I know I am not alone when I say that I take time out to appreciate God’s creations. Whether it’s a gorgeous day, a cool breeze, or a clear, starry night, I always say, “You gotta love the Lord for making things like that!”

Well, today I am thankful for passion. Passion is defined as an intense, driving, and overmastering feeling, and I can’t imagine being effective in anything without it. Consider Nehe-miah. He rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in less than two months. How did he do it? I’m glad you asked—Passion! He gave up a high profile job, overcame many who stood against him, and worked passionately.

What do you think would happen if we coupled passion along with our God-given abilities? We would be super effec-tive and productive in our ministries.

So that’s why I’m thankful for passion. Without it, I would have found it easy to ignore my desire to publish Gideon’s Trumpet; Without it, I would not have been blessed with the energy, creativity, and dedication of my wonderful staff; and , most importantly, without it, I would have blatantly disobeyed the will of God—to inform, educate, and lift up the name of our Savior through the written word.

It is our prayer that you satisfy your desire, find your pas-sion, and live out His will.

Have a Merry Christmas & a prosperous New Year!

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Ministry Spotlight 2

Church Family News 2

Get To Know New

Gideon! 3

A Little Perspective 4

Voices of New Gideon: 5

This & That 6

Kid’s Corner 7

Calendar 8

D E C E M B E R 2 0 0 9 V O L . 1 N O . 3

P A G E 2

If you are interested in being a mentor or if you

are in need of mentoring, please see

First Lady Kimberly Bessix for information.

Out of all the aspects of the

Sunday service, the Invitation to Discipleship proves to be the most intimate. Even though it’s only a few mo-ments, some lost soul usually makes one of the most impor-tant decisions of their lives—to remain weary, wounded, and sad or to give their lives over to Christ and follow Him.

Deciding to live for Jesus, for those who never knew Him, can be down right fright-ening and most times, the probability that the man, woman, boy, or girl who chooses that path rarely stays the course. Expectations run high and they feel as though they can never reach the stan-dard. They need a hand to hold during this critical part of the journey, and that is the pur-pose of the TLC Mentor Minis-try.

The TLC Mentoring ministry was birthed in February 2006.

First Lady Kimberly Bessix envisioned the ministry while attending a church service where Pastor Bessix was preaching. As the doors of the church were opened, she ob-served two young ladies walk-ing down the aisle to join; they were dressed for something other than church, chewing gum, and laughing. Who would be there to offer them guidance and train them up in the way they should go? Would there be some one more mature in the Word who would help them stand strong against judgmental eyes and condemning spirits?

At New Gideon, a mentor is assigned a new member (mentee) on a monthly basis. The mentor is responsible for reaching out to their mentee and providing spiritual guid-ance as needed. Sheveatria Parker, a Gideonite since 2008, says that TLC has been very

beneficial to her spiritual walk, “My mentor has helped me fight spiritual battles, provided me with continual guidance, and made it easier for me to transition into ministry at a new church. She not only em-braced me as a sister in Christ, but as family.”

In the upcoming year, First Lady Bessix would like to see more of a male presence in the Mentoring Ministry. Could there be a collaborative effort with the Men of New Gideon brewing—We certainly hope so!

If you are interested in being a mentor or if you are in need of mentoring, please see First Lady Kimberly Bessix for infor-mation. Crystal D. Knight Staff Reporter

• Samirah S. Brown, a 3rd grader at Merrydale Elementary made the A/B Honor Roll this nine weeks.

• Tameia L Porter, who is in 2nd grade at Audu-bon Elementary , made the A/B honor roll this nine weeks. Her teacher also noted that Tameia works neatly and has attained a Mas-tery skill level in her studies.

• Taniyah L. Porter, a 4th grader at Audubon Elementary, received a glowing report from her teacher stating that she listens and fol-lows directions, is able to work independ-ently, and is a good problem solver.

• Diamond McDonald, a Capitol Elementary 1st grader, made the A/B Honor Roll this nine weeks and won an Achievement Award spon-sored by Raising Cane’s.

• Miranda Matthews ,who is in 7th grade , not only made the A/B Honor Roll this nine weeks, but also received recognition for having perfect attendance for the 1st Nine Weeks.

P A G E 3 V O L . 1 N O . 3

Ms. Castle currently serves on the Deaconess Ministry, and she has been a part of the New Gideon family for 9 years. She is a native of Jeanerette, LA and she enjoys cleaning, cooking, and fishing. If you want to know her favorite bible verse, please turn to Psalms 86:17.

17 Give me a sign of your goodness, that my enemies may see it and

be put to shame, for you, O LORD, have helped me

and comforted me.

Minister Wright has been at New Gideon for over 28 years and is a native and resident of Baton Rouge, LA. Her hobbies include baking, writing, sewing, and helping people. Her favorite bible verse is II Timothy 2:15.

15Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who

correctly handles the word of truth.

Ms. Gwendolyn has been a member of New Gideon for about 4 years now, and she is no stranger to ministry. She currently sings with the NGBC Mass Choir and is involved with quite a few others. She is a native of Westwego, LA and she enjoys shooting pool, playing cards, Darts, and playing dominoes. Refer to Proverbs 3:5-6 for her favorite bible verse.

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways

acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Fathers play an essential role in their daughter's lives. Many things are learned and many things are taught, and Some of the most meaningful moments in a daughter's life are spent with her father. Make the most of your relationship by treating your daughter to:

Tickets are $25.00 per couple and $5.00 for each additional daughter. Please contact Brother Carlos Durant @ (225)907-1950 for tickets and information.

P A G E 4

Creative gift ideas, potluck

parties and crafty

decorations help simplify this

year's Christmas budget.

A L I T T L E P E R S P E C T I V E . . .

The holiday season puts a strain on finances even when the economy is booming. Between gifts to buy, meals to prepare and events to attend, it is hard not to go overboard. To keep spending on track, start with a plan of action. Then, get creative with gift giving and other sea-sonal responsibilities.

Plan Ahead to Save Money for the Holidays

The best way to save money at Christmas is to plan in advance what to spend. This means starting several weeks before the big day and before the holiday rush begins. Sit down with other members of your family and talk about how much to spend on gifts and what experi-ences are most important. Then, make a list and assign an expense limit to everything.

• Start with a total amount of money to spend the entire season. This might come from sav-ings throughout the year or from taking out a percentage from income leading up to Christ-mas.

• Divide the budget according to activities: gifts, decorations, food, events, etc. Spend only cash.

Ideas for Inexpensive Christmas Gifts

• Make Something The internet is full of how-to’s and tutorials for making everything from kids' toys to men’s slippers. Search magazine websites and craft blogs for ideas to please everyone on your list.

• Draw Names Buying a present for every cousin, niece and nephew gets very expensive. For people with large families, consider drawing names. Everyone will get one nice gift instead of lots of little things. Buy Group Gifts Shorten a lengthy gift list by combining names. Group families and coworkers together, and then buy a single present they can enjoy to-gether. For example, make a game night basket for your sister’s family or take a selection of healthy snacks to work everyone gets to choose from.

Ways to Save on Party Food

• Buy in Bulk Don’t take a separate dish to every party or dinner. Instead, choose one that fits in at every event and save money on buying bulk ingredients. Go Potluck For Christmas dinner at home, consider a potluck. Have other family members bring sides, desserts and drinks while the host provides the main dish.

Inexpensive Christmas Decorating

• Reuse and Reinvent The best way to save money on decorations is to use last year’s sup-ply. Just get creative with them. Hang wreaths in a different spot and pile ornaments in bowls to get more mileage out of them.

• Make Your Own Make new decorations instead of buying them. Many craft stores have special Christmas sections with supplies for everything from wreaths to cards. With these tips saving money around the holidays, Christmas will still be merry and you won’t miss the money you save.

The copyright of the article How to Save Money this

Christmas in Personal Budgeting/Finance is

owned by Karen Perkins.

P A G E 5 V O L . 1 N O . 3

Do you have something you want to share with your church family? Don’t forget that Gideon’s Trumpet is YOUR

newsletter and we encourage you to “stir up the gift” and submit your writings, poetry, accomplishments—even your

suggestions and comments!

Submissions for the January issue are due

We love emails! trumpets_blare@yahoo.com

With the Christmas season quickly approaching, many people already have one thing in mind: shopping! As a child, I can remember being allowed to take the Wish Book that JC Penney stores put out each year, and my mother would tell me that I could write down whatever I saw in the book that I would like to have received for Christmas. I must have looked through that book a hundred times; having so much fun “window shopping” that I ended up re-writing my lists several times to either include or remove items that I had changed my mind about. As far as I was concerned, that was what Christmas was all about; giving and moreover, receiving gifts…and I absolutely loved it!

In my later teens and into young adulthood, I acquired a new appreciation for Christmas. I had no respon-sibilities; however I had money of my own to spend freely. Mind you, I was not rich in the least…although I must have thought I was! Whatever anyone wanted for Christmas, if I felt they were “worthy” of receiving such, it was theirs. Likewise, whatever I wanted, I bought and thought nothing of the money that I wasted.

