Dear Seattle and Northwest disciples,

July 16-30, the Birmingham church will be hosting our annual UK Summer Internship.  We would love to see some of the young people from the NW family of churches come over and share this experience with us.  The internship experience is a group of international students and local teens from the United Kingdom dedicating two weeks of their summer to the ministry of Jesus.  The program includes Bible classes each morning from Evangelist and Teacher Andy Fleming, living with a host family, serving the needy in the community, learning to share your faith more effectively, team building, and exercising leadership skills.  The cost is approximately $500 (we can help you with fundraising ideas-just email me).  Over the last few years, this injection of spiritually zealous young people from youth corps and summer internships has totally changed our church, beginning with our campus ministry at the University of Birmingham, now up to 20 wonderful members.  If you are interested, apply now by sending a paragraph stating why you’d like to be selected to tammytaxterfleming@yahoo.com.  The application deadline is June 15 and spaces are limited.

As you may know, the UK churches have historically been a fountain of leadership and strength for churches all around the far-flung former British Commonwealth (e.g., India, Singapore, Southeast Asia, and part of Africa).  Current members and leaders of many mission teams in various parts of the world became disciples right here in England.  As the UK continues to re-strengthen and rebuild, I believe with all my heart the UK will continue to play this vital, long-term role in world evangelism.

Let me say again how grateful we are for your partnership.  This is such a miracle and we will be praying for your June 3 Miracle for Missions Day.  All of you and your decision are a clear answer to our specific, desperate prayers.  We will be joining you, as well, in this effort.  Each year, Birmingham does take up a missions contribution to help support the AIDS Home of HOPE in Chennai, India, and to help support the church in Kolkata India.  Thought we are a small church, we are growing and sacrificing with you in spirit and truth.

Again, we feel so grateful and inspired about what lies ahead for the Northwest US, and the Northwest UK!

love,

Andy and Tammy

Check out the video from Andy and Tammy Fleming about their work in the United Kingdom…

Psalms 119:21
You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed and who stray from your commands.

Psalms 131:1
My heart is not proud, O LORD, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

Psalms 138:6
Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

Psalms 147:6
The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

Psalms 149:4
For the LORD takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

Proverbs 3:34
He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.

Proverbs 8:13
To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Proverbs 10:8
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.

Proverbs 11:2
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

Proverbs 15:31;33
He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise.The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 16:18-19
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud.

Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 21:4
Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!

Proverbs 22:4
Humility and the fear of the LORD bring wealth and honor and life.

Proverbs 25:9
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him..

Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips.

Proverbs 28:25-26
A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

Proverbs 29:23
A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

Proverbs 30:32
If you have played the fool and exalted yourself, or if you have planned evil, clap your hand over your mouth! 

Luke 14:7-11
When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:9-14
To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood up and prayed about[a] himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’”But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 22:24-27
Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.

Romans 12:3
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

1 Peter 5:2-6
Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away. Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because,”God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

Some Questions to Consider:

1. When are you most tempted with pride?
2. Practically, how do we “humble ourselves” or “clothe ourselves in humility?”
3. Have you ever been sure that the hand of God was humbling you?
4. Have you ever chosen to be humble and experienced his grace in an obvious way?

Additional Scriptures:

Job 40:12 

Psalms 37:11

Isaiah 5:21 

Isaiah 66:2

Micah 6:8
Matthew 18:3-4
Matthew 23:12 

Luke 1:52
Mark 9:35
John 5:44

Romans 12:16

1 Corinthians 1:28
1 Corinthians 3:18
1 Corinthians 13:4
2 Corinthians 10:17-18
2 Corinthians 11:30
2 Corinthians 12:6-10
Galatians 5:25-26
Galatians 6:14
Ephesians 4:2
Philippians 2:1-11
Colossians 3:12
James 4:6

We know our singles, campus and teens are no strangers to volunteering, we were just extra encouraged by the turn out of volunteers this Sunday and how many came prepared with lessons eager to serve God, the children and their parents.

All the classes had extra help and the 5^th graders got to have a class after all, thank you!

The Kids Kingdom classes were so full of love and laughter, and as parents that encourages our hearts.

From this photo we snapped, it was hard to tell who was having more fun.

Matthew 18:10-14…  ”Their angles in heaven always see the face of my father…your father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”

Thank you all so much!

Scott(AKA Mr. Funkey) and Marlo Holloway,  Lead Coordinators-Kids Kingdom