Posted: 15 Jul 2019 03:15 AM PDT

South Canyon Lutheran Church is celebrating its 60th anniversary with a new and vibrant reminder that God is with them.

Paul Oman, an artist from Wisconsin, brought his live-action ministry "Drawn to the Word" to South Canyon Lutheran Church on June 30. While scripture verses were read and music played during the Sunday morning worship service, Oman painted a 7-foot tall, 5-foot wide depiction of Jesus and two disciples on the road to Emmaus. The entire painting was completed in 50 minutes.

"It was a very wonderful experience for people," said Pastor Chris Baesler. "It was a deeply meaningful experience for them to watch a Bible story come to life, to watch that grow in front of their eyes."

Oman lightly sketched the dominant images on the canvas ahead of time; he could see them but the audience could not. Oman placed his canvas on a spindle so he could rotate it and paint on the entire canvas without using a ladder. The canvas started out upside down, which the congregation gradually realized as the images Oman was painting began to take shape.

"There's a moment when I paint … when I flipped the canvas, there's an audible gasp you hear. For me, it tells me (the congregation) realized what it is," Oman said. "Kids tend to have more open minds and see things that are upside down much sooner than adults.

"I almost always find there's skepticism about an artist (in church) until people see and experience the process. Now they have a shared experience. They can talk to people in their church and community and the walls just seem to come down," Oman said.

Before the June 30 service, Oman visited South Canyon Lutheran and adapted his color scheme for the painting to complement the church's palette of warm neutral colors and maroon. The painting will ultimately hang in the church's fellowship area.

Oman's artistic ministry evolved out of his love of painting and his previous careers as a teacher and pastor. Since 2011, Oman has taken his "Drawn to the Word" ministry throughout the United States and into China and Tanzania. Oman visits churches, public and private schools, non-profits, camps including Outlaw Ranch in Custer, seminaries, colleges, and more with his "Drawn to the Word" events. He also teaches painting workshops.

"My real joy comes in painting for people. When they tell me … there's something (in my work) that gives them hope, there's a promise bigger than words can say, that's the biggest reward for what I'm doing," Oman said.

Oman customizes his paintings to specific locations and occasions. For example, Oman's work has been incorporated into school anti-bullying events. He painted the biblical story of the prodigal son, by request, for a men's correctional facility.

South Canyon Lutheran requested its painting's theme, "The Road to Emmaus" specifically to tie into the church's anniversary.

"The painting is a reminder that God has been with us this whole time … and He is present with us as we go forward in new ways," Baesler said.

The "Drawn to the Word" worship service is one of several special activities taking place this year in conjunction with South Canyon Lutheran's anniversary. A recent all-church project was a banner; people painted their feet and walked across the banner. It hung for a couple of months as a visible representation of some of the 2,400 adults and children who are part of South Canyon Lutheran, and who, as Christians, are to be representatives of Christ in the world.

A yearlong endeavor is 6 for 60, which encourages individuals and families to complete six service projects in honor of the church's six decades of ministry.

South Canyon Lutheran is not throwing a big party for its 60th anniversary — which is officially Oct. 4 — but instead is focusing on new directions where God might be leading, Baesler said. Baesler, who previously served from 2006 to 2011 as associate pastor, has been South Canyon's senior pastor since October 2018. Erik Thone became South Canyon's associate pastor on July 1.

Baesler said South Canyon Lutheran is a church that values creativity, and "The Road to Emmaus" will serve as an ongoing inspiration/call to action for every person to make his or her own life a work of art.

"I think of (our congregation) very much as artists creating their life and connecting their faith to where they are. Our lives are works of art and God is present and active in them," Baesler said.

Stanley DeWitt Gaines | Obituaries - SoMdNews.com

Posted: 15 Jul 2019 01:07 PM PDT

Stanley DeWitt Gaines, 80, of Waldorf, Maryland passed away July 15, 2019 at the Charles County Hospice House in the aftermath of a devastating stroke suffered on June 27.

Stanley, born on June 17, 1939 to Alpha Cox and Henry DeWitt Gaines, spent a happy childhood in Memphis, Tennessee, surrounded by his older sisters and brother, enjoying his mother's skillful cooking and working part-time in his father's grocery store.

He met his wife of fifty-eight years, Colleen Caldwell Gaines, while they were both students at Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina; they were married on June 16, 1961. Together, they settled in southern Maryland, raising a family of four children and eventually beginning the ministry that has come to be known as the Southern Maryland Fellowship Church and Christian Academy in White Plains.

With his Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Stanley worked for many years in insurance and real estate and-- due to the needs of the aforementioned four children-- held a night position at the Safeway of District Heights, Maryland. Additionally, he was a long time member of Riverdale Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School to fifth grade boys for a decade.

