First Baptist Church

Fairbury, Nebraska
 

 

 

Home

Calendar

Staff

Missions

Ministries

Links

Sermons

                                                                                      
Local Missions

We have rethought our understanding of mission at First Baptist. The word “mission” in the past always represented some ministry in a far away place. We sent money and supplies, even people on occasion to share the Gospel with those of other nations. Today mission has a whole new meaning. We believe our church is a “mission outpost” called to share Christ in the language of our culture. Our local mission is getting our message out to our community in ways they will listen to and explore. With local mission money we buy bottled water to hand out to thirsty people at the annual Fourth of July flea market, a community youth ministry targeting unchurched youth with the Gospel, we advertise our ministries, and provide materials for new believers. If our local ministry has a need, local missions makes sure it is met. Our understanding used to be; “every member a minister” it has now changed to “every member a missionary” with exciting results.

 

 
World Missions
Italian Ministries
 

 
 

 

 

Serving in Italy - 9/01/2008

 

We are at the end of a hot and sunny summer in Italy. Luckily, everyone slows down a bit in the heat and takes life more slowly.

 

We have finished our formal language training and are moving into our assigned ministries with both feet. We find ourselves working in two areas that have moved center stage in Europe in the last few years: human trafficking and the integration of immigrants into European society. Both these fields are "hot" issues in Italy right now. The admission and integration of immigrants was the central issue in Italy's recent national election.

 

In May, Jim spoke at the International Ministries Conference in Ohio. He was also able to share about our ministry at an "Italian Dinner Evening" the following weekend. Many of our supporters were not able to attend. We thought it might be nice to share the evening with you as well. The presentation was recorded and a copy is [available in the church office]. Our hope is that this will give you a better picture of what God is doing in Italy. Please know that you are an important part of our ministry. We appreciate your prayers, letters, and financial support!

 

You can follow our ministry through our monthly journals. We can have them mailed to you or you can find them on the International Ministries website (internationalministries.org). You can also follow our ministry on www.refugeinitaly.org.

 

Thank you again for your support and encouragement.  

 

Your missionaries in Italy,

 

Jim and Debbie Kelsey

Via Cappelo 21A

35027 Noventa Padovana (PD)

Italy

 

 

 

 

Anyone who would like to contribute to the World Mission Offering but happens not to have that opportunity in their local church can do so at www.internationalministries.org or send your donation directly to World Mission Offering, International Ministries, PO Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851.

 
 

Japan Ministries

“Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.”  Jude 3

Dear Friends,

A new year has come and we pray that words of Jude verse 3 for you in this new year.  We trust that Christmas was a time of joy and blessing for you.  It was a time of joy and rich blessing for our family. 

 Christmas Eve was a busy, full and special day for the Nishi Okamoto Church.  Starting with a special Christmas worship service in the morning, in which we had several first time visitors.  We had a pot luck lunch followed by an all church Christmas party.  That evening we had a candle light service, led by the Junior-Senior high youth group. We did some caroling around the neighborhood after the service.  Then of course it was time for another cup of tea and a final Christmas treat back at the church before Tomoko and I locked things up at 9:30 pm.  Even though it was a long day, we had many first time guests, at both the morning and the evening services, tell how special it was to be in church for the first time on Christmas.  We believe the Spirit of the Lord was working in all of our lives that day.

 During the Christmas break we took the youth group to the church camp for a one night retreat.  Our goal has been to help them build stronger ties with each other, that they can find strength in being part of the Body of Christ.  The camp was not really winterized, but the camp manager agreed to let us come, if it didn’t get too cold before. We woke up in the morning to see the ground covered with snow.  The camp staff spent that afternoon turning off the water and clearing out the water lines so that the pipes would not break during the rest of the winter.  We praise God for the perfect timing of the cold weather, which allowed us to spend that time at the camp.  But also we praise God for the time of singing, study and play, which helped the young people grow closer together with each other and with the Lord.

 I want to share some points of praise too.  One day this fall, Mrs. Honjo, her husband passed away last June, went on a bus tour.  On the trip she was telling a lady she met on the bus about Nishi Okamoto Church, in context of her husband’s death.  The lady said, “Oh I always wanted to go to church, do you know where I could go?”  Mrs. Honjo said, “Well, why don’t you come with me?”  Mrs. Omoda has been in church almost every Sunday since.

 A neighbor stopped by last summer and asked about English classes.  Mrs. Akatsuka soon joined the Tuesday evening class, then she joined the Hand Chime choir.  She came to a worship service for the first time on Christmas Eve.

 Prayer Points

 Pray for the youth, and leaders of the group as they group in this new year. Pray for Mrs. Omoda as she grows in her faith and understanding of Christianity. Pray for Mrs. Akatsuka as she also discovers more about Jesus Christ. Pray for Mr. Mito. That he will continue to open his heart to Christ, and follow in baptism.

Finally we give thanks for you, your prayer and support.  You are a part of every story we tell, and also all those that we don’t have time and space to tell.

Grace and Peace,

John and Tomoko Armagost, International Ministries missionaries in Japan