Ordination Sunday
On Sunday, June 13, one elder (Brandon Jacobson) and three deacons (John Meskis, Todd Paben, and Emily Schissler), which were MDC's first, were ordained into the ministry of the church.
Each person received a gift from the church: Our new Elder received a shepherd's rod engraved with 1 Peter 5:2 and a new ESV Bible. The Deacons received a lantern and a vial of salt to remind them that they were to help the church be salt and light in our community and the world.
Check out our pics!
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A Gospel Story: "Something a bit radical..."
(One of the things that we encourage MDCers to do is to share their Gospel Stories, what God has been doing in and through their lives. Here is Alisa's story.)
This story comes as a long overdue attempt at addressing my own depravity and glorifying God for giving us constant unconditional love no matter where we are. When first posed the idea of sharing, I wasn't sure if a "God-turned-everything-upside-down-and inside-out-to-get-my attention" story was in order or just a daily Jesus moment. Seeing as how many do not know the 180-turnaround story, I have decided to share that with you all.
After I graduated high school, I went off into the college realm. Two and half years into my studies, I found myself in a position I never saw for myself. I indulged in the college party scene and everything that came with that. I had even found myself in a relationship with another woman. On top of all of this, I was walking further and further away from God as I began to believe that everything I was doing was okay as long as I believed in God. With much lower grades than I had wanted, living a lifestyle I never saw for myself, and certainly spending too much money on things that were clearly drawing me away from God, I hit a form of "rock-bottom" I had to return home.
Earlier this year, I had met one of my friends from Olivet for coffee. A little less than halfway through the conversation about my life and what I had done, I realized it was no longer her talking to me, but now it was God talking through her. This was the point where I knew I could no longer continue the way I had been living if I was going to be a real Christian. The more I started to pray, the more joy rushed over me. The more I began to read my Bible, the more I knew God was with me. I have finally come to realize that Christ is the only constant in the rollercoaster rides we call our lives and what it means to really know that Christ died on a cross for my sins so that I could have eternal life regardless of what I have done.
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Fourth Annual All Church Camping Trip! For the past three summers we have "canceled" corporate worship on one Sunday morning to go camping together as a family! This year will be no different! We will be transplanting our church for a weekend to Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty, IN. Last year sixty-five people roughed it in tents and/or campers. This year, 82 of us will be going on this adventure!
Why do leave all of our creature comforts behind? Here's why: We were able to laugh and eat together, build community, and start an
impromptu choir. We built memories! Camping by nature forms community! For three days and two nights, in the rain or heat while battling the king-sized mosquitos, we come to know each other in more real and authentic ways!
As an added bonus, John and Missy Camiola and their small tribe of kids will be joining us! The Camiolas are missionaries in Jos, Nigeria and are the first missionaries Missio Dei Church supported!
Check out the Camiola's blog
Listen to John and Missy's interview on Moody Radio
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