“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

“Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.

“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

source: NIV version

Peace & Love, 

—Pastor Dwayne

Congratulations to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Defiance, Ohio for receiving a $1,000 grant from Defiance Moose Lodge #2094. This grant was for the chicken dinners at their Fest-For-All event which took place on October 11. Pictured are (l-r) Patty Nezick – Fest-For-All chairperson and Roberta Phlipot – Moose Lodge Treasurer.

Father, I praise You that I dwell in the secret place of the Most High and that I shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand. I will say of You, Lord, “the Lord is my refuge and my fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I confidently trust!” For then You will deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. Then You will cover me with Your feathers, and under Your wings shall I trust and find refuge. Your truth and Your faithfulness are a shield and a buckler to me. I shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked) that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come nigh my dwelling. For You will give Your angels especial charge over me, to accompany, defend and preserve me in all my ways of obedience and service to You. Your angels shall bear me up on their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone. I shall tread upon the lion and adder; the young lion and the serpent shall I trample underfoot. Because I have set my love upon You, therefore will You deliver me. You will set me on high, because I know and understand Your name. I have a personal knowledge of Your mercy, love and kindness. I trust and rely on You, knowing You will never forsake me, no, never. I shall call upon You, and You will answer me. You will be with me in trouble. You will deliver me and honor me. With long life will You satisfy me and show me Your salvation.

(Psalm 91 – taken from the Amplified Bible)

Peace & Love,

—Pastor Dwayne

Father, in the Name of Jesus, I make a fresh commitment to You to live in peace and harmony, not only with the other brothers and sisters of the Body of Christ, but also with my friends, associates, neighbors, and family.

I let go of all bitterness, resentment, envying, strife, and unkindness in any form. I give no place to the devil in Jesus’ Name. Now Father, I ask Your forgiveness. By faith, I receive it, having assurance that I am cleansed from all unrighteousness through Jesus Christ. I ask You to forgive and release all who have wronged and hurt me. I forgive and release them. Deal with them in your mercy and loving-kindness.

From this moment on, I purpose to walk in love, to seek peace, to live in agreement, and to conduct myself toward others in a manner that is pleasing to You. I know that I have right standing with you and Your ears are attentive to my prayers.

It is written in Your Word that the love of God has been poured forth into my heart by the Holy Ghost Who is given to me. I believe that love flows forth into the lives of everyone I know, that I may be filled with and abound in the fruits of righteousness which bring glory and honor unto You, Lord, in Jesus’ Name. So be it! Amen.

Scripture References:

Romans 12:16-18, Mark 11:25, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:32, Philippians 2:2, 1 Peter 3:8,11,12, Ephesians 4:31, Colossians 1:10, Ephesians 4:27, Romans 5:5, Psalm 91:11, Philippians 1:9,11

Peace & love,

—Pastor Dwayne

5th Grade: A student walked into class and said, “This is the best part of the day.”

2nd Grader: “Thank you God for LifeWise.”

Teacher: “What do we learn about at LifeWise?” Student: “We learn about Jesus and all He has done.”

Teacher: “Why do you come to LifeWise?”

~ Elementary Students: “To learn about God and Jesus!” “To learn Bible” “The Bible is true” “To learn about how God loves us and about Jesus.”

~ Jr High Students: “To learn to evangelize so I can make heaven crowded!” “To learn about the Bible and more things and how things happened in the past. I love being here!” “To learn more about God, Holy Spirt and Bible”

~ High Schoolers: “To get closer to God and make me a better human being.” “To learn more about God, Jesus and the Bible.” “To make my connection with God better and learn more about His life.” “Because I want a stronger relationship with God.” “I come to get closer to God and learn more about God, through the school day and with friends.” “I am coming to LifeWise to further my relationship with God and continue to grow as a Christian and learn more about the Bible.”

Questions

1st Grader: “Is God actually real?”

5th Grader: “If God is up there, how was the devil made?”

5th Grader: “What would have happened if Adam and Eve didn’t eat the apple?”

Student: “How did God get here?”

Student: “How did God get made?”

Sometimes life presents us with many difficult trials. We often have to make decisions in response to these trials. The book of James 1:12 tells us, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” Perseverance means continuing with hope and patience through difficult trials rather than giving up. In my personal observation and opinion, there are two types of Christians: functional and dysfunctional. A dysfunctional Christian is stalled in the face of opposition and challenges. This causes them to lash out or become passive-aggressive, attack through sabotage, or leave the situation or the church altogether. In other words, they get stuck in a situation’s difficulties and stay emotionally stifled for extended periods. This stems from a lack of faith. We must exercise our faith by turning it over to the lord one situation at a time, one day at a time. By doing so, we find it easier to turn things over to the lord so that He can fight our battles. The battle is not yours but the Lord’s.

The functional Christian on a continuum gives every issue to the Lord. This keeps them moving forward positively. The Lord loves a cheerful giver.

If you persevere through life’s situations and challenges, dispensing God’s love sacrificially according to His will, you will receive the “crown of life” that God has promised to those who love Him.

Functional Christians Persevere.

Peace and Love,

—Pastor Dwayne

October is Respect Life Month. Pictured above is the Right to Life display at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Hicksville, Ohio. The crosses were placed by the St. Michael Youth group and they represent the babies we have lost to abortion. Please pray for an end to abortion and euthanasia!

Hicksville RTL Judy McCalla, Daniel E Thomas, Bishop of the Toledo Dioceses; and Rosanna Husted observing Respect Life Month this October.

