BAPTISM SERVICE

Yesterday we had a the privilege of seeing one of our Junior high Sunday school teachers and youth leaders (Sarina Masih) get baptized.

SARINA'S TESTIMONY

Raised in a Christian family, I was taught at a young age that Jesus was Christ. Going to AWANA as a 'Sparkie' all of my childhood, and then youth group when I graduated out of AWANA, the church was a big influence in my life. Still, being so young, I didn’t really realize what a relationship with Christ was. Then I started going to a Christian summer camp.

Even now, I can still remember the exact day I accepted Christ into my life: I was thirteen, in front of a burning fire, at Mill Stream Bible camp. I accepted Him on July 26th, 2004. As I grew up, I continued to go to youth group and took on leadership roles in the church such as being an AWANA leader and volunteering in the nursery. Through all of this, I had never really considered baptism. I think I was just waiting for God to tell me when the time was right.

While coming to Cornerstone, I continued to grow in my faith with the help of the youth program here. While growing, I viewed a couple baptisms at the church and wondered why I hadn't done it. God was pushing me in the direction of being baptized though. It's the step of obedience I still hadn't done. “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:3-4). By not getting baptized, I wasn't following Christ. So I decided to take that final step.

Even though there have been bumps in the past, and there might be bumps in the future, I hope to continue to live with Christ in my life, because as Charles Spurgeon said, "Without Christ there is no hope."

NICARAGUA FUNDRAISER

BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Today we had a great turn out for our annual Cornerstone basketball tournament to raise funds for our charity work in Bluefields, Nicaragua. It was some fierce competition and passions were high, but at the end of the day, lots of money and awareness was raised for our mission trip and projects.

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

Yesterday we watched video number 6 of our Quest series, "Read the Small Print - Is following Jesus really worth it?" We talked about the cost of being a Christ-follower. We also had a chance to hear from Pastor Kevin who was part of the Cornerstone team to Bluefields, Nicaragua during the March Break.

DEEP THOUGHTS

Deep in the heart of everyone you work with, play with, live with is a sign, if only you will take the time to read it: "Inspire me. Challenge me to grow, and then celebrate with me when I stretch. Help me shoulder whatever burden life throws my way - John Ortberg

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

GRAB BAG

This past Sunday (March 21st) we took the time to continue getting to know each other on a deeper level. Our main verse was Psalm 133:1 - How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! We also looked at Ephesians 4:2-6.

We each took an item out of a bag and used it to tell the group more about ourselves. For example, there was a question mark in the bag and the person who took it out had to answer the question, "If you could ask God one question, what would it be?" There was also a family photo and the person who got that would have to spend one minute telling us about their family.

The take home challenge was to get to know another member of the group this week by emailing or calling them.

* Taken from Active Bible Lessons

CORNERSTONE'S NICARAGUA MISSION

Cornerstone had the privilege of visiting Bluefields, Nicaragua. We had a team of 11. 9 people went for 10 days during March Break. We did things like run a 3 day after school program for students at the Verbo Christian school (lessons on prayer, provided lunch and crafts and sports). We also did construction at the school, painting at the Verbo church and participated in the Sunday worship service (including doing the music section, providing and serving lunch and a Spanish sermon!) We took a group of special needs students out for pizza and brought funds to build a playground at the school, and hire locals to carry on construction at the school. We visited a maternity house for young, pregnant women, had prayer walks and visitation and much more.

We also had 2 members visit Bluefields the week before to do some long term planning including meeting up with locals to investigate micro-financing for small businesses and networking with different companies and such in an effort to facilitate self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability. As this is Cornerstone's 6th time to Nicaragua, we are looking for ways to join God in what He is already doing and to really make a difference in this beautiful country.

JUNIOR HIGH SUNDAY SCHOOL

On Sunday March 14th our topic was Local and Global Missions. Our main verses were Matthew 22:37-39 and Matthew 28:19-20 (the Great Commandment and the Great Commission). We had various stations which helped us experience this lesson.

1. Prayer for the world
2. Make a list of needs/charities that we could donate to
3. Pray for the local community
4. Make a list of creative ways to spend $5 to impact someone for Christ
5. Pray for a child (consider sponsorship)
6. Make a list of local/global mission opportunities (we also prayed for Cornerstone team in Nicaragua during March Break)
7. Make a list of stuff in our room that we could donate.

Our challenge was to take $5, and use it to impact someone for Christ.

* taken from Active Bible Studies

SENIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

Tonight was a full night after missing last week due to March Break. We had over 40 boys!!! We talked about sacrifice and in particular the sacrifice that God made through Jesus so that we could be in a relationship with him. As usual, we played some great basketball and had lots of fun. Congrats to our MVP's of the night.

DEEP THOUGHTS

It is ironic that we try to impress people by saying clever or funny things, yet nothing binds one human being to another more than the sense that they have been deeply, carefully listened to. It is no accident that we speak of PAYING attention to people; attention is the most valuable currency we have.

John Ortberg

YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

Tonight was another great night of basketball. We talked about perseverance:

Life has two rules. Number one: never quit. Number two: always remember rule number 1. - Duke Ellington.

Congrats to our MVPs who showed perseverance tonight whether through their basketball skills or their character throughout the night.

DEEP THOUGHTS

CHARACTER MATTERS

The best way to teach character is to have it around the house.

The measure of a person's real character is what they would do if they knew they would never be found out. (Thomas Babington Macaulay)

The best index to a person's character is a)how they treat people who can't do them any good, and b) how they treat people who can't fight back. (Abigail Van Buren)

Much may be known of a person's character by what excites their laughter (Johann von Goethe)

JUNIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

GOT FRUIT?

· Today we talked about what the Fruit of the Spirit are, and how with the Holy Spirit in our lives, we should be displaying these qualities in our lives

Our main verses were Galatians 5:16-26. Here are some of the questions we looked at:

· What does the Bible mean when it talks about us having a “sinful nature?”

· What does our sinful nature want?

· Who is the Holy Spirit?

· What about those who don’t live by the Spirit?

· Why is the sinful man hostile towards God?

Here were some take home questions:

· How do we recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives?

· What can you do this week to display these qualities in your life?

· How does the Holy Spirit help us to have these qualities in our lives?

And here was our challenge:

- Check out Romans 8:5-8 and Romans 8:9-11 and read what these passages say about living by the Spirit. Let these passages be an encouragement to you this week.

YOUTHQUEST BASKETBALL

This past Wednesday we had a break from our regular program so we had a chance to thank our student volunteers. They really help make our program possible and have taken it to another level. Shaun had us over for pizza and video games. Thanks Shaun!

YOUTH SERVICE

Yesterday the YouthQuest Youth led the music part of the service @ Cornerstone. Great job guys!!!

SENIOR HIGH YOUTHQUEST

After completing a 6 session study, "Following After God - What Difference Does it Make?" We decided to take a night to just relax and chill. Nothing like having some pizza and playing Wii at the "White House!" Remember to sign up for the 30 hour famine in April. Speak to Liz for details.