Praying in unity for 30 years page 4
Praying in unity for 30 years faith family community . April 2015 . Serving San Antonio and the Surrounding Communities Since 2001 page 4 . VOL.15 — NO. 4 PENTECOST After Jesus’ ascension, the descent of the Holy Spirit on the disciples brought forth the Great Commission and the growth of the Church Read how local ministries carry out the Great Commission (Stories Inside) Visit us on the Web @ www.saBeacon.com 2 TH E B EAC ON APRIL 2015 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m FAITH A P RIL 2 0 15 T HE B EAC ON 3 Pentecost, the Great Commission, This Issue and You BY AMY MORGAN, BEACON EDITOR Pentecost celebrates the date ten days after Jesus’ ascension into heaven when the Holy Spirit poured onto the Apostles, as recorded in the book of Acts. Jerusalem was full of pilgrims celebrating the Feast of Weeks. Jesus’ disciples were lost and confused. Then the Holy Spirit descended in tongues of flame, and they were filled with power and inspiration to preach the Gospel. It was the fulfillment of Jesus’ last words to them on earth: “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Acts 1:8. According to Greg Laurie’s Daily Devotional at Jesus.org, “Think about how this power transformed the first-century believers. Prior to Pentecost, Simon Peter couldn’t stand up for his faith when strangers asked him if he was a follower of Jesus. After the power of the Holy Spirit was poured out on Pentecost, Peter stood up and boldly preached the gospel, resulting in 3,000 people being saved. “This power is for a purpose. It is power to be a witness… power to have the courage to tell someone about Jesus Christ… power to tell people about what Jesus has done for you.” The power to convincingly share the Gospel both near and far couples with Jesus’ words known as the Great Commission. “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20. This issue highlights San Antonio ministries that exemplify the Great Commission message. Sparked by Holy Spirit power, their representatives go, tell, serve and disciple those who need to hear about and experience the love and salvation of Jesus Christ. Find stories of local Chris- tians who impact our Jerusalem by building houses or who have faithfully led our city’s observance of the National Day of Prayer for the past 30 years. Read about singer Matthew West, performing locally April 12, who is committed to sharing the gospel in song throughout America ( Judea). And discover some who figuratively reach Samaria, providing spiritual and physical support to the impoverished in Rwanda. Others, like Shepherd’s Support and Reaching Africa’s Unreached, literally train pastors and leaders biblically at the ends of the earth – Eurasia, Thailand, Malawi, Uganda. It is our hope these stories will inspire you to think about how you might join with a local minis- 2015 try to fulfill your role in the Great Commission. God commanded it for all believers, and he’s got a purpose for you in his kingdom work. And remember, you’ve got the power of Pentecost to fuel your fire. The Great Commission Matthew West: Musician and “Story-Teller” GRANT LESLIE CREATIVE SPECIALIST Most know him as a singer or maybe just as a musician, but the title “story-teller” encapsulates Matthew West’s character best. We’ve “read his stories” for quite a while now, and he plans to release his newest one, Live Forever, this April. West started as an aspiring baseball player, hoping to ride a scholarship to college or possibly even the major leagues. Coming to terms with the reality of his situation, he recognized that he “had that dream along with millions of other athletes Matthew West, Musician and Author, performs in San Antonio April 12, at the Laurie Auditorium who were better” than he was. His first turning point was realizing he had another passion: music. Being around the church most of the time, his father a pastor, West heard story after story to fuel his understanding of the gospel. Both his Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m parents encouraged and influenced his decision to be part of the story that is Christian music. Additionally, “Reverend Billy Graham had a profound impact on [his] life as a kid, watching his television program,” he said. Such a strong foundation helped launch him toward the newest “chapter” of his life. Today, West is a husband and father of two young daughters. He longs to be both a loving father and an encouraging musician, he said, so he brings his family on tour with him to reduce stress of separation. He describes a perfect day as “two little kids jumping on him to wake him up.” The constant support of his loved ones’ presence while he performs allows West to share himself and his heart to the fullest extent. Regarding his upcoming album, West explains that he gathered stories from others and connected them to his own, inspiring the music’s entire story. He hopes listeners will be able to connect and be encouraged by the “new story” he has created. West performs at 7 p.m., April 12, at the Laurie Auditorium. Live Forever releases April 28. Go to sabeacon.com for the interview in its entirety. 4 FAITH TH E B EAC ON “They understood the times in order to know what to do.” APRIL 2015 Lord, Hear Our Cry Thursday, May 7th is the National Day of Prayer (1 Chronicles 12:32) PUBLISHER: Full Armor Group BY PATTI RICHTER, BEACON STAFF EXECUTIVE PUBLISHERS: Keith Leslie, Claude Roberts 1986 EDITOR: Amy Morgan DESIGN / PRODUCTION: The Roberts Group DISTRIBUTION: Greg Wharton PUBLIC RELATIONS: Pam Leslie BEACON WRITERS: Pamela Lutrell, Amy Morgan, Patti Richter, Greg Wharton THE BEACON OFFICE: P.O. Box 591490 San Antonio, Texas 78259 PH: (210) 614-8884 / FAX: (210) 614-8885 ONLINE: www.saBeacon.com MISSION STATEMENT To serve the local Christian community and communicate understanding of the current times through the prism of a Biblical world-view. This is accomplished through prayer, and a determination to provide excellent reporting for community events, current events, family-oriented activities, directories for local churches, businesses, schools, and camps; in addition to, classified advertising for our circulation area. EDITORIAL POLICY The Beacon is distributed monthly, free of charge throughout San Antonio and the surrounding communities. Distribution includes churches, schools, and businesses. The Beacon is an independent publication, not owned, operated, or affiliated with any church or religious denomination. However, The Beacon does acknowledge The Holy Bible as the inerrant, unchanging Word of God. With this in mind, the Beacon will strive to provide a well-rounded, balanced, Biblical perspective in each issue. Therefore, the Beacon does reserve the right to refuse to print any editorial, letter, advertisement, or article which the editorial board deems as conflicting with our mission statement or Biblical Scripture. The Beacon does welcome LETTERS TO THE EDITOR from the community at large. All letters are subject to editing for clarity and grammar, but not to change the message of the letter. Letters must be signed by the author and include a phone number for verification purposes. All letters then become the property of The Beacon and will not be returned. The Beacon also accepts GUEST COLUMNS and ARTICLES from outside of The Beacon staff. These are also subject to editing for clarity, grammar, and conciseness. The publication of the submitted pieces is at the publisher’s sole discretion, and become the property of The Beacon upon submission. Author’s name and phone number must be included with the article. The Beacon does accept unsolicited advertising; however, these must meet the mission of the newspaper and follow editorial policy. If the advertising contradicts the mission statement, then it is subject to rejection or redesign, as decided by the client. If payment has been made, a full refund will be given upon rejection of the ad. Publication of any advertisement and/or editorial or article does not constitute endorsement by the publisher or editorial board, in any way. Opinions are that of the authors and not necessarily the newspaper publisher or editorial board. The Beacon will not be held responsible in any way for failure or dissatisfaction with any advertised product or event. The Beacon is a publication of The Full Armor Group and this organization does reserve the right, therefore, to publish advertising for its clients. faith family community . . . They rotated high above San Antonio as they sang and prayed. Around 200 pastors, ministers and lay leaders gathered for the first citywide observance of the National Day of Prayer on that day. And though the Tower of the Americas restaurant was reserved for the noon event, participants fasted along with their praying. They sat at cloth-covered tables while some took turns leading in worship and prayers. Then they stood at the windows, looking out over the city as they prayed. Soapy and Suzanne Dollar, life-long ministers with Campus Crusade for Christ (CRU), coordinated that first local National Day of Prayer (NDP) event in 1986. The couple has taken turns with its planning ever since. Suzanne says the annual event moved to other places before landing permanently “on the Steps of City Hall, the center of the city,” beginning in the early 1990s. They’ve seen a growing prayer movement in San Antonio in the years since, evidenced during the 90s with united efforts that brought both Josh McDowell and the Billy Graham Crusade to the city. “Our city’s prayer movement is much big- “Our city’s prayer movement is much bigger than the NDP, but this is a special day of gathering and growth for intercessors,” — Suzanne Dollar ger than the NDP, but this is a special day of gathering and growth for intercessors,” Suzanne says. And the event has grown in numbers—to a record 1500 participants in 2010. This year’s gathering will be the 30th consecutive NDP observance in San Antonio. The 2015 theme, “Lord, Hear Our Cry,” is based on 1 Kings 8:28: “Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.” Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m San Antonio’s first NDP observance: Participants prayed over the city with a view from the Tower of the Americas (1986 photo by Suzanne Dollar) 2014 Concerted prayer: Many Christians prefer to gather with the wider body of Christ on the National Day of Prayer (2014 photo courtesy of Suzanne Dollar) The National Day of Prayer originated in 1952, when President Truman signed a bill proclaiming it into law. In 1988, the first Thursday in May was designated for its annual observance. While we can pray at work, home or church on this day, many prefer to gather with the wider body of Christ. The NDP event also signifies religious freedom and the privilege of publicly proclaiming Christ. Suzanne says, “We celebrate our unity in a special way, recognizing the tie that binds us as brothers and sisters from various denominations and races. We join millions of Americans in concerted, fervent prayer specifically for our nation.” The local gathering—open to all—is one of thousands of NDP events facilitated by volunteer coordinators across the United States. Students from several area schools plan to attend. An all-city choir coordinated by 210 Church will lead worship for the occasion. The Thursday, May 7th, National Day of Prayer observance in front of City Hall in downtown San Antonio begins with worship at 11:30 a.m. An hour of prayer and intercession commences at noon. Affordable parking is available at the nearby Frost Bank building (Commerce at S. Flores). For further information, history and photos, visit NDPsanantonio.org. For questions, including choir participation, write to Suzanne Dollar at [email protected]. A P RIL 2 0 15 T HE B EAC ON Christian Teaching & Talk Seven Days a week Learn how you can be apart of the EXPERIENCE. Informational Meeting April 13th 6:30pm RVSP at KSLR.com/ExperienceIsrael Ministy of the 7:00 AM Truth For Life Alistair Begg 7:30 AM Focus On The Family Jim Daly 8:00 AM Insight For Living Chuck Swindoll 8:30 AM Leading The Way Michael Youssef 9:00 AM Family Life Today Dennis Rainey 9:30 AM Grace To You John MacArthur 10:00 AM Turning Point David Jeremiah 10:30 AM Pathway to Victory Robert Jeffress 11:00 AM Jay Sekulow Live Jay Sekulow 11:30 AM Hope For The Heart June Hunt 12:00 PM John Hagee Today John Hagee 12:30 PM Somebody Loves You Raul Ries 1:00 PM Messianic Perspectives Gary Hedrick 1:15 PM Key Life Steve Brown New Testament sites around the Lake of Galilee The Dead Sea, Ein Gedi Oasis & Masada Emmaus Road, Tel Aviv & Jaffa on the Mediterranean Coast Arbel Cliffs and Biblical Experiences at Kfar Kedem Jerusalem, New & Old Free Day in Tel Aviv and departure back to the USA. 1:30 PM Center Focus Charles Flowers 4:00 PM The Word to Stand on for Life Ron Arbaugh 5:00 PM Maranatha Bible Church Rander Draper 5:30 PM PowerPoint Jack Graham 6:00 PM Grace Revealed J.D. Link 6:15 PM Messianic Perspectives Gary Hedrick 6:30 PM The Word To Stand On Ron Arbaugh 7:00 PM Focus On The Family Jim Daly 7:30 AM The Word On Investing David Mitchell 8:00 PM Truth For Life Alistair Begg 8:30 PM All The Difference Wayne Braudrick 9:00 PM Turning Point David Jeremiah 9:30 PM The Bible Live Soapy Dollar 10:00 PM Watchman On The Wall Noah Hutchings 10:30 PM Pentecostes Sigue su Marcha George Weber 11:00 PM Hope in the Night June Hunt 7:30 AM Adventures In Odyssey Radio Theatre 8:00 AM The Locker Room Coach Val 8:30 AM Kathleen Whitten Ministries Kathleen Whitten 9:00 AM KSLR’s Church Of The Week Marc Longoria 9:30 AM Pray San Antonio Eileen Vincent 10:00 AM Christian Finacial Today Brandon Curry 10:30 AM The Cross At Kerrville Max Greiner 11:00 AM Hill Country Institute Live Larry Linenschmidt 12:00 PM Restoration Road Rick Hudson-Lackland Bapt. 1:00 PM Digging Deeper Gary Johnson 2:00 PM The Safe Money Retirement Show Rudy Hernandez 2:30 PM Real Life Radio Sean Azzaro-River City 3:00 PM The Word On Investing David Mitchell 4:00 PM Living Empowered Milton Smith 4:30 PM SA Pentecostal Church Johnson Varkey 5:00 PM Prophetic Voice Of Our Time Mike & Cris Sosso 5:30 PM Living Your Best Life Les Hollon-Trinity Baptist 6:00 PM Focus On The Family Weekend John Fuller 7:00 AM He's My Friend Andy Goodridge 7:30 PM Maranatha Bible Church Rander Draper 8:00 PM Restoration Road Rick Hudson-Lackland Bapt. 9:00 PM The Shakedown J. Kersey 7:30 AM Road To Reality K.P. Yohannan 8:30 AM Living Your Best Life Les Hollon-Trinity Baptist 9:00 AM Bible Baptist Hour Lasserre Bradley Jr. 10:00 AM The Locker Room Coach Val 12:00 PM Kathleen Whitten Ministries Kathleen Whitten 12:30 PM Four Winds Bible Church Kurt Hudspeth 1:00 PM KSLR’s Church Of The Week Marc Longoria 2:30 PM Digging Deeper Gary Johnson 3:00 PM Living Empowered Milton Smith 3:30 PM The Word On Investing David Mitchell 4:00 PM Restoration Road Rick Hudson-Lackland Bapt. 5:00 PM Prophetic Voice Of Our Time Mike & Cris Sosso 5:30 PM SA Pentecostal Church Johnson Varkey 6:00 PM All The Difference Weekend Wayne Braudrick 7:00 PM Focus On The Family Weekend John Fuller 8:00 PM Healing Hidden Wounds Lea and Shey Preston 9:00 PM The Bible Live Quiz Show Soapy Dollar 10:30 PM Pray San Antonio Eileen Vincent SUNDAY Jerusalem, the City of Gold J. Vernon McGee R.C. Sproul MONDAY - FRIDAY ExperienceIsraelTour.com Armageddon, Mt. Carmel, Caesarea, & Jerusalem Thru The Bible Renewing Your Mind SATURDAY Bring the Bible to Life with Alistair Begg on the trip of a LIFETIME! OCT 24-NOV 3 2015 6:00 AM 6:30 AM Month Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m 5 6 MINISTRY TH E B EAC ON APRIL 2015 Shepherd Support Ministry: Founders exemplify the Great Commission rather than retiring BY AMY MORGAN, BEACON EDITOR Many would be ready to slow down after pastoring a church for 34 years and reaching their sixth decade of life. Not Steve Troxel, long at the helm of Wayside Chapel, who remembers in 2002 a senior missions’ pastor proclaiming his and his wife, Connie’s, greatest ministry years lay still ahead. And his words proved prophetic. The ministry they founded, Shepherd’s Support, has grown to reach and disciple thousands of pastors and their wives from destinations as far flung as Malawi, the Ukraine, Myanmar, and Eurasia. This fall, Shepherd’s Support will celebrate its 10th anniversary. The Troxels have completed 30 conferences in 18 countries, several of which included more than 1,000 pastors and wives. Many participants come from bordering countries, so conference impact goes far beyond the host countries. As many as 5 or 6 different countries may be represented at each conference in Africa or the Balkans. The Troxels estimate they have ministered to 12,000 pastors and wives since 2006, with untold more touched by the teaching materials participants share with others. Steve expounded on the ministry’s beginning. “In 2004 I was invited to preach to the 5,000 people gathered for the 25th anniversary of the Barefoot Doctors ministry in Myanmar. It was an incredible time. “The second day, as night was beginning to fall, a group invited me to eat with them. 12-15 pastors who had heard me preach followed me back. These guys were all sitting there, staring at me. I wanted to find out who they were, so I sent for a translator. “One pastor said in this booming voice: ‘ I am 80 years old, I walked 21 days to get here, and I don’t want to see this conference end.’ I thought, Lord, what are we doing in America? These guys are so hungry to hear the word. That was the beginning of our hearing the call to minister to pastors and wives in these developing countries,” he explained. “The unique part of our ministry is it includes the wives,” Connie added. “We transport, house, feed, pamper and encourage them. They (the pastors and wives) are carrying the load of ministry all alone. They have no help. They are first generation believers who have never had a role model or a mentor. They look at us like mom and dad. We’re putting a little Band-Aid on a huge cancer. Who knows how God is using that to change lives and encourage them.” Despite family and health challenges, the indefatigable couple continues to share the gospel and shepherd the shepherds with unflagging enthusiasm and energy. “Keep doing what God wants us to do,” Connie said with a smile. This month, April 2015, the Troxels will be in Armenia ministering to more than 100 pastors and wives, after which they will travel to Malawi in July for a 700-person conference, and teach more than 200 in Thailand in September. The theme for 2015 is spiritual warfare, and especially as it applies to marriage and ministry, Steve said, as those are the areas of greatest attack. “The first thing we emphasize is their marriage is more important than their ministry,” he added, “That’s why we insist the women come.” In a typical conference, they’ll plan 14 talks, three a day, Steve said, teaching with one other pastor and wife couple. While Steve is the ordained minister, he and Connie share teaching, praying, counseling, which is quite unusual in the developing world. “She has developed in to a very gifted teacher,” Steve complimented Connie, “She brings that woman’s touch.” “We feel it is so important to see husband and wife working together as a team,” Connie said. “These couples come, and they look at it as the honeymoon they never had. On the very last night, we offer communion and a romantic dinner to focus on the Lord and each other. They go home so much stronger.” When asked why they personally travel to minister in these countries rather than just sending Bibles or materials, Steve responded pointedly, “Aren’t you glad God didn’t just send a CD?” CONTINUED ON PAGE 7 The Shepherd Support speaker team for the 2010 pastors and wives conference in Rwanda. Stuart and LeeAnne Hendry; Pastor of Maranatha church Rander and Darlene Draper; Steve and Connie Troxel. Connie Troxel and team member, Jan Willmann, with pastors and spouses of the Mien tribe in Thailand, 2013 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m MINISTRY A P RIL 2 0 15 T HE B EAC ON 7 Shepherd Support Ministry Founders and the Great Commission CONTINUED FROM PAGE 6 “Regardless what access they have to materials, they still have to have the physical presence,” Steve expounded. “That’s why Christ came. The word became flesh.” “Nothing takes the place of the hands on, the hugs and prayers,” Connie added. “People tell us, ‘you love me; you came here.’ If you want • • • • • to tell someone you love them, you go there, you pray with the, you hug them. That’s what the heart of the ministry is.” “We feel so honored and humbled to be a tiny little part of what God is doing.” Connie said.” They find it hard to narrow down their “favorite” conference, or where they believe Shepherd’s Support is having the most impact. They are truly energized by their work in Eurasia and the “Stans,” and have big plans for reaching that area of the world in 2016. “A lot of the pastors are a singular testimony and light in a Muslim village,” Steve said. “The pastor and wife might lead a small church of 3040 people. When you see what these folks deal with, they are cut off from their families when they convert. Christian Academy of San Antonio C.A.S.A. PreK – 12th GRADES CERTIFIED TEACHERS DUAL CREDIT EXCELLENT ATHLETIC PROGRAM FINE ARTS: BAND, CHOIR, ART Dependent on the Holy Spirit, we will instill the teachings of Jesus Christ as the foundation of all spiritual growth to transform lives as we pursue academic excellence. Visit our website: www.christianacademysa.org Elementary: (210) 436-2277 | Secondary: (210) 431-7355 325 Castroville Rd., SAT 78207 C.A.S.A. is accredited by ACSI, SACS, CASI, and recognized by the Texas Education Agency. APPLE PEST CONTROL Family Owned WARNING!! Calling This Number Quotes By Phone (210) 695-8946 Will Cause You to Have Excellent Service at an Excellent Price 2014—2007 Yes! Termites Yes! All Pest Yes! Animal Trapping Yes! Organic Services Yes! Lawn & Tree Program Yes! Wood Destroying Insect Reports NO! CONTRACTS!! Yes! Discounts!! Contact Us! $20 OFF Initial Home Pest Control Service applepestcontrol.com Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m Shepherd Support visited Rwanda in 2010. During their stay, Steve and Connie Troxel encourage an orphan supported by Africa New Life Ministries. Their children are haof sound. There’s power The first time in rassed, ostracized.” there lifting you up – “Most of them (con- Croatia, a group but they had no Word. ference attendees) don’t from Macedonia “The first time we know each other. They provided a Bible per can interact, network came out of a war couple, so they had a and share stories. The zone. They were Bible in their home. first time in Croatia, a going home to The next time, we progroup from Macedonia vided the wives with came out of a war zone. shelling and gun- Bibles. The women are They were going home fire, living on a so moved. to shelling and gunfire, shoe string, barely I literally