The June Good News Letter
Check out our website at www.westindependencechurch.org
FROM THE PASTOR’S DESK
"The news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."
Matthew 5:16
In the above verse we see that Jesus embraced the public aspect of his ministry. Being God, He wanted people to know about Himself and the saving message of the gospel. This aspect of his ministry was also perfectly balanced with taking time away to be with the Father. All throughout the gospels there is a clear emphasis in His life of doing the work that that no one would notice but was being faithful to the Father's leading. Leaving the crowds to be with the Father in prayer. Meeting with the least and the lost in private settings, or ministering to them in public settings which brought about scorn and ridicule. Fame and fortune meant nothing, following the will of the Father meant everything.
In fact, He was just practicing what He would teach in Matthew 6:1, “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." If approval from people is the goal, then there can be no reward from the Father. Human pride resists this dichotomy, insisting that both can coexist. But they cannot.
Living for the approval of people over God keeps us from the infinitely greater reward from the Father. It is fleeting, but the reward of the Father is everlasting, given not in public but in private.
Instead of living for the spotlight and fame, we are freed to live in the truth that God Himself has come near offering truth, grace, forgiveness, adoption into His family, and healing. We see in the Bible how He considered those who had been labeled as unworthy in society as being worthy of approach. Samaritans, lepers, tax collectors, outcasts: it didn’t matter who they were or what they had done. Jesus saw them as worthy of seeking out, spending time with, offering His message of faith and repentance. He went to them and showed the way of discipleship, even if many others around Him did not approve.
How we follow God's will for our lives when no one is watching, when no one knows, is what matters most in the Kingdom. Doing this ensures that we don’t get the glory, and He does.
The Great Commission, our church mission statement, says to GO and make disciples. How are we going to those considered the least in our lives and extending discipleship, as Jesus did? How are we living into discipleship when we are away from the crowd?
In Ministry With You, Pastor Ben
Children’s Ministry
Sunday School (Kindergarten-5th Grade) in the Kids Life Center
SERIES DESCRIPTION:
MEMORY VERSE: “Always be joyful because you belong to the Lord. I will say it again. Be joyful!” Philippians 4:4, NlrV
WEEK ONE: Tidings of Comfort and Joy (Shepherds and Angels) Luke 2:8-20 (Jane Kirian & Kathy Babb)
WEEK TWO: I Heard It Through the Grapevine (Wedding at Cana) John 2:1-11 (Rhonda Palmer & Maegan Stauffer)
WEEK THREE: Come Rain or Come Shine (Be Joyful with Others) Romans 12:15 (Janet Damschroder & Courtney Dysert)
WEEK FOUR: At the End of the Day (Heaven) Revelation 21, 22:1-5 (Michele Clark & Linda Bishop)
Monthly Family Bags are available with devotions, activities and a themed gift. They are on the table by the Sanctuary for Preschool and Elementary students.
Nursery/Preschool Class (Birth-Preschool)
WEEK ONE: I’ll Obey! Genesis 6:14-22 (Elaine Nye & Jenny Kirian)
WEEK TWO: Thanks, God! Genesis 8:13-22 (Mary Ann Morris & Elaine Nye)
WEEK THREE: I Can Give. 2 Chronicles 24:1-14 (Heather Cramer & Monica Metzger)
Thank you, Michael, for your service and dedication to our kids and youth ministries at WIC.
We wish you, Avery and little Michael God’s blessings in your new adventure! 11:30 A.M.
Greetings, WIC Families:
MISSION TRIP TIME!
Our Youth Mission Trip to Whitesville, WV is almost here! The students will be away July 13-19 serving the people in the Appalachia community, so please keep them in your prayers!
We are having a special service on July 21 to have the students share their experiences on the trip and see what all God has been up to with our youth! Afterwards will be a special carry-in luncheon in the FLC so make sure to bring something awesome to share!
This is my last newsletter article, and the service on July 21 will be my last. Thank you to everyone at West Independence Church for giving me a home to do ministry at and to love on your youth and children all these years. God did some awesome things with our youth that I was blessed enough to be a part of, and I will miss this. Please be praying for my family and I during this transition, and for the person who will be stepping up to fill my role once I am gone!
Have a need you would like some help on? Please contact me and I’ll see if we can get some students together to come and serve!
For any questions or more info involving the youth ministry at WIC, please feel free to contact me at the office at the church: 419-894-6454; my personal number: 330-205-5123; or my email: authenreithministry@gmail.com
~ Blessings and peace for you and your family, Michael Authenreith, Director of NextGen Ministry
from Kentucky … to the WORLD!!
