Upcoming Events for 2012

 January (Month of Fasting & Prayer)

Weekend of Prayer: (Vision 2012: Love, Go, Serve)……………………………   Friday, January 13^{th -}  15^th

Sanctity of Human Life …………………………………………………………..       Sunday, January 22^nd

Relay Prayer ……………………………………………………………..…………        Fri, Jan. 27-28^th 11pm-11am

February

8^th Annual Convention ……………………………………………………………       Friday, Feb. 3^rd – Sun., Feb. 5^th

Couples’ Seminar ……………………………………………………………     ………  Saturday, Feb 25 at 6:00 p.m.

March

Prayer Breakfast ………………………………………………………………….         Saturday, March 17^th at 9:00am

Sunday School Workshop………………………………………………………..         Saturday, March 24^th

April

Good Friday Service…………………………………………………..……………..      Friday, April 6^th

Easter Program …………………………………………………….……………..         Sunday, April 8^th

Men’s Convention …………………………………………………………………       Fri., April 20^nd – Sun., April 22^nd

Health Fair …………………………………………………….………………….          Saturday, April 21^st

May

Couples’ Seminar …………………………………………………………………..        Saturday, May 5^th

Child’s Month Celebration ………………………………………….…………….       Saturday, May 19^th at 10:00 am

Fundraising Concert ………………………………………………………………        Saturday, May 26^th

June (Outreach begins)

Sunday School Trip ……………………………………………………………….         Saturday, June 2^nd

Youth Convention  …………………………………………………………………       Fri., June 15^th -  Sun., June 17^th

August (Outreach cont’d)

Ladies’ Convention ……………………………………………….……………..         Fri., August 10^th – Sun, Aug 12^th

Couples’ Retreat…………………………………………………………………           Fri., August 24^th – Sat., Aug 25^th

October

Single’s Seminar ………………………………………………………………….          Saturday, October 6^th

Pastor’s Appreciation ……………………………………………….…………..         Saturday, October 20^th

November

Building Fund Rally ……………………………………………….……………..          Saturday, November 10^th

December

Couples’ Seminar …………………………………………………………………..        Saturday, December 1^st

Christmas Program ………………………………………………………………         Sunday, December 16^th

Watch Night Service …………………………………………………………….         Mon., December 31^st at 9:00 pm

We pause to call to remembrance the fundamental mission of the Church.  We at Bethel have embraced this mission and stand now to remind ourselves of our individual responsibilities to this mission.  The core mission of the Church is, the sending of the Church with the good news of forgiveness, reconciliation, restoration and love.  This message is holistic and is rooted on Biblical doctrines working through the church. This mission is practical, contextual, it can be translated into practice it is ecclesiastical (relates to the church) and eschatological (it is about the future of the soul).

This “Missions call for obeying the Great Commandment the fulfillment of the Great Commission and the practical demonstration of the Great Compassion.”

Matthew 28:18 to 20 are the scripture verses of focus during this year.  It embodies the invitation of God to join Him in this wonderful plan of salvation.  Jesus reminded the disciples, and by extension every Christian, that His instructions come from and authorized source.  He was not just commanding us in isolation, no, the Father has granted Him this authority and in turn He was relaying the Fathers’ wishes.  What a wonderful opportunity, the Almighty God is inviting us to join Him in what He is doing.

What we are asked to do is to obey the great commandment (love), the great commission (go), and fulfill the great compassion (do).  In God’s agenda these are things He is doing in order to restore our broken relationship.  Every person can help to advance the Kingdom since it has no borders and it has an individual and a universal view. Christians must move onto God’s agenda if we are going to fulfill His call on our lives to join Him where He is working.

We are servants of the King, and as such, we serve at the pleasure of the King.  Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek or pursue the Kingdom of God and God’s righteousness first, and then God will provide us with everything we need.  The onus is on us to pursue the things of God’s Kingdom.  It is in this pursuit that our will begins to lineup with God’s will.

If we are going to go back to basics we have to be comfortable in embracing the historical nature of our faith and be willing to apply them in our everyday life.

In response to the question, Jesus replied

^{Matthew 22:37 x}‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ^y‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ^{40 z}On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” ^[1]

We pause today to remind ourselves that all life is precious.  Politics have clouded out the reality of the matter and sometimes have left no room for rational discussions.  I am amazed at the number of babies that are aborted daily as a matter of convenience.  Let us stop for a moment and celebrate life, the gift of life.

Our world has experienced some great discoveries and has made great strides in advancements.   Imagine if those individuals that had contributed to our collective knowledge base were aborted what would we have looked like today.  Consider the most aggressive disease we are facing today; I cannot help but think that maybe the solution for the cure might have been in the mind of one of the aborted babies.

God made all of us and this gift of life is to be celebrated politics or not.  Today I give thanks to God for His gift of life.  The psalmist echoed this sentiment in Psalm 139:14, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

Theme: Back to Basics: The Great Commandment, Commission and Compassion

Scripture: Matthew 28: 18-20

Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 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.”

FRIDAY

Prayer & Devotion - (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)

Praise & Worship – 7:00 PM

Sermon - Rev. Osbert Souvenir (Faith Deliverance Tabernacle, Yonkers NY)

SATURDAY

Prayer & Devotion - (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)

Praise & Worship – (7:00 PM)

Sermon – Dr.  Michael A. Frith, Bishop (Family of Christ Church of God, Bronx NY)

SUNDAY

Sunday Morning 

Prayer – (9:00 AM – 10:00 AM)

Sunday School (10:00 AM)

Praise & Worship (11:30 AM)

Sermon – Minister Dianne Asphalt (Bronx, NY)

Sunday Afternoon

Prayer -  (2:00 – 3:30)

Ordination Service (3:30 – 4:30)

Communion (4:30 – 5:00)

Couples’ Seminar … Saturday, Feb 25 at 6:00 p.m.

