Christ in Action: UPDATE:  After much deliberation and discussion CIA has decided to cancel the trip from this area scheduled to go to Oklahoma.   There has been such an increidble response from the community and around the country to accomplish immediate needs.  Also, “Homes were completely demolished so we are not going in and helping the homeowner clear things out of their home and prepare for remodeling. In this case, they simply saved what they could in memories and the rest is being completely bulldozed and taken away. People are staying with relatives and friends and are not really in the area at this time.”

Keep up to date with  Christ in Action’s Facebook page.

Feed the Children:  Feed The Children has already responded with basic essentials for the families in Shawnee, OK and provided several pallets of water and frozen lasagna to The Salvation Army and The Red Cross – who are already providing services to those in need.

Cash donations to help with Feed The Children’s disaster relief efforts and help defray the transportation costs of food and essentials needed for the families of those affected can be made by phone, call: 800-627-4556 or online at www.feedthechildren.org

Samaritans Purse:  Information for how to volunteer with Samaritans Purse are available at samaritanspurse.org   Chainsaw skills are helpful but not required. Volunteers will be working primarily on debris clean up, chainsaw work and roof tarping.

The Salvation Army:   Responding with teams to areas affected.  Providing meals and food items,  emotional and spiritual care, working with local officials and more.  Inviting everyone to pray and give financially.  Supporters are encouraged to give online or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY (1-800-725-2769). You can also text the word “STORM” to 80888 to make a $10 donation through your mobile phone; to confirm your gift, respond with the word “Yes.”

Love From Lancaster County: Partnering with Touch of Color Flooring in Harrisburg to collect relief items for those in need . For information Email Joell or go to Facebook – Love From Lancaster County

Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity:  Collecting financial donations.  Donations of cash, check, credit card, or securities are accepted and all donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to “Lancaster Area Habitat for Humanity” and mailed to LAHFH, 443 Fairview Avenue, Lancaster, PA  17603 or delivered in person to Habitat ReStore during business hours. Gifts can also be made online.  Will assist with cleanup, repairs and new construction efforts as need and available resources become clearer.  717-392-8836   LancasterHabitat.org

Southern Regional Police Officer’s Association (Conestoga):  Collecting items through 6/18 to deliver to Oklahoma City.

Items include:

• Bottled Water
• Sports drinks
• Energy/granola bars
• Hand sanitizer
• Diapers, Baby Wipes, Formula
•   Non-perishables: canned fruit/vegetables, pasta, peanut butter, pudding, tea, powdered drink mix
• Cleaning supplies, Work gloves
• Toiletries (i.e.- toothpaste, mouthwash, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo, deodorant,)
• Sun block, Insect repellant
• Monetary donations will also be accepted.  They can be in the form of Pre-paid Visa cards, or checks made payable to SRPOA, note “tornado relief” in the memo line.  They can be mailed to SRPOA at P.O. Box 254 Conestoga Pa 17516 ** Attn: Cpl. Michener.
• Volunteers are also needed

Items can be dropped off at the Southern Regional Police Department between the hours of 8AM and 1 PM, Monday thru Friday.  Weekend or after hour deliveries may be arranged by calling 717-461-2323   Information available at  southernregionalpolice.com

FRED MCNAUGHTON – Congratulations to the WJTL team, winner of this years PAB (Pennsylvania Association of Broadcasters) Excellence in Broadcasting Outstanding Station Sponsored Event, for the 2012 Kids Cookie Break Fest.  Kids Cookie Break Host Lisa Landis and WJTL Office Manager, Stacey Gagne attended the May 6 Awards Ceremony in Hershey where they accepted the award on behalf of WJTL.

In the past WJTL has won the Prestigious Excellence in Broadcasting Award several times  for Outstanding Promotional Announcement, Outstanding Radio Website, and Outstanding Radio Promotion.  Lisa and Kids Cookie Break has been honored eight times for Outstanding Radio Program for Children for the Kids Cookie Break. This year the PAB did not have a category for Children’s Radio Programming.

Congratulations to the WJTL team and thanks to PAB for honoring us with this award. It is encouraging to be recognized by our peers in the Broadcasting Industry.

