November 2020 Connections

Connections Proclaiming the GOSPEL

LOCAL & GLOBAL STORIES, NEWS AND EVENTS of COLLEGE CHURCH

“We heard stories of how God brought forgiveness to the hearts of the Lebanese Christians toward the Syrian people.”

See The Church in Motion by Marilyn Papierski on page 20

NOVEMBER 2020

Face to Face

Life Lessons

Global Voices

What Thanks Gives

Known by Our Thankfulness

WALLACE ALCORN | 8

JOHN MAUST | 10

A Ukrainian Missionary Gives Thanks CHERYL WARNER & LUBA L | 12

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

November Highlights

7

Blessed to Be a Blessing | THANKSGIVING EVE PROJECTS

8

What Thanks Give | WALLACE ALCORN

9

Prayer Gatherings

10

Known by Our Thankfulness | JOHN MAUST

12

A Ukrainian Missionary Gives Thanks | CHERYL WARNER & LUBA L.

14

Little Sprouts of Life Stir the Rubble | ARAB BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

16

Reflections on Lebanon 16 The Faces of Lebanon | NICOLE H. 16 A Summer Experience | KIERSTEN OSLUND 18 Love for Enemies | JULIE CLEMENS 20 The Church in Motion | MARILYN PAPIERSKI

21

The Christmas Store: Share the Joy of Christmas! | LIZ REID

22

Book Corner

23

Milestones

23

Looking Ahead

NOVEMBER HIGHLIGHTS Sunday Morning Services Visitors are welcome in any and all services, no registration required. Feel free to invite people to worship with us.

November 1: 9:30 and 11:00 a.m.

• Nov. 1: Nehemiah 2:9-20 | Establish Reality Cold-weather worship begins November 8: 8:00, 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

• Nov. 8: Nehemiah 4:1-23 | Dealing with Opposition

• Nov. 22: Nehemiah 6:1-7:4 | Defeating a Conspiracy

• Nov.15: Nehemiah 5:1-19 | Be Generous to the Poor

• Nov. 29: Nehemiah 8:1-12 | Return to the Bible

10:15 a.m. College Service in the Commons, open to others starting November 22.

Worship online: 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. Livestream/rebroadcast service online at college-church.org/livestream Registration for the 9:30 and 11:15 a.m. services opens at noon on Tuesdays on our website or in our church family email. No registration required for the 8 a.m. service. You may also access the sign-up form here: college-church.formstack.com/forms/worship_signup

Adult Communities—in-person and Zoom options • Veritas: Saturday mornings 9:30 a.m. in Sanctuary

• Greek Class: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in C101

• Logos: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in CL02

• Forum 15: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in C002 A&B

• Joint Heirs: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in Commons Gym

• All Nations: Sunday mornings 9:30 a.m. in CL03

Children’s Ministries—registration is now open • Sunday morning Bible school: all ages, registration required • Children’s Choirs: rehearsal on November 1 and 8. Recording on the Sanctuary steps, November 14 (Sunday, November 15 or Saturday, November 21 rain dates if needed.)

• Wednesday Evening Club Programs: all grades open for Boys Brigade and Pioneer Girls, registration required.

Surviving the Holidays Has the loss of a loved one left you wondering how you will survive the weeks surrounding Thanksgiving and Christmas? Surviving the Holidays will encourage you as we talk about dealing with loss during the holiday season. This special GriefShare seminar will be held Tuesday, November 17, 7-8:30 p.m. in the Crossings and is free of charge. For more info contact Christy at ext. 175 or griefshare@college-church.org.

4

Middle School • Tuesday nights at 6:45 p.m. in the Sanctuary

High School

BLOOD DRIVE

• Sunday Night Live: All high school students are welcome!

Sundays at 6:30 p.m., in Commons Gym. • Rooted Fellowship: Freshmen and Sophomores, Tuesday evenings from 6:45 to 8:15 p.m. in Commons Hall

STARS • Sunday mornings - live Zoom class, 9-10 a.m.

• Wednesday music - live Zoom class, 7-8 p.m.

November 30, 1-6 p.m. C104

Grace Groups for Mental Health Are you or a loved one dealing with anxiety or depression or other mental health challenges? Has this time of COVID restrictions heightened those feelings? Living Grace provides support for those living with mental health challenges, and Family Grace provides support for their loved ones. Our hope for Grace Groups is that individuals walk away from each meeting feeling encouraged and equipped with practical tools to cultivate a healthy mind and heart. These groups continue to meet on most second and fourth Mondays by Zoom at 7 p.m., from the comfort and privacy of your home. For registration information, email Christy at gracegroups@college-church.org, or call the church at (630) 668-0878.

Men’s Bible Study Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem, taught by Victor Kuligin, Wednesdays at 6:45 p.m. Please join us this month as we dive in and begin a discussion about Eschatology. Zoom and in-person options. Note: We will not meet on November 25.

Women’s Ministries • Monthly Gathering – 9-10:30 a.m. Commons Hall Join us on Saturday morning, November 14, as we consider together spiritual practices that promote growth in our relationships with Christ—Bible intake, prayer, worship, solitude, serving and simplicity. Join us for teaching and round table discussion this month on the topic of Scripture as we explore together various approaches to studying the Word.

• Mom2Mom Outing - 9:30-11:00 a.m. Klein Creek Farm Moms and children - let’s meet on Monday, November 16, for a walk together around historic Klein Creek Farm. We’ll meet in the parking lot near the visitor center and take the children on an expedition looking for farm animals. Dress warmly – even if it’s cold, we’ll carry on unless it’s raining (or snowing).

5

MISSIONARY CHRISTMAS

Please consider giving online.

Virtual Turkey Trot 2020 Over the last nine years, the GO Ministries Turkey Trot has funded the construction of volleyball and basketball courts, supported a pastor and his church and empowered coaches and athletes in the Dominican Republic to make a difference in their communities. While the Turkey Trot isn’t in person this year, you can still participate! All proceeds go toward stocking the GO Sports library and classrooms with books, desks and other educational materials. Every gift gives kids in the Dominican more educational and athletic opportunities, as they grow spiritually through the discipleship of their coaches and teachers. Register and donate at gomin.org/turkeytrot2020, then run anywhere, anytime in November and post your pictures or videos on social media with the hashtag #goturkeytrot2020. Thanks for your support!

Thanksgiving Eve Service We’ll miss our annual pie social tradition this year, but there’s a meaningful and different Thanksgiving Eve service coming. Watch for details in the weekly Church Family email and announcements in services.