went in living on a shoe string, surviving. a corner and turned barely surviving. around and cried,” Connie added the Connie said. “It makes culture supports abuse of women, you so thankful for what we have,” which Steve strongly denounces. she said. And many leaders were either raised Organizer Bishop Demba and atheist or Muslims. “They have ques- his son Enock have planted more tions and need real teaching from than 700 churches in Malawi and the word of God,” Steve said. Mozambique. The Troxels’ teaching They told a typical story of a notes from two years ago are still young couple in their 40’s. The pas- being passed among the Bishop’s tor had twice served in the Soviet churches and villages, they said. “We military in Afghanistan. They were give a certificate of achievement for raised never speaking the name of five days of Bible training. They just God in their households. Now they’d treasure it,” Steve said. become believers and looked for The couple reiterated their lives’ a church. A congregation of seven mission to continue to go, teach widows welcomed them, after a and serve as long as they are able, year, he was made pastor without and they credit their stamina to the any biblical training. prayers of supporters. “That’s what “People have no idea of the great empowers and enables us,” Steve need in Asia,” Connie said. “God is added. “We know we can’t throw in doing an mighty work there.” the towel, we are almost at the finYet, the Troxels also feel such a ish line.” connection to their work in Malawi, He emphasized with a hymn rean area to which they return for a frain, “Thank you for giving to the fourth time since their initial visit. Lord, I was a life that was changed. “Our Malawi ministry was a vir- Thank you for giving to the Lord. I’m gin territory,” Steve said. “They really so glad you gave.” know how to pray, all at once in their own language. It’s just a cacophony 8 TH E B EAC ON APRIL 2015 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m A P RIL 2 0 15 BOOK REVIEW T HE B EAC ON 9 The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry — by Rachel Joyce AMANDA GRAVES CONTRIBUTING WRITER “The letter that changed everything arrived on a Tuesday. It was an ordinary morning in mid-April that smelled of clean washing and grass cuttings.” Harold Fry lives what might best be described as a dull life: recently retired from a lifelong job at a brewery (although he doesn’t drink), he and his wife, Maureen, live in a sleepy village on the west coast of England. It quickly becomes obvious there is a gulf between them. At best, communication is minimal and stilted. At worst, Maureen snaps bitterly at Harold. A miasma of unspoken and unresolved pain hangs in the air. The letter is from Queenie Hennessy, an old work colleague whom Harold has not seen in more than twenty years. She has written to say goodbye; she is dying in a hospice six hundred miles away. When Harold walks down the road to mail his own inadequate reply, he finds himself unable to post the letter. “She remembered. After all these years. And yet he had lived out his ordinary life as if what she had done meant nothing. He hadn’t tried to stop her. He hadn’t followed. He hadn’t even said goodbye.” So Harold continues walking to postpone the moment of mailing his letter. Realizing he is hungry, he stops at the local gas station where he finds himself pouring out the contents of the letter to a slackjawed girl behind the counter. She sympathizes; her aunt had cancer: “You have to believe. That’s what I think. It’s not about medicine and all that stuff. You have to believe a person can get better. There is so much in the human mind we don’t understand. But, you see, if you have faith, you can do anything…I don’t mean, like, religious. I mean, trusting what you don’t know and going for it. Believing you can make a difference.” At that moment, Harold has an epiphany. He is not a religious man, but now he knows what he must do. He must walk to Queenie, and she must stay alive until he reaches her. He phones the hospice and leaves a message: “Tell her Harold Fry is on his way. All she has to do is wait. Because I am going to save her, you see. I will keep walking, and she must keep living.” And so begins the unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry. With just the clothes on his back, no cellphone, terrible shoes and no clear plan, Harold begins his journey to save Queenie. Along the way, he encounters humanity in all its manifestations of sadness, kindness, madness and joy. Thanks to social media he becomes something of a celebrity and attracts several colorful follow- ers, all of whom are seeking their own answers. Harold’s is not just a physical pilgrimage: it is an inner journey of selfdiscovery, buried memories, tragedy, grief, faith and ultimately, love. © 2012 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m NY CS 7181378 BC008 10/12 GP10-01506P-N06/10 Lance Childress Vice President Wealth Advisor Retirement planning 755 E Mulberry, Suite 300 College savings plans San Antonio, TX 78212 Comprehensive financial planning 210-277-4449 BA N DE 10 10 87 CHURCH GUIDE T H E B EAC ON 281 APRIL 2015 2696 10 18 16 LUTHERAN Abiding Presence Lutheran Church 14700 San Pedro Ave, SAT 78232...............(210) 494-8884 East Central Assembly of God 1518 Steves Ave. SAT 78210......................(210) 532-1111 First Assembly Of God Church 13435 West Ave., SAT 78216......................(210) 496-9977 Fortress Church 7760 W. Prue Road, SAT 78249...................(210) 523-8111 Northwest Assembly Of God 2714 Hunters Green St., SAT 78231................... (210) 492-5531 CATHOLIC Holy Spirit Church 8134 Blanco Rd., SAT 78216................... (210) 341-1395 Christ the King Catholic 2619 Perez St. SAT 78207..........................(210) 433-6301 CHRISTIAN & MISSIONARY ALLIANCE Alliance Bible Church 2211 Danbury Street, SAT 78217.............. (210) 824-5151 CHRISTIAN CHURCH (DISCIPLES OF CHRIST) Alamo Heights Christian Church 6435 N. New Braunfels Ave. SAT 78209; 210-828-5728. Worship 10:50 am CHURCH OF CHRIST Northside Church of Christ 19818 US Highway 281 N, SAT 78258...... (210) 494-1907 Sendero Assembly of God 5408 Daughtry @ Evers. Sun: 8:30 (Span), 11:00am (Eng), 5pm (Span), 6:00pm (Eng); Wed: 7pm. (210) 680-0111 Randolph Church of Christ 1032 Pat Booker, Universal City 78148.........(210) 659-1373 CHURCH OF GOD Ingram Hills Church of God 4402 Spear Head Dr, SAT 78238.............. (210) 431-8809 Temple Assembly of God 8311 Zarzamora St, SAT 78244...................(210) 657-3578 MacArthur Park Church of God 2938 Nacogdoches, SAT 78217...................(210) 824-7301 Victory Assembly 413 Kitty Hawk, Universal City 78148.................. (210) 659-3251 Shepherd of the Hills Church of God 6703 Fairdale, SAT 78218 .........................(210) 590-7777 CHURCH OF GOD IN CHRIST Dominion Church of God in Christ 3023 Martin Luther King, SAT 78220............(210) 226-2932 6 Westover Hills Assembly of God 9 Westover Hills Blvd, SAT 78251.................(210) 523-1505 BAPTIST Baptist Temple 901 E. Drexel, SAT 78210....................... (210) 533-7114 Bellaire Baptist 116 Clovis, SAT..........................................(210) 923-1613 Castle Hills Baptist Church, 2220 Northwest Military Hwy, SAT................(210) 377-3030 www.chfbc.org Worship Service: Sunday 10:30 a.m. Eisenhauer Road Baptist Church 3950 Eisenhauer Rd, SAT 78218..................(210) 655-4643 First Providence Baptist Church 1014 Clark Avenue, SAT 78210....................(210) 534-5069 First Timothy Missionary Baptist Church 818 N Gevers, SAT 78202...........................(210) 834-9967 Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 935 Iowa, SAT 78203................................(210) 533-5261 Korean Baptist Church 2930 E Bitters, SAT 78217..........................(210) 824-6070 Mayfield Park Baptist Church 700 W. Hutchins, SAT 78221.......................(210) 923-2241 Oak Ridge Baptist Church 10915 Vance Jackson, SAT 78230................... (210) 696-5475 Thousand Oaks Baptist Church 15801 Jones Maltsberger, SAT 78247.................. (210) 494-4664 Resurrection Baptist Church 1002 Live Oak Rd., Schertz..........................(210) 658-0459 Sun: 8, 10:45am, Wed: 7pm. Nursery/Youth Church. www.myrbconline.org 9 Shearer Hills Baptist Church 12615 San Pedro Ave., San Antonio, 78216 (210) 545-2300 Sunday Worship: 8:30 am Contemporary Service & 11:00 am Traditional Service; 9:45 am Bible Study for all ages www.shearerhills.org EPISCOPAL St. Thomas Episcopal Church 1416 N SR-1604 Loop E, SAT 78232......... (210) 494-3507 EVANGELICAL FREE 2 Lutheran Church of the Resurrection 6011 Grissom Road (.4 miles off Bandera Rd. outside Loop 410) (210) 681-4750 We invite you to discover a small worshiping community of classic Christianity. Adult & children Sunday Schools: 9:30am Worship at 11:00am; Youth programs www.lutheran-church-san-antonio.org Shepherd King Lutheran Church (ELCA) 303 West Ramsey, SAT 78232.....................(210) 344-5881 St. Andrew Lutheran Church 16320 Huebner Rd, SAT 78248...................(210) 493-9832 METHODIST Alamo UMC 4071 N. Foster Rd., SAT 78244................ (210) 826.3215 4 Community Bible Church 2477 N. Loop 1604 East, San Antonio. (210) 496-5096 Sat: 5:00 pm, Sun: 9:00, 11:00 am. www.communitybible.com 12 Trinity Church 5415 N. Loop 1604 East, San Antonio. (210) 653-0003 Sunday Worship: 10:30am, Coffee Fellowship 10:00am, Servicios En Espanol: 10:30am and Korean 1:30pm www.trinitychurch.com rs o nL p An de 471 19 410 16 20 16 2 6 3487 281 35 368 421 410 151 Stotze rF 35 37 151 11 16 26 13 10 90 Rigsby Ave 10 13 371 35 1604 353 410 do are Hw y 281 37 13 122 422 L 410 14 Stinson Municipal Airport Kingdom Life Fellowship 17120 Classen Rd, SAT 78265.....................(210) 490-2175 CrossBridge Community Church 25700 Overlook Pkwy, SAT 78260.................. (210) 496-0158 35 The Loft 4400 US Hwy 281N, Spring Branch, 78070 16 The Living Word of God Christian Church 608 Schertz Parkway, Schertz, TX 78154......(210) 468-3609 81 Bethany UMC 4102 Eisenhauer Road, SAT 78218.................. (210) 655-5473 Destiny Church 86352790 Callaghan Rd., SAT 78230..................(210) 349-2295 Maranatha Church 7855 N Loop 1604 E, Converse 78109.........(210) 821-5683 1604 Bulverde Oak Meadow UMC 2740 Hunters Green, SAT 78231..................(210) 492-3902 Ekklesia 6718 San Pedro Ave, SAT 78216..................(210) 400-7871 BEX My Father’s House Church Pastor Marc Longoria | Lady Bird Johnson Park Community Ctr 37 Sundays 10am 281 www.MyFathersHouseChurch.net...................(210) 626-8993 Best Western Plus Area Hotel & Suites SW Loop 410 @ 476 Hwy 90 W www.ECCSATX.org —3635 Crooked Trail, SAT 78227 New Life Christian Center 6622 Hwy 90 West, SAT 78227...................(210) 679-6050 35 Bulverde UMC 28300 Hwy. 281 N., SAT 78260................... 830.980-7745 Coker UMC 231 E. N. Loop Rd., SAT 78216....................(210) 494-4481 Colonial Hills UMC 5247 Vance Jackson Rd., SAT 78230.............. (210) 349-2401 Northern Hills UMC 3703 N SR-1604 Loop E, SAT 78247............... (210) 654-8406 Saint Mark’s UMC 1902 Vance Jackson, SAT 78213..................(210) 344-8393 University UMC 5084 De Zavala Rd., SAT 78249..................(210) 696-1033 Alamo City Christian Fellowship Church 6500 IH 35 North, SAT 78218.....................(210) 654-7880 Bandera Road Community Church 9355 Bandera Rd. Ste. 124, SAT 78250.......