Month JuneYear 2012

In this issue

“Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and forever” Hebrews 13 vs 8

RCCG, Jesus House, City of God, 20 Holburn Street, Aberdeen, AB10 6BT | Telephone: 01224 588884Email: info@jesushouseaberdeen.org | Web: www.jesushouseaberdeen.org

God’s Great Grace1 Corinthians 15:10

The Esther Story, Our Story - A Story of Great Grace, One life and encounter that so incredibly illustrates how much a person can live so full of God’s grace is the wonderful account of Esther. How did a young girl in a strange land become queen of the greatest empire of her days? Her story is the story of someone enjoying God’s extravagant grace. Looking back at the last 8 years since Jesus House Aberdeen started 6th June 2004, we see that God’s Great and Extravagant Grace has been working in us. To Him alone glory! Grace through GraceI have come to conclude that entering grace is by grace. Although one can point to the habits or lifestyle of those who we can consider as having found and walking in grace as likely to have contributed to their finding divine grace, the irresistible conclusion that I have come to is this, grace comes by grace. Paul later in life looking back at what he had become in Christ concluded that “I am what I am by the grace of God.” Remember that he was one person who greatly persecuted the church, hauling many saints to jail or execution. Yet the Lord decided to arrest him and to turn him into Heaven’s instrument for great works of evangelism and kingdom expansion. In the Lord, he worked with great zeal and enthusiasm and again looking back at the advancement of the Gospel through his ministry, Paul could again recognize that it was all due to the grace of God and not attributable to his laboring. Grace came through grace. Why did Paul turn from a killer and persecutor of Christian to become a Christian? Because God decided to arrest Saul and gave him the opportunity to change or rather God decided to turn Saul into His own instrument for kingdom signs and wonders. Why? - Because God chose to use Paul for His purposes. Why did Paul achieve so much in Christ? Because the Lord decided to make room for him to do so. Granted Paul was zealous, exploit’full, courageous, risk taker, yet he could only do what he did because God chose to give him the ability and opportunity and the power to do so.

Appreciate your Pastor

God’s Great Graceand positioning

God is not another tablet

African MissionsCall

The Grace of EstherEsther was humanly speaking, in a terrible situation when she was selected as one of the girls for the contest to become Queen to King Ahaseurus after the deposition of Queen Vashti. Esther did not apply for the contest. I imagine that left to her, she would not have applied to join the contest. She was seized and conscripted into the contest. The contest had one of two possible outcomes – out of all the girls in the contest, only one will become queen and all the others will become concubines for the King. They will not be able to return home to normal lives. Chance of Esther becoming Queen over the other tens of girls was as good or as bad as any of the other girls. All the girls short-listed for the harem contest met the starting criteria – fair young virgins! But only one will become queen and others to be concubines. Yet Esther coming into the contest, at every stage secured the great pleasure of her examiners and ultimately of the King and won above other selected young maidens.What gave Esther the edge over all the other girls? She had no edge! She did not have anything humanly speaking that the other maidens did not have. If intelligence was the issue, there will have been other maidens equally or more intelligent than Esther. She had no edge there. If beauty, there would have been other maidens who were even more dizzily and exquisitely beautiful than Esther. If behavior, there would have been other maidens well brought up and full of character. She had no edge there. If knowledge of the court, there would have maidens who were the children of high palace officials who knew more about palace etiquette than Esther. She had no edge there.Perhaps Esther had the edge simply because she knew God, simply because she was the only Jew in the contest. Yet the Bible does not tell us that she was the only Jewish girl in the contest. There may have been one or two others. So that by itself did not give her the edge or advantage over all the others. Infact being a Jewish girl was an impossible disadvantage which is the reason that her uncle counseled Esther not to disclose or focus on her identity. So what gave Esther the edge? What enabled her to succeed to become queen amongst all others? - Nothing but the grace of God. It was the grace of God that opened favour to her so that at every stage. Set up by the grace of GodAfter Esther became queen, the time came when Harman planned to destroy all Jews in the empire. In order to convince Esther to risk her life to intervene with the King, Mordecai had to remind Esther of the circumstances, the grace of God that led her to become Queen. God’s grace had set Esther up! You have been set up by the grace of God. You are who you are by the grace of God. That will be believable to many who are in a good position in life – all is good, many testimonies and victories. What about the man or woman in the deepest troubles of life? Is there grace there?Esther was in trouble from the moment she was selected for the harem contest. Her likeliest end was to become a concubine for life. But with hindsight, it became clear that the contest was God’s means for her promotion to become queen. Heaven set her for the trouble that will come ahead. In same fashion, if there is someone reading this and wondering if it all the trouble or depths will ever end or whether there is divine purpose to the depths that they are in? Romans 8.28 came through for Esther – all things turned out for her good – why? Because of the grace of God that was upon and working in her life and her circumstances when she was in troublesome and unpleasant stations in life. God’s grace lifted Esther and the same grace will lift someone reading this. Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen by the Great Grace of God When Princess Elizabeth was born, she was not expected to become queen. Her father was the younger son of the King. Therefore her uncle was the heir apparent to become king and therefore his own first child whenever born will become the heir apparent. So Elizabeth grew up happy as a princess never expecting or expected to become queen. All that changed when the new king – her uncle abdicated to marry a divorcee. Suddenly life changed for Elizabeth and everyone. Her uncle’s abdication meant that her father had to become king in his stead. Her father becoming king transformed her destiny from more than a princess to becoming the future queen and set up to succeed her father. How did the succession of events transpire that changed her destiny and that of the nation? How did Queen Elizabeth become queen? By the great grace of God!

