March 2021 Celebration & Praise Report

Thank God for what HE accomplished in and through the people of Grace Church in March 2021...

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”  Another month and more blessings to thank the Lord for!  Truly HE is good!

March 2021 was a VERY, VERY BUSY month and certainly one for the books!  There was so much happening, so much excitement and so many new people coming to our services. It is so good to see people returning to church and the church once again reaching out to our community!

REFUEL CONFERENCE seems like so long ago, but on Tuesday, March 2, Grace was privileged to be 1 of 6 sites across the country to host the annual REFUEL Conference, sponsored by Thomas Road Baptist Church and Liberty Church Network. Our folks set the bar high as they joyfully served and provided warm hospitality for our speakers and guests; which included: Jonathan Falwell, Tom Mullins, Jimmy Scroggins, Nathan Cline and others. We challenged by the sermons, pastors were encouraged by the breakout sessions, and we were all blessed to be led in worship by Charles Billingsley. Praise God for allowing us such a wonderful opportunity! 

A MARCH MIRACLE FOR OUR MISSIONARY to Papua New Guinea, Dawn Stuart, as she is experiencing something that only God could do. In this time of COVID, when people are fearful, careful and some churches still closed; Dawn has already raised over 50% of her necessary, monthly financial support to get to PNG! This is definitely the hand of God and you can read more on her website – dawn2png.com. 

LADIES COFFEE CONNECTION was held at the pavilion on Saturday, March 13. It is good to see our ladies’ ministry regrouping and gathering for fellowship again. They have also been enjoying a Tuesday night Bible study and will be gathering for the LifeWay Women’s Simulcast on Saturday, April 17. All ladies are welcome! 

HCA DAY AT GRACE was a big hit again for 2021. It’s always good when we can showcase the school ministry to our church families. Dr. Lawrence challenged us with a stark reminder that the world wants to influence your kids and Satan wants to destroy your family. He challenged parents to make the spiritual training of their children a top priority.

EGGSTRAVAGANZA was held on Saturday, March 20 and was a great success with hundreds of children and dozens of volunteers present to hear the story of Easter, followed by 3 massive egg hunts on our campus! It was good to host a community event again and we extend a special “thank you” to Miss Method and all of our wonderful volunteers who made this possible. 

HAITIAN REVIVAL was held in-person on March 21-28, with Pastor Jean Marc preaching nightly. There was special music and many people returned to the house of God. We rejoice with Pastor Jean Marc and praise God for what HE is doing in our Creole services. 

EMPLOYEE EGG HUNT was a lot of fun for our employees as we gathered in the Auditorium and hunted for 400 eggs. Some had encouraging notes such as, “You are a valued employee,” others said, “Not a winner. Try again,” and many were filled with gift cards used to bless all of employees.

NEW MEMBERS CLASS was held on March 28 with 3 people completing the class and making the decision to become part of our Grace family. 

MOST DIVERSE Private High Schools in America 2020 award was presented to Highlands Christian Academy, as selected by and published in K12.NICHE.COM. What a tribute to Grace’s & Highlands’ commitment to reach our community, while celebrating our oneness in Christ!

HCA RECRUITMENT of faculty and students for the 2021-2022 school year is much ahead of schedule from last year. 

HCA HOSTED “SERVE DAY,” as our students cleaned-up, beautified, and landscaped our campus. Thank you to Mr. Smith for coordinating the event and for the hard work put-in by our students!

PAYTON CAJA, a Senior this year at Highlands Christian Academy, was selected the Class 5A-2A Broward County Player of the Year for soccer. This is an amazing accomplishment and HCA’s first player ever to receive this award.  Payton was also selected to play in the Florida Atlantic Coaches Association Senior All Star game. Congratulations Payton! 

PALM SUNDAY was special at Grace this year. Because we added a Saturday night Easter service, we did not host a Good Friday service. Instead, we held a “remembrance” service on March 28 that used Scripture, video & music to focus our minds on what Jesus suffered, so that we could be saved. We concluded the service with communion. It was a wonderful service!

