Sovereign Joy Community Church » Evangelism/Missions

The Gospel Commission: Recovering God’s Strategy for Making Disciples by Michael Horton

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 16:53:55 +0000

Of the following series on evangelism and missions, Pastor Emilio simply said, “Horton on Evangelism, he does a great job.”

To Download MP3 Right click and save to your hard drive…

If you missed it, Emilio has also preached on The Great Commission:

Schneider (Missionary to Chile) Update Dec. ’11

admin — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:06:42 +0000

Here is the lastest update we have from Steve Scheider (see previous ones here):

The Schneider Family

“…Steve’s schedule, from August until December, has become more involved, primarily in preaching and training the leaders in our church. At the seminary, he taught courses in Expository Preaching and Church History. The students continue to grow in their ability to study the text and preach it expositionally. Steve is further encouraged when they share with him how they are applying what they have learned in their ministries….”

Download the entire newsletter:

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Romania Missions Trip Update

admin — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 10:18:53 +0000

Below is an update we received during yesterday’s service (Aug. 7, 2011), via email, from Billy:

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to give you a Romania update. Everything has been going very well. We are all safe, and no one is sick. We all miss our families and our church very much, though we are enjoying the opportunity to meet and fellowship with our family from another culture. We can’t wait for the day when we will all understand one another without translators, because we will all have one language.

They have been keeping us very busy. Thursday night, I preached at the main Baptist church in Baille Herculane (a resort town near the Danube River), and Pastor Onesimus translated. Pastor Onesimus is the pastor of the second largest Baptist church in Romania. I have been privileged to have him as my translator for the entire trip.

The next day, after some street evangelism in Baille Herculane, we left for a village where our friend Virgil pastors a Baptist church of about 60. That night, I preached a Pastor Virgil’s church and our friend Levu (sp?) translated. Levu is a student in the college at Emanuel University in Oradea.

The next day we went and knocked on doors and witnessed to people all morning. We went back to the homes in which we were staying and had lunch, and went back out in the afternoon for more evangelism. I was asked back to preach again that night.

This morning, I preached at the Sunday service. I preached on imitating Christ from Ephesians 5:1-2 with an emphasis on the ordinances, because the first Sunday of the month is their communion Sunday. We then went to two more villages and I preached in two more village churches.

We came back to say goodbye to Pastor Virgil’s church before we were to head back for Baille Herculane, and we were invited out by the youth to play volleyball. Of course, we accepted and wound up having an amazing time. We are now back at our hotel, and tomorrow we will go and help dig a well in a local village. After that, we will stay the night at Pastor Onesimus’ house and leave for the airport early Wednesday morning.

Know that the guys have been thoroughly exposed to Romanian culture. They have slept in Romanian homes, eaten Romanian food, and shared the gospel with Romanian people. They each also have had the opportunity to share their testimonies twice before different congregations. In many ways, some small and some big, they have all had to leave their comfort zones for the sake of the kingdom.

Well, there is so much more I could share with you, but that seems to cover the big events. We will have a lot more personal stories for you when we see you next. I pray that you are all doing well, and we request that you would continue to pray for us. Please pray for our success in the ministry of the kingdom, and for our safe travel. We love you all.

In Christ,

Billy

Let’s keep these men in our prayers.

Romania Team

Calendar Updates

admin — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:03:16 +0000

Remember that our short term mission team consisting of Billy, Joe, Kyle, and Chauncey are in Romania. Please keep them in your prayers.

Mandatory class for all baptism candidates, this Sunday (Aug. 7, 2011) @ 2pm.

Greek Class begins this Wednesday (Aug. 10, 2011) @ 7pm.

Details on all the above on the calendar page.

