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Pastor Rob Patterson  653 A Street  Galt, California  95632   209.745-4665




The Galt Herald
                                                                    Wednesday, March 2, 2005

The Gathering

Nine Galt churches together on a quest for healing
                                  
By Teresa Pearson

Staff Writer 
                                                                                                                                                                           

   
   On Sunday, March 6 at 10 a.m., nine churches will join in faith to fight against HIV/AIDS in Lesotho, Africa with a journey that began in Lesotho at the first of the year and that begins in Galt with an all community assembly in the Galt High School Auditorium. Come join the beginning of an international outreach effort like no other.

 

     Inspired by what Horizon Community Church Pastor Tim Stevenson said was a call from God, seven local pastors traveled to Lesotho, Africa on Jan. 30 to see what they could do to help those in need in the AIDS torn African community.

   Galt Pastors Frank Mack and Rick Keiser II from Family Life Christian Church, Rob Patterson from First Baptist Church, and Mary Sanders from Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church joined Horizon Youth Pastor Kevin Brown, Elder Randy Holtz and Stevenson on the three week excursion to Africa.

   Each will share of their experience in Lesotho and their vision for Galt's assistance from so far away. Members of each church will gather together on Sunday to learn of how a single community in America can become the salvation of hundreds of children in a community plagued with disease and further burdened by a lack of education, drought and an absence of material resources.

 

   “This is about the churches of Galt coming together as one voice to make an impact in the life of not only a child but in a community,” said Stevenson. “We saw how 80 percent of the world lives, in poverty with no electricity and no running water. It is a simple place. The people have never had those things, but now it is being devastated by a drought that impacts their agriculture and therefore nutrition but also by a disease that is now affecting children and whole communities.”

   To have a united Christian voice, nine churches, including five Galt churches who could not send a representative to Africa, are now on the quest to help those who need it the most, the poverty stricken and the sick.

    River of Life Celebration Center, Galt First United Methodist Church, New Hope Assembly, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Horizon Community Church, First Baptist Church of Galt, Family Life Christian Church and Iglesia Rosa De Sharon Assembly of God are committed to this unique ecumenical effort at world outreach.

 

   “What started this whole thing was trying to find a way to bring unity to our town,” said Stevenson. “It has to start with the churches first. We have to gather the churches together as one voice and see what happens.”

 

   World Vision Vice President Steve Haas will be speaking about the mission of World Vision around the world and their plan in working with communities around the world to provide education on HIV and AIDS.

   “In Lesotho, 30 percent of the population is affected with the virus,” said Rick Keiser II. “Our desire is to sponsor 900 kids in our area of development project.”

   The assembly will also help the community learn more about sponsoring children for $30 with a three-year commitment.

   The sponsor will be able to write to the child and get updates from World Vision each year with pictures and to help with the most important of needs, water, latrines, food storage and educational programs.

   The event will also be selling “I Will” wristbands with the proceeds going to the project in Lesotho.

   “Poverty in Lesotho is so different than how we imagine,” said Pastor Frank Mack. “It’s so much worse.”

   In addition to a presentation and message, there will also be a performance of the Joint Worship Band for fellowship and a musical presentation by an ecumenical combined choir.

 

“I have been having a dream and in the dream I am waiting in a room to do something and I am frustrated because I am not able to do anything,” said Stevenson. “But I am getting ready and I think it’s all leading up to March 6th.”



return to: pastorob at  www.fbcgalt.org/rob’sblog.htm
Pastor Rob Patterson  653 A Street  Galt, California  95632   209.745-4665