Laurelbrook’s church service on November 9, 2019 began with the ministry corner and announcement period by Rodney Herra. He dealt with the membership transfers.
Ruan and Kate Swanepoel’s baby Jabel was dedicated to the Lord and the parents to raise Jabel as one of God’s own children. Jabel’s grandparents, Jabel’s aunt, and the congregation were also dedicated to raising Jabel as one of God’s children. Rodney Herra then presented a set of My Bible Friends from the church to Ruan and Kate to help in Jabel’s raising. Jabel’s mother Kate then sang a vocal solo, accompanied on the piano by Felix (senior).
Daniel (sophomore) played a musical introduction to the service. Dorin Bucata had the invocation. The congregation sang “Wonderful Words of LIfe”. Rodney Herra had the Morning Prayer; the congregation sang “Hear Our Prayer, O Lord”.
Denisse (sophomore) announced the time for the church offerings. Daryll Ellis and Jester Felarca collected the tithes and offerings. Any money not designated for a particular purpose went toward the Annual Sacrifice Offering (Global Missions). The congregation sang “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow”. Denisse prayed for the offerings.
Airelle Pierre talked to the children about what they would take in their backpack when going on a hike. Some things included almonds, rain gear, and even a compass. In the Christian life, the Bible and faith are the compass.
Denisse and Say Say (freshman) sang a vocal duet for special music. Daryen (senior) read Hebrews 11:1-3 “1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. 3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”
Dorin Bucata had the sermon on faith. The congregation sang “A Mighty Fortress”. Dorin Bucata had the closing prayer.
Personnel Other Than Students:
Airrelle Pierre – wife of Joubert Pierre, one of the academy science teachers
Daryll Ellis – works for the nearby stone company / local church deacon
Dorin Bucata – academy boys’ dean / husband of Ana Marie Bucata, the academy principal
Jester Felarca – senior Mark’s father / former staff member now working as a colporteur
Rodney Herra – local head elder / owns an auto body business on nearby Highway 30
Following are some notes on the sermon:
- God has something for us to do.
- Exodus 14:1-10“1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2 Speak unto the children of Israel, that they turn and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, over against Baalzephon: before it shall ye encamp by the sea. 3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, They [are] entangled in the land, the wilderness hath shut them in. 4 And I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, that he shall follow after them; and I will be honoured upon Pharaoh, and upon all his host; that the Egyptians may know that I [am] the LORD. And they did so. 5 And it was told the king of Egypt that the people fled: and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was turned against the people, and they said, Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us? 6 And he made ready his chariot, and took his people with him: 7 And he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over every one of them. 8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand. 9 But the Egyptians pursued after them, all the horses [and] chariots of Pharaoh, and his horsemen, and his army, and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baalzephon. 10 ¶ And when Pharaoh drew nigh, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and, behold, the Egyptians marched after them; and they were sore afraid: and the children of Israel cried out unto the LORD.”
- It is normal to cry out to the Lord.
- Exodus 14:11-12 “11 And they said unto Moses, Because [there were] no graves in Egypt, hast thou taken us away to die in the wilderness? wherefore hast thou dealt thus with us, to carry us forth out of Egypt? 12 [Is] not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For [it had been] better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness.”
- When we are facing danger, we tend to remember things not there in the first place. Moses told Israel to stay still, something totally different
- Exodus 14:13-15 “13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace. 15 ¶ And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:”
- God says to Israel that they shouldn’t pray but go forward.
- Behind them is death; in front of them is no escape except possibly going back to Egypt and be servants again.
- They could see no good options.
- God rebuked Israel for praying to Him. God had guided them there by the pillar of cloud. Why?
- Sometimes God wants us to face the Red Sea.
- Exodus 14:15 “And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:” Israel felt this was an impossibility. So Israel waited.
- God hadn’t told them to stop on the way to Canaan.
- God’s Word gives us the strength to move forward.
- The people walked forward, and the water opened at the Red Sea and again at the Jorden River. This is what faith is. Faith is action. Faith produces hope, gets rid of discouragement, and pushes us to do the needed forward action.
- If God wants us to have this school, then we move forward and have the school despite student discouragements or state inspectors. It takes faith. The foundation of faith is God’s will.
- Sometimes God sends us to countries or areas we don’t want to go to. Faith is asking God what He wants and following through.