(210) 523-9085 Blossom Christian Fellowship 12000 Starcrest Drive #111, SAT 78247.......(210) 497-0026 Calvary Chapel North San Antonio 5246 Blanco Road, SAT 78216....................(210) 530-9673 Castle Hills Christian Church 6209 West Ave, SAT 78213.........................(210) 344-7188 Central Christian Church 1300 Evans Rd., SAT 78258........................(210) 227-5273 Christ Fellowship Church 5440 Vance Jackson, SAT 78230..................(210) 341-6444 Church Alive 18850 Redland Rd, SAT 78259....................(210) 490-1770 Church at Vineyard Hills 19202 Redland Road SAT 78232..................(210) 473-8686 Cornerstone Church 18755 Stone Oak Parkway, SAT...................(210) 490-1600 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m 117 2536 410 Don’t see your church listed? Give us a call @ (210) 614-8884. Listings are as low as281$15 for up to 20 wo 1937 Love Gospel Church 2537 8102 Crosscreek, SAT 78218.......................(210) 650-3400 Windcrest UMC 8101 Midcrown Drive, SAT 78239................... (210) 654-0404 NON-DENOMINATIONAL Abundant Life 5626 Randolph Blvd, SAT 78233............... (210) 650-4816 20825 Wilderness Oak, SA 78258 (210) 499-5775 Service Times: Sunday @ 10:00am www.lifehouseSA.com INTER-DENOMINATIONAL The Restoration Centre 6401 Bandera Road, SAT 78238............... (210) 522-1463 8 471 Cross Point Community Church 2600 Roy Richard Dr., Schertz 78154.................. (210) 658-6240 FOURSQUARE 10 Lifehouse Church 410 1 Asbury UMC 4601 San Pedro Ave, SAT........................... (210) 725.8115 Trinity United Methodist Church 6800 Wurzbach Rd SAT 78240....................(210) 684-0261 Faith You Can See! 7801 Marbach(next to Jay HS) SA, TX 78227 (210) 256.7711 www.livingfaithsa.org Pastors Mario & Irma Nava Sundays 9am or 10:30am, Wednesdays 7pm San Antonio Int'l Airport 537 87 7 1604 1957 Wayside Chapel 1705 NW Loop 410, SAT......................... (210) 344-1203 Blended/Traditional Worship: Sun: 9:15am; Contemporary Sun: 11am. www.waysidechapel.org 11 Living Faith Church 345 MacArthur Park Lutheran Church 2903 Nacogdoches, SAT 78217...................(210) 824-7135 20 Mount Calvary Lutheran Church LCMS 308 Mt. Calvary Drive (behind Target off Austin Highway) 90 (210) 824-8748 Pastor K.T. Devries, Traditional Sun. Service 8:30am, 11am & 6:30pm (1st and 3rd only) Bible and Sunday School, 9:45am Nursery available, live web services on www.mtcsa.org 9 10 s Woodland Baptist Church 15315 Huebner, SAT 78248........................(210) 493-4501 BIBLE CHURCH Believers Fellowship 13714 Lookout Road, SAT 78233............. (210) 656.2000 1535 lito Calvary Temple Assembly of God 14335 O’Conner Rd. (210) 657-3578 Sun: 10:30am; Wed: 7:00 pm Fusion Small Groups for Adults, Kid’s Church, & SHIFT Student Ministries www.ctagsa.com 3 West Campus Baptist Church 5203 Old Pearsall Rd, SAT 78242.................. (210) 277-7799 3 15 17 1560 Highland Park Lutheran Church 471 705 Hammond Ave, SAT 78210...................(210) 533-9484 Holy Cross Lutheran 3118 S. New Braunfels, SAT 78210.................. (210) 532-1300 1560 ga AMI Training Center 4218 Thousand Oaks, SAT 78217.................(512) 451-8260 ASSEMBLY OF GOD First Baptist Church Universal City 1401 Pat Booker Rd, Universal City 78148 ...............................................................(210) 658-6394 12 wy All Saints Anglican Church 11122 Link Drive. SAT 78213 (210) 344-1920 9:00am and 11:15am. www.allsaintanglican.net APOSTOLIC/PROPHETIC Arise Family Church 4218 Thousand Oaks, SAT 78217 office.................................................... (512) 451-8260 Sundays 2:30 pm, 1st & 3rd Wed Prayer 7:00pm Prophetic Services 2nd & 4th Fridays 7:30pm www.arisefamilychurch.com 16 No 1 Mt. Ararat Baptist Church 700 W. Hutchins, SAT 78221.......................(210) 434-9795 211 Concordia Lutheran Church 16801 Huebner Road, SAT 78258 (210) 479-1477 Worship Opportunities: Sat. 6pm, Sun. 8, 9:30, 11am, Vespers: 5pm. Children and Youth Programs www.Concordia.cc MEDINA COUNTY BEXAR COUNTY ANGLICAN 5 4 1604 CW Church & School Guide 5 1535 ATA AR CO S 26 Evangel Christian CenterCOSA UNTY COU NT213-1677 Sunday Service 10 am................................(210) Y Everyday Christian Fellowship 16 824 Main St, Schertz 78154.......................(210) 659-6300 17 Faithwalk Fellowship Sunday Service 11am, LaQuinta Inn Conference Room 11155 West Loop 1604 North SAT 78254 (210) 404-4004 New Wine Family Christian Center 306 Clovis, SAT 78221 North Central 814 Arion Parkway, Suite 410, SAT, 78216 www.oakhillschurch.com .............................(210) 698-4674 536 Northwest Community Church 8900 Guilbeau Road, SAT 78250..................(210) 680-3041 Westside Fellowship 321 General McMullen Drive SAT, 78237 www.oakhillschurch.com........................... (210) 432-0404 Sunday Worship 9 am, 11am Oak Hills Church 19595 IH 10 W, SAT, 78257.......................(210) 698-6868 Sat. Worship: 5pm & Sun: 8:15am, 9:45am & 11:30am www.oakhillschurch.com Grace Cathedral Christian Church 1001 W. Huisache, SAT 78201.....................(210) 734-3990 Offering of Peace Church 11502 Big Mesa, SAT 78245 13 Grace Community Church 701 Kitty Hawk Rd, Universal City 78148 (210) 659-8200 Sunday 9:30am and 11:15am www.Grace-SA.org Harvest Fellowship Community Church 16111 San Pedro Ste. 109 SAT 78232 | 490-2827 Service: Sun. Worship 10:30am | Darrell Lindsey, Pastor Contact: Rob Hicks [email protected] House of Living Bread 18940 Redland Rd., SAT 78259...................(210) 402-6500 Journey Fellowship 16847 I.H. 35 N, Selma 78154...................(210) 651-1463 Sun. Worship Gatherings 9am & 11am www.oakhillschurch.com Open Door Ministries International Outreach to the Nations Temporarily meeting at Walker Ranch Park 11610 Persuasion, SAT 78216.................... (210) 308.9573 14 Point of Grace Church 217 Pleasanton Rd., San Antonio, TX Prince of Peace Community Church 8310 Pat Booker Rd. Live Oak, TX 78233 ...............................................................(210) 473-9743 River Oaks Church 10294 FM 539, P.O. Box 181 Sutherland Springs, TX 78161.............. 830-928-ROBC(7622) Scripture Fellowship Services: 9:45am and 3:30pm on Sundays at Holiday Inn on I-35 across from Splashtown............................ (210) 646-6759 La Iglesia Del Senor 3502 West Avenue, SAT 78213....................(210) 341-3284 St. Paul Evangelical Church 108 S Main St, Cibolo 78108......................(210) 658-5874 Life Center Christian Fellowship 12140 US Hwy 90 W..................................(210) 677-8181 Summit Christian Center 2575 Marshall Road, SAT 78259..................(210) 402-0565 Lighthouse Christian Temple 8201 Old Pearsall Rd, SAT 78252.................(210) 623-4000 81 46 CHURCH GUIDE A P RIL 2 0 15 NTY Y COU UNT AL CO COMALUPE D A U G 3009 35 T HE B EAC ON 11 482 2252 1604 1518 3009 78 1465 218 13 SCHOOLS 78 1516 Achievers Center For Education Special Needs School 5th-12th 5084 DeZavala Road, San Antonio, Texas 78249 210-690-7359 www.aceschool.org 10 90 1604 CW d An Academy @ Trinity Church 5401 N. Loop, SAT 78247 (210) 653-2800 n so er 1516 Lp 1346 1518 Bracken Christian School 670 Old Boerne Road, Bulverde 78163 (830) 980-3267 87 Buckner Fanning Christian School 87 975 Mission Springs, SAT 78258 (210) 402-6905 1628 3432 775 Castle Hills First Baptist School 2220 NW Military Hwy, SAT 78213 (210) 377-8485 rds. Don’t forget we’re online too @ www.saBeacon.com 181 327 1303 B WI EXA LS R C ON OU CO NT UN Y TY 3432 Sunday School: 9:45am; Sunday Services: 11:00am; Wed Bible Study: 7:30pm 13007 Jones Maltsberger Rd., SAT 78247 For more info call or visit [email protected] (210) 490-PRAY (7729) Concordia Lutheran School 16801 Huebner Rd, SAT 78258 (210) 479-1477 Cornerstone Christian School 48022 Vance Jackson, SA 78230 (210) 979-9203 Victory Life 5251 Old Pearsall Rd., SAT 78231................... (210) 337-1562 Victory Outreach Church of San Antonio 851 Hammond, SAT 78210................. Church (210) 533-7060 ........................................Recovery Center (210) 531-0090 1303 www.victoryoutreach-sa.com email: [email protected] Pastors Luis and Debbie Molina Wed. Home Life Groups, Youth, & Celebrate Recovery 7:00pm; Friday Celebration Service 2579 Celebration Service 10:00am 7:00pm; Sunday Western Hills Christian Church 8535 Huebner, SAT 78240..........................(210) 690-9327 536 536 319 Christian Academy of San Antonio (CASA) 325 Castroville Rd, SAT 78207 (210) 436-2277 15 Thousand 1604 Oaks Christian Church Women’s Neighborhood Prayer Int’l 104 Ivywood Circle, SAT 78213....................(210) 349-7729 World Center Church 8323 Culebra Rd. #102, SAT 78251 PENTECOSTAL Lively Stone International Christian Church 210 S. Grimes St. Ste 103, 78203................(210) 226-1234 Harvest Time Fellowship Ministries 1815 S. WW White Rd, SAT 78222.................. (210) 304-6000 www.htfm.org PENTECOSTAL CHURCH OF GOD PRESBYTERIAN Crestholme Presbyterian Church 1602 Goliad Road, SAT 78223.................. (210) 333-1301 Faith Presbyterian Church 3950 Eisenhauer Rd, SAT 78218..................(210) 492-8038 Holy Trinity Presbyterian 16245 Nacogdoches, SAT 78247.................(210) 654-3411 16 San Pedro Presbyterian Church 14900 San Pedro, San Antonio (210) 494-6560 Sun. 8:30 & 11am. www.sppcsa.com New Braunfels Christian Academy (elementary) 995 Mission Hills, New Braunfels, TX 78130 (secondary) 220 FM 1863, New Braunfels, TX 78130 (elementary) (830) 629-6222 (secondary) (830) 629-1821 River City Christian School 5810 Blanco Road, SAT 78216 (210) 384-0297 San Antonio Christian Schools 19202 Redland Road, SAT 78259 (210) 340-1864 HOMESCHOOL CO-OPS (210) 384-2007 FEAST 25 Burwood Lane. San Antonio, TX 78216 (210) 342-4674 Used Vehicles Wanted Point of Grace Church 217 Pleasanton Rd., SAT For More Info: Pastor Roy Reyes 210-833-5985 Toy Werks is San Antonio’s Biggest and Best Family Owned and Operated Toy Store. Don’t See Your School Listing? Grace Christian School 7760 W. Prue Road, SAT 78249 (210) 265.8166 Donate Your Unwanted Vehicle Running or Not, Free Pick-up Service | Tax Deductible “Real Toy Store” St. Thomas Episcopal School 1416 N. Loop 1604 E, SA 78232 (210) 494-3509 We’ll be glad to get your school listed. Call Us Today! CLASSIFIED AD Come & Experience A St. George Episcopal School 6900 West Ave, San Antonio, TX (210) 342-4263 Dominion’s Horizon Higher Learning Program (for students ages 16-25 who do not have their High School Diploma) 3023 Martin97Luther King Drive SA 78220 (210) 338-2227 (open from 9am-2pm) Kidz World and KDO Learning Center 1270 N. Loop 1604 East, SAT 78232 (210) 496-2277 and commitment to social involvement. www.homeschoolfeast.com R A D I O S TAT I O N S KBNU 93.9 FM Gospel Music ........................................................... (830) 278-3693 KCHL 1480 AM Gospel Music ...............................................................(210) 333-0050 KDRY 1100 AM All Christian Teaching ........................................................... (210) 545-1100 KKER 88.7 FM Christian Radio ............................................................... (888) 777-KHCB We provide the best selection of toys, dolls, games, books, craft and science kits, and stuffed animals in San Antonio with a fun and friendly hands-on environment. Kids and any kid at heart are welcome to come in and play! You’ll find Play Areas throughout the store where kids can try out some of our favorite toys. CAUTION: Once you enter, it is often hard to leave! We pride ourselves E. Sontera Blvd on customer service. No matter what the occasion, we will help you find the appropriate gift and we will gladly Gift Wrap Access Rd 1604 it for FREE!! 1604 Come experience a REAL TOY STORE!!! Stone Oak Open Door Pentecostal Church of God 151 Lanark Drive, SAT 78218......................