May 13, 2007
Mother’s Legacy of Faith
by Angela Hays Moore
(Heavily edited to fit space; for full article contact Pastor Rex Cain)
“For I [Paul] am mindful of the sincere faith within
you [Timothy], which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother
Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.”
(2 Timothy 1:5)
What a beautiful example of what some have coined “a legacy of faith.” Paul is denoting the fact that Timothy’s faith was first evident in his grandmother and mother. I wonder how many of us can trace back our roots in the church and in our faith in Jesus because of the faithfulness of a grandmother or mother … I know that growing up with a godly mother played a huge role in my faith also. If I were to describe my mother, I would say she is my best friend, besides my husband. Someone who loves me unconditionally. She is the only one who is interested in listening to the details of my life which would probably bore others! She probably believes in me and encourages my gifts more than any other and is the most proud! She provided me with a foundation in my childhood of what real faith in God looked like in the home and made sure we went to church all of the time!
When you try to remember back to your childhood, do you have more memories of your mother or your father? In most cases, we have more memories of mom than we do dad. This is mainly due to the fact that Dad is gone from home working most of the time and Mom tends to be there more as the main caretaker. She is the one who spends the most time with the child …Don’t mistake me here. Dads’ roles are extremely important … But, you have to agree with me, doesn’t your conversation with your dad sound like this.... “How’s your car running? We’re supposed to get snow tonight, make sure you drive carefully.” … Conversations with mom will sound like this: “Honey, what are you doing today? Have you talked to Jan lately? Make sure you don’t work too hard, you need your sleep.” Moms and Dads play different, but important roles in our lives. However, Moms are generally more relationship driven, and isn’t Christianity all about our relationship with Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and how we are to love others? No wonder moms and grandma’s are typically the ones who pass this legacy of faith in God down to their children, rather than their dads and grandfathers! It’s all about relationship and women are designed for it!
One example that comes to mind of a
legacy of faith is Ruth Bell Graham.
She married Billy Graham, the evangelist, and had five children: Gigi, Anne, Ruth, Franklin and Ned. With Billy frequently absent from the home,
Ruth raised these five children basically alone, and not without struggle,
evidenced in her published journal. She
was like any other mother, often overwhelmed by the responsibility that a
mother holds in training up her children; frustrated by her children’s
behavior; and praying for strength and guidance to be able to do better. Yet, when you read the biographies of her
children, it seems that almost all of them struggled at one time or another,
with the heaviness of the legacy of faith that they were inheriting. Some of the children struggled with
rebelling, taking up smoking, drinking, and drugs. Anne tells of her two failed marriages, depression and a daughter
who was pregnant twice out of wedlock.
It was not the perfect family and they had their own issues with which to
contend. Yet, now as older adults, each
of the five Grahams are active in their own ministries and have found their way
to their own faith.
At this time of year, when our hearts and minds are turned towards Mother’s Day to celebrate mothers and grandmothers everywhere, I want to remind you to be thankful and appreciative of your own mother! Don’t wait another day or another hour. Call her up or visit her today, to tell her what she means to you. And when you consider the legacy of faith, whether you were fortunate enough to inherit one or not, stop and reflect upon your own personal relationship with Jesus. Quit eating leftovers and scraps and step up to the banquet table and feast upon the goodness and abundant love of our LORD God Almighty. Isn’t He good?
-
Angela Hays Moore / 2007
$140,000 PER YEAR
is what Mother’s should earn based on a recent survey in
which 40,000 mothers responded! Do I
hear a unanimous “Right on!” from mothers reading this? It is calculated that a typical mother with
children puts in 92 hours of housekeeping and child care weekly.
– CNN's Jonathan Mandell contributed to this report.
– Reuters contributed to this report.
“Enclosed please find a check to help with the mailing of your bulletins. We look forward to getting them. May God bless and continue to bless your ministry is our prayer.”
– Bill & June Andrew, Oregon IL, 5-2-07
COMMUNION DEACONESSES
today are Marge Reed and Dorothy Robertson.
Rex, Vicki is
getting stronger every day and plans on returning to work May 7th.
She will find out in two weeks if there is any long term medication. Thank all for their prayers and PRAISE
GOD.
– Rick Phillis, May 2nd
“See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone.
Flowers appear on the earth; the season of
singing has come, the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.”
