Theme: “Into All the World”


Speakers:

Ronald Fisher; Retired Bible college professor living in Lansing, Michigan.

David K. Jones; Evangelist with the Pole Green Church of Christ, Mechanicsville, Virginia.

Charles McCoy; Associate Minister with the Church of Christ at New Cut, Severn, Maryland.

Randall Penwell; Director, New Churches of Christ Evangelism, Lansing, Michigan.

Mark Scott; Academic Dean, Ozark Christian College, Joplin, MO.

Tony Sullivan; Evangelist, Westview Christian Church, Newman Georgia, CRA, Mason Ohio

Don Todd; Director, Memphis Inner City Outreach, Memphis Tennessee.

Keith Woods; Youth, International Disaster Emergency Services, Kempton, Indiana.

Topics: The above men will deal with topics that pertain to the overall theme. Such things as the worldwide kingdom, the world of the inner city; the lost world; the hurting world; a world needing to hear about Jesus; a world needing fellowship; a world needing hope; a world needing truth; a world we are commanded teach and baptize. Topics will be listed with speakers at a later date on our web site.

Music: Music and sound are all provided by Art Bush and the Meltons with Steve Foster at the piano. As in the past they will be in concert on Monday night before the meeting, July 31. The offering at that concert is a love expression of our thanks for their great commitment and use of their personal talents for His glory.

We will meet in the woods of Kalkaska County at the site used for the past 43 years. If you have never attended the Northmen you need to know that camping is the order. We provide only a spot to camp and water. No electricity is available. We do make milk, bread, wood and ice available at our cost. Camping spots are first come first served and there is no pre-reservation. Cost for camping (for the State of Michigan) is $3.00 per night per person. We use state land with a special permit for our meeting. All other expenses are covered by offerings taken each evening in the big tent. Boy’s sessions during the day provide for their training and recreation. All campers meet together in the big tent for evening sessions. The meeting begins the Tuesday night of the dates given and continues through Thursday night’s message. A small display tent is available. Please let us know of your intention to use this so we can judge the size needed.

Northwomen: The theme for the meeting at Kalkaska will be: “Are You Ready to Serve”. The main speaker is Pam Horton of Guanah, Texas. Music will be led by Windy Babcock of Kalkaska. Motel reservations can be made. Contact the Kalkaska Church of Christ for info, 231 258 9441.


45th Annual Meeting

2006 Northman - August 1, 2 & 3 ________________________________________________________________________________

Vol. 44 January 2006 No 1
________________________________________________________________________________

Northmen
1695 David Rd. Return service Requested
Prescott, MI. 48756

Mike Steere, Editor
northwoods@voyager.net
Northmen Meeting Finance Report


Income

Gifts received by mail
Offerings at the meeting
Income from meeting supplies
Rebate from permit bond

Total Meeting Income

Expenses

Camp fees for prep week
Generator fuel
Paper publication and mail
Permits & water testing
Porta Johns rental
Prep week food
Prep maintenance
Promotion
Payment for store supplies
Tent rental
Trash Removal
Truck fuel
Truck/Trailer maintenance

Total Meeting Expense



$ 585.00
$ 7,690.00
$ 587.02
$ 250.00

$ 9,112.02



$ 244.00
$ 531.90
$ 624.54
$ 451.75
$ 1,200.00
$ 135.11
$ 258.85
$ 115.00
$ 544.33
$ 3,564.00
$ 495.00
$ 267.10
$ 315.22

$8,746.80
We begin work for 2006 with a balance and we thank you all for that. Special thanks go out to some who send regular gifts through the year so we can keep the meeting budget in the black. One problem we are facing is a rising cost in rentals and in permits and fees. It does not look like this is going to change soon.

Thailand Northmen 2005

The first two weeks in December Mike, Mark McCool preacher with Antrim Church of Christ and Maurice Goff, from Peru, IN were in Thailand to share in the third annual Northmen for the brethren there. This was Mike’s third trip and Maurice’s second. The meeting began on our arrival in Chang Mai Dec. 2. That evening we met in the same area used the past two years for this meeting. It is somewhat isolated but very beautiful and some buildings are provided for rough shelter. A tent is put up for the meeting but many sessions are held around the camp fire. Our theme this year was “The Mind of God.” There were some 70 or more in atten- dance with that including the boys from the hostel of Ahtapa & Leah Sinlee (Asian Gospel Outreach). These men were from Lisu, Mong and Thai tribes. All three of us from America shared at least one message. Precha, a professor at Lanna Christian College spoke on cross cultural evangelism as so many different groups were sharing in the meeting. Other topics addressed were: “Knowing the Mind of God”; “God’s Mind on Steward- ship”; and God’s Mind about Christian Living”. As with the Northmen in America much time was given to personal conversation and sharing. Like in America the nights were cool and the days warm.

