We greatly value your prayers and interest in our work here. Thanks so much for your part in Kingdom work in this needy land.

He could just as easily have been at our office to… well, one doesn’t really wish to rehearse what he might have been there for!

“Jed” had visited the office of The Bible Institute before to meet with our follow-up man, “Ahmed”, but it was the first time I met him. Jed has been trained in a neighboring country to the north in fighting “holy war.” Hatred and violence inspired by religion have been his life. Last summer one of his three children died and this had a profound effect on his life. He became despondent and figured, why put up with this life? Why not go straight to Paradise? With this thinking he actually signed up to be on a suicide attack team. But then something drastically changed his life. No, not something, rather some One, for Jed had a dream. In this dream he was standing at a crossroads which he recognized from his childhood. In the middle of the intersection stood Jesus. He was beautifully illuminated. Jed immediately began asking questions of this Person. “Did you really die on the cross?” etc. Jesus did not answer, but instead gave Jed a big hug. Then, He said to Jed, “Do not kill. Do not lie. Take care of what’s entrusted to you. Don’t be cruel.” In the dream, Jed threw up something white and then he woke up.

Greatly disturbed by this dream, Jed told it to the religious leaders he knew and their uniform response was: “Repent! Say your prayers five times a day and God will forgive you!” Naturally, he found this advice unsatisfactory. He left being among these people and took up a job in a shop in the capital city. There he shared his dream with a fellow worker. “Don’t you dare tell that to anyone!” his friend said, “You’ll get in big trouble.” This only heightened his curiosity.

Then, somehow, Jed received a business reply card from the Bible Institute. He wrote detailing his dream and asking for guidance. “Ahmed” wrote back saying, “You take this course and you will come to understand your dream.” Jed began studying God’s Word and now he indeed understands.

He realizes that Jesus’ advice applied directly to his planned action: he intended to kill… he would have lied to his wife and children when he went to participate in a suicide mission… committing suicide would have been a failure to take care of the family entrusted to him… and it would be cruel to leave his children orphaned.

It struck me that the answer to his questions wasn’t arguments or even truth statements from the Author of Truth. Rather, Jesus gave him a hug, because the answer is not answers, the answer is a person… THE PERSON! May He be praised forever. We prayed together and Jed returned to his family where he continues to try to live out what he is learning from the Written Word about the Living Word.

Again, thanks for your prayers. God is at work. May He rescue many more “Jeds” from the path of destruction.

Sincerely,
(Name withheld)

The Ten Commandments in Cajun…
God is number one… and das’ All.
Don’t pray to nuttin’ or nobody… jus’ God.
Don’t cuss nobody… ‘specially da Good Lord.
When it be Sunday… pass yo’self by God’s House.
Yo mama an’ yo daddy dun did it all… lissen to dem.
Killin’ duck an’ fish, das’ OK… people - No!
God done give you a wife… sleep wit’ jus’ her.
Don’t take nobody’s boat… or nuttin’ else.
Don’t go wantin’ somebody’s stuff.
Stop lyin’… yo tongue gonna fall out yo mouf!

Dan Marshall

Do you remember your first visit to a new church? Did you feel very obvious? Did you feel lonely? Although there are greeters at the front doors of the church before each service, there are several entrances to the building, and not everyone comes past the front doors. We need to look for newcomers and make them feel at home here at Philpott.

Thank you Pastor Wayne for setting up the Newcomers’ Café. This has proven to be a great meeting place for new people, connecting with other newcomers, staff and small group leaders. Along with the Welcome Centre, the Café is also a resource centre for information about the church and our activities. Karen Almas is the point person coordinating this ministry on behalf of the Hospitality Committee.

What can you do to connect with newcomers?

Firstly, if you do not know someone, talk to them, introduce yourself, ask and remember their name. It really doesn’t matter if they are not so new to the church - you didn’t know them, and now you do.

Secondly, be friendly to everyone! Smile, enjoy being in the Community of Grace, be enthusiastic about what God is doing in our church.

Thirdly, know how to direct people looking for information - to the Welcome Centre or to the Newcomers’ Café, or introduce the person to a staff member or one of the Hospitality Committee.

The upcoming Welcome Home Sunday will be an excellent opportunity to put all this into practice. Prepare to be part of the welcome team - we are all involved.

A Church-goer wrote a letter to the editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no sense to go to church every Sunday.

? “I’ve gone for 30 years now,” he wrote, “and in that time I have heard something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me, I can’t remember a single one of them. So, I think I’m wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all.”

This started a real controversy in the “Letters to the Editor” column, much to the delight of the editor.

It went on for weeks until someone wrote this clincher: I’ve been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a single one of those meals.

But I do know this: They all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If my wife had not cooked these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!”

He asked for help and she could see why. With her pulling and him pushing, the boots still didn’t want to go on.

When the second boot was on, she had worked up a sweat. She almost whimpered when the little boy said, “Teacher, they’re on the wrong feet.”

She looked and sure enough, they were. It wasn’t any easier pulling the boots off then it was putting them on. She managed to keep her cool as together they worked to get the boots back on - this time on the right feet.