Schneider (Missionary to Chile) Update July ’11

admin — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 20:33:15 +0000

Here is the lastest update we have from Steve Scheider (see previous ones here):

Ministry at the Facultad

“Greetings from Chile! We are fast approaching our one-year anniversary of our arrival in Chile on July 19th…

The first semester of our seminary academic year, and Steve’s first semester teaching, finished on July 1. As we shared in earlier updates, the seminary had 17 new students enter the first year in our four-year program, thanks to the efforts of our Chilean coworkers and fellow missionaries and their promotion among the local churches. We also began a master’s program with 8 students, with one class being taught in English…”

Download the entire newsletter:

Download PDF

Calendar/Location Updates

admin — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:11:08 +0000

Tomorrow (June 21, 2011) Women’s Study will be held @ Trish’s house.

NO SERVICE this Friday (June 24, 2011).

Evangelism has moved from Southlake to Downtown Fort Worth (Sundance Square).

Details on all the above on the calendar page.

URGENT: Joplin Tornado Relief

admin — Sat, 04 Jun 2011 18:53:12 +0000

Dear Sovereign Joy Family,

As of today, the death toll in Joplin, MO has risen to 138, and there are still many missing persons yet to be found. Joplin is only five hours drive from Haltom City, and there are many lost and hurting people who need to receive the healing power of the gospel. A group of SJCC church members have decided to travel to Joplin to attempt to meet this need on Tuesday and Wednesday of this coming week. We pray that you would consider whether the Lord may be calling you to join us in this effort.

Though evangelism is a dire need in Joplin, there are also many other needs that need to be met. Your gifts are needed. They need cooks, carpenters, manpower for debris cleanup and, yes, evangelists. Please pray and ask God whether you may have a role to play in this trip. More than anything, pray that God will bless the efforts of Sovereign Joy Community Church as we seek to serve and evangelize the community of Joplin, MO.

We are also accepting donations of essential goods (i.e. diapers: size 4, 5, 6 and socks, etc.). If you’re able to donate to this effort, please bring your donations to church on Sunday. If you believe that God is calling you join us, please contact either Billy Leonhart or Trisha Ramos no later than Sunday at 9pm. Thank you in advance for your consideration of this matter. May God bless you and our church.

In Christ,

Billy Leonhart

Patience & Endurance Through Suffering… Examples

admin — Fri, 20 May 2011 09:52:32 +0000

Before this past Friday’s sermon on “Patience & Endurance Through Suffering”, Pastor Jay talked about a video he had recently seen about brothers and sisters who have endured persecution for their faith and how they endured. You can listen to this in the two minute clip below:

Download audio file (5191174221.mp3)

Here is the original post he was talking about (parents, please use discretion if showing this video to your children):

This 10-minute video clip explores the persecution of Christians under Ceausescu’s Romania. It includes video and audio from Richard Wurmbrand, Nicolae Moldoveanu, and more. We in the West would do well to learn from our brothers and sisters who have endured persecution for their faith.

Here are some lines from the latter part of the video that stand out:

- For you, it is not just a prison. It’s your parish.
- God will judge us not according to how much we endured, but how much we could love.
- Lord, how can I thank you that I am among those being tortured and mocked and that because of your mercy, I was not among those who torture and mock!
- With every blow you give, a prayer rises to God so you may be forgiven.
- Here is the greatest thing: when you see that the man torturing you is more afflicted than you who are being tortured.
- Without love, we are absolutely nothing.

And here are some videos of Richard Wurmbrand.

Schneider (Missionary to Chile) Update Mar. ’11

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 14:25:45 +0000

Below is the most recent update from the Schneider’s (see the past ones here)