You may not think of rural eastern Kentucky as a great place to provide resources to help fulfill Christ's last command to His followers: "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel..." (Mark 16:15). But from the very hills of eastern Kentucky, away from the distractions of big city life, countless graduates of Kentucky Mountain Bible College (KMBC) have obeyed that command - and continue to do so. Some of KMBC's alumni serve in the local U.S. world in a variety of callings. They may be pastors or youth leaders or... One 1962 graduate taught public school in Amish communities for decades. A 1972 graduate ministered in Egypt with WGM (World Gospel Mission) before answering God's call to teach English, elementary education and missions right there at KMBC. For the past 30 years she has been profoundly impacting KMBC students with a vision for a lost world.
Many other KMBC graduates, however, literally do go into all the world to carry the Good News of the Gospel and make disciples. They go to places like Papua New Guinea, to Africa, to Europe, Asia, South America, Central America and the Caribbean. A 1962 KMBC graduate and member of our church gave forty years of service in Haiti. Another young man took his wife and two small children to Haiti where he served as a Radio 4VEH engineer until he retired. A recent KMBC graduate is currently preparing to answer God's call for service in Asia with OMS (One Mission Society).
Kentucky Mountain Bible College and affiliated Mt. Carmel School there in eastern Kentucky are part of our church's response to Christ's command to "Go into all the world..." as we support these ministries through our missions giving each month. Scripture tells us that those who support from "behind the scenes" share in the rewards as those who literally go. Let us be faithful in our support while at the same time being careful to heed Jesus' call to "Go into all the world...", including our own neighborhood.
~ Submitted by Marilyn Shaferly
WOMEN OF WORTH
For the June 6, 2024, meeting of Women of Worth, we met at Honey Joe’s in Arcadia. There were 19 members and one guest present.
Chris Shaferly gave a report on Papavi and Hannah Ayena. Marilyn Shaferly gave a brief report on Dwight and Letty Grismore.
Our guest speaker was Mike Todd from Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF). He is involved with the West Central Ohio Chapter which now includes eight counties and 105 programs. He’s been involved in CEF for 25 years. He gave a report on his family of six children. They are in the process of adopting another child –this one being from South Africa. They live by Proverbs 3:5-6 –“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Other than his work with CEF, he is a pig farmer near McComb –with 6,000 pigs, contracting with Kalmbach Feeds.
This year started with many difficulties. The ministry was out of money. Bethany, their daughter, pointed out that God has this. Sure enough, God showed up and provided.
During this recent school year, 1,770 children attended CEF with 67 of them receiving Christ into their hearts. That’s a praise! Mike’s plan with CEF is:
1. Go where children are.
2. Disciple them in the Bible.
3. Connect them with a local church.
For the summer, CEF does Backyard Bible Clubs. These are five-day events for children. There are 45 of these scheduled for this summer.
The West Central Ohio Chapter of CEF is based at the Benton Ridge Church. There are three field workers and 100 to 200 volunteers involved.
Our July meeting will be on Thursday, July 11, at 11:30 a.m. at the Wildcat Café in Vanlue.
~ Mary Ann Morris, Secretary
INTEGRITY MEN FOR MISSIONS
Honey Joe’s Café, in Arcadia, was the setting for the monthly breakfast for the Integrity Men For Missions Chapter on June 1. The business was formerly Kathy Korner Restaurant, recently changing hands. The group was formerly Integrity Men With Vision, now changing names after affiliating with Men For Missions and One Mission Society (OMS).
After Mike Leonard offered prayer for the meal, the seven men in attendance enjoyed another delicious breakfast. Bob Hill led in devotions drawn from Hebrews 4:1-3, which directed all to be sure to rest during our work for the Lord.
John Fetters then offered a Mission, highlighting Kansas City Chiefs kicker, Harrison Butker, and his bold speech at a Graduation Service, in which he boldly offered up his thoughts on several controversial topics, and standing by those comments though questioned by society.
John also highlighted Promise Keepers, who are still serving today, but on a much smaller scale. He noted thoughts on the bus trips that our church led to conferences in Detroit, with roughly 73,000 men on hand, as well as the trip to Stand In the Gap, on the Mall in Washington DC, held October 4, 1997. Many men’s lives were changed with the PK movement.
In other chapter business:
Prayer concerns of several local friends were discussed.
