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Spring is in the air...sort of?

2/24/2019

So we are feeling a little of spring around us. Yes, everything is still a mess. Yes, there is still debris by the roadside. Yes, there are still blue tarps on hundreds of homes. Yes, our church damage is still there. But...with warmer weather and finally seeing more "green" we are reminded once again of the rebirth and the regeneration of God. It will, of course, be a spring different than we've ever seen in the area, but it is just another sign of the faithfulness of God. Since Hurricane Michael in October, every now and then we just need to be reminded, once again, of the faithfulness of God.

To keep you updated on our church building progress, there isn't much to tell. We are still trying to wade through the insurance settlements, and trying to prepare paperwork for any FEMA help that we may be entitled to. Our people are still rebuilding their lives, and waiting for new homes to arrive or their damaged home to be repaired completely. Most are working, Praise the Lord, but many have storm challenges at their places of business.

Our Kidfuge kids' church has begun again and our Royal Ranger program is back up and running. We are hoping to being Girl's Ministries within a few weeks. Because of facilities, our Sunday morning classes are still on hold, but our services are progressing well. We appreciate your prayers!

#850Strong!!! #850ver it!!!

12/10/2018

To say that the past 2 months have been a challenge would be considered an understatement if you live anywhere near us! Hurricane Michael swept through our area in 3 short hours 2 months ago today! We would never have dreamed that a 3 hour event could change our lives and our "normal" forever! The storm packed sustained winds of at least 150 miles per hour and gusts in excess of 170 miles per hour, and our church, along with many of our church people were a direct hit with the eye passing over.

Our church building sustained major damage. The sanctuary is thankfully mostly intact (with just a broken window), but the remainder of our church will be rebuilt. In the meantime we are reduced to having all services in the sanctuary with no children's programs currently. With all that being said, we are better off than many of our friends and neighbors whose churches were completely destroyed, or who have no place on their own property to meet for worship. We are thankful for what we do have.

What have we learned?

God is so faithful.
We are stronger, with God's strength, than we ever dreamed we were!
"Stuff" doesn't really matter.
You can survive a storm with the walls falling down around you.
We now know our neighbors.
The Assemblies of God is a wonderful fellowship!
There are good people who have helped us from everywhere!
Having your car washed doesn't really matter.
It is better to give than to receive!
Flushing toilets and working light switches are wonderful inventions!
Good things will come from all this.
God is in control!

We will keep you posted about the rebuilding of our church so stay tuned! Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed with your time, your labor, your money, your things, your words, and most of all, your prayers! Please continue to pray for us and all of our churches and residents of Panama City!

Spring...really?

4/26/2018

I don't know about you, but we are experiencing a cooler than normal spring in Florida! I've been told that it's due to a disruption in the Jet Stream, you know the air that flows in a curved pattern across our nation. Somehow, the pattern has been disrupted. That's big stuff. Sounds to me like this world is changing. You don't have to look far to realize that. Our nation and this world are headed in a bad direction.

This shouldn't take a Christian by surprise though. If you're a student of the Word, we have been told that strange things would begin to happen as the "end approaches." The end of this world as we know it is quickly coming. Jesus is coming back to rapture His bride - the Christians. We've heard it for years, except lately we don't seem to hear as much about it.

Maybe it's time to listen...to read...to pray...to seek God for our lost loved ones. Don't be as cold as the spring has been lately. Stay close to the fire...close to Him! For a Christian "the end" is only the end of sorrow, pain, and heartache and "the beginning" of life eternal!

Welcome 2018!!!

12/30/2017

It's that time again...a new year...a fresh start...turning over a new leaf...making resolutions??? Well, those things might sound honorable and well intentioned, but we all know that for the most part, the leaf turns back over and the resolutions fade around March. However, deciding to make some changes in your life is always a tough decision. If you are making a decision to turn your life over to Jesus...completely...I can promise you it won't be easy! However, it will be the best decision you can make. You see, your enemy, Satan, doesn't want you to completely belong to Jesus. When you do that, he is a loser. But when you make that decision, the great thing is you don't have to do it alone. Jesus promises to give you HIS strength and HIS wisdom. It is yours for the asking. So don't just make a new resolution or try to "do better". Turn it all over to Jesus and see what He will do in, for, and through you! Happy New Year!

Fall is here :)

10/8/2017

Or at least it's supposed to be....doesn't feel much like fall weather in the Florida panhandle. All the hurricanes this season have brought lots of wet and humid weather! It just adds to the already humid weather we have! Not a complaint, just facts.

Before you know it we will be moving into the holiday season...Harvest Festivals, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then another year will be "in the books". If you haven't done everything you had desired to do this year for the Lord, there is still time! We invite you to work at Refuge for Jesus. We are always interested in folks who want to know more about Him and help us out with the Kingdom work we are trying to do daily. Give us a try! I can promise you will be blessed!

School Bells...

8/4/2017

It's time for school again. Summertime is ending. Vacation Bible School was wonderful. Summerfuge was amazing. While we still have lots of warm weather ahead, fall will be here before we know it.

Many times in the summer, people are busy going here and there on vacations and taking time off, but it's time to get back into the 'swing of things' and settle back into the routine of life. If you have taken a break from church, it's time to get back. Let the Lord continue to "school you". He has much to teach us. We should always be good students of the Word and figure out what He wants us to do for the Kingdom of God.

Summertime

6/24/2017

It's summertime in Florida and it's hot! Our students and teachers are taking a much needed break. Vacation Bible School is here and Summerfuge is just around the corner. Lots to do and plenty of opportunities for spiritual growth. While summer may be a vacation from school, and a great time to take a vacation, be careful you don't neglect the most important thing on this earth...your relationship with God. Take every chance you get this summer to stay close and grow in the Lord! Hope to see you at VBS and Summerfuge!!!!

One-Quarter through

3/17/2017

We are already one-quarter of the way through 2017. This has been an interesting year already at Refuge. God has been faithful, as usual, and we are working hard this year to reach our community. In February we had our "Family Matters" series, and March is "Missions Month". We are excited about what God has in store.

Our Chilean missionaries, the Welfords, are coming to the end of their first term. They will be home soon and we are anxious to see what God has in store for them. Our Laotian missionary, Whittney Taylor, is about 6 months into her two year term. We are having church and listening to the voice of God.

Holidays....

11/26/2016

So here we find ourselves in the midst of the Holidays. Thanksgiving has already come and gone, and the sales are off and running. Christmas is bearing down on us all. If we are not careful, we will get tied up in the shopping, parades, decorating, and parties, and not have time to relax and enjoy the season and the reason we celebrate.

Be sure to remember to take the time to enjoy the season and not get so caught up in the hustle and bustle. Jesus was the reason we began to celebrate Christmas, and He is still the reason we celebrate today. Be sure and go to Church, worship Him, and dedicate ourselves now more than ever.

He is coming soon...let's work while there's still time!

Where did summertime go?

9/24/2016

The last time I looked, we were approaching spring...and now it is the end of September! Where did the summertime go? I guess we could also ask Where did 2016 go? In our church office, we have a large yearly calendar on the wall. Everyone posts their activities on this calendar. It has four months across and three rows. As I went through there the other day, i couldn't believe the top two rows are history!!! We are at the close of 2016 already.

More than that, though, we are nearing the close of time as we know it. The days seem like they are being "shortened" just as God's word said they would. Time is passing so swiftly. Are you ready? Jesus is coming, and we must be ready. There is nothing worth missing the rapture...or missing Heaven!!! Get ready...2017 is almost here...and so is Jesus!