Getting Married?

Because of the challenges of meeting during COVID, we will not hold Becoming One pre-marital class this year. However, we believe in the importance of Christian pre-marital counseling, and want to provide that as needed. If this describes you, please reach out to us at marriage@ college-church.org so that we can assess the counseling that might be appropriate for your situation.

Visit the God Centered Life worldwide ministry of Pastor Josh Moody at godcenteredlife.org. Find daily sermons from Pastor Josh there plus daily devotionals. Sign up to receive them in your inbox. Listen to Pastor Josh daily on WMBI at 10 p.m. M-F and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. Your prayers and partnership with this ministry are greatly appreciated.

6

BLESSED TO BE A BLESSING Our 2020 Thanksgiving Eve Projects God delights in his people. The song lyrics of “My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness” remind us that Jesus bore our pain, plumbed the depths of our disgrace and gave us life again. He crushed the curse of sinfulness and clothed us with his light and wrote his law of righteousness with power upon our hearts.

Truly, we are a blessed people. As we come to the Thanksgiving holiday, we likely have all found this year full of moments where joy and difficulties are intermingled. Yet, God has been faithful through it all. Every year we take an offering to support gospel projects around the world. Though many things about this year have been different, we continue this tradition of giving.

In doing so, we express our thankfulness to God by taking his blessings to us and using them to bless others around the world.

This year we have chosen three projects to help serve those in the greatest need. God values those who are abandoned, isolated or rejected by society, because they, like all people, are made in his image. Your gift will uplift God’s precious people around the world through support, education and care. Gifts given to this offering will be distributed among three projects: ENABLE THE DISABLED (INDIA) ENABLED is an initiative that was started by Pioneers missionaries in India, seeking to empower their community through support, care and restoration of Christlike dignity.

Individuals with disabilities in predominately Hindu and Muslim areas are more disadvantaged than other areas of the world, with little access to services and a lack of vision from the community to love and empower them. Through 15 ENABLED centers, 1,000 children and adults with disabilities are cared for annually. Families who encounter this ministry are often open to learning more about the love and salvation offered by Jesus.

Supporting this project will provide access to therapy, education, surgery and support for families as well as training and support for specialized workers who provide these services.

EDUCATE THE NEXT GENERATION (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) GO Ministries is expanding its ability to help the kids in its care as they seek to close the technology gap. As school has moved to virtual and tele-education, a computer lab will be an invaluable addition and will open doors to career exploration, English language learning, tutoring initiatives and supplemental education opportunities. GO Ministries has four areas of focus: sports, church planting, medical and community development, all with the goal of developing mutually transformational relationships that redeem people and restore creation. Supporting this project will open doors to kids in the Dominican Republic both in their current learning and for their futures.

SUPPORT THE SUFFERING (GREECE) Greater Europe Mission (GEM) has been involved for years in ministering to the physical and spiritual needs of thousands of refugees. Camp Moria, an overcrowded refugee camp on the Greek island of Lesvos, was destroyed by fire in September. Designed for fewer than 3,000 people, more than 12,000 had been living there. GEM is seeking to care for the refugees who are fleeing their countries from war, famine, religious persecution and death. In addition to caring for refugees, GEM also wants to support the people of Lesvos who have given generously and suffered much for several years. Supporting this project will empower GEM to care for, equip and introduce refugees and Greeks who are hurting to the love of Jesus.

If you would like to give to this offering, you can do so online through the College Church giving page. You may also mail your gift to College Church or drop it off in the tithes and offerings box by Reception in the Commons building. If you would like to learn more about any of these ministries, you can do so by reaching out to the missions office at missions@college-church.org or (630) 668-0878 ext. 156.

7

FACE TO FACE

What Thanks Gives Wallace Alcorn

I have lived through 90 Thanksgivings, and I remember all but the first several. Those of childhood and youth rather blend together, because they were reliably the same. Rather than a boring sameness, this was an exciting promise of yet another wonderful family time.

Each Thanksgiving began with a mid-morning service at our Milwaukee church. Our dinner was in the evening at Grandma and Grandpa’s house. Uncles and aunts were there—and cousins. The younger ones were relegated to card tables at a convenient distance from the adults. We were naïve about the purpose in this arrangement and imagined it a special privilege for children on a special day. Cousin Robert would take us into a dark closet and tell ghost stories.

Then Robert went off to sea in the Navy and older cousin Paul went to the Army air corps as a fighter pilot in Italy. We were proud of the two silver stars on the service flag in Grandma’s window. Our older cousins began bringing their new soldier husbands. The menu became modified to reflect the WWII restrictions of food rationing, but aunts combined ration stamps to make it adequate. The spirit of the day did the rest.

One of the most exciting Thanksgivings was the year the older boys at church invited me to join them in the traditional touch football game following the service, at the same playground every year. I felt accepted and grown up.

Thanksgiving wasn’t then compromised by Black Friday.

While at Wheaton College, I either went to a classmate’s home for Thanksgiving or brought one or two home with me. These were usually foreign students or MKs. Thanksgiving during Army basic training was lonely. I sat on my bunk mentally rehearsing all the Thanksgivings at home. The cooks outdid themselves on this non-training day. I witnessed another fine Army tradition when the company officers came with their families to eat with the troops. We had a family Thanksgiving after all.

In my first seminary year, a married student invited me to have dinner with his family. This was an auspicious occasion because it was his wife’s first Thanksgiving as an American citizen.

She was native Japanese and had married my classmate when he was stationed there in the US Air Force. The newspaper presumptuously reported her as serving us Japanese food

8

although her menu was as American as anyone could make it.

“I American now!” Sheepishly, they confessed their intention also to invite a single nursing instructor by the name of Ann to set us up. It took some restraint for me not to confess that at the Thanksgiving Eve service I had made my first move to recover what I had messed up on at Wheaton College. They thought she would make a good wife for me, and she has been for over 62 years.

In my second seminary year, I took my bride home to join the rest of my family. The rest of hers were in Ghana and Mali, and I was yet to spend a Thanksgiving with them to complete our family.

In the first year of our first pastorate near Detroit, a large family absorbed us into themselves, and we were immediately at home.

It was our kind of family and our kind of Thanksgiving.

The first year in our New Jersey pastorate we were left thousands of miles distant from our families. It took a while for those Easterners to understand Midwesterners, and we them.

But a Wheaton classmate in Grand Rapids alerted her family in distant Newark who invited us up from the shore. Their thoughtful kindness became the final definition of Thanksgiving.

Ever since, we have looked around for those who would otherwise be as we might have been.