Anyone interested in sharing in this meeting should contact Mike about going. We usually spend two weeks in Thailand. We share in the meeting and then do some village evangelism (teaching, preaching), carry out some work projects at the hostel, help with some English language sessions with the hostel kids and generally have a great fellowship with brothers of another culture. We would like to make room for you. Cost is not great and the blessing you will receive cannot be measured in comparison. Of course you visit is also a blessing to the Thailand brothers and sisters. You live in rather prim-itive conditions but certainly not unbearable. Our theme next year will deal with faith. We are hoping more of the speakers will be men from Thailand.		 We thank each one who shared gifts for the trip. All who go use their own funds or raise funds to go. Any funds the Northmen collect are used for projects while in Thailand. This year $7,000 was given. Many great needs were taken care of through these generous and loving gifts from individuals and congregations. We generally direct those gifts to hostelneeds (Ahtapa and Leah have 70 children they care for and are training). Some go to individual needs that we become aware of while there. Some are used as gifts for those who labor with the children or as missionaries in Thailand. We trust the Father to see that all such gifts are well used.
Anyone wanting a mission presentation about this work (Asian Gospel Outreach and the hostel and/or the Northmen in Thailand) can contact Mike.

Junior & Teen Sessions

Boy’s sessions this year will be divided as usual. The Jr. boys need to bring their bikes if possible. A part of the afternoon recreation will be a bike rodeo. Teen boys will be taking their usual afternoon canoe trip. Congregations

or individuals interested in helping with the Jr. Northmen should contact us soon.

Mailing

Since I am some what computer ignorant we have had some problems getting lined up for e-mail. I think we are now ready to use e-mail and we will add you to our list if you send your e address. You would simply be receiv-ing an inter-link to click on to our web site when new information goes up. We will probably be mailing this type of paper for a while also since many of you do not yet seem to be on e-mail. We would appreciate knowing which you prefer.

Getting in Touch

To contact us use any of the following:
Snail mail: -- 1695 David Rd., Prescott, MI., 48756
E – mail: -- northwoods@voyager .net
Web: - www.northmenministries.com or
www.geocities.com/Athens/Academuy/4327/:

Directions to the Northmen meeting site are posted on the web and we will also put them in the next paper (June). We always put up signs and once you get near the site we are not hard to find.

Northmen Ministries

Our ministries involve several things that are all pointed toward strengthening and building the body in northern Michigan (primarily the upper portion of the lower pe- ninsula with a “Johnny Gospelseed” concept. We study, prepare, and then as we go we “toss seed” whenever and wherever the opportunity comes. As Bro. Larry Beaverson says we are just “gardeners” doing our thing. Not incidentally that “thing” is the greatest thing in the world! Planting seed, helping cultivate (in some cases prepareing the soil), watering and then seeing the harvest reaped fills our heart with joy.
Northern Michigan Bible Institute offers a class every third Saturday at the Lake City Community Church of Christ. This winter we are studying Romans using Dr. Jack Cottrell’s commentary from College Press. This class meets all day and anyone is welcome. We begin at 8 and usually dismiss by 5. The ladies provide breakfast and lunch. The class usually has anywhere from 10 to 18. We are in the process of putting together a class in the Kalkaska area. We have two house churches we work with. Here in Ogemaw County the group is pretty much ready to go on its own. We are generally off somewhere else with another group. On the Lord’s Day we drive to Indian River and meet with a new and exciting group of truth seekers. This group will give us opportunity to begin groups in several new places as some of these people grow and want a group in their home. In the evening we meet with a group at Gaylord. They consider themselves a “church” and they are doing mission outreach with their stewardship. Monday night I meet with people from Harrison, Skeels and Prudenville. Hopefully something in one of those areas will develop further. Tuesday night we meet with the Ogemaw men and Thursday night we have a group in the Tawas Area. We just sow seed, God increases. Have we forgotten that the power lies in the gospel? Do we really think “bigger” and “better” church “services” will eventually reach the world? Plant seed brother, it grows!