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From the Pastor’s Heart….   

 Worship Emphasis Weekend   March 5-7

 What is worship and how do we worship God?

These are some of the questions that will be addressed at our Worship Emphasis Weekend on March 5-7 at Powhatan Mennonite Church. We are pleased that Paul Kauffman and his wife Judi will be with us to lead us through the weekend. Some of us may be familiar with Paul and Judi because of contacts through Rosedale Bible Institute where Paul taught music for several years. But for those who don't know who the Kauffmans are, let me introduce you.

Paul was born in Michigan where his father was involved in church planting. Later the family moved to Sarasota, Florida, where Paul finished jr. high and high school. After high school he headed for Rosedale Bible Institute for a year and then two years at a junior college back in Florida. Soon after that, Paul felt called to volunteer service in Costa Rico where he stayed for two and a half years.

Judi was born in Kentucky where her father (Mahlon Horst) was also involved with a church planting effort. Soon her family moved to Virginia where they started a church at Lucas Hollow. Judi went on to graduate from Lancaster Mennonite School and took RN training at Rockingham Memorial Hospital in Harrisonburg. Judi attended Rosedale Bible Institute and eventually went to Costa Rico for voluntary service through Rosedale Mennonite Missions. While in Costa Rico, Paul and Judi met and the rest is history. They soon returned to the States and later were married. Paul finished his college education at Cedarville College with a degree in music. For the next nine years, he taught at Rosedale Bible Institute and Shekinah Christian School. By this time, the Kauffmans had three children and felt God calling their family to the mission field. They spent the next eleven years in Ecuador where they were involved with church work.

While in Ecuador, Paul completed his master’s degree by extension from Azusa Pacific University. After their missionary service they returned back to the States where Paul is lead Pastor at Shiloh Mennonite Church.   Paul has been at Shiloh for five and a half years and has a real passion for worship. Paul says that his personal vision pretty well mirrors the church’s vision statement which says, “Shiloh Mennonite Church exists to worship and glorify God, bringing people into relationship with Jesus Christ and His body, growing them into maturity in Christ, and sending them into the world as witnesses of Christ.” Paul adds, “Notice the first thing in the statement.”

 We look forward to Paul and Judi being with us and we pray that God would do a wonderful work through them in our midst.

 By Tim Kennell

For questions or comments you may email the pastor at timbev2@yahoo.com or the webmaster at hffinc@i-c.net