I learned Thanksgiving is a time not so much to preach but to listen to the pews. A mentally disturbed woman testified to the peace she has experienced through faith in God. An old man reared in a drafty farmhouse: “I thank God for a warm house.”

A man who had recently lost speech from a stroke labored: “Thank-you-for-pray-ing-for-me.” Macho men for the only time in public: “I am thankful for my wife and my children.” “I thank God Sam is having his first Thanksgiving dinner with Jesus.”

No one should be alone on Thanksgiving, and the joy we learned from the thoughtfulness of others brings at least as much joy to us as to our guests. It has become a time of thankful giving.

The thanks I give this Thanksgiving is for Thanksgiving itself and for what all these Thanksgivings have given to me. It is not just the giving of thanks but what thanks gives.

Connections gives thanks for Wallace Alcorn Pastor, teacher, writer, army chaplain and friend.

Prayer Gatherings Online & In Person Call the church office or email info@college-church.org for details on these prayer meetings.

Sunday Morning Prayer (Online) 8-8:40 a.m.

Led by Pastor Eric Channing Monday Morning Prayer (In person) 6:15-7:15 a.m. in C104A. Led by Elder Rob Wolgemuth Wednesday Night Prayer (Online) 7-8 p.m.

Led by the Missions Office • Nov. 4: Andrew Carlburg, mid-term missionary participating in the world race • Nov. 11: Phil & Ann Baur, bringing the gospel to the unreached from Florida • Nov 18: Steve & Mirian Cox, serving at Word of Life Seminary in Brazil Friday Lunch Prayer for the Persecuted Church (In person) 12-1 p.m. in C103.

Lydia Prayer Fellowship looks forward to hearing from Melissa Warner at the home of Ann Deckert, Tuesday morning, November 10 at 9:15. Ann’s home is just off Prince Crossing Road and Main Street at 214 Woodboro Dr., West Chicago. Regular members and visitors will want to make it a priority to be there.

reception desk. Anita Deyneka will be sharing her burden for the orphans in our world. She is with Mission Eurasia, serving with the World Without Orphans (WWO), and partnering with A Family for Every Orphan. Feel free to invite your friends and join us.

Abigail Prayer Fellowship will meet on Thursday, November 12, 1-3 p.m. in C103. All welcome to join the group for afternoon prayer.

Aaron-Hur Prayer Fellowship will meet on Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m. at the home of Jim Locke, 1428 E Thomas Road in Wheaton, (301) 580-4961. Our guests will be John and Leila, serving in Asia.

Our prayer pulse email goes out every Monday. You can get prayer updates via that email. Sign up by clicking "Enews signup" on our website. If you already receive other emails from College Church, click "manage my preferences" at the bottom of any email and select prayer pulse to add yourself.

Hannah Prayer Fellowship will be meeting on Wednesday, November 11, at 1:30 p.m. in the Commons (C103) across from the

9

LIFE LESSONS

Known by Our Thankfulness John Maust After I travel to a Majority World country, people sometimes ask, “Were you able to attend one of the local churches there? What was it like?”

Thinking how to answer, scenes from the church flood my mind. I see the exuberant singing of men and women packed in a humble meeting room, the tears of joy on the face of someone sharing a testimony of God’s power, the affectionate hugs and strong handshakes for visitors like me. I hear the “amens” and murmurs of affirmation during the preaching and prayers. And I remember people leaving the service with a sense of celebration, perhaps a bit similar to jubilant fans exiting the stadium after a big hometeam victory.

What was it like attending church in the country I visited?

“There was joy,” I will say. “And plenty of thanksgiving.”

This joy and thanksgiving is especially striking given that many believers in hard countries live in desperate circumstances with little reason, humanly speaking, to rejoice.

Yet here they are, living out the Apostle Paul’s exhortation, “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

(I Thess. 5:16-18) I wonder what we can learn about joy and thanksgiving reflected by many of our brothers and sisters in Christ in the Majority World. A few things come to mind.

praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.” (Psalm 100:4) Years ago, I visited a missionary serving in a poor barrio of Cartagena, Colombia. The conversation turned to “faith healing” and the missionary saw I looked a bit dubious. “People in my church are too poor to go to the doctor,” he said. “The only way they can be healed is if God does it. So, they must pray for God’s healing, and God often does.”

I thank God for all the resources and support networks that he puts at our disposal here. But let’s make God our default, going to and relying on him first, in any given situation.

Christian joy does not come through “pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps,” but through our complete reliance on him. Relying on the Lord and seeing him work is a sure-fire way to grow in Christian joy and thanksgiving.

GO TO GOD ABOUT EVERYTHING, BIG OR SMALL My grandfather used to tell the story of two men discussing their relationship with their wives.

“My wife and I never fight,” one said.

“That is amazing,” the friend answered. “What’s your secret?”

“We decided before we got married that I would make the decisions on all the big things, and that she would make decisions on the small things,” he responded.

“Oh, how did that work out?”

RELY ON GOD, NOT YOURSELF

“Nothing big ever came up,” he shrugged.

Living in a wealthy country with reasonable infrastructure, we have many places to turn in case of a problem. If we get sick, we go to the doctor. If we are robbed, we go to the police. If we lose our job, we look into unemployment benefits. If a storm damages our home, we call the insurance company. In our difficulties, we often try to resolve things first through our own efforts, maybe seeking God’s help or blessing only later.

Perhaps this whimsical story has an application for our spiritual lives. If we’re waiting to go to God until a crisis or big problem arises, what happens if nothing big ever comes up? Simply, our communication with him will go dry. We will lose the joy and thanksgiving of seeing him work in the seeming little things that come up every day.

But imagine living in a place without doctors, or none that are affordable, or where the police are corrupt or unavailable, or where there are no insurance or unemployment benefits, you will most certainly go to God first. You will fall at his feet in prayer and ask for his supernatural intervention. Then when God shows up in power and rescues you from your helpless situation, you will indeed “enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with

10

Once I accompanied a friend to the post office in a developing world nation. As he deposited a stack of letters into the slot, he fervently prayed aloud, “Father, please take these letters safely to their destination.”

I’m embarrassed to say that his prayer struck me as curious. I’d never voiced that prayer at a post office before, but I realized that my friend must have reason to do so and felt duly reminded to pray to God in both the big and little.

In fact, we sometimes limit our thanksgiving in a similar way. We make sure to thank God for the “big things”—the new job, the house closing, the conversion of a friend—all important, of course.

