Good Morning!

Another full day.  We visited and provided programs at a retirement home, another orphanage had dinner in the head pastors home and attended a small bible study in the evening.  During the day we visited the home of pastor, Alexander.  He and his wife are the proud parents of a new baby boy, Mark.  Baby and mother just arrived home from the hospital on Wednesday and I think Alexander just needed to get home and get his baby "fix".  Very proud parents.  Mark will grow up in a home of love and one that honors God.  I have no doubts he will be used greatly in God.

The time with this church group is intense.  Everything is done, said or built to glorify God and to further the Gospel.  The people chose to live in different areas of Sofia so they can be a witness and hopefully start a small group that will lead to planting a church.  The homes they live in are chosen or built because of the size of the living areas that can accommodate groups for bible studies, prayer meetings and possibly a church.   How they can serve the community by feeding the poor and elderly is to glorify God and be a witness.  I could go on and on but I’m sure you get the point.

You can view a video I made of children in one of the orphanages last time I was here in Bulgaria

www.youtube.com/watch?v=eyPcdyosNnI

When I see how this group serves their communities by feeding the poor and elderly by doing programs of love for orphans and those in "retirement" homes and the many other types of outreach I am humbled.  God has used their witness to give them favor in the eyes of the government and others.  Can you imagine going to a government office and asking for the names and address of people you want to serve and getting them.  Can you imagine in some cases the government providing you space so you can serve the community?   

GCM has been provided with many opportunities to come to Bulgaria and to serve the church by serving and preaching the gospel.  Our plans are to bring a small group in September.  Part of the group will be painting and doing small carpentry work in an orphanage and a retirement home.  The other part of this group will be working with the church in evangelism.  There are many opportunities to share the gospel to the groups they serve and to the church.  Now the work of logistics begin.

THANK YOU for your prayers, thoughts and notes!  I love reading the notes on my Blackberry during the day and sharing them with those around me.  Sometimes when I get a chance to answer them it is while being a passenger in the back of a car or van.  While I am trying to type replies I feel like I am being tossed around like a fighter pilot because of the bad roads and the aggressive driving.

Until later,

In Christ,

Rob

March 10, 2008
Greetings! I have arrived in Sofia Bulgaria after spending a few days with our ministry friends in Turkey. For those of you who don’t know I am part of a missions group called Global Church Ministries. I serve on the board as a director. GCM has ministry that it supports in Turkey and God seams to be inviting us to serve in Bulgaria.
Bulgaria is home to over 1-million Turk’s. This time in Bulgaria we are continuing to build a relationship with a group of churches and discovering where we can serve them in their work. You can visit GCM’s website but at this time it has a few problems in that it was “hacked” again by a Muslim group. www.globalchurchminitries.us
Today (Wednesday) we are going to visit an orphanage, an old-folks home, a soup kitchen and attend a prayer meeting tonight. It is all very exciting. Last night over dinner the leaders shared their vision for their ministry and their work. We are praying and discussing the possibility of GCM taking two small teams here in September. One team will focus on evangelism and the other will work to fix-up an orphanage or some other work project. I hope after this week I can share more.
Thank you for your prayers and notes. They mean so much to me.
In Christ,
Rob Ross

It’s Not To Late To Join A Group!

Orlando Group 4
Mondays
7pm
No child care
Ross Home 6152 Masters Blvd Orlando FL 32819
Led by Rob and Sue Ross 321-948-2512

Apopka Group 1
Wednesdays
7-9 pm
No child care
Krepcho Home 1932 Madison Ivy Circle Apopka FL 32712
Led by Dave Krepcho and Steve Arnold 407-718-6936

West Oaks Group 1
CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE
Sundays
10:45am - 12pm
Child care available
West Oaks Campus
Led by Tommy Novak and Steve Arnold 407.949.7191