PAB President Richard Wyckoff presents Lisa with the 2013 Excellence in Broadcasting Award.

Dear WJTL Listener,

After a long and cold winter spring is finally here.  Spring is my favorite time of year as signs of new life are everywhere.  It is hard to miss the beauty of God’s creation around us.  I am reminded of God’s promise: “Behold, I make all things new!” (Revelations 21:5).

Things are also starting to blossom at the home of WJTL.  Phase One of the Junction Center Project has now been completed debt free and the studios are working great.  God has truly blessed!  This added space has enabled us to broadcast concerts in front of a live studio audience and to host many other special events.   We love meeting listeners!  The indoor capacity of only 50 people is clearly not enough to meet the demand.

Phase Two expands this vision with the construction of a large parking lot, restrooms and sewer system, landscaping with 65 new trees and a tent!  This high tech Saddleback tent has a completely open interior with no poles to hinder sight lines.  Featuring a great sound and lighting system the Junction Center Tent will be up from mid-May until mid-October starting in 2014.  If construction goes well the tent may actually open later this year.  The capacity will be 600 under roof plus additional open air seating outside.

Plans are for a WJTL summer concert series as well as a number of Kid’s Cookie Break and other events.  The tent will be able to accommodate a wide range of activities including concerts, seminars, banquets, comedy and theater.  “Christ. Community. Music.” is the current slogan for WJTL which also serves as the vision for The Junction Center.  We will also make this tent available to other select organizations.

WJTL is also excited to announce a long term agreement with the Hempfield Soccer Club to use our excess land for practice fields.  This relationship will bring thousands of young soccer players and their families to the Junction Center over the next ten years.

Long term plans are to construct a permanent community fine arts building on The Junction Center site.  This will allow for twelve months of usage rather than the six months provided by a tent.  As a matter of good stewardship though we will want to pay off the costs incurred for Phase Two first before starting anything new.  Currently Phase Two costs are estimated at $960,000 and it is our prayer that this debt can be retired within three years.  This will require a high level of participation from WJTL supporters as compared to the original purchase of the property where two major donors made it possible to purchase the foreclosed property at 28 cents on the dollar.  Your generous gift today will be a real boost to this effort.  Please join us in believing God for his provision and blessing on this ministry.

To donate online go to: https://wjtl.com/stationinfo/support/  

In Christ,

Tim Landis

President/CEO

WJTL / Creative Ministries, Inc

STACEY GAGNE – I didn’t have a passport until 2010.  It only took one trip for me to gain a heart for people living in poverty and that was my trip to Ethiopia with Compassion International.

If you were one of the many who have sponsored a child from a project in Ethiopia during WJTL’s 26 Hours of Compassion, I would love to have you join me and other WJTL listeners August 3 thru 10 on a special trip designed just for us to go meet our children, spend time serving alongside the people in Ethiopia, and see firsthand how Compassion is working through the local church in Ethiopia.

You’ll attend a church service with our brothers and sisters in Addis Ababa, spend time with the children at the projects,  lead some VBS style activities, visit some children’s homes,  work alongside some church partners on some service projects,  get to know students in the Leadership Development program, and of course spend plenty of time playing with our kids and taking them on a special fun day!  What an opportunity to join together as a community and go share the Love of Jesus while making memories together.  Of course there will be sight seeing and many chances to learn about Ethiopian culture along the way.

Please check out the link with registration information,  Email Me or call 717-392-3690 with any questions.

JOHN SHIRK – In Ephesians 3:18, the Apostle Paul prayed that we might grasp the height of God’s love for us.

God’s love is tall to the extreme. Psalm 103:11 says, “For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him.” His love is destined to take His people to new heights, because Jesus said that He would come back and take His followers to be with Him in heaven.

Another way of looking at the height of God’s love is to consider a tower. The name of the Lord is compared to a strong tower that provides safety for the righteous. Towers in cities typically become landmarks for visitors. They might become tourist attractions. They have names that become famous worldwide. The love of God stands tall as a place of refuge in times of danger or uncertainty. We are wise to run there and draw attention to the love of God expressed through the testimony of Jesus.

