Norm’s Notes

Last week the church staff attended the National Missionary Church Shift Conference in Fort Wayne. It is held every two years and missionaries, pastors, and leaders from all over the world attend. It is a very good time for Linda and me to connect with long time friends and to meet new ones. Every time we go, we come back overwhelmed with the blessing FMC is to us. These are a few of the stories of the pastors we reconnected with:
 
One pastor who is angry at everyone and everything, bringing up hurts that are 30 years old. He cannot let go, he’s bitter.
 
I asked another pastor “How’s it going?” He immediately said, “Worst year of my life”. He had completed a 2.5 million dollar building project last November and he is totally drained.
 
I asked another pastor friend, “What’s the news?” He responded “My wife’s dementia is progressing fast, I’m not sure what the future holds.” We went to college together.
 
The presenter in one of the workshops I went to was a pastor’s son, who is now a pastor himself. His dad would preach every Sunday then come home, get drunk, and beat his wife, this man’s mom. This young pastor is in the ministry only by the grace of God and the strong call of God.
 
These are just a few of the stories. I wish I could bring them all to FMC for a year to show them how a great staff and wonderful congregation serve the Lord.
 
On a better note, our ministry partner from Israel was heading to National Conference one morning and was speeding in the Ashley, Indiana, area. He got pulled over by a policeman. He is driving a rented car from Detroit, with an Israel driver’s license, in northern Indiana. He starts to explain that he is in the area for Fairview Missionary Church and he used my name. The policeman says, “I have known Norm Fuller for 40 years, you are free to go”. Sometimes it really is who you know that sets you free.

 

It’s great to be your Caring Pastor. See you Sunday!
Pastor Norm  
 Caring Pastor
 
Newer Car, Safer Ministry 
Our ministry partner in Israel is in need of a newer car. His present one has 200,000 miles on it. His wife has a ministry to prostitutes in an international city that has some of the world’s known terrorists nearby. She sometimes transports the prostitutes to safety. We are asking the Lord to raise up through us $25,000, which is the price of a good used car there. The fund has $7,000 in it now. Your special gift will help. Mark it “Israel car fund” and put it in the offering. The funds will be ready when a good deal comes along. Thank you.
July 22, 2015
 
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ChristianCinema to find a good movie.
Small Groups at FMC. Join a small group.
 
Trip with Linda
Saturday, October 17 to Frankenmuth, Michigan
Travel in comfort on a Cardinal bus. Cost is $45. Sign up and pay at the Connection Center by September 16. You must pay when you sign up.
Leave FMC at 6:45 a.m.
Return at 9:00 p.m.
More details are available at the Connection Center and in the next Norm’s Notes.
 
Project Help is collecting new and gently used gym shoes of all sizes for kids Kindergarten through 12th for Back to School. There are white buckets at FMC to put your donation shoes in. Watch for the buy one get one free offers. These shoes are required for physical education and are left at the school by the students. This Sunday is the last day to bring the shoes to church.