Grace in the Neighborhood--Iraq

photo of those typically needing medical help by james gordon





















Thanks to Dan Green who provided this news update from the Iraqi clinic ministry. Please continue to pray for protection and safety of the clinic staff and patients that come for help.

Recently two bombs exploded in the neighborhood close to the clinic but thankfully no one was injured (similar news reports here). Patients still look for help at the clinic with over 290 coming in July.

One woman has requested a picture of Jesus and declared that she loved Him. Pray that her love would be in understanding what Jesus has done for her in taking away her sin and that she would have a true relationship with Him.

• Pray for continued safety for staff and patients.
• Pray for the woman who wanted a picture of Jesus, that she would truly know Him.
• Pray for proper documents to be granted for the clinic to register with the government.
• Praise the Lord that no one was injured in recent bombings.

Thanks for making a difference!

photo by dplanet

Friends & Helpers Non-Profit Helping Others. Make a Difference Donate today!

I praise God for our church. Wooster Grace seeks to meet the needs of children in our area with a back-to-school backpack.

The above link is how one organization gains sponsors to donate back to school materials for a child or teen. Others around the country are seeking to make a difference in their communities.

Wooster Grace envisions a place where everyone hungers and is developed into mature Christians who are deployed for church-planting and compassion ministries around the world. This project is one of the many steps in developing all people into fully-devoted followers of Jesus.

Jesus had compassion. In Mark 14:3 Jesus is in the house of a well-known leper. He was reclining in Simon's house. Jesus went into the homes of anyone when invited.

Our backpack project interfaces our people with those who need someone to help out with school supplies and a backpack. I thank the Lord that we can share our surplus with those who have no surplus, thus honoring God in our acts of service in the community.

Please pray this week and next week as our people get to bless families, especially the children in those families with a gift of love and care--a backpack filled with school supplies to start a new year of education. May God truly be honored as we go into our neighborhoods and share His love.

Short-term missions makes a difference

Short-term missions is an important value at Wooster Grace. Wooster Grace is proud of those who go on short-term missions.

Kaille grew up in our church. Her parents Mike & Kim have nurtured her towards following God.

Recently, Kaillie served God by securing a short-term missions internship with Sowing Hope for the summer. She has had a great time.

In her own words:

I've gotten really attached to one 8 year old little girl. She doesn't speak Thai very well because she is from the Karen (Kuh-rin) Hilltribe. They speak their own language. She and her brother came to Asia's Hope back in April. Since she can't speak thai, she has a very hard time listening, and doesn't pay attention. She's in the kindergarten class at the christian school so she can learn both Thai and english. She'll just draw and not participate in much. She's getting much better, but she's very very frustrated that she can't read her bible! She's a very smiley, playful, tickle-ish girl!! She and I are buddies. I don't want to leave this little girl!!!! One of the teenagers asked her in her native tongue if she wanted me to be her mother. She just looked up at me, giggled, smiled, and hugged me so tight. That was the moment I knew God was doing somethingmuch much deeper in my heart here. My love for these kids keeps growing every second I'm over here!!

And By The Way:
Our Four14 missions team returned yesterday from their missions trip to Portugal & Spain. Watch for pictures and a report. You can come hear their testimonies live at Four14 on Thursday, August 7 at 7pm. Come and check it out!

Kern & Brazilians "represent" at 300th Anniversary

photo by will palmer

Wooster Grace is well represented at the 300th Anniversary of the Brethren movement. If you are intrigued about the deep roots of the Grace Brethren, then visit the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches blog this coming week to read about what is occurring in Schwarzenau, Germany (the birthplace of the Brethren Movement).

The FGBC selected our Pastor Steve Kern as a U.S. delegate for this historic gathering. Wooster Grace has helped partner with GBIM to assist two Brazilian delegates to attend the festivities in Germany. But please pray for all the 16 delegates to acquire visas to enter Germany. GBIM sees this as a educational experience where our international leaders get to visit the roots of the Grace Brethren movement.

Three good BMH books for your library regarding Grace Brethren history are:

1. Finding our Focus by Dr. David Plaster (BMH Books, Winona Lake, IN: 2003).


2. Our Heritage: Brethren Beliefs & Practices by Dr. Harold Etling (BMH Books, Winona Lake, IN: 1981).


3. Restoring the Household of Faith by Dr. Todd Scoles (BMH Books, Winona Lake, IN: 2008) to be released soon!

Actions in the name of the Lord

Our puppet ministry team ministered to the Sowing Hope Kids this summer. Praise God for their perservance in stifling hot temperatures and gusty winds. Still, the children enjoyed the presentation anyways.






















Pam Leonard said that this was the first time many on the team have performed for an audience. These older elementary and junior high students along with their student and adult leaders demonstrated God's love by sharing their gifts and talents through puppetry.






















Wooster Grace values serving. We believe the Church consists of men, women and children serving for the glory of Christ. Therefore, we help people discover and employ their unique gifts to serve Him and others (Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12&14; Philippians 2:1-11). Check out our values here.

Sharing a meal with our friends

Five thousands words to praise God for our people demonstrating that every person matters to us and to God

Our people sponsor every children for School BackPack Project

photo by bryankemp

Praise God for our people sponsoring all the children who need a back-to-school backpack. Every one of the seventy children sponsored will receive the following items, including, but not limited to: pencils, markers, binder, durable backpack. The Sowing Hope Kids are the ones we sponsor

Please pray for the Backpack Project.

• Ask God to arrange the schedules of both families to deliver and to receive backpacks between August 11 and 16.


• Pray for our Wooster Grace families as they verbalize why we do this: to demonstrate God's love to the family--"all people matter to God and each person matters to us."


• Petition God to empower our Wooster Grace families to make a personal contact with each child, asking to read a brief Bible passage (like Matthew 19:13-15 where Jesus prays for and blesses the children) and to pray for the child and family.


• Plead for God to open up opportunities to share the Gospel with the children and their families