January 2017
The Messenger
The Spirit of Revival - Pastor Mike Mirakian
The Holy Spirit moves among God’s people as powerfully today as ever. Do you believe that? Have you experienced the Spirit’s power in your life? Have you witnessed the Spirit changing hearts? I wonder sometimes if
we expect too little from God, pray for too few miracles, and seek the Spirit’s life-giving power too seldom.
Throughout church history, from the first generation of believers written about in Acts to our modern
day church, the Spirit has done mighty things to draw people to Jesus and to empower the church’s ministry.
At times, the Spirit has moved so powerfully that dozens, even thousands of people have come to faith in
Christ in a short period of time. We know the Pentecost story from Acts 2, when 3,000 people accepted Jesus
as Savior. But do we believe something like that can still happen today?
During January, I will preach a series of messages on revival. We will look at how the Spirit worked in
the early church as we read passages from Acts, and we will also look at stories of great awakenings and mass
revivals from church history, some even from recent times and close to home. These stories, like the Biblical
accounts, can inspire us, and I hope we will be encouraged to trust in the Spirit’s power to do mighty things in
our time and among us.
In the mid-1700s, before our nation was founded, a revival, known now as the First Great Awakening,
began in New England, largely through the ministry of Jonathan Edwards. Below are excerpts from a letter
Edwards wrote to a colleague detailing the beginning of this revival. I hope reading these words will inspire
you to pray for the Spirit to move in new and powerful ways today. (source: The Jonathan Edwards Center at
Yale University, edwards.yale.edu)
[A] concern about the great things of religion began, about the latter end of December and the beginning of January [1735], to prevail abundantly in the town, till in a very little time it became universal throughout the town, among old and young, and from the highest to the lowest. All seemed to be seized with a deep
concern about their eternal salvation…
They generally seem to be united in dear love and affection one to another, and to have a love to all
mankind. I never saw the Christian spirit in love to enemies so exemplified in all my life as I have seen it within this half year. They commonly express a great concern for others' salvation; some say that they think they
are far more concerned for others' conversion, after they themselves have been converted, than ever they were
for their own…
This town never was so full of love, nor so full of joy, nor so full of distress as it has lately been. Some
persons have had those longing desires after Jesus Christ, that have been to that degree as to take away their
strength, and very much to weaken them, and make them faint. Many have been even overcome with a sense of
the dying love of Christ, so that the home of the body has been ready to fail under it… Many express a sense of
the glory of the divine perfections, and of the excellency and fullness of Jesus Christ, and of their own littleness
and unworthiness, in a manner truly wonderful and almost unparalleled; and so likewise of the excellency and
wonderfulness of the way of salvation by Jesus Christ.
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Youth Ministry
Leadership Team Update
2017 is here! It's been a whole year coming, but
it's finally here. With the new year we also have
new youth group dates! We're looking to meet on
the 8th and the 22nd in January. 9 am for Sunday
school and 10:15 for the morning service as usual.
I hope everyone rings in the new year safely and
has a very Merry Christmas. Stay safe and stay
warm.
As we begin a new
year, we want to
express our gratitude for your faithful support during
2016. Broadway is blessed with people that share
their talents generously. Once again you raked
leaves, taught a class, helped out with Skills Camp,
assisted in worship, prayed faithfully, supported financially, and the list goes on. Thank you!
Members of the 2016-2017 Leadership Team are
Colleen Felts, Dave Holmertz, Kathi Engstrom, Ken
Yarwood, Kent Drews, Kim Schweitzer, Mike
Mirakian and Keith Holmertz.
Sharing Our Story
We are Todd and Elena Cultra and we both began attending Broadway Covenant after doing a 2 nd Baby Bottle
Presentation here for the Pregnancy Care Center where Todd was then serving on the Board of Directors. We
felt so welcomed that we just stayed. We feel very glad we did!
Todd grew-up in a Christian family and accepted Christ at about 5-years-old through his Mother in a backyard
sandbox. Since then he has strived to follow Christ – except for several years as a rebellious teenager. In his
late teens, he went to an intense Christian Summer Camp through Summit Ministries where he learned a lot
plus made a lifelong friend. Afterwards, he served in leadership through Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at
Kishwaukee College. Throughout his life he has volunteered elsewhere intermittently, mostly with children.
