FCC Engaged Quarterly Missions Newsletter

The goal of FCC Engaged is community transformation—both ours (FCC)
and theirs (our community and our world). We also want to provide the people of FCC
with meaningful opportunities to live out their faith in our community and our world.

A Word from Pastor Matt Shoemaker

How Beautiful Are The Feet
Romans 10:13-15

       “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in Him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
       As Pastor Jim is preaching through the book of Romans, this passage stood out to me as central to the ministry of FCC Engaged. Indeed, this passage is central to First Christian Church as a whole! One of the primary responsibilities of the Church is to preach the Gospel and wins souls for Jesus. Yet frequently it is believed by individual churchgoers that this Scriptural mandate is given only to Pastors, Missionaries, or Ministry Leaders. This could not be further from the truth. Paul’s words here, in fact, are a call to all Christians to make the Gospel known throughout the Earth.
       Let us look briefly at two aspects of this passage to better understand how it applies to all believers. First, notice the word “they.” There are in fact two groups encompassed in this word. The first is seen in passages such as this: “How are THEY to believe in Him of whom they have never heard?” This group of people is seen today as “anyone who has not received salvation in Jesus.” How will these people receive Jesus if they don’t know Him? The solution to this problem is the second “they,” seen here: “How are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are THEY to preach unless they are sent?” This “someone” is called by God to preach the gospel to the lost of this world. The second “they” are anyone whom Jesus calls to preach the gospel. It is therefore possible for any believer to be called by Jesus to preach to the lost.
       The second aspect of the passage that is of importance today is the final quotation – “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” Paul is quoting Isaiah 52:7. The full passage reads, “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings good news of happiness, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, ‘Your God reigns.’” This “good news” is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It is interesting that the biblical authors here highlight the “feet” of the bringer of good news, as feet are not normally seen as beautiful. In the ancient near east, where the normal footwear was sandals, feet were seen as something to be avoided (thus the shock by the disciples when Jesus washed their feet in John 13!). But here, we have a different picture. A commentator put it this way: “[Their feet] might be dirty and smelly after a long, hot journey, but to those who eagerly awaited good news they were beautiful.” There is a lost world out there waiting to hear the good news and are just waiting for some “beautiful feet” to bring it to them!
       The question posed today is this: Are you called by Jesus to be the beautiful feet of the Gospel to someone today? This passage does not just speak to Pastors, Missionaries, and Ministry Leaders. This passage applies to ALL believers. Jesus may be calling you today to bring the Gospel to someone in your life, and to be the “beautiful feet” that leads them into eternal salvation. Be aware today of that call on your life. We possess a message of good news, peace, and salvation that the world desperately needs today. Will you answer that call, wherever God has placed you?

Pastor Matt

Short-term Missions in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Kathie Kelly and Julianne Abbott Returning to Malaysia
Julianne Abbott and Kathie Kelly spent most of last year in Kalua Lumpur, Malaysia. Following is a very brief report from Kathie on their time there and their plans to return this new school year in September.

       We went to Malaysia to help at Rocklin Learning Center and share the good news of Jesus Christ in a school setting. Julianne taught Jr High and High school students, and I taught 3^rd grade. During our time there we were able to share the love of Jesus Christ every day. Rocklin is an incredibly unique place. It had students from 23 different countries, two-thirds of whom were refugees.
       Our experience was so amazing that we decided to go back for the next semester. I stayed in Kuala Lumpur to finish the school year, and Julianne went to another Rocklin Learning Center in Kota Kinabula, located in the eastern part of Malaysia in Sabah. She went there to teach ESL and do outreach in the village outside the city, with Muslim Filipinos.
       Due to COVID-19, we came back in March. Julianne was on the last flight to leave Kota Kinabula. Praise the Lord. Our prayer in all of this would be that you and your family stay well. As we go through all of this we pray that we will see many people awaken to their need of a Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ.
       The Lord is calling us both back to Rocklin Learning Center in Kota Kinabula. We will be teaching ESL

and helping in other classes at the school. We will be doing outreach with unreached people of Sabah, Malaysia. Rocklin in Kota Kinabula doubled in size last year and is expecting to grow in 2020-2021. Rocklin in Kuala Lumpur is becoming an International School, and they are looking for High School and Elementary teachers. Check out www.rocklin-global.org for more information. To the right is a picture of Julianne and me working with some of the kids in Kota Kinabula.
Thank you for your love, prayers, and generous missionary support. You have helped us bring the Good News to those who have not heard the Gospel message. Kathie and Julianne have been working to raise the funds necessary to go on this trip. FCC Engaged is supporting them financially. In order to complete their needs, they are planning a yard sale on August 8 at Kathie’s house from 8am-2pm. Her address in Santa Maria is 425 Tupelo Court. You can be engaged in their support by donating items to this effort. Call Kathie at 805-260-2516 to find out when you can drop off your items.

The Good Samaritan Shelter

FCC has continued providing a meal to the Good Samaritan Shelter during this pandemic that we have all been facing. Over the years we have provided a meal on the 29^th of each month, and we decided that we wanted to continue supporting these people in our community, taking the necessary precautions to protect our people who are serving, and to protect the people living at the shelter. Since FCC hasn’t been meeting on Sunday mornings until just recently, we have been promoting this service opportunity on Facebook, and asking people to donate some of the non-perishable food items. People have been very generous, and this has worked well. We provide the perishable items through our mission’s budget, and together we have all that we need. Our teams have been preparing the meal at FCC’s kitchen, and then we just drop off the meal at the shelter and let the staff at the shelter serve the meal. The staff and the people at the shelter are very grateful that we are continuing to do this, and we plan on continuing in the future until we can actually serve the meal and interact with the people, once we feel it is safe. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in this ministry.