The Northern Frontier Mission News

JULY 2008

A Newsletter of the Churches of Christ in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

LET THE BIBLE SPEAK (LTBS) TV MINISTRY

Our ministry continues to work toward both TV and Internet. Over the past two months we have started video taping our lessons in the Escanaba (ESC) and Iron Mountain-Kingsford (IMK) congregations for viewing on the web page, www.letthebiblespeak.net. DVD copies of the lessons are also now available. We are quite sure that the changing nature of the information-gathering will affect all of us in the coming years. Most young people now seek their news, entertainment, information and research through on-line resources. Our TV Ministry will be working to diversify to meet that need. Television will be around for a long time. The video of our 30-minute Bible study is available for TV viewers and Internet users. We hope you will go to the web page and view our program. Every Monday, the Sunday show is downloaded to the Internet and is available for viewing 24 hours a day, all through the week.

Our responses from TV viewers in July were encouraging. We sent out 6 Bibles, 4 Bible Courses and received 2 requests for visits. Pray for the hearts of our audience to be open to respond to the Lord’s message!

Submitted by Dave Grant

ESCANABA (ESC)

Our thanks to the Marquette and North Delta congregations for making the Youth and Family Rally a success! We had over 70 in attendance and the messages and singing were great! Steve Corp provided great direction and inspiration for singing in our congregations. The ESC congregation is planning a Super Sunday on August 24^th from 2-6 pm. There will be rides, games, singing, devotional, food and fellowship. This activity is geared for children up through the elementary grades. We hope you’ll join us for an afternoon of encouragement on the church grounds.

We have started the process of getting estimates for the paving of our parking lot. The gravel lot proves to be a real challenge in the winter months (also quite muddy in the rainy months). We hope we will be able to continue to improve our facilities in the coming years. Stop by for a visit while you’re in da UP, eh?

Submitted by davegrant@att.net

HANCOCK

I am happy to report that our long awaited trip went very well. It was heartening to renew acquaintance with many relatives we haven’t been with for some time. Indiana was awash with floods. Some 41 counties were declared disaster areas. The groom and the wedding cake struggled hours just to get to Terre Haute! Only about half of the wedding guests were able to come. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the occasion immensely! In our absence, our Daughter, Misty, and her husband Jack held services here. We knew they could not expect many, as those who normally come, had other plans as we did. But they were steadfast, and the sermons Jack prepared were a credit to him. The first week their family of five and one lady who visited from Wisconsin were all that came. The second week, their family worshipped with out anyone else coming. A great change has taken place in their regard now. July 2^nd they packed all they could in their Lumina Van and moved to Texas! Lutrica and I replaced a basement window at the church building together one afternoon. I have gotten prices on renting scaffolding so that some of us can begin replacing the storm windows that have fallen out and repairing the frames and trim on the building. I don’t have to tell you that the price of fuel affects everything. So we continue to preach the gospel and encourage each other here. Losing five members just means we have to draw closer together as a church family! We continue to depend on you for your prayers and generous support! Praise God for your love for Him! Lots of Love, Dan and Lutrica Skaggs dskaggs6404@sbcglobal.net

IRON MOUNTAIN-KINGSFORD (IMK)

On Sunday, July 20^th, the IMK congregation hosted the area sing and fellowship. Brothers and sisters from Hancock, North Delta, Marquette and Escanaba joined us in singing requested hymns. It was wonderful praising God with 80 voices blended in joyous harmony. A potluck meal followed. Thanks to our ladies for arranging the festivities and for our visitors bringing food. It was truly a memorable event.

A women’s retreat is planned for September 19 & 20, 2008. Ladies throughout the UP are invited. This will be the second annual retreat hosted by the IMK congregation. It promises to be a time of great encouragement and growth. For more information about the retreat, please call Bonnie Grant at 906-466-2377.

Submitted by Ed Mathews mathewse@acu.edu

MARQUETTE

July was a very busy and fruitful month for us. We started off with a mini family reunion at my parent’s house on Long Lake in Cheboygan. We then returned to Marquette to join forces with the Escanaba and North Delta congregations as we hosted the U.P. Youth and Family Retreat out at our camp near Gwinn. This year we had over forty youth and a total attendance in the upper seventies with families coming from Traverse City, Lincoln Park, and Wausau Wisconsin to join us Yoopers for a wonderful weekend of fellowship, fun, great food and challenging lessons. As always all the brothers and sisters in Christ worked together as one sharing in the meal preparations and clean up, leading the youth in games and challenges and just generally helping out wherever the need arose. This year the focus of our sessions were on worshipping God. Steve Corp from Rochester was our guest speaker and he did a marvelous job of taking us deeper into why and how we worship our Awesome God and Father in heaven. Sitting around the campfire singing praises as we were surrounded by the beauty of God's creation was a great encouragement to all. Later in the month we had our Vacation Bible School where once again it took a total group effort with the entire body working as one to provide a great time for our little ones to learn about God and Jesus. This year our theme was "Outrigger Island" so all the classrooms were transformed with palm trees, grass huts and surf boards thanks to the creativity and hard work of many. We started on Sunday evening and finished Wednesday with a focus on these four truths. God is real and the Bible is His Word, Jesus is God's Son, Jesus is the only way, and my actions show what I believe. We had sixteen children attend with half coming from outside the church. We have tried for years to get the neighbor children across the street to come but their dad would never let them. This year he said yes and they had a great time. And saving the best for last we would like to praise God for the baptism of Frank Skaggs on Wednesday July 30th. Please pray for Frank as he begins his new walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. We love you and we thank you for all your prayers and continued support for the Lord's work here in da U.P. Eh! Love, Jim & Pam Larsen, yooperman@charter.net

NORTH DELTA

Last month I wrote about our mission week coming up with a group from the Howell Church. Well they have come and gone but the help that they gave will last for a long time. For the Church here we will continue to be encouraged by the love that they shared while they were with us. I do not know what we would do with out such support from other Churches through the years. This time of fellowship is priceless. And it keeps on giving. I know that there is an 88 year old man that will remember the warmth that they shared by making sure that he will have enough fire wood for the year. They also helped with lawn care for some and did some work at the Church building. This was a time of growing for all involved. Our time of fellowship with God in His word and in song and prayer was the most rewarding.Just when you think it can’t get any better. It does. We look forward to visiting the Howell Church sometime soon. The Church here has been blessed with some visitors in the last few months. This is always encouraging. We are always trying to create new relationships in the community. But much of the community wants to keep to them selves. Finding someone that is searching for the truth is like looking for a certain drop of rain in lake Michigan. No it’s not that impossible. But some times it seams that hopeless. So with that thought in mind we truly need your prayers and support and are even more thankful for them. May the God of all Grace continue to be your God.Submitted by Richard Wert rswert@tds.net

Published monthly by the Escanaba Church of Christ; Dave Grant, editor PO Box 751, Escanaba, MI 49829 (906) 233-0065 churchofchrist@charterinternet.com