Mark your calendars now for the Sounds & Tastes of Christmas!

Starting at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday December 15, we'll share a meal as a church family.  Following the meal, we'll have an "open mic" night.  Bring something to share - sing a song, play a musical instrument, do a crazy skit, tell some jokes or read poetry.  We'll conclude the evening with a sing-along of Christmas carols.

What a fun way to celebrate the Christmas season together with your church family!

MEAL DETAILS:
Living Water will provide the turkey
If your last name begins with A-G: Bring potatoes, stuffing, gravy and rolls
If your last name begins with H-M: Bring vegetables and salads
If your last name begins with N-Z: Bring some drinks (2-liters and iced tea) and desserts

On Sunday, July 18, 16 members of the Rappahannock Church of Christ joined us for worship and surprised Ben and Tabitha Simmons with a check for medical expenses for their daughter Isabelle.

Rappahannock Church of Christ hosted the Third Annual Josh Baughan Ride-In on June 5 as a yearly fundraiser for a sick child in financial need.  Isabelle Simmons of Vinton, niece of Living Water members Don and Suzanne Charles, was chosen as the recipient of their donations.  In the time between the Ride-In and July 18, a total of $20,200 was raised for the Simmons family.

We are so grateful to Rappahannock Church of Christ for their selfless generosity to the Simmons family!  Thanks for being a part of our worship service and for working to bless a local family.

Please bring some plastic Easter eggs (pre-filled with candy is preferred, or you can just bring a bag in along with the eggs if you'd like) with you to church on the Sundays leading up to Easter.  John and Melissa Herndon are organizing our Easter Egg Hunt.  This year, there will be TWO hunts - one after the 9:30 service and one after the 11:00 service on Sunday April 4.  It's going to be a fun time in the side yard!

Have questions?  Drop a line to info@drinkitup.org.

On March 7, 2010, Buzz Willard was baptized into Jesus Christ and Living Water Christian Church.  Buzz has been connecting with God at Living Water for a few months now and growing in Ed and Rita Cone's Experiencing God Watering Hole small group.  As a result of the relationships he has forged at the Rescue Mission and at Living Water, Buzz decided he was going to give up control of his life and turn it over to Jesus Christ!  We are thrilled to have Moe a part of God's family!

Rita Cone and Stephanie Lann baptized Buzz on the same day that Lisa Robertson placed her membership with Living Water.  What a great day as we celebrated together and learned from Buzz and Lisa's examples.

Welcome to the family!

_______________________________________________________________________________
From Joshua and Ruth Barron on September 20, 2008:

We recently met with the MAC (Maasai Advisory Committee, a group of Maasai church leaders) and have learned some of the things that God has been doing in our churches all across Maasai Land:

 As of last May, there where 79 congregations.  But between May and the end of August, six churches have been planted (including one across the border in Tanzania), for a total of 85!  There are also several efforts underway for new church plants.  The Maasai believers have truly caught a vision for missions and evangelism!

 For those of you who don't know (or don't remember), the Maasai congregations have organized themselves into "clusters."  This is not any sort of denominational hierarchy, but is rather a way in which local congregations in an area will work together and help each other.  They are generally referred to by their geographical location or the largest locality in the area.  Here is some news from a few of these different clusters:

 OLCHURRAI (in Nakuru District):  the two congregations in this cluster are in a border area. In July, the celebrated 7 baptisms and in August there were 4 more people ready to accept Christ and to be baptized (as of two weeks ago, they were waiting for rain, so that there would be enough water for baptisms).  They recently held a ladies' seminar with 196 in attendance from sixteen different language groups.  They are also planning on planting a new church among the Kalejin.  Praise God that his people are reaching out with the Gospel across tribal boundaries.

