Sunshine & Smiles Club

Since I have been home, I had the great blessing to be able to help start a new ministry through our Saturday Visitation Program at church.

This new ministry is called the 

SMILES & SUNSHINE MINISTRY

It consists of children ages 4- 12 yrs old.

While the adults & teens go out on door-to-door, follow-up, or bus visitation, 

we go out into the community or to one of our shut-in's homes.

Maybe I am really a kid at heart, 

but I greatly enjoy being a part of this ministry too.

Every week, we make encouraging cards for someone.

We practice our songs by the piano....

...or while Mr. Jim drives our bus to the next visit.

We talk....

...and we sing...

...until we get to the place we will visit.

We arrive at a shut-in's home with enthusiasm.

The children are excited to see someone that they have been praying for.

The group may sit around to fellowship for a while.

We share a little sunshine through song.

Many times we like to play a game.

This is a Bible character charades game.

We got alot of laughs from this one!

Sometimes we get to see the people's pets.

(The children love to see 'Cocky" a cockateil)

The purpose of the S&S Ministry is not only to bring sunshine & smiles to the people we visit by being an encouragement, but the other purpose is for the children to learn how to share thier testimonies & how to relate to others.

We were so glad to have the opportunity to visit Mrs. Berry, 

before she went home to be with the Lord.  

We went to be a blessing and we all left blessed.

The other side of our ministry is to go out into the community 

to share the Gospel.

We have been to the local park, nursing homes and the local police barricks.

On the way home, we talk about lessons we can earn from the day's ministry,  have a challenge from the Bible and share testimony of how we saw the Lord work in the ministry we took part in that day.

I will miss these children, but am thankful for the lives we were able to encourage, the Gospel we were able to share, 

and the memories we have made together.  

I am looking forward to hearing reports from their new leader 

on how the ministry will continue on while I am in Zambia.

Mt.Zion Baptist Church Missions Conference 2011

My home church has the best Annual Missions Conference! I was excited to be able to attend this year. Our theme for 2011 was "Send the Light!" It was exciting to see how the Lord used each message that was preached to bring forth the truth of our need to send the Light.
John 1:9 "That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world."
John 3:19 "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil."
John 3:20 "For every one that doeth evil hateth the Light, neither cometh to the Light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
John 8:12 "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the Light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the Light of life."
John 9:5 "As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the world."

The children's and adult chior sang of our need to pray, give to, and go to the mission field. God certainly used His Word through through the preaching and songs to work in each of our lives and to stir our hearts for souls.
John 12:35 "Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the Light with you. Walk while ye have the Light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
John 12:36 "While ye have light, believe in the Light, that ye may be the children of Light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide Himself from them."
John 12:46 "I am come a Light into the world, that whosoever believeth on Me should not abide in darkness."

Godly Foundations

Praise the Lord for Godly foundations. Pastor & Mrs. Starr have been such an encouragement in my life. I am thankful that they helped me build my life on a strong spiritual foundation.
Pastor's life verse is - 2 Tim. 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." He has taught many men to stand in the gap, but together the Starrs have taught many woman to stand for the truth.
Today, I am thankful that I know where I stand on matters because they have taught me to study God's Word. I can't wait to get to South Africa to teach others also.