will be in attendance as we, along with 2 South Korean brothers, deliver 9 talks that pertain to the sufficiency of Scripture in all things. They do not receive focused training like this very often at all. The thought of literally hundreds of souls being influenced by what we teach is a heavy burden for our team to bear. We covet your prayers and if you would consider fasting for us, it would be very much appreciated.

I realize this is a small nutshell. The truth is that we do not know what we are getting into! Peter was not thinking about the laws of physics when he stepped off of the boat because he was focused on Christ. So we must be.

Our itinerary is available for you to view on the bulletin board, as well as on the big map in the Family Life Center. We will have internet access at the three stations. Video footage will be captured and still shots and journal entries will be made. We will do all we can to stay connected with our church family while we are gone through email.

Though the entire church obviously cannot physical go, the entire church can participate in this trip. Though a few go down into the well, it takes a family to hold the rope for them. What a privilege it is to be a part of John 3:16 as our church takes the gospel to the ends of the earth!  

According to statistics, over 1 billion people around the world do not have enough to eat.  1 in 6 people in America go to bed hungry. How many of those people live in Vienna?  Too many!

How can you help?

Each year, Rice Bowl Banks are distributed to Fellowship Baptist families as part of the Southern Baptist World Hunger emphasis.  For about four weeks, families collect loose change in these rice bowls…you know, the change that collects on dressers, on end-tables, under sofa cushions, and between the seats in the car. (Would you believe that each filled rice bowl holds about $12.) At the end of the collection period, the rice bowls are brought back to the church and the money goes toward costs associated with the Thanksgiving baskets we provide to hungry families in our local area.

Rice Bowls will be available on Sunday, October 16 and they will be collected on Sunday, November 6.

For more information regarding the Southern Baptist Convention's World Hunger Fund, please visit their official site.

By Pastor Russ Kreuter

Did you know that the population of the United States comprises just 4% of the world’s total population? We live in a big world that is filled with a variety of cultures and colors. We are not alone. Not even close.

Because the world is so big and filled with so many people groups and cultures, why are we going to India and not Spain? Let’s answer the “Why” question first.

According to Operation World, India has a total population of 1,214,464,312—roughly 1.2 billion souls. The total population of the world is, according to Google research, 6.76 billion. Simple math tells us that the people of India comprise nearly 18% of the world, second only to China. Within the 1.2 billion people, there exists 2,533 people groups and 573 official tribes. Over 74% of the population is Hindu. It is roughly 2.2% Evangelical, but this may include some who teach things that would raise the eyebrows of most in our area. It is probably safe to say that sound, Bible-believing Christians comprise about .5-1% of India’s total population. Speaking conservatively, 98% of India is hell-bound.

We go because we believe John 3:16. Brothers and sisters, the United States comprises just 4% of God’s heart. 96% of the heart of God is out there! Though breaking down criteria for defining a people group is debatable, it is safe to say that India has more unreached people groups than any other country in the world.

Though these are good reasons to go to India, there are also good reasons to go to other places. Why India for us? The primary influence, along with Scripture, that directed us to India was a pastor named Obed. A few months ago, many of you were blessed to hear this brother preach. He spent one month in Simpson. God saw fit to transport a like-minded man of God from India, who oversees 21 churches and over 100 children, to Johnson County, IL. We do not believe in coincidences. Upon spending a good amount of time with him, we gathered enough confidence to take a “vision trip” to further examine the man and his ministry up-close.

Next question: What will we do there?

The primary purpose for going to India is to gain vision and understanding. We want to spend time with Obed in his culture. We want to see things in person that we have only been told about. Obed has been gracious enough to open his ministry up for us to see it. We will travel to all three of his ministry stations, lead worship services, see his income-generating projects, visit the children and staff, eat Indian food, and experience Indian travel by train and vehicle. We also hope to witness authentic Indian worship.      

Another purpose of our mission is to train indigenous pastors. About 21 pastors from 21 churches  --->