Discover Tomoka takes place at 12:30 p.m. this Sunday, August 17. This monthly event is for you, your friends or your neighbors who may be interested in finding out more about Tomoka Christian Church. Free childcare and pizza!

Next Wednesday, TCC's main midweek gatherings rev back up with a message from Teaching Pastor Mike Waers in the Worship Center. Don't miss it! All children's activities also resume in the Family Life Center (gym). WOW Choir for grades 1-5 and Wee Choir for preschool through kindergarten both meet for pizza and rehearsal beginning 5:15 p.m. WOW Choir meets in The Point and Wee Choir meets in Room 9 of the Family Life Center.

Middle and high school update: Weekend element and midweek Awakening are back! Attend element at 6:30 p.m. Saturdays or 9:30 or 11 a.m. Sundays. Awakening midweek is back on this week with "That 70s Night!” More student ministries news is below.

The Brazil Mission team invites you to a fish fry on Sunday, Aug. 24, outside The Point. Enjoy a take-out meal of fried fish, baked beans, cole slaw and hush puppies after the 9:30 and 11 a.m. services. Cost is $7 per meal or two for $12.

For Such A Time As This, a women’s cancer support group, will meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 30, in Room 104 of the Café. For more information, please contact Linda Kennedy in the church office.

A new Life Group for young adults (18-25) soon will begin meeting Thursday evenings at Crispers, next door to Tomoka Christian. Interested? Contact Luke Putting for details via e-mail or at (386) 214-7313.

Tomoka Christian will offer two new sessions of discipleship training. Disciple 1 and Disciple 3 (open to anyone who has completed Disciple 1) both begin Tuesday, Aug. 26, and continue each Tuesday from 7-9 p.m. at Tomoka. Contact Dana via e-mail or telephone her at (386) 290-2519.

Join your Tomoka friends for Dinner and a Movie. This month's evening of fun for the whole family is this Friday, August 15, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafe. The movie is "Ace of Hearts." Please bring a side dish to complement chicken.

A blood drive takes place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 31, at Tomoka Christian. Those donating will receive a $10 gas gift card and will be entered in a drawing for a motor scooter.

A Beth Moore women’s Bible study will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 13, in Room 103. The 10-week study, “Believing God,” will be led by Luanne Putting. Please RSVP so the proper number of books may be ordered.

Moms in Touch, a gathering of mothers praying for our children and our schools, resumes Thursday, Aug. 21, in the TCC prayer room. Child care will be provided during the weekly prayer sessions, which take place from 9 to 10 a.m. Contact Linda Kennedy with questions.

Two sessions of a 13-week Bible study, led by Linda Kennedy, will begin on Thursday, Aug. 21. The study, "Free from Bondage God's Way" will focus on Galatians and Ephesians. The 10 a.m. session is for women, while the 6:30 p.m. session is for men and women. Child care will be provided. Cost of book is $5. Register with Linda or sign up on your Connection Card this weekend.

Are you an adoptive parent, or are you considering adoption? Bringing Children Home, Tomoka's ministry that assists with adoptions, plans an inaugural Adoption Awareness Luncheon from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 14, in the Holy Ground Cafe. Share adoption stories, ask questions, learn how to overcome financial barriers and more. Families welcome. The cost is $20 per family, which includes lunch and materials. Child care provided after lunch. Limited seating! Reserve your tickets by calling the office today or e-mailing Luanne.

Plan now to attend Discover The Basics, a four-week class designed to follow Discover Tomoka. It's for those new to TCC or those desiring to learn the basic fundamentals of the Christian faith and how to grow in their walk with Christ. The next four-week class begins at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 7, in the office conference room/porch.

The Tomoka Legacy Team, a new ministry of professionals from the Tomoka Christian family available to assist the congregation with estate planning, will stage an informational brunch at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4, in the Cafe. Those wishing to reserve a seat are asked to telephone the church office or send an e-mail.

Below is a letter from Cam, pictured at left with his wife. Cam is a missionary in Southeast Asia who Tomoka Christian supports through Voice of the Martyrs.

Dear Tomoka Christian Church Family,
I am 50 years old. My wife and I have six children; the oldest is serving God, two children are in high school, and one is in junior high school. The youngest is not in school yet. Every week I teach basic doctrine and I expand the work of God. I am in charge of two districts and the distance that I travel is 50 km. I shepherd five churches and two cell groups. I take care of about 200 people. Please pray for me. I am trying to breed some livestock to support my family better as I am serving the Lord. May the Lord bless you. Halleluiah!

On another note, Stan & Carol Ponz, our missionaries in Hawaii, recently wrote:

"There are idols in our culture but the true God has the power to deliver us from bondage to them. We must stand boldly against prevailing cultural beliefs, no matter how popular or politically correct they are, when they exalt other gods and enslave people in superstition and fear. We must walk by faith and courage and be willing to defy false gods and goddesses so others may see that no god can stand before the Lord, who alone is God." 

We are thankful for the steadfast, unmovable faith of the Ponzes and of Cam and his wife. Please continue to lift them up in prayer.

The month of August is focused on getting Bibles and other spiritual materials into the nations we are praying for. This week please pray for Cuba, Brunei, India, Algeria, Nigeria (North), Ojibouti, Turkey, Kuwait, and Sri Lanka. 

For information about Tomoka's missions or missionaries, e-mail or telephone Missions Director Pat Bolles at (386) 677-3636.