Foster Silver Anniversary & Ministry to Deary Community Bible Church

This past weekend we had the privilege of participating in Tom and Linda Foster's 25th Wedding Anniversary in Deary, Idaho. Linda is Katherine's sister. It was a wonderful time of celebration with some family members and numerous folks from the church. Katherine helped out with the decorations along with her mother and niece Naphtali. Katherine and Naphtali had planned out a number of things through email and phone prior to the big event. Bob put the slide show together. Bob, Andrew and some others helped to set up tables and chairs.

On Sunday we went to Deary Community Bible Church, starting with Sunday School taught by a former missionary who is helping the church out as they are without a pastor at this point. Bob gave the message from Philippians 4. Following church we enjoyed a barbecue lunch celebrating Tom's 49th birthday. About 3:30pm we loaded up and headed home arriving around 9:30pm. Our prayers are with Deary Community Bible Church, about 30 minutes outside of Moscow, Idaho, as they seek a pastor for their church. We were just part of their new building dedication a number of months back. It is a great facility that is being used for the glory of God.

EBC Bible Conference

Edgewood Bible Church had their annual Bible Conference Sunday morning through Wednesday evening. We were only able to participate Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. The featured speaker was Dr. Paul Benware who is on faculty at Southwestern College in Phoenix, Arizona. Before that he was on staff at what was then called Los Angeles Baptist College, now Master's College and also Moody Bible Institute and Philadelphia Biblical University.

Dr. Benware is author of seven books and surveys of both the Old and New Testament. Recently he published a commentary on Daniel. His series this past week was titled, "Experiencing God - or Maybe Not" dealing with the Emergent Church, Contemplative Prayer and Prophetical areas; including "The Church Is Not Israel." We appreciated the challenge from God's Word related to our Christian lives as we anticipate the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. On Tuesday evening Dr. Benware spoke on "The Believer's Coming Payday" in which he preached about the "Bema Seat" Judgment of rewards for the believer. On Wednesday evening he began by answering a number of questions from the congregation and then spoke on the Day of the Lord, specifically in the area of the Tribulation.

Grace Brethren Ladies Retreat & Bellingham Ordination

This past weekend Katherine had the wonderful privilege of being the speaker in Mabton, Washington at a Ladies Retreat for the Grace Brethren Church. The pastor and his wife were on staff at Grace Community Church a number of years ago. One day he felt God calling them to be involved in a small community somewhere and the door opened in the small town of Mabton in the Tri-Cities of Washington. Katherine stayed with an older couple who owned a farm house with a large wheat farm.

The theme of the retreat was Growing in God's Fragrant Beauty from 2 Peter 3:18 & Ephesians 5:2. Katherine chose as her topics: "Growing in Grace & Knowledge" which dealt with growing in awareness of God's blessings in our lives beginning with salvation, as well as in the knowledge of God through God's Word and prayer. From Ephesians 5:2 she shared on "Walking in a Christ-like Love" in which she dealt with loving in sacrificial ways. She also spent time talking about the subject of forgiveness and our responsibility according to God's Word. Many of the women were moved by her teaching as they felt the Lord dealing with their hearts in a number of areas.

The ladies did a great job of decorating in a Victorian theme and providing delightful meals as well as fun crafts. Even though the crafts were simple Katherine tends to be "craft-challenged" but found it a good time anyway.

The drive home was NOT uneventful but reminded her of God's protection as she made the three and one half hour trip. She went from 70 to an immediate stop to avoid a herd of elk (twice), backing up vehicles behind her. She was truly thankful for God's grace and care.

This past Monday Bob had the privilege of being a member of an Ordination Council for the Assistant Pastor of Evergreen Community Church in Ferndale just outside of Bellingham. He rode up and back with Earl Brubaker, Executive Director of N.I.C.E. and former director Dr. Roy Sprague; both of whom were also on the Council. Steve Finkbonner has been involved with ECC for about 17 years and had been preparing for his ordination for a couple years. About 10 men participated in the questioning time. We began with lunch provided by the church and then a hymn and prayer. Then Pastor Steve Vanvleck addressed the steps leading up to the Ordination. Once a moderator was chosen (Earl) and a clerk (Pastor Steve) the examination began.
There was an oral examination period consisting of Steve's Christian experience and Ordination Standards: call to ministry, training, reasons for seeking ordination, and personal qualifications for spiritual leadership. This led to the primary Oral examination where we had time to ask Steve about his doctrinal statement and questions related to various areas of doctrine. Following this was a time of examination of church history and polity with more questions. After a short break there was a time for a couple men, who had reviewed the written documents ahead of time, to share about the Doctrinal statement, Exegetical study and Sermon manuscript.

We finished the Council time with discussion among ourselves indicating areas to share with Steve that he needs to fine tune in doctrine and current issues. The advice was then to recommend to Evergreen Community Church to ordain Steve Finkbonner. We all gathered around Steve and closed in a prayer of dedication. for him.

Anchor of Hope Fellowship/Goshen Community Church

Anchor of Hope Fellowship began a few years back in Ferndale, just outside of Bellingham. Larry & Jeanette Larson give leadership to the church which now meets in the VFW Hall in a beautiful country setting south of Lynden. Katherine had the opportunity to share God's Word and fellowship with the ladies at a retreat that met at the Cedar Springs Campground. Katherine shared three lessons: "A Life that Qualifies" from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, "Obedience: No Excuses" from 1 Samuel 15, and "Finishing Well" from Daniel 6 & 2 Timothy 4. While Katherine and Jeanette attended the retreat, Bob & Larry spent time together encouraging one another. They had dinner in Lynden Friday night chatting about ministry and then spent the evening watching the Mariner's ballgame. Saturday morning was breakfast at IHOP and then a golf outing with a couple men in the church at a Par 3, nine hole course not far from Larry's house. While there were a few sprinkles of rain, the weather held and it was a good time of fellowship on the course. After dinner on Saturday night, we enjoyed talking more about ministry and family with Larry and Jeanette. On Sunday morning we headed out to church where Bob preached a message on Philippians 4:4-9, "Three Cures for the Disease of Anxieties in Life." First, The Disease of Anxieties is Treated by "Developing a Consistent Spirit of Joy"; second, by "Practicing the Goal of Praying Thankfully" and third, by "Cultivating the Mind to Think Biblically." He had a fourth point but knew he wouldn't get through it in time. Pastor Larry ended the service with a time in communion. Following a time of fellowship after the service, eight of us headed to Applebee's for lunch. Then we drove up the road to the Woods Coffee shop to meet with our missionary couple from Goshen Community Church, Bill & Sharilyn Peter's. We viewed pictures of both our grandchildren and discussed various aspects of family situations and how ministry is going. Bob will be speaking at Goshen in July while the Peter's head to New York to celebrate their 30th Wedding Anniversary and visit with relatives. While it was a long weekend it was definitely profitable and enjoyable.