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LAHAINA BAPTIST CHURCHDecember 2011

PASTOR CHRIS’ CORNERAloha kakou,

Wendy, Taylor, Zachary and myself are very blessed each year at this time to celebrate Christmas and all of the excitement of the birth of our Savior with you, our LBC Ohana. But in the midst of Christmas and the coming New Year, we also celebrate another date. December 20, 2011 marks the beginning of our seventh year with you here at Lahaina Baptist Church.

I pray that our ministry has been fruitful for you and your loved ones. We have tried our best to serve you in Christ as He has given us the ability to do so. We may have missed opportunities and chances to serve you in better ways over the years, but we have greatly appreciated your love, support and friendship to us. You have ministered to us in many incredibly wonderful ways. Each one of you has changed our lives.

You have helped us raise our children, pursue our dreams, struggle through difficult situations and share in our joys. You have encouraged us to live by faith as we help others to grow in grace. You have challenged us to

allow God’s guidance to mark our paths as you have travelled with us. You have walked the walk – and proven God’s love through your willingness to allow us into your family.

As we celebrate these past six years of ministry together, we anticipate the years still ahead of us. I pray that our dedication to each other grows stronger as we work to equip each other to be better disciples of Jesus Christ. We have more ahead of us than behind us in this life for Christ. Let’s continue to run the race set before us with endurance, knowing that our focus on Jesus will keep us from growing weary.

Mahalo again for the wonderful privilege that you have given me to be your pastor. I pray for God’s continued blessings on us all, as we grow closer to Him.

Until next month,Aloha in Christ, Pastor Chris

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God’s Greatest Gift

What is this gift that God has for us? An angel revealed to Mary that she was having a son. Mary was fearful, but overcame her fear with honest questions that showed her faith in God’s ability to answer. She accepted God’s commands, trusted Him, and obeyed Him in faith. Her son, God’s Son, Jesus, is God’s greatest gift. How will we respond to God’s greatest gift? God always allows us to choose. He does not demand acquiescence. Our response may be apathy or rejection or joy and gratitude. The measure of our response depends on whether we really appreciate the Gift. Do we love the Gift and the Giver? Will we gift Him in return? How then will we live?

During this Christmas season, we have great opportunity to share the good news of the gift. We, who have been given so much, are the vessels that God wants to use to share His gift. Will we, who are His children, though fearful like Mary, accept God’s command, trust Him, and obey in faith? Join us every Sunday at 9 in December as we learn how we can help others to recognize and respond to God’s greatest gift.

Scripture for December:Luke 2:20New International Version 1984 (NIV1984) The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS2. Vicki Morrell9. Amanda Arakawa14. Vija Bautista20. Pastor Chris Martin23. Larry Woodford Elijah Bautista28. Tony Barca30. Austin Arakawa31. Allison Becker

December Anniversaries:

23. Aaron & So-Yeon Brock31. Jeremy & Jacki Seamster

Thanks to all who came and to all who helped make this

night a wonderful time of fun and fellowship!!!!!

Join us for our Adult Christmas Party on Friday, Dec. 9th, 6:00-8:00 p.m.!

Experience our fun filled evening with food, great games, singing, and fellowship!

Invite a friend, too!Bring: a potluck dish (dessert and drinks provided), a white

elephant gift under $10.

Sponsored by the Sunday Morning Bible Study Adult Classes

Please call the church office if we have missed your special day, so we can update our records.

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Our 7th Annual“Sharing Our Christmas Blessings”

LBC would like to present 45 food baskets to our neighbors

at Na Hale O Waine’e (Resource Center)

I have made cards for you if you wish to adopt a family or you can donate money, please make out checks to LBC, earmarked “Christmas Blessings”, and we will take care of the shopping for

you. Andy will be getting the food from the Maui Food Bank to put in the baskets. All you would need to purchase is toys, clothes, toiletry items, etc. for the family.

You can drop off your donations at the office or bring them on Wednesdays or Sundays.

We will be delivering these to the families on Thursday, Dec. 15th @ 6:00 PM. Make your plans to be there.