(Song of Solomon 2:11, 12,
New International Version)
RUBY
KORODE (Frank Roper’s mother) entered
Richmond Hts hospital May 5th because of a seizure. However, she was eating by the next day and
came home this past week. Keep in
prayer.
The spring semester at
ABC will conclude with graduation on May 18.
Twenty-one students will receive diplomas:
Seven students will
receive Bachelors degrees: Sammy Chacha
(Kenya), Dan Cain (Ohio), Rachel Lockett (Georgia), Anne Mbeke (Kenya), Kim
Musch (Illinois-Georgia), Job Wainaina (Kenya), and Brian Wright (Georgia).
Seven students will
receive Associates degrees: Kyle Casey
(Ohio), Jennifer Deane (Ohio), Lacey Dunn (Missouri), J.J. Fletcher (South
Carolina), Deborah Garritson (Georgia), Geneva Jordan (Georgia) and Annette
Williams (Georgia).
Seven students will
receive Foundation certificates:
Lillian Ayieko (Kenya), Andre Bean (Bermuda), Shawn Cooper (Arkansas),
Josh Deane (Ohio), Ann Harris (Georgia), Hope Kirkpatrick (Minnesota), and
Cyprian Maturu (Kenya).
Is this the perfect
graduating class or what? 7, 7, 7 in
2007.
Pastor Alan Cain will
deliver the graduation message.
Following the meeting
of the Board of Directors in February, Michael Hoffman, Board chairman,
informed the constituency of the college that “after prayerfully considering
numerous factors, the Board has decided to take appropriate steps to sell the
current location and develop two new campuses for Atlanta Bible College. One campus will be developed to the south of
the current location and will be the headquarters for Atlanta Bible College and
the Ministry Services Network. An
additional campus will be developed on the northeast side of Atlanta to be used
primarily, but not exclusively, by the ABC Korean Extension.”
The Board is
anticipating an offer on our current campus and they have tentatively set a
goal of having new facilities ready for the fall semester in August/September
of 2009.
Please pray for our
Board as they continue to explore opportunities and make decisions to implement
this decision.
PRAY
FOR: Ginny Cramer (wrist), Kate Liauw (28, MS, by R
Phillis), Lois Maze (by Robertson), Bobbie Weaver, Iris Horst (cancer, by
Roper), Emory Macy, Beth Marsh. June Routson, Amy Gunselman (cancer, by R
Phillis), Evelyn Pennington, Ralph & Iona Childs, Ruby Korode, Lucinda (by
Szekely), Gene & Gloria Faehnrich, Edith Speer, Grady Hudspeth*, Jacob
Hinton*, Kathy & Destiny Reed*, (*by Skip), W.C. &
Craig Blankenship, College students: Jackie Schuld, Dan Cain,
Rachel Cunningham, Shut-ins: Helen Matthews, Military:
Rodger Schuld, Those serving in other countries:
Lupe Badillo-Mexico, Tracy Zhykhovich-Russia, Beder Ucañay-Peru, Pastors in
Malawi & Mozambique, Lesly Bertrand
and the Pastors in Haiti. Colleges / Churches: RRCC,
ABC, Golden Rule, Grace Brethren and for the peace of Jerusalem,
Ps. 122:6; Isa. 62:6, 7
May 2007
13 Mother’s Day / Communion (postponed from May 6th)
20 Guest Speaker (Pastor & family at Dan’s ABC graduation)
29 Andy & Barney movie for SS / Rachel Weaver leads discussion
Future Dates: Jun 3, Grad Social & Bridal
Shower for Dan & Rachel / June 9, Joshua Onderdonk & Julie Schiemann wedding / Jun 10-15
State Camp / June 23, Dan-Rachel’s wedding /
July 15-20 National Camp / Aug 26, Annual SS Picnic
SUNDAY
SCHOOL: 9:45A.M.
WORSHIP 10:45A.M.
Musicians:
(Sharon and Mark Cain)
Prelude by
Dorothy Robertson:
“Something
Beautiful”
Welcome /
Announcements
Worship
Hymns / Mark Cain
529 A
Virtuous Woman
528 Love
At Home
Prayer /
Offering
Installation
of New Officers
Message: Mothers, Midwives & Miracles
Key Texts:
Exodus 1
Communion:
Elder Steve Weaver
219 Blest Be the Tie That Binds
