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IN THIS ISSUE: Faithful Harvest: Two Brothers Come to Faith | God Is Good—Even in the Fire | Time to Declutter and more!COMMUNICATIONS STAFF: COME SERVE WITH US! Interested in joining one of our Communications Volunteer teams? Visit shepherds.org/ministry-teams for details. COMMUNICATIONS VOLUNTEERS: Thanks to the many talented people who volunteer throughout the year. These include photographers, writers, chalk artists, graphic designers, social media contributors, and those that help with Bumper Crop. Kent Perigo Communications Director Susan Benner Communications Coordinator Editor/Staff Writer Zac Coleman Graphic Designer/Photographer Kirsten Roberson Graphic Designer Katie Horton Lead Videographer Cheryl Coleman Strategic and External Communications 1 Letter from Pastor Davey 2-3 Anne-Moir Shelton: Using Her Various Talents to Worship the Lord 4-6 Faithful Harvest: Two Brothers Come to Faith 7-9 Finding “Home” at Shepherd’s 10-12 God Is Good—Even in the Fire 13-14 Maddie Wright: Finding Her Identity in Christ 15 Children: Partnering with Parents 16 Students: Upcoming Winter Wknd and Lift 17 College: Time to Declutter 18-21 Pray-Serve-Give: Responding to Hurricane Helene 20-21 Meet Kerry Blette, Disaster Relief Chaplain 23 Debbie Busbee: Highways & Hedges 24-25 Upcoming Events TABLE OF CONTENTS WORSHIP CONNECT GROW SERVE SHARE CALENDAR NEXT GENI recently came across an interview between an astronaut bound for the moon and an inquisitive reporter who was pressing him for details regarding the potential hazards of his mission. The reporter asked, “How will you eventually leave the moon, once your mission ends? How does the module take off to return to Earth?” The astronaut replied, “We will fire several rockets that power the engine of our small module.” The reporter then asked, “What if the engine won’t power back up?” The astronaut responded, rather matter-of-factly, “Well, we’ll be stuck on the moon.” The reporter continued, “How long will your life support systems last?” The astronaut answered, “Six hours.” The reporter then said, “Do you mind if I ask what you would you do during the last six hours of your life?” The astronaut smiled and answered, “I’ll work on the engine!” This exchange is simple . . . yet profound. I often hear from all quarters of the Christian community that the world is about to end and we’re running out of time before Jesus comes again. I hear statements such as: The latest technology is going to be used by the Antichrist, so avoid it. A blood moon will appear, signaling the rapture. The red heifer has been born in Israel, preparing the way for new sacrifices. Global warming is one of the pestilences during the Tribulation, so it must be around the corner. The collapse of America signals the end of the church age. I plan to move away from my liberal culture to find peace and quiet somewhere else. And the list goes on. Let me suggest we get back to working on the engine— that is, the church’s mission. Jesus made it clear to His prophecy-hungry disciples that the timing of His return was not their business—making disciples was (Acts 1:6-8). I appreciate how the apostle Peter balanced the fever-pitch anticipation of Christ’s return with the mission of the church. In 1 Peter 4:7, he writes these stunning words: “The end of all things is near . . . ” Really? Absolutely. And it’s even closer today than it was 2,000 years ago. Evidently, there’s nothing wrong with anticipating the coming of Christ—an anticipation that should grow within us as we long to see the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). But what should we do in the meantime? Should we complain about the waning amount of virtuous oxygen around us? Should we rage at the incompetent builders of our cultural spaceship? No . . . let’s keep working on the engine. Peter continues in 1 Peter 4:7-11: “The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the multifaceted grace of God. Whoever speaks is to do so as one who is speaking actual words of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Sounds like a great way to begin 2025! Only God knows how much time we have before the church is raptured to the Father’s House. What we do know is that we’re to make the most of our time on this planet by loving and serving one another . . . and by reaching our world with the gospel . . . which brings great glory to our God and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, hand me the screwdriver, 1WORSHIPA nne-Moir Shelton has been part of the Shepherd’s family for over 20 years. If you have not seen her in the hallways or serving in various ministries, you’ve certainly seen her singing in the choir on Sundays. For years, Anne-Moir has used her gifts of voice and creativity to help worship the Lord and spread the gospel. We took a moment to ask Anne- Moir about her God-given talents. Can you share some of your testimony? My childhood was so rough that I married young to escape a dangerous environment. I had not grown up in church and knew little about God. One year, a neighbor came over and started talking about Jesus. I did feel that God was real and somewhere “out there,” but at the time I did not know that God was calling me to Himself. After the conversation with my neighbor, I knew I wanted to learn more about Jesus as soon as possible. I talked to a pastor and was then able to make an informed decision for the Lord. I prayed, confessed my sins, thanked Jesus for dying on the cross to pay for my sins, and asked Him to be my Savior. What a different life! Even after over 50 years, I love learning and growing in the Lord. When did you discover your love for music? I discovered my love of music and singing in my youth when I realized that a ho-hum mood could be lifted to the stars just by hearing songs on the radio! As an adult, a fellow church member who had a beautiful voice suggested I join the choir when she heard me sing. After years of being in the choir, I still get emotional when a song “speaks” to me. What other ministries are you involved in? I love to stay active and serve. I teach Gemstones, the special needs class for adults. I love them with my whole heart. They inspire me by the way they live a productive life despite limitations. I leave class every Sunday feeling blessed and encouraged. I’m also a small-group leader for the Women of Wisdom (WOW) Bible study on Wednesday mornings. I’m currently running the Zoom portion of the By Mike Jones, Contributing Writer 2group. Outside of church, I volunteer at the Mabopane Foundation, which raises money to support children in South Africa. Serving in all these ministries has been an immense blessing. You’ve been involved in lots of Bible studies. