Blog
Ashley Sheffer Church Planting Assistant Update January 2019
Thanking the Lord from Germany!
Thank you for all the prayers during my travels!
Arrived!
I arrived in Germany on Saturday after around 21 hours of travel, and proceeded to attempt to stay awake for the remainder of my day! Directly from the airport I was taken to a small party prepared by the teen group that I worked with during my last time in Germany! They made a large banner and had flowers to welcome me:) We all went to Burger King for an early dinner and it was fun to reconnect with them!
My German is by no means perfect, but it is coming back to me and I feel so much further along than the first time I came. I spent the week settling into my apartment, waiting on luggage, and getting legal documents in order. I also visited two of the kids' clubs. It was SO fun to see them. When they realized I was back, we jumped right back in as if I had never left!
Missing Luggage
Thank you to everyone who prayed for my luggage to be returned. I miraculously caught a flight I should have missed due to delays, but my luggage did not. I waited from Saturday until Tuesday for it to make it to Germany. Thank you, Lord!
New Office!
It‘s exciting to be in the new building - which includes my own office. My name is on the door with office hours which makes it feel very official.
Prayer Requests
That all of my legal documents can be finished without any issues arising.
That I can quickly settle into the work and communicate well.
21 Days of Prayer - Day 12
Let us give thanks to the Lord,
for he satisfies the thirsty,
he fills the hungry with good things,
and he heals the afflicted.
Let us celebrate his abundant goodness.
We thank you, gracious Father,
that you provide for all our needs,
for food on our tables,
for the clothes on our bodies,
for the beds we sleep in,
for the dwellings that shelter us.
We praise you, Lord,
for all your gifts that go beyond our basic needs,
for the things that make our work easier,
for the conveniences of modern life,
for the beauty and pleasure that you bring into our lives.
Thanks be to God!
Pause to express your prayer of thanksgivng.
We are thankful for those who gave to the Above and Beyond. We were able to purchase Logos Bible Software for a church planter, help Ashley Sheffer with her support, provide daily necessities through Christian Neighbors and more. God is good.
By praying with friends, you will be able to hear and see facets of Jesus that you have not yet perceived. - Tim Keller
21 Days of Prayer - Day 11
Pause to thank God that he is patient and kind to show us the way and ask that the spirit of God would reveal to you areas of repentance.
Lord Jesus, give me a deeper repentance,
a horror of sin, a dread of its approach.
Help me chastely to flee it
and jealously to resolve that my heart shall be Thine alone.
Give me a deeper trust,
that I may lose myself to find myself in Thee,
the ground of my rest, the spring of my being.
Give me a deeper knowledge of Thyself
as Saviour, Master, Lord, and King.
Give me deeper power in private prayer,
more sweetness in Thy Word,
more steadfast grip on its truth.
Give me deeper holiness in speech, thought, action,
and let me not seek moral virtue apart from Thee.
Plough deep in me, great Lord, heavenly husbandman,
that my being may be a tilled field,
the roots of grace spreading far and wide,
until Thou alone art seen in me,
Thy beauty golden like summer harvest,
Thy fruitfulness as autumn plenty.
I have no master but Thee,
no law but Thy will, no delight but Thyself,
no wealth but that Thou givest,
no good but that Thou blessest,
no peace but that Thou bestowest.
I am nothing but that Thou makest me.
I have nothing but that I receive from Thee.
I can be nothing but that grace adorns me.
Quarry me deep, dear Lord,
and then fill me to overflowing with living water.
From The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions, edited by Arthur Bennett.
I would rather teach one man to pray than ten men to preach.
- CH Spurgeon
21 Days of Prayer - Day 10
We will learn today in church that God has designed us as interactive creatures. The purpose of our interaction is to promote the praise of our God.
What voices are you listening to?
Who are you influenced by?
Do these voices and influence help or hinder your praise? Who are you influencing?
Pause to meditate on the questions and then express your praise to God. See you at the 8:30, 10 or 11:30!
If the spiritual life be healthy, under the full power of the Holy Spirit, praying without ceasing will be natural.
- Andrew Murray
21 Days of Prayer - Day 9
Pause to express your prayer of Thanksgiving
Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? - Corrie ten Boom
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21 Days of Prayer - Day 8
Pause now to pray to God for your physical neighbors.
Who are the people you live next to?
Who works next to you?
Who are the people next to you where you recreate?
Who are the people next to you where you learn?
Who are the people in your church you intentionally develop community with?
