JAPAN: If You Want to Help . . .

The world always seems to shrink a bit in the wake of catastrophic disasters like the recent earthquake / tsunami in Japan.  It is in days like these that the body of Christ can sometimes best reflect His love, mercy, compassion and power — in how we mobilize, how we pray, how we labour and how we give.

As you continue to pray for Japan and its people — and please do pray fervently and faithfully! — consider giving generously to relief efforts as well.  If you’re struggling to find a reputable and effective organization to give to, check out CRASH Japan (Christian Relief, Assistance, Support & Hope).  Right now, CRASH is working closely with JEMA (Japan Evangelical Missionary Association) on the ground.

As Justin Taylor writes, CRASH and JEMA have “a large network of experienced volunteers who know the culture and language. …  CRASH Japan is using funds to purchase vital equipment, such as satellite phones, printers, computers, and wireless routers. This equipment will be used to facilitate communication between the Tokyo command center and cities where infrastructure has been weakened or destroyed.”  Moreover, “[a]ccording to JEMA President Dale Little, ‘CRASH is the second-to-none relief network in Japan. No other agency is able to assess the needs on the ground like CRASH, and then take steps toward meeting those needs. The effectiveness of CRASH includes linking closely with local churches in Japan.’”

Brothers & sisters, you can DONATE HERE.

Gospel Coalition Conference 2011

The 2011 Gospel Coalition National Conference will be held in mid-April, in the heart of Chicago.

Many of us have already registered and made plans to go and bother the heck out of James A. soak in the fullness of fellowship, teaching & mutual encouragement around the theme of “They Testify About Me: Preaching Jesus & the Gospel From the Old Testament.”

Sisters are particularly encouraged to consider attending this Conference. For the first time, the Conference is offering Seminar Workshops led by prominent women Christian scholars / teachers / writers, intended for both male/female and female-only audiences.  (These workshops include “Is Your Church A Safe Place For Sad People? Learning to Walk With Each Other Through Loss;” “Meaningful Ministry: Relationships Required?;” “Literary Beauty & Gospel Truth: Celebrating the Biblical Union;” “One-on-One Discipleship;” and “Old Testament Narrative: Letting the Literature Speak.”)

Early-Bird Registration ends in ONE WEEK, on November 30th! (Early-Bird rates are as follows: $200 Individual, $300 Married Couple, $100 Student Individual, $200 Student Married Couple, $100 International Individual, and $200 International Married Couple.)

A Halloween Greeting from Pastor Jeremey

Halloween is just around the corner, and there’s a buzz in the northeastern air.  Tarrytown is covered in cobwebs and scarecrows, and seasonal costume shops are appearing out of nowhere to remind us that the holiday is just around the corner.   As a child, Halloween was among my favorite holidays, but as a Christian, it has often been difficult to know how to reconcile it with my faith.   For many years Amy and I have wrestled to understand whether or not participation in this seemingly dark and, at times, demon-esque holiday is fitting for our family.   Many Christians have felt the same tension, and in recent years, numerous American churches have decided to provide church-run alternatives for the community.

“Divine Healing:” Frank Chan & Prayer Night

This semester, at Alliance Theological Seminary (ATS) (Nyack, NY), Dr. Ron Walborn is teaching a course on “Divine Healing” on Tuesday evenings.  NHF-ers are invited to two special upcoming sessions of this class:

1. Tuesday, October 19th:

• Special guest: Dr. Frank Chan
• Topic: “Generational Curses & Blessings”
• 6.00p in the ATS Chapel (downstairs, at 350 N. Highland Ave, Nyack, NY) **

2. Tuesday, October 26th:

• Special video: John Wimber
• Special prayer night: guided by Pastor Tim Binkele (ATS M.Div. alumnus / Pastor of Neighborhood/Risen King Alliance Church, Pearl River, NY) and ministry-staff from Nyack College.  Anyone who would like to receive healing prayer is invited to this special evening of seeking and receiving from the Lord.
• 6.00p in the ATS Chapel (downstairs, at 350 N. Highland Ave, Nyack. NY) **

For information & details, please see Catherine C.