Help is being sought to help move Ray and Mary Pollard into their new residence, likely around the third week of June.
Several ramp projects were discussed, as well as moving some materials after this meeting.
Discussions were held on a memorial tribute to Joe Diebley, and tabled until next month.
The next meeting will be at Honey Joe’s at 7:30 am on July 13 due to the July 4 weekend.
~ John Fetters, Secretary
Kentucky Mountain Bible College “Anthem Trio”
coming to West Independence Church
Sunday, August 4, 2024 9:00 a.m.
Come prepared to be blessed!
Love Offering to be received.
Mark Your Calendars
The Sunday morning worship services will continue to be live streaming on YouTube/Facebook, as well as in person service. Please attend as you are comfortable and feel you can safely do so. Be sure to watch the bulletin, newsletter articles, and Facebook for event announcements.
Worship Attendance (and YouTube Views)
6/2: 86 (32); 6/9: 141 (39); 6/16: 118 (28); 6/23: 103 (40); 6/30: 98 (32)
Sunday School Attendance:
6/2: 63; 6/9: 80; 6/16: 63; 6/23: 73; 6/30: 68
Wesley John Kirian was born Tuesday, June 27 and weighed 6 lbs 7 oz. He is the son of Adam and Angelica Kirian and grandson to John and Elaine Nye. Wesley was welcomed by sister Kollyns.
Briggs Andrew Gilliland was born Saturday, June 22, and weighed 6 lbs 13 oz. He is the son of Jacob and Kailey Gilliland, and grandson of Steve and Carie Gilliland. Briggs was welcomed by sister Delylah and brother Crew.
Mason Jay Wesney
was born Friday, June 14, and weighed 8 lbs 1 oz. He is the son of Leticia Castillo, and is the great-grandson of Marlene Marvin.
WIC Prayer Group
The Prayer Group will meet on Monday, July 8, and July 22, in Room #8.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - 18
We are thankful for this group of prayer warriors who undergird our ministry, and we invite you to come and join us. Whether you are a member of the Prayer Group officially or not, please be praying for our nation during this difficult time.
The Faith Of Our Fathers
The Declaration of Independence concludes with this sentence:
“And for the support of this Declaration; with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.”
It is well to remember that the founders of the Republic were men of strong religious convictions; that they had faith in God, and that they put “a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence.”
~ Author Unknown
Highlights of Trustees Meeting
In attendance at the June 3, 2024 meeting were Lowell Metzger, chair; Janice Bennington, Brandon Metzger, Judy Cole and Pastor Ben.
Old business discussed included seals for the office door, upper boards outside the middle entrance on the east side, lights in the sanctuary and FLC, adjustment of east gutters and downspouts, insurance, flooring in the parsonage, roofing of the parsonage, and Rumpke service containers and ruts in the grass area.
New business discussed included the wood paneling in the office and the carpeting between the FLC hallway and the sanctuary lobby.
~ from the Committee Minutes
NOISY OFFERING
The Noisy Offering will be on July 21 and it will benefit the CITY MISSION
Children’s Classes:
Birth - Preschool: Nursery
SUNDAY SCHOOL UPDATE
Summer 2024
Bible stories and songs
Kindergarten - KLC Drawing Closer to God Through 5th Grade: Bible stories and sharing Current: Choosing To Celebrate What God Is Doing
This month's verse is: “A cheerful heart makes you healthy. But a broken spirit dries you up.” Proverbs 17:22, NlrV
Youth Classes:
Jr. High: 6th – 8th FLC-Loft “Going Through The Bible” Series from the Bible Project Sr. High: 9th – 12th FLC-Loft To give a better general understanding of the Bible
Adult Classes:
Revolve: FLC Room # 9 Class topics revolve around daily life and challenges. Current: “Take Back Your Life” by Levi Lusko
Faith Builders: FLC Room #10 Topical Current: “1 Corinthians - The Authentic Christian Life” by Dr. David Jeremiah
Video Class: FLC Room #12 Watch relevant videos regarding Christian topics Upcoming: “The Chosen” Season 4
Faithful Followers: Sanctuary The Union Gospel Press Quarterly Bible Study WestIndependenceChurch servingourcommunity asa GlobalMethodistCongregation
The Good News Letter is the monthly newsletter of the WestIndependenceChurch.
SeniorPastor: BenWallick
Email: office@westindependencechurch.org
Our Mission
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.”
~ Matthew 28:18-20 NIV
Our Vision
become a vibrant, prayer-filled church where people find, know and worship God.
