Prayer Focus: Our Home Land

The United States is no longer a majority Christian nation. How can we turn this around and make Jesus more known? According to Pew Research, in just over a decade those adults who identified as Christian have dropped from about 90% to about 66%. This change is largely the result of adults leaving their faith communities. If these trends continue we will see the continued decrease in Christianity within the USA.

According to Pew research, there are many demographic factors that support a continued decline in Christianity but we know that God is no respecter of persons and we have a Gospel of grace for the whole world. We must do our part to be a safe harbor as the Church and a lighthouse for the world.

The above statistical information can lead to discouragement for some. We at UBC, however, do not view it this way. As Christ’s Church in Beavercreek Ohio, we desire to boldly accept the challenge placed before us and are committed to Knowing Him Personally and Making Him Known Globally. It is with much excitement that the USA is our Everywhere prayer focus for September.

UBC has five missionaries we financially and prayerfully support who are serving in the USA. They all have focused ministries in universities. This provides a unique opportunity to engage with all kinds of students including international students and many of these are from nations that are closed or hostile to the Gospel message.

The Stroh’s are newly planted missionaries in Pittsburgh with Cru and are evangelizing and discipling college students.
Clint Mahan is with AIA at Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Missouri as a campus minister, sports chaplain and mission’s coordinator.
Puckett’s-home base Florida with New International / New Hope-serves internationally
Ortego - H2O church plant at Wright State University
Harts-AIA Dayton 937 Campus Metro Team.

Pray that:

We, the Church of UBC and all Christ followers, will live obediently to the Great Commission as we live our lives with eyes and ears ready for open doors to share our stories as a bridge to the Gospel.
Followers of Christ throughout the USA will be intentional in praying for those they know who are far from GOD and that He softens their hardened hearts to be ready to receive the GOOD NEWS.
As Christians we will not be complacent and silent about progression of ungodliness within our country and that we speak truth in love and with grace.
Christians be protected from spiritual warfare especially within our families and marriages.
Leaders (Pastors/Elders/Teachers) will boldly preach the truth from GOD Word and not be tempted to compromise to please people.
UBC will continue to be the bright light of Christ in Beavercreek, Dayton, US and world as we continue to pursue Knowing HIM deeper and Making HIM known.

Resource Links:

Modeling the Future of Religion in America

Racial and Ethnic Composition by Religious Group

Missionary Spotlight: The Gospel and Soccer

The Love of soccer with the Love for Jesus led Isaac Nelson, a UBC member, to develop a tool for Gospel conversations that has become a 501c organization.

Isaac has always loved soccer and at 17 made his personal profession of faith. God opened the door for him to attend Cedarville University and to coach soccer there. After graduation he joined AIA and has been their soccer director. During this time, he developed the Dayton Soccer program that aims to engage refugees in Dayton with the goal of developing relationships through soccer that leads to Gospel conversations. This ministry has other UBC members who serve in the program. There have been 25 different countries' refugee children that have participated over the last 2-3 years.

God again gave Isaac a new vision about 2 years ago. This time it was creating a soccer ball with Jesus Loves You on the balls in the most common worldwide languages. In combination with soccer being the universal sport and use of this ball the language barriers to the Gospel are broken. The very exciting recent development is the addition of QR code on the balls that will take users to their website that has the top languages available with video Gospel presentations, options to seek more information, be connected with someone, download Bible.

If you would like to know more the website is below or you can reach out to Isaac via isaac@shareredemption.org

Website: Jesuslovesyouball.com

Recent Highlight: Visit to Call of Love Headquarters

Did you know there’s a world-impacting ministry to Muslims just a short drive from our church? Some members of the Core Mission Team were curious to see it for themselves and visited the Call of Love headquarters back in August. Aaron & Haley Perry and their family, Isaac Smith, Brian Sahadak and Sharon Kerestes, along with Sue Steck, were warmly welcomed by the ministry’s founders and staff. The group learned about the ministry’s history, operations, and vision for the future. They also were given a tour of their recently-acquired facility, a massive space that will allow the ministry to expand in new and exciting ways.

Many years ago, while still living in Lebanon, founder Samya Johnson was called by God to do the unthinkable: love the Muslims who were responsible for unrest in her country and the death of her friends. This call led her and her husband to start a ministry for Arab Muslims. Through media, they are able to share the Gospel with Muslims around the world and connect them with believers who can answer questions and encourage them. Call of Love also provides a variety of resources on their website, including materials to help educate Christians and help them love and share the Gospel with Muslim friends and neighbors. The picture below shows the bell they ring every time they hear a report of a saved Muslim through their ministry and their clear vision for future growth to reach many Muslims in the 10/40 window.

Learn more by visiting Call of Love or stop by the Mission table!

Opportunity: OCC with Your Growth Group

This year we are taking a different approach to OCC as a church. There will be NO church wide packing party or item collection this year for OCC, BUT the Mission Team encourages you to get together with your GG or a group of friends and do your own packing party to continue to assemble the OCC shoeboxes that will be sent around the world to open gospel conversations. Growth Groups, you have an incredible opportunity this year. We have connections to purchase size 3 "Jesus Loves You" soccer balls (see the above picture) and pumps to put in your boxes as a WOW gift if interested. These soccer balls have “Jesus Loves You” printed in 71 different languages on them. The total cost for the ball and pump is $10. As an incentive, the Mission team will reimburse 50% of the purchase cost this year. Reach out to Jim Corbin for more info. Also, if you need packing ideas or coloring sheets to include in your boxes, please scan the QR code below for resources.