ne of the most striking qualities of Jesus' ministry on earth was His compassion for people. He made it a point to go to those who had problems and few if any solutions. He did not make it a priority to seek out the rich and famous, but rather those who were not. He never sought to be paid back and often asked those he helped not to tell who had done it! He never wanted to be first on the donor's list. We see that this attitude carried over to the first church in the way it met the needs of its members and those around it. The image of Christians being a source of help is somewhat tainted by the greedy and those who have broken the trust of those in their care. We need to take back this ministry and do it the way Jesus did.

Last Sunday at Hillside Christian Church we looked to the gospel of Mark and learned how Jesus felt and how He helped those He saw in need. As you read chapter eight, notice how the Lord felt toward those who were with Him. The disciples first noticed the lack of resources they possessed and complained about it. It took Jesus love and direction to solve the problem. The solution was only realized when the disciples went to work. It is also good to note that there was a surplus of blessings that came from this shakey situation. We learned that God is not limited by human doubts or inadequacies and that He cares for those seeking Him. God has never printed a retraction on these principles. We have to learn to give and help even when we don't know how it's going to work out. The Source of all good gifts will manage the results.

We received a wonderful gift last Thursday night. A large crowd came to the Fall Funfest for Children at the church. All sorts of interesting characters showed up with their parents and friends to play some challenging games and enjoy the evening in a safe place. There were twelve or thirteen activities for the kids and enough candy and prizes for everyone. It was wonderful to have several from the community come out for this great event.

We are looking forward to our upcoming Thanksgiving celebration and dinner. This annual gathering is more than a meal. We spend an informal time together honoring God for the many blessings He has given us in the past year. We also take the opportunity to acknowledge the new Christians and members that have come to Hillside since last year. God has added to our number in a wonderful way and we praise Him for every one.