• Queen Elizabeth is what she is today by the grace of God!• You are what you are today by the grace of God!• You will enter greater heights in destiny if you can appreciate that you are who are and you are where

you are now, by the grace of God Greater glory, greater heights await you if you can continue in God’s grace and enter into His great grace!

Pastor Mark Igiehon

Do you have a busineess or know anyone who has a business? Advertising is key to raise awareness of your businessEmail: info@jesushouseaberdeen.org to advertise in our Church magazine. You can also place and advert in our monthlyNewsletters. All at affordable prices and discounted for members.

Peniel 2012: Jehovah in Action27 days to goRegister now at www.jesushouseaberdeen.org

colour me

We appreciate you Pastor & Pastor Mrs

Thank you Pastor for all your support, prayers, counselling and encouragement to us as a family. We also admire your strenght and passion towards the work of God. May God bless you richly. With love from the Njokus My Pastor, My friend, My Role Model, My Leader. ...Pastor Mark epitomises the song 'Great is the Lord and greatly to be Praised'. God bless Pastor & Pastor Mrs. Izuchukwu You are mentors worthy to emulate and full of energy with good leadership skills. The grace of God upon your life is unimaginable. I appreciate you and pray for many more years of health and prosperity in ministry. - Paul Orenuga Whenever I think of Pastor Mark the first word that comes to mind is vision and building. Not just buildings but men. For picking up boys and turning them to leaders of men. Kudos to my spiritual father, mentor and pastor. Segun Akinkugbe, City of God Glasgow. Pastor Mark, You are a man of vision, excellence and faith. You believe that everything is 'doable' and possible and you have demonstrated that also with your life. Sometimes we wonder how you cope with family, ministry, traveling, work, lecturing, writing and also creating time for the gym! You are such a blessing to us and we can't appreciate you enough. May the Lord continue to inspire, strenghten, encourage and bless you abundantly. We love you! The Zubi Emeles. "For your call to ministry, For your role as the Shepherd of Jesus House, For your prayers and the seeds evident in our lives, I say, truly, You are appreciated! Bless u always Pastor & Pastor Mrs". Jumoke Adebajo "Dear Pastor Mark there are no words to express my appreciation of your impact in my life. You have been awonderful Spiritual Father, whom God has used to keep me on track. Thank you for your consistent words of wisdom and inspiration. God bless you. - Eva O You are a father and a Pastor. Always ready to correct lovingly. We pray that laughter will not cease from your life - ministry, career and family. We appreciate youIk, Emilia and Lois Nzelu. I appreciate My Pastor for his desire & drive to take thepeople of God to great heights. May God grant you the grace to achieve all He has purposed for you. Ebuka

Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well. Thank God for the spirit of excellence in the life of our Pastor & Pastor Mrs, this has become apparent in us all. You are a father indeed.Tosin Emilolorun Thank you so much Pastor and Pastor Mrs, may the Lord lift you up to higher grounds where you belong, may you soar like Eagles. We appreciate and honour the Call of God upon your life. Bukola and Dolapo Faturoti Dear Pastor, Happy anniversary, and JubileeI appreciate you because you are a humble man with a youthful heart, good listener, encourager of people's idea/gifts, destiny helper (Det 33:17), and always on the MOVE. May the God of Jacob defend you, and your enabler shall never be few again. As your name implies, so shall you make 'mark' in your generation (lives, nations) until the whole world hear about you. As the Church marks her 8th year anniversary, may it be a new beginning in your life and ministry. God bless you & your family Sir. Ademola Agunbiade 1 Timothy 5:17 says 'Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double hounor, especially those who labuor in preaching and teaching'I just want to appreciate you for the gentle way you walk with us through good times and bad.For all the times you walked with me; And gently held my hand. The times you stopped to answer why; To help me learn and understand.Each time I fall or stumble, you reach out to me and lift me up to stand. You are there in good times, Even though I forget to thank you. You are there in bad times, To pick me up and see me through.Thank you my precious Pastors for being there and to make each day brand new. Ifeoma Okafor I see the hands that hold God's wordAnd fold in prayer to seek His will.I see the feet that walk the pathI see the hands that serve Him well,

