James Graduation

Thoughts on Calvary

A couple of weeks ago during our meeting time, everyone was asked to share on a 3X5 card why they enjoy Calvary. We then laid these card out so that everyone had a chance to see what the others wrote. Here are the responses.....

*I enjoy Calvary Baptist because it is a family not just a church. People want to know about what you think and what you're dealing with. People know who you are and you are missed when you are not there. God is love and Calvary Baptist does a good job of showing that to those who attend as well as those in the Brannen Homes neighborhood in which our church is located.

*I enjoy Calvary because I have a chance to share in God's word with the members of a rather close church family. I enjoy being a part of a community of God's servants who are devoted to Flagstaff's outer community, who helps those whom they can, and many times, who shows God to those who don't see His presence or can't hear His call. I enjoy discovering His word and understanding it, feeling it, and living it with this church family. I enjoy the youth at Calvary and the friendships I've made here.

*Because of the thought provoking discussioin. The close knit church family and the warm welcome my family has been shown.

*The bible study. It's informal, more of a family feel.

*I like Calvary because it's so real. I feel like we are genuinely trying to follow hard after Jesus and that we are trying to do what God wants us to do. We aren't about apperance or numbers or what others think of us. We don't try to change in order for the world to like us or want to be apart of us.

*The family of Calvary has always been there for us. Even thought we are gone alot, you always treat us like we are a part of the family. You've helped us through some difficult times and we are truly grateful to have such a loving church family.

*I can just me myself, I am accepted, I am loved, I am prayed for, God can us me without a lot of fan fare.

*I enjoy the intimacy we can have as a group. I enjoy being able to interact during bible study-not just being preached to.

*We are more than an inward thinking church. We minister to the world.

I enjoy Calvary because we make an effort and focus on being a family. We take care of each other here. It is so different from any other church I have ever been involved in. We are not focused on the petty things and the Sunday morning routine, we are focused on God's word and where He is taking us as a church family.

*it's chill, its not really a typical church. We focus alot on helping others and missions

James' family comes to the US

James, a graduate exchange student at NAU was part of Calvary last fall.(Calvary contributed to a financial need in his home church in West Africa last year) His course study has taken him to Illinois for the next stage of his studies in the US. Through personal fundraising, financial support from Calvary and others, James was able to bring his family (and a new son he has never met) to join him here in the US for the remainder of his time here.

Operation Christmas Child

Last Sunday Calvary wrapped shoe boxes, filled them with gifts and prepared them to send off. Each fall, as a church we enjoy participating in Operation Christmas Child. Every November shoe boxes filled with gifts are collected around the US and sent to children all over the world. This ministry seeks to shares Jesus with children thru gifts, and the story of Christ.

Megan (part of Calvary) has a family member who actually received one of these boxes when he was a child. Below is what he had to share with us-


I remember growing up, between the 2nd and the 6th grade we would get these gifts every year. About Christmas time every all of us in our school would be waiting anxiously for the 2 large semis that would pull into our school yard to deliver the boxes. I remember being so excited because it was always such unique stuff in each box and really cool too. These boxes brought so much hope to us back then and laughter and joy were all around also each box had a little note from the person who packed it and also how to receive Jesus into your hearts.
I think that the greatest thing for me though is seeing how things changed over time and how God worked in my life and blessed me so much and being able to pack some of these boxes myself and knowing exactly how these little kids feel when they receive them. It's truly priceless and I am so thankful to God for every little thing He's done for me. Let's get packin'.

From James and JEMJ Ivory Coast

Thanks to the generous support of the Calvary Baptist Church Flagstaff and other individuals , our christian ministry ( JEMJ) was able to purchase some useful materials for the evangelization in Jacqueville, Ivory coast.
I would like to thank you all on the behalf of our brothers and sisters back there in Ivory Coast.
Your support will help bring the Gospel of Jesus-Christ to the Alladjan , Ahizi and Akouri people of Jacqueville.
Attached are pictures of the materials and JEMJ leaders gathered for a thanksgiving prayer session.
May the Lord Jesus-Christ keep on blessing the Calvary Baptist church members and leaders.

James Ahikpa

Ps:
The materials are:

1 amplifier
1 mixer
2 loudspeakers
3 microphones
micro cables
accessories

God bless you in Jesus .

Fun and Games...

A couple of weeks ago, Calvary met up at the Cogdil Rec center for a Kids game night. It was in fact "fun and games". As members of Calvary we want to each be involved in activities at the Rec. center outside of our scheduled meeting time. The purpose of the game night was to help Calvary join in to the life of our community.

Summer In Asia

Sunday Rachel shared with us about spending her summer in Asia. For security reasons this post won't have specific details but here is the short and sweet!
Rachel and her team spent 4 weeks participating in a cultural exchange with a university in east Asia. Following several adventures with thermometers (they are still concerned with the swine flu) they had the opportunity to meet students, build relationships and share presentations about culture with each other.

As always Calvary enjoyed hearing about this ministry and sharing in it thru prayer and finances.