Across the nation: A game show, Bible style
AURORA, COLO. — Cynthia Lee, a member of the Southeast church, always has loved game shows. Now, she uses that passion to help people learn more about God’s word.
“I came up with a fun, creative way to encourage people to read the Bible for themselves,” said Lee, who directs the Bible Game Show ministry.
Any group of 200 or more can host The Bible Game Show, which picks contestants from the audience to come up and answer Bible questions.
“Sometimes, I think people would prefer to have someone else read the Bible and tell them what it says,” Lee said. “I believe God wants us to read it for ourselves and dialogue with him.” The ministry has a Web site at www.biblegameshow.org.
CALIFORNIA
HEMET
BrianPaul with the Hernet church helps people learn about the Bible throughthe mail. Paul oversees a 13-week correspondence course designed forlearners to work at their own pace.
“Our motivation is to try toconvert people to Christ,” Paul told The Press Enterprise of Riverside.”So much of the religious world out there only teaches a portion of thegospel.”
SAN MATEO
The Faith and Education Scholarship Fund is offering two $5,000scholarships. Applicants must be Church of Christ members, attend aliberal arts university and exhibit a financial need. Last year’srecipients were Freed-Hardeman University student Shanna Jinkerson fromStarksville, Miss., and Abilene Christian University student MiriamDrehsel from Germany.
“What is unique about the fund is that it is the only one of its kindthat we have been able to find that is a nationwide scholarship solelyfor Church of Christ members,” said fund treasurer Amy Doran, a memberof the Walnut Creek church. The application deadline is March 15. ormore information, see www.faithandeducation.org.
FLORIDA
SARASOTA
Three years after 11-year-old Carlie Brucia was reported missing,families gathered Feb. 3 for a Kids’ Safety Rally at the Centralchurch. The rally’s aim: to prevent another child abduction and murder,The Bradenton Herald reported.
Since Carlie’s body was found discarded among brush and a tangle ofBrazilian pepper trees behind the church, the area has blossomed into abeautiful garden, the newspaper said. Members of the Central church,together with those who loved Carlie, teamed up to plant the garden asa memorial to the girl whose life was cut short.
LOUISIANA
VIVIAN
The mayor of Vivian recently sent a letter of commendation to the PineStreet church praising its outreach and benevolence ministry. Thechurch bought an old lumber yard/hardware store and uses it to dispensefree clothing and household goods to anyone who asks.
“The best way I can describe the operation is as a ‘free’ thriftstore,” minister Mike Rhodes said. “We also allow people to work offcommunity service hours in the operation. We call it Vivian ChristianCenter. … This center serves thousands every year and really fulfillsa need.”
OKLAHOMA
TULSA
The Garnett church has joined more than two dozen churches from severaldenominations to pray nonstop for Tulsa and the state during 2007,Oklahoma’s centennial year. For more information, seewww.tulsaprayer.com.
MISSOURI
STRAFFORD
A recent ice storm that knocked out power for 10 days caused most of the refrigerated and frozen food in the main pantry and houses at Fairhaven Children’s Home to spoil, houseparent Tom Newell said. The children’s home first relied on kerosene heaters but later bought seven generators for the houses and its well as the power remained off, Newell said.
In all, the home incurred about $11,000 in unexpected expenses, he said. Anyone wanting to help can send gifts to Fairhaven Children’s Home, Ice Store Fund, 3132 N. Fairhaven Loop, Strafford, Mo. 65757.
TEXAS
AMARILLO
When some members at the Southwest church learned 50 people were stranded at the Amarillo bus station during a recent winter storm, they swung into action.
“Next thing I know, we were setting up cots in the fellowship hall (courtesy of the Red Cross), ordering pizzas and making coffee in preparation for the stranded travelers,” minister Bob Guillo wrote in the church bulletin. Members stayed in the night with the travelers before cooking breakfast and getting all 50 people back to the bus station and on tier way, he said.
VIRGINIA
RICHMOND
Roger Pouncey, a member of the Three Chopt Road church, is a trim carpenter. While recently between jobs, he designed and built a table based on Scripture.
The table features symbolism such as a cherry wood tabletop representing God’s love and oak legs representing Christs strength. A mahogany band represents hope, and a walnut band represents faith.
“The inlayed table is composed of over 1,500 pieces,” said his wife, Jan Pouncey. “A lot of Scripture is referred to in the symbolism. My husband did not want to print out the Scriptures. He said the table is to encourage people to search the Scriptures themselves.” Pouncey donated the finished table to the church.
