This Sunday is going to be a slightly different, but uplifting day.  We will be having an ordination ceremony for Dave Dryden.  Dave is the missionary who is currently living with us here in Bellville.  If you haven't met he and his wife, Annette, I encourage you to seek them out.  They are very outgoing and likable people. 

We invited the Dryden's to come live in Bellville and get to know New Life, before they went off across the ocean to be missionaries.  (I won't say where they are going on here because there is some level of persecution in that place and we don't want to give anyone information they shouldn't have.)  The Mission Team felt like it would really help us to support them better if we knew them as friends.  We want to not only give them money, but prayer and friendship and encouragement in their work.

Anyway, the Dryden's have really come to feel accepted and at home here.  They have been learning all sorts of useful skills during their stay.  Canning and quilting for Annette.  Butchering and small engine repair for Dave.  When Dave asked if we would ordain him, I was surprised because we hadn't known him that long.  I figured that he would have had a stronger connection with other supporting church's or a home church.  But I think it is a sign of their connection with New Life, that they asked us to do this for them.

 This Sunday we are going to "Set Apart Dave and Annette for the work to which God has called them"  This is really what the concept of "ordaining" is about.  Recognizing God's call on a person's life and sending them out to fulfill that calling.

Dave met with the elders this past week and they talked with him about doctrine, about his calling to ministry, about his personal character, about his priorities, and about his faith and daily walk with Jesus to name only some of the areas that were touched on in the discussion.  As a result of this discussion and our time with the Dryden's over the last 2-3 months we are confident that the Holy Spirit is indeed calling them to a work of God and we are excited to have a part in that ministry.

And so on Sunday we will have a special time in the service to focus on their mission and setting them apart for it.  As we do this, I encourage you to think about what God might be calling you to.  Maybe He is calling you to be a missionary, or a preacher.  Or maybe he is calling you to serve him in a unique and powerful way right where you are. 

May we all Serve God with full hearts and willing attitudes and may HE recieve all the glory

Steve