Top Ten

Hey Gals,
I was thinking today about my top 10 moments of 2008. It has been a ruff year for many of us. We have had many experiences of loss and gain of great proportion this year. For those of you who have participated in Women's Ministry at Harrison this year I pray your testimony of 2008 would be of total GAIN in your relationship with Jesus and with other women at Harrison.

One of my greatest joys in my life is sharing in relationship with you ladies! I consider it a great honor to do life alongside each of you. I can only thank you for your willingness to open your lives to me. We have shared much this year together. Some moments I will never ever forget.

One of the dearest to me was when each of you held me up while I have grieved the loss of my mom. I am forever grateful for your prayers and encouragement. They have made all the difference in my ability to move forward. And, not only did you encourage me- but my dad as well! Oh, how I thank you! I cry and laugh just thinking about it! For those of you who don't know- we have several 'Secret Angels' among us who lavished my dad in secret gifts and cards for months after my mom's passing. If you haven't heard the story about how I found out about these 'Secret Angels' I must tell you- that is why I laugh thinking about it!

It was only recently when sharing with my Monday night small group that I found out who these secret angels were. I was sharing my heart about a friend that came into my dad's life immediately after mom's death. And the secret gifts and cards began to show up in the mail at the same time. My dad was sure these gifts were coming from this friend (and, yes, she is a lady friend that my dad went to high school with). Being the protective daughter that I am, I began to think this lady friend was trying win my dad's attention with these gifts only to find out it was my Monday night small group gals that had been sending them all along! We laughed our heads off when the truth came out!! Bless their hearts for caring so much about me and my family!

Another moment that would fall in my top ten was seeing my dear friends, the Phillips family, have a dream come true in their life and getting the opportunity in some small way to share in the joy of that dream. The dream come true was mostly for Robbie but I believe the family wouldn't mind me testifying for each of them that the whole experience has been a true blessing to each of them. Robbie's acceptance into the Doctor of Ministry program at Asbury Theological Seminary was such a wonderful blessing for each of them! It was a privilege to help the move & settle into their home away from home as well. These are moments I will never forget!

Another joy for me this year has been seeing several of the women of Harrison take new risks and new roles in the church and else where. I have done a Praise Dance in God's honor and on their behalf several times this year! (Below is a very brief summary of these new roles).

Several women (and men) have stepped up to the plate of mission work! Here are the names of the ladies who have either attended a trip or have committed to one: Lori Shepherd, Tracy Bennett, Brenda Colonnel and Daisy Sanders. As for our men: Robbie, Carter and Will Phillips, Josh Shepherd, and my man- Chad Drain. You go fellas (and let me mention that 3 of these men are under the age of 17!)

We have a group of ladies that serve faithfully in the Melting Pot Ministry each month: Mary Ellen Collins, Ada Street, Marge, our wonderful church secretary helps out when she can and Lowell and Carol Haan not to mention Robert Curry. There are also many women who make sure the food items are purchased each month!

We have a new small group leader among us who I just cry when I think of how God is working in and through her life this is Tracy Bennett. Who not only took a role in leadership in our Women's Ministry but is also heading to India with me. God be Praised!

Another special lady who just blesses my heart is Shirley Crowe. I don't know if you realize it but Shirley is a published poet! She has written poetry for years and thanks to the ladies of our Thursday morning Bible study group who have encouraged her every step of the way- Shirley has gotten even more serious about her writing! You go Shirley! I'm so proud of you! Shirley says if her poetry would just draw one person closer to God than it is all worth it! Shirley also may become the next Small Group Leader among us-- so watch out for the great things God is doing through Shirley!!

Let me mention two other ladies who have stepped up to the Leadership Plate this year- Kelly Mooney and Dawn Webb who have both taken part time jobs at Harrison to fill the role of Children's Minister and Worship Leader. They both are doing wonderful jobs and I am so very proud of them!

Our ladies are serving in multiple roles within the church and in my opinion are under girding every ministry there! We have ladies teaching in Sunday School classes, leading Small Groups, serving on the Missions Committee, Bereavement team, Serving in the Nursery and Pre-School areas, Worship team, Hospitality team etc., etc. The list goes on and on! There is no way I could list every lady who has stepped up to the plate in leadership and service but please know that you are noticed and appreciated! God is using each of you in powerful ways to spread His love and care for others!

Another moment which ranks number 1 in my top ten list was Kim Whitmore's baptism. I believe Kim would testify that our Sunday morning services as well as our Women's small groups played a huge role in helping Kim come to this decision. You should know as well that Kim came to Harrison by way of invitation by the Phillips family.

Number two would have to be building two churches in India and supporting 30 homeless children in India. Thirty children now have a home, three meals a day, health care, education and a safe environment because of you ladies! Thirty children are learning about Jesus Christ because of the ladies of Harrison Christian Church! I cry just thinking about it! We call this monthly financial support the 'James 1:27 Ministry' and every month Harrison faithfully sends a check to support these orphans. To God be the Glory! You should know that our India Mission Team will get to meet in person these 30 children this January. We will also be holding 2 church dedication services in the new church buildings built through the hard work of the members of Harrison. Our team will dedicate those buildings for the work of the Lord for HIS GLORY! The people of Harrison has made this possible! On a side note-Shirley Crowe wrote a poem about these orphan children & the poem has been painted in their native language on the dining hall at the orphanage! Yet another praise!


