Members meeting 8/23 @ 7pm

There will be a duly called members meeting the evening of August 23rd at 7:00 p.m. We will be discussing the possibility of a merger with The Sanctuary In Christ and voting on potential Deacon candidate Steve Isak. Please make every effort to attend. If you have questions that can be answered prior to the meeting, please do so by contacting an elder.

July 26th, August 2nd and August 9th The Sanctuary In Christ has graciously agreed to come and celebrate Sunday worship services with us. Brothers Petar Nenadov and Stan Milovancev will be filling our pulpit these Sundays. They have canceled their services and are bringing their congregation to fellowship with us. Please make them feel welcomed to our service and get to know them as they are here.

Camp Registration Wed 6/22 @ 6:30pm

We will be having a camp registration work night THIS Wednesday night (July 22nd) at 6:30 p.m. at the church. We could use all the help we can get so please feel free to come whenever you are able! Please respond to this email if you have any questions.

WOL Meeting Thurs 8/6 @ 7pm

Interested in helping build God's kingdom with our children and their friends at VLBF? There are heavenly rewards for all. Plan on attending a WOL planning meeting on Thursday, August 6, 7 p.m. at Patti and Jerry Emich's home. Exercise your gifts as we work together for His honor and glory! Bring a snack or dessert. Drinks will be provided. Any questions contact Mike Maletich.

Young Adult Camping 8/14-8/16

Hello YOUNG ADULTS! MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

We are planning our annual camping trip!! August 14th-16th... two night stay at West Branch State Park.

Our camp sites are 73 and 74. We're not quite sure on price yet, but probably around $15-$20 per person. If you are interested in helping plan or if you have any ideas... pass them along!

Letter from VLBF Leadership Team 7/12

Dear Friends,

As a church, we have experienced a major conflict with our former pastor, Steve Andrews. Using the principles of reconciliation as outlined in Scripture, the Leadership Team had the opportunity to work with three volunteer conciliators who have been trained through Peacemaker Ministries and to take the steps to reconcile with both Steve and Julie Andrews. We have learned much about living out Matthew 18:15-17 as well as better communication and Biblical peacemaking principles. We, the Leadership Team, Steve, and Julie collectively, have also learned how to grow to be more like Christ through confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

Steve and Julie Andrews have voluntarily worked very hard with two of the conciliators for the past six months. They have recognized areas of sin in which they have wounded individuals and the congregation as a whole. They have met with the Leadership Team members both individually and as a whole to confess and be reconciled. The Leadership Team, individually and collectively, has forgiven Steve and Julie of those sins and has reconciled their relationships with Steve and Julie. At this time, Steve and Julie, with the Leadership Team’s full support, would like to speak to the congregation at Vesper Lake Bible Fellowship to humbly confess their sin so that there may be healing through confession, repentance, and forgiveness.

The Leadership Team, likewise, has worked diligently over the past six months with the conciliators in Biblical peacemaking principles. We have recognized areas of sin in which we have also wounded individuals and the congregation as a whole. We have met with Steve and Julie both individually and as a whole to confess and be reconciled. The Leadership Team will also take this opportunity to confess sin that the Lord has revealed to them.

We praise God for what has taken place in each of our lives as well as Steve and Julie’s lives. We encourage you to join us on Sunday, July 19, 2009, during our morning worship service to see God glorified through this time of confession, repentance, and forgiveness as an act of worship.

VLBF Leadership Team,

• Jim Burkett
• Zoltan Csepe
• Joe DiRocco
  
• Brad Horner
• Jacob Kroslak
• Mike Maletich
  
• Michael Mrdjanov

Young Adult Bible Study Change for 7/6

We are planning to do some work at the Kovacevic's old house on Monday night to bless them during our regular Bible study time. If you can make it any earlier, Dan should be at the house by around 6 pm. We will be painting and prepping their house to sell. So the plan is to meet this Monday at Kovacevic's old house at 7pm: 317 Dennison AveAkron 44312. Looking forward to serve with you!

Sarah Koeler