RecentNews - Bridgeport Wesleyan Church

Women of BWC, family and friends at Women of Faith 2010.

BWC WOMEN AND MEN ENJOY WEEKEND OUTINGS!

The Women and Men of BWC both recently enjoyed weekend outings of worship, fun and fellowship. The women traveled to Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, IN on Aug. 20-21 for Women of Faith 2010 "Over the Top" and the men traveled to Lake Shelbyville for a Zone Network Camp Outing.

Women of Faith is a weekend event where women laugh, cry, and realize that they’re not alone. The conference includes heart-felt, hilarious messages, gripping drama and amazing music. Here are a couple of testimonies of those that attended with the group from BWC. . .

Listening to Mary Beth Chapman speak in regards to adopting her 3 beautiful girls from China made me want to make a difference in someones life like that and I would love to adopt a child from China. I have never really considered anything like this before but I would LOVE to make a difference in a child's life as they have. I have really done some thinking in regards to all this and I WILL BE checking into this situation.

Attending Women of Faith was a very moving experience for me. The worship music was great, but for me hearing the testimonies from women who overcame extreme life difficulties of physical and mental pain through their FAITH and the GRACE OF GOD was amazing. A chorus from a hymn comes to mind - "God leads his dear children along. Some thro' the waters, some thro' the flood, Some thro' the fire, but all thro' the Blood. Some thro' great sorrow, but God gives a song, In the night season and all the day long".

Lake Shelbyville was the sight of a Men's Camp Out for the Southern Network (Illinois District, The Wesleyan Church) . A total of 22 men from Bridgeport Wesleyan and Robinson Wesleyan Churches gathered at a campground just outside Shelbyville, IL for recreation, campfires, food and fellowship. Bridgeport barely edged out Robinson to win the "Cammo Cup" this year. Worship time was led by the Robinson men and the guest speaker was Rev. Josh Bowlin who urged them to be "standup" men making their lives count. Next year's event is scheduled for the first weekend of August.

BWC PARISHIONERS RAISE $3600 TOWARDS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS CHURCH PLANT!

During the fiscal church year of 2008/2009, Bridgeport Wesleyan Church committed to being a "parent" for a potential new church to be planted in the Southern Network of the Wesleyan Church Illinois District. Along with administrative, logistical and spiritual support, this also required a commitment of faith in financial support. Using the example of Christ's Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30), BWC decided to use a "seed money" distribution to help raise funds. Parishioners were given an opportunity to receive $20 and use it as an investment of their choice. Later that year during a special service, the money would be returned along with any additional money earned on the investment. A sign with the project and money earned on it would be "planted" into pots of soil to symbolize the planting and growth of the seed money. During this past 2009/2010 fiscal year, $540 was distributed as seed money. That investment grew to $4100 with a net gain of $3600! There were many creative ideas used to raise funds including bake sales, dinners, custom decals, homemade noodles, dishwasher clean/dirty magnets, homemade bread, frozen homemade pizzas, hand-stitched doilies, caramels and many others! The Lord was faithful as in the scripture to bless the servants who used well that which they had been given. As of this posting, new seed money has been distributed for 2010/1011 and BWC has begun praying for a planter (pastor) to arrive soon in the Southern Network so that more people in Illinois can hear the gospel message.