For a small glimpse into what “Divine Healing” partially covers, and to hear more of the goodness & power of the God we love, serve and obey, here’s a short video-clip that the class recently watched, describing one Nyack College student’s testimony of being healed of cerebral palsy.  All praise, glory and blessing to God the Father, and to our saving, healing and redeeming Lord, Jesus Christ.

** Please arrive as early as possible, as parking is VERY limited on Tuesday evenings.

NHF Softball, Brought to You By the Makers of Icy-Hot

This Sunday afternoon, NHF played in the championship round of the Play-For-Missions championship double-header. We faced our nemesis, Chodae College, in the first game. With some solid defense and timely hitting, NHF decisively won their game against Chodae 16-5.  NHF sustained some injuries during the hard-fought game and went on to face Chodae’s elder statesmen, Mosaic.

noreSERVations at “Pajama Game”

By nhfnews columnist Will L.

Last night in Manhattan, the hottest ticket in town wasn’t to Wicked at the Gershwin Theater or to West Side Story at the Palace Theater.  Crowds left Broadway and were flocking to Simon Baruch Middle School’s production of Pajama Game at M.S. 104.  Fortunately for us, NHF decided to send us to experience the show firsthand.  When we arrived at the box office, the ticket cashier asked us, “Do you have a reservation?” – to which our response was “noreSERVations.”  With playbills in hand and no reservations, we walked into the packed theater and thoroughly enjoyed the 9th annual production from Gramercy’s most beloved director, Ken Ko.

Ken K’s Theater presents “Pajama Game”

The time has come for Ken K’s student’s annual show. This year it’s “Pajama Game” which is showing this Wednesday and Thursday, May 26th and 27th, at 7pm.

The noreSERVations group will be attending on Wednesday evening and will be taking the 5:33pm express train from White Plains. If you’d like to join, please contact John H. or Will L. Thank you.

Special Events This Week . . .

The short notice notwithstanding, these events are sure to be worth a gander:

12 CITIES | 12 CONVERSATIONS

“In 1974, Billy Graham convened 2,700 Christian leaders in Lausanne, Switzerland to mobilize the global Church and respond to the issues of their day.  From October 16–25 in Cape Town, South Africa 4,000 pastors, teachers, ministry professionals, and young visionaries from more than 200 countries will continue the tradition to determine how today’s Church responds to our own challenges.   To prepare for Cape Town, 12 Cities will host 12 Conversations to hear from this generation on the issues,” such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, trafficking, injustice, persecution, diversity, globalization, relativism, consumerism, war, environment, power, recession, race, new media, postmodernity, social action, Gospel, proclamation, education, etc.

Winter Trip to ISRAEL . . .

Several of the NHF brothers & sisters can now attest to the magic that is Dr. Bryan Widbin, Professor of Old Testament & Semitic Languages at Alliance Theological Seminary.  In addition to being a dynamic & faith-building lecturer and a virtual genius in all things related to the Middle East, Dr. Widbin is also a widely sought-after licensed guide with the state of Israel, a former resident of Israel, and former student with the Israeli Army.  He is fluent in the various languages & cultures of the Middle East.

This Week’s Special Events

You are cordially invited to two special events this week:

1. “Dissecting the Soul,” an interfaith panel discussion at New York Medical College (NYMC) . . .

• Tuesday, March 2nd, 5.00 – 7.00p
• Nevins Auditorium @ NYMC
• Sponsored by the Christian Medical & Dental Association (CMDA)
• Dinner provided

2. NewHope4Justice (NH4J) Reading Group . . . .

• Thursday, March 4th, 7.00p
• Catherine’s home
• Readings: Ch.6 of “Rich Christians …” / Isaiah 6 / Amos 6
• Dinner provided