But we sometimes neglect or ignore his goodness in the seeming “little things” he provides.

—the vibrant color of autumn leaves that speak to his artistry —a hot shower after a long day —an encouraging word from a friend —finding a parking place in an almost full lot God cares about it all, big or small, and so should we. When we begin to truly see just how much, and in how many ways, he is blessing, our hearts will bubble over and reflect the thanksgiving found in the refrain of the Cindy Morgan song, “Thank you, Lord. How could I ask for more?”

MAKE TIME TO GIVE THANKS Churches in many parts of the world hold occasional all-night prayer vigils. The first time that I attended one, I wondered if I would be able to last the night. But the night of prayer—divided into sections of singing, Scripture reading, brief teachings and corporate and small-group prayer—went by surprisingly fast.

Urgent needs were brought to the Lord. But equal amounts of time were spent in specific thanksgiving to God. Joy in the room grew as we celebrated his goodness.

I'm not saying we must attend all-night prayer meetings, but it does take time to reflect on God’s nature and goodness and to express our thanksgiving to him.

In America’s goal-oriented culture, we often find ourselves flying from project to project, deadline to deadline, not taking time to thank God for what he’s done in one project before moving on to the next.

Keeping a prayer journal has been helpful to me in this regard.

Particularly on days when things are stressful, I find it helpful to make a list of all the things for which I’m thankful—usually starting with the incredible gift of salvation in Christ—and also list the specific things that God has been doing in that day or week.

The psalmists frequently reminded Israel of God’s mighty works as a way to strengthen their faith and inspire their thanksgiving: “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your deeds of long ago. I will meditate on your works and consider all your mighty deeds.” (Psalm 77:11-12) In such moments of reflection, the clouds begin to part, and our joy and thanksgiving break through as God reminds us of his faithfulness.

A WORD IN SEASON During this Thanksgiving season, I pray that we will abound in joy and thanksgiving in the Lord. Perhaps Scriptures such as 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 quoted earlier, plus these examples from our overseas brothers and sisters in Christ, will be helpful in this regard.

Imagine one of them visiting College Church on a visit to the U.S., and then returning home to friends who ask, “Did you attend a church there? What was it like?”

“There was joy there,” comes the emphatic response. “And plenty of thanksgiving.”

Connections gives thanks for John Maust College Church missionary (with wife, Elsa), president of Media Associates International and grandfather to baby Isabella.

11

GLOBAL VOICES

A Ukrainian Missionary Gives Thanks Cheryl Warner and Luba L. Churches send missionaries from all the world to all the world, and with Ukraine considered the Bible Belt of Eastern Europe with a history of mature evangelical churches, it is growing as a sending country. Ukrainians speak both Ukrainian and Russian, so they are uniquely situated to work in other countries that were also part of the Soviet Union until its dissolution in 1991, where Russian is spoken along with a national language. That includes several Muslim-majority countries in Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Luba L. is a Ukrainian missionary to Central Asia who serves in a church working with children and youth, many of whom come from unbelieving families or have suffered neglect. Three years ago, she was a student in the class that Charley and I teach on the spiritual life of the cross-cultural missionary at Odessa Theological Seminary, and we have kept in close contact with her. Charley always tells these students there is no final exam for this class—the test will happen on the mission field.

Luba went back to the field in January, expecting to return home in July, and got stranded there because of the pandemic.

Her return flight was canceled with no rescheduled date in sight.

Thanks to a special gift from a generous Ukrainian donor, she eventually booked a flight on the only airline that was flying but at the last minute wasn’t allowed to board because of some COVID-related glitches. She was told that her ticket couldn’t be used in the future—it was “burned.” Things went from bad to worse when her visa then expired, and she had to renew it in order to leave the country (no small feat). She has experienced many trials (not to mention that serving as a single woman in a Muslim-majority context in Central Asia isn’t easy to begin with!).

Luba finally returned to Ukraine in late September, two months later than expected. The first airline did refund the price of her ticket and the second airline finally allowed her to rebook on another date. After all the uncertainty and high levels of stress she endured, I expected her to return to Ukraine bruised or near burnout, but instead she has been overflowing with thankfulness for God’s gifts, large and small. Some of the things on her thanksgiving list are things I definitely take for granted.

12

Here is a translation from Russian of the text message Luba sent to her supporters on her arrival in Ukraine, used with her permission: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Now that I am already at home and beginning to analyze the past eight months in [Central Asian country], I can say with certainty that despite all the difficulties, God is good! Here are some of the things for which I am grateful to God:

• We became very good friends with some of the kids and

spent hundreds of hours together doing different things.

I believe that God will grow the Word that has been sown. . .

• God gave me new friends!

• This year I felt your prayer and emotional support in a special way!

• We never had checks with the KGB, or other services.

Believe me, this was a great grace of God and a relief for me, especially when we held a mini-day camp for the first time in our town.

• All this time I did not have any serious health problems and never had to consult a doctor. A piece of my tooth broke, but it did not hurt, and I will be able to treat it here in Ukraine.

• Thanks to you, I had all the finances I needed to live and serve there. I never went hungry, and I always had enough. (Of course, the loss of an expensive flight ticket was initially a big financial challenge, but as you know, God solved this issue too!)

• There were never any scandals with unbelieving parents whose children visit the house of prayer and come to various activities! (The only time was when one grandmother came to complain about me to the pastor, for allegedly cutting her child's hair too short, but she ended up becoming friends with me.)

• I never crossed paths with radical Muslim "believers."

Recently, stone dents were found on the gate of the prayer house, but no one was hurt.

• We had free grocery delivery to our apartment, which was really helpful when the temperature outside was 40 degrees Celsius [104 Fahrenheit].

• This year a taxi service opened in our city. The cost of a ride up to two kilometers [1.25 miles] is 13 UAH [13 Ukrainian hryvnia equals 46 cents in US currency].

You’ll agree, it is inexpensive, and it often helped out.

• Here they often harass girls, and foreign women even more so. It's prestigious for them to have an affair with a “Russian.” They pester women everywhere, on the street, on public transportation, in the store. Praise God for his protection in this matter!

• For vitamins, fruits and vegetables. Already in May I bought a melon, apricots and peaches.

• I never had anything stolen from me.

• Thanks to friends from the USA and Mexico who serve there, I did not forget my beloved English.

• God kept me from accidents, unfortunate incidents, snake bites, spiders and other animals.

This list could go on and on.

Praise the Lord for his goodness!

