THE OLD AND THE NEW

The GIG women are in a Bible study transition. We are ending “The Fruit of the Spirit” study beginning a new study on “The Sermon on the Mount.”

Recap of The Fruit of the Spirit

It is noteworthy that the Bible begins and ends drawing our attention to fruit.

·    Genesis 2:15-17—¹⁵ The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. ¹⁶ But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden— ¹⁷ except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.

·    Revelation 22:1-2—¹ Then the angel showed me a river with the water of life, clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² It flowed down the center of the main street. On each side of the river grew a tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, with a fresh crop each month. The leaves were used for medicine to heal the nations.

As we bid farewell to our study on “The Fruit of the Spirit,” we reflect on several months of thoroughly devouring the fruit of the Spirit. I pray that the fruit has taken root in our lives and is growing and reflecting the true Vine, Jesus Christ, from whom it came. Without Christ in our lives, it is impossible to bear His fruit. I trust that through prayer, we will nurture the fruit of the Spirit until its maturity, when we show forth the character of Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23— … the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. … 

Introduction to The Sermon on the Mount

The Sermon on the Mount is found in the 5th, 6th, and 7th chapters of Matthew. It is the most powerful and famous sermon Jesus preached. This study will be power packed and includes such topics as The Lord's prayer, the beatitudes, and the golden rule.

We will learn such things as, the eye is the lamp of the body; we cannot serve God and riches; we are not to worry; we are not to judge others; we will be given instruction on prayer; we will see how the old law of Moses contrasts the new law of Christ; and warned about the dangers of false teachings.

Join us each Sunday morning at 11:00 in Room A-106 as we delve into and discuss this profound study. You not only will draw knowledge and wisdom from God’s Word, you will be surrounded by a group of great women who care deeply for the needs of others and offer support and encouragement to each other. We want YOU to be a GIG woman, GROWING IN GRACE.

Contact me for more information: sissylafon@comcast.net.

New Orleans Mission Trip a Great Success

Global Maritime Ministries, New Orleans Mission Trip

December 7-11, 2011

Women Growing in Grace Class

Seven other women and I left Franklin, Tennessee, on December 7, headed to the port of New Orleans with a mission—to serve at the Global Maritime Ministries there. At the same time, seafarers on cruise and cargo ships out on the oceans were making their way to that port, as well. How and when these two groups of totally different people would meet, interact, and bond was in God’s hands, and He arranged the meetings as only He could.

We eight women from ClearView Baptist Church arrived late afternoon at the Global Maritime Ministries Center amid Christmas lights and tinsel. We delivered homemade cookies and personal items donated by friends for the seafarers. Excitement was high as we disembarked the church bus and settled into the living quarters of the Center for four days of serving alongside the GMM staff in wherever they needed us.

We wrapped the Center’s Christmas presents for the ship workers, organized kitchen and closet shelves, and cooked meals for the cruise ship workers. We talked with the ship workers, played ping-pong with them, and even gathered for group photos with our new friends. We planted seeds of God’s grace as we encouraged rare Christian seafarers who struggle with ship life where only a few, if any, Christians can be found. We prayed with the ship workers and gave them Bibles in their own language. We shared the gospel of Christ with the workers and saw five won to Christ. We saw strong, burly sailors weep, as they were made aware of God’s love for them and recognized their need for the Savior. These heartfelt tears had a definite effect on our group of volunteers from Tennessee.

One volunteer from Franklin said, “I loved the map at the front door. The seafarers could show where they came from and all the places where they have been.”

Another volunteer asked the question: “Where else can one sit in a single room and talk to people from various countries around the world about our Savior?” She continued, “Truly, God has provided a unique opportunity for international missions in New Orleans, right on the shores of the Mississippi River!”

We eight women returned to our church enlisting others to go and serve the seafarers and dockworkers in the beautiful city of New Orleans.  We continue to share testimonies of how God allowed us to help build and nurture relationships with those who visit the center from all over the world.

We also returned with a commitment to pray for the people we met at the Global Maritime Center who have since sailed away to other ports across the world. We also were impressed to pray for the many needs of the center, such as adding more chaplains to minister at the Center on a daily basis; for more donations of personal items for the seafarers; for more funds to run the center and expand its ministry; and for more volunteers to serve at the center.

We hope that our passion for the work being done at GMM is contagious. As plans for the next trip are already underway, others are saying to us that they, too, want to get involved in the work that God is doing on the port of New Orleans.