Pastor Paul's Paragraphs

      It was my privilege this past February to lead a team of eleven adults on what may have been our first ever short-term missions trip sponsored by this local church. As a very missions minded church, Grace Baptist has consistently helped to send others to the mission field. We have given financially, helped to equip and send others. This past month we were involved in actually going to the field on a short term basis. We flew to New Orleans and worked along side of Pastor Brad Davis and the folks of Berean Bible Church. It was heart wrenching to see the magnitude of destruction that yet remains since Hurricane Katrina struck the area in August of 2005. What joy we experienced as we helped to fulfill the desire of the Berean Bible Church family and ministered to their fellow citizens in the New Orleans area. Ours was not an easy task: it involved enormously hard work, emotional swings and dangerous working conditions. We laughed together, sat in awe at what we witnessed, bonded, grew, and finished the short term task that God had set before us.

      In a region where all estimates put the number of homes damaged by floodwaters at well beyond 100,000, we had the opportunity to come along side four families and make a difference. Our task was easy to understand. Go into a home that may not have been entered since the six- to eight-foot deep floodwaters receded and remove everything. This included clothing, furniture, fixtures, cabinets, appliances, carpets, and more. Once the home was empty, we were to remove all the sheet rock from the walls. The locals referred to this as "gutting a home". Everything was piled near the street where it would be handled by another crew. As photo albums or special items were found, they would be set aside for the owners. The emotion still swells up within me as I remember one homeowner kneeling in her driveway and turning the pages of a photo album. I still remember unrolling an American flag and placing it in its outside receptacle, then watching it wave in the breeze. For me this was a symbol of hope amidst a long road to recovery. Each of these four families that we worked with experienced the love of Christ in a very practical way and each of them heard the gospel.

      Thanks for giving me the opportunity of going. leading and being a part of this missions trip. Thanks to those who prayed, gave and sent us out. Thanks to those who stayed behind here in Yuba City and continued the work that God has called us to locally. Thanks to the team of eleven who were willing to say yes to God's calling and go. To God be the glory. He deserves all the praise.....

      And keep your eyes open, I am confident that our Heavenly Father has another "short-term assignment" just waiting for a group from Grace who are willing to say "yes" and willing to go.

      Pastor Paul

Kids Korner - Pastor Greg

      This month we have the opportunity to do something very special in our Children's Ministry. Every spring we attend a one-day workshop held by Children's Ministry Magazine, a publishing arm of Group Publishing (where we receive most of our children's ministry resources). This year's event will be on March 25th at the Church of the Harvest in Citrus Heights.

      One of my goals as a Children's Pastor is to provide opportunities for our wonderful team of volunteers to further develop their skills in working with children, whether they are in Preschool or 6th Grade. These workshops provide just that!

      This year's theme is "Faith that Sticks". It looks to be a dynamic conference full of ideas. From the brochure, here is some of what we can expect:

1. Experience God encounters. . . and learn how to create the same encounters for children.
2. Solve the most perplexing dilemma facing children's ministers today. (Can't wait to find out what THAT is!)
3. Identify - and rediscover - the goal of Christian education.
4. Take home 12 sticky ideas you can use with kids starting this Sunday - like how to make participation fun!
5. Learn fun, new songs with motions to celebrate Christ with kids.
6. Network with others as you examine what kids truly know at different ages.

      Recent studies have shown that the "stickiness" of kids' faith is at risk. Many who graduate from our programs often end up leaving the church, and those who stay around don't always have a solid grasp of Biblical truth. We don't want that to happen to our kids! So I am hopeful that we will leave with some great ideas on how to equip our kids with a faith that will "stick" for a lifetime!

      Please pray for us as we go and as we continue to minister to our children here at Grace. The work we are involved in is important and vital. It is a spiritual work, which requires spiritual power, and that means PRAYER! Our Sunday School leaders, Children's Church leaders, Midweek Club leaders, and God Squad leaders need your prayers. Lift them up to the throne of grace! May God bless them as they minister to our little ones each and every week. What a blessing and privilege it is to serve alongside them!