 PUSANKI (in Trans-Mara District):  Exciting things are happening!  The seven congregations in this area are in a very isolated and traditional area where the laibons (traditional ritual/religious experts or witch doctors) continue to have a strong sway.  But in Enairukurukoi, a new church is meeting under a tree and "kepuonu iltung'ana kumok te Yesu (many are coming to Jesus)."
 In Tumpelian, which is near the villages of the laibons, there has been a lot of spiritual and even some political resistance to the Christian faith.  The believers there had rented a building to use on Sundays for worship, but often others would come and padlock the door.  Once when the Christians worshipped under a tree instead, someone came by with a club and threaten to beat them if they continued to worship Jesus.  The local Councillor (government official) was very vocal and very public against the church.  But the believers have been faithful, and at a recent open air seminar (similar to the camp meeting revivals of the American frontier in the early 1800s) many people from the laibons' villages came to Christ.  These new believers not only included young people (which would not be that unusual) but even old men devoted to their old ways!  Pray that they will be able to lay aside their old ways and follow the one Way.
 In Pusanki itself, our friend Jonathan Narasha is the pastor.  Currently he is looking for a replacement for himself.  Why?  The congregation has grown strong and he has a vision to plant a new church in an unreached area.  Praise the Lord!

 METO (in Kajiado District):  The "mother" congregation of this area, Kumpa, was planted by CMF missionaries in the 1980s.  Since then, the Kumpa church has planted nine other congregations.
 In Inkiito A, there were 27 baptisms between from May through August of this year.  Currently, there are 26 attending a pre-baptism class.  Pray for new believers!
 In Miton, the church is reaching out to the impoverished and destitute.  There are many don't have oxen for ploughing  and cannot afford to hire someone else's oxen for their fields.  Consequently, they are unable to plant crops during the rains (these are mostly crops for family consumption, not for sale).  So the Miton congregation has a vision to acquire 3 yoke of oxen to use for ploughing.  Widows and the destitute will have first priority, both within the church and without, as the believers reach out into their community, demonstrating the love of Christ.

 At one seminar where the believers had been struggling to cultivate the ground and to sow the seed, 127 people came to Christ and were baptized!  (But just now, I forget in which village.)

Representatives from all of the clusters stressed the need of these 85+ congregations for sunday school materials and for qualified/trained sunday school teachers.  Both of those needs are part of our work here among the Maasai.  We have a trial-run sunday school teacher training seminar for the NAROK CENTRAL cluster later this month, and the churches would like us to provide similar training seminars at the three training centers in Maasai land, to reach all of the congregations.  We hope to be able to do this when we return from furlough.  Producing material in Maa for the Maasai churches will only help the churches to make disciples if the materials can be used!

Please pray for this upcoming Sunday School Teachers' Training Seminar (September 25-27):
Financial breakthrough ─ that the participating congregations will supply the budget necessary for the seminar
Response of teachers ─ attendance
Training effectiveness
Health for teachers and family during teaching
Wisdom for us in teaching
That the training will bless the children
That the training will help the teachers to become good teachers and to become disciple-makers
Commitment of Sunday School teachers to their work/ministry (sometimes teachers don't teach when scheduled, without reasonable justification)
Please continue to pray that we will be able to complete the curriculum projects we are working on before our furlough.  Also please continue to pray that God will bless us by increasing our suport so that we will be enabled to return to the field after our furlough.

Thanks & grace & peace & love in our Lord Jesus,

joshua & ruth barron, with alitzah & hannah gail & eliana
your missionaries to the Maasai of Kenya
___________________________________________________________________________________

From Joshua and Ruth Barron on August 27, 2008:

Dear friends, family, and support-partners,
 
greetings to you in our Lord Jesus Christ!  We hope that you are all doing well and “going ahead in the Lord,” as our Maasai brothers and sisters like to say.
 
We ourselves are doing well, and are pleased with how God has been working in us and through us.  Those of you who are on our snail-mailing list should soon receive our latest newsletter with updates on our ministry.  Or, for a pdf version online, you can periodically check the “current newsletter” link at www.maasai.net/barron.html, which should be updated soon.
 
We invite you to pray with us very specifically, as listed below, for our work and ministry.  If any of you desire to join with us in these prayers, please encourage us by sending us a note via email to let us know!
 