In his spare time, Stanley enjoyed fishing, hunting, watching classic movies, and in more recent years, spending time in Myrtle Beach.

Since its founding in 1985, Stanley has actively held leadership positions with the Southern Maryland Fellowship Church and Christian Academy, most recently as the organization's President of the Board of Elders. He regularly participated in their weekly Awana program and was active in the Men's Prayer Breakfast gatherings. In fact, many will most remember Stanley Gaines for his unwavering commitment to extended daily prayer-- prayers that included each and every member of his growing family, as well as the many prayer requests sent to him through the church/school.

Stanley is survived by his wife, Colleen Caldwell Gaines, and children, Kathleen (Terry) Davis, Maureen (Randall) Gaines-Ramey, Matthew (Jennifer) Gaines, and Andrew Gaines. His legacy includes grandchildren: Emily (José) Pichardo, Victoria (Patrick) James, Olivia (Matthew) Hardwick, Susan Merkle, Caleb Merkle, Matthew Gaines, Zachary Gaines, Annie Gaines, and a great granddaughter, Kaylee Pichardo. His surviving relatives include his sister, Emily Worthy of Georgia, and a number of beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Stanley's other siblings, Addie Sue Sudduth, Martha Jean Whitington, and Edward Gaines, as well as his parents, all predeceased him.

A private funeral service for immediate family members will be held later this week. Other family, friends, and members of his church family are invited to a Memorial Service in Stanley's honor to be held on Saturday, July 20 at Southern Maryland Fellowship Church, 9805 Faith Baptist Church Rd, White Plains, MD 20695. A receiving line will begin at noon with the service following at 2 p.m. Please call 301-870-2550 for more information.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either the Southern Maryland Fellowship Church (P.O. Box 1668, White Plains, MD 20695) or Hospice of Charles County (2505 Davis Road, Waldorf, MD 20603).

Three words that best characterize the life of this memorable man are faithful, prayerful, and strong.

ANSELL: Be a friendly Christian - Waxahachie Daily Light

Posted: 15 Jul 2019 11:31 AM PDT

There is a story about a church that was maybe not as outgoing and not as friendly as they should be so the pastor announced they would start a "handshake" time the following Sunday. In other words, they would spend a few moments greeting one another in hopes that they would become a happier group of church members.

After the Sunday service where this new welcome time was announced a man turned to the woman behind him and said, "Good morning!" The woman was shocked by his boldness and she told the man, "I beg your pardon! That friendliness stuff doesn't start until next week!"

The church should be full of happy, optimistic, satisfied, grace-filled people. Psalm 112:1 says, "Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments!" The word "blessed" in this text means "happy."

When our youngest son Jack was little he would wake up on Sunday morning and say, "Is it church day?!" This is one of those commands or precepts that the happy Christian will follow. We are told not to give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing (Hebrews 10:25). Fewer and fewer people attend "church day" and it makes me wonder if this is why we see fewer and fewer happy Christians?

Psalm 112 goes onto say in verse 2, "His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed." So not only will the guy that follows Jesus be happy but he will also be honored. He honors God with an obedient life and God honors him, his family is blessed. Sounds like a win-win.

My experience is when I am obedient because of a love relationship with Christ my fellowship with Him is sweeter, the presence and power of the Lord in my life is more vibrant, faithfulness becomes more of a labor of love rather than a chore I have to do. Running to God with intentionality always beats running from God because of willful sin. The Lord never blesses my sin but He always fills my cup when I am abiding with Him. It seems there are no shortcuts to sustainable, viable Biblical happiness.

Some of us grew up singing, "Every day with Jesus is sweeter than the day before." I guess there is truth in that song, or at least there can be.

This Psalm mentions adversity in verses 4, 6 - 8, "Light dawns in darkness for the upright; he is gracious, merciful and righteous. For the righteous will never be moved; He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, …"

It's not that the Christian life is without "darkness." But even in the dark days, the one who trusts the Lord is not only "steady" and "firm" but they remain compassionate towards others, giving to the poor and doing business in honesty. Verse 5 tells us, "It is well with the man … who conducts his affairs with justice." And verse 9 says, "He … distributes freely; … to the poor;" I don't know the man the psalmists writes about, but I like this guy!

Happy, honest, compassionate, undeterred and fearless, not a bad way to start the day. Are you a happy Christian? Go ahead and let that "friendliness" stuff start today. He told me to tell you that.

____

Ken Ansell currently serves as a pastor and local missionary in small, rural Texas community. He plays lots of tennis and fly fishes when he can. He can be reached at kenansell1@gmail.com.

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Real-time painting brings Bible story to life - Rapid City Journal

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