Berea Update for October 3, 2025
This Sunday we launch our annual Missions Month here at Berea. Each week during October, we will welcome a special guest who has dedicated their life to proclaiming the Good News—whether across the street or across the ocean. Their stories will hopefully remind us that the Gospel is not bound by geography or culture, but is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes. Missions is not reserved for the “special few.” Every believer is called to take part in God’s mission. Some go, some send, some pray, but all of us participate. Missions is not an optional program of the church—it is the heartbeat of God Himself. So, each week, reflect on how God is calling you to be on mission for Him, wherever He has planted you. This week’s devotional, below helps to reflect on our role in His global plan, to pray for those on the frontlines, and to step out in obedience where He has placed us.
Please also read on to find out more about upcoming events!
Upcoming Events
1. Please plan to join us on Sunday morning as we worship together! As I mentioned above, we'll be kicking off Missions Month by hearing from Dr. Paul Barreca. He'll be preaching a message called, "The World is Perishing--What Shall We Do?" from 2 Corinthians 4:3-6. Dr. Barreca is the Executive Director of Fellowship International Mission. The agency focuses on building up spiritually mature, reproducing disciples of Jesus among the nations. Paul graduated from Word of Life Bible Institute, Lancaster Bible College, Michigan Theological Seminary, and Clarks Summit University, where he earned a Doctor of Ministry degree. Paul served as a pastor in Pennsylvania, Michigan, and New Jersey. His international teaching ministry focuses on pastoral training and Bible exposition. Paul met his wife, Kim, at Word of Life, and they were married in 1982. They have three children and eight grandchildren and live in East Stroudsburg, PA.
2. This Sunday, as a part of the morning worship service, we'll be partaking of the Lord's Supper together as a church family.
3. During Missions Month, Youth Group and adult Sunday School classes will combine together in the Family Life Center during the Sunday School hour to hear more from our guests. The Sunday School hour allows for more interaction with our guests, so I would invite you to come to hear more details about the unique ministries they serve in! Sunday School begins at 9:00 AM. Kids' Sunday School classes will meet as normal.
4.
Most small groups are launching this upcoming week! Throughout the fall, each group will be going through a Bible study called "Beware of the Religious Imposters" using 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. Small groups is more than Bible study though! Come build relationships as you share life together as a group! There is time of prayer, encouragement, and support while groups fellowship together. To see meeting times and locations, and to register, please visit this site:
Fall 2025 Small Group Registration
5.
Later today, starting at 5:00 PM, we'll be out at Locust Hills Golf Course to enjoy an evening of food, fun, and fellowship together! There will be a four-hole golf scramble, a putting challenge, and if you're not a golfer, many other games for everyone to play! There will also be a dessert auction to benefit Operation Christmas Child, as we seek to collect the remain money needed for shipping the boxes. If you'd like to come, but haven't registered yet, you have until noon today to do so! Visit this site for more information and to register:
Family Fun Night Information and Registration
6. Interested in joining Berea in formal membership? There will be a New Member class on Saturday, October 18 from 1:00-4:00 PM here at the church. If you are interested, please let one of the pastors know.
7. There are a couple of Operation Christmas Child work days coming up! On Tuesday, October 14 at 10:00 AM, there will be a work project to complete here at the church. Then, on Tuesday, October 28 at 10:00 AM, there will be a work day devoted to folding the shoeboxes in preparation of the OCC Packing Party in November.
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Pray for our church, that we might have unity, as we continue to work through staff transitions and building needs! Pray for wisdom for our church's leadership, and that the Lord might be glorified! Ask the Lord to provide the right candidates for our open positions!
2. Pray for missionaries that are serving the Lord, both in the United States and around the world. Pray for their protection, and that the seeds that they plant might grow God's kingdom!
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1: God’s Heart for the Nations
Genesis 12:2–3 (ESV) – “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
From the very beginning, God’s plan was global. His covenant with Abraham promised blessing not just for Israel, but for all nations. Missions is not a new idea—it’s the unfolding of God’s eternal purpose.
Reflection Question: How does remembering God’s global plan shape the way you pray and live?
Prayer Focus: Ask God to give you His heart for the nations and to align your desires with His mission.
Day 2: Christ’s Great Commission
Matthew 28:19–20 (ESV) – “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Jesus’ final command was not for comfort, but for commission. The Great Commission was not given to a select few but to the whole church. Missions is not complete until disciples are made in every nation.
Reflection Question: What role are you playing in the Great Commission today?
Prayer Focus: Pray for courage to step into your role—whether in going, giving, or praying.
Day 3: The Power of the Gospel
Romans 1:16 (ESV) – “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”
A missionary’s message is not cultural improvement or moral advice—it is the Gospel, God’s power to save. The same message that changed you is what changes the world.
Reflection Question: Who in your life still needs to hear the Gospel, and how might God use you?
Prayer Focus: Thank God for the power of the Gospel, and ask Him for boldness to share it.
Day 4: Strength in Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV) – “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Missionaries often face loneliness, culture shock, and spiritual warfare. Yet God’s grace is sufficient. The same is true for us when we feel weak in sharing our faith. Our insufficiency is the stage for His power.
Reflection Question: Where do you feel inadequate in serving God, and how can you lean on His grace?
Prayer Focus: Pray for missionaries to be strengthened in weakness, and for God’s grace in your own service.
Day 5: Partners in the Gospel
Philippians 1:3–5 (ESV) – “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.”
Paul reminded the Philippians that their prayers and financial gifts made them true partners in his mission. You don’t have to cross an ocean to have a global impact—you can be a partner from right where you are.
Reflection Question: How can you partner more intentionally with those carrying the Gospel?
Prayer Focus: Pray for Berea’s missionaries, and ask God how He wants you to support them.
Day 6: Suffering for the Sake of Christ
Matthew 16:24 (ESV) – “Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”
Missions often requires sacrifice—comfort, safety, even life itself. Yet every sacrifice is worth it when weighed against eternity. The cross precedes the crown.
Reflection Question: What is one sacrifice God may be calling you to make for the sake of His mission?
Prayer Focus: Pray for persecuted believers and missionaries in hard places, asking God to give them endurance and joy.
Day 7: The Glory of the Nations
Revelation 7:9–10 (ESV) – “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’”
This is where missions is headed—a redeemed family from every people group worshiping Jesus. Missions will one day be complete, but worship will last forever.
Reflection Question: How does this vision of eternity encourage you to stay faithful today?
Prayer Focus: Pray for the day when all nations will worship Christ, and commit to being part of His work until He comes.
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
For Missions Month, here is an activity packet from Ethnos 360's "Mission Minded Kids" program. On the activity pages, you'll find a website where you can visit to have your kids learn more about what it means to be a missionary!
Ethnos 360 Mission Minded Kids Activity Pages
Hope to see you all on Sunday!
Yearning for His Appearing!
Mark