(210) 223-7537 Senior Pastor Hopkins, (210) 317-8956 Sunday School 9:30am, Morning Worship 10:45am, Sunday Evening 6:30pm. Tues. Bible Study 7:00pm, www.opendoorpcg.com 181 BUS 181 Primrose School at Cibolo Canyons 3330 TPC Parkway, SAT 78261 (210) 479-7099 Are you thinking of selling or trading in that old car, truck, van, RV, or boat? Do you have some other property such as an airplane, real estate, construction equipment, or stocks and bonds that you really can do without? Would you like to help middle school and high school kids find Jesus Christ? Then why not donate that property instead? Your car donation is fully tax deductible and will help the local Youth For Christ branch fulfill it’s mission: Youth For Christ reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to prayer and the Word of God, passion fro sharing the love of Christ 281 1976 10 90 1518 Hardy Oak Blvd 78 KSLR 630 AM Christian Teaching-Talk ...............................................................(210) 344-8481 BUSINESS SERVICES Bruce Cotter, CLU, ChFC KYFS 90.9 FM Bible Broadcasting Network ...............................................................(512) 615-8973 KYTY 810 AM Christian Radio ...............................................................(210) 545-6713 Guiding Individuals and Employers in Retirement Planning KZLV 91.3 FM Contemporary Christian Music ...............................................................(210) 824-9100 PO Box 701945 San Antonio, Texas 78270 KZAR 97.7 FM Contemporary Christian Music ...............................................................(210) 824-9100 Phone: (210) 340-4101 www.brucecotter.com KLUP Talk Radio ...............................................................(210) 344-8481 The Fish San Antonio.com ...............................................................(210) 344-8481 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m The McGehee Family Toy Store 923 N. Loop 1604 E. #106 | Waterford at Stone Oak Center (210) 490-7171 12 T H E B EAC ON TEENS APRIL 2015 A MESSAGE JUST FOR TEENS BY ADAM WYATT, SAC’S REVELATION COPY EDITOR Last October I had the privilege of hearing Dr. Ben Carson speak at the “Celebrating Life Gala.” After listening to him speak, I was so engrossed by his ability to tell his familiar story of success yet shed it in a new light to prove the point he wanted to make. Carson successfully pulls this off in his most recent book, You Have a Brain: A Teen’s Guide to T.H.I.N.K B.I.G. This is his first book targeted toward young adults and teenagers after having six other successful books. He says about his teen audience, “Over the years some of my favorite and most frequent audiences are students – from elementary school, junior and senior high, up through college and graduate schools. I love talking to younger people who have so much life ahead of them and so much potential to make an impact on the world.” With this statement being said, Carson shows his goal of this book; to show teens their potential and how to achieve it. The first half of Carson’s book is a short autobiography, retelling his story. He grew up raised by a single mother who had little more than a third grader’s education. She encouraged them to do well in school by enforcing a policy of requiring two book reports per week. From this, Carson developed a love of learning that would set him on the path to become successful in school. Carson attended Yale after graduating from high school, and at John Hopkins hospital became the first neurosurgeon to separate twins conjoined at the head. Carson tells this story with his end point in mind and primes the readers with relevant anecdotes and glimpses from his past. Carson’s writing style is ef- fective and to-the-point, much like his speaking style. He ties in his experience as a neurosurgeon during the first chapter by showing several interesting facts about the brain. I didn’t know your brain can’t feel pain or has enough electricity to power a low-watt light bulb fully for your entire life! As Carson states, “The potential of your mind is literally mind-boggling.” Carson ties in his brain theme by sharing one of his mother’s favorite sayings, “Do you have a brain?” From here Carson launches into his story, meanwhile bringing up the brain theme and weaving it into various events of his life. The second portion of You Have a Brain focuses on application of his story, by sharing advice how to achieve success in future careers and lives. The acronym in the title (T.H.I.N.K B.I.G.) functions as Carson’s eight points to success; Talent, Honesty, Insight, Nice, Knowledge, Books, In-depth learning/initiative, and God. In his points, Carson shares helpful advice for teens looking into future careers. Carson encourages reading, saying, “Often young people, and even some adults, hear my story and say, ‘But I’m not much of a reader’… My first response is: reading is a learned skill. So as with any learned skill, you can improve with practice. The more you do it, the better you’ll be at it.” He also encourages teens to gain insight from others. Guidance counselors, teachers, and even friends can help understanding and give invaluable advice for the future. Carson does warn, however, to not always follow the advice given, as demonstrated when one counselor advised him to quit pursuing a career in medicine after a succession of bad grades. Carson advises teens to take initiative in learning by going above and beyond in everything. He shares a story of his personal manager to reinforce his point, going above and beyond her job description by learning everyone’s role and taking the initiative to learn how all the roles work together In the same way, Carson encourages high school students to go in-depth in their learning and “take the extra mile,” whether asking a teacher a question on the lesson to doing extra research on the subject. Carson also tells teens to start working towards their goals now, as demonstrated by what different activities he did throughout high school. “There is no such thing as useless knowledge, because you never know what little bit of information will open certain doors for you,” is reinforced by anecdotes multiple times throughout the book. He worked as a lab assistant during high school at a local college, which gave him a leg up on lab work to his peers. But he also worked in a factory operating a crane during a break when he was in college. This enabled him to think in three-dimensions. While it was not apparently useful at the time, this knowledge later helped him during operating on the brain. All in all, Carson’s book is well written and offers advice from someone who had to work very hard to succeed. The book is not that long (only about 240 pages), and takes less than a week to read casually. I’ve started thinking where I can put his tips into practice in my life at school and outside. You Have a Brain gets a full 100/100. SAN ANTONIO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL www.sachristianschools.org 19202 Redland Rd. | San Antonio, TX 78259 | Ph: (210) 340-1864 | Fax: (210) 340-0461 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m FAITH A P RIL 2 0 15 T HE B EAC ON 13 Advertisement Changes for March 2015 forward 2015 Forester 2.5i • Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive • 170 HP SUBARU BOXERTM Engine • Vehicle Dynamic Control Sale Price 0.9% APR for 48 Months FINANCING AVAILABLE ON SELECT MODELS* Nichole Nordeman performs at the 2015 Annual Fundraiser for Daily Bread Ministries. • Keyless Entry with Security • CD/MP3 Player See page 14 for details. • Tilt/Speed Control 21,880 $ Or Lease For 249 $ Up to 29 MPG HWY Model FFA. OPT 01 PER MONTH 36 MONTHS $1,249 TOTAL DUE MSRP $23,287, NP DISCOUNT $1,584. $249/MO 36 MOS. $1,000 + FIRST PYMT DUE AT SIGNING. 10K MILES/YR, $0 SECURITY DEPOSIT. / MODEL FFA. OPT 01 /STK# JG568983 PRI PHYSICAL THERAPISTS Hank Bussey, PT, DPT, MS, OCS Gabriel Molina, PT, MPT, CHT, MBA Derk Harrington, PT, MPT, CMT, OCS Stephanie Bussey, PT, MPT 2014 The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has recognized Subaru with more 2014 Top Safety Picks than any other brand. In fact, Subaru is the only manufacturer with IIHS Top Safety Picks for all models for the last five years (2010-2014). Purchase or lease any new (previously untitled) Subaru and receive a complimentary factory scheduled maintenance plan for 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever comes first.)See Subaru Added Security Maintenance Plan for intervals, coverages and limitations. Customer must take delivery before 12/31/15 and reside within the promotional area. At participating dealers only. See dealer for program details and eligibility. 2012 SUBARU (Located at San Pedro) 9807 San Pedro 800.280.5780 Direct Service (210) 426-3246 Direct Parts (210) 341-8846 NPSUBARU.com SUBARU AT DOMINION 21415 IH 10 West 210.816.8000 Direct Service (210) 426-3246 Direct Parts (210) 341-8846 NPSUBARUDOMINION.com PRI SPECIALTY PROGRAMS Manual/Manipulative Therapy Custom Orthotics Sports Injury Management Pre/Post-Surgical Treatment Total Knee/Hip Replacement Independent Fitness Program Back/Neck School Osteoporosis Program Wellness/Weight Loss Program Balance Rehabilitation The Medical Park at Stone Oak 19260 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste 107 (210) 545-9355 Medical Center Location 5282 Medical Drive, Suite 550 (210) 593-0774 Vehicle Art For Illustration Purposes Only. $17 per $1000 financed with approved credit. *Financing offers on select models. Offer expires 3/31/2015. Subject to vehicle insurance and availability. Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m www.myPRI.net 14 T H E B EAC ON FAITH APRIL 2015 How to Instantly Increase Your Joy Every word that comes out of our mouths has power in it—creative or destructive, positive or negative. Proverbs 18:21 (AMP) says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [ for death or life].” So whether we murmur and complain or give thanks and keep a positive attitude, we are feeding our body, mind and spirit. So if you’re not enjoying your life, the best thing you can do is think about what you’ve been talking about. First Peter 3:10 says, “For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit).” Our joy is connected to what we say. And one of the ways we can instantly increase our joy is to stop talking about all of our problems. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” These verses show us that when we put our faith in God, we can stay in peace in every situation in our lives. The question is, when we pray and ask God to change something in our lives, are we releasing our faith? We need to understand that the moment we pray, God goes to work on that situation. And after we pray, what we say while we’re waiting to see the answer to our prayer is very, very impor- tant. So pray and then say something to enhance your prayers-speak faithfilled words. After I pray, I set myself to believe that God is working no matter what I see…no matter what it feels like. Because oftentimes when it seems nothing is happening, that’s when God is doing what we need the most. Another way we can instantly increase our joy is by using our words to encourage those around us. Proverbs 18:20 (AMP) says, “A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].” Every word is like a seed and it brings some kind of harvest in our lives. If you give others joy with your words, you will increase your own joy. If you want to enjoy your life, let God use you to make other people happy. Because the happier you make other people, the happier you will be. Encouraging words can also bring healing, by simply saying things like “I appreciate you. Forgive me. I’m sorry and I was wrong.” I was not what I would call a natural encourager, but I made a commitment to God years ago to start encouraging people on purpose. Now I ask God every day, “Who can I encourage today? How can I build someone up?” It’s amazing how much better life can be when you give someone an encouraging word every day. We can also increase our joy by being thankful and saying it. Psalm 100:4 says, “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thank- ful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!” Thank God for every blessing that you can think of. Every morning I like to have what I call a “blessing session.” It’s when I take time to thank God for working in my life. One thing I’ve learned is when we’re waiting for a breakthrough, we need to thank Him for working on that situation behind the scenes. I also thank God for my husband, children and grandchildren as well as all of our partners and all of the people who work with us in spreading the Gospel through our ministry. God wants you to enjoy your life. I hope you will really get this message today and be encouraged to know that when you face challenges in life, you can make them better or worse by the way you talk about them. I don’t believe we can change all of our circumstances into pleasant ones by making positive confessions, but we can increase our joy and peace in the midst of them when we choose to speak in agreement with God and learn to say what He says. For more on this topic, order Joyce’s Action Plan The Power of Words. You can also contact us to receive our free magazine, Enjoying Everyday Life, by calling (800) 727-9673 or visiting www.joycemeyer.org. Ladies, join Joyce for the Love Life Women’s Conference September 17-19 in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information, go to www.joycemeyer.org/lovelife. Joyce Meyer is a New York Times bestselling author and founder of Joyce Meyer Ministries, Inc. She has authored more than 100 books, including Battlefield of the Mind and Living Courageously (Hachette). She hosts the Enjoying Everyday Life radio and TV programs, which air on hundreds of stations worldwide. For more information, visit www. joycemeyer.org. Please note: The views and opinions expressed throughout this publication and/or website are those of the respective authors and do not necessarily reflect those of Joyce Meyer Ministries. After School Art Lessons for Kids Age 6 and Up Many locations in the San Antonio and surrounding area public and private school, home-school groups, birthday parties, girl and boy scout troops, in-school programs Register Today for Fall Classes Call Today! 945-4411 for more information www.myartstarz.com Tickets : dailybreadministries.org/vision-dinner-2015 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m A P RIL 2 0 15 MINISTRY / FAITH T HE B EAC ON 15 God’s Love is Building with Local Ministry BY DAVID RODRIGUEZ , STUDENT WRITER Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio (HFHSA) has helped 850 families build, finance, and maintain a house in its 30 years of service. In the mission statement, the organization declares its goal is “to build simple, decent and affordable houses without interest or profit, thereby witnessing God’s love in action.” Since Habitat seeks no profit from its home building program, the organization searches for creative ways to collaborate with individuals, corporations, and faith groups throughout the greater San Antonio area to raise funds and manpower. The faith community is an important population from which to reap, as Christians often seek opportunities to follow Jesus’s example of sharing with and serving others. Habitat offers opportu- nities to connect those desires with tangible projects. HFHSA considers the faith community so important, it merits its own outreach coordinator: Trisch Moy, Faith Relations Associate. She oversees the Faith in Action Team, or FIAT, that reaches out to faith organizations to help connect those who wish to volunteer at Habitat, whether building a house or donating and serving a meal. “There is no formal membership to join the FIAT, all that is required is for you to share an interest in being involved in Habitat for Humanity of San Antonio’s mission and a desire to learn more about HFHSA,” Moy said. “Some churches even come together and take on an entire house. Every little bit helps… We couldn’t reach our [annual] goal [of 55 homes] without the strong [ faith] community of service that we have in San Antonio.” Moy hosts a luncheon six times an- Come be a part of our family! San Antonio Christian Schools Christ-centered | College Preparatory | Service-minded Pre-Kinder-12th Grade OPEN Enrolling HOUSE Now for the SATURDAY, JANUARY 24, Year 2015 2015 – 2016 School 9:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m.tour. Call us today about a personal or call for a tour 19202 Redland Road | San Antonio, TX 78259 210.340.1864 x410 | www.sachristian.org Habitat Home fully sponsored by South Texas Lutheran Cluster. Photo courtesy of HFHSA. nually for those interested in learning how to connect their church or group with Habitat’s projects – attendance ranges from 20-60. For those seeking guidance unable to attend a luncheon, Moy takes emails and calls to provide answers. HFHSA is able to direct 100% of their donations to the home building program, according to the organization’s website, because administrative costs are offset by the proceeds of its Habitat Home Centers, three storefronts offering discount home improvement products, toys and home decor. The Habitat Home Centers accept donations as well and arrange large merchandise pickups. A fullscale model of the three-bedroom Habitat home is featured at the store at 311 Probandt. Training centers housed in the Home Centers teach the new homeowners how to maintain their homes, extending support long after the volunteers and construction crews Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m have left. They also teach life skills such as community involvement, conflict resolution, and money management through classes led by Habitat staff. HFHSA depends on volunteers and donations all year, and funds will only benefit the San Antonio Community if they are designated to the San Antonio affiliate directly. To connect with FIAT, contact Moy at faithrelations.haitatsa.org or (210) 223-5203 x148. Contact Noelle Pinto at (210) 223-5203 x161, or at [email protected], to volunteer. Find detailed information about the Home Centers, training programs, and applicant requirements at HabitatSA.org. April Events Tuesday, April 7: Saturday, April 11: Thursday, April 16: Friday, April 17: Volunteer Orientation HFHSA Office @ 6pm House Dedication J.T. Brackenridge @ 11am Volunteer Orientation HFHSA Office @ 6pm HAB-I-Tour (RSVP) (Breakfast/Coffee) HF HSA Office @ 8:30am Tuesday, April 21: FIAT Luncheon (RSVP) San Antonio Presb terian 14900 San Pedro Avenue @ 12pm. Please RSVP to Trisch Moy, Faith Relations, (210) 223-5203 x148 or [email protected]. 16 T H E B EAC ON FAITH How to Become a Christian The central theme of the Bible is God’s love for you and for all people. This love as revealed when Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world as a human being, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. Because Christ died, your sins can be forgiven, and because He conquered death, you can have eternal life. You BILLY GRAHAM EVANGELIST can know for sure what will be come of you after you die. You have probably heard the story of God’s love referred to as the “Gospel.” The word Gospel simply means “Good News.” The Gospel is the Good News that, because of what Christ has done, we can be forgiven and can live forever. But this gift of forgiveness and eternal life can not be yours unless you willingly accept it. God requires an individual response from you. The following verses from the Bible show God’s part and yours in this process. God’s love is revealed in the Bible. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that who ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16 God loves you. He wants to bless your life and make it full and complete. And He wants to give you a life which will last forever, even after you experience physical death. We are sinful. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” – Romans 3:23 You may have heard some one say, “I’m only human – nobody’s perfect.” This Bible verse says the same thing: We are all sinners. We all do things that we know are wrong. And that’s why we feel estranged from God – because God is holy and good, and we are not. Sin has a penalty. “For the wages of sin is death.” – Romans 6:23 Just as criminals must pay the penalty for their crimes, sinners must pay the penalty for their sins. If you continue to sin, you will pay the penalty of spiritual death: You will not only die physically; you will also be separated from our holy God for all eternity. The Bible teaches that those who choose to remain separated from God will spend eternity in a place called hell. Christ has paid the penalty! “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8 The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God, has paid the penalty for all your sins. You may think you have to lead a good life and do good deeds before God will love you. But the Bible says that Christ loved you enough to die for you, even when you were rebelling against Him. Salvation is a free gift. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”– Eph 2:8-9 The word grace means “undeserved favor.” It means God is offering you something you could never provide for yourself: forgiveness of sins and eternal life, God’s gift to you is free. You do not have to work for a gift. All you have to do is joyfully receive it. Believe with all your heart that Jesus Christ died for you. Christ is at your heart’s door! “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.” – Revelation 3:20 Jesus Christ wants to have a personal relationship with you. Picture, if you will, Jesus Christ standing at the door of your heart (the door of your emotions, intellect and will). Invite Him in; He is waiting for you to receive Him into your heart and life. You must receive Him. “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to be come children of God.” – John 1:12 When you receive Christ into your heart you become a child of God, and have the privilege of talking to Him in prayer at any time about anything. The Christian life is a personal relationship to God through Jesus Christ. And best of all, it is a relationship that will last for all eternity. Will you receive Jesus Christ right now? Here is how you can receive Christ: 1. Admit your need (I am a sinner). 2. Be willing to turn from your sins (repent). 3. Believe that Jesus Christ died for you on the Cross and rose from the grave. 