      Pastor Greg

The Month in Focus with Pastor Ben

     Have you ever had one of those days? Weeks? Months? Well, February was one of those months for me. For those who don't know, I bought a motorcycle in the fall and tried to use that as my primary transportation so Gloria could use the car. I then decided in December that it wasn't working so I sold the motorcycle and bought a car. I wanted a very specific car and found one out of the state. I was able to get a good deal on the shipping and the car. It was supposed to arrive January 17th. I say February was one of those months because the car didn't arrive here until February 6th, and that wasn't real fun, but I survived.

      After 30 years of being a team and my support for 12, the Seattle Seahawks finally make it to the Super Bowl!! Unfortunately on February 5th they lost. That's okay though, there's always next year.

      February 18th was the wedding of Sean and Kristi. I was involved with that and had to be at the rehearsal as well as the wedding (kind of a no brainer that I have to be there). But what made it interesting was that our Youth Winter Retreat went form the 18th through the 20th and I was taking 12 teens and 3 other adults. So I had the distinct pleasure of deciding and coordinating when we would leave the wedding to go into 25 degree weather and 3 feet of snow.

      Lastly, as I write this, I am preoccupied with leaving for L.A. to be a part of my sister's wedding. We are flying down on Thursday (2/23) and driving back on Saturday (2/25)with my parents.

     I tell you this not to show you that I had a busy schedule in February, but to say that we all have busy schedules occasionally. I am preparing to go through the book of James with the youth group. The first 8 verses are especially key. They say that we need to consider it joy when we go through trials because, when we do, we develop patience. And patience is what we need for God to complete our growth and maturing. When we go through hard schedules and difficult situations, it's important to be patient but we must also ask for wisdom. Often we think we should ask God for strength, endurance, boldness, or something else. But really what we need is wisdom to know how to respond in such a way that we will grow from it and learn what God has intended for us.

      I had just such an instance at the Winter Retreat. For those who don't know, the retreat was held at Pilot Lake. To get there we had to stop at a rest stop in La Porte and take a snow cat and sled the rest of the way in. The sled only holds 30 people so we had to go in two trips. I was told before leaving that we would be on the late snow cat coming home. I organized rides accordingly. On Sunday evening (the night before we came home), I was informed that we were on the early cat ride which was 3 hours earlier. I had to use the satellite phone to make a phone call to the one phone number I had (I didn't have my cell phone because there is no reception - so why bring it all the way up?). Thankfully, God was in control and taught me again to be patient.

      As you go through tough situations and times of sudden change, rely on God to bring you through. Ask God for wisdom to know how to handle the situation and how to be patient amidst trials. When all is said and done you will be able to be joyful in what God has accomplished through you.

      Pastor Ben

The Sounds of Shasta

A 14 member traveling musical team from Shasta Bible College in Redding will present a musical program and feature dramatic oral interpretations of Old Testament prophetic passages by SBC Student, Tom Meyer.

Sunday, March 5, 2006 - 6:00 PM

Grace Baptist Church

Grace Christian Academy & Preschool
Auction 2006

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

9:00 AM Breakfast / Preview / Silent Auction

10:00 AM Live Auction

Lunch will also be served.

Partial List of Auction 2006 Items

• 1985 Toyota Camry Hatchback
• Sacramento Kings Tickets (March 10 vs. Memphis Grizzlies)
• Kings T-shirt autographed by Mike Bibby
• Handmade blankets and afghans
• Junior Golf Clubs
• Bel Air Model 33 Portable Sewing Machine
• Collectibles including Chronicles of Narnia memorabilia and collectible plates and dolls.
• Gift Baskets:
  • Toy Box,
  • Gardening,
  • Baby,
  • Chocolate and much more!
• Jewelry: watches, rings and opal, garnet and topaz earrings and necklaces and more!

Ministry Involvement Training

March 12 - 4:30 PM

Mens Basketball League Schedule

April Events

Calendar of Events

Click on the highlighted dates - the events are shown on the right.