But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.

(Isa 53:5 ESV)

4-April 2010 Fort Defiance Newsletter

Dear Brethren,

This may be a surprise to some of you, but the last two days of April we had light snow showers. It was just enough to cover the ground but by the afternoon it was all gone. The days are beginning to warm up now and the warm days seem to bring a special excitement along with it. We are already getting wound up for VBS again, and the Bible Camp where six or seven of the nine congregations here on the Navajo reservation meet each year along with other supporting congregation outside the reservation. This summer will be the first for the Fort Defiance congregation. We are looking forward to it.

Special Thanks - When Pam and I first arrived ten months ago, we were swept off our feet by the greetings we received, not only by the local visitors and the present members but also by everyone else who had a part in our transition. We must not forget the prayers of each of our supporting congregations, and above all, God who supplies us the strength to serve. I can now say you have all been a great part of our success in the challenges we knew were sure to come.  We thank each of you for the encouragement you have all given us.

Facing The Challenges - The challenges we faced were not necessarily a disappointment but an opportunity

for us to see the need. Looking back for just a moment, out of the very large number that came during the 2009 VBS week there was just a few who returned for worship that very next Sunday. (Of course those numbers always go up during potlucks and fire pit devotions). Although the congregation appeared to have at least a dozen members, our normal attendance was anywhere from one to six which includes the children. That explained why we only saw five cups being used (Lord’s Supper) prior to our move here. What seemed to be the norm for some was that they were only attending worship one or two Sunday’s within a two month period. While some have not changed, others have made a big effort to worship more often and have come to the Bible classes during the week. Our approach was to make some changes, but we didn’t want to be the ones making all the changes, rather we wanted those who were attending to be very much involved in the effort of making these changes a step at a time. Today our normal attendance for Sunday worship is around ten and occasionally up to eighteen. It’s encouraging to see some making an effort to come back after more than a two year absence.

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Making Every Moment Count

This is a picture of my mom Laura (in white) and her younger sister (my aunt Annie, in green). They are working on curtains for the worship building. They both were brought introduced to the Pentecostal denomination early in life and strongly hold to their beliefs. My mom Laura obeyed the gospel back in 2003, but continued to worship in the Pentecostal church, and so, I try to spend time grounding her in the Word whenever I can. She is always willing to study and has come a long way in accepting the truth. She tells me she now worships with the church of Christ in Thoreau, NM. when she is not worshiping with us. She has repented and is very discourage that, at the age of eighty years old she is finally learning the truth. This is a prayer answered and we can all rejoice together.

As for my aunt Annie, she started worshiping with us every other week or so and lately has been coming more often. She is one who takes notes of all my sermons and Bible lessons when she is with us. She tells me she reviews every sermon I preach and goes over her notes in the evening. That is wonderful news to hear. There is still much work ahead of us, but for one who strongly believes in the Pentecostal teachings, she has really humbled herself to what can be hard to except. Deep down I know she is struggling with it, and so again, I am asking for your prayers. She has always carried a great zeal for God.

Your browser may not support display of this image. Working Together

We are always looking for opportunities to bring the church together, whether it is through weekly Bible studies, devos, cookouts, or special projects. - In this picture we are all working together on getting the pews cushioned. We were able to finish 10 of 16 pews in two evenings and will set another day aside to finish the rest. It was nice to see everyone working with each other and having a lot of fun while doing it.

Final Words 

We see progress in each one’s spiritual growth, and we thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for our growth in Christ and for those who are searching. It is God who causes the growth and we can do nothing without Him.

 As we all know, a common challenge we all face is dedication, and by having additional Bible studies and devotion during the week has certainly helped our attendance. At this time my focus is to ground the few we have worshiping with us, so that we can accomplish our purpose together as a church. May God bless the work we all share.

With love in Christ,   

Terry & Pam Laurence  
 
 
 

Fort Defiance church of Christ

PO BOX 556

Fort Defiance, AZ 86504

Phone 928-729-2165 Cell 480-634-0124

Email Address:      laurence_terry@yahoo.com

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