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? It is hard to choose one book of the Bible as my favorite. Different books have spoken to me in different seasons of my life. I really love the Book of Revelation because I get emotional when I read about the return of Jesus to the Earth where every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. When evil is abolished and those who know Jesus as Savior will live with Him eternally. I love the words in chapter 22, verse 20: “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! You are also a published author/poet. When did you discover your love of poetry? I first discovered I loved writing poetry when I began adding personalized poems to cards for friends and family. Later, I got a favorable response to my poetry at a teaching conference where I worked. I’m a nurse and did the entire talk in rhyme giving facts in a pleasant way mixed with humor. The favorable response surprised me. Then, when I started leading a small Bible study group, I would summarize each week’s lesson with my poetry. I was repeatedly encouraged to publish my poems. Tell us more about your first book. One day, while doing my Bible study on my deck, I asked the Lord how I could do more to spread the gospel. Immediately “publish your book” came to my mind and I knew that was the answer to my prayer. I finally knew my love for writing poetry was a ministry. My book is entitled Poems of Encouragement. It’s available on Amazon and has been priced reasonably with the hope that I can get it into more hands to spread the Good News and honor God. My goal in writing is always to edify and encourage. Do you have any plans to publish another book of poetry? I have poems for two more books. The second will be like the first where I summarize sections of the Bible in rhyme as well as stand-alone poems about various life situations. The third book will be different because it will contain many of the poems I added to cards for special events. I am still thinking it through as to what will be included. Anne-Moir encourages everyone to find a ministry that matches their talents and gifts, but if you’d like to serve alongside her, contact the following people to learn more: Choir: Suzanne Bogart, sbogart@shepherds.org Special Needs Ministry: Alan Townsend, atownsend@shepherds.org Women’s Bible Studies: Malise Terrell, mterrell@shepherds.org Want to Serve? 3WORSHIPT hese verses remind us that God is the true gardener, transforming hearts and lives. No amount of effort on our own can produce the results and growth that God brings. However, He invites believers to be part of the process. Often, we may be unaware of the fruit of our labor on this side of heaven. We are simply called to be faithful workers for the Kingdom of God, wisely investing our time and talents here on earth. And sometimes, God allows us to witness the impact of our faithfulness, as illustrated by the salvation of two brothers, Javier and Sergio Camel-Blanco. By Sarah Wilkins, Contributing Writer “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” — 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 4Diane Asks Javier a Question That Plants a Seed In June 2023, Diane Maness, a member of Shepherd’s, reached out to a refrigerator repairman, who had helped her fix a different appliance back in 2016. She had held onto his business card for seven years because she remembered how courteous and kind this man, Javier, had been at the time. Diane anticipated an ordinary service call, but it turned out to be very different. Overwhelmed with grief over the recent loss of her mother, Diane was not in the mood for much conversation. She went about her business after showing Javier what was wrong, and then headed back inside. As she mounted the steps, however, she sensed the Holy Spirit nudging her to ask him one question: “Javier, do you have anyone who prays for you?” Javier was surprised by the question, and he answered truthfully. “Yes ma’am—my grandma is praying for me from heaven. She was the religious one, and she passed away last December.” Diane took a breath and answered, “Javier, can I tell you the truth?” This brief exchange led to a lengthy conversation that included spiritually deep topics, lasting well into the evening. Diane prayed with Javier before he left, inviting him to church. At that time, Javier was working seven days a week and was too busy to find time for church. However, as he put it, “God made time.” A Layoff Leads to Opportunity In December 2023, everyone at the company where Javier worked, including his younger brother, was laid off, due to unfortunate internal events. Although he was approved for a new contract that same day, he did not hear back from any companies regarding a new position until sometime into the new year. Since he no longer had a job to work every Sunday, Javier decided to accept Diane’s offer to attend church with her in January 2024. Little did he know that, for the last seven months, an entire Bible study group of young women, shepherded by Diane and her friend Holly Vlach, had been praying for him to visit Shepherd’s and receive