Congratulations to Nick and Jennifer on the safe arrival of Kate! Here is an update from Nick on behalf of all three Miersma’s! (Click on the photos to make ‘em big!)

Hey everyone,

Kate Elizabeth is doing great now! As you know already, she was born 9lbs, 2oz, 20.5in long. We went in at 7am on monday morning and immediately Jenn began the induction process. Our beautiful Kate came into this world at 9:23pm that same evening. Jennifer did so well!!! Our family and all the nursing staff see a lot of daddy in her, but I think she has Jenn’s nose and eyes. She’s been a good baby (got a lot of experience to compare it to ya know) and we have Jenn’s mom and my sis here to help. We came home Wednesday afternoon and are adjusting nicely to everything. I already see it’s going to be hard to leave her and mom home while I go to work.

We see God’s hand at work throughout the process - grace for such a healthy baby, grace for such a good labor and delivery, grace for all the help from family and friends, grace for the patience and joy needed while Kate is screaming with everything she’s got…even as I write this!! There are so many things to get used to and many more that we did not have to experience. The Lord continues to guide us and show us his mercy in all the ways that the labor, delivery, and health of the baby could have been so much more difficult. Even the timing of her arrival has reminded us of His sovereignty. We love growing in our faith that His wisdom and goodness are ours in Christ and only pray that Kate will one day be given the same grace to believe and treasure Christ! May we all praise God for his grace to this baby as she will be raised to know the Lord and worship his sovereign purposes to his glory! “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-6

In Christ,

Nick and Jenn

John Mark “Grilling Machine” Hutcheson cooks up a mean hamburger. And the best wurst ever. Actually, there was quite an amazing array of food provided by the hosts, their neighbors, and ravenously hungry attendees.

But the best part was the company. Our host and hostess, John Mark and Karen, did an amazing job. It just might be their calling in life. (In retrospect, they must have talked to God about the weather, because it was a sunny, breezy 75* outside.) Not only was the setup comfortable and inviting, allowing for all sorts of good, fun conversation, but the swimming pool was calling our name the whole time.

For those who were able to attend, the fellowship was sweet. There truly is nothing like friendships with fellow believers. Nowhere else can we find such encouragement, blessing, and sincere love for one another.

I’m pleased to announce two new features for this site: Sunday Breakfast and Recipes.

Now to see the Sunday Breakfast listing, click on Resources, then Breakfast. I’ll still be reminding people with phone calls and emails, but this will help people keep track of when they’re signed up, when there might be openings, and how to contact the breakfast person. Everyone has been doing an amazing job with breakfast. Thanks!

Also, thanks to Karen’s great suggestion, the Recipes link under Resources provides recipes that you can download. Have a great recipe that you want to share? Send it to me at jenaborn@yahoo.com in PDF or Word format and we’ll post it. Love the Abraham’s breakfast cookies or any other dish the class has been blessed with? Email me and I’ll request it from the class member.

In Matthew 28 Jesus gave his disciples a truly great commission. When fulfilled, the church’s mission to take the gospel to the nations will culminate as “thousands and thousands” gather to worship the Lamb and God’s purpose for his image bearing creatures is realized. As believers who live between the times, we are privileged preachers of a gospel that brings sinners into this community.

This past Sunday we shared with you of an important ministry role for someone to take on for the ‘07-08 year. Here is a more careful description of the purpose and nature of this role for anyone who is interested.

A brief description of the Evangelism Coordinator role:

The evangelism coordinator will lead our class in witnessing to the glory of Jesus Christ among the lost of Louisville. To this end, this individual(s) will utilize the small group structure of our class for the coordination of seasonal class wide evangelism projects and involvement in Ninth and O’s “New Homes” ministry.

A flexible description of how we envision this to look:

1) Class Wide Evangelism Projects. We envision that these projects will be planned and led by our small groups on rotation each season (summer, fall, winter, spring) and will attempt to support and enhance the ministry of a particular member from within the designated group (ie. cookies to all the Verizon stores in town, assisting McHardy in his ministry to soldiers, “reaching by raking,” etc.). The evangelism coordinator is the point person for these projects, serving and supporting small groups as they lead our class.

2) New Homes Ministry: Each week we envision a different small group being responsible for visiting 3-6 “new homes” within a 3-5 mile radius of Ninth and O each week, welcoming them to Louisville and leaving a gift from our church. With this scenario, each couple in our class will visit 1 and at most 2 homes per month. The evangelism coordinator will coordinate the small group rotation, equip our class for success on these visits and make sure that we are stocked with “gifts” provided by the church.

Please email me with questions about the role or to express your interest.

Looking forward to magnifying the worth of Christ with you!

-Trent

Hands down, coaching Upward Soccer is one of my favorite Louisville memories! Stampede didn’t go undefeated, but Ws aren’t the most important thing in this soccer league. These 4- to 11-year-old kids get equal playing time, awards after each game, new friends, and great exercise. Far more, though, they get to hear the gospel every week. Upward Soccer meets a practical need, while providing an opportunity to give unbelievers hope in Jesus.