The Schneider Family - Christmas 2010

Dear Friends and Family,

Our Lord has been gracious, good, and faithful to us over this long journey of training and waiting to be fully absorbed in ministry. Although we know He has used us throughout this time in ministering to others, this week marks the beginning of what He has called us to do, since November 2001 when Steve first considered a change in the direction to full-time ministry and applied to The Master’s Seminary. We are humbled by this privilege. The new semester begins on Tuesday at the Facultad (ABWE seminary here in Santiago). Steve will be teaching two courses this semester — Expository Preaching I-Greek Exegesis and Church History I. He’ll also be covering the time of fellow professor and pastor Victor Velozo’s class, who is attending the Shepherd’s Conference this week. So please pray for Steve, as he will be teaching 4 hours consecutively in Spanish on Wednesday for the next two weeks and 3 hours in his Friday course. These first couple of days in our semester at the seminary have brought back fond memories of our days at The Master’s seminary. There is a very wonderful and eager spirit here. This year 16 new students begin in the four year program. Also, a new master’s level program begins for previous graduates of the seminary with 8 new students. Also, we plan to begin an evening program next week for pastors, who would like more training in pastoral ministry, but had not previously completed the 4 year program. We thank the Lord for His provision of these new students preparing to serve Him, and again testify to His faithfulness in our lives! In addition, we have been visiting some churches that are in need of pastoral leadership and direction.

Leslie begins training this week also in temporarily assuming the treasurer’s job and financial administration of our ABWE fireld team’s activities here in Chile. She is also helping with the Facultad’s finances and as needed in that ministry. Stephanie’s school started last week for the second semester after her long summer break. She has an even fuller schedule as they have added Consumer Math. She continues to serve on the Worship Team at school and is looking forward to resuming her church youth group activities. Alie will have winter quarter finals beginning the week of March 14th and is looking forward to starting her hospital training next quarter as part of her nursing degree at UCLA.

Thank you again for your prayers, encouragement, love, and support.

Please pray:

For three of our Chilean pastors, who are attending the Shepherd’s Conference this week at Grace Community Church in Southern California. Pray that they would be strengthened and encouraged by the preaching, teaching, and fellowship of other pastors and especially many other Latino pastors, who will be attending. Pray that they would return with a great burden and desire to exposit the Scriptures with clarity and profundity.
For Steve in his teaching the newly translated courses in Expository Preaching-Greek Exegesis I and Church History courses, including the aspect of communicating to the students in Spanish.
For all of the students at the Facultad, that they would grow in their knowledge and application of God’s Word.
For Leslie in learning the missionary team treasurer position that she will assume temporarily while the Amundson family is on furlough for a year beginning in June.
For the finances of the Facultad, including funding for necessary repairs and maintenance.
For wisdom and His direction in choosing a church for our family to serve in.
For Stephanie’s new semester of school and that the Lord will use her to minister to both the students at her school and the Chilenos in the church.
For Alie’s, her studies and upcoming exams, and clinicals next quarter at UCLA.

Isaiah 40:27-31: Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, And the justice due me escapes the notice of my God? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, And vigorous young men stumble badly, Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.

With the Strength He Supplies,

The Schneiders
ABWE Missionaries to Chile

Baptism [Jan. 2, 2011]

admin — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:32:53 +0000

…do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?

Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection…
- Romans 6:1-7

Baptisms from Jan. 02, 2011

What a great way to celebrate the new year by reflecting on the new birth through hearing how God saved individuals and then to see them get baptized. This is exactly what we did Sunday.

The 1689 London Baptist Confession describes baptism as follows (Chapter 28 section 1):

Baptism is an ordinance of the New Testament, ordained by Jesus Christ, to be unto the party baptized, a sign of his fellowship with him, in his death and resurrection; of his being engrafted into him; of remission of sins; and of giving up into God, through Jesus Christ, to live and walk in newness of life.

( Romans 6:3-5; Colossians 2:12; Galatians 3:27; Mark 1:4; Acts 22:16; Romans 6:4 )

Each person to be baptized first shared their testimony:

First Rose gave her testimony

Robert then gave his testimony

Followed by Javier

Then Avisha

And finally, Mark

This was a time that was filled with emotions and great rejoicing in what God had done. After this each one was baptized:

MORE PHOTOS

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’“

- Matthew 28:18-20