Pray specifically about what actions you can take to show the love of Jesus to your neighbors.
All of us would be wiser if we would resolve never to put people down, except on our prayer lists. - D A Carson
21 Days of Prayer - Day 7
Pause to express your praise to Jesus:
Praise You, Jesus, You are my life, my love.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the name above all names.
Praise You, Jesus, You are Emmanuel, God with us.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the King of Kings.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the King of creation.
Praise You, Jesus, You are King of the universe.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Lord of lords.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Almighty.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Christ.
Praise You, Jesus, You are Christ the King.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Lamb of God.
Praise You, Jesus, You are Lion of Judah.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Bright Morning Star.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Champion and shield.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Strength and our Song.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the way of our life.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the only truth.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the real life.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Wonderful Counselor.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Prince of Peace.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Light of the World.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Living Word.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Redeemer.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Anointed One.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Holy one of Israel.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Good Sheperd.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Sheepgate.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Lord of hosts.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Rock of all ages.
Praise You, Jesus, You are my hiding place.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Savior of the world.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the strong tower.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Mountain Refuge.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Bread of Life.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Font of all holiness.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Living Water.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the True Vine.
Praise You, Jesus, You are my Spouse. my Maker.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Fortress.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Deliverer.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Victory.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Salvation.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Righteousness.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Wisdom.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Sanctification.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Justification.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Door.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the great I AM.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the great High Priest.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Cornerstone.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Sure Foundation.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Joy.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Portion and Cup.
Praise You, Jesus, You are my Healing and Wholeness.
Praise You, Jesus, You are our Covenant.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Promise of the Father.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Everlasting One.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Most High God.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Lamb that was slain.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Just Judge.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Balm of Gilead.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Mighty Warrior.
Praise You, Jesus, You are my Defense.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Bridegroom.
Praise You, Jesus, You are my Patience.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Solid Reality
Praise You, Jesus, You are my Provider.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Alpha and the Omega.
Praise You, Jesus, You are the Beginning and the End.
Praise You, Jesus, You are all that I need.
Praise You, Jesus, You are all that I want.
Praise You, Jesus, You are worthy of all praise.
Amen
Faith in a prayer-hearing God will make a prayer-loving Christian
-Andrew Murray
21 Days of Prayer - Day 6
We are thankful for God’s good generosity through his people.
More than 3,500 meals were delivered on Thanksgiving, foster and adoptive children have needed clothing through Braden’s Closet and needs are met in Allegan County through God’s people and the ministry of Christian Neighbors.
Ashley Sheffer’s lost luggage made it to Germany.
We are thankful to see Northbridge Church growing in love for one another, building relationships and loving people in our community and faithfully, joyfully sharing Jesus.
Pause to express your thanksgiving to God
A consecrated life is both a prayer life and a thanksgiving life. - E M Bounds
21 Days of Prayer - Day 5
We learned on Sunday from the Bible that the human heart is dynamic having the ability to think, to emote and to act. Today’s Scripture prayer focuses on repenting of actions.
As you pray and repent of sinful behaviors, ask God to search your heart and reveal to you the dynamics of your heart. Do you sin out of a wrongly held belief or belief system? What do you desire? What are you afraid of? Are you acting out of a conviction that could expose wrong thinking?
Consider at a later time, after prayer, reviewing some of the X-ray questions by David Powlison
God proved his love on the cross. When Christ hung, and bled, and died it was God saying to the world — I love you. - Billy Graham
Resources: Unit 4, Session 3
Sermons:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0BZkQstkjI
https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/a-lesson-in-forgiveness/
https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/after-the-funeral/
https://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/guilt-and-grace
Articles:
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/what-joseph-story-really-about/
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/purposes-god/
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/joseph-reveals-himself/
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/hard-providence/
Video:
https://thebibleproject.com/explore/genesis-12-50/
Fill ins:
pg 32: free actions, sinful, crucifixion
The quote is from Spurgeon. He is saying that Scripture is the very words of God, and who doesn’t love to hear the sound of God’s voice? ¹ The problem is that most of us want to hear God’s voice, but we don’t crack our Bibles, and we don’t even buy our own excuses for not doing so. We can all use some fresh motivation.
Here are ways Scripture motivates us to start reading.
Scripture is the words of God to you. Open the Bible anywhere and the words there could be introduced with “the Spirit says” (Heb 3:7). These words are bread for our soul (Deut 8:3). They bring life.
