Our daughter, Lana, is in a Bible Study Group at Harvest Christian
Fellowship and they are studying the book of Nehemiah.
That brought
back a beautiful deja vu memory of our Fil-Am Church of Irvine (FACI) Home
Bible Studies - and especially of a young toddler, Chantelle, who was
always at our home Bible studies. Of course she brought her mom, Nimfa,
and younger sister, Gabrielle.
When Chantelle was a senior in high school, or maybe just entering
Biola, she gave the recitation of Nehemiah 6 in church - and her mom,
Nimfa, shared it with us.
In 2014 I was so inspired by her recitation
that I have shared the video a number of times over the years. And
because Lana's Bible study group is in Nehemiah, I am inspired to share
it again. Maybe Lana can share it with friends in her study group.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
NEHEMIAH 6 RECITATION BY CHANTELLE GIBBS - AMAZING!
Thu, 17 Jul 2014 16:17:42 -0700
Bill Gray <billdory@pacbell.net>
Back in the 1990s, our church, the Filipino-American Church of Irvine (FACI), had what I still view as the perfect Home Bible Studies. I call them Family Bible Studies, for no one was excluded.
In our Friday Night Home Bible Studies, we often had as many as 30, 40, or more people there to study God's Word. And we had all ages, from toddler, to youth, to young adult, to mom and dad, grandma and grandpa - and all in between.
The kiddies sat on the floor in the middle of the room, we adults sat on sofas
and chairs - and Pastor Sam Lacanienta taught us. Being a kid at heart,
sometimes I also sat on the floor. I will admit that Pastor Sam
has always been very adept at keeping the young ones interested,
while not boring we who were a wee bit older.
I have heard folks complaining that having children in the Bible studies with adults is distracting. Not so, when they are included.
So, what did we have? We had youth hearing the Word of God, hearing our discussions, and most often able to be included in the discussions. True, the toddlers cannot do that, but what they do see is mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and all their friends sharing love, the love of God, and Christian love for one another. That image will always stay in their minds.
And as they grow older, they, too, can join in when we read and discuss God's Word. In a Family Home Bible Study of God's Word, nothing is wasted - not the love, not the lessons, not the memories.
In that large Bible study group we had in the 1990s, I was blessed to watch the young people grow in knowledge of God's Word. And I have been blessed to see them put that knowledge into action.
At least four of our young men from those studies have become Godly pastors leading local fellowships. All four married young ladies from our Family Bible Study groups - and are raising their own children up to be Godly children. That is truly paying it forward.
Over the years, I have had the joy of watching all those young children who were in our FACI Bible study group in the 1990s go on to lead positive Christian lives, virtually all of them in some way involved in ministry - from mission trips, to becoming missionaries, to being active in local Christian fellowships, to being pastors and pastors' wives, and so much more.
I have even had the joy of seeing my own granddaughter, Elyssa, who is now a junior at a wonderful Christian college in Santa Barbara, going on several mission trips.
As are told in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he (she) should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."
My reason for writing this blog is my memories of a young child, Chantelle, who was in 1990s Family Bible Studies - who is today a perfect example of what I have written. One of the families in those studies was my Christian sister, Nimfa Veneracion, and her two young daughters, Chantelle (left) and Gabrielle (right).
The photo below is how they looked during those 1990s Bible studies. Several years ago, Nimfa posted a video of Chantelle doing a recitation at church. At that time, Chantelle was still in high school or maybe just entering Biola University. But, that video totally blew my mind.
In this video, Chantelle is reciting, not reading, but reciting the full chapter of Nehemiah 6. And, she does it so well that we get the feeling that Nehemiah is actually telling the story himself. This is an amazing performance and I pray that you enjoy it as much as I always have - every times I have watched it.
My Friends, this family is a perfect example of paying it forward. And, that is what Jesus Christ has instructed all Christian believers to do in His Great Commission:
My Friends, there can be no greater example of that Great Commission - than seeing Chantelle Gibbs reciting Scripture is such an exciting and inspiring way.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
I have heard folks complaining that having children in the Bible studies with adults is distracting. Not so, when they are included.
So, what did we have? We had youth hearing the Word of God, hearing our discussions, and most often able to be included in the discussions. True, the toddlers cannot do that, but what they do see is mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, and all their friends sharing love, the love of God, and Christian love for one another. That image will always stay in their minds.
And as they grow older, they, too, can join in when we read and discuss God's Word. In a Family Home Bible Study of God's Word, nothing is wasted - not the love, not the lessons, not the memories.
In that large Bible study group we had in the 1990s, I was blessed to watch the young people grow in knowledge of God's Word. And I have been blessed to see them put that knowledge into action.
At least four of our young men from those studies have become Godly pastors leading local fellowships. All four married young ladies from our Family Bible Study groups - and are raising their own children up to be Godly children. That is truly paying it forward.
Over the years, I have had the joy of watching all those young children who were in our FACI Bible study group in the 1990s go on to lead positive Christian lives, virtually all of them in some way involved in ministry - from mission trips, to becoming missionaries, to being active in local Christian fellowships, to being pastors and pastors' wives, and so much more.
I have even had the joy of seeing my own granddaughter, Elyssa, who is now a junior at a wonderful Christian college in Santa Barbara, going on several mission trips.
As are told in Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he (she) should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it."
My reason for writing this blog is my memories of a young child, Chantelle, who was in 1990s Family Bible Studies - who is today a perfect example of what I have written. One of the families in those studies was my Christian sister, Nimfa Veneracion, and her two young daughters, Chantelle (left) and Gabrielle (right).
The photo below is how they looked during those 1990s Bible studies. Several years ago, Nimfa posted a video of Chantelle doing a recitation at church. At that time, Chantelle was still in high school or maybe just entering Biola University. But, that video totally blew my mind.
In this video, Chantelle is reciting, not reading, but reciting the full chapter of Nehemiah 6. And, she does it so well that we get the feeling that Nehemiah is actually telling the story himself. This is an amazing performance and I pray that you enjoy it as much as I always have - every times I have watched it.
Nehemiah 6 @ Celebration - Chantelle Gibbs Recitation
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcFt_iXtqq4
My Friends, this family is a perfect example of paying it forward. And, that is what Jesus Christ has instructed all Christian believers to do in His Great Commission:
Matthew 28:19, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you. . .
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. . . Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation."
My Friends, there can be no greater example of that Great Commission - than seeing Chantelle Gibbs reciting Scripture is such an exciting and inspiring way.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill
Click on the image to enlarge:
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