4/21 Sunday Spring Picnic Announcements

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1. *WELCOME TO HOSANNA SPRING PICNIC! – *If you are a new or returning visitor, we welcome you into this family in Christ’s love and remain here for you as His body to grow and flourish together! Thank you to everyone for making it out here to Mary Heads Carter Park for our spring picnic! Immediately after-service at 12:10pm, please make your way to the serving tables with our grilled meats, sides, and desserts and enjoy a tasty lunch together! After-lunch at 12:50pm, we have a churchwide team game time and prize-awarding time! *As able, please participate – everyone of all ages – in the game time to nurture unity and teamwork in the Spirit! *If you have yet to be assigned to the “RED” team or “BLUE” team, please see Elder Heather and the welcoming servants immediately after-service. *If you have yet to receive a raffle ticket for the prizes, please see Elder Heather and the welcoming servants immediately after-service. If you have yet to take a worship bulletin, please do so at the welcoming table at this time as well. *By 3:00pm, we must all help clean-up and depart the pavilion, as our rental time will expire.
2. *NEW APPOINTMENT – AGAPE ASSISTANT SHEPHERD & MEN’S MINISTRY COORDINATOR – As the needs of our young adult AGAPE life group grows, together with the ministry to the brotherhood of Hosanna, the session has appointed, with support from the diaconate, brother Jake Jeong to the dual roles of assistant shepherd of AGAPE life group (serving under the direction of Deacon Hana) and men’s ministry coordinator of Hosanna. Congratulations to shepherd Jake Jeong for his new appointment shortly today with prayer! Let us pray for and continue to support shepherd Jake in these stewardship roles before the Lord!
3. *PASTORAL UPDATES – *Next Sunday, we are sorrowful yet joyful over the news of the resignation of assistant Pastor Hoyeon Kang of Bethany Korean Church who has served faithfully for the past two years, yet now called to missionary work to the Turkish people in the land of Turkey. Many of you know Pastor Hoyeon, who has been present throughout the transition process of our congregation into the chartering of Hosanna Church. His last Sunday is next Sunday (4/28). Please bless the Kang family next Sunday (Mrs. Eunchan who is pregnant with their third baby girl Sungyoon, with two young daughters Eliana [Hayoon] and Elizabeth [Yaeyoon]) as they prepare for missionary work in Turkey and beyond.
4. *THIS FRIDAY (4/26), AGAPE life group, 6:30pm – at the gracious hospitality of the Jeong’s home. We invite all young adults to this Friday’s gathering. RSVP to Deacon Hana or in the group chat. Thank you in advance to all those opening their home for ministry. Pray for our AGAPE ministry of college, postgraduates, and newlyweds, gathering every Friday evening at 6:30pm at various homes, and our shepherd, Deacon Hana Lee, as she guides this precious family.
5. *NEXT SUNDAY (4/28), SESSION/ELDER BOARD meeting – The Board will be gathering at 1:30pm at the Corner Conference Room next Sunday. Please pray for our Elders!
6.  *NEXT SUNDAY (4/28), SERVANTS APPRECIATION DINNER, 5:00pm @ Goodfellas Pizza (The Colony)! – For all those servants who have helped out for the tables/chairs setup and/or cleanup in the gym throughout the month of March to serve the Sunday breaking bread ministry, we want to thank you with an appreciation dinner next Sunday (4/28), 5:00pm at Goodfellas Pizza (6520 Cascades Ct #100, The Colony, TX 75056). Come and enjoy the Lord’s reward and gift of serving His people through the labor of His love.
7. *KINGDOM EXPANSION PRAYER – We are moving to pray for a wider vision of God’s Kingdom to expand through the global prayer guide for the persecuted church and persecuted Christians worldwide from The Voice of the Martyrs organization. Today, we are praying for our persecuted Beninese brothers and sisters in Christ in west Africa.

 
**Prayer Topic: Persecuted Christians in Benin (west Africa)
     Benin is a small country bordering western Nigeria. It is the birthplace of voodoo, and Christianity is viewed by many in the north as a threat to their traditional beliefs. Every village and many homes in the north have a designated place for animal sacrifice (and sometimes human sacrifice). Voodoo is an official religion, and Voodoo Day is a public holiday. Witchcraft is deeply ingrained in the local culture and is openly practiced. Christianity is considered a foreign religion that steals a community’s youth and prevents them from being properly initiated into the local tribes. Every village chief serves as both a political leader and a voodoo priest.
     About 30 percent of the people in Benin are Christians. Nearly 40 percent practice ethnic religions, and another 30 percent are Muslims. Believers are persecuted by their family and community. Persecution is prevalent in the north. New converts to Christianity are beaten and sometimes killed, while church buildings are routinely destroyed. Villages keep evangelists out and prevent construction of new churches. Bibles are available, but they are hard to find in rural areas.
 
*The Scripture for today is found in the insert of your bulletin:
 
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
(MATTHEW 5:13-16)
 
Prayer by Pastor Chester:
Our Father, we lift up to You our Beninese brothers and sisters in our Lord Jesus Christ in west Africa. Lord, would You break the strongholds of voodoo, witchcraft and superstition that has gripped this nation. In the all-powerful name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we speak against these demonic realms with the authority of King Jesus – from every city to every village to every home in Benin. Open their blinded eyes, their deaf ears, to see and to hear of the once-for-all sacrifice in the blood of Your only Son Jesus – and not by any other sacrificial means – that can save them from their all their sins and impending death. Help Beninese believers grow in their faith with audio Bibles in their own language. We pray for those who are persecuted by their families with witchcraft curses to remain faithful in the gospel, to not be moved in their love for You and the power You give them over the idolatry around them. We pray every voodoo priest will bend their knee to our Great High Priest Jesus, who is the only one worthy to be our Mediator and Redeemer. Fill us with a greater burden to pray for our brothers and sisters in west Africa. Make us Your house of prayer for all nations. Fill our hearts with overflowing thankfulness for the freedom and privilege we cannot take for granted today in gathering to worship You. Lord, we long for the same in this distant land. In the risen Lord and Savior of the Beninese people, Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.