Please pray for our work in developing/writing curriculum and teaching materials in the Maa language for the Maasai churches:
• That we always will be compelled & motivated by the Holy Spirit in the direction(s) we should go;
• that God will grant us the confirmation of Christ’s peace (see Colossians 3:15a) as well as other confirmations;
• that our Lord will straighten our path as we work and minister, enabling us to overcome all obstacles;
• that our projects will be completed (and completed in good time);
• that they will be God-breathed & useful for teaching & used that they will not “go out void,” but will be like the words of God which always accomplish their purpose (see Isaiah 55.11);
• that our ministry will foster unity within the Community Christian Church (the national name of the churches here in Kenya) across tribal, cultural, geographic and linguistic boundaries;
• that God will provide us with co-workers & bless them with insight & the gifts needed;
• that God’s Spirit would be upon the ears & lives of the students who will learn from these materials
• that God will show us his answer to these prayers through testimonies & other means;
• that all of us will hear & understand & do what God has for us;
• that God will open the eyes of our support partners that they may see what God is doing through them & be blessed with greater faith & works in ministry.
 
Why do we pray this way?
• So that the local churches may be built up & that they may receive a stronger foundation upon the cornerstone of Christ;
• so that disciples may be made;
• so that the churches may grow, and lost sheep be returned to the fold, to the glory of God;
• so that God would be glorified;
• so that people will see what God has done & praise his name;
• so that all may grow in faith;
 
Thanksgiving
• for James Ole Sakat, our primary language/culture helper/consultant
• that we are making a good beginning …

grace and peace to you all,
your missionaries,

joshua & ruth barron, with alitzah & hannah gail & eliana
christian missionary fellowship

www.maasai.net
www.cmfi.org

________________________________________________________________________________________
From Joshua Barron on July 14, 2008:

Grace and peace to you all!

We are really enjoying being partners with you in what our Lord is doing here in Maasai land.  We have had chances to teach on the Spiritual Disciplines at NBTI (Narok Bible Training Institiute) and on how to read or listen to the Bible with understanding at a Disciplineship Training School and have enjoyed being able to mentor young believers.  Our work with producing teaching materials in the Maa language is really picking up steam.  I hope to have full update to all of you soon (as well as a newsletter to those of you on that list), as we are excited about what God is doing through us with your help.

Currently, I am in Narok (2 1/2 to 3 hrs from home) at an internet cafe, while Ruth is at a Women's ministry meeting in Ewaso Ng'iro.  We have been having computer problems, and have not been able to use our computer for email and internet, so I only have a sort time to write.

Please pray for us that
 * God will continue to provide us insight and direction in our ministry
 * we will continue to make good progress on our ministry projects, and that through them the Church will be built up and encouraged and that the lost will be found and that God will be glorified
 * that we will have the support we need (we are facing a short fall in our financial support)
 * that God will provide the extra resources to replace our computer, which needs to be replaced

Also, please let us know how we can pray for you.

Look for a fuller update later this month and a newsletter in your mailbox in August.

grace and peace to you all,
your missionaries,

joshua & ruth barron, with alitzah & hannah gail & eliana
christian missionary fellowship

www.maasai.net
www.cmfi.org

From Ruth Barron on June 16, 2008:

Dear friends,
 
It is time for us to write to you and share with you again.  First of all, thank you for giving us the privilege of being here.  As I think of the partnership we have together here in Maasailand, I am immensely grateful that our family was sent here.  We have been partners with other missionaries as you are with us and have shared in the work of the kingdom.  Now, we are able to see this work of God first hand, and to meet our brothers and sisters in Christ in person.  That is a blessing!  We thank you, and I will endeavor to share this privilege with you on paper.
 
During the upheaval of the post-election crisis in Kenya, when we were far from family and friends, I remembered the promise of God that when we leave our families for the sake of the gospel, we will be given new families.  I prayed and asked God to fulfill that promise for us.  I prayed specifically for our children that they would be given grandparents among the Maasai.  As I thought about who God might give us to be grandparents, I pictured my friend Ng’oto (mother of) Tiwai.
 
I prayed on Thursday.  Sunday was a special day at the church.  All the previous weeks the Christian brothers and sisters had been going out in teams to evangelize the community both near and far.  They would send three teams a day in different directions to share the gospel in the many different villages and to invite them to church on Sunday.  Joshua went with them one of the days and was blessed to see the church at work.  On Sunday we had a celebration with sheep roast and other food.  Many new people came.
 
Church services are several hours long in Maasailand, but the children only stay for two or two and a half hours.  Then they are sent home with older siblings or cousins to their dinners.  The adults stay to listen to the sermon.  Joshua and I take turns going home with the children to feed and nap them.  It was my turn with the children, but as I left my friends, Ng’oto Tiwai and Naomi, reminded me of the meal, and I promised to return as soon as the children awoke.
 
