A Letter from our Brother Kerry

God's blessing was so much with us this trip to India. We finished our 16th year of going and we are so thankful!! We are home 2 weeks and look back at God's grace and strength that He gave. We were able to give 39 Prayer Sheds and churches and drill 8 water wells so far this year. We gave for many goats, buffaloes, bicycles etc.

Some how, a friend in Arkansas was connected to this village pastor in India and this pastor was persistent... My friend asked if we would "inspect" while we were in India. This brother is persistent, but he send us a report and it blesses us. We have great success.

In the villages and in life, God's way is to do things "little by little" and to test our heart to find our faithfulness.

This brother came and we gave for a prayer shed and to bless 4 widows with big goats and one evangelist needed a bicycle. We gave the choice to him of which to do, church or bless widows etc. When he finished one and he sends a report with pictures, he would get funding for the second.

PTL!! The report looked good, the four widows look blessed and bicycle is given...

Our prayer is always for God's guidance to give and that we miss no assignments that He puts before us to strengthen the hands in the villages, for His glory.

As we give we always teach the pastors to use the gifts as a tool to teach the people to give--as in the "Talents" of Matthew 25, and teach the people to, as a result, build their own churches and not wait with open hand for someone to do it for them... It is then a joy to step up and, together, build a place of worship for the glory of God!!

Thank you all for your giving and for helping strengthen the hands in the villages!! The churches are definitely growing spiritually, numerically and in the blessings of the Lord!! It is a joy and exciting!!

This trip, we had the $25,000 matching gift and it was an awesome blessing!! The couple who gave it, have renewed the pledge to give another $25,000 matching gift for when we return in October!!!! PTL!!!

With so much thanks, love and prayers,

Kerry and Melody
PO Box 140402 Broken Arrow, Ok 74014 918-346-1656

Grand Opening: April 15th!

April 15th isn't only tax day. It is also the last possible frost day in our growing area and that means we'll be able to start planting with some energy. Pictured above is the little Prayer Garden we started last year. It is starting to look pretty good.

We have managed to plant a few things, including one or two of Loretta Tanner's favorite vegetables. Our potatoes are doing well, snow peas are up and running, the Little Sprouts have some corn in the ground and we've got space cleared and ready for Scott's peppers. Stop by the garden and see how we're doing!

Pastor Search Committee Meets

Diogenes by JHW Tischbein

Loretta Tanner, Jill Stice, Scott Frame, Susan Krotz, David Bell, and Ken Hale comprise the committee that will help First Christian Church Berryville recruit a new pastor to replace John Turner; John is leaving our congregation in April to devote himself to Christview Ministries. Selecting a pastor is an important "family" affair that involves a many stepped process that our Pastor Search Committee is organizing for us.

It is hard to imagine a more difficult job than that of pastor. A powerful and inspiring preacher is the most important quality desired by some members. Other members place a higher value on a pastor's ability to grow membership and run a "tight ship" administratively. Still others seek a pastor who excels at counseling, has a comforting bedside manner, or who can be counted to respond quickly and effectively to spiritual or everyday crisis. No matter what individual skill matters most to us, everyone wants a pastor who is a good and moral person, a good Christian, and a decent human being.

And because we are Disciples of Christ it is important to find a person who understands our history, our theological culture, and our beliefs and values as a denomination within the body of Christ. Thankfully, our Regional Office is helping us with the selection process and can be relied on to refer candidates who meet our special needs.

Church membership is such a powerful force in so many of our lives. We rely on church, especially in a small town, for spiritual and moral guidance, for opportunities for service, for socialization, and as the source of many of the feelings we have about ourselves, our families, our friends, and the world around us. That's why the choice of a pastor is so important: a good pastor understands that power and does her best or his best to see that it is properly channeled and used.

Sometime in the next few weeks, members of the congregation will be given a survey or questionnaire to fill out that helps them list or identify what is important to them in terms of the skills and qualities we feel we need in a pastor. Filling out and returning the survey is a significant responsibility that every member is encouraged to accept, reflectively and prayerfully. These are difficult times for small churches and much depends on our doing our best as we participate in the search process.

Our Search Committee meets on March 21st to begin the process as a group. Let us hold up our brothers and sisters on the committee in prayer as they complete this important work.

A Letter from Kerry Mauldin

First Christian Church Berryville actively supports missionary work in Haiti, India, and worldwide through the efforts of our Youth Ministers Scott & Amanda Frame and their Youth Ministry participants. Following is a letter we've received from Kerry Mauldin, a Good Friend in Christ who works in India:

Dear Friends,

PTLord, We made it to the villages and are off to fast, packed start!! We visited 7 villages today and gave for 4 new churches, 1 well and blessed with many talents!! Five took baptism in water!! Dedicated 3 churches!! I was overjoyed at 2 villages especially!!

At LLaxmi Village in Oct. we went along the canal to where about 70 believers meet with first coming to Christ 12 years ago. They said they were poor and could give nothing to improve their simple shed. I did not know what to do or give, so we waited on the Lord.... Finally a chicken began to crow and I asked if any had chickens... They all had!! We agreed to trade a good chicken from each to put a roof on a new church!!

