Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
This morning I’d like to introduce you to J.O. Fraser. He was a missionary with China Inland Mission (founded by Hudson Taylor) primarily to the Lisu people of southern China and Burma. What is notable about Fraser is not his keen mind, his musical giftedness, or his education, but his devotion to our Lord through prayer.
He saw that he could depend on the Lord for every need. He learned the necessity of “praying through.” He realized that our battle is not against flesh and blood, and that there would be resistance to the advancement of the kingdom of God. But the kingdom of God cannot be overcome.
If you want to learn how to pray the prayer of faith which he credits to seeing the conversion of hundreds of families of Lisu, you can read chapter 12 in the book “Behind the Ranges.” You can find it on Kindle or other places. [Technically, you can even find a pdf of the book online.] The chapter on the prayer of faith is worth the cost of the book!
J.O. Fraser was an engineer whom God had prepared for a life in the mountain regions traveling from town to town to share the gospel. He saw radical life change in answer to definite prayer. It wasn’t his power or strength which yielded results. Rather it was the power and strength of the Lord on whom he depended, which sustained him through rough living conditions, bouts of depression and spiritual attacks, and the regular uncertainty of going without comforts common to the time. He was a man who, having the Lord, found that he had all he needed. He was a man who, knowing the Lord, couldn’t help but share him with others so that they too could walk in newness of life. He was a man who persevered through depending on the daily mercies of God which are new every morning.
Can you say the same of yourself? Having the Lord, you have all you need? Knowing the Lord, you are eager to share Him with others? Persevering through difficulties, you are proving the faithful mercies of our great God? Have a life characterized by prayer? May the Lord make it so, for his honor and glory.
Please continue to pray for Ukraine. Here is a suggested prayer if you are at a loss for words in how to pray.
24-7 Prayer – A Prayer for the Crisis in Ukraine (ENG).pdf
Thank you for kneeling on behalf of the people of Ukraine and Russia, and taking a stand (or a knee in prayer) against tyrannical despotism.
This Week (Mar. 18–Mar. 25, 2022):
1. Tonight, Mar. 18, 2022, we will have Friday Night Bible Study. Join us from 7:30-9:30 as we take time to sing, share, and study the topic of “The Pitfall of Guilt and Grudges” from the life of Joseph. You can read Gen. 50 in preparation. Join us in person in Room A- 216 or online.
https://zoom.us/j/685376249?pwd=cWtyUk1pckJiRHJxZVZCSGdJZWw2UT09
Meeting ID: 685 376 249
Password: 840840
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
2. CrossPoint Community Sunday School and YAs Sunday School is on Mar. 20.
a. The Young Adults will be meeting at 9:45 am (in-person in Room A-202 and online)! We will be studying the Gospel of John and taking time for Scripture recitation (if we start on time). Info is found on the YAs Teams Chat Channel or the Facebook Messenger chat for the Teams Meeting Link.
b. “Big Survey, Big Screen Perspective” Sunday School is this Sunday in-person (Room A-216) and online via the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/491248585?pwd=RnpLcnpjQ01nTGZLSmhaZ3l4L3dKQT09
Meeting ID: 491 248 585
Password: 403767
Join by phone: +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
3. This Sunday, Mar. 20, 2022, Elder Sean Lee will be preaching. Pray for him! Join us for worship at CBCGL! You can also watch the live stream if you wish.
a. Text: Acts 4:32-37
b. Title: New Life in Christ – Generosity and Giving
c. Live stream via Youtube: https://www.cbcgl.org/resources/live-stream/
4. This coming Wednesday, Mar. 23, 2022, at 7:45 pm, you are invited, encouraged, and requested to join our weekly prayer meeting. We’ll spend time praying for Ukraine and reflecting on Lenten devotional. The link is found below in the section on prayer.
Administration / Events
5. CBCGL’s COVID-19 guidance is being updated. If you have not completed a waiver, please do so. You can find the most up-to-date waiver at http://bit.ly/cbcgl-covid19-waiver. You must have completed this form and follow its guidance if you plan to participate in any in-person church activities. Note: please find updated COVID-19 Guidance for CBCGL in the COVID-19 Sidebar Tab in the announcements.
a. For example, lunch and nursery service is back at CBCGL since March 13, 2022.
b. Also, the task force has notified all ministries that we will no longer be taking temperatures – effective Mar. 18 (today!).
c. Also, the task force is considering dropping the mask requirement for gatherings at our church, tentatively beginning March 27. Stay tuned for further updates!
6. Lunch service is back at CBCGL! To place an order, please use the following link: https://forms.gle/SJBrwGF4nb5w564DA Orders need to be placed by Friday at 11 pm so that we can prepare the correct amount of food.
7. Did you know that we have updated reports from our missionaries on a regular basis? Please check the missions tab in our bulletin to read through these reports and learn how you can support our missionaries. This week, there is an update about J and J (serving in East Asia).
8. All other announcements can be found here (in our CrossPoint Community bulletin). – Particularly, check out the Children’s ministry Tab to sign-up, show-up, serve, and see God at work in the next generation!
For Prayer:
1. Our time in prayer shows what we think about God! Do you see your need of Him? Or are you trying to live this life without / apart from Him? Please join our Wednesday night prayer meeting (7:45 – 9:15 pm) even if you can’t participate the whole time.
https://zoom.us/j/758587937?pwd=aS9sZUdxcm1janNNM2I2aXJ6Smx2QT09
Meeting ID: 758 587 937
Password: 030086
Join by phone: +1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
2. Here is our list of prayer and service requests. The service request tab is for brothers and sisters to ask for assistance or announce any give-away items. It is an attempt from EM to reach out and take care of those in need among us. You may also enter yours via the provided link:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1U64MLIp-EpQ8YKfIpHzBNR_3tceMaOxrchnfbqlkcpU/edit?ts=5e851f21#gid=0
In Christ, your servant, SDG,
Nathan Willems
Associate Pastor of CrossPoint Community – A Ministry of CBCGL