salvation. Javier had been struggling with agnosticism for about 20 years after being raised in a Catholic environment. He had pursued various avenues to fill the “empty void” left by the loss of his grandmother Melba, and a few years earlier, his mother. However, nothing brought him satisfaction. Javier reflected, “Although I was agnostic, I was never arrogant enough to be fully atheist.” When he attended Shepherd’s, he felt what he could only describe as conviction. As he began to attend church regularly, he began to question his personal beliefs. He put Christianity up against other religions and against science, to see if it would stand—and of course, it did. Seeing the Truth in Scriptures His interest in End Times prophecy led him to read the books of Daniel and Revelation in the Bible. By the summer of 2024, he felt a change come over his heart. He truly believed the truth of Scripture: that Jesus is God’s Son, who took the death penalty in our stead, and conquered death through resurrection, allowing us to be proclaimed righteous on His behalf. Javier accepted Christ as his Savior and now participates in a weekly eschatology Bible study with Diane and her husband, Ed; Holly and her husband, Michael, a professor at Shepherds Seminary; and Sergio, Javier’s younger brother. (continued on next page) 5CONNECTA Brother Despairs Over Multiple Losses in His Life Sergio had also been experiencing desperation apart from Christ. In high school, he suffered the loss of his closest friend to suicide. Throughout the rest of his teenage years, Sergio experienced darkness as he began experimenting with risky behaviors, all while trying to care for his ailing mother and grandmother, the most important positive influences in his life. A month after his mother passed, his grandmother moved to California, and he was left without his support system. His father had been separated from his mother since before he was age 5. Without any direction, Sergio began to spiral downward, losing jobs, his housing, and at times, nearly his life. During one of his hospital stays, he realized just how close he was to death, and knew he needed to make a change. Finding Light in the Darkness In February 2024, Javier needed a driver for the business that he had started. With a new job and a new lease on life, Sergio began to steer away from the negative influences and darkness of his past. In March, a cousin from California visited, and Javier took both the cousin and Sergio with him to church at Shepherd’s. “It just made sense, instantly,” Sergio said. Shepherd’s young adult group, Fusion, welcomed him warmly, sharing truths from Scripture and inviting him to various events. The Manesses and Vlachs also made hospitality a priority for the young men by discipling them, answering their questions, and hosting meals in a safe space to talk about life and examine the Scripture. One night, Sergio had dinner with Colin, one of the Vlachs’ sons, and felt a desire to truly give his life to Jesus. Colin was privileged to be the one to lead him to Christ, building on the foundation that others had helped lay, plant and water. But God had made that seed within Sergio grow, and it continues to flourish now as Sergio looks ahead to how God may want to use him in the life of someone else. He said, “One thing is for sure: Christ wants me to do something, and it’s very, very evident because I wouldn’t be here, otherwise, for sure. We’re all going through different things, but we all have the same [human] makeup.” Sergio was baptized as an adult in June 2024. The cousin who visited Shepherd’s with him, Danny, now attends a church in California regularly. This is one of many accounts of God’s faithfulness, whether we’re called to plant the seed, disciple, host an environment conducive to godly conversations, or lead someone to Christ. Though we may never see the fruits of our labor on this side of heaven, we can be sure that God’s Word does not return void, and He is working, even when we do not perceive it. Hallelujah—what a Savior! Without any direction, Sergio began to spiral downward, losing jobs, his housing, and at times, nearly his life. CONNECT6 Fusion is an Adult Bible Fellowship class for young adults, both single and married, with the purpose of providing a biblical community that encourages growth and maturity in Christ through the study of Scripture. Learn More: adult.shepherds.orgI found our home here at Shepherd’s.” This simple text message was all David Simpson needed to send to his wife, Erin, after visiting The Shepherd’s Church for the first time. A pastor friend from New Hampshire had told David that, if ever given the chance, he should visit Shepherd’s and hear Pastor Stephen Davey preach. David, the son of a pastor, seized the opportunity in July 2020 when the church had their “regathering” service after being temporarily closed during the pandemic. He said the choir and the worship service left him in tears—which prompted that heartfelt text to Erin, his wife of 20 years. Earlier that year, the couple had relocated to North Carolina from Lyman, New Hampshire, a rural town with a population of almost 600 people, with their three children: Abigail, Jonathan, and Caleb. The Simpsons had vacationed at Kure Beach for years and loved North Carolina. Erin’s brother, Isaac, and his wife had also recently moved to this area, and both families were living in the same apartment complex. But because of COVID-19 restrictions, Erin and the kids decided to return to New Hampshire to spend the summer of 2020 back on their family land. Erin said that David’s text touched her greatly because the “biggest deficit” they experienced living in New Hampshire was “spiritual growth.” She said people just don’t understand how it feels to move here and “feel the warmth of the sun—and the SON,” both of which are “vastly missing from New England.” By David Jones, Contributing Writer “ (continued on next page) 7CONNECTNext >