ministry newsletter 1210

8/8/2019 Ministry Newsletter 1210

1/2

LivingstonMMiinniissttrryyReportMinistry & the Holiday Season|Jovan Payes

If you are like the Payes family during this time of the year,you have recently survived a turkey feast and an assortment of

pie selections, together with fellowship with family and friends.

Also, many are rushing around for presents as the seasontransitions towards another holiday time. This time of the year

can be maddening.

What this reminds me of is the danger of over emphasis ofthe self and on what plenty can do to our spiritual lives. Paul

would speak of how even plenty and abundance can be issues in

which he had to learn how to maneuver through spiritually

(Phil. 4.12-13). The Lord affirmed that a pile of things is not thetrue measure of a good life (Luke 12.15).

It was therefore delightful when various ones in the

congregation began to formulate ideas, or join together to reach

out during this time to minister to others during this holidayseason. One sister, provided all the accoutrements of a

Thanksgiving dinner for a family that would be lacking one this

year (Gal. 2.10). I had the privilege of delivering these itemsand experiencing the joy of filling empty food baskets.

Another group of the brethren organized care packages for

six soldiers far from their families, while they serve their

country in Afghanistan during this season (Acts 20.35). Alongwith treats and travel size supplies, we added tracts and Think

magazines to give them spiritual support. Like an assembly line,

the boxes were filled beyond capacity.On the first Friday of December, we had another

opportunity to reach out to the community during the Winter

Lights Parade Street Fair. We had a booth for the congregation,offering information and literature about the church and the

gospel. We also offered free hot chocolate to warm the people

up. I was able to speak with the people, and study with a man

for a good 20 minutes.Ministry must not be placed to a crawl, we must always

point people to the true light Jesus in any season (John 1.9).

THE PAYES FAMILY HISTORY

Jovan and Cindy Payes have been marriedsince March 3, 2001. They are very proud oftheir two children, Makayla who is in the 4th

grade, and Jacob who has just startedkindergarten.

Jovan did not grow up in the Lords church,but obeyed the gospel in 1996. He was bornand raised in San Francisco, and lived the lifeof a gang member before obeying the gospel.

As a member of the Civic Center church ofChrist, in San Francisco, Jovan received histraining from Donald W. Hinds and DavidHinds. Desiring to preach, Jovan beganpreaching by appointment in 1998 in the SanFrancisco Bay Area. He attended the Golden

Gate Bible Institute hosted by the Airportchurch of Christ. In 2004, Jovan earned a B.A.in Bible from Freed-Hardeman University,and is continuing his education in biblicalstudies.

Cindy grew up in the Lords church. Herfather James Tuggle preached for severalyears, and has served as a deacon. On hermothers side, she has two uncles who aregospel preachers. She has work side by side

Jovan in hosting Bible classes in their home,helping the sick, and teaching Bible classes inthe education program of the church.

The Payes family from left to right:Cindy, Makayla, Jovan, and Jacob.

SUNDAY 4th

SUNDAY WEDNESDAY

Bible Class 10 AM Bible Class 10 AM Bible Class 7 PMMorning Worship 11 AM Morning Worship 11 AM

Evening Worship 6 PM Birthday Fellowship Meal 12 PM

Afternoon Service 1:30 PM

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES

DECEMBER2010

The

8/8/2019 Ministry Newsletter 1210

2/2

LivingstonMMiinniissttrryyReportDECEMBER2010

639 2 StreetLivingston, California 95334209.394.3511 [email protected] emailwww.livin stoncoc.word ress.comwebsite

LIVINGSTON CHURCH OF CHRIST

WANT TO BE A FELLOW WORKEWITH THE LIVINGSTON CHURCOF CHRIST?

If you or your congregation wouldlike to be a fellow worker with us tospread the gospel, here is what you

can do:

(1) Pray for our work.(2) Come visit & worship with us.(3) Contribute a onetime gift.(4) Tell others about our work.(5) Ask for our Packet! We will

email it, or snail mail it to youso you can consider workingwith us on a yearly basis.

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH

We spend four years getting a degree,

or otherwise go through a trainingperiod to prepare ourselves to make aliving. Anyone who would spend onefourth as much time in conscientiouslyand diligently preparing to teachothers about Christ could be wellprepared. Is preparing to make a livingof so much greater importance thanobeying the Lord? Soul-winning is themost important thing you can do."

Paul Sherrod, Successful SoulWinning (2d ed.; Lubbock, Tex.:Sherrod, 1974), 2.

The

Time has flown. We feel that we just arrived, and in some

sense this is true, however, we have been serving here inLivingston for about six months. And we are so honored to be

here, and there is much to do.I teach classes to the youth group on Wednesdays and

Sundays. On Wednesdays, we are currently working through

Real Life Issues that youth must work through. On Sundays, we

are studying TheParables of Jesus.Moreover, on Sunday morning I am preaching through the

Letter to the Ephesians. In our second service we just finished a

series on The Bible and Its Place in our Lives, and have begun a

series on The Church in the Bible. I am emphasizing studies that

will lay a proper foundation in order to branch out inministering to the community of Livingston.

I am completing another semester of graduate study withFreed-Hardeman University, as I improve my ministerial

capacity. Likewise, I am conducting studies in the community

weekly, and reaching out to people as opportunities arise.Cindy is teaching various Bible stories to the younger ones

on Sunday morning. She is also working hard, homeschooling

our children: Jacob, our kindergartener, and Makayla, our 4th

grader. Not an easy task, but she is performing admirably.Over the last few months, I have joined with a couple other

valley preachers to create theRECHARGE:

Excellence inMinistry conference (March 31 to April 2). It is an event gearedtowards preachers, teachers, and church workers, particularly in

California in order to provide a closer opportunity to retool, and

recharge their ministry batteries. For more information, see

our websitewww.RechargeMe.org.Finally, allow me to invite you to consider including our

work in your personal or church budget. We are still in need of

financial support for our ministry. We do have fellow-workers,but we still need you. Call us, ask for our packet. We do not

plan for this support to be permanent. Nevertheless, pray for us,

join ourFacebook

page, and come by for a worship visit.

So Whats Going On? | Jovan Payes
http://c/Users/Owner/Documents/Livingston%20church/Support%20Newsletter/[email protected]://c/Users/Owner/Documents/Livingston%20church/Support%20Newsletter/[email protected]://www.livingstoncoc.wordpress.com/http://www.livingstoncoc.wordpress.com/http://www.rechargeme.org/http://www.rechargeme.org/http://www.rechargeme.org/http://www.rechargeme.org/http://www.livingstoncoc.wordpress.com/http://c/Users/Owner/Documents/Livingston%20church/Support%20Newsletter/[email protected]