The height of God’s love is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In Ephesians 3:18, the Apostle Paul prayed that we might grasp the length of God’s love for us.

The length of God’s love can be considered in light of distance and time. Jesus came from heaven to earth to rescue us from the wages of sin. Isaiah 59:1 says, “The arm of the Lord is not too short to save.” Wherever we are in this world, we are never beyond His reach. As a familiar worship song declares, “You came from heaven to earth to show the way. From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay, from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord, I lift your name on high.”

On the time line, the length of God’s love can be compared to an infinite line. The LORD is described in Deuteronomy 33:27 as the eternal God. He has always been, still is, and always will be God. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we have a connection with God the Father, which lasts forever. We will never have to say tearful good-byes in heaven.

The length of God’s love is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – In Ephesians 3:18, the Apostle Paul prayed that we might grasp the width of God’s love for us.

John 3:16 tells us that God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

God’s love is wide enough to extend around the world and draw people of all cultures into His eternal family. The one thing that His people have in common is that they have received His gift of grace through Jesus Christ, and what He accomplished for us at the cross.

As we come into fellowship with God through faith in Jesus, He removes our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west.

The width of God’s love reveals the global impact of His love to reach every nation by the end of the age, and the personal impact of His love to separate us from our sins.

The width of God’s love is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

STACEY GAGNE –

During our 26 Hours of Compassion events in 2010 and 2013, WJTL listeners have sponsored children from 2 specific projects in Ethiopia through Compassion International.  These sponsors are  beginning to receive details about a trip scheduled to take place this August 3 through 10!  We will be traveling together from the listening area as a team to serve alongside the local church and Compassion staff at our projects in Ethiopia.  We’ll worship together, spend time at the student centers and meet with the staff there,  play with the children and serve through some fun VBS style activities.  Our team will visit some of the children’s homes,  participate in service projects like painting, clean up and other hands on work.  It’s going to be a treasure to spend time with our sponsored children and even treat them to a visit at an amusement park.  There will also be time for sight seeing and more.  I can’t wait!!!  I know that there are many church staff, children and families eager to meet the people that are impacting their lives!

Our trip will enable us to better sense God’s heart for this country, to join together as a community, to get to know the culture where our sponsored children live, and see the ministry of Compassion International first hand.   It will mean so much to the children and their families to know that you would come and visit them!  I am confident that lives will be changed as our community joins together to bring God’s message of love to these children and their communities in Ethiopia.

I will continue to give updates and share more about the trip and even give opportunities  for those who can’t travel with us to get involved.  Please pray for us as we continue to plan details,  for God to prepare our hearts and for provision for the listeners who will join us.

JOHN SHIRK – In Christ, we see a perfect record of obedience to the Father’s will. He said in John 14:31, “I do exactly what my Father has commanded me.” He became the unblemished sacrifice for our sins. Even though He never sinned, He paid the penalty of our sins at the cross. Speaking of Jesus, Second Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”

How does that happen? How can we be made righteous in the eyes of God when our track record shows a history of moral failures? The Bible says that ‘the righteous will live by faith.’ When we trust in the name of Jesus for salvation, God no longer holds our sin against us. We are forgiven and set free from the death sentence that our sins deserve. The sinless life of Christ made Him a worthy sacrifice for our sins. His death and resurrection has made Him the worthy Savior to be praised.

Jesus is in a separate category from every human being who walked on the face of the earth. Because of His sinless record and obedience to death on a cross, God has exalted him to the highest place and has given Him the name that is above every name.

The sinless life of Christ is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com

JOHN SHIRK – Philippians 2:6 tells us that “being in very nature God, he did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-even death on a cross!”

Jesus deserved the crown of glory. Instead, He wore the crown of thorns.

Jesus was worthy of being lifted up to a throne of honor. Instead, He suffered the cross of shame.

Jesus was worthy of being served as a distinguished leader. Instead, He came to serve and give His life as a ransom for many.

There is an important reason to examine the attitude of Christ. Philippians 2:5 says, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”

The attitude of Jesus is a lesson of faith worth remembering.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com