First Free News & Notes: July 2003

Congratulations to Tim & Brenda Audette! Their son Jonathan Michael was born on July 18^th. He weighed in at 9 pounds, 4 ounces. Congratulations also to the proud grandparents, John & Unni Symington.

Vacation Bible School, Treasures of the Nile on an Expedition to Jesus (July 28 - August 1) begins tomorrow! If you haven't registered your child yet, sign up at the table in the foyer today! VBS Prayer Guides are available at the Information Booth and VBS registration table.

It's Picnic in the Park time, Thursday, July 31, 5:00-9:00 PM at Pearl Park. First Free will be having a booth this year ─ stop by and join the fun. If you can help, please contact Pastor Joel.

The Youth Group will be going to Valley Fair on Saturday, August 2. This is an all day event. Plan to leave from church at 9:30 AM. The cost is $20.50 per person.

Host a new arrival from China. New graduate students from China are arriving in late July through August to study at the U of MN. All of these need a place to stay for several days while they find regular housing. For more information on how to host one of these new arrivals, contact Karen Beach with China Outreach at beach006 {at} tc.umn.edu, phone (651) 765-4534 or Glenn Kenadjian at kenad003 {at} tc.umn.edu or call (612) 722-3657.

Do you want to live and love like Jesus? YOU CAN!

What are believers saying about The Everyday Commission?

"I know this was something I needed for my life. It was presented in such a clear way." --Paul

"I will reprioritize and refocus so that carrying out the Great Commission becomes an everyday activity." --Angie

This special workshop is coming Saturday, September 6^th to First Free!

Look for registration forms and complete details in your August Newsletter.

Missionary Prayer Focus

David & Karin Oldberg, Yaounde, Cameroon

Praise the Lord we all (students, teachers, and hostel parents) finished well through this last school term. Praise the Lord for keeping us safe, giving us courage, and providing for our needs.
Pray for us . . . for creativity, energy and safety - for daily renewal in the Spirit of God.
Pray for finances related to the acquisition of land and the development of the school on a new site.

Congratulations to Lester & Theone Westlund! In honor of their 62^nd Anniversary, they will be providing donuts for today's Fellowship Time.

Pray for Dr. A. T. Olson who is at Fairview Southdale Hospital with possible heart problems.

All ladies welcome to a baby shower for Bio Ivory (wife of Thompson Ivory). They are from Nigeria and have been attending our church for about a year. Their stay here has been extended for another year. The shower will be at First Free on Tuesday, July 22, at 7:00 PM, and is sponsored by the Seekers International Class. She is registered at Target and J.C. Pennys. Please RSVP to Nancy Fowler at (612) 722-8453 or Audrey Sollie at (651) 686-6508.

Sojourners' Family Social: Saturday, July 26, at 6:00 PM. We will be touring the Stone Arch Bridge historical area that includes the old mill city. This is a dessert social, so please eat supper before you come. Bring quarters for the parking meter also. Following the tour, we will stop for ice cream at the Pump House Creamery on 48^th & Chicago. If you have any questions, contact Lori Peterson at (612) 722-9793.

Vacation Bible School, Treasures of the Nile on an Expedition to Jesus (July 28 - August 1) is fast approaching! If you haven't registered your child yet, sign up at the table in the foyer today! VBS Prayer Guides are available at the Information Booth and VBS registration table.

The Youth Group will be going to Valley Fair on Saturday, August 2. This is an all day event. Plan to leave from church at 9:30 AM. The cost is $20.50 per person.

Prayer Focus

SLAM Youth Conference

Pray for Katie Hucek, Becky Juarez, Marissa Perez, Eric Sundberg, and Pastor Eric as they attend SLAM, a student evangelism training conference, July 21-26, in Chicago. Pray that everyone would take this seriously, for a productive time together, and for a safe trip.

GP & Nancy Foote, Campus Crusade for Christ

Pray for the Campus Crusade Paris Summer Project. 58 students are participating this summer. Some of these students have been re-routed from Asia because of the SARS epidemic. There are lots of Asians studying in Paris.
Paris has over 100,000 international students. Pray that many would hear the Gospel message and receive Christ.
Pray for the safety and health for all the participants and for their families back home.