Several years after Summit Summer Camp, he studied under very knowledgeable Elders in a young men’s Bible study that lasted 3-years. They memorized certain chapters of the Bible and went through 4 study books
simultaneously. It was very intense and really helped his faith.
Elena grew up in Malaysia where her dad’s family was Catholic. Being in a multi-racial country, she was exposed to many different languages, cultures and religions. This helps her to be more understanding and compassionate to people of different faiths. She attended church and Sunday school as a child, but never really
understood the gospel until she came to the United States for two years about 10 years ago. That trip was life
changing. Elena accepted Christ and was baptized in a small church in Michigan on an Easter Sunday. She
also met her future husband!
We met in Chicago while ice skating and many months later began long-distance dating between Illinois and
Michigan. We sure did not then know that Michigan to Illinois was the “shorter” of the long distance relationship for the next 2 years. Elena went back to Malaysia and worked for a children education company where
she gave presentations and trained all the centers’ instructors in the English program. In December 2009, Todd
eventually went to Malaysia and lived there for nine months and get to know Elena’s family and friends.
In 2010, we had a customary Chinese Tea Ceremony there and had our church wedding here in Rockford, officiated by Todd’s brother who is a Pastor. Throughout the past few years, we were constantly reminded that
Jesus is always with us and issues will always work out in His time and way, we just need to have faith and be
patient.
We currently volunteer every month at Children’s Church and we love volunteering at Fun Fest every summer.
We look forward to talking with you, our friends, every Sunday!
Blessings,
Todd and Elena Cultra
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January
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M
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10:15 Worship
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Office
Closed
Happy
New Year
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9:00 Sunday
School
10:15 Worship
YOUTH
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9:00 Sunday
School
10:15 Worship
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9:00 Sunday
School
10:15 Worship
YOUTH
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8:30 Morning
Prayer
9:30 Women’s
Fellowship
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8:30 Morning
Prayer
9:30 Women’s
Fellowship
6:30 Girl Scouts
6:30 LT Meeting
6:30 RGN Mtg.
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8:30 Morning
Prayer
9:30 Women’s
Fellowship
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Messenger news 8:30 Morning
due in office
Prayer
9:30 Women’s
Fellowship
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5
9:00 Sunday
School
10:15 Worship
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10:30 Men’s
Bible Study
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11:00 Memorial
Service for
Jolene
Joslin
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10:30 Men’s
Bible Study
6:30 Cub Scouts
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10:30 Men’s
Bible Study
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10:30 Men’s
Bible Study
6:30 Girl Scouts
7:00 Mission
Meeting
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6:30 Cub Scouts
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8:30 Morning
Prayer
9:30 Women’s
Fellowship
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Serving in January
Head Usher: Steve Schweitzer
Counters:
Birthdays
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2
4
8
9
10
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15
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23
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25
26
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Wilhemina Kirkwood
Michele Johnson
Ryan Woodrow
Steve James
Michael Woodrow
Carolyn Bergmark
Devin Boulware
Brandon Gasmund
Denise Suhr
Ralph Cartwright
Kathy Adams
Thelma Coates
Lisa Brown
Gordon Samuelson
Robin Robinson
Evie Gill
John Haase
Alex Brown
Tobin Holmertz
Fred E. Pearson
Teri LeJeune
Cheryl Ecklund
Brett Holmertz
Randy Price & Dan Hitchcock
Nursery Workers:
1/1
Beth Pasch & Barbara Rehnberg
1/8
Jeanine Heck & April Parker
1/15 Stacey Parlapiano & Laura Mirakian
1/22 Laura & Keaton Price
1/29 Gene & Colleen Felts
Coffee Schedule:
1/1
Wes & Sue Nelson
1/8
Judy Papka
1/15 Dan & Aina Hitchcock
1/22 Gene & Colleen Felts
1/29 Fred & Darlene Pearson
Remember in Prayer
Justin Murdock, Ft. Sill, OK
Family of Jolene Joslin who passed away in December .
