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March 02, 2007
THE BUZZ AT ZION
WOMEN OF FAITH- MAY 18 & 19-BILLINGS
Women of Faith’s Amazing Freedom tour is in Billings this year! Tickets are: Standard-$45 (group early bird rate) and Premium- $65 (group early bird rate). In order to qualify as a group, we need 10 or more tickets. In order to qualify for the early bird rate, tickets must be purchased by March 5th.Tickets go fast, so please let Jennifer know ASAP if you would like to reserve a ticket.
5th ANNUAL NAVAJO MISSION TRIP
Another year has flown by and it’s time to start thinking about the Navajo Mission Trip. The dates will be from June 15th -23rd. We are in need adult volunteers! If you are interested or would like more information please contact Khela or Steve.
CHOIR TO SING FOR EASTER SERVICE
Calling all choir members! Nancy Heiser has volunteered to direct the choir in a song for the Easter morning service on April 8th. Practices will began Wednesday, February 28th and will continue Wednesday’s immediately following the Lenten Service. Please plan to attend practices as you can. The number has been performed in the past, so it should be familiar to many of you. See you there!
THE ROCK HAS MOVED
Due to the increasing number of youth attending The Rock outside of Zion, Zion youth will no longer be receiving “Rock Updates” in the newsletter. All youth members will receive a MONTHLY newsletter containing a Bible Reading Plan, a schedule of events and lots of more. Keep your eyes on the mailbox for this months’ debut of The Rock Monthly. Parents don’t worry, any updates needed will still be in the newsletter.
LETTER FROM MATTIE
Hey Ya'll, I can't believe that I’ve been here for over 6 months. Time flies when you are working. I'm so excited for this spring. We have 13 more weeks of calling for Acquire the Fire Events. The event that I'm calling for is Kansas City, Mo, and that will be in 9 weeks. There will be 143,100 attendees to an Acquire the Fire event this spring alone. Classes are going well, we just finished a missions class and have started a world view class. This past weekend was the Men's and Women's Conference. Wow, it was good! Lisa Beaver was our guest speaker and we talked about walking in the TRUTH. Not a theme that the Honor Academy placed on the weekend, but the Lord laid that on the hearts of each of the speakers. God works in awesome ways. I wanted to tell you that I received my Honor Ring and am now a part of the fellowship. I'm still an Assistant Core Advisor, and there are times when it seems like I can't do anything right, but then I have to remember that I'm exactly where God wants me. I have Mid-Year Defense this Friday. This is a program in which I have to explain to the panel why I should be allowed to stay for the rest of the year. (To make sure that we are talking full advantage of this year.) It’s also the time for me to decide whether I will be staying another year. I have been praying about it, and would appreciate your prayers. I would love to hear from you. If you want to email me, my email address is mattie.brill@teenmania.org . I miss you all and pray that you are all well. Congratulations to Sarah on being accepted to the Honor Academy. Thanks for your prayers and
support. God Bless, Mattie
In a recent book, Keep on Keeping On, written by author, Leslie B. Flynn, credit is given to the Partelow’s for the ability to keep on keeping on. Flynn writes:
The Story of Dr. Ralph and Carolyn Partelow
On their first wedding anniversary, Carolyn Partelow was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. Despite this setback, the Partelow’s accepted a church in Pennsylvania where they had a rewarding and fruitful ministry. They were also told that Carolyn could never bear children. Yet six years later Jonathan was born, their “miracle child.”
During their pastoral ministry they felt God’s call for Ralph to further his education and consider the mission field. At a friend’s suggestion they applied to the African Inland Misssion (AIM) and were accepted, but they needed to raise thousands of dollars for equipment within a year. Where would the money come from?
Music and musical instruments had intrigued Ralph since he was twelve years old. This interest sparked his hobby of making miniature pianos, for which he is now well known. John H. Steinway of Steinway & Sons piano company encouraged him. Articles about his creations appeared in the New York Times and leading miniature magazines. Constant orders for the pianos began arriving, enabling them to leave for Africa debt free. In Africa, Ralph taught at Scott Theological College. Carolyn served as a prayer warrior, and exercised her gift of hospitality. They traveled back and forth from Africa six time to treat Carolyn’s medical problems and enable Ralph to earn his Doctor of Ministry degree from Denver Seminary. While stateside, Ralph pastored several churches, but the call to Africa never abated.
Their last six months in Africa were especially difficult. As Ralph described it, life-threatening muggings, armed robberies, illnesses, and a head-on collision (caused buy a reckless driver in a no-passing zone) all took their toll.
Before they left Africa in 2003, the president of Kenya came in full regalia accompanied by his entourage to pay a visit to the Partelow’s. In a public announcement, he said he had come to see the lad who had prayed for him daily for twenty-four years. Now living in Pearl River, New York, Ralph is Missionary Relations Administrator at AIM, which involves the overall care of AIM missionaries from the United States, who serve all over Africa. He lovingly cares for Carolyn, who needs help with eating and dressing. She goes from bed to wheelchair without complaint. Her mind is sharp. She inspires everyone she meets and spends hours praying for the AIM mission needs. For relaxation between jobs, caring for Carolyn, and doing all the cooking and cleaning, Ralph continues to make miniature pianos, but only on special order.
Ralph and Carolyn Partelow have spent their lives together demonstrating the ability to keep on keeping on. Throughout their hardships they have struggled with questions of why God would allow so many misfortunes to come upon them. But, in their own words, they have been able to accept their trials as opportunities to experience God’s grace and power.
Author Leslie B. Flynn has written numerous books and articles for Christian publications. Keep on Keeping on, is Flynn’s 41st book. He is currently Pastor Emeritus of Grace Baptist Church in Nanuet, New York where he resides with his wife Bernice.
CARRY-IN DINNER FOR THE PARTELOW’S
There will be a carry-in dinner on Saturday, March 10th at 5:30pm for all who wish to get to know Ralph and Carolyn. Please bring two dishes of your liking.
PARTELOW TO CANDIDATE MARCH 11
Due to a conflict in scheduling for March 18th, Ralph has consented to switch the day he will come to candidate. Please note the change in dates. Ralph and Carolyn will drive in on Friday, March 9th and leave on Tuesday, March 13th. Ralph will preach on Sunday, March 11th. Please set aside this date as Ralph comes to candidate for the position of senior pastor.
BAKE SALE FOR FRANK LEY
Women’s Ministry is hosting a bake sale Sunday, March 25th following Morning Worship for Frank Ley’s mission trip to Africa. All proceeds from the bake sale will be applied to expenses Frank will need for his trip.
Any and all baked goods are welcome!
WEDNESDAY NIGHT DINNER
March7, 2007 @ 5:30pm
Swedish Meatballs, Mashed Potatoes,
Green Beans, Rolls and Dessert
*$3.00 per person or $12.00 per family
Come join in the fellowship and fun!
Posted by Jennifer Herrmann at March 2, 2007 11:15 AM