Focus on Our Churches For this issue, we asked church


correspondents to share current events at their churches, as well as any events they are looking forward to this coming springtime. — Editor


Jansen Bible Church Jansen, Nebraska Paul Carpenter, Pastor


jansenbiblechurch.org


Mission Festival weekend featured our resident missionaries Vick and Gwen Flaming with International Training Partners. Most of their work is presently done online with students in East Europe, Asia, and Africa. Brian and Susanna Dick, who are raising support to serve in Spain with Avant, were also present for our Mission Festival. They hope to work with Springs of Life Camp, which is one of the most effective means of producing church workers in Spain. Hugh Smith of Voice of the Martyrs told of many who today are suffering and giving their lives for Christ.


A most informative evening service featured a video by Bob Bryant, an avid student of the history of modern Israel. He reported on the Middle East Peace Deals as they concern prophecy.


Several interested students of the Bible continue to attend our Wednes- day evening Q and A Bible Study at the Jansen Legion Hall, including some who do not attend church during this pandemic.


Tena Dick, Church Correspondent


Crosspoint Bible Church Omaha, Nebraska crosspointbible.org


Crosspoint’s new women’s group, The Collective, has continued to meet monthly. In addition, the women have the option of a once a month Bible study with their small group. They’ve been reading through the book “None Like Him” by Jen Wilkin.


A group of our youth teach a local, CEF sponsored Good News Club every week. Due to COVID-19, they were unable to meet in their regular school, and have gathered at a church near the school for the club. In addition, a Bible study for our teen girls has been started in the home of a local youth leader.


Our young adult group, 18:28, con- tinues to meet every week in a local home. The group is led by Jonathon Bartsch, and they gather every Thursday night.


Hannah Schafer, Church Correspondent


Marion EMB Church Marion, South Dakota www.embcountrychurch.com


Marion EMB has not held services in November and December, due main- ly to COVID-19. Some of our fam- ilies have been quarantined more than once, and the risk was getting higher. Marion and Monroe had high positive counts for COVID-19 tests. Since we have no resident pastor at this time, we will resume services March 1st, the Lord willing, with retired pastors filling in.


Evelyn Duerksen, Church Correspondent


Indian Head Community Bible Church Indian Head, Saskatchewan Justin Epp, Pastor


The months of September and Oc- tober saw renewed opportunities for fellowship and teaching within the church. Weekly Kids Club sessions resumed in September, following a curriculum based on “The Promises of God Storybook Bible,” by Jennifer Lyell. Sunday School began in Octo- ber, with classes offered for various ages and interests. Two adult classes met: Pastor Justin Epp led a study on Psalms; elder Bill Glasspell facilitated


a class for parents using the “Essen- tials of Discipline” DVD series from Focus on the Family. There were four additional classes to match the demographics of the congregation: a class for Toddlers, PreKinder-Kinder, Grades 1-3, and teens. A care group for young families was also able to meet in October for the first time in many months.


In mid-November, multiple cases of COVID-19 developed within our community. In an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus, many businesses closed and the local elementary and high schools transi- tioned to online learning programs for three weeks. Regular worship services, Sunday School, and other programs at our church building were suspended at the same time. Mem- bers watched the sermons that Pastor Justin posted online and a weekly Bible story was uploaded for children.


Since early December, we have been able to meet in-person for Sunday ser- vices at the church. Shortly after the outbreak in our community, the gov- ernment imposed stricter limits on all public gatherings province-wide because of rising COVID-19 cases in all regions. To comply with govern- ment limits, we hold identical wor- ship services at two separate times each Sunday. Rather than try to limit attendance at the traditional Christ- mas Eve Service, Pastor Justin worked with members of the congregation to create an online program featuring carols and Scripture readings.


The week before Christmas, Pastor Justin and Nashly were blessed by the birth of their second child — a healthy daughter named Elesha Anna.


As the new year begins, the elders are prayerfully considering how to move forward with Sunday School sessions, weekly children’s programs and care groups. We do not know what the


FELLOWSHIP FOCUS, FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 18


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