Couples’ Seminar  …Saturday, May 5^th

Couples’ Retreat… Friday, August 24^th – Sat., Aug 25^th

Couples’ Seminar … Saturday, December 1^st

I Pray That Christ Will Find A Place Your -Heart: Eph. 3:17 – “Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.” The beginning of inner strength is Christ residing in your heart. Like a guest Christ is waiting to be invited into your world and be granted unlimited access and control in your life. It is when your roots are extended deep in God’s love that your strength will be realized.

I Pray that you Understand God’s Love: Eph. 3:18- “And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” God’s love is measureless and strong. Whatever you have done wrong is not too big or bad that His love cannot cover. A matter of fact, His blood covers a multitude of sins. Understanding the extent of this love is the first step in experiencing God’s love. Know this that nothing can outlast, outdo or surpass God’s love.

I Pray That You Experience The Love Of Christ: Eph. 3:19- “May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully.” I want to know that you not only understand the extent of the love of God but most important that you experience the effects of this love. This is a transformational experience; God’s love will definitely change your life for the better.

I Pray that you will experience the fullness of life: Eph. 3:19- “Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. It is through experiencing the Love of God that you will be complete and possess the fullness of life.” A life live in Christ is a life experiencing abundant life. The lack of or abundance of things does not determine the fullness that a life that simply experienced God’s Love experiences.

We can pray because of who our prayers are rest on. The Position or placement of my Prayer is: In the Person of God: Eph. 3:20 – “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Here is why I can pray on your behalf.”

Firstly, all the Glory goes to God because He is might and He is at work within us. So, now that Christ is living within our heart, go ahead and think, go ahead and ask; God can do infinitely more than that what you just asked or thought. Therefore, do not look far for the power, if Christ has an open invitation to your life it is from within you that He is working it out. For the People of God: Eph. 3:21 – “Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.”

I want to challenge you to take sometime and pray for someone. Pray specifically for areas of that person’s life. I believe as you begin to pray earnestly for others that God will answer your prayers. God is ready to work it out in your life through Jesus Christ.

Happy New Year!

May you experience the blessings of God upon your life.  Join us at Bethel in 2012 at any of our upcoming events.

Thank you for your support in 2011 and I look forward to your support in 2012.

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. - Jer. 29:11

Love from Bethel Temple of Praise

From the Pastor’s Desk

 Happy New Year,

I want to take the time to personally thank you for your dedication, support, and encouragement throughout 2011.  It is your prayers, love and care that have allowed our church to take on personality and practically touch the hearts of those in our community.

I want to challenge you to raise the bar higher in 2012.  I pray that you will make 2012 the year that you listen to the voice of God and join Him where He is working and redouble your effort.  If you prayed, pray more frequently, if you served, serve in more areas or commit to doing better. If you gave, give more, whatever you did for God in 2011 do more for this New Year.

One area that you can increase your ministry is in becoming a covenant partner with our Church by taking your membership if you have not done so.  If you are already a member them, seek out ways to respond to the vision of our church.  We are in need of help in the Sunday School Department, Praise & Worship Ministry, Transportation Ministry, and Outreach Ministry, Men, Ladies & Youth Ministries.  You can also take note of the upcoming events for 2012 and support these events so that they can be effective in affecting life-changing experiences.

Our theme for 2012 is “Back to Basic: The Great Commandment, Commission and Compassion (Great Commandment (Matthew 22:37-40), Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20), Great Compassion (Luke 4:18-19)).  The challenge during 2012 is to reach the lost for Christ one person at a time in a holistic approach.  Throughout the year we will be unpacking this idea in practical ways.  Will you join me on this adventure?  It is no time for business as usual we have to get rid of all the hindrances and go back to basics, the proclamation of the Gospel.

Have a Bless and Happy New Year and I pray that throughout the year you will seek to work where God is and is calling you to work.

Pastor Jenkins

The entire Bible is the only guide to Christ Centered living.  Practically there are specific indicators of a life that is healthy.  One that is displaying the fruit of the Spirit- Ephesians 5, the beatitudes governs their behavior – Matthew 5 and they are avoiding doing the works of the flesh- Ephesians 5.

To learn More                    or call 914 376 – 4741

The developmental stages of a disciple involves discipleship, fellowship and evangelism:

1) Make Disciples

a) Committed to God

i) Repent and converted

ii) Baptized

iii) Personal Daily devotion

(1)Prayer

(2)Bible Reading

(3)Meditation

(4)Journaling

2) Foster Fellowship

a) Committed to Family

i) Providing for the needs of the family

ii) Protecting the family

iii) Preserving biblical values

(1)Fulfilling the requirements of biblical responsibility

b) Committed to the Church

i) Talent – serving in different areas of ministry

ii) Tithe – supporting the church financially according to scriptural mandate

iii) Time – actively involved in the various ministries

(1)Involved in Small Groups

3) Reach the Unsaved

a) Committed to Community

i) Serving-Community outreach

ii) Evangelizing-Strategic Evangelism

iii) Caring

iv) Missionary trips-short term & long term

v) Mentoring