Celebrating Generosity: Youth Winter Retreat
We are so thankful for a church that supports and celebrates Student Ministry.
Winter Retreat 2023 was an amazing time of true fellowship and community. The theme for the weekend was “The Upside-Down King,” which focused on Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). Students and leaders learned and discussed what it means to live in God’s Kingdom. The Winter Retreat would not be possible without an awesome volunteer staff!
Thank You from Guilford
In August 2011, God opened the door for RBC to become Guilford Elementary’s first Loudoun County Business Partner.
It has been a privilege to grow our relationship with the school administration, families, and community over the last ten years. The Lord has done great things and used the giving of time, talents, and finances of the body here at RBC for His glory!
This past school year was especially difficult for our Guilford community. Many families were out of work, kids were at home distance learning, and countless families were quarantined with COVID. Our congregation was called to serve in a way we had not done before. Taking on one family after another and walking with them through these struggles. 57 families were adopted by RBC families and Shepherd Groups. Each family had its own unique situation and problems from all different backgrounds. They were shown what the love of Christ looks like through prayer, service, and giving.
Here are a few ways our generous congregation helped: Groceries and toiletries delivered weekly, gift cards donated, bills paid, new jobs found, cars donated and some fixed, rides to doctors and other appointments, clothes and shoes given, furniture donated, medicines provided, legal counsel assistance, Children’s and Spanish Bibles donated, Easter and Christmas gifts provided, and the Good News of the Gospel given to each and every single one!
Thank you RBC for being a generous church to our local community! As we continue to follow up with these families and start a new school year, please pray that hearts will be open and lives will continue to be changed in Jesus name.
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Celebrating Generosity: Youth and Quest Volunteers
Jr. High Pastor Aaron Osborne and Children’s Ministry Director Tony Cho extend their thanks to the many, many RBCers who have faithfully invested in the lives of our children.
Celebrating Generosity: Youth Summer Camp 2021
Celebrating Generosity: Guilford Family Partnerships
Celebrating Generosity: Banyala Luke Translation Complete
Imagine Zero is an initiative by The Seed Company to end Bible poverty around the world. There are over 2,000 people groups that do not have a single verse of Scripture in a language they can understand.
In October of 2019, Reston Bible Church partnered with The Seed Company, which currently works with 120 partner organizations and 1,555 local ministries and churches to help bring God’s Word to the Bibleless. As a church, we adopted the translation of the book of Luke into the heart language of the Banyala people in Kenya. When we introduced the project last year, within a few short weeks, all 1,151 verses of the book of Luke were “adopted” by RBCers at $35 per verse.
Now, one year later, the Banyala people now have the book of Luke completely translated into their heart language. By the grace of God at work through your generosity, copies of Luke’s gospel are now being printed and distributed to the Banyalan people. Please continue to pray for the Banyala people, that as the Word of God goes forth, it will not return void (Isaiah 55:11).
Other specific prayer requests from the field include:
- May God continue uplifting those involved in bringing the Bible closer to the people.
- Thank God for a good translation team that will eventually see the New Testament fully drafted.
- Pray for God to give sobriety and self-control to the young people. Since people now spend much of their time at home because of COVID-19, there is a great deal of strain upon families. Many relationships have been impacted negatively, and with the schoolchildren all at home, there have been a lot of teenage pregnancies. The team prays that their translation of the Bible into the local language will help alleviate problems caused by the stress of the pandemic.
- Praise God that although the impact of COVID-19 varies from project to project, all translation teams have been able to continue their work. Travel restrictions have redirected responsibility for staying on schedule more directly to translation teams and communities, who have accepted even greater ownership of the work.
- Praise God that the closing of churches due to COVID has encouraged family worship, and many believers are now reading and studying the Bible for themselves.
- Pray for the pastors and ministers. Many churches have experienced a decrease in offerings and tithes, and some churches are unable to pay their pastors. Please pray for them as they continue to minister to the people in their care.
The video above is the update given in services last Sunday and includes a word of thanks from Nyanjugu Githui, the field project manager. In the video below, Banyalan translator and pastor Fred Egessa shares how translating the book of Luke impacted him personally.
Celebrating Generosity: Nepalese Church Plant
Celebrating Generosity: Youth Summer Camp 2020
Celebrating Generosity: Brazil Outreach
Celebrating Generosity: Community Blood Drive
Celebrating Generosity: Face Mask Donation to INOVA
Celebrating Generosity: Youth Ministry During COVID-19
Pastor Aaron Osborne takes a couple minutes to share about the importance of staying connected and what youth ministry at RBC looks like during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Celebrating Generosity: Guilford Update
To learn more about our partnership with Guilford Elementary and how you can get involved, email Leigh Ann Kiendl.