We wish to convey our heart-felt thanks to our fellow First Free members for the gorgeous footed bowl by Waterford given to us at our 50^th Anniversary Celebration. We love you all. ~ Harold & Marilyn Engberg

We rejoice with Jeff & Rachel Olson on the birth of their baby daughter, Laura Ellen, on June 28^th. For further info and pictures, see their website at www.olsonzoo.com.

The Rotators band concert scheduled for tonight at First Free has been cancelled.

All ladies welcome to a baby shower for Bio Ivory (wife of Thompson Ivory). They are from Nigeria and have been attending our church for about a year. Their stay here has been extended for another year. The shower will be at First Free on Tuesday, July 22, at 7:00 PM, and is sponsored by the Seekers International Class. She is registered at Target. Please RSVP to Nancy Fowler at (612) 722-8453 or Audrey Sollie at (651) 686-6508.

It's Picnic in the Park time, Thursday, July 31, 5:00-9:00 PM at Pearl Park. First Free will be having a booth this year and will be passing out the "Jesus" video. If you can help, please contact Pastor Joel.

The Finance & Property Board will not meet in July. Their next meeting will be held on August 3 at 6:00 PM.

Missionary Prayer Focus

Alicia Juarez-Antigua, Guatemala

This summer, God has allowed me to be in Antigua working with SI. I am in charge of the Summer Staff. We have been blessed with an outstanding team. Their Spanish skills are great and they are eager to serve. I am also in charge of overseeing a temporary site at a hospital with a project for children with malnutrition. It is our job to support the nursing staff with feedings and caring for the children.

Pray for Myrna who is a mother of one of the babies from the nutrition project. Her baby, Jennifer, is being treated to help her gain weight so that she can have cleft palate surgery. Her family blames the child's cleft palate on her "changing religions." She is struggling with her relationship with God and is feeling abandoned.
Pray for me that I would have extra energy when working. Also, that I may have discernment as to how to best encourage my staff.
Pray that God really uses my time this summer for His will, and that I would be a willing servant.

You can email Alicia at alicia_juarez {at} yahoo.com.

Congratulations Jeff & Rachel Olson on the birth of Laura Ellen on Saturday, June 28^th. To see pictures of Laura, visit www.olsonzoo.com.

Attention Finance & Property Board - There will be no meeting this month. Our next meeting will be August 3^rd.

On July 13, there will be a Dominican Republic Pot Luck. See insert for details.

Jim Mayo's daughter's home was destroyed by fire Wednesday night. They lost everything. Jim and Nadine are asking for clothing donations. The sizes are: Baby girl 18-24 months, Boy size 5-6, girl size 7-8. We really appreciate your help. Please pray for Melissa and her family. Thank you.

WHITE CROSS IS IN NEED of sheets for bandages. Do you have any old sheets? Please give the sheets to the White Cross. Thank you.

ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS - You are cordially invited to Wayne & Julie Danielson's home for a barbecue at 4:00 TODAY. Visitors and newcomers are welcome! Please bring a food item.

Dan Larson will be baptized at Lake Nokomis on August 17^th. Those who would also like to be baptized contact Joel. This will be a very special time.

Picnic in the park will be held on Thursday, July 31, 5:00-9:00 pm at Pearl Park. First Free will have a booth. We will pass out the "Jesus Video". Please come by and visit.

Sojourners' Family Social: Saturday, July 26, at 6:00 pm. We will be touring the Stone Arch Bridge historical area that includes the old mill city. This is a dessert social, so please eat supper before you come. Bring quarters for the parking meter also. Following the tour, we will stop for ice cream at the Pump House Creamery on 48^th & Chicago. If you have any questions, contact Lori Peterson at (612) 722-9793.

Missionary Prayer Focus

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF EVANGELICALS

Pray for wisdom and direction for the Washington, D.C. Bureau as they represent us there.
Praise God for the great work the World Relief Commission is doing in so many places in the world to relieve suffering. Pray especially for God's provision and protection as they are involved in work in Afghanistan and Iraq at this critical time.
Pray for a prospective CSB church that I visited this past week would choose to start Stockade and Girls Alive ministries this fall.