Luba’s list is still growing. In a series of social media posts called Chronicles of Grace, she writes about the grace God showed her through the hardships. Silence was important on the field, sometimes providing space for renewal or leading to worship as she enjoyed the beauty of creation. “But there is also another silence,” she wrote. “Pressing. Straining. Even frightening. The silence of uncertainty. The silence of irresponsibility. And when it seems that God himself is silent? That he has turned his back on you, and does not seem to want to give an answer? . . . And with waiting to renew the visa—incomprehensible silence; and the ticket, according to the airline workers, BURNED. “Trust him, even if your mind tells you otherwise. If people around you shower you with ‘advice,’ still trust the Lord. He is above everything. And everyone.

“So, I continued to learn this trust . . .”

Reflecting on the roller-coaster of emotions that come with canceled flights, Luba wrote: “So much adrenaline! Joy, despair, hope, prayer, doubt, gratitude, humility, fear . . . And suddenly, like lightning, a thought struck me. So clear and life-giving! Yes,

my flight is CANCELED, but NOTHING can EVER CANCEL Golgotha!!! Nothing can ever cancel the grace of God! Even if the circumstances are incomprehensible and difficult, God still continues to love and protect me.”

Reading Luba’s words, what am I thankful for? I thank God for Ukrainian missionaries who were once students in our classroom, and for what I am now learning from them.

Connections gives thanks for Cheryl Warner Writer, College Church missionary (with husband, Charley) and encourager to new missionaries from Ukraine like Luba.

13

GLOBAL VOICES

Little Sprouts of Life Stir the Rubble An interview with Arab Baptist Theological Seminary

Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS) is one of 13 national schools that College Church supports financially for training national leaders. In light of the coronavirus they sent their students home but following the explosion at the Beirut port in August, they began opening their doors to care for the community. In their September Newsletter, ABTS wrote…

ABTS RESPONDS “We spend a lot of time in discernment as we steer the ministry where we believe God wants to take it. But not in response to the explosion,” Elie Haddad said in our previous newsletter, “We didn’t need to stop and ask God what to do. We immediately knew what He wanted. Opening up our facilities to house newly homeless people was the most natural thing to do. This is a testimony of God’s work in our hearts for years and years.”

This month, we interviewed our Registrar Rana Wazir, who has been managing the vetting and placement of the families in their rooms, and our Facilities and IT Manager Elie Daher, who has been leading the maintenance team in equipping and maintaining the rooms. We encourage you to read their heartwarming stories about God’s work on campus.

PREPARATIONS TO HOUSE FAMILIES Elie Daher: I was in my office on August 4 when I first heard the blast; it was precisely 6:08 p.m. As soon as I found out what it was, I hurried to check our facilities. As I locked the doors and headed home, I was thinking about repairing the damage and cleaning up the shards of broken glass. The next morning, after an urgent leadership meeting, we were to reopen the family building instead. How could we not reopen it when many had lost their homes? And so, instead of repairs, we started the preparations immediately.

We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the support of the ABTS community and other volunteers. The hard work and enthusiasm of the people was exceptional. The corner house was to be emptied, cleaned and furnished with beds. Buildings had to be deep cleaned.

The guesthouse team cleaned the rooms, toilets and passageways. They washed the laundry and the linen. They repainted the walls. The team was all over the place! We as the maintenance team made sure everything was running well. We checked the showerheads, the faucets, the air conditioners and so on. In 48 hours, we had accomplished most of the work.

14

THE FIRST FAMILY Rana Wazir: Right after the explosion, we began to prepare our buildings to host families who were affected by the blast. Two floors of the guesthouse already housed healthcare workers who are in quarantine, so we decided to use the ground floor to host healthcare workers whose dorms were destroyed in Beirut. We also equipped two floors of the Sharouk Building, all the Family Building and both floors of the Corner House.

Three days later, we received the first family, whose members were heavily injured. Since then, we keep receiving phone calls from those who need shelter. We had a sudden surge of families after people started getting out of hospitals, and they had nowhere to go. Some were abandoned by family and friends.

Some had lost their jobs after the destruction of certain areas in Beirut. Some already had no jobs. Many were injured both physically and psychologically.

AN ENCOUNTER NEAR THE GUEST HOUSE Elie Daher: The Saturday right after the explosion, I was placing New Testament Bibles on the bedside table of every room. Almost two hours after that, I was standing in front of the guesthouse when a taxi arrived with a new family. Their clothes were stained with blood and Betadine, and they carried with them nothing but their medicine in a small plastic bag. The scene brought back memories of war.

I was born at the end of 1975. My mother often told the story of how she had fled her home at the start of the Lebanese Civil War – a baby boy in her arms and a little girl tagging along. My grandfather often told the story of fleeing his home in 1983 not knowing whether he would ever return. Today, there is no war, yet we are re-experiencing the stories of the Civil War firsthand.

After they got out of the taxi, the woman shared her story with me as her injured hands trembled, and her eyes welled with tears. Her mother was still at the hospital, and her sister was waiting on her. I comforted her, and I assured her that we would do all that we could to help.

This incident left a deep impression on me and made me say with Solomon, “All is vanity.” It reminded me that we can lose our possessions in the blink of an eye and that we are nothing without Christ. It reminded me that we are here for a Divine cause. As long as God wants to use us, we must be ready to give our lives away.

SERVING THE FAMILIES Rana Wazir: We soon saw that God wanted us to do much more than providing shelter. They had nothing; this meant we were to provide everything. Unsolicited, local ministries and partners abroad came to our aid. By God’s grace, we were able to provide them with three meals a day, hygiene kits, water, internet, cleaning and laundry services, among other things.

We had a team from ABTS caring for the families’ material and spiritual needs in collaboration with a few local churches. They provided the families with things such as clothes, toys for kids, milk and diapers for babies. We had a medical team volunteering to check up on the people’s wounds and injuries, and a psychologist volunteering to check up on the children’s mental health.

One elderly man had diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, and many injuries. One woman had her skull fractured. Several were bedridden, and when they showed us pictures of their destroyed homes, we wondered how they came out alive. The families are coming to us with a lot of heartache, but they are finding rest here. I think the location helps – the serenity and the green spaces. They also have a safe space here to share about their troubles.

In the busyness of preparing meals and delivering them to all the rooms, someone stops us at their door, and they begin to cry as they share their story. Kids like to run around and play. I think the people feel at home now.

it. It really helps to know that one can contribute to bettering people’s situation. I stand amazed at God’s work. In the end, this is not my work. This is not ABTS’s work. God is using us to accomplish His work.

IT’S WORTH IT!