Our 2nd Annual Women's Retreat was yet another highlight of the year! We let God out of the Box we so often put Him in over that weekend and I've been utterly amazed at the answers to prayer that each of you have shared with me as a result of the work we did together through God's Word! He is FAITHFUL! There were so many special moments over that weekend. I'll never forget them!

As always, weekly Small Group Bible Study has been such an ongoing blessing. There is no way I could recount all that has been shared, learned, prayed over, and praised over! But you know and so does God! Those of you who constantly make and keep the commitment to dig into God's Word and relationships through small groups have my highest esteem. Many of you have been meeting faithfully for six years now! Some of you wouldn't miss your meeting for anything short of a life altering emergency! Our lives have been altered by our time together, hasn't it?!! God has been transforming us from 'glory unto glory' closer to the image of His Son!

I'm not sure if I've reached 10 or went over 10 but if you haven't figured it out- my point is this: Women's Ministry at Harrison is making the difference in the lives of others- including myself! Someone told me several weeks ago that 'I had a tremendous ministry here at Harrison.' I appreciate the thought but I would like to say 'GOD HAS A TREMENDOUS MINISTRY WORKING THROUGH THE WOMEN AT HARRISON!' There is no way on earth I would begin to take any credit whatsoever for the work God is doing! I have said it time and again- Women's Ministry at Harrison is a TEAM effort and God is in the center of that team! May we all fall flat on our faces in Praise and Thanks to the ONE from which every good gift comes!

I hope you have enjoyed my rather long stroll down 2008 Memory Lane! Please stop and say a prayer of thanks to Jesus for all He has accomplished in and through each of us this year! And, may I say thank you to each of you for allowing Jesus to use you, teach you and love you!

I love you all,
Lori Drain

Pursuit...

Dear Sisters,

I have been reading Matthew and Luke's account of the birth of Jesus this week. I am utterly amazed at the lengths God has taken to pursue us.

In reading the events surrounding Jesus birth one story of pursuit caught my eye and my heart. The story unfolds in Matthew's Gospel (chapter 2) as a group of men travel hundreds of miles in search of a king. These men were astrologers we call 'wise men or maji'. The Bible dose not tell us how many men came in search of Jesus. We typically assume three because of the three gifts they brought but really we just don't know. What we do know is they saw a star and packed their suitcase and headed for Jerusalem. They traveled many miles in pursuit of a king. And why? To worship Him!

There is much to learn of this story but for today I want to focus on their pursuit of the King. These men left their homes, work and lives to seek after the promised King, Jesus. Their travel was no doubt hard and long. They sought Jesus for to worship Him and bring Him gifts. They wanted to see this promised King for themselves.

I'm so often saddened at the lack of pursuit we Christians have today. How many of us really take the time to pursue Jesus with the energy and sacrifice these men made? As A.W. Tozer says "we have accepted one another's notions, copied one another's lives and made one another's experiences the model for our own." Instead of individually seeking hard after God we have come to rely totally on someone elses experience instead of working hard after our own. Tozer calls this the 'great sickness' and I believe it has invaded many Christian lives today. Many of us have settled for second hand experiences of Jesus passed down to us by those who make the effort to really be in relationship with Him.

The miles you and I must travel in pursuit of God may seem like a journey to hard to take. But let me say to each of you today- God is here! He is not a distant God but an active God. He is so worth the pursuit! I want to encourage you not to settle for seeing God through someone elses eyes this next year but look for yourself! Be willing to travel the miles it takes to know Your God at a deeper level. Commit to a long obedience in the same direction! Experience Your Savior first hand!

My prayer for you, Dear Sister, is more of Jesus! Truly He is 'Emmanuel, God with us'!
Lori

The Old Has Gone....

Hello ladies,
The pictures you see here are of Kim Whitmore's baptism last night! What a precious evening it was! I wish each of you could have been with us. Kim's baptism was with our Monday Night Women's Small Group. Most everyone was present and we had a wonderful celebration! God be praised!!


I have to tell you this moment was the highlight of my year! Is there anything more precious than a daughter (or son) coming to Christ Jesus? It was an honor to play a very small part in this special moment in Kim's life. I have had the privilege of seeing God at work in Kim for many months now and I can only boast in Him for the work He is doing! What a refreshing thrill it has been to see the new discoveries Kim has made by reading God's Word and through sharing in small group. I was reminded (thanks to Linda B.) of how often many of us become stale in our walk with the Lord because we've known Him most all our lives. We forget or choose not to marvel over His creation, His goodness, His love, His mercy, His forgiveness, and the ultimate sacrifice He made on our behalf. Shame on us!

I was reminded last night, as I took Kim under the water, of several things. First, of the beautiful symbolism of our sins being washed clean by Jesus as we are immersed. Second, of how Jesus himself was baptised by John. Third, of how Kim had to trust me to hold her up under the water without dropping her- what a beautiful illustration of how baptism is a proclamation of trust and faith in God. Lastly, Kim arose from the water as a new creation! Glory to God! The old has gone and the new has come!



Let me leave you today with a few scriptures that speak of this glorious occassion:

"Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with that we should no longer be slaves to sin- because anyone who has died has been freed from sin."

Romans 6:3-7

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them."

2 Corinthians 5:17-19