We will hear the testimony of a young lady who grew up in Africa, originally from Uganda, whose parents were missionaries in Africa, and whose parents were killed by Muslims. Orphaned, she came to the United States with relatives, and resides here now and is studying at ISU.

We will also have the Student Connection Band with us to lead worship singing - always a treat to have them.

During this morning's Worship Time, we will also celebrate with the family as we baptize a new family member.

What a great morning together this is going to be! Come ready to give God the glory!

Th is morning we wrap up our extended time around the basic tenet of the Reformation, drawn from I Peter 2:9 -- that is the "priesthood of all Believers." We'll dive into why we need a "priesthood" and how that group needs to be equipped and why it needs to be equipped.

Remember shooting BB guns at each other when you were kids ... before 'culture' seemed to suddenly believe such things were dangerous. When we used BB guns to play, we used various items as shields. Those shields were critical because the BB's were real. As real as Satan, Evil, the Guy in Red, whatever you call it - it is real. The shields are critical. What shields? Look at Ephesians 6. In fact, don't just look at Ephesians 6 -- spend some time getting to know these shields -- because Satan is as real as the BB's.

October 31 is the 499th anniversary of the Reformation movement, which spanned accross countries, peoples, and decades. The Reformation was critical to Christianity because the Roman Catholic Church of the Middle Ages had become corrupted and was no longer even viewed as a Christian church. Corrections to the Church were sorely needed, thus the attempts to 'reform' the Church. Since the corrupted power-holders were unwilling to see their sin and allow correction, the attempt to reform turned into a movement that actually propelled Christianity forward in ways perhaps unknown if the Reformation movement had not began the Protestant Church.

On October 30, we will acknowledge the Reformation and consider what it corrected. However, it should be recognized and must be acknowledged that the Catholic Church of today is not the Roman Catholic Church of the 15th century that needed reforming. Whether the Catholic Church today requires reforming is not for this author to say. Perhaps, after 499 years, it is time for us to stop seeing "us" and "them" and come together as Christ's Body under the truths of God's Word. There is certainly room for reform within the Protestant Church. Therefore, rather than holding to labels and divisions, is it possible that the United States (if not globally) needs a revival of The Church?

If our God is One, why is His Church not? Think about it.

Laity Sunday on this date. Dale Akkerman will bring God' Word and several others will be helping lead various areas of worship. This will be an excellent time together.