He then announced, “These aren’t my boots.” She bit her tongue rather than get right in his face and scream, “Why didn’t you say so?” like she wanted to. Once again she struggled to help him pull the ill-fitting boots off.

He then said, “They’re my brother’s boots. My Mom made me wear them.” She didn’t know if she should laugh or cry. She mustered up the grace to wrestle the boots on his feet again.

She said, “Now, where are your mittens?”

He said, “I stuffed them in the toes of my boots…”

This quote may apply to a lot of church people, but certainly not to Philpott’s long history of reaching out to immigrants and refugees. But, while the Gospel remains the same, the world is rapidly changing, also in Hamilton. You may have noticed that more and more of our neighbours come from all over the world, from countries with different customs, foods and religions. Over 100 ethnic/cultural groups are in Hamilton making the City the 3rd highest immigrant/refugee receiving city in Canada. More than a quarter of all people in Hamilton are born outside Canada.

“Even if you are on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

Fall 2002 saw the ‘Sears’ Small Group multiply and a new group of people of diverse ethnic/cultural backgrounds was started. This ‘Rainbow’ Small Group we are leading meet now in the Vine St building on Sunday afternoons. This group consists of people originating from all over the world. Some of them have come to Canada with quite a story to tell. Memories of dictatorship, warfare, crime and abuse do not fade away quickly. But the life of an immigrant or refugee is often not easy. While people enjoy the new freedoms, they miss mostly the ‘community’ spirit from back home. That’s where PMC as a ‘Community of Grace’ comes in. Like other small groups we pray, sing and study the Bible. From time to time we have meals together, probably if we may say so, the best international foods in Philpott.

New life in Canada means meeting new people, encountering a new culture so totally different than their own. It involves walking in the grocery store and not knowing what is inside that carton box and what are those strange looking vegetables and fruits. Finding a family physician is almost impossible, visiting a hospital frustrating without English speaking friends; trying to make Kraft dinner is a real challenge when you cannot read the instructions on the box.

Some of our new immigrants will start to search for a church. That brought one of them to Philpott. Just walking and exploring downtown she found Philpott and her first impression was that it looked like a museum. Thelma showed her the building and the next Sunday she attended our service (and ever since).

A very essential part for a new immigrant in Canada is looking for a job. Finding one is a recurring prayer request in our small group. Those who are going for an interview will know that right at that time someone is praying for them fervently and we have seen miraculous answers on prayer.

The ‘Rainbow Small Group’ is only one outreach to newcomers. The Hartford’s have been involved with mostly Chinese students at Mc Master University for several years. Through the ministry of the Bortsovs there is a growing group of Russian speaking people in Philpott. And the Petrosian’s have started to lead a Small Group of Iranian people.

The recently formed International Ministry Task Force will explore and implement ways to expand our ministry among immigrants and refugees by exploring ESL (English as a Second Language), a resource hospitality centre and other initiatives.

There are many ways you can help the International Ministry; here are a few:

Pray regularly for the ministry;
Get acquainted and befriend our newcomers;
Assist with ESL;
Attend the Iranian Group meeting one Sunday (Chapel, 2 p.m.).

One of our small group members shared the following poem for encouragement:

“One seed can start a garden,
  One smile can lift a spirit,
   One candle can light a room,
    One conversation can start a friendship,
     One step can begin a journey,
      One heart can love many,
       One person can make all the difference,
        That one is you!”

Do not underestimate the power of one used by God. Shine where you are placed. He will do the rest.

The husband said, “You are in charge of the cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee.”

The wife replies, “No you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee.”

The husband was shocked, and replied, “No way! Show me.”

So she fetched the Bible, and opened the New Testament and sure enough! At the top of several pages, were the words “HEBREWS”

One day Mr. Miller was bagging some early potatoes for me. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller and the ragged boy next to me.

“Hello Barry, how are you today?”
“H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya. Jus’ admirin’ them peas… sure look good.”
“They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?”
“Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.”
“Good. Anything I can help you with?”
“No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.”
“Would you like to take some home?”
“No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.”
“Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?”
“All I got’s my prize marble here.”
“Is that right? Let me see it.”
“Here ‘tis. She’s a dandy.”
“I can see that. Hmmmmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?”
“Not zackley… but almost.”
“Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble.”
“Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.”

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, “There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, perhaps.”

I left the stand smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering.

Several years went by, each more rapid that the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his viewing that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts… all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one, each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller. I told her who I was and mentioned the story she had told me about the marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

“Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim “traded” them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size… they came to pay their debt.”

“We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,” she confided, “but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho.”

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

When the boat was grounded on the beach, the officer in charge handed the marooned sailor a bundle of newspapers and told him, “With the captain’s compliments. He said to read through these and let us know if you still want to be rescued.”

We are living in wacko times. And the times may get even wackier. But the church’s usual response to cultural innovation and change is condemnation and isolation rather than incarnation and participation. Go back two centuries ago and remember how dime novels and penny dreadfuls were no sooner evoked than evicted from church life. Ditto the theatre, the music hall, the waltz, jazz, radio, television, movies, comics, rock music, computer games.

Very early in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Frodo says he wishes the master ring had not been found in his lifetime.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”