Timothy Program

Here at NewPointe we have allocated funds to help support those within our congregation that are wanting to explore what God is calling them to do in full time ministry. We have named it the Timothy Program after the young man that accompanied Paul on many of his missionary travels.

Through the Timothy Program we wish to identify, encourage, equip and send our own into the service of our Lord locally, nationally and globally. This program is intended to not only lend support financially but prayerfully and intellectually as well.

We have already had three young people take advantage of the program and two have confirmed their calling, one nationally and one internationally. The third is slated to spend time abroad this summer seeking God's plan for her life. And just yesterday two more young men from NPCC inquired as to how the Timothy Program could help them in their search for God's plan in their lives.

If you are interested in learning more about the Timothy Program and how it works, you can pull up the Program Document and Application here. Is God calling you to ministry?

Decision Makers

Here at NewPointe we have a strong, and I do mean very strong, Missions Board. I am blessed to have these wonderful people around me to offer their wisdom, council, ideas and insight. These folks have a huge heart for those that don't yet know Christ and each of them have served in the field doing roll-up-your-sleeves missions ministry.

I thought you might like to know who it is that assists me in making key Missions decisions and helps ensure that we are continually seeking God's vision for this ministry locally, nationally and globally. The Missions Board members are:

Lynn Allison
Chuck Haupert
Cheryl Schlabach
Linda Kate
Teresa Raber
Chad Stutzman
Terri Hupp
Miriam Beachy
David Miller
Steve Kelley

The Missions Board meets on the third Tuesday of each month. And if you would like to read the Board's Policy and Proceedures document, you can link to it here.

Calling All Servants

Have you thought about going on a Missions Trip abroad but didn't know exactly what you could do or where you might go? I have the solution.

We have been asked to field a Vacation Bible School (VBS) team to work with children and train adult teachers in a couple of small villages in Upper Egypt. While I was there in March, we saw the opportunity to partner with Father Elijah, a Catholic Priest that knows of the work Impact Middle East and NewPointe are doing in Egypt.

The target date for the trip is the first week in August and if you are interested in going and learning more about this or any short term missions trip, there will be a meeting on Sunday May 17th at 10:00 AM and 12:00 PM (your choice) in room 504A and 504B or you can contact me here at the church at 330-602-3033.

Serving is the best way to "go deep" with God and I promise, you will come away with a much greater understanding of yourself and who you are as a follower of Christ.

Suhad

Many of you might be saying, "what's a Suhad"? Others of you may remember last summer when we brought to the U.S. a wonderful sister in Christ from our Baghdad church who badly needed double hip replacement surgery. Her name is Suhad (pronounced Soo-hod) and she quickly worked her way into our hearts and became very dear to us here at NewPointe.

As a recap, our missionary in the Middle East (Blake) met Suhad a number of years ago when the church was planted in Baghdad. Suhad had a severe and very noticable limp from the double hip displasia that had plagued her all of her life. She had asked for prayer over the years but had never complained much even though it was evident that she was in constant pain.

That all changed in the fall of 2007 when Blake and I, along with three other NewPointers, were in the north of Iraq hosting a Spiritual Life Conference for the church in Kurdistan and the church in Baghdad in the south. Suhad showed us a recent x-ray of her hips and a letter from her doctor that said she would soon be confined to a wheelchair if surgery, that could not be performed in Iraq, was not done soon. It was evident that Suhad was now in extreme pain and feared a life of confinement in a culture that does not readily accept disability.

To make a long story a little shorter, Blake and I began discussing Suhad's case with a local Dr. here in Dover who referred it to a specialist friend of his who immediately escalated it to a friend of his at the Cleveland Clinic. As a result, the Cleveland Clinic and her soon to be surgeon Dr. Wael Barsoum, after studying her case, elected to do the surgery at No Charge. What a huge blessing for Suhad. God was definately at work!

Suhad had two surgeries one week apart in late May of last year and many from NewPointe took care of her and nursed her back to health through rehab, language barriers, Dr. appointments and visits. Suhad went home to Iraq in late August - without a limp.

So, for all of you that touched Suhad and in turn were touched by her, the following video is for you. It is a testimony to the greatness of God and the generosity of his people. I was priveleged to shoot it last month in Iraq at the 2009 Spiritual Life Conference in Kurdistan. Watch and enjoy. I certainly did.

Impact Ministries

Today marks the official launch of the "everything you wanted to know about NewPointe Missions stuff but didn't know who to ask" blog site. Insiders know us as Impact Ministries and now you too should consider yourself an insider.

I'm Scott Bell and I'm the Missions Director here at NewPointe. I'm going to attempt to keep you up to date on everything Missions. You will have access to information on all of the who, what, when, where and whys. If it's happening in the Missions ministry at NewPointe, you can find it here.

But, if there is something you just have to know and we haven't addressed it, all you have to do is ask. Your comments and questions are welcome.

So, as we develop this site, I hope you will see that we serve a missional God and that your church is on the front lines right here in our home towns and around the world. I'm looking forward to serving with you.