THIS AND THAT

A great big thank you for your generous outpouring of love for Shalom Orphanage!

We needed $12,000.00 to pay the rent for the next year. You gave $14,00.00+.

That was amazing! Just know that the extra money will go to meet whatever needs may arise, and with almost 50 kids in the home, there will always be a need for money.

So, from someone who has been to the Orphanage several times and fell in love with the kids, I say “Thank You” from the bottom of my heart

Your sister in Christ, Janet Epley

THANK YOU

Hillsboro Church of Christ, thank you so much for the Bible. I really appreciate it and I will be sure to use it as I further my relationship with God. Your support to me and my family means a lot. We love our church family!

Blessings & Love, Hannah Burton

THANK YOU

Hillsboro Church of Christ, thank you for the blanket. A special thanks to Brad for his comforting words at the service. We appreciate all the prayers from everyone too.

Martin & Angela Boris

THANK YOU

A big thank you for the flowers and all the cards sent for John’s 80th birthday. What joy to open each one and remember dear friends.

Again Thank You, John and Cheryl Porter

AREA 937

The Area 937 food Pantry will be collecting corn bread and muffin mix for the month of July.

If someone asked you to explain faith using a metaphor, how would you explain it? You might say something like, “Faith is like the wind; you can’t see it, only the effect that it has.” You may say something like, “Belief is saying it is going to rain, but faith is buying an umbrella.” Or, if you are an electrician, you might use this metaphor, “Faith is like an electrical wire; it is what connects us to God and allows his power to flow through us.” Preachers tend to be good at coming up with metaphors about various things. When I was in college, we used to play a game where someone would give us an object or concept, and in just a few seconds, we had to devise a way to use that object to illustrate a biblical idea. (Fun fact, this is a great way to say some truly heretical things.) Metaphors, illustrations, and parables have been used to explain the deeper things of God from the beginning of humankind.

In the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul uses the metaphor of armor and weapons to explain the life of a Christian and our place in the larger story God is telling. He talks about being ready to “stand firm” against the enemy. He also outlines for us who the true enemy is, “we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (6:12) Next, Paul goes on to describe the pieces of armor that we carry into battle. One of the pieces he mentions is “the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one” (v.16).

By Adam Steele

How is faith like a shield? The shield that Paul more than likely has in mind would be the Roman style which was a rectangular shield called a scutum. It was about 3 ½ feet tall and slightly curved. These shields were designed to be used in conjunction with the soldier on either side of you. When a group of Roman soldiers stood beside each other, holding their shields, they created a kind of wall with many strategic advantages. The purpose of a shield is protection; it doesn’t do damage to the enemy, but it protects you from the enemies’ attempts to harm you.

The question then becomes, “What does our faith protect us from?” Being a minister means that I have had the privilege of being a part of many funerals. There is a distinct difference between a funeral for a person of faith and a funeral for a nonbeliever. While those in attendance at a Christian’s funeral are sad about the loss of their loved one, there is no despair. They believe this parting is only temporary, and they will see their loved one again someday. This is the idea that Paul keys in on in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-15, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.” Christians don’t grieve in the same way because their faith gives them hope.

When Satan throws his darts of despair, the shield of faith provides protection.

Our current culture has so much confusion about a wide range of issues. Foundational ideas such as the definition of “Man” and “Woman” are being questioned to the point of absurdity. Our world seems intent on taking the simple concepts God has built into our universe and making them intentionally vague and confusing. Amid the rain of Satan’s darts of confusion, the church must stand firm, the shield of faith in hand. We will be ridiculed as being “narrowminded” or “archaic,” but in a world of confusion, we have clear direction from God.

I think the biggest thing that our faith gives us is courage. When you genuinely believe that God himself has spoken, that his design and desires for his people can be understood and put into practice, we should be filled with hope and courage. God has given us all we need. “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3). Let’s hold up our shields and stand our ground, firm in the faith. May you be protected by your faith, and may God grant you the courage to continue to stand against all that Satan will throw your way. To God be the glory.

Adam

Adam Steele is originally from western Pennsylvania. When he was eleven his parents moved to West Virginia where he lived through his time in high school. Adam attended Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, MO.

While in college he met his lovely wife April. Adam and April have two children Silas and Sadie. Adam has a passion for ministry and for God’s word and has served as Youth and Families Minister at HCC since 2016.

In March of 1969, a serene 175-acre farm in Wooster became known as the Christian Children’s Home of Ohio (CCHO) when members of the independent Christian Churches/Churches of Christ movement learned of a local boy with no safe place to call home. They were initially licensed as a foster/group home serving three to five children at one time. CCHO now has five cottages on its campus that are home to as many as 36 at-risk kids at once, children who need to know that they are loved, valued, and finally safe.

For our Residential kids, telling strangers your deepest, darkest secrets is, unfortunately, a common occurrence. They often identify with what has happened to them, not able to comprehend their worth inherently given to them as a child of God.

That’s where CCHO comes in. We offer our kids a new perspective that focuses on who and whose they are, the gifts and talents God gives them, and building resilience as they work through the challenges in their lives.

Since the early 1980s, our congregation has given monthly support to assist CCHO in changing lives. One such life is a fifteen-year-old boy named Chris.

Chris lived in a home filled with abuse and violence. Anger and depression were common feelings to him. Frequently witnessing violence between his parents, he never experienced love or connection.

Chris began to resent his parents and joined a gang to gain a sense of self-worth. He would steal cars and start fights for attention, only to find himself in jail.

Chris had a tough time getting along with his peers and adults. He would hold in his feelings and become verbally and physically aggressive when he reached his breaking point.

Recently Chris participated in an outing of his choice to celebrate his growth. He and a favorite staff member visited Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. Chris was able to challenge himself to ride the tall water slides and overcome his fear of heights more proof that he’s capable of so much.

Chris once battled every relationship. Now he is becoming the compassionate young leader God created him to be.

If you would like to receive notices about prayer requests, you can do so by texting

@hccprayer to the number 81010.

This will add you to the list.

Any prayer requests we send out will come as a text from HCC Prayer Requests.