Strength to Strength welcomed Steven* and Elijah* to discuss the impact of the present Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

UPDATE: Sadly, Elijah* was unable to join due to the tragic news that several of his close relatives were killed by an Israeli bombing in Gaza that occurred next to a church where they and hundreds of other Christians were staying. We hope to have Elijah* join us at a later time.

Steven* is an Anabaptist brother working in Jerusalem; he joins us to help understand what life has been like there the last two weeks, and how Christians should think and respond to challenging conflicts such as this one.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

* “Steven” and Elijah* are fictitious names being used for security purposes in this talk. Thank you for your understanding.

Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Dorcas Showalter to share on intentional growth, specifically through the ways of reflection with prayer and journaling.

Often amidst the difficulties in this broken world, we can feel stuck between what is our reality and what we wish our lives would be like. Through many of these times in her own life, Dorcas learned that reflecting deeply on certain intentional questions alongside prayer and journaling, she was able to continually move forward in growth.

Join us in this space to be inspired that growth is possible in any circumstance and how you can also incorporate the trio of reflection, prayer, and journaling as an aid in your journey.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Resource: Days of Month Verse Prayers

Strength to Strength welcomed Glenn Martin to explore a little-known Messianic prophesy.

What does the final plague of Egypt have in common with the Incarnation? What does the Wisdom of Solomon offer to bring together these two accounts? And what classic Christmas hymn do we sing that foretells the birth of the Messiah by invoking the death angel’s arrival at the Passover?

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed John D. Martin to discuss what sacrificialism in finances looks like.

Join us for a heart-searching message on possessions. This message is intended to encourage Christians everywhere to spend more on helping the needy. The kingdom calls for it. In this Talk, John D. Martin will challenge this generation to be the most sacrificial generation.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Dawn Nolt to share on how to connect with others and help encourage rest for their souls.

Living in a world driven by technology, and in a culture devoted to family, productivity and ministry, many of us find ourselves busy and exhausted. Regularly quieting our hearts and replenishing our souls has become an elusive dream rather than reality.

Join us in this space to explore the possibility of living in a place of rest and belovedness of the Father, which empowers us to minister to those around us out of fullness rather than scarcity.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed Bill Shiley to discuss what church life should and can be, and how to get there.

Often, when we think about culture, our discussions center around dress, vehicles, technology, etc. The problem is that Jesus and the apostles don’t really spell out a lot of details on many of the specifics we deliberate over. But what DO Jesus and his apostles teach us about culture and how to create change in people? Is there a third way besides love and hope things get better, or lay down the law and drive people away?

While I don’t have the answer to it all, I will be sharing some culture foundations Jesus teaches that are often ignored in efforts to create culture causing us to be unsuccessful, as well as some lessons we have been learning as a brotherhood at Chambersburg Christian Fellowship that have helped us build unity in our diversity and accomplish intrinsic change as individuals and as a group.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Lynelle Martin to share how we can “cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days,” and how this can relate to our finances.

Let’s look at some resources that God has entrusted us with and also at why He has done this. How should we use them? What should we spend our time, and money on? What about the Old Testament concept of tithing?

Do we look at money as a necessary evil that we need to have to live, or is it a tool that is to be used in advancing the kingdom of God? What are some ways to use our resources with eternity in focus? What is our place as sisters and what role do we fill with finances? How does our vision and values affect what we spend money on? Join us as we explore this subject together.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed Stephen Russell to discuss radical peacemaking.

The early church and the first Anabaptists heard not only that God loves us and wants to save us, but they also heard, more clearly than many other Christians, that turning to Jesus has definite and clear implications, namely, that God’s people are to cooperate with Him so that His grace will change us on the inside, thus enabling us more fully and effectively to be His ambassadors to a lost, hurting world.

Today we will look at the biblical, historical, and theological foundations of nonresistance and perhaps consider some practical ideas for living as peacemakers (the literal word used in the Sermon on the Mount) in a very violent, hate-wracked world.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Strength to Strength welcomed Anan Twijjukye to share his testimony of coming to Jesus.

Anan lived a very chaotic life as young teenager, trapped in addictions, particularly pornography, which is a habit he caught when he was still a dancer and entertainer in clubs. Having grown up in nominal Christian family, he considered himself a Christian, and went to church. But his life took a turn when a Christian challenged his walk and introduced the Scriptures.

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.

Resource: Antioch Resource Center

Strength to Strength Sisters welcomed Irene Bontrager to share helpful tools to strengthen your Bible study.

This talk begins by discussing how intentional Bible study can reflect God’s love to those around us. The Bible is the story how God made a covenant with Abraham to bless His people. The overarching theme is about God’s creation, fall, redemption, and restoration. This theme is found throughout the Bible and is still true today.

A book from the Old Testament will be used to learn how to study a book and what to do with difficult passages and stories. The study will conclude with ways to become good stewards of God’s Word by studying about who God is. He is the “I AM.”

An interactive question-and-answer period follows.