Newsletter Article August 15, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
Well, the signs are everywhere. Book bags packed and heavy. Young mothers and fathers with tears in their eyes, (and some with smiles). And don’t forget those big yellow children movers up and down the roads.
What does all of this mean? Yes, it’s school time again. The arena of education is alive with young minds eager to absorb the knowledge that is available to them. This is what makes our country great, education that is there for the taking and teachers willing to share it. This is what the great inventors, scientists, leaders, and such look forward to, the opportunity to better themselves.
But here is the hard truth. We never should stop learning. What if your doctor finished med school and never went for continuing ed? Would you feel comfortable with that? Many of us here at Dallas First and churches all over think that we graduate from Sunday school and that’s it. We think that we are done. If you don’t think so, just look at the numbers. We have an average of 300 in all three worship services, but we only have an average of 85 in Sunday school. Have we lost the desire or the love of God’s word? Romans 15:4 says, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
What kind of example are we setting for our youth and for our new members? We no longer carry our Bibles to church and the new ones we bought are never opened. The greatest weapon that we have against Satan is left behind.
This is a new school year. Let’s strive to make a Sunday school class available to all who attend our church, and let’s encourage them to attend. Let’s strive to fill up our existing classes, and let’s add new ones. If we are not studying, teaching, and spreading God’s good news, then what are we doing? Next Sunday let’s see the Bibles, let’s fill the classes, and if you don’t have a class, see me and we will look together. And if there is not one that suits you, let’s start one. The word of God is a living word so let’s give it life.
In Christ,
Pastor Michael

Newsletter Article August 1, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The Lord said that whatever we give to Him and His kingdom will be returned, blessed, and multiplied. I would like to talk to you about investing in the kingdom work of God. In late September, Janis Woods and I will be traveling to Pan de Vida (bread of life) in Santa Rosa, Mexico, with a medical mission team to minister to the people. A few years back, people invested in a mission to send Pastor Steve and a team there to begin building a mission building and a church, and now we are going down to reap the harvest.
Five years ago, Pastor Simon from Kenya was sent by people who believed, and consequently, invested in him to be trained in evangelism. Simon stayed at my house and preached at my church. We have remained friends since then. Now we are sending a mission team who will be going to Kenya on a humanitarian trip to help Pastor Simon. Coincidence? NO! The hand of God, YES.
Because of the investments of God’s people, great things happen. When the Serv International mission team was last in Mexico, they shared information about the severe poverty in Kenya. The poor people of Santa Rosa raised $1000 to send there to help. They invested in the kingdom of God.
If you would like to help with these mission teams and invest in the kingdom and all of its work, we would deeply appreciate it. Your money will be blessed, and it will be multiplied by God. You can make your checks out to either the Mexico team, Kenya team, or just mission fund. Thank you for your support and prayers as we seek to do the will of God.

Pastor Michael and The Mission Teams of Dallas First