LeVon Todd and family in the death of his mother last month.
Family of Pastor Joyce Cosman in the death of her br other , Paul.
Memorial Service
A memorial service for Jolene Joslin will be held at Broadway Covenant Church on Saturday, January 7th at 11:00 a.m. followed by a
time of fellowship and lunch.
Congratulations to:
Kathy Melin and John Loven who were married at
Broadway on December 17th.
60 Plus
Anniversaries
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Brett & Laura Holmertz
David & Karen Holmertz
Tim & Evie Gill
60 Plus will not meet for lunch in January but plan to join us for our
February 21st meeting. The planning committee: Doug & Mary Gibson, Peggy Frint, Dan & Aina Hitchcock and Dave & Karen Holmertz
will meet in January to plan what we will do for the year. Let the committee know if you have a restaurant or something you would like 60
Plus to do in 2017 as soon as possible.
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Mission Report
Men’s Bible Study
This month we are praying for Bob and Joyce
Widman and Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC). Bob has been a pilot for MARC
since August of 1982. In addition to being a pilot,
Bob is an instructor, instrument instructor, and
multi engine instructor. He has logged 14,000
hours of flying time with MARC. Joyce is a homemaker and ministry coordinator for the local Child
Evangelism Fellowship Office. They have four
children: Anna, John, Ben & Faith. MARC provides a lifeline of hope to the remote villages of
Alaska where access to Christian influence and
care is limited. Women and children are affected
the most. There are few pastors or missionaries.
MARC’s planes fly throughout Western Alaska
and across the Bering Sea into Eastern Russia.
They provide affordable transportation services,
training, and quality airplane maintenance for Mission organizations. All those who work for MARC
are missionary supported. Please pray for safety
and wisdom for the pilots and maintenance workers. Also, pray for additional staff that is needed.
North Park Theological Seminary:
By supporting North Park Seminary, we are in part
The Thursday morning
Men’s Bible Study will explore Genesis this winter
and spring, beginning January 5. Pastor Mike leads
this group through a discussion of current events
before opening the word to
learn and apply God’s truth. Our study of Genesis
will explore why and how God created the world,
humanity’s fall into sin, God’s covenant promises,
and how God worked through Abraham and his children. Men, please join us each Thursday at 10:30
a.m.
Women’s Fellowship
Women’s Fellowship meets every Tuesday morning
at 9:30 AM in the adult Sunday School room on the
first floor. In January they will be using Lysa
TerKeurst video Bible study entitled “Uninvited”. In this
study, Lysa TerKeurst helps
women to explore the roots of
rejection; the lies we believe as a
result; and the truth about who
God is, who we are, and what it
looks like to live loved. All
women are invited so plan to
join them!
supporting their students. Following is a letter
from one of those students.
Dear Broadway Covenant Church: My name is
Leo Kim who is in 3rd year of MDiv program. I
was honored to receive this scholarship and am
grateful for the opportunities it will provide to me.
Without a doubt this scholarship is playing and
will play a key role in achieving my educational
and ministerial dreams. Because of your generosity, the financial burden placed on me to pursue my
education will be reduced. That means I can spend
more time on my studies, prayer, ministry, and extra-curricular activities and less time worrying
about my finances. Thank You for your investment
in NPTS and the futures of students like me. Blessings: Leo T Kim
2017 Prayer Chain Sign-up
We are updating the Broadway Covenant Church
prayer chain. Volunteers will receive a phone call or
email with congregational concerns and pray for
these requests. Everyone who is interested in participating needs to sign up on the clipboard in the front
lobby or call the office to be included on this year’s
prayer chain list. If you would like to submit a request to the prayer chain contact the church office
(815)399-9296 or Neva Anderson (815)397-1678 when
the office is closed.
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January 2017
Broadway Covenant
Church
3525 Broadway
Rockford, IL 61108
Senior Pastor - Mike Mirakian
Youth Director - Skyler Retzlaff
Phone - (815)399-9296
Fax - (815)399-7860
We’re on the Web
www.broadwaycovenant.com
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