At the ACC after-school tutoring program a few weeks ago Pastor David casually mentioned to me that he and Sobeyda were going to be hosting a refugee family from El Salvador. My heart jumped with excitement...what an opportunity for ACC to show the love of God! I also was encouraged by their willingness to share their living space with strangers, knowing they give so much already as a Pastor and Counselor. The next day Carolina and her almost 11 year old son Onandy arrived....
The traditional season of Lent consists of the forty days (excluding Sundays) that lead up to Easter. Not all Christians celebrate Lent, but for many it is a meaningful time to seek spiritual renewal from the Lord. For an interesting article on a helpful approach to Lent, click here. During each week of Lent this year, we will be posting an excerpt from a classic writing ...
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God is a refuge for all who are in danger. He never ignores the cries of those who are abused. (Ps. 9:9,12). God calls us to protect the weak and vulnerable (Prov. 31:8-9) and to safeguard our churches against any who would seek to hurt his people (Acts 20:28-31). Because of this, Astoria Community Church has contracted the services of a Christian organization calledGRACE...
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"And this is my prayer: that your lovemay abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight " (Philippians 1:9) There is a corny, old joke about an elderly bachelor who always bragged to his neighbors about how much he loved children. One day, as he was pouring a new sidewalk in front of his house, a boy from down the block accidentally rode his bicycle through the w...
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Because it was a holiday, the kids were off from school. My 17-year-old stepson had asked to borrow the car to go out with his friends. Like any parent of a recently licensed driver, I was relieved the see the car, dent-free and unscratched, parked in the driveway when I got home. But I was unprepared for what I would find when I walked in the door. Chris, my stepson, and...
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As many as 7 billion copies of the Bible have been printed making it the best-selling book of all time. The full Bible has been translated into more than 700 languages, and the New Testament into over twice as many. In the United States, the average household possesses more than 4 Bibles. What is it about the Bible that makes it so important to so many people? Here are fi...
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