Note:  This website continues to be developed. Questions or concerns regarding the Montesano Church of God should be emailed to: goodnews@mchog.org

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THE MEN’S TEAM News media outlets continue to share more information about the devastating effect Tuesday’s earthquake has had on the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince and the surrounding area. Due to the mass chaos in the aftermath, specific information is still scanty, but reports are that the casualty rate is high and the damage extensive. The need for disaster relief is expected to be significant. To respond to this immediate need and help alleviate the suffering, Church of God Ministries is coordinating the advancement of $10,000 in Disaster Relief funds. These funds will be provided to Phyllis Newby, national leader of the Haitian Church of God, and to John and Jodie Ackerman, our career missionaries in Haiti, to respond to the immediate needs within the Church of God there. The scope of the disaster and its impact on the Church of God work in Haiti will take some time to be fully assessed. Communication and electrical lines are down, and many roads are impassible due to landslides. Sketchy reports are coming into CGM from various sources. Here is what we know about the situation on the ground at this point. The Ackermans are unharmed and safe at home (as per their Web site) The orphans at the House of Blessing are also unharmed. The home sustained no damage, but the school at the orphanage did receive some damage. The home of the director sustained serious damage and is likely to crumble completely. Phyllis Newby is all right as are the people at the Church of God compound. The hospital located on the Church of God compound sustained some damage, but no injuries or loss of life. It is some distance from Port-of-Prince. However, many of the doctors who work at the hospital live in Port-au-Prince and have not been heard from yet. Children of Promise sponsors 26 children in Haiti, but has been only able to confirm that six are unharmed. The status of the other children has yet to be determined. The Church of God (Anderson) has a significant presence in the country, with 233 congregations and 32,000 constituents. Church of God Ministries will continue to monitor the situation and assess the need in order to determine how best to respond as more information becomes available from national leaders and missionaries. We ask that individuals and congregations prayerfully consider contributing funds to support disaster relief. You can make an immediate donation to the Disaster Relief Fund by clicking here. Or, you can mail checks to Church of God Ministries, PO Box 2420, Anderson, IN 46018-2420. Please write Project 45.04502 in the memo line. Your gracious donation to the disaster relief fund will be used to support this crisis through the replenishment of those funds initially advanced that provided an immediate assistance to those affected by the situation. Additional funds received above and beyond the initial disbursements will be forwarded on to provide additional assistance to those in need. Please pray for those affected by this disaster. CGM maintains a limited Disaster Relief Fund in order to provide an immediate response to disasters and crisis. Replenishment of the Disaster Relief Fund is necessary so that CGM can continue to respond to future disasters in an expeditious manner. More at CHOG.org David Farlow, Chief of Strategic Communications, PO Box 2420, Anderson, IN 46018-2420 765.648.2182 or Toll Free 800.848.2464 On the web at chog.org MyCHOG.ning.com and chogfoundation.org WOMEN OF FAITH NEWS Mark your calendars for the next time the Women of Faith meet. On Tuesday, February 9th we met to discuss Martha and Mary: Working and Worshiping. We learned some interesting things not only about Mary and Martha, but about ourselves as well. You can learn more about these two women if you read the accounts in Luke 10:38-42, John 11 and John 12 (with parallel accounts in Matthew 26:6-13 and Mark 14:3-9). “Both were remarkable in their own ways. If we weigh their gifts and their instincts together, they give us a wonderful example to follow. May we diligently cultivate the best instincts of both of these extraordinary women.” (Twelve Extraordinary Women by John MacArthur, Pg.170) NOTE: TIME CHANGE FOR MARCH MEETING. Due to schedule conflicts we will meet on Monday, March 8th at 7:00 p.m. to learn more about Mary Magdalene: Delivered From Darkness. “Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons”. Mark 16:9 NKJV (Page 171). Hope you can join us! Please mark your calendars for Saturday, May 15th for our Annual Spring Tea. More details will follow in the upcoming months, but you’ll want to mark it now so you can plan to be there! “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6. In Christ’s service and at yours, Janet Rice Visit the national web site of The Women of The Church of God YOUTH ACTIVITIES ABOUND! FOR THE YOUTH MONTESANO CHURCH OF GOD YOUTH GROUP NEWS By Lisa Zimmerman, Youth Director I am sure you all have been as busy as I have getting back into the rhythm of things as classes, sports and nameless other activities have begun for the 2009-2010 school year. I hope that things are going smoothly for all of you and that you find yourselves settling into a comfortable routine! As you know, Youth Group is starting back up as well, and for that I am very excited! We have some amazing things ahead of us this year. There are a few changes in place, the first being our move to Thursday nights and also some improvements to our meeting and team building repertoire ?. Our biggest goal is to get as many of you (youth) as possible to IYC2010 (International Youth Convention) in Orlando, Florida next summer. IYC is an invaluable and amazing experience that is well worth all the hard work it will take to get there. All students who will be entering grades 12 in 201- are eligible to attend, and of course I will give you much more detailed info as time goes on! (Courtney, Liz and I were blessed to attend IYC2008 in San Antonio, Texas and can I just say: WOW!!! I can’t wait for the next one!) Much of what we will do over the next year as a youth group will revolve around our journey to IYC2010 but you can count on lots of other fun and fellowship to be had at our regular group meetings, as well as concerts and events scattered throughout the year. I am looking forward to your input and participation and I can’t wait to find out what God has in store for our group! YOUTH IN 3D Montesano Youth Group Has Discount Cards On Sale in Time for Christmas! “Montesano Church of God Youth In 3D” is our theme for this year and the Youth Group has found a way for you to carry that theme every day with a classy new discount card that goes on sale on November 8th. The cards are $20.00 each and provide great discounts and special offers from restaurants and other businesses in Grays Harbor and Olympia. Proceeds from sales go to help youth attend IYC in Orlando Florida in July. These will make great stocking stuffers and are great to carry in your wallet to save money all year long at your favorite places. The cards are good through December 15, 2010. Check out our table at church during the fellowship hour or call the church office to get yours today. We are hoping these go fast so don’t wait. Start saving today and thanks to all the vendors for your support. YOUTH SIGNED UP FOR CURRENT MAGAZINE FUNDRAISING When you shop on the website www.currentfun.com choose Washington State and then the organization “Montesano Church of God Youth Group” and a portion of the proceeds will go to the Youth Group. Questions, see Lisa Zimmerman.