4. Through prayer, invite Jesus Christ to come in and control your life through the Holy Spirit. (Receive Him as Lord and Savior). How to pray: “Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and need Your forgiveness. I believe that You died for my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I now invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name. Amen.” If you prayed this prayer: 1. Read your Bible everyday to know Christ better. 2. Talk to God in prayer every day. 3. Tell others about Christ. 4. Worship, fellowship and serve with other Christians in a church where Christ is preached. 5. As Christ’s representatives in a needy world, demonstrate your new life by your love and concern for others. ©2003. Billy Graham Evangelistic Assoc., P.O. Box 779, Minneapolis, MN, 55440, U.S.A., www.billygraham.org. Reprinted with permission. Hour of Decision with Dr. Billy Graham and Franklin Graham can be heard Saturdays at 2:00 a.m. and Sundays at 1:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. on KSLR Radio, 630 AM. See the KSLR program guide in this month’s Christian Beacon for additional broadcast times. Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m APRIL 2015 A P RIL 2 0 15 MINISTRY T HE B EAC ON 17 “A Movement in Rwanda to Transform the Lives of Children” — Charles Buregeya Mugisha, founder of Africa New Life Ministries MALLORY GALE, STUDENT WRITER Born in Rwanda in 1993, John Bosco survived a cycle of poverty. An uneducated father, deceased mother, and twelve biological and adopted siblings account for the family John grew up in. Through Africa New Life Ministries he found both education and his lord and savior. As the oldest of thirteen children, Bosco dropped out of school at a young age to help his father provide for the family. At nine Bosco began a life of hard labor: carrying gallons of water miles every day to sell in the village and working shifts as long as seventeen hours in a restaurant, sleeping in the back when he could. All while he sent money back to his father to help pay for the family’s daily meal. Despite his determination, the work became too overwhelming, and he was sent to the capitol, Kigali, as a servant boy. Now around eleven, Bosco continued working in the city but turned in shame when he saw the other children in uniforms on their way to school. Little did he know these students were as poor as he; however, they had received funding from Africa New Life to attend school. While recounting his childhood, Bosco shares that he would continually cry out to God, whom he had yet to know personally, begging for his education. Through a mission group from Portland, Or- John Bosco and Eastmans’ son Max at the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda, when John received his student visa to travel egon, his prayer was answered. Dental hygienist Sandy Eastman and her daughter first met Bosco while on a mission trip in Rwanda. After learning his name, Eastman sought to sponsor him though Africa New Life. As he had missed class for several years, the school desired to set Bosco back several grade levels in order to match his level of education. However, diligent Bosco disagreed with this decision and finished two grades within the year, working tirelessly to catch up. He also overcame the language barrier in the ministry’s schools and taught himself English, which would prove an invaluable skill. Within the next few years, Bosco not only caught up to his age group but began excelling academically. In the ninth year of the Rwandan education system, his score ranked second on a nationally proctored exam, gaining both him and Africa New Life Ministries national recognition. After receiving this merit, Bosco continued his education and began tutoring other students learning English. With his earnings, he was able to invest in two pigs, raising them on rented property. He has since expanded his business, resulting in 100 pigs to sell, using the funds to feed his family as well as paying for his siblings and some village children to continue their education. Eastman describes Bosco as “completely selfless” elaborating on the hardworking young man who had so little and has since given so much. Through his involvement in Africa New Life Ministries, he also entered into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As a result, the Christian faith has spread to much of his family, along with the ability to receive an education with his financial support and ministry sponsorship. As of March 9, Bosco currently resides in the U.S., staying with the Eastmans so he can continue his study of the English language and attend business school at a community college in Oregon. This opportunity allows him to further his own academic career, as well as gain experience to allow him to expand his pig business and create jobs and other opportunities for his countrymen. When asked for the most impactful aspect of Bosco’s story, Eastman describes how God has shown favor toward him and has always cared for him and his family. She further mentions the amazement and relief she felt seeing he has the simple luxury of a bed, accompanied by knowing he is safe and cared for each day as he continues his hard work. Now it is Bosco who can work to create opportunity for others. About Africa New Life Ministries Africa New Life Ministries started in Rwanda when Charles Buregeya Mugisha and his wife began caring for village children, which led to their starting a prek school for 29. The ministry has grown since 2001 and now cares for more than 5,800 children in need, as well as vulnerable women. The ministry sponsors children’s education; supplies food, clothes, and medical care; and offers vocational training for women. The Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m ministry also supports college students and trains new pastors in churches throughout the nation. All work is done in the name of Christ to spread the gospel and care for “the least of these.” Africa New Life Ministries counts the local congregation of CrossBridge Community Church among its American supporters. For more information, find them at africanwlife.org. 18 T H E B EAC ON MINISTRY / HEALTH APRIL 2015 A Strategic Move: Reaching Africa’s Unreached BY PATTI RICHTER, BEACON STAFF Uganda is a Christian nation, with high church attendance and widespread religious freedom. The exception lies in its more remote, West Nile region, where believers are greatly outnumbered. Yet the prob- lem of nominal Christianity in much of the country is also absent in this northwestern area. Christians here are persecuted, yet persevering. And now they have some encouragement through the ministry of new neighbors Jacob and Carol Lee, with Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU). ALL ABOUT EYES BY MONICA ALLISON, OD Save the date for our Open House Celebration We are so excited to celebrate our 10-year anniversary as the owners of Stone Oak Vision Source. We’ve grown to two doctors available to see patients every day, which adds appointment times for more convenient service. We invite everyone in the community to our open house 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., April 21, at our location at 19202 Stone Oak Parkway Ste 106, at the northeast corner of Stone Oak Parkway and Huebner. Vendors will join us to showcase their latest frame designs, including new lines from Michael Kors and Giorgio Armani. There will be door prizes throughout the day, and special deals on eyewear. Refreshments will be served. With summer fast approaching we will be emphasizing sun wear lines. A good pair of sunglasses is essential for summer in San Antonio. We will have some great deals, and we never charge sales tax. In addition to routine eye care, fitting contact lenses is our specialty. If you’ve ever wanted to try contacts and were told you weren’t a candidate, come in and let us evaluate your eyes. There are many new designs on the market for astigmatism, keratoconus, and even bifocal contact lenses. Corneal molding is another option. This process allows the wearer to sleep in specially designed contact lenses that reshape the cornea during the night. During the day, lenses are removed, and vision remains corrected without the need to wear any type of lens. Let us see if you are a candidate for these special lenses, which are especially applicable for teens or those whose prescription is not stable. Visit the website www.ortho-k.net for more information. We accept most insurance and are available for eye emergencies or urgent care. All of our doctors are trained to treat and manage eye disease. We can help with allergy eyes, dry eyes, pink eyes, etc. Call us at 495-9020 to schedule your appointment, or visit us online at www.visionsource-stoneoak.com. Drs. Monica Allison, Lindsey Denison, and Kim Ip practice at Stone Oak Vision Source located at 19202 Stone Oak Pkwy, Ste. 106. All of the doctors are members of Vision Source, the nation’s number one network of private practice optometrists. Founded in 1991, the Vision Source network includes more than 2,100 offices in all 50 states and Canada. If you or a loved one needs to find a family eye doctor, please call (210) 495-9020 or visit www. visionsource-stoneoak.com. From South Texas to Northwest Uganda People in this part of Uganda survived two decades of terror and displacement due to Joseph Kony and the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army). But nine years after he fled across the border, things are looking up. The country’s improved political climate further helps this region. The Lees have poured their lives into northwestern Uganda since 2007. RAU is supported by several churches in South Texas, especially the Lee’s long-time church, Lifegate Church, in Sequin, just east of San Antonio. In 2013, the Lees moved permanently to Uganda after the completion of RAU’s Bible training facility on 17 acres. Their strategic “tri-country” location is close to the borders of South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which enables them to host retreats and conferences that strengthen many pastors, church leaders, church planters and evangelists. Joshua Jordan, an associate pastor at Lifegate, says, “Our partnership with Reaching Africa’s Unreached is not only personal, it is also convictional… global missions have been a part of our DNA for over 34 years.” RAU primarily seeks to equip local pastors who can then reach their tribes and villages for Christ. Jordan says that RAU takes to heart Paul’s admonition in 2 Timothy 2:2, “What you have heard from me, entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” Bringing in biblical resources RAU has hosted 13 retreats in the past two years. Each four-day retreat facilitates around 24 pastors from neighboring districts. Several pastors have mentioned how RAU has helped unify their churches by bringing together leaders of many denominations. These pastors are supported by very poor congregations. RAU offers them a rare opportunity to become equipped for ministry through the retreats, which include the provision of food, lodging and travel expenses. Jacob says most evangelicals there have little access to a Bible, and nearly 99 percent of pastors in some areas have no training. Each church leader leaves the retreat with an ESV Global Study Bible and biblical resources, mostly in English, which is Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m Jacob and Carol Lee, of Reaching Africa’s Unreached (RAU), live in the West Nile region of Uganda (Courtesy of Jacob Lee) spoken by the educated in Uganda, thanks to the country’s history of British