It was not until getting married and becoming a mother that I truly began to realize who my Savior was; thus, realizing what Christmas was really all about. It was not until I was no longer “rich” that I gained a wealth of satisfaction in Jesus Christ being born on Christmas day to die for my sins. It was not until I had one of my own that I began to truly appreciate the concept and love of a family. Gift-giving is not on trial here. After all, gifts were brought to the manger where Jesus was born. Forsaking the memory of that precious, holy child, wrapped in swaddling clothes and replacing it with presents wrapped in vibrant paper and bows is our downfall.

Now, after finally “seeing the light,” Christmas is no longer about putting down payments on monthly bills and avoiding collection calls after New Year’s Day. It’s all about celebrating the birth of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ, and there we find the joy of Christmas! Wishing great joy & peace from my family to yours, Guantis M. Durant

VO ICES OF NEW G IDEON

P A G E 6

• Who convinced Joseph to take Mary home as his wife and to name the baby Jesus? A. His parents b. an angel of the Lord c. a priest • Which 2 gospels give an account of the birth of Jesus? A. Matthew & John b. Matthew & Luke c. Mark & John • How many wise men brought gifts to Jesus? _____________________ • Name the gifts.__________________, ________________________, and

_____________________________. • How were Jesus and John the Baptist related?__________________________ • This name means “The Christ or Anointed One”. A. Immanuel b. Messiah c. Jesus

1. Hmmm...Carrots at a Christmas Party. Avoid them. Anyone who puts carrots on a buffet table definitely does not have the Christmas spirit. As a matter of fact, you need to leave immediately and go next door where they have rum balls!

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can! Eggnog is as rare as finding love on a reality show, so drink up! Who cares if it has a billion calories in every sip? Trust me, you won’t turn into a eggnogaholic or something. It’s a treat. Enjoy it!

3. Good food should always come with GRAVY! Use it! That’s the whole point of gravy. Gravy is not supposed to stand alone. Pour it on. Generously.

4. If someone serves you mashed potatoes, always ask if they were made with skim milk or half and half. If they say skim milk, pass! Why bother? It’s like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not try to be cute and have a snack before going to a party to control your urge to eat. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat other people’s food for FREE. Lots of it!

6. Now hear this! You have no business exercising be-tween now and New Years, you can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for

long naps that you will need after circling the buffet table while carrying that 10lb. plate of food and that 32oz cup of eggnog!

7. If you come across something REALLY good at the buffet table, like Madea’s Coconut Cake, camp out close to it and don’t move! Eat as much as you can before you start attracting unwanted attention. Re-member, holiday food is like that bomb pair of shoes— you can’t leave them behind. You’re not go-ing to see them again.

8. The same rule applies to PIE! Sweet Potato, Pecan, Peach. Have a slice of each. And if you don’t like Peach, have two Sweet potatoes and one Pecan. Al-ways have three. What other holiday can you get to have more than one dessert? Martin Luther the King’s Birthday?

9. Did I hear someone say Fruitcake? Okay, so it is FULLY loaded with holiday calories, but you should avoid it at all cost. I mean have some standards, man!

10. One final tip: If you don’t feel terrible when you leave a party or get up from the table, you have not been paying attention. Re-read these tips and start over. But hurry, no-good-food-havin’ January is right around the corner!

Congratulations are in order for New Gideon’s own, Courtney Pearl! Courtney was recently a candidate in the running

for the title of Little Miss Southern. Even though she did not win that

particular title, she is a champion in fundraising. She took first place for

raising the most money for Saint Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital! Hats off

to Courtney!

V O L . 1 N O . 3 P A G E 7

Phone: 225-926-4441

Fax: 225-926-4163

Worship Times:

Sundays @ 8:00a.m. & 11:00a.m.

The Lord’s Supper

3rd Sundays @ 8:00a.m. & 11:00a.m.

Mid Week Worship

Thursdays @ 6:30p.m.

The mission of Gideon’s Trumpet is to foster education, empowerment, communication, and fellowship in Christ Jesus through the

written word.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1

Joyful Noise Rehearsal 7:00p.m.

2 3 Mid-Week Worship 6:30p.m.

4 5

6 7 8 Mass Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m.

9 10 Mid-Week Worship 6:30p.m.

11 12 Men’s Ministry Father/Daughter Winter Ball 6:30p.m.

13 14 15 Mass Choir Rehearsal 7:00 p.m.

16 17 18

19

20 The Lord’s Supper 6:00p.m.

21 22 Joyful Noise Rehearsal 7:00p.m.

23 24 Christmas

Eve

25 Christmas Day Service 9a.m.-10a.m.

26

27 Youth Sunday 8:00a.m.

28 29 Pastor Bessix @ Pilgrim Rest B.C. Plaquemine, LA 7:00p.m.

30 31 Watch Night Service 10p.m.-Midnight

December 2009

There will be a special observance of the Lord’s Supper in the month of

December. We will partake in Holy

Communion at 6:00p.m. on Sunday,

December 20, 2009.