The ears that seek to hear His call,The mouth that speaks truth and wisdom, The busy feet that carry the message to all.I see the heart that was pricked and enteredAnd yielded His life as a humble servant,

I see all of these as he stands in the pulpit,An instrument through which God speaksThe words of wisdom, of love and peace,To lead and guide all those whom God seeks.Chioma

To all the Leaders in the HouseI thank God for all our Leaders in the house for your immense impact and unrivalled passion. Though we may not say it all the time, we deeply love, respect and appreciate you.

JEHOVAH IN ACTION “What if God has His own ways that are not always our ways? What if God acts in public affairs in ways that can, of

course, be ignored from day to day but at a price for individuals and whole societies? If God is an actor, how is it possible to trace His action? Can we discover God’s actions in the part of human experience that is public in our day?" —Francis

Cardinal George

In searching to seek the understanding of who Jehovah is, John's Gospel begins at the same place as Genesis 1:1. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." It is well stated that the Word is no "thing," but is "He," on this ground indicating that God is the "living" God of the Hebrew text of the Old Testament. All things came into being through Him and what has come into being in Him was life and the life was the light of all man.

It is impossible to separate one’s actions from his being. The experiences we’ve faced in knowing people bear to this conclusion. Our knowledge of God is similar to our understanding of ourselves and of others. We know God in particular by His Word and His acts of mercy and compassion as attested by the Word to God's history with the people of Israel and His new covenant with all humanity in Jesus Christ.

It will be accurate to say that our experiences as individuals serve more than one purpose such as, to turn the attention to the only Creative Source, God as well as to make the individual aware that resting in that Supreme Consciousness is the only solution at hand of whatever needs to be known. Solutions cannot be received by throwing up our hands and screaming , but rather taking the opposite stand and becoming still in God that there is not a ripple of interference upon our consciousness. From this inner peace in God, we will find the solution we seek.

How did the people in the Bible know God was acting in their midst? How was His presence perceived? How can you describe your own experiences of God? Is there a particular time or way in which God has acted in your life? Does God affect our lives in the same way that God's presence and actions affected the people of God in the Bible? It will be unwise to expect God to act in similar ways to everyone, because just as fingerprints are all different, so are we as individuals. Also, when Jesus Christ came to earth He gave us the power to become priests and ambassadors of Him. Thus, God’s Actions can also be executed through us Christians.

‘God in Action’ is a ministry in Costa Rica, serving children and families that live in dire poverty. They do this through repairing homes, building walkways and bridges for communities, helping men overcome addictions, and feeding children. Each project they embark on brings people to the Lord as they see God in Action. They have Bible studies for children and adults that often bring their families closer to God and salvation. This is God acting through humanity that is the very root of the core ideals that shape society.

To instantly take the stand that there is no personality - there is only God in Action would prevent the "stinger" of ignorance from finding a landing place. Ignorance, like a hornet, always wants to use its stinger, but does not know where to find a landing spot unless you disturb its nest. No one will knowingly do that if he knows the nature of a hornet. Divine Love is the original nature within every human being and to achieve this successfully we have to seek the face of God.

A place to seek God face-to-face is at Peniel. Same way as the man called Jacob in the Bible saw God and his life was changed, his name was changed and his destiny was changed.

Blessed be God, who forever lives,Whose reign last through eternity,God, the Lord, merciful and justLoves and heals those who repent.The oppressed, God lifts, salves their hurts,Pays them heed, strengthening bodies and hearts.Calling humankind out of fearGod is Lord, forever more. O eternal God, be with usLift the poor from their miseryGive back dignity to all who trustIn the words and deeds of Christ.-Salvador T. Martinez (adapted JLB)Many and Great: Songs of the World Church, pp 44-5

– Eva O.

The vision is for an appointed time. Yet if we hurry we are in a mad rush because our time is short. Despite all these we are to run, only run, when the vision has been made plain.

We do not run because of limited: we run because we see now and know now that the vision which has a time in the currently short time is now.

Until this is achieved, we should return and rest. We are not being complacent while we wait. We are not being careless while we chant the songs of a warrior’s heart.