colonialism. Since church leaders typically have some education, they speak and read English. Besides sharing their learning with congregations, they can also translate to local languages. RAU has given out thousands of books by John Piper, R. C. Sproul, J. I. Packer and others. These books are provided to mission groups through The Gospel Coalition-International Outreach, which seeks to relieve theological famine. (Lifegate Church currently has several pallets stacked with these and other resources and Bibles bound for Africa.) Way behind Both Christianity and the economy have thrived in Uganda in recent decades. “But the West Nile area is way behind the rest of the nation in most ways,” Jacob says. “For instance, electricity just came to the capital of this district about six months ago.” Tribal conflicts and Islamic influence are two other factors that affect the region. Uganda’s freedom of religion helps to moderate the heavily Islamic northwestern area, but Muslims dominate their communities. “Other Muslim nations pump money into these poor areas,” Carol says. “They build mosques and provide benefits that lure people to Islam or keep them there.” Obongi, a town in the Lee’s district, is around 90 percent Islamic. Last year, RAU helped plant the only Christian church there. Several other churches meet outside of the town, including a Pentecostal Assemblies of God (PAG) church, an Anglican church, and a few Baptist churches. Strength in weakness “By our being here, the churches feel they have not been forgotten,” Carol says. She views them as spiritually rich, even though they have “zeal without knowledge.” These Christians maintain a fervent outward devotion to the Lord and a “relentless energy” in door-to-door evangelism, even in areas where speaking of Jesus Christ is known to be dangerous. The PAG pastor near Obongi, Andama Bosco, is more aware of their weakness. He says: “Few churches have buildings. Most people worship under trees. It is difficult for churches to grow because of physical and financial constraints.” Both the Lees and area pastors agree that the lack of trained leaders is a major weakness. But training and resources make a difference. Bosco is one example. Jacob says the pastor “devours” every book he receives, and his growth is evident in his prayers and preaching. “He is a fine testament of what solid biblical literature can do in the life of a pastor in a place of theological famine.” For more info, visit www.ReachingAfricasUnreached.org or write to [email protected]. RAU’s training facility on 17 acres in northwestern Uganda was completed in 2013 (Courtesy of Jacob Lee) A P RIL 2 0 15 FINANCIAL /SPORTS T HE B EAC ON 19 Head Coaches and Team Managers FINANCIAL STRAIGHT TALK BY DAVE RAMSEY Dave Says … Pay for grades? Dear Dave, What’s your opinion on rewarding kids with money for getting good grades in school? —Joe Dear Joe, Honestly, I don’t have a strong opinion about it one way or the other. We didn’t pay our kids for good grades, but I can’t really think of a strong argument not to pay them for success in school. You could say you shouldn’t pay them because it’s something they’re expected to do anyway, and that’s somewhat valid. But you could also make the same point where chores around the house are concerned, too. We paid our kids to do some chores, but really the point is not about the economic value. It’s the fact that you want your kids to associate work with money. I still meet people my age and older who haven’t made that connection. Work creates money, and that’s an important thing to teach your kids. Once they’ve created some money by working, then you want to use those moments to teach them to save, spend and give wisely. You can do this around the subject of grades if you want. There’s probably a valid case to be made that getting an “A” takes a lot more work than getting a “C.” You’re certainly not obligated to pay them for work or grades, but if you don’t do some of this – and teach them the proper ways to handle the money they earn — you’ll miss out on a lot a fantastic teachable moments. —Dave Making grown-up choices Dear Dave, My husband and I are on Baby Step 2 of your plan. We’ve got our starter emergency fund of $1,000 in the bank, and we’re busy paying off credit cards and unpaid taxes from previous years. He thinks it’s okay to take trips and save up for other fun things while we’re doing this, but I disagree. I want to cut out all extra spending and pay off our debt as fast as possible. What’s your opinion? —Laura Dear Laura, It’s okay to do those things in the general philosophy of life. Unfortunately, that’s not what I teach when it comes to getting out of debt and gaining control of your finances. The reason people are successful following my plan is because I teach common sense combined with an unbridled, scorched-earth kind of intensity. Let’s take a closer look at this. You have unpaid taxes, not to mention credit card debt hanging over your heads, and he’s talking about going on a trip and saving up for toys? I’m sorry, but that’s completely irresponsible. Remember when we were kids, and Mommy and Daddy wouldn’t let us go outside and play until we had cleaned up our mess? That’s the kind of thing I teach. There’s a process here. There’s an idea and a concept behind what I teach, and when you plug into it, you’re going to start moving in a positive direction. In short, behaviors have to change, Laura. The more dramatically they change, the better results you get and the faster you fix things. But if you don’t plug into it — if he doesn’t plug into it — you guys are going to keep getting the same results you’ve been getting, which basically stink! —Dave * Dave Ramsey is America’s trusted voice on money and business. He has authored five New York Times best-selling books: Financial Peace, More Than Enough, The Total Money Makeover, EntreLeadership and Smart Money Smart Kids. His newest best-seller, Smart Money Smart Kids, was written with his daughter Rachel Cruze, and recently debuted at #1. The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 8 million listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations. Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the web at daveramsey.com. For more financial help please visit daveramsey.com. JIM FAULK AREA DIRECTOR-FCA This month we celebrate the last week of Jesus’ earthly life, to include the climactic VICTORY of Resurrection Sunday. As the theme of this column is athletics, I was inspired to share about the head coach who became a team manager. My thoughts immediately went to Philippians 2: 6-8, “Who, being in the very nature of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped; but made Himself nothing – taking on the nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross.” 2000 years ago, the ultimate “head coach” took off his game day hat, dropped his whistle, put away his clipboard – all symbols of being in charge. He voluntarily surrendered his authority and became the lowliest within the athletic community – the field house manager. Athletic managers serve the coaches and athletes just for the privilege of being part of their exclusive community. This “lowly” bunch pick up towels and trash, get the practice equipment out on the field and bring it in afterward, ensure every athlete has all their practice and game equipment, fill up and distribute water bottles – basically, they get everything ready and then clean it all up after. They are the servants of their teams. Jesus the head coach chose to be the team’s manager, especially that final Passover evening. Doing what nobody else wanted to do (thinking they were too good to wash the feet of Team Jesus), Jesus took off his hat, laid down his whistle and “I Really Am God” clipboard, bent down in humble service and washed the feet of his team. It’s hard in the athletic world to even imagine any coach or athlete willing to drop down in pure humble servitude. it’s just not part of the selfconfident athletic attitude. But the truth is, none of us: athletes, coaches, or those non-athletic types, really want to be the managers/humble servants of those around us. Perhaps that’s why Paul kicked off his passage to God’s team with, “Each of you should look not only to your interests, but to the interests of others. Our attitude (crucial in athletics) should be the same as Christ Jesus.” This month, when we celebrate the victory of victories, let’s do so with the attitude that will show us as the authentic team players we were renewed to be. If we really want to build the team, it’s going to require players and coaches alike to become field house managers for those around us. BEACON CLASSIFIED ADS S ERV IC ES TUTOR Math Tutor Grades 6-9 Retired math teacher Crownridge subdivision SA Ph: (210) 698-2761 $25 hr. No contracts. Adults may wait. regulations. Their focus is on veterinary preventative health care. They partner with vendors, such as Walgreens and CVS, which allows PVS to provide their services for local residents beloved dogs and cats at low-cost and convenient times. Go to www.petvaccs.com/ events/SanAntonio for times and places. AUTO-BODY REPAIR JOBS Auto-body: repair or replace bumpers, lights and more. NO painting! Collegetrained and experienced. Free advice and solutions. Call ROCKY at (210) 661-5058 Resources for Women, a pro-life pregnancy care center seeks qualified applicants for: Client Services Manager. Main responsibilities include training and overseeing 15+ volunteer staff. Creating and maintaining client programs including educational tools and material resources. Working with the Executive Director to ensure in house operations are efficiently carried out. Part Time - 21 hrs. Previous experience overseeing volunteers/staff preferred. Administrative Assistant. Main responsibilities include, data entry, written donor communications, some book keeping, social media advertising, word processing. Part Time - 18 hrs. Must have strong computer skills. Experience with QuickBooks preferred. Resumes should be sent to [email protected] until 1/30/15 or until filled. HANDYMAN SERVICES ROCK-HANDY: house make-ready, haul off junk, repairs. Call ROCKY for more info. (210) 661-5058 PET VACCINATIONS PVS (Pet Vaccination Services) is a mobile service that brings affordable pet vaccinations to your neighborhood. “It’s easy, fast and affordable.” PVS serves the community by providing low cost dog and cat vaccinations while utilizing local veterinarians and veterinary technicians. They offer dog and cat vaccines in accordance with all state and local Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m FO R RENT Roommate Wanted or House Share in quiet neighborhood near NW Military and Huebner. Single mature female. Choice of furnished or unfurnished bedroom. Private bath. Garage parking. No children or pets. $650 includes utilities. [email protected] or call 210-7249878. Part-time Administrative Support Staff is needed for a Christian counseling center located in Stone Oak. Duties will include answering phones, scheduling appointments, collecting payments from patients and other duties as assigned by director. Hours are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Pay starts at $9/hr. Please send a resume to [email protected] to schedule your interview today! Classified Ads in the Beacon Work. Call (210) 384-2007 to place your ad today. 20 T H E B EAC ON APRIL 2015 Visit us o n the Web @ www.saBeaco n.co m
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