“I came up with a fun, creative way to encourage people to read the Bible for themselves,” said Lee, who directs the Bible Game Show ministry.
Any group of 200 or more can host The Bible Game Show, which picks contestants from the audience to come up and answer Bible questions.
“Sometimes, I think people would prefer to have someone else read the Bible and tell them what it says,” Lee said. “I believe God wants us to read it for ourselves and dialogue with him.” The ministry has a Web site at www.biblegameshow.org.
CALIFORNIA
HEMET
BrianPaul with the Hernet church helps people learn about the Bible throughthe mail. Paul oversees a 13-week correspondence course designed forlearners to work at their own pace.
“Our motivation is to try toconvert people to Christ,” Paul told The Press Enterprise of Riverside.”So much of the religious world out there only teaches a portion of thegospel.”
SAN MATEO
The Faith and Education Scholarship Fund is offering two $5,000scholarships. Applicants must be Church of Christ members, attend aliberal arts university and exhibit a financial need. Last year’srecipients were Freed-Hardeman University student Shanna Jinkerson fromStarksville, Miss., and Abilene Christian University student MiriamDrehsel from Germany.
“What is unique about the fund is that it is the only one of its kindthat we have been able to find that is a nationwide scholarship solelyfor Church of Christ members,” said fund treasurer Amy Doran, a memberof the Walnut Creek church. The application deadline is March 15. ormore information, see www.faithandeducation.org.
FLORIDA
SARASOTA
Three years after 11-year-old Carlie Brucia was reported missing,families gathered Feb. 3 for a Kids’ Safety Rally at the Centralchurch. The rally’s aim: to prevent another child abduction and murder,The Bradenton Herald reported.
Since Carlie’s body was found discarded among brush and a tangle ofBrazilian pepper trees behind the church, the area has blossomed into abeautiful garden, the newspaper said. Members of the Central church,together with those who loved Carlie, teamed up to plant the garden asa memorial to the girl whose life was cut short.
LOUISIANA
VIVIAN
The mayor of Vivian recently sent a letter of commendation to the PineStreet church praising its outreach and benevolence ministry. Thechurch bought an old lumber yard/hardware store and uses it to dispensefree clothing and household goods to anyone who asks.
“The best way I can describe the operation is as a ‘free’ thriftstore,” minister Mike Rhodes said. “We also allow people to work offcommunity service hours in the operation. We call it Vivian ChristianCenter. … This center serves thousands every year and really fulfillsa need.”
OKLAHOMA
TULSA
The Garnett church has joined more than two dozen churches from severaldenominations to pray nonstop for Tulsa and the state during 2007,Oklahoma’s centennial year. For more information, seewww.tulsaprayer.com.
MISSOURI
STRAFFORD
A recent ice storm that knocked out power for 10 days caused most of the refrigerated and frozen food in the main pantry and houses at Fairhaven Children’s Home to spoil, houseparent Tom Newell said. The children’s home first relied on kerosene heaters but later bought seven generators for the houses and its well as the power remained off, Newell said.
In all, the home incurred about $11,000 in unexpected expenses, he said. Anyone wanting to help can send gifts to Fairhaven Children’s Home, Ice Store Fund, 3132 N. Fairhaven Loop, Strafford, Mo. 65757.
TEXAS
AMARILLO
When some members at the Southwest church learned 50 people were stranded at the Amarillo bus station during a recent winter storm, they swung into action.
“Next thing I know, we were setting up cots in the fellowship hall (courtesy of the Red Cross), ordering pizzas and making coffee in preparation for the stranded travelers,” minister Bob Guillo wrote in the church bulletin. Members stayed in the night with the travelers before cooking breakfast and getting all 50 people back to the bus station and on tier way, he said.
VIRGINIA
RICHMOND
Roger Pouncey, a member of the Three Chopt Road church, is a trim carpenter. While recently between jobs, he designed and built a table based on Scripture.
The table features symbolism such as a cherry wood tabletop representing God’s love and oak legs representing Christs strength. A mahogany band represents hope, and a walnut band represents faith.
“The inlayed table is composed of over 1,500 pieces,” said his wife, Jan Pouncey. “A lot of Scripture is referred to in the symbolism. My husband did not want to print out the Scriptures. He said the table is to encourage people to search the Scriptures themselves.” Pouncey donated the finished table to the church.
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