The children slept longer than sometimes that day, so the meal had already ended when I arrived.  The first person I met was Menye (father of) Tiwai.  When he saw me approaching with the children, he called out “kakuiya” (grandfather).  The Maasai call each other by the relationship.  He was claiming our children as grandchildren, naming the relationship as that of grandfather.  I shared with him that I had prayed for grandparents for the children and that he was an answer to prayer.  Then I stated that if he is the grandfather of my children, he must also be my father and Ng’oto Tiwai, my mother.

Ng’oto Tiwai is a beautiful woman of God.  She always has a smile and a look of inner peace on her face.  She has told me that it is God who has transformed her from a woman who would become easily angered to a woman of peace.  She is a leader in the ministry of the church.  She participates in prayer, children’s Sunday School, women’s ministry, and the teaching of the adults.

Over Easter, the church held a time of prayer and fasting for a Christian couple who had been fighting and were no longer speaking with one another.  After three days of prayer, some of the church members visited the couple and exhorted them to be at peace.  The next week, Ng’oto Tiwai invited me to go with her and my friend Naomi on another visit.  There we enjoyed a time of “chewing the news” and learned that the couple were now at peace.
 
I have also had the privilege of watching Ng’oto Tiwai teach Sunday School.  She shows the children love in all her interactions with them.  One day, I shared with her and Naomi that I had taught our children the story of creation by having them make playdough people and blow on them to see if they would come alive.  The next Sunday, they requested the children to bring mud children to Sunday School with them.  Eight children did.  Ng’oto Tiwai held each of them up for all the children to see and praised them, making the children who brought them feel special.  Then she talked about God creating and breathing life into man.  After that, she counted them and pointed out that there were eight and reminded the children of the story of Noah, with the eight people in the Ark.  Then two more children came with mud children.  Now there were ten, so she quickly opened her Bible to the story the ten virgins and read it to the children. 
 
Two weeks ago, it was my turn to stay at church for the sermon.  I sat with Ng’oto Tiwai.  I could see that she had been weeping during the prayer time.  I suspect that she had been pouring out to God the need of her family.  She had a job at the local school, cooking for the children, but she has not had a salary in five months.  Between the post-election crisis which dried up the tourist industry and then the grossly inflated number of ministers in the new “grand coalition” government, who are much higher paid than elected politicians in America, the government can no longer afford her salary.  Losing her job at a time when inflation is 26% and when she has a son who is wanting to begin secondary, which is not free, is hard. 
 
But after the service, she showed me a kumi (ten shilling piece).  A day’s wage is about 200 shillings.  She explained to me that besides the tithes and offerings, every Sunday each woman was putting a kumi in a bag kept by one of the ladies.  There is a woman’s conference at the end of June, so they are collecting money.  When the time of the conference arrives, the ladies will count the money and send as many women as they can afford.  The ladies know that they may not be chosen to go, but still they give.
 
Later that week, the Maasai-wide women’s ministry leaders asked to meet with the women missionaries.  They introduced themselves to us, and I learned that Ng’oto Tiwai is the secretary.  They told us that although she has learned to read, she was chosen not to write but rather to remember.  They testified that she can remember everything that was said at a meeting.
 
They told us about how, several years ago, they were inspired to start a women’s ministry.  They described how it was hard for women to find an opportunity to attend a conference because of the work at home and the husbands refusing to allow them to go.  They said money is also an issue because the women do not have access to money.  All property belongs to men.  With the church having a much higher percentage of women than men, this is a real problem.  They described how they have attempted to address the issue by sending representatives to the conference to learn and then go home to teach.  But as the women’s ministry has grown, they said it has become “keiroshi” (heavy).
 
The leaders are being asked to attend seminars in all the home churches.  Women are coming to them with all of their needs and are asking for help, and they don’t know how to help them all.  They told us how the women are asking them to teach them to garden and to care for the health of the family and to generate income.  They told us that the traveling they’ve been asked to do is taxing their finances beyond their capacity.  They told us that they don’t know gardening and health-care and income-generation.  They said they have been praying about this and God led them to seek our help.
 