Over the past year, I have watched how they bring this miracle of life. I have seen it in friends whose bodies were dying, and I have seen it in friends who have lost loved ones. Their stories are each uniquely hard and beautiful, but there is a way they are the same. They all fed on Scripture. They asked for Scripture from others. They prayed Scripture. As a result, though they were facing death, they were profoundly alive.
Israel’s kings were directed by God to handwrite a personal copy of his words and keep it with them (Deut 17:18-20). They didn’t, of course. Hezekiah may have been the exception because he knew the Law of Moses and did not depart from it (2 Kings 18:6). Life and power were evident during his reign. Take note of Josiah, too. During his reign, an extensive rehab project of the temple was undertaken and a copy of the Law was unearthed. When it was read, the Spirit used it to revive an entire nation (2 Kings 22-23).
Scripture was the words of the Father to Jesus. King Jesus was the one who had the words of the Father close at hand. When he took on flesh, he lived with the same resources we have—Scripture—and it was food for his soul. Watch him in the wilderness. He did battle and stood firm against Satan, not because he had singular connections to the Father and the Spirit, but because he remembered Scripture—“it is written” (Matt 4:1-7).
Scripture is about Jesus. Moses wrote of Jesus. (John 5:46). The bread that came from the mouth of God (Deut 8:3) was Jesus, who said, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). This means that as we feed on Scripture we are feeding on Jesus himself. The person is more prominent than the commands. Task number one in Scripture is to discover the suffering servant and risen Lord. And though we might think that an audible voice or a spectacular visitation from God would be a great boost to our confidence in what God says to us, Scripture anticipates us here. “If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets,” Jesus said, “neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
I have been in accountability groups in which we would ask about our times in Scripture from the week before. The reminder was helpful and the fellowship was sweet, but the reminders didn’t always get us into the Word. Perhaps a simple question would have been more effective. “Anyone want to hear words that come from the very mouth of God?” Then we could simply have read Scripture together.
¹I paraphrased Spurgeon for the title of my lecture at our 2018 Annual Conference: “Loving Your Bible: A Personal Invitation.”
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21 Days of Prayer - Day 4
Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship to God.
It is remarkable that in all of his writings Paul’s prayers for his friends contain no appeals for changes in their circumstances. - Timothy Keller
21 Days of Prayer - Day 3
As you give thanks, let us remember to thank God for the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and the generosity of Christians that care for the needs in our community. We are thankful for those who gave to the Above and Beyond at Northbridge to bless the expansion project of the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission.
To pray is to enter the treasure-house of God and to gather riches out of an inexhaustible storehouse. - C H Spurgeon
21 Days of Prayer - Day 2
Today is Ashley Sheffer’s first day in Germany. As you take 5 minutes to pray the following Scripture. let us pray for Ashley Sheffer, Rich and Julia Rudolph and Michael Landoll.
Pause to pray that God will fill you, our church and our missionaries with his love so that it brings the lost to Jesus.
Prayer is the way we work our way out of the comfortable but cramped world of self and into the spacious world of God. - Eugene Peterson
21 Days of Prayer
Welcome to the 21 Days of Prayer!
Each day we will pray the Scripture together for ONE thing. The prayer categories are Praise, Repent or Request and Thanksgiving.
Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship.
God’s acquaintance is not made hurriedly.
- E M Bounds
Resources: Unit 4, Session 2
Resources for Unit 4, Session 2 of Gospel Project, winter book (page 20).
Sermons:
https://www.capitolhillbaptist.org/sermon/the-fall-and-rise-of-joseph/
http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/the-story-of-joseph
https://longhollow.com/media/losing-your-coat-without-losing-your-character/
https://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/making-the-most-of-it/
https://albertmohler.com/2015/08/23/genesis-391-23/
https://albertmohler.com/2015/09/13/genesis-401-4157/
Articles:
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-involved-is-god-in-the-details-of-your-life
https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/sermon-joseph-prison-innocence-hope-trust-genesis-39-40
http://intersectproject.org/faith-and-work/josephs-vocation/
Fill ins:
pg 21: not limited, deterrent, comfort, hope
pg 23: continuing, natural order, individuals, events
Resources: Unit 4, Session 1
Hello Northbridgers!
We start our winter small groups on Sunday, January 6. We are in a new book so if you haven’t gotten your book be sure to stop by the information table.
These resources are for Unit 4, Session 1 in the winter (“Out of Egypt”) book.