We are simply learning the rudiments of the vision. We are memorising the best way to walk when given the opportunity to run out into the

open field and celebrate the happiness of a moment. Until the vision has been written on the walls of our heart we only have to wait.

Until the message has been poured upon simplicity of a common heart we should do nothing but bow our heads humbling and wait.

Wait my soul, wait. Halt and wait till the message of I AM can be heard in the continuous development of our being.

Wait till you become more and more like Him. Until his word is spoken to the crevice of your heart, let nothing trouble your childlike faith. Wait my soul, I implore you to wait.

-Invreal (Aniefiok Friday)

Have you visited our website lately?

There is so much to see, to do, to listen to and explore, Do you know you can watch our services online? Well you won’t know what’s on until you visit the website people!

www.jesushouseaberdeen.org,

coming soon JHA Toolbar, JHA app for your phone, JHA radio, visit the website!

Parchment bookshopOpen Heavens Devotional now £7, only. Have you read the famous couples of the bible. Visit the bookshop to get great bargains.

There is so much to see, to do, to listen to and explore.Do you know you can watch our services online? Well you won’t know what’s on until you visit the website! www.jesushouseaberdeen.orgComing soon: Our website gets a new look. Send ideas, contributions to dollypno1@yahoo.com

Have you visited our website

lately?

The Junior Saints Crèche has now opened; it runs from :30am - 11:30am,

Mondays to Fridays. Interested parents should visit the crèche on any of these daysor ask for an application form at the Church office.

Men may have scorned you, family may have disowned you, and you have even rejected yourself but stop for a moment and consider this invitation from one who has the power to restore you, the ability to clean you up, and the wherewithal to glorify you.

Jesus says to you today, ‘Come, only come’.You’ve tried everything else; why not try the one thing that will work?It’s not another tablet, it’s not another diet, it’s a coming home to the One who really loves you.

Sister Adaeze Ifezulike.

God Is NOT Another TabletI sat aghast as the young girl before she rolled up her shirt sleeves and revealed the knife cuts she had inflicted on herself. Tears rolled down her pale cheeks. She looked worn out and atleast ten years older than the age of twenty-three that her notes proclaimed. ‘Why?’ I asked gently as I carefully sutured the cuts after cleaning them out with saline.Her head was bowed like a wilted rose. I could scarcely hear her voice; she had to clear her dry throat twice, swallowing saliva to moisturise her airways as the words made their way out. ‘I have done terrible things. I hate myself. This is my way of punishing myself for the wicked things I have done’, she whispered, raising eyes that held a sea of sorrow and told their own unspeakable tales. Fresh tears welled up, her chest heaved with the burden of her pains as if the very effort of speaking painted afresh pictures of images she longed to forget.I was silent as I cut the last suture and skilfully bandaged the wounds. I discarded my blood-soiled gloves and sat beside her. ‘You can’t pay for your mistakes by cutting yourself,’ I started to explain.She looked up, daring to hope for a way out, daring to fight against years of self deprecation that held her bondage.‘Jesus has paid for your sins’, I announced. Are you like my patient above? Has your past life made you feel worthless and given the opportunity, will you destroy yourself?I have good news for you - There is one who knows you better than anyone else.He knows all the terrible things you have done and yet he wants you! In Matthew 11 verse 28, Jesus says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’’.Are you feeling weary? Are you burdened by guilt and shame? Then this invitation is for you!

Spirit, Soul and Body

How to make Chapman Get a large tumbler/glass mug (necessary if you want to make your Chapman-experience last a bit)Fill the glass halfway with ice cubesPour a capful of any blackcurrant cordial into the glass (for that red glow)Pour in some bitterlemonPour in equal amounts of Fanta and Sprite then mix it up Throw in a slice of lemon, garnish with a cucumber slice and dip-in a bendy strawSip slowly and try not to hum too much as your taste-buds go into a frenzy.Enjoy your refreshing drink

Africa Missions UK's Macedonia Call: "Africa urgently needs assistance".

Who We Are: Africa Missions UK is a registered charity (2006), number 1114316. It was established in 1996, by Mummy G.O the wife of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor (Mrs.) Folu Adeboye. After she visited the missions' field in West Africa, Mummy G.O saw the need to establish this noble Mission and she summarized her findings in one phrase. "Africa urgently needs assistance".

