Tharptown Community Picnic

The Tharptown Community Picnic on October 25 will present a unique opportunity for TBC to minister in our community. Until now, the majority of our community focus has centered around our church facilities and attempting to draw people from surrounding areas to us. This event will allow us to engage the community in their own environment.

Meeting people where they live and work was a common theme of Christ’s ministry too. Although Christ often met and taught the “religious” in their synagogues, it was in the community that Christ did the majority of his evangelistic work and ministry. His interaction with others took place in their homes, on the streets, at a community well, at a friend’s grave, on a mountain, and from a boat. Wherever there were people, that’s where Jesus would be ministering.

Tharptown School now has over 500 students. Each of those students represents a family. These families come in to our community daily for academic needs, sporting events and practices, and for social interaction. May the light of the gospel shine brightly as we minister to those in the community as Jesus would—with purposeful interaction in their own environment.

Jamie Kiel

Peru Missions Report

Most everyone knows that I’ve just returned from a short term mission trip to Peru. I was part of a team of seven people invited to preach and teach at a church conference. The other team members were from The Shoals, Kentucky, and the Dominican Republic. We were actually able to visit three different churches (from big cities to remote jungles) and given numerous opportunities for individual evangelism.

Much of our time was spent with missionaries and in churches founded, funded and supported by HeartCry Missionary Society. These are the same folks we partner with at TBC for our Asian missions work.

My hope is that the church will allow me to share slides and a narrative of the trip one day soon. I have never experienced anything quite like it. Their desire for truth reminded me of the Bereans; searching scripture daily. God confirmed one truth in my heart for sure; that joy comes from the Lord, not possessions.

I want to thank the church family for supporting the trip. TBC paid for half of my international airfare and a TBC church member paid for my domestic air travel that was required once we got to Peru. More importantly though, many of you remembered me in prayer while I was away, and I am most grateful for that.

To God be the glory.

Bro. Ken