A World Without Sports? (Bring Us Your Gear!)

Try to imagine what a world without sports would be like. Nothing to do but go outside and...stand in the dirt. No doubt it would be more boring, but more importantly, you'd lose such a great way learn about life and grow in character. No teammates, no fellowship, no learning how to lose and move on, no learning how to win with dignity and humility...the list goes on.

Children in Africa lose out on these opportunities for fun, and more, because they don't have the resources. Help children in Africa by donating new or used sports equipment. Bring anything you can (bats, balls, sticks, pucks, nets, gloves, etc.) to E129...and encourage others to do so, too! Let's reach out to the world with the love of Christ!

Adopt-a-Team: Wrestling!

Okay, so I stink at being a blogger.  But, that just means there's room for improvement!  Anyway, try again...

Adopt-a-Team:  We're at it again.  Get involved in reaching out to the school by supporting our sports teams with some food for their bodies and food for their souls.  We'll be putting bags together TUESDAY MORNING in Mr. Blake's room @ 7:00 pm.  So, come help out.  Bring snacks for the wrestling team.  Think of encouraging scripture.  Just show up.  And, as always, pray for the group and for the team we're reaching!

Live for Christ.  Live is short.  Pray hard!

Fields of Faith!

Cost:  FREE!  (with an extra 75% off for every friend you bring)

Date:  Wednesday, November 11th

Time:  7:00pm

Where:  Patterson Mill Stadium

What Is It?:  A chance for you to gain strength in your faith and share in glorifying God with students from all over Harford County.  There will be a praise band, food, games, and PEOPLE.  You'll get a chance to hear several students tell how God changed THEIR lives, and talk with many others.  Come see how God is impacting students in more places than just Patterson Mill, and get motivated that you are not alone in this thing called Christian faith!

Got Compassion?

When you hear (or read) the word compassion, what do you think of?  Caring, loving, and people in need?  Well, that's EXACTLY what it's all about.  And, right now Patterson Mill FCA is trying to find a way to have some compassion...caring, loving, and supporting those in need.  In an effort to serve Christ by serving others, we are trying to find creative ways that FCA can help a child or children in other parts of the world overcome poverty.  Through the organization Compassion, for only $32/month we could support one child.  But, we should not be limited by those numbers...we could do so much more.  And, we would like to reach the hearts and lives of others in Patterson Mill by allowing EVERYBODY to be involved in this effort.  So, at our next meeting (Wednesday, 10/8 @ 6:40 am) we want to get ideas from YOU on how Patterson Mill can give back!  How can we raise money (without selling anything)?  Who can we get involved?  And how can we show the school how Jesus loves them by showing some compassion?  BE PART OF THIS BLESSING!  (And, be at FCA to feed your body AND your soul!)

Be Encouraged

Romans 12:2 - "...that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith."

We should all be encouraged by the people that joined together this past Wednesday to pray around our flagpole at Patterson Mill.  In hectic times, times that can cause one to question their own faith, and feel alone as a Christ-follower in a world that seems to go against it, we should feel STRENGTHENED in our faith by seeing others who are willing to stand up, literally, for Jesus.  As we looked around that circle, we should not just see people who could be "Christian friends".  It should be more than that.  We should see others that can lift our spirits.  We should see others that can work together to REACH the people around us.  We should take this opportunity God has put in front of us to SERVE Him, not ourselves.  So, be encouraged!  Allow it to light a fire and fan the flames of our Faith.

Fightin' Words, or Prayin' Words?

I'll see YOU at the flagpole!  Ooooo...them's fightin' words.  Or, prayin' words?!

One day every year, across the United States, students, teachers, community members, etc. gather together around their school's flagpole to pray to the One and True Living God.  Named "See You at the Pole", it's an opportunity to show your true faith and willingness to stand up for Jesus, overcome the fear or pressure from friends and foes, break down barriers between people that you should talk to but don't, hold hands with those around you AND...pray!  Pray for the school, pray for the upcoming school year, pray for your friends, pray for the community, pray for yourself...pray for ANYTHING.  And do so with others who are there to do the same, in love and support.  Hopefully, it will also spark or fuel the fire to live passionately for Jesus.

So, please come join us at the flagpole at Patterson Mill on Wednesday, 9/24, at our normal FCA time, 6:45 am.  If you come late, come anyway!  It will be a blessing just to have another person by our sides.  But, the key is...COME!  Come pray together!

I'll see YOU at the flagpole!