"It doesn't matter what you put in… we pray you will look on missions work in Africa with compassion and answer our Macedonia call"For 15 years now, Africa Missions has brought hope to orphans and families living in real poverty throughout the continent of Africa and around the world.Our Activities

• We serve 'the Poor' in 6 countries (Angola, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe).• We have embarked on 2 Orphanage Projects. • We have given vehicles and bicycles to missionaries in the Mission fields and the country pastors to get

around.• We give monthly stipend payment to pastors. • We have contributed to church buildings, set up business ventures by providing 'seed' capital.• We have given out computers and school material and clothing.

Our Values and Characteristics

• "Our Christian faith teaches us that we are one family, and that we have a responsibility to the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters, wherever they live or whatever their faith may be. The church's role is to bring light to the community. (Matthew 25:35-40)

• We are grounded in the Gospel, called to serve the poor by having a compassionate and servant heart.• Honesty and transparency are necessary to operate an efficient and effective organization. We are therefore

prudent, committed to excellence and understand that we are just one instrument in the hand of God, whose partnership is fundamental to the success of this work.

• Recognizing the God-given dignity of each person is essential to sincere, lasting, loving relationships. So as Christians, we value people, believe in prayer and commit our time and effort to helping those people trapped in poverty.

What We DoWe have four main areas of operation:

• We raise awareness in the UK of the plight of the suffering poor in the countries we support and encourage more people in the UK to get involved.

• "We then channel donations, funds, items and volunteers from the UK and direct them to our beneficiary countries. We set up projects within them specifically sponsoring children, tasks or schemes of work.

• We support and direct missionaries in beneficiary countries and send representatives from the UK into the field, to implement jobs.

• We REACH people and communities, identifying those in difficulty and in need of help. We RESTORE livelihoods by bringing stability to people's lives; spiritually, psychologically and physically. We REBUILD by implementing projects in Africa and laying the grounds to a sound education.

Our Mission

• To promote the spread of the gospel and to alleviate poverty, by reaching, restoring and re-building lives and communities in Africa and around the world.

• To promote the development of sustainable holistic programs.• To empower people to direct their own destiny by providing opportunity and training.• To provide services that will improve the quality of life of children, youth, families and aging people.

Our Mandate

• Matthew 25:35/36 & 40• I was hungry and you fed me,• I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,• I was homeless and you gave me a room,• I was shivering and you gave me clothes,

• I was sick and you stopped to care for me,• I was in prison and you came to visit me.•

Then the King will say, 'I'm telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me-you did it to me.ConclusionWe have a vision to turn over this Continent to the Lord within a shortest possible time but as the saying goes, "when you give a man a fish, you have fed him for a day but when you teach him how to fish, you have fed him for life".We are also expected not only to bring them to learn how to fish spiritually, but physically in order to keep body and soul together till the coming of the Lord. There are various challenges that Africa Missions identified and are soliciting for our support this is summarized in the Pastor Raphael Olusegun Afolabi's report see detail at: www.africanmissionsuk.org.Our prayers for you is not only that the Lord will bless you hundred times for being part of that, that touches the Master heart (reaching the un-reached); but also that all your labour, prayers, sacrifices and sown seeds towards the cause He died for; shall be rewarded by Him in His eternal glory. Please Get Involved.There are various ways to get involved;" Monthly donation of £2.00 or more." Become a partner. " Volunteer with the Africa Missions UK team." Organize fundraising events in your community. For further or more information you can contact me on; Tel: 07871771699 or Africa Missions Office: 01788568838Email: bolaokerinde@yahoo.comGod bless.Olaide OkerindeAfrica Missions' Representative.Jesus House Aberdeen

Is tolerance being abolished?

Recent happenings in the UK seem to suggest that expressions of Christianity are now deemed politically incorrect and therefore unacceptable.- Christians have been stopped from wearing a cross at work- The government is unrepentant in its move to redefine marriage to accommodate gay people and a Christian blogger was put under investigation for showing an advertisement on his site which promoted the current legal definition of marriage.- A Christian couple were deemed to have broken the law and fined for not allowing a gay couple stay at their B & B.- The government faces stiff opposition in its move to place copies of the King James Bible in all State Schools

- And the list goes on...According to Cardinal Cormac Murphy O’Connor, a respected Christian leader in the UK, there is a rising and dangerous intolerance from atheists and secularists. He says – “No one is forced to be a Christian. But no one should be forced to live according to the new secular religion as if it alone were definitive and obligatory for all human kind...in the name of tolerance, it seems to me tolerance is being abolished.” The secularists are busy promoting the idea that Christianity is dangerous for our health. Culled from: Telegraph.co.uk) What practical steps do you think the Church can take to stem this tide? Send your answers to info@jesushouseaberdeen.org

“Even if it's a little thing, do something for those who have need of help, something for which you get no pay but the privilege of doing it.”

—Albert Schweitzer