West Oaks Group 2
Wednesday
6:30 – 8pm
No child care
Weldon home 13808 Amelia Pond Dr. Windermere FL 34746
Led by Tommy Novak 407.949.7191
Winter Garden Group 1
Saturdays
6-8 pm
No child care
Hall Home 1330 Brandy Lake View Circle Winter Garden FL 34787
Led by Deb Hall 321-662-9586

Serving at the Second Harvest Food Bank was an amazing afternoon of fellowship! (click on picture to view larger size)

You’re Invited All Christians who believe and acknowledge the power of prayer and the biblical mandate to pray for other believers (II Chronicles 7:14, I Timothy 2:1-3) are invited to participate in a special time of devotion and prayer time led by local Christian Leaders and Promise Keepers Co-Founder, Bill McCartney.
Join us on Tuesday, January 22, 6:30 – 7:30am at First Baptist Orlando - Faith Hall (3000 S John Young Pkwy, Orlando Fl 32805)
There is no greater work we can do as believers than to pray! And, there is no higher task we can perform as citizens of the United States than to pray for the people who are running to be our next President, as well as for a mighty move of revival across our country. Our prayers do move the hands of God!
If you are unable to join us, you can still participate by praying on the following:

• Father, Give us a President who hears and obeys Your voice. John 10:27
• One who is led by Your spirit & trained by Your word. Hebrews 4:12
• One who denies himself daily and takes up his cross and follows You. Luke 9:23
• And Father, give our nation a leader who serves from the heart and is filled with Your truths.

Come and join others from West Oaks to sort donated foods into Emergency Food Boxes for families in need. This is a family friendly, fun activity and you can clearly see the fruits of your labor once those boxes add up.
Saturday, January 26, 9AM – Noon
Second Harvest Food Bank
1918 Princeton, Orlando, Fl
Please come and put your faith in action.
Details: Dave Krepcho (407-718-6936)

Everyone from the West Oaks family is invited to join us as we carol at a local nursing home and meet back at St. Paul’s Presbyterian for pizza afterwards.
When: Tuesday, December 18, 5:30p.m.
Where: Ocoee Health Care Center
Address: 1556 Maguire Road, Ocoee, FL
We’ll meet in the lobby, sing Christmas carols and visit with the residents. Dress festively and bring family and friends to this fun event. We’ll enjoy pizza together back at St Paul’s after we carol. Please bring $5.00 per family for pizza and a salad or dessert to share.
Details: Mark & Pam Johnston (407-909-1336)
Directions: From the church, turn right onto Citrus Oaks and the right on Old Winter Garden Road. Take Old Winder Garden Rd. until it dead ends at Maquire. Turn right on Maquire and right into the nursing home Parking Lot. (it is directly across from the West Orange Theater).

Sunday, December 16, 10:30am Conway Home

5035 Spring Run Ave, Orlando Florida 32819

Please join us for a Christmas Brunch hosted by the West Oak’s Thursday night Bible Study (Lou and Sharon Amadori, Ana and Rafael Benitez, Janet Clark, Kip and Janelle Conway, John and Linda Flynn, Bret and Sarah Hoskins).   Details:  Sharon Amadori 407.877.7869 or Janelle Conway 407.298.3916.

When Northland at West Oaks moves to a morning worship service on Sunday, October 28th, the Children’s Ministry will also move to new space. Volunteers are needed to help prepare for this exciting move!

Saturday, October 13
10:00am – 2:00pm
This day will consist of cleaning the rooms in the new space. We will be clearing, cleaning, organizing, and painting the walls.

Saturday, October 20
10:00am – 2:00pm
We will be painting the wall mural, organizing the nursery, and boxing up supplies. We will also be looking for a few volunteers to help during the week of October 22nd to move all boxed supplies and props from the closets in the old building to the new space.
Saturday, October 27
10:00am – 2:00pm
This is our day for final touch-ups, organizing the nursery and final room set up.

Everyone is welcome to participate.
For their safety, all children will be required to work alongside their parents. Lunch will be served. To volunteer, contact Sarah Hoskins: 407.937.1787, or Sarah.Hoskins@northlandchurch.net.