Pastor Mike Tabor of the Happy Church, a Grace Brethren church in Jackson, Kentucky, sends along these updates and prayer requests:
Our senior high Happy Church Quiz Team this past weekend went to C.E. National headquarters in Winona Lake, Indiana, to take part in its first annual national quiz invitational.
There were 10 teams present with two being district teams (quizzers from multiple churches in a district). Our third best quizzer and three others did not make the trip, leaving us with only four quizzers. The quizzes are for up to five. If you leave a seat empty, other teams put their best “chance taker” on seat five so that if they miss, the four-person team does not have a chance at a bonus.
This definitely cost us points but we still came in FIRST! Ed Lewis of C.E. National presented our team with a nice trophy. The best part of the trip however was the great camaraderie all quizzers and coaches displayed for each other and the relationships that were developed.
C.E. National’s quiz program uses the N.I.V. and is open to all churches wishing to participate in the single most important thing we can do with our children – memorize God’s Word.
The teen/youth center (aka “Happy Shack”) is progressing toward completion. There is some drywall and mudding left to do prior to painting and then installation of kitchen cabinets, appliances, etc.
We have seen a run-down, 60+ year old home be totally gutted, new roof, windows, vinyl siding, plumbing, and electrical work. We have seen a sagging floor lifted, weak walls supported, ceiling joists leveled, 2nd bathroom installed with shower and kitchen cabinets and appliances procured.
Groups of Christ followers have provided Thanksgiving dinners, coats, gloves and mittens to some in need as a metaphor of God’s grace and as a way to connect themselves with the community we serve and those who were blessed with the Happy Church.
Also, for the second year in a row, a couple from Washington D.C. has donated $1,500(another person gave $500) toward the purchase of gifts for the “Happy Kids”. We have about 60 kids to get gifts for. To maximize these gifts, we had people from other churches join us in “Shopping for Jesus” and were provided up to $30 per child on black Friday to look for great deals.
Then, Monday Dec. 17th we will have a “Happy Wrap” party where the parents/guardians of the children (children not allowed at this event) come to the church and wrap the gifts for their children (the church provides all materials).
Then on Wednesday the 19th, we will have our Christmas party with food and fun. After food, Out of the Box Ministries will be performing a magic show on the Christmas theme. Following that, the parents will hand the gifts to their child(ren) and then everyone will wait for Pastor Mike’s countdown of “3-2-1-go!” and paper flies! It really is a tremendous and powerful event but we need your prayers to see lives truly impacted for Christ.
PLEASE continue to pray for workers for the Happy Church (Luke 10:2). We are in dire need of help. We have had to scale back some in order to keep from collapsing and losing the few workers we have,
I cannot thank you enough for caring for us, praying for us, and working with us as we seek to be a light in the darkness and salt to a tasteless generation.