This Week at Sunchild - Monday July 2, 2001
Our original purpose in making these container sheds, was to use them as containers on a flatbed trailer to move with. We made two of them that would fit together when we get them both up north. Then we could use them for storage. But a friend of ours offered to haul everything for us in one load with this semi-trailer, so we are loading the first one in this picture. At the bottom is a letter describing last nights service.
Dear Friends,
The week of July 9th the truck, hauling our belongings, will leave for the Arctic. Although we had planned on making two trips with a pickup truck pulling a trailer, a friend who has a trucking business brought a big truck van out for us to load, and will be hauling everything for us! Last night was our next to last service. We have no replacements to take our place here, and we have naturally had feelings as this being the 'end' here at Sunchild, but God is showing us that it is just 'The Beginning'. We didn't have a large group out last night (holiday weekend in Canada). So I felt impressed to cover the basics involving what is critical for their worship without an organized church to lead them. #1 Throughout the day we must maintain a 'God consciousness' and spirit of prayer as much as possible, in the midst of our daily activities. #2 We have a time we separate ourselves from activities and devote to an hour of 'private devotions', which involves feeding our soul on scripture and private prayer. And #3 We become a part of a fellowship of believers and worship together. The first two we can do alone, but the 3rd involves laying aside our differences and uniting with other believers. The challenge for this is that some of these people may have to learn to do this under extreme circumstances, and indeed if only two of them could gather in a home for this, it could be just as effective as being a part of a big church. It is extremely rare for anyone to 'go it alone'. The setting for the New Testament church is always in a fellowship of believers. Jesus conducted his entire public ministry in a fellowship, and from then on everything was done in a fellowship of believers. They began meeting together on the first day of the week, and if only two were together, chained in jail, they conducted a service where they sang and prayed. This is point #3, and it is very important. And it is for these people when we leave, as well, that Jesus said, "Where 2 or 3 are gathered together in my name, I am there in the midst." So if two gather together and work for a 3rd to be added, and with Jesus in the midst..There is great power in that unity, and things will happen. And then I demonstrated how they can take a scripture, and with out a 'preacher' just read it and share what it is saying. Although I drill them to use the New Testament, we took the 32nd Psalm and read, "Blessed is he who transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.." and on, which tells how this happens. Truly Jesus was in our midst and I didn't know whether to keep speaking or not! One of the things I have always required in my ministry, is that a believer must have a testimony. It may be possible for a person not to share their faith & relationship with God, but every believer should be taught and encouraged to do so. So during the service people began to testify. One lady who has been in a terrific struggle said, "I know He's there (in my heart), and in spite of everything going on..'I know' He's here in my heart!" Another described how a traumatic event made her really mad, but she prayed and God gave her a marvelous deliverance from her anger. And on it went.
'Our' last service will be next Sunday, but we feel a real excitement what God will continue to do. Much of our ministry we were able to hand off to others. The three VBS's here this summer are being carried on by churches in Rocky. Our Bible class in the public school is being carried on as well. Some of the children's work will be carried on by local people, and a Christian lady will be living in the mission. I don't know of a church in North America that exists with the passion and daily tears this work has existed in over the years, and our moving will not change all this. It seems to be just the 'beginning'.
We have weekly updates and pictures on our web site. http://www.arcticoutreach.org If you haven't changed our e-mail address in your address book to rinker@arcticoutreach.org the old address
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