The Woodburn Christian Children’s Home (WCCH) celebrated another record-breaking year at its annual Benefit Auction, raising more than $225,000 to support its mission of providing a loving, Christian home for children in need. The auction took place on October 3, 2026 at the Woodlan High School campus in Woodburn, IN.

According to Joe Heins, director of Woodburn Christian Children’s Home, this year’s event welcomed more than 400 people and generated $225,350 in donations, surpassing last year’s total of $215,865. The continued growth reflects the generosity of area businesses, churches and individuals who support the home’s ministry.

The auction featured both live and silent bidding, along with special fundraising activities, food and sponsorship opportunities. The live auction generated $35,825, while the silent auction brought in nearly $6,000. Sponsorships played a significant role in the event’s success, contributing more than $135,000. The special auction project, Milk Money Punch Board and other donations also helped make the evening successful.

The auction’s financial success is especially notable when compared to previous years. In 2019, the event raised just over $110,000. Since then, fundraising has more than doubled, reflecting the continued commitment of the surrounding communities to supporting WCCH.

Heins extended heartfelt appreciation to the WCCH Board of Directors, staff and auction committee for their dedication in making the event possible. In a message to those involved, he wrote, “Thank you for all your prayers and tireless efforts. The auction was a huge success!” He noted that additional contributions were still coming in following the event and closed his message with the words, “May God receive all the glory!”

Heins emphasized that every dollar raised directly supports the children and families served by WCCH. “All donations provide a home for children regardless of their family’s ability to participate financially and help WCCH maintain the core value of helping children and families without accepting government funding,” Heins explained.

The annual auction is more than a fundraiser. It is also an opportunity for supporters, volunteers and community members to reconnect with the ministry and witness the lasting impact the home has made on generations of children.

Heins expressed his appreciation to the churches, businesses, sponsors and individuals who contributed to this year’s success. WCCH will continue recognizing its supporting churches and businesses through September 2027.

With another successful auction completed, organizers are already looking ahead to next year’s event, scheduled for October 2, 2027. The continued generosity of the surrounding communities helps ensure that Woodburn Christian Children’s Home can carry on its mission of providing care, stability and a nurturing Christian environment for children who need it most.

First Presbyterian Church (EPC) in Paulding OH is hosting its 44th Annual Women’s Retreat, “Neglect Not the Gift that is in Thee”, on Saturday, October 24, 2026 from 9 am until 1:00 pm. Doors open at 8:30 am. The church is located at the corner of Caroline and Cherry Streets in Paulding, one block from the courthouse square.

This year, our featured guest, Jeanette (Wilhelm) Prisk, will speak about her faith journey and about finding and using our God-given gifts. While Jeanette grew up in the Paulding area and graduated from Wayne Trace High School, she and her husband Terry now live in Highland, Michigan. Jeanette is very involved in various ministries including ‘Reach the Forgotten’ jail ministry and ‘Hope against Trafficking’. In her words, Jeanette enjoys “writing and sharing original songs, teaching and leading worship wherever God might lead her”. We are so pleased that God has led her to the Paulding Women’s Retreat and know she has much to share with us!

The core verse for the day is I Timothy 4:14 “Neglect not gift that is in Thee.” The Message Bible says it in this contemporary way: “And that special gift of ministry you were given when the leaders of the church laid hands on you and prayed—keep that dusted off and in use”.

In addition to thought-provoking teaching, the retreat includes praise singing with pianist Susan Kayser and music leader Rhonda Smalley. Brunch will be served by the men of the Presbyterian Church, and there will be rich fellowship with other Christian women. The church is accessible to those with mobility challenges.

Nursery care is available for children from infants through age 4. Be sure to mention this need when you register so we are adequately staffed. You are asked to bring a sack lunch for your child.

Pre-registration is requested by Monday, October 19, 2026 to assist the brunch planners.

Registrations can be made three ways: 1) by mail to the church office (PO Box 366, Paulding OH 45879); 2) by calling 419-399-2438 (church office); or 3) by emailing your name and contact information to First Presbyterian Church (fpcpaulding@gmail.com). Questions may be directed, by call or text,  to retreat coordinators Barb (419-769-0327), Becky C. (419-786-0021) or Becky R. (260-385-0505).

The suggested donation for this retreat is $20.00. Checks made out to First Presbyterian Church, with ‘women’s retreat’ in the memo line, can be sent with mail-in registrations. Fees may also be paid at the door the morning of the retreat if registration was made by phone or email.

Prayer

1st Grader: “I love to pray. I pray at home, at night and in the morning.”

2nd Grader: “Can Jesus be talking to us right now and we hear Him?”

4th Grader: “Can we pray for the entire class time?”

Lesson

Teacher: “What was God warning?” 3rd Grader: “You will die if you eat the bad fruit.”

Teacher: “When the people looked at the snake on the pole they were healed!” 3rd Grader: “But it was not the bronze snake that did the healing, it was God!”

Teacher: “What is sacrifice?” 4th Grader: “To give God something that you really love!”

Teacher: “What does you must be born again mean?” 5th Grader: “It’s not going back into your mother’s womb, it’s repenting.”

Teacher: “What is grace?” 6th Grader: “Giving you something good you may not deserve.”

6th Grader: “We are made in God’s image to do His work, to help others.”

Character Education

1st Grade: A student ended up with a bag of crayons with not many colors in it. Another student shared theirs without being told to. This was showing great reliability – which is one of the 3Rs of classroom conduct in LifeWise.

Student: “Jensen didn’t have a glue stick, so I gave him mine.”