A CONCLUDING PRAYER

Rana Wazir: Often, the team is physically drained. We are in action every day of the week from morning till late at night.

Kristen [Front Desk Representative] sometimes has to stay overnight. Once, an old man arrived in critical condition in the middle of the night. We couldn’t leave his side.

Elie Daher: Today, the Church in Lebanon is getting involved in God’s work more than ever. People in Lebanon are tired of empty words and corrupt leaders. Let’s show the people actions instead. Let’s model a new way of doing things.

Meeting the tragedy of people face to face isn’t easy. I cried many nights at their suffering, but every time, my husband Walid reminded me that, at least, I could do something about

I pray that the families experience the love of Christ here, whether it’s through a meal we prepare or a faucet we fix. May Christ’s love be manifest, and may they receive the inner healing that we cannot offer, but only He can.

15

GLOBAL VOICES

Reflections on Lebanon Lebanon has recently been front and center in global news headlines, but it has long been in the heart of College Church. We have supported Arab Baptist Theological Seminary since 2010, as well as commissioned short-term (up to three months) and mid-term (three months to three years) missionaries there. Read these recent reflections on how the Lord has been at work in this country.

THE FACES OF LEBANON

By Nicole H. (Fall 2018-Summer 2019) When I think of Lebanon, there are so many memories that come to mind: the busy and crowded streets, the call to prayer ringing throughout the neighborhood and families heading home to have dinner together. However, the two main things that come to my mind are the stories of hope and love.

There is Shaimaa*, a teacher at a makeshift school. Shaimaa’s story is of a mother whose daughter was so ill that the doctors announced that she would pass away. Her daughter would never get better. Shaimaa prayed that if God healed her daughter, she would give her life to him. God heard her prayers, and her daughter was healed. As a teacher, Shaimaa is now able to share with her students the hope her family has found in God. I also think of my student Hamze*. For a long time, it has just been his mother and him. It was obvious that Hamze was lonely. However, when he heard about the Son, his life began to change. Now he boldly proclaims in front of his friends that he is a believer and his heart now belongs to the Son. Hamze can now share about a Father who not only loves him but others as well.

There is also Fayez*, a former sergeant in the army, who is now the bus driver for the school. Every day he drives a van full of children. Even though he complains that the students are too loud, it is clear that the Father has opened his heart to these students and their families. On my last day in Lebanon, Fayez sat down with a Syrian refugee family and drank tea with them (historically, there has been tension between Lebanese and Syrians) as he listened to their story. This simple act is proof that God can change the heart of anyone.

There are countless stories like these. Even in hardship and difficulty, it is clear that God is working through his people. He is sending them to areas where few have heard about the good news. He is opening doors for believers to be a light to those who are looking for hope. Miracles are happening and hearts are being opened to the good news. Even in the darkest places, the name of the Son is being boldly proclaimed! *For security purposes, pseudonyms are used in place of names.

Connections gives thanks for Nicole’s international experience as a third-cultural kid (TCK) in Bolivia and her studies at Moody Bible Institute that primed her heart for God’s work overseas.

16

A SUMMER EXPERIENCE

By Kiersten Oslund (summer 2019) Two summers ago, I served as the intern for Kids Alive International in Lebanon. I only knew a little about the organization from short-term missions trips to the Dominican Republic with the high school youth group, but I had the itch to spend some time abroad and give overseas missions a test run. With my Spanish minor, I figured I would be well-suited to serve in Guatemala, but on the last day of my online interview, I changed my mind and told the director about my interest in Lebanon. I have always been passionate about working with refugees, and the Syrian civil war meant that there were over one million refugees residing in a country that is two-thirds the

size of Connecticut. I purchased my tickets, flew to Lebanon and lived on the Dar el Awlad campus in Beirut for the next few months.

Dar el Awlad, “The Children’s Home” in Arabic, is the longestrunning Kids Alive program. For more than 70 years, the campus housed a boys orphanage, raising them in family-style units and teaching them the Christian faith. In the last couple of years, Dar el Awlad welcomed its very first girl: a feisty and adorable four-year-old, who has been able to remain united with her twin brother. As the only girl and the youngest child, she gets to grow up under the loving care of 19 older “brothers.”

Today, the church in Lebanon is getting involved in God’s work more than ever. People in Lebanon are tired of empty words and corrupt leaders. Let’s show the people actions instead. Let’s model a new way of doing things.

While there, I served as a tutor and playmate for these residential children. The campus also holds a co-ed school,

admission reserved for the most vulnerable children in the neighborhood. The Oasis is a program of this school and hosts a classroom for Syrian children who have never attended school.

My role was to teach English and math. For someone who has never had ambitions to teach, it was quite the challenge to educate a classroom of children, ages 6 through 13, who only spoke a few words of English. But God was good, and he softened my moments of frustration and exhaustion with daily kindness, respect and enthusiasm from my students. The absolute highlight of every day was the bundle of hugs that greet me first thing in the morning before the first bell.

For three weeks of the summer, Kids Alive hosted several VBS camps. During one of the camp sessions, the children used craft time to make “salvation bracelets.” These bracelets used different colored beads to go through the gospel story. As the children worked on their bracelets, one of the maintenance workers on Kids Alive’s campus wandered through the room and took an interest in what the children were making. This maintenance man was a migrant worker from Bangladesh and did not speak the Arabic language. One young girl, noticing his curiosity, approached him to explain the significance of the colored beads. The young girl was from India, and due to

17

the proximity of Bangladesh and India, she was able to share the gospel in a common language with this older man who had never heard it in full before. The girl’s face beamed with excitement as she shared all about her Savior, Jesus Christ. The rest of the day, she was positively joyful that somebody as young as she could share such important news.

Jesus is very alive and present at Dar el Awlad. He has come in dreams to several students and teachers at the school, causing them to convert and dedicate their lives to the one true God. The residential boys in the orphanage learn about Jesus in class, prayer group and church. A few of the older boys act as mentors for the younger ones.

The events of 2020 have shaken both Lebanon and the campus of Dar el Awlad. The country has faced economic collapse, rampant political corruption, COVID-19, and most recently, the devastating explosion in Beirut. Throughout it all, Kids Alive continues to trust in God. The organization has led groups to provide aid to families affected by the explosion. The teachers have undergone additional training to be competent in speaking to students about stress and trauma. They have also hosted a three-day VBS camp for children affected by the explosion, with a theme focused on how to be lights in the darkness.

There is still a lot of prayer needed over the situation in Lebanon, but God is clearly at work and in control.

