Calvary Updates 07/31/2026
- Frank Winfrey
- 7 minutes ago
- 3 min read
I believe it is by no accident that God brings into our lives certain individuals. You have a certain set of friends that you care about, that you enjoy being around and for which you carry an empathy. As God allows certain friendships to deepen, God's love in you for them will cause you to carry a burden for their well being. And if we care at all about the friends God has given us, we will be concerned about their eternal destiny. "What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?" (Mark 8:36).
Because God loves people and is not willing that any should perish (2 Peter 3:9), he will give us an evangelistic burden for multiple people over the course of our lives. The burden to see them come to Christ will call us to pray for their salvation on a regular basis. As you consistently pray for them, look for God to give you creative ways to show the love of Christ to them.
This "Favor on Five" idea was first introduced to me years ago and I shared it a few months ago in our church through the "Empower, Equip and Engage" training that we taught in the spring. In that training, I called it "Fervent Five." The concept is still the same, to start praying for God to move in the lives of five or more people to draw them to Christ and for God to use you to share the gospel with them. I want us to always keep the mindset that people are lost without Christ and in need of a Savior. This need is always true even if on the outside their lives look together and perfect.
One way that we would love to see God touch the lives of these five individuals is through our upcoming "Connect Groups" or small group meetings. These "Connect Groups" will be using "The Alpha Course" material which provides an engaging way for Christians to grow in their faith and provide an avenue for "seekers" and "skeptics" to have some very critical questions discussed in an open in environment. We will be unfolding more of these concepts this Sunday and at our church picnic coming up on Saturday, August 8th. Mark your calendar.
Sunday, August 2nd Sunday School at 9:15 and Worship at 10:30 AM.
Our studies in I John continue in our series, "Verification Code Please?" The title this Sunday is "Got Life? Then Live it and Share it," I am back this Sunday after all my travels. Many thanks to all who filled in for me. Come and make new discoveries in our Sunday School as we learn more about God's choice of King David in one class and our second study begins this week, "Connecting with Others Like Jesus did." Donuts and coffee at 9:15 AM.
A Song you will hear this Sunday
Cece Winans Come Jesus Come
Men's Breakfast tomorrow at 8:30 am in the gym.
Prayer Wednesday, August 5th 5:30-6:30 PM
Church Picnic August 8th 4:00- 6:30 PM at the church
Come and also learn about our Connect Groups
Flourish Tuesday, August 11th 10-12 noon
Today's readings were: Judges 14•Acts 18 | Jeremiah 27•Mark 13. If you are looking for a different reading plan, you might enjoy:
In your Bible reading you would have read in Judges 14. Samson gave this riddle. "Out of the eater came something to eat ? And out of the strong came something sweet." What does this refer to?
In Jesus joy,
Pastor Frank Winfrey
cell: 309-645-9621
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