Saved by Grace Alone                                                                                        December 2012

 

News from the Volunteer Team 

 

Serving With Gladness - SSOF

by Karen Nygaard Lamb of God Lutheran Church - Flower Mound

 

Wow, where has the time gone? It seems like only yesterday when I walked into Our Redeemer Lutheran Church and became a volunteer with Sewing Seeds of Faith (SSOF). Little did I know that this first step of meeting women from many nations. . . that I knew little about . . . and who spoke languages .  . . I had never heard before, would become such an important part of my week. I was really very content, I thought, being retired, going about my own business, quilting whenever I wanted and how much I wanted, shopping whenever I wanted. (I can hear my husband saying AMEN to that about now) Well the women and staff of Sewing Seeds of Faith have really become a very important part of my life. Not so much for what I do as a volunteer, but more importantly what they have given to me. We have been studying:   Galatians 5: 22-23, . . . "but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against these things there is no law."

 

This is what is happening at SSOF. . . the Spirit is showing us, women of many nations to love one another, show kindness, share our joys and sorrows, work and have fun in peace. When you walk into POBLO-TX at Our Redeemer on Monday mornings, its hugs for everyone, love, friendship, and laughter. If you are lucky enough to be in the group where I volunteer, you will even hear a good old Texas YAHOO!, when milestones are met or projects are completed.  

Karen and her team welcomes a new tailor, Abbas
and his wife from Iraq

We sew!!! Aprons, pillowcases, table runners, dresses, skirts, string quilts, table toppers, pin cushions and four patch quilts, (some as big as king size). These projects are accomplished with donated machines, fabric, batting and every sewing notion you can imagine. We thank everyone who has supported this mission with all your donations. Without your donations the SSOF program would only be a dream. God has blessed SSOF in so many ways and with so much we find the need to share the bounty with other missions sometimes. Rest assured we are being good stewards of the bounty we receive.

 

Remember all those things I was doing before SSOF, well I still do them, (just ask Gene) but I never schedule, not even lunch out with a friend on Mondays.

 

Volunteer. . . share your time and talent, the rewards are love, joy, peace, friendship.

 

Karen

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I AM. . . 

 

Sewing Seeds of Faith Visits Local LWML Groups

Fall 2012 has been an exciting time for the POBLO-TX Sewing Seeds of Faith (SSOF) program. As the program continues to grow, word of the program and its student progress has also grown. SSOF recently received invitations to share this

    Faith Lutheran Church , Plano, Texas welcomes SSOF-                   in September 2012

growth progress with two LWML groups in the area. September 27 found a group of 15 students, their Volunteer Teachers, and the POBLO staff at Faith LutheranChurch, Plano. After a devotion and video presentation of the program by Pastor Baidaoui, the students (beautiful and colorful in their native dress) proudly  showed their sewing projects and told about their native countries. Lunch and more fellowship followed.  

 

The evening of October 9 found 18 SSOF students plus volunteers and staff visiting the LWML group at Prince of Peace in Carrollton. Following dinner, students again proudly shared their new skills. God is truly Blessing and leading SSOF in its most basic premise, the teaching and sharing of the Gospel among the students and with new friends. "... And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations..." Matthew 24:1  

Also in October, Prince Of Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, Texas welcomed SSOF

Many Thanks. . . 

We thank the Lord of All Nations for your prayers and support. Without the prayers and financial support of individuals and the following churches and their congregations, we could not be able to do this program. Please know that your love and generosity is humbling, overwhelming and appreciated....Ascension-Cleburne, Beautiful Savior-Arlington, Calvary  Baptist-Richardson, Christ Memorial-Houston, Christ the King-Waxahachie, Christ Our Savior-Coppell, Cross of Christ-DeSoto, Ebenezer-Paige, Faith-Gainesville, Faith-Plano, Faith-Wylie, Faith LWML-Grand Prairie, Good Shepherd-Azle, Holy Shepherd-Haslet, Immanuel-Charlottesville, King of Glory-Williamsburg, Lamb of God-Flower Mound, Our Savior-Rockwall, Our Redeemer-Dallas, Our Redeemer-Longview, Our Redeemer Lutheran School-Dallas, Redeemer-Ft. Worth, St John-Mansfield, St John's-Okarche, St. Paul-Groves, St. Paul-Plainview, St. Paul-Wichita Falls, Word of Life-Lincoln, Zion-Georgetown.

 

 

PLANTING CHURCHES OF ALL NATIONS 

All Nations Lutheran Church of Dallas (ANLC), Deacon Gian Din, Pastor, recently partnered with St. Paul Lutheran Church in Plano, TX.  {ANLC was POBLO's first mission church.}  Last summer Pastor Din's former church, New Hope Lutheran Church, Dallas, closed its doors and ANLC had been searching for a new home in the Plano area. After much prayer and searching, God answered with His plan (Jer 29:11), leading ANLC to Pastor Jack Schneider and St. Paul.

 

ANLC now meets regularly at St. Paul on Sunday afternoons and plans to begin home Bible studies in the surrounding Pakistan-Asian community.


On November 18th, Our Savior Church of All Nations in Rockwall, Pastored by Deacon Wilson Irfan, had a blessed worship with an attendance marking the occasion of an early Thanksgiving Celebration . Pastor Baidaioui was in attendance and the occasion was celebrated afterwards with a traditional Pakistani meal.

 

 

"A Call to Action" Video Link

 

Many people have asked for a copy of the DVD - "A Call to Action". Below is a link to this powerful DVD which talks about the rapid growth of Islam in the world and here in our backyards. It is a must see video. Please share with your pastors, friends and neighbors in the faith. www.poblotexas.org/content/islam_in_america 

 

For more information about Islam & Christianity, and how to best reach out to your Muslim neighbors, please invite Pastor Baidaoui to preach and lead a conference about Islam in Light of the Cross at your church. You can reach us at 214-368-1371  ext 241.

 

TIME IS RUNNING OUT!

 

To inspire and encourage our faithful donors to close 2012 strong, the Matching Gift Challenge is still open - but time is running out!  We thank the Lord for this generous gift which comes with a challenge. It's not in the bank yet!

  

Please prayerfully consider a gift of $100 or more to POBLO-TX ministries by the end of December, 12/31/2012.  It will be matched dollar for dollar up to $25,000.   2 Corinthians 9:7  "Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under  compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver...."