Connections gives thanks for Kiersten’s life passion to serve refugee families as they resettle here in the U.S.

LOVE FOR ENEMIES

By Julie Clemens “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:2731, NIV)

“We spend a lot of time in discernment as we steer the ministry where we believe God wants to take it.

But not in response to the explosion. We didn’t need to stop and ask God what to do. We immediately knew what he wanted. Opening up our facilities to house newly homeless people was the most natural thing to do. This is a testimony of God’s work in our hearts for years and years.”

President Elie Haddad, Arab Baptist Theological Seminary Jesus tells us in this passage from Luke to love our enemies and do good to those who hate us. Most of us probably think of our enemy as someone who isn’t nice to us or doesn’t share our views. But on a trip to Lebanon in March, I saw Jesus’ teaching firsthand in a far deeper way than most of us can probably imagine.

As a country, Lebanon has a unique position; it lies in the Middle East, and yet has a significant Christian presence. I was privileged to visit the Lebanese Society for Educational and

18

Social Development (LSESD), and everyone had a story of why they should hate the Syrian people—because of family members injured or dead at the hands of Syrians in war.

One woman told us of how she and her family were fleeing from the Syrians. It was like a story from the movies with trauma you wouldn’t wish on anyone. She told of a time when she was pregnant and held at gunpoint alongside her husband and oldest child. Her only prayer was to not die in front of her child. She feared it would be too difficult for her son to see. God answered that prayer in even greater ways and spared her life and those of her family. She is now employed by LSESD and tells with joy how the organization comes to the aid of the Syrian people.

LSESD is based in Beirut and demonstrates the love of Christ throughout Lebanon.

I pray that the families experience the love of Christ here, whether it’s through a meal we prepare or a faucet we fix. May Christ’s love be manifest, and may they receive the inner healing that we cannot offer, but only He can.

Elie Daher, IT Manager, Lebanese Society for Educational & Social Development Even as it struggles with the aftermath of the explosion this summer, Lebanon continues to struggle with the overflow of Syrian refugees. There are six different branches or ministries in LSESD. MERATH (Middle East Revive and Thrive) partners with churches to help meet the needs of these refugees. They provide food, family support and even train women to help support their families.

One church we visited was near the Syrian border. They told a story about how refugees knocked at the door to ask for help, and soon, lines began to form of people asking the church for assistance. LSESD helps support churches as they help these vulnerable families. Refugee camps are hard places to live.

Children are especially vulnerable; some have disabilities and they are often suffering from the stress of terrible things they’ve seen.

Here’s the beauty of LSESD! SKILD (Smart Kids with Individual Learning Differences) is another ministry under the umbrella of LSESD with occupational and physical therapists as well as psychologists who work with children outside Beirut.

They also partner with MERATH to help meet the needs of these individuals.

I saw the genuine love of Christ on display as we met many people in Lebanon. These brothers and sisters of ours are working with the true hands and feet of Jesus daily and are wonderful examples to us all.

Connections gives thanks for Julie's commitment to vulnerable indiviudals and families.

19

THE CHURCH IN MOTION

By Marilyn Papierski When I heard about the explosion in the port of Beirut on August 4, my mind immediately flashed back to the coastline we saw during my visit in March of this year. I’m pretty sure we saw those grain silos as we drove back to the guesthouse from the ancient city of Byblos on the northwestern shores of Mediterranean Sea. Julie Clemens and I were in Beirut at the invitation of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary (ABTS), a College Church-supported partner, and SKILD, a vibrant ministry to individual with disabilities—both ministries under the direction of the Lebanese Society for Educational and Social Development (LSESD).

In the course of the week we were there, we saw the beauty of the country through its landscapes, its food and its people and their warm hospitality. We heard stories of how God brought forgiveness to the hearts of the Lebanese Christians toward the Syrian people in the years following the 29-year occupation of Lebanon and how they now unashamedly serve the Syrian refugees in Jesus’ name. We heard of financial hardships caused by the decreasing value of the Lebanese lira and the tightening grip of a corrupt government. People were becoming desperate.

So, when Beirut hit the news again, Really? was my first response. How much more can these people take? My heart broke.

The blast resulted in more than 200 deaths, 6,500 injuries, at least $15 billion in property damages and an estimated 300,000 left homeless, and all this on the tail of COVID, the country’s worst-ever economic crisis, joblessness and government corruption.

Departing from Beirut in March, I would have told you that God is moving in Lebanon and that I now knew some of the most innovative, capable, compassionate, passion-driven and Spirit-motivated individuals I’ve ever met. But that was only a foretaste of these past three months. What I’ve observed from afar since the disaster is a remarkable resiliency among believers.

They have hope, and they seek to share that hope with others.

20

No time was lost in mobilizing and redeploying resources to serve the people of Beirut. Dorm and guesthouse rooms at ABTS were set up to accommodate the homeless. Food was collected and distributed to the displaced and hungry. Basic medical assistance was given, and counselors engaged in trauma counseling. SKILD counselors quickly organized playground events to offer activities, evaluations and crisis intervention for children traumatized by the scenes they’d witnessed. Despite their own personal hardships, the church stepped up.

In times like these, believers are called to encourage and support and pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ. College Church was privileged to take part in this relief effort through a $5,000 gift to an LSESD fund, Help Beirut, as well as $1,000 to support tuition scholarships at Beirut Bible School (BBS)—another ministry under the wing of LSESD—to students needing financial aid. (BBS supports a student body that is 92% Muslim and is situated in a predominantly Muslim neighborhood.)

Please continue to pray for this nation’s recovery and for the tireless work of Christians setting about Jesus’ work in Lebanon.

If you wish to know more about the work of LSESD and its six integrated ministries, head to the webpage, www.lsesd.org.

Specific information about relief efforts may be found at mebo. org/helpbeirut/. *MEBO (Middle East Bible Outreach) is the U.S. affiliate for LSESD. LSESD ministries include Arab Baptist Theological Seminary, Baptist Children and Youth Ministry, Beirut Baptist School, SKILD, MERATH, Dar Manhal Al Hayat (DMAH publishing/distribution of Christian books and materials.)

Connections gives thanks for Marilyn’s years of missionary service in Ecuador and her work with short- and mid-term missions here at College Church.

LOCALLY SOURCED

Share the Joy of Christmas!

Opportunities to Volunteer in Our Community!

Discover practical ways you can help at Outreach Community Center’s Christmas Store.

• Toys featured at Costco, Sam’s Club and Aldi are always good options.

First, what is the Christmas store and who shops there?