Sermons:
http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org/library/sent-sold-sad-safe
https://albertmohler.com/2015/06/21/genesis-375-28/
https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/the-sale-of-joseph-and-the-son-of-god
Articles:
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/brother-ambushed/
https://www.rzim.org/read/a-slice-of-infinity/wrestled-perspectives
Fill in:
pg 12: models, teach, lead, honor, obey
pg 14: resisted, followed
2018 Book Lists
I love to read books and know that many of you do as well. So as you make your reading lists for 2019, I’ve compiled a few of the best book of 2018 lists. One of the books, we want to give to you free in 2019!
A few of the books that I have enjoyed or have impacted my ministry in 2018:
Gay Girl, Good God: The Story of Who I Was, and Who God Has Always Been by Jackie Hill Perry
All That’s Good: Recovering the Lost Art of Discernment by Hannah Anderson
The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
Christian Hospitality and Muslim Immigration in an Age of Fear by Matthew Kaemingk
Barracoon – The Story of the Last Black Cargo by Zora Neale Hurston
How the Nations Rage: Rethinking Faith and Politics in a Divided Age by Jonathan Leeman
The Gospel Comes with a House Key byRosaria Butterfield
The Rule of Love by Jonathan Leeman
The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd
A book Northbridge will give to you in 2019 when you sign up for “Getting to Know the Heart of Your Neighbor”
The Art of Neighboring by Pathak and Runyon
2018 Gospel Coalition Book Awards
Top 10 Church Planting Related Books
Trevin Wax’s Top Books of 2018
Counseling Books of 2018 by Bob Kellerman
Darrel Dash’s Favorite Books of 2018
Jared C Wilson’s Top Books of 2018
Jared spoke to our men at the Build Conference in 2018
Ashley Sheffer - Germany Church Plant
Dear Northbridge Family,
I am very excited to share the news that I have now purchased a ticket to fly out to Germany on January 11th! It has been quite a journey from the night in small group I felt the Lord leading me back to Germany until today, but He has been gracious through it all! I want to thank you as a church for the support I have received through prayers, encouragement, monthly support and special gifts. I have been beyond blessed by my church family and will miss you all so much.
While the day to day life on the mission field can change as needs arise, my ministries will be focused on the children’s programs we have in three of the churches we work with, running the kid’s clubs and helping each church to have the ability to run these programs on their own. I will also be involved in women’s ministries, especially with the refugee women, building relationships and doing discipleship. As a third ministry I will be working with our young teens, potentially starting a second teen group in one of the other churches we work with.
I’m anxious to see what the Lord has in store, but trust He has fully equipped me for the work He has laid out for me. I am so grateful for you, my sending church!
“…and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador…that in proclaiming it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”
Ephesians 6:19-20
In Him,
Ashley Sheffer
Kalamazoo Gospel Mission - Above and Beyond
The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission is more than a homeless shelter. Did you know that the Mission provides:
three meals a day
recovery programs
childcare
job training
counseling
and a learning center?
The Kalamazoo Gospel Mission has been serving Kalamazoo for over 85 years and each night in the family shelter, women's shelter and men's shelter the Mission houses 350 men, women and children.
The men's shelter ministry is divided into two parts. The dormitory is for men who are substance-free and can house up to 88 men. The Good Samaritan men's shelter will take anyone for any reason and provides 90 beds per night.
The Mission kitchen feeds 500-600 meals per day from donated food. Anyone can come in and receive a meal. While feeding people in need is important the mission of the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission is much deeper. The Mission strives to feed people body, mind, and soul.
Between the Creation Station and Sonshine Kids children's ministry, the Mission serves about 50 children every day. While in the Learning Center adults receive GED certification, job search assistance, resume writing, job, and college application assistance. Bible teaching is available for adults along with parenting classes and household budgeting seminars.
Many people do not know that the Mission has a health clinic. The clinic provides vision referral and glasses, urgent dental referral, mediation assistance, and help with DHS food stamps, Medicaid and cash assistance.
Rescued Treasures and Rescued Wheels both provide the Mission with funding and individuals with job training and job skills. Come on out and shop!
This year at Northbridge a portion of our Above and Beyond Offering will go to support the Mission's Capital Campaign. This 8 million dollar expansion will double the capacity of the women's shelter, improve facilities open to children and create a single secure entry point. The expansion is on the footprint the Mission occupies currently.
Would you consider giving to the Above and Beyond at Northbridge? Together let's be part of the gospel going forward and people receiving the help they need to know Jesus and flourish.