BEST NEWS OF ALL --

• There were several salvation decisions in our English, Creole & Spanish services this month.
• There were also several salvation decisions in our HCA Chapel services.
• But listen to this… Kealey Wik shared the story of the Resurrection Eggs with her 2^nd grade class at HCA and as a result, 8 students invited Jesus to be their SavioR.

Thank you for your faithful giving, faithful service & faithful participation! The support of our Grace family is vital to our ability to do the work of the ministry. BUT, most of all, let's continually give thanks to God for HIS blessings on our church & school ministries!

The Trials & Sufferings of Jesus

Today is Good Friday, the day we remember the sufferings of Jesus Christ.  

First, in John 14-17, we find what has come to be known as the "Upper Room Discourse." The final words of Jesus in His final hours teaching and training his disciples.  These lessons include:

• The power of the towel, as He washed their feet
• The one who is greatest is the one who serves
• The importance of relationships, love and unity
• We (branches) can do nothing apart from Jesus (the Vine)
• The coming of the Holy Spirit
• His pending sufferings, death and resurrection

After they finished the Last Supper, it was approx 10pm when they left the house located on the SW side of Jerusalem and went across the Kidron Valley to the Mount of Olives, specifically to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus separated Himself to pray. It was in those hours that Jesus agonized to point of sweating droplets of blood, as He said, "O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as Thou will."

Somewhere around 2am, the soldiers arrived being led by Judas Iscariot. They fell as Jesus spoke the words, "I am He." It is beyond my comprehension "why" they did not leave when they saw the power in this Man.  Jesus eventually surrendered Himself willingly into their custody.

Trial 1 - They took Jesus to Annas the first High Priest appointed by the Romans to deal with religious matters among the Jews. They accused Jesus of blasphemy, but Annas sent Him away.

Trial 2 - They took Jesus to Caiaphas (the current High Priest and son-in-law of Annas) and also before the Sanhedrin. There was no legal basis for Jesus' arrest. The protocols of Jewish law permitting trials only during daylight were ignored; the trial started on the day before an annual Sabbath; the judges themselves brought charges; and no witnesses for the defense were permitted. Luke 22:63 tells us that Jesus was mocked and beaten in the presence of this kangaroo court that could not find Him worthy of death.

Trial/Appearance 3 - They took Jesus to Pilate, but he initially refused to hear the religious matter.

Trial 4 - Pilate sent Jesus to Herod Antipas, who found no fault in Him.

Trial 5 - They took Jesus back to Pilate and changed the charge from blasphemy to treason, forcing the Roman court to hear the case. Luke 23:14-15 tell us that Pilate found no fault in Jesus, neither did Herod, and nothing deserving of death was done by Him. In offering the people a choice, they chose to release the murderer Barabbas, instead of Jesus. 

From there, Matthew 27:27-31 records the action of the Praetorium Guard -  Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. 28 They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. 29 They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. 31 When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

Then came the crucifixion - Luke 23 - As they led Jesus away, a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, happened to be coming in from the countryside. The soldiers seized him and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. 27 A large crowd trailed behind, including many grief-stricken women... 32 Two others, both criminals, were led out to be executed with him. 33 When they came to a place called The Skull, they nailed him to the cross. And the criminals were also crucified—one on his right and one on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. 35 The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. “He saved others,” they said, “let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers mocked him, too, by offering him a drink of sour wine. 37 They called out to him, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38 A sign was fastened above him with these words: “This is the King of the Jews.”... 44 By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 45 The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. 46 Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

Isaiah reminds us "why" Jesus endured the false accusations, beatings and death - 

Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

On this day called "Good Friday," will you take time to remember what Jesus Christ suffered on your behalf?  Will you remember that while salvation costs you nothing, it cost Jesus Christ everything?!  Take time to day to thank God for His love and the sacrifice made so that we could have our sins forgiven and our relationship with Him restored.