spotlight

DEvotional: “using” our freedom

Hello Maple View Family,

Around the 4th of July, I always reflect on our country's history, and this year, as I reflect on the 250th anniversary of the United States (the semiquincentennial) and with the World Cup taking place in the U.S.A, I feel even more patriotic. We are truly blessed to live in a country where we have the freedom to openly worship the Lord and proclaim His name.

In many parts of the world, following Jesus comes with tremendous risk. In countries where Christianity is restricted or outlawed, believers have to gather in secret. Meeting in homes, basements, forests, caves, or other hidden locations to worship, study the Bible, and encourage one another. These "underground churches" exist because public Christian gatherings can lead to harsh harassment, imprisonment, loss of employment, or even death. Even in the face of these dangers, millions of Christians remain faithful, demonstrating incredible courage and commitment to Christ. Their example should remind us of the early church in the book of Acts, where believers continued to meet, pray, and proclaim the gospel even in the face of persecution.

Some of the places where Christians experience the most severe persecution today include North Korea, Afghanistan, Somalia, Yemen, Iran, Nigeria, and parts of China, where many believers continue to worship in unregistered "house churches." Their perseverance is a shining light and a powerful reminder that the Church is not defined by a building but by faithful followers of Jesus who gather wherever they can to worship Him. It also serves as a powerful reminder that we should never take our freedom for granted, and that we should “use” this freedom to serve others.

Galatians 5:13, “For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.”

Maple View does a wonderful job of welcoming our community and serving them through Ebbie's Christmas (formerly known as "The Children's Christmas Project". I love the new name, by the way). We also partner with several missions and organizations to meet the needs of people locally and nationally. These ministries are reminders that our freedom is not meant to be enjoyed passively but to be used intentionally for the Kingdom of God.

As we celebrate Independence Day, let's also celebrate the freedom we have in Christ and the unique opportunity we have in our nation to worship openly, share the gospel boldly, and serve others generously. While many of our brothers and sisters around the world risk everything simply to gather for worship, we have the privilege of inviting our neighbors to church, opening God's Word without fear, and living out our faith in our communities.

May we never take these freedoms for granted. Instead, let us use every opportunity God has given us to point others to Jesus while we still can.

Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the freedoms we enjoy both as citizens of this country and, even more importantly, as citizens of Your Kingdom. Forgive us for the times we have taken those freedoms for granted. Give us the same courage and faithfulness that You have given to believers who worship in secret around the world. Help us to boldly proclaim the gospel, faithfully serve our neighbors, and make the most of every opportunity You place before us. May our lives bring glory to You in all that we do. It is in Your precious and holy name I do pray, amen.

Eric Vance, Lead Minister

MV Teens

Hello Maple View Family,

June, like most months, seemed to fly by. I do believe that is because, as the old saying goes, “time flies when you’re having fun”. Camp kicked off in June, which slows down the youth program, as most of our youth are either attending or working at the camp, but we still have a great time even with smaller groups.

On Sunday mornings, we have begun to walk through the book of Romans. Our prayer is that the book of Romans gives students a solid foundation for understanding the Christian faith. Romans answers some of the biggest questions teenagers ask: Who is God? Why do we need Jesus? What is sin? How are we saved? What does it mean to follow Christ every day? As students work through Romans, they will discover that the gospel is more than just a message about getting to heaven; it's the power of God to transform every area of life.

On Wednesday nights, we are continuing our “Essentials of Faith” series, and before we know it, August will be here, and with August comes the return of “Destination Unknown”.

Barb & Danny Hazelwood continue to do a great job with fun, interactive, and relevant Sunday night lessons. They have also begun taking monthly trips to C/A for both the Youth & Kids. The next C/A trip will be on July 12th for “S’mores and More”.

Our summer program, “The Great Outdoors,” finally kicked off on June 30th with a trip to Camp Creek State Park. We had a great time seeing God’s beautiful creation, fellowshipping, and playing in the water. Even if the water was freezing cold.

The Great Outdoors will continue in July as we head to “Ace Adventure” on July 16th and Brush Creek Falls on July 21st. Both trips should be a great time and we are looking forward to the Teens growing together in fellowship and deeper in relationship with Jesus.

In Christ,

Eric Vance, Lead Minister

MV Kids

What an incredible month it has been for MV Kids! We kicked off June with our Blessing of the Bikes on June 7. During the morning worship service, our children enjoyed a Bible lesson, snacks, and plenty of time riding their bikes and scooters around the church parking lot. Following the service, Evangelist Brent Ferrell prayed over each child, asking God for His protection and blessings throughout the summer.

That same evening, we launched Vacation Bible School. We were incredibly blessed to welcome around 100 children each night as they learned about God’s love through the life and ministry of Paul. Thank you to every volunteer and everyone who donated their time, talents, and resources. Your servant hearts made VBS a wonderful success, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

Several of our MV Kids also enjoyed a week at Christian Acres this month. I was blessed to have the opportunity to teach during the Junior 3 week, and it was amazing to see the Lord moving in such powerful ways. Four children gave their lives to Christ and were baptized during camp—what a beautiful reminder that God is still changing lives!

Speaking of baptisms, I am thrilled to share that two of our own Maple View kids made the decision to follow Christ this month! Aslan Fain was baptized on June 21, and Gideon Vance was baptized on June 28. I couldn’t be more proud of these two young men and am excited to watch them continue to grow in their faith and be used by God for His Kingdom.

We wrapped up the month with the first installment of our Summer at the Movies series. On June 30, we loaded up the church van and headed next door to Golden Ticket Cinemas to watch Dog Man. We were blessed to have 28 people join us for a fun morning of fellowship, laughter, and a great movie.

Thank you for your continued prayers and support of MV Kids. God is doing amazing things, and we are so thankful to be part of what He is accomplishing in the lives of our children!

-Rebecca