As I listened to their story and thought about the ministry of Ng’oto Tiwai, whom I know best, I was struck by how much the church has grown.  They began this ministry themselves, and God has blessed it.  They are living out the gospel of Christ, taking the gospel everywhere.  They are eager to visit the Turkana to learn whether they can help them.  But like a young mother, who calls up her own mother for advice, they still want help.

Please pray that God would raise up people to help in a way God leads.

In Christ,
Ruth for the Barron Family

Joshua & Ruth Barron, with Alitzah & Hannah & Eliana
Christian Missionary Fellowship
missionaries to the Maasai of Kenya

www.maasai.net
www.cmfi.org

Thanks for taking the time to visit our site! We’re always excited to hear what God is doing in the lives of His people.

How did you first encounter Christ? What first brought you to Living Water? What was important to you as you made the decision to become CONNECTED to Christ and follow Him?  Has God been teaching you something meaningful lately as you GROW in a Watering Hole? Maybe you have a story about how God is developing your faith as you SERVE, or through your Watering Hole small group or through Sunday morning worship.  Or have you experienced the joy of duplicating your faith in another person's life as you GO and make disciples of Jesus Christ?

We know our church family is full of stories of grace, forgiveness, joy and overcoming.  If you’d like to share your story, we’d love to hear about it! 

When you're ready to share, click here.
 

Decorate your trunk (PLEASE, NO SCARY DECORATIONS!) and dress up your kids in fun, positive costumes, and come park in the parking lot for Trunk-or-Treating!  You could get a prize for the best-decorated trunk!

After the kids' bags are full, we'll have hot dogs and play lots of fun games, including miniature golf, limbo and LOTS MORE!  It's gonna be a great sweet and SAFE alternative to trick-or-treating!

One of our Watering Hole Small Groups is hosting this fun event.  Want more information?  Contact Katie Dralle at trunkortreat@drinkitup.org. 

DIRECTIONS:

Alyssa Lynn Smith was born at 7:58 a.m. on Tuesday July 17 at Roanoke Community Hospital.  Alyssa weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was born via c-section.

Darrin and Deanna are her proud parents, and Claudia (age 4) is her very excited big sister.  Alyssa met her Living Water family on July 22, and has had perfect attendance ever since! 

Welcome to the world, Alyssa!

Doug Herndon has been attending Living Water with wife Ann for a few months now.  On March 28, Doug was be baptized into Christ Jesus and Living Water Christian Church.  Many of our church family was in attendance to witness this huge, exciting day as Doug began his new life in Jesus. 

The Bible says in Acts 2:38, "Repent and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

  Click on the links to sign up for the small group of your choice!

Essentials of Discipline ... with great topics like "Why Your Child Needs Discipline" and "The Strong-Willed Adolescent," this DVD-led study from Focus on the Family will help parents learn the importance of discipline (what's OK, what's not and what WORKS) in their great adventure with their child(ren)! 

Discover Spiritual Maturity learn the importance of (and how to have) a daily quiet time, with prayer, worship, and getting a grasp on your Bible.

The Old Testament - a Study for ladies led by Helene Wilkin

It's Been a Great Week!

Hey Parents!  Don’t forget to come to your kids’ program Sunday morning at 10:30 a.m. Have your child wear his/her cow bell necklace.  Campers will take home their backpacks!

Tonight at CAMP:

We'll see you Sunday at 10:30 for your child's program!  They'll sing and we'll have a movie from this week!  Don't miss it!

Righteous, Dude!

I SCREAM FOR ICE CREAM!

Deans tonight: LELAND & GAIL DUNCAN.  Camp Counselors: POLLY & STEVE MEADOR, LAURA BARNES, RHYANNA MORAN, SUZANNE PAS, KAREN WOOD. Junior Counselors: ALEAH & ASHTON

Singing and Shouting to the Lord tonight was Zach, Taylor H., Kaitlin, & Alexis. Thanks to Jessica Abbott for being our camp nurse,

Nope, you’re not seeing double. Denise & Vera are twins!  We also have Taylor H. & Taylor R, and they are not twins. Hey! Did you know we have 3 guy campers with Bible names?  Be sure to say hey to Josiah, Isaiah & John (J.T.)