Baptism - 12-04-2011

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What  a  blessing  this  year  has  been.  God  has  been  so  very  gracious  to  Lahaina  Bap9st  Church  as  we  look  back  on  this  year.  Let’s  take  a  look  at  some  of  the  gi@s  God  has  given.  This  year  we  have  seen  gi@s  in  growth.  The  church  has  seen  growth  in  membership,  we  have  seen  a  growth  in  our  Sunday  School  aDendance,  we  have  seen  our  youth  group  grow  and  we  have  seen  a  growth  in  our  outreach  to  the  community.  The  growth  in  outreach  has  been  so  effec9ve  that  the  staff  has  decided  to  make  the  3rd  Sunday  of  each  month  a  9me  of  giving  back  (outreach).  So  far  we  have  served  or  gi@ed  a  family  who  had  stage  4  cancer  and  we  were  able  to  share  the  Gospel  with  her  and  her  family  and  give  them  a  new  Bible.  We  have  gi@ed  a  family  who  are  elderly  and  unable  to  work  effec9vely  in  their  own  yard.  We  shared  God’s  story  with  them  and  gave  them  a  Bible.  We  gi@ed  a  family  with  the  labor  of  love  when  

they  were  unable  to  carry  out  their  rubbish  to  be  carried  off  by  the  county.  We  will  con9nue  to  carry  out  this  gi@  of  giving  this  Sunday  as  we  prepare  to  help  a  young  man  who  is  bound  to  wheel-­‐chair  for  his  mode  of  transporta9on.  

  We  as  a  church  have  been  given  to  so  Faithfully  by  our  Lord  God  and  we  try  to  Faithfully  give  back  to  our  community  as  we  have  been  given.  Listen  to  what  the  Bible  states  in  2  Corinthians  1:4…

He  comforts  us  in  all  our  troubles  so  that  we  can  comfort  others.  When  they  are  troubled,  we  will  be  able  to  give  them  the  same  comfort  God  has  given  us.

When  we  have  been  in  need  the  Lord  our  God  has  always  comforted  us,  so  we  may  comfort  others  when  they  are  in  a  9me  of  need.  We  need  to  be  reminded  that  we  should  try  to  give  back  as  He  has  given  to  us.  John  3:16

"For  God  so  loved  the  world  that  he  gave  his  one  and  only  Son,  that  whoever  believes  in  him  shall  not  perish  but  have  eternal  life.

Let  us  be  reminded  that  the  Reason  for  the  Season  is  the  Gi@:  The  Greatest  Gi@  ever  to  be  given  and  the  Greatest  gi@  you  could  ever  give  to  another  person.  

Greatest  Gi@:  Jesus  Christ  the  Messiah,  The  Annointed  One,  The  Savior  and  Son  of  GodJesus:  Born  of  a  VirginJesus:  Live  a  Sinless  Perfect  LifeJesus:  Gave  Himself  as  the  Perfect  Sacrifice  for  MankindJesus:  Died  on  the  Cross-­‐-­‐-­‐As  the  Sin-­‐bearerJesus:  Rose  on  the  3rd  Day…….Defea9ng  Satan  and  SinJesus:  SiXng  at  the  Right  Hand  of  the  FatherJesus:  Wai9ng  to  Return  for  His  Bride  (The  Church)Jesus:  The  Greatest  Gi@  Ever,  the  one  and  only  true  Gi@

Jesus:  THE  REASON  FOR  THE  SEASON

PASTOR G’S SPACE:

Chris Martin, PastorGary Hamrick, Associate PastorSunday Schedule:8:00AM Morning Worship9:00AM Bible Study10:15AM Mid-Morning worship

Wednesday Schedule:5:30PM DInner6:30PM Bible Study/Student Ministry

LAHAINA BAPTIST CHURCHShaw Street at Honoapiilani Hwy P.O. Box 1000Lahaina, HI 96767lbcoffice@lahainabaptist.orgOffice: 808-661-3725Office Fax: 808-661-0926Website: www.lahainabaptist.org