This Week 12/8

Ways to Pray & Praise this Week for our Community:
1. Prayers Preparing our Hearts for Christmas: Bethlehem. It was in Bethlehem that Christ was born as a man. Thank Him for His willingness to come in the form of a man to redeem us. Take time to consider His incarnation and rejoice in Him. Gal 4:4,5 But when the fulness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
2. Church/Ministry of the Week: Lakeview Baptist Church
We thank God for Lakeview Baptist Church! Please pray for God's blessing & leading for this church. Thank God for their pastor, Ronnie Cox, as well as this congregation of believers. Praise God for them! May they be a shining light for Christ in our community. May Christ's kingdom expand through His body in this region and beyond!
3. School of the Week:South Haven Elementary High School
Please pray for South Haven Elementary School. Principal is Mr. Evans. Thank God for the teachers & staff who serve our community daily. Pray for guidance and wisdom for each teacher and staff member. Pray for the students to desire to learn and grow, fulfilling their God-given destiny. Pray that all, teachers, students and staff, would come to know and follow Christ as their Savior and Lord.
4. Praise & Prayer for Community Outreaches & Ministry Requests:
Child Evangelism Fellowship: Beth Harmon, local director of CEF, thanks us for praying for the meeting she had a few weeks ago with an area principal. From that request, another principal requested a meeting and will be starting a club also! Please continue to pray for this outreach in the local elementary schools. They will be starting 4 more Good News Clubs in the public schools throughout Northwest Indiana in January. God is really moving in our young children!! Please pray for all students in our schools to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ! In Portage Township, new clubs are forming for Myers Elementary and Saylor Elementary. They already have a club at Jones School. If you would like more info about Good News Clubs or to volunteer to help, contact Beth at 465-0201.
First Baptist Church/New Pastor: We are praising God with the body at First Baptist Portage. They recently called a new pastor, Terry Gibson. We thank God for bringing this minister to our community. Please pray for them all during this transition and thank God for answered prayer!
5. Prayer for those serving on Short-Term Missions:
Bracy Bean: just returned from serving in Moldova & Armenia with Convoys of Hope
Ed Crundwell: distributing evangelistic tracts in Argentina, December
6. Watchword for the week from Scripture: He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom. Isaiah 40:11

339 ~ Up 1 this week! PRAISE GOD!!!
Keep praying for more to begin and grow in their relationship with Christ!
Keep sending us your reports of salvation. God is moving!
339 is the number of known salvations reported so far for 2008 in our community.
We praise God for each one who has begun their walk of faith in Christ!
Pray that they would be rooted and grounded in the faith.
Let's plunder hell and populate heaven!


Christmas Eve Services?
Is your church hosting a Christmas Eve Service?
Please let us know! We plan on posting those next week.
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Church/location:
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COMMUNITY HAPPENINGS:
HOPE's Christmas Praise & Presence
Friday, December 19th, 12 noon - 1pm
Held at Portage Christian Fellowship,6450 Evergreen
Join us for a time of worship and meditation focussed on Christ
A respite for the soul in hustle and bustle of life.
For more info, call Julie 763-2325

Point of Grace in Concert
Winter Wonderland Tour
Friday, December 19th at 7:00 pm
Saturday, December 20th at 3:00 pm or 7:00 pm
Liberty Bible Church, 824 N. Calumet Ave, Chesterton, IN 46304
Point of Grace is joining the Liberty Worship Choir to present their Winter Wonderland tour.The women's trio started singing together in Bible College and 15 years later they continued traveling and recording as wives and mothers. They have won numerous radio hits, including "Steady On", "The Great Divide" and "Circle of Friends". Tickets are available online at www.itickets.com.
For more info: http://lbchurch.churchsites.com/point_of_grace_concert.asp
Ticket prices are $20 Under Balcony with General Seating/
$25 In Balcony with General Seating/
$30 In Front of Balcony with Assigned Seating.

Angel Food
Order must be received by December 6th, 11am
Pickup Date: December 20, 9:30-11:00am
Family Bible Church office, 3190 Lancer, Suite A Portage
For more info, call 841-9864 or visit www.fbcportage.org

Longest Night Service
Sunday, December 21, 7:30pm
1st United Methodist Church, 2637 McCool Rd, Portage
Come out and join in prayer, scripture and music that acknowledges God's presence
for those who mourn, for those who struggle. Allow the word of God to shine light into our darkness. Everyone is welcome. Fellowship & light refreshments will follow service.For more info, call Pastor Deb @762-3846

Duneland Aglow for Women
Tuesday, December 30 , 6:30pm
Westchester Library Service Center, 100 W. Indiana, Chesterton
Speaker: Pastor Dorris Dunlap
Join in an evening of fellowship, worship, teaching and prayer!
For more info, call Elaine 926-1345