Congrats to the ORANGE Team for being great scoopers, passers, and stackers!  Hey kids, don’t try hand-passing ice cream at home — it does get messy!  WAY TO GO Danielle & Cory! They recited verses from the first two nights and that means they are putting God's Word in their hearts and minds. The super duper PINK Team said the memory verse the best tonight,  If you can say tonight's verse ALL ALONE tomorrow night you will get FIVE tickets!  Gracias Amber and Vonettia for lovin’ toddlers.

Bring a new camper on Thursday nite and get 5 extra tickets!

Rumors given to the Roving Reporter: Kaitlin did a great job answering questions, Cory was a leader on his team saying the Bible verse, and Alexis showed kindness by tying a teammates shoe lace, The camper who wins most energy goes to Quan.The only camper with a name starting with “B” is Brooklyn, What a pretty name!

Welcome Farmers and Farmettes!

We sure were glad you came tonight!! Bring a friend tomorrow night!

YEAH Blue Team — You sure are Great milkers!  Hey moms and dads, if you need your cow milked, look for a camper with a blue bandana!

Each night we say pledges to the American flag, the Christian flag & the Bible. Help your child learn the pledges. “I pledge allegiance to the Christian flag & to the Savior for whose Kingdom it stands, one brotherhood uniting all Christians in service and in love.”

Caught them doing something good:

Alexis helping her brother!  Azaria giving back extra tickets!  Ashleigh helping little ones!  The Green Team was VERY patient! 

 

Deshaun had a great example of patience … you can wait patiently while someone else plays with a toy that YOU want to play with!

 

Caught them doing something funny:

How about hearing our kids trying to say the word “Thessalonians!” 

William pouring milk in a jug for the first time! 

 

Great job bringing friends, memorizing your verse, & being a team!  You guys ROCK!

 

Coming up at Living Water:

CAMP Program Sunday 8/20 @ 10:30 a.m.—kids will get to take their backpacks home!

 

Parenting Class starts Wednesday 8/23—register at www.drinkitup.org!  All parents welcome — guests and members!!!

Pray for our safety and for DRY SKIES as we learn & have fun at Country Fair Camp this week!

 

 With great topics like "Why Your Child Needs Discipline" and "The Strong-Willed Adolescent," this DVD-led study from Focus on the Family will help parents learn the importance of discipline (what's OK, what's not and what WORKS) in their great adventure with their child(ren)!

Whether you have infants, toddlers, elementary age or teens, this study is for you!  We'll watch the DVD and discuss the topics as they relate to our own families.

Register now to be a part of this great parenting study.

Beginning Wednesday April 19 Living Water Christian Church will offer Communication: The Key to Your Marriage small group study at the church building from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.  Nursery and a class for young children will also be provided.  Sign up online or at the Welcome Center this Sunday!

In honor of Good Friday, the day traditionally celebrated as the date of Jesus' crucifixion, Living Water will show The Passion of the Christ. 

The movie will begin at 7:00 p.m.

The Passion of the Christ is rated R for violence associated with the crucifixion.  Please use discretion if allowing children under 17 to watch this film.  The nursery facility will be available if you would like to take your children there.  Children must be accompanied in the toddler nursery.  No official nursery attendant has been scheduled. 

On Friday night at 7:00 (December 9), a group is going to see The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe!  Want to join us?  Get your tickets at the Valley View Grande 16 (advance tickets are on sale) or go to www.movietickets.com.  E-mail jamie@drinkitup.org if you plan on attending.

This week, Living Water Christian Church is advertising SPLASHDOWN on Q99!

Click here to listen to the audio.

Pray that God would do mighty things in our midst and in our community through us during this exciting time of growth!

To be redirected to Living Water's 40 Days page, which has tons of information for small group leaders and lots of great info on "The Purpose Driven Life" and testimonies from people in our church, click here.

• creating a prayer strategy for the Campaign
• coordinating the seven weekend services during the Campaign
• overseeing the weekly Bible studies that focus on the themes of the Campaign
• coordinating the major events that take place during the Campaign:

Tonight at 6:00, come see the kids show off everything they have learned at VBS!  Hear them sing, recite memory verses, and hear about our mission of the week, Habitat for Humanity. 

Spirit FM will join us with their VBS Express - with goody bags for the kids, prizes, and a great life message.

We will end the evening with a pie social to celebrate such a terrific and successful week.