• Visit Amazon.com or Target.com and search for “Outreach Community Center” for gifts and more ideas.

• The Christmas Store is a special one-day event where qualified families can affordably shop for Christmas gifts for their children.

• Some popular stores for gift cards are Walmart, Target, Starbucks, Kohls and Amazon.

You may drop off your donations at

• Clients of Outreach Community Center, as well as residents who live near the center in Carol Stream, may shop the store, with priority given to the clients.

• the College Church curbside gift drive on Sunday, November 22, during all three services.

• drive by gift drops at OCC on December 4 and College Church on December 5. You’ll get in the spirit of the season as you enjoy Christmas lights and music. You may also decorate your vehicle for the gift parade at OCC.

• One hundred percent of the proceeds from the store support Outreach Community Center’s case management services, helping local families in crisis throughout the year.

• the Toy Drive box inside the Sanctuary on Sundays or outside the Church Office in the Commons during the week.

• Much of the success of the store depends on gift drives to help fill its shopping tables.

• This year the Christmas Store is December 12 and will have COVID safety measures and modifications in place.

• Outreach Community Center appreciates and needs the help from churches like ours to host gift drives and spread the word.

• Gifts should range from $15-$40 in value.

• Books, stuffed animals and board games are not typically chosen by shoppers.

• If you have gift cards, we suggest giving them to the church receptionist in the office.

Local partner Outreach Community Center has many ways to volunteer throughout the year. Explore its website for volunteer opportunities, or contact Mindy Inman, director of volunteer services, at minman@outreachcommin.org Any questions about the College Church donation drop off, please email Liz Reid at lizannereid@gmail.com

Connections gives thanks for Liz Reid Member of the Culture Impact Committee, mom and volunteer.

21

BOOK CORNER

Count It All Joy

By Helen Roseveare What does it mean to esteem someone with honor? Helen Roseveare had this thought when reading the Bible and it caused her to dig further and to find out what it means to esteem the Lord with honor. The book calls us to a life of full-hearted discipleship where Christ is at the center. Birthed in us should be a desire to please Christ and to study him that we might indeed portray him. Above all we really esteem him with honor when we fully proclaim the gospel of Christ.

Count it all Joy exudes love for Christ, delight as well as struggle in serving him, and the wisdom of a tested and seasoned disciple. As always, Helen Roseveare's total commitment to Christ coupled with her biblical realism shine through to both challenge and encourage us.

Sinclair B. Ferguson, Associate Preacher, St. Peter's Free Church, Dundee, Scotland You can order the book at 10ofthose.com/us/products/1512/count-it-all-joy

BOOK CORNER

For Families and Children

A Better Than Anything Christmas

Prepare Him Room Family Devotional

by Barbara Reaoch

Celebrating the Birth of Jesus

10ofthose.com/us/products/8101/ a-better-than-anything-christmas

The Star Maker

by Helen Buckley 10ofthose.com/us/products/ 1115/the-star-maker

22

by Marty Machowski 10ofthose.com/us/products/3970/ prepare-him-room-family-devotional

WonderFull Ancient Psalms Ever New

by Marty Machowski and Andy McGuire 10ofthose.com/us/products/8095/ wonderfull

MILESTONES Marriages & Births

Condolences

• Arabella Lee Horton was born to David and Danna Horton on October 16.

• Ezra Matthew Williams was born to Tad and Amber Williams on October 12. Ezra joins his big siblings Owen, Sasha, Cora, Neal and Keith.

• Isaiah William Visconti was born to Tony and Kristin Visconti on October 7. Isaiah joins his big brother, Pearson. Gary and Carol Knosp are Isaiah’s maternal grandparents.

• Tobin Joshua Rane Maurer was born to Pastoral Resident Josh and Caitlin Maurer on September 30. Tobin joins his big sisters Natalie, Celia and Annabelle.

• On October 26, longtime College Church member Ruth Muzzy entered into the presence of Jesus. She died peacefully, after 97 years of a life lived for Jesus. She has been a member of College Church for just over 70 years, since May 1950. Her last words were: “If anything happens, I have the Lord in my heart, and I know where I’m going.” What a powerful example for us all. “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Psalm 116:15) Services are pending.

• Pray for Claudia Gerwin and family as they grieve the loss of Claudia’s husband Lee, who passed away on October 25. Services are pending.

• Pray for friends and family of one of our homebound congregants, Priscilla (Pat) Duhey, who passed away on October 13 in Wheaton.

• Pray for friends and family of Alex ( Janet) Coats as they grieve the passing of Alex’s mother, Hannah Coats, who passed away on October 12 in Schaumburg.

LOOKING AHEAD Coming: Christmas Book Shopping Event!

Watch your Church Family emails, our website and social media for details.

Pastor Moody's Christmas Sermon Series Discover Jesus This Christmas

November 1 & December 6

December 20: Luke 1:26-28 | What Mary Discovered December 24: Luke 2:8-21 | What the Shepherds Discovered

332 E. Seminary, Wheaton, IL 60187 • Phone: (630) 668-0878 • www.college-church.org Connections is a monthly newsletter published for and about the people of College Church.

Send news items and suggestions to: connections@college-church.org.

Take advantage of events—some one-time, some ongoing—that are taking place around town this month. Also, keep Connections in mind to promote a community event to the College Church family. Send event information by the following dates to connections@college-church.org.

For the December issue: November 7 | For the January issue: December 7 | For the February issue: January 9 Our Pastors, Directors and Residents: Eric Channing, pastor of congregational care and family ministries | Cheryce Berg, director of children’s ministries | Julie Clemens, director of disability ministries | Erik Dewar, pastor of worship and music | Zach Fallon, senior high pastor | Dan Hiben, middle school pastor | Tim Hollinger, technology director | Diane Jordan, director of visitation and care | Howard Kern, facilities director | Josh Maurer, pastorial resident | Curt Miller, missions pastor | Josh Moody, senior pastor | Ben Panner, college pastor | Mindy Rynbrandt, director of women’s ministries | John Seward, executive pastor | Nancy Singer, director of administration and finance | Mike Solis, pastoral resident | Josh Stringer, pastor of discipleship | Wil Triggs, director of communications | Michael Walker, pastoral resident Our Council of Elders: David Bea | Howard Costley | Dave Gieser, vice chair | Randy Jahns| Heinrich Johnsen | Dan Lindquist | Josh Moody, senior pastor | Phil Nussbaum | Tom Nussbaum | Jeremy Taylor | Mark Taylor, chair | Tad Williams | Rob Wolgemuth, secretary

23