Continued)

I am excited to see what else the Lord has planned for us. As we step out and begin to share Jesus with the city, not only will the city be impacted, so will our lives. I think one of the main points of this outreach is to build relationships with each other. If we do not become disciples ourselves, how will we be able to disciple others? One must first live out what they will teach. Then, when others come in and begin to live life in the kingdom, they too will be able to dwell in His presence.

A Fond Farewell and a Hearty Welcome

As January, 2002 swings around the corner, Justin will be leaving for Kirksville to be mentored in leadership training both here and overseas. During the few months that he's been back, he has led the youth further into their relationship with Christ, helped put together a brochure for the youth to use in evangelizing, and stepped into a place of leadership with us as a body. We are thankful for the short time that he was back with us and we will miss him.

Eric R., a student from Kirksville, joined us after Thanksgiving. In addition to his sense of humor and theatrical talents, this young man has a heart after God and is already instrumental in planning how the youth can evangelize areas of the city. We're glad to have him join us.

Things to Remember in December

Faith's Baby Blessing

What happens when you put twenty-six women and one baby girl in the same room? You have a baby blessing, of course!

On Monday, December 10, we gathered at Amy Lund's home to share words from the Lord, prayer, gifts, and fellowship with Megan and Faith. Heb. 11:1 and 6 were just two of the many words that the Lord gave the women for Faith, along with several poems and a wonderful prayer written out for her.

We had a great time and enjoyed celebrating Faith's birth.

Reflections on Christmas

1 Peter 3:15 "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:"

"Are you ready for Christmas?" I was asked this question several times as I went from one place to another. At first I said, "Not really."

Then God arrested me. Even as I said, "I'm not ready for Christmas," I knew it was the wrong answer. The issue for those Christ has called His own isn't whether we're ready for Christmas... it's whether we're ready for Christ. Jesus wants our answer to be, "Yes, I'm ready! I'm ready to celebrate the One who gave me life."

This brings us to the Christmas Eve Communion Service. It wasn't just a typical Christmas service. It was a time of deep reflection. Using Isaiah 53, Pastor Dave spoke of how Christ was born for the purpose of dying for the sins of the world. He painted a very vivid picture of how Christ was beaten beyond recognition, mocked by men, and whipped before He ever went near the cross. As we gathered with our families across the sanctuary we participated in the promise of Christ through Communion. I believe each of us carried away a new definition of Christmas as we left for our homes.

Youth Banquet

The youth had a wonderful time at their Christmas banquet. The Fellowship Hall was transformed into a living room setting with a fireplace, lamps, gifts around the tree and packages set around the room. They enjoyed a great meal and afterward Rick and Bob entertained them with their version of the "Great Thanksgiving Food Fight", while Laurette and Debbie sat quietly by. Rick closed the evening by encouraging the youth to have a deeper, stronger passion for the Lord Jesus Christ.

The youth would like to thank everyone who helped plan and serve their banquet! The service on their behalf was greatly appreciated.

Peter and Jill Mehl

WOW! What an awesome time we had with Peter and Jill Mehl from Russian Harvest Ministries. It was awesome to witness God confirm so many things in the church and our individual lives. If you missed it, I encourage you to get the tapes and get up to speed. He encouraged us as he taught how to recognize the Church with Hero significance and what tools to use to build the church. Even touched on the familiar passages in Nehemiah where you could still hear the echo of Justin's and Pastor Dave's messages from a few weeks ago. The Lord even had Peter speak about new beginnings. That rings a bell for the ladies because it was just the very thing that Beth Moore had spoken about in November. He encouraged us as he imparted more passion into our lives for Jesus with his messages. Peter and Jill both widened our view of our world as they told us of their own journey into Russia. We heard their heart's cry and felt the burden that the Lord had laid on their hearts for the lost in Russia.

The adult's RFC Christmas banquet was held on Sunday evening. The food was delicious (of course) and with fellowship added to top the already perfect weekend you could not ask for more. Peter and Jill shared more from their hearts about Russian Harvest Ministries. We also were privileged to be entertained by a couple of RFC's very own: five year old Eric and little Ricky. They entertained us as they gave us a look into the mind of a five year old in a Peter Mehl meeting. They gave us understanding as to why Peter talks so fast (it is because he is Russian). They answered the question as to why some of our leaders are going bald: it is because they are eagles. Little Eric was also talented enough to show us how our Pastor's jump and spin looked something akin to a dolphin jumping for a fish. The weekend ended the way it began - in prayer, thanksgiving, praise, glory and honor to our King of Kings, Jesus.