Last year, more than 75 percent of players were not N&O churchgoers. Yet, during each practice and game, they heard about the sinner’s need, the Father’s holiness, and the Son’s sacrifice, and they were encouraged to respond with faith. And this isn’t just a ministry for kids! Upward Soccer gives coaches an opportunity to build relationships with the players’ parents. Too, the parents help their child memorize a Scripture verse each week! What a worthy use of our time!

How You Can Get Involved:
Coaching takes about 2 hours a week, while leading devotionals is maybe a 30-minute commitment (and a very flexible schedule). Inexperience coaching or leading devotionals is no obstacle. In fact, you’ll be trained to serve on Wednesday, July 18. Practices and games on the church lawn begin in September. For more information, or to sign up to coach, lead devotionals, or even referee, contact Blake Ring, 502.493.3939, bring@ninthandobaptist.org.

Traditionally, our class has seen the involvement of at least four to six people in coaching or devotional ministry. Let’s continue this tradition!

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.” - 2 Timothy 3:14,15

These were Paul’s words to Timothy and, by extension, to each of us today. But while believers today may take any exhortation to know the Scriptures to include the Old and New Testaments, in this context Paul could have meant no other collection of writings but that of the Old Testament. According to Paul, from Genesis to Chronicles, the Old Testament Scriptures are able to make us “wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ.”

This morning Dr. Wellum introduced our next book of study; The Book of Minor Prophets. In light of Paul’s exhortation to Timothy, just how do these twelve books point us to Christ? That’s the question we will be asking from now until the end of September as we study a book a week through the collection of books known as The Minor Prophets.

Each week, on this front page, we will remind you of the current book of study so that you can read with your spouse in preparation for next weeks class.

July 15 - Hosea
July 22 - Joel
July 29 - Amos
Aug 5 - Obadiah
Aug 12 - Jonah
Aug 19 - Micah
Aug 26 - Nahum
Sept 2 - Habakkuk
Sept 9 - Zephaniah
Sept 16 - Haggai
Sept 23 - Zechariah
Sept 30 - Malachi

So, this week, lets read Hosea in preparation for this Sunday’s lesson from that book.

Looking forward to a greater enjoyment of Jesus Christ through this study of The Book of Minor Prophets.

-Trent

That’s right friends, our summer shin-dig is upon us and John Mark is firing up his new grill. At present we are expecting about 15-20 and might have a surprise visit by the Wellum family. If you are planning to attend but haven’t signed up, contact John Mark or Karen (see class email) or just show up with your beautiful face.

Location:
John Mark & Karen’s Place (near Southeast Christian Church/off Blankenbaker)
504 Cherry Point Drive
Louisville, KY 40243

Time:
The BBQ begins at 12:00 and will end when the last people want to leave.

Strict Dress Code:
Very casual, show up when you want. We are planning for the events to take place outside. The pool will be open….games (uno, scrabble, bible trivia, boccie ball (spelling?)..etc… will be played…and meat will be grilled.

What you’re brinin’:

Hot Dog Buns
1. Miersmas (if they haven’t had the baby)
2. Abrahams

Hamburger Buns
1. Miersmas (if no baby)
2. Abrahams

Ice
1. Ostranders
2.

Drinks
1. Willems
2. Ostranders

Side Dish
1. Borns

Dessert
1. Anizors (chocolate grahams)
2. Mathis
3. Hunter

Paper Plates
1. Abrahams

Paper Napkins
1. Willems

Plastic Cups
1. Dilley’s (if stephanie can come)

Uno
1. Bishops
2. Borns

If anyone wanted to bring an additional side dish that would be great too. It looks like we only have one “taker” for the side dish, and we aren’t sure if the Born’s will make in light of their recent loss.

Today, on the Giddens’ family blog, you will notice a little Baby widget that reads, “26 days to go.” Well, as many of you know, Nathan set his own date. Nathan was born to Tory and Kedra this past Friday weighing in at 7lb and 14oz and 20.5 in tall - or long - whatever a baby is.
Enjoy these Christ exalting words from a recent post at their blog,

When Kedra was 28 weeks pregnant with Nathan, we sat together in the living room admittedly afraid of the implications of his premature arrival. We read through Isaiah 40 and asked the Lord to sustain this pregnancy until Nathan was healthy enough to survive outside of the womb without having to spend a single night in NICU. Seven weeks later, we welcomed into the world a 7 lb 14 oz blessing. We are in debt to those of you who have prayed with us, and are happy to share this incredible blessing with you.

More so, we are reminded through Nathan’s birth of the one whose blood and righteousness recreates the heart. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (1 Cor 5:17). Indeed, the birth of a baby screams the mercy of God to the sinner. Thanks again for your prayers.

Click on the photo above for a slide show of the events of the last few days.