Today, we dedicated a beautiful church with plenty of room to grow and painted so nice! The Cox family gave to help build this. The people were all so excited and learning to give, have taken ownership of this awesome church!! Two handicapped women are taken care of by Pastor Isreal. We gave a good buffalo for them to have milk and strengthen pastors hands!!

At Sarvaram Village, we went 2 Octobers ago and in the night, many people gathered around 6 holes dug in ground for pillars. We shared Salvation bracelets and gave to help build the Church--CowBoy Church in Antlers, Ok gave...

We dedicated a big nice church, not painted, but has 150 members and 80 baptised!! Pastor Prabudas has done well! Only he has only 3 of 150 are tithers. Some give offerings. I asked them who would like to learn to be tithers? Only 3 indicated they wanted to. Most looked down. Then I asked how many WANT GODS BLESSING? They all raised their hands and were with enthusiasm... I said, "Something doesn't add up here..."

Taught on Malachi 3 and said if we put a "Talent" in Pastors hand how many would like to learn to tithe?

Pastor took 10000 rs to use as test. He has1 month to send report on his plan of putting something in peoples hands to learn to tithe... Multiply chickens or etc... They were all excited after the teaching and we said out of their giving, they can paint , plaster and put tile down...

Pastor Prabudas had accident and crushed his heel in church construction. He found he is diabetic and at 210 blood sugar avg. his foot would not heal.. I encourage with insulin and diet... So many have no knowledge and we can help them!!

Tonight after giving bore well, we met in a home for supper! I was so sleepy from jet lag... Melody and I were hanging on...

There was dancing, clapping and singing!!

Nathaniel got up and put scarf on and as all gathered and shouted and clapped, he danced with all his heart a traditional Indian dance. Then Melody and I sang all a song... as I said dancing clapping, singing and at end much squirming!!! But we thought we needed to sing for our supper....

We may not have to worry about eating supper from here on...HA!!

Thanks so much for praying!! 6 dedications today!!

With love thanks and prayers,

Kerry Mauldin

For more information about Kerry Mauldin please visit http://www.mauldinministries.com/

Are You Ready to Plant Your Garden?

The world of gardeners is sometimes a strange one. For example, our Little Sprouts were hard at work two days before Valentine's day planting lettuce and snow peas...and just in time for our first snow fall of the year!

What their experience proves is that gardening isn't just a summer time activity; serious gardeners garden all year long. In mid January a couple of our gardeners traveled up to Mansfield, MO to buy heirloom seeds. The picture above is one of the varieties they picked up, an old favorite named Rutgers which was developed at Rutgers University back in the 1920s. In total, there will be about 10 different heirloom vegetables grown in the garden this year. We'll see how they do--literally.

In the next 10 days or so we'll be preparing seed trays in the beautiful greenhouse the Hale Family has allowed us to use. If you would like us to grow some seedlings for you, just let us know and we'll acquire the seeds if we don't have them now, and get them growing for you.

As you can see, rain, snow, or shine, we can--and do--garden in any weather!

Springing into the Garden--2012

As you've heard us say before, "It takes 5 years before a garden is really a garden." Well, we're ready to start Year 4--and we're really excited. Most of our essential infrastructure--dirt, fencing, raised beds, water lines--are in place. Barring another year of drought and excessively hot weather, we're expecting a bumper crop of really wonderful vegetables. Here's what will be happening in the next couple of weeks:

Mulch from the big pile in the back yard will be barrowed over to trenches between planting beds. Drip irrigation lines will be connected and strung out. Old blueberry bushes will be drug up and transplanted. Trays will be filled with potting soil and seeded to get plants started in the Hale Greenhouse. Rocks will be located and used to finish the small prayer area near the garden fence. Potatoes, onions, snow peas, and garlic will be planted. A couple more raised beds (boxed) will be constructed.

If you have time we'll be glad to have your help hauling mulch, preparing seed trays, and hooking up drip lines. If it is possible for you to donate any of the following items, it would be a good thing:

A bag(s)of potting soil, seed trays, 2X6/8/10 for raised bed construction, BALES OF STRAW, and composted manure. Talk with Dan or Jennifer to arrange.

Please remember that the garden is your garden and you are invited--enthusiastically--to go into the garden any time to pick for your family. Your gardeners DO NOT EXPECT payment of any kind. Yes, donations of time and materials are gratefully received, but are not ever expected. Our only goals are to be good stewards of God's many gifts to us, and for you to enjoy the beautiful spot that is the First Christian Church's Community Garden.

Hale's Donate Greenhouse Space

The Barbara and Ken Hale family have generously agreed to let our Community Gardeners use their greenhouse this Spring. This opportunity will allow us to save a lot of money because we can start plants from seeds instead of buying plants as they become available from the usual sources. More importantly, we'll be able to grow a greater number of different and more interesting plants such as heirlooms and so on. And there is more good news. If you are not a Community Gardner but would like to grow plants from seeds just let us know and we'll be happy to put a flat of your seedlings in the greenhouse. We can't guarantee that they'll grow, but we'll do our best to get them back to you in plant-worthy condition.

The Greenhouse is approximately 10 feet wide and 20-22 feet long. We'll put seed trays on tables and think we can fit in about 1,000 plants to start. We'll begin sometime in February and operate through the end of May.

The Greenhouse is fully equipped and ready to go. Ken and Barbara, Thank you for Building a Community of Hope through your generous contribution!