Berea Update for October 10, 2025
Last Sunday’s message by Paul Barreca, “The World Is Perishing, What Shall We Do?”, reminded us that we live in a world blinded by darkness—a world where, as Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 4:3–6, “the god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers.” The Gospel we proclaim is life and light, but to many, it remains veiled—until someone brings it near. Missions is God’s answer to spiritual blindness. It is His call for His people to carry the light of Christ into the shadows, that others might see and believe.
As we continue Missions Month, this week’s devotion below turns to Romans 10:13–17, where Paul asks a piercing question: “How will they hear without someone preaching?” These verses reveal God’s divine plan for how that light spreads—from hearts that have been illuminated, to lips that are willing to speak, to souls who finally see. My prayer is that as you journey through these devotions, your heart will be stirred with both urgency and hope—that the light that once shone into your darkness might now shine through you to a world still in need of seeing.
Please also read on to find out more about upcoming events!
Upcoming Events
1. This week, we welcome another special guest as a part of our missions focused month here at the church. Eliud de la Cruz, a missionary with Word of Life in Florida, will be joining us during both Sunday School and the morning worship service. Eliud, and his family's, specific area of ministry within Word of Life is youth ministry. With the title of Bilingual Area Missionaries, they serve local churches in Central Florida to grow disciple-making youth and children's ministries with curriculum events and missionary coaches. They regularly meet with pastors and ministry leaders to hear their goals and then assist them in meeting their needs. Being from Guatemala originally, Eliud is able to assist Spanish speaking churches as they grow their ministries.
2. During Missions Month, Youth Group and adult Sunday School classes will combine together in the Family Life Center during the Sunday School hour to hear more from our guests. The Sunday School hour allows for more interaction with our guests, so I would invite you to come to hear more details about the unique ministries they serve in! Sunday School begins at 9:00 AM. Kids' Sunday School classes will meet as normal.
3.
Most small groups launched this past week, but it's not too late to join! Throughout the fall, each group will be going through a Bible study called "Beware of the Religious Imposters" using 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. Small groups is more than Bible study though! Come build relationships as you share life together as a group! There is time of prayer, encouragement, and support while groups fellowship together. To see meeting times and locations, and to register, please visit this site:
Fall 2025 Small Group Registration
4. Interested in joining Berea in formal membership? There will be a New Member class on Saturday, October 18 from 1:00-4:00 PM here at the church. If you are interested, please let one of the pastors know.
5. There are a couple of Operation Christmas Child work days coming up! On Tuesday, October 14 at 10:00 AM, there will be a work project to complete here at the church. Then, on Tuesday, October 28 at 10:00 AM, there will be a work day devoted to folding the shoeboxes in preparation of the OCC Packing Party in November.
Ways You Can Pray This Week
1. Pray for our church, that we might have unity, as we continue to work through staff transitions and building needs! Pray for wisdom for our church's leadership, and that the Lord might be glorified! Ask the Lord to provide the right candidates for our open positions!
2. Pray for missionaries that are serving the Lord, both in the United States and around the world. Pray for their protection, and that the seeds that they plant might grow God's kingdom!
***Please know that there are many individuals who need prayer this week due to health concerns and other events going on in their lives. Out of sensitivity to each individual's situation, these requests may not appear in this weekly blog. We have a "Prayer Team" at the church who receives more detailed information, and commits to praying for individuals in our church family.
This Week's Devotions
Day 1: The Universal Need for Salvation
Romans 10:13 (ESV) — “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
From the start, Paul declares that salvation is for everyone—Jew or Gentile, near or far. The word “everyone” demolishes boundaries of ethnicity, status, and geography. God’s invitation is as wide as the world. But for someone to call, they must first hear—and that’s where missions begins.
Reflection Question: How does this verse challenge the way you view who is “reachable”?
Prayer Focus: Thank God that salvation is available to all. Pray for open hearts among unreached people groups around the world.
Day 2: The Chain of Mission
Romans 10:14 (ESV) — “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?”
This verse gives us a holy sequence: calling → believing → hearing → preaching. Every link matters. Break one, and the mission stalls. God’s plan for saving people involves real messengers—ordinary believers who speak the Good News.
Reflection Question: Which part of that chain might God be asking you to strengthen—praying, sending, or speaking?
Prayer Focus: Pray for those preaching the Gospel in hard places today, that they would not grow weary.
Day 3: The Sending Church
Romans 10:15 (ESV) — “And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!’”
Missionaries don’t just go—they’re sent. Every faithful missionary stands on the shoulders of a sending church that prays, gives, and encourages. When Paul quotes Isaiah, he shows how heaven views mission work: beautiful. Dusty, blistered feet become glorious when they carry news of salvation.
Reflection Question: How is Berea participating in “sending” those who go? What might God be calling you to do personally?
Prayer Focus: Pray for Berea’s missionaries by name. Ask God to multiply their efforts and sustain them.
Day 4: The Message of Faith
Romans 10:16 (ESV) — “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?’”
Even in Isaiah’s day, not everyone responded to the message. Missions includes moments of rejection, misunderstanding, and heartbreak. Yet faithfulness, not results, is what God rewards. Every messenger must remember: our call is to proclaim, not to produce conversions.
Reflection Question: How can you stay faithful when others reject the truth?
Prayer Focus: Pray for missionaries in resistant areas to remain steadfast and encouraged.
Day 5: The Power of Hearing
Romans 10:17 (ESV) — “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Faith is not born from emotion or argument—it’s born from hearing the Word of Christ. That’s why Bible translation, preaching, and discipleship are essential in missions. Every language deserves to hear Jesus’ name clearly.
Reflection Question: How can you help more people hear the Word of Christ—locally or globally?
Prayer Focus: Pray for Bible translators and evangelists around the world who are bringing the Word to new ears and hearts.
Day 6: The Beautiful Feet in Our Midst
Isaiah 52:7 (ESV) — “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news…”
Paul’s quote in Romans 10 comes from this verse. The picture is of a messenger sprinting over hills with the news of victory. The Gospel is good news—not advice, not religion, but an announcement: the battle is over, sin is defeated, and peace with God is available.
Reflection Question: How can you bring the “good news” to someone near you this week?
Prayer Focus: Ask God to give you opportunities to share the victory of Christ in daily conversations.
Day 7: The Unfinished Mission
Romans 15:20–21 (ESV) — “And thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named…”
Paul lived with a holy ambition—to reach those who hadn’t yet heard. That same passion fuels missions today. The mission is not finished until every nation has had a chance to hear. Until then, we pray, give, and go.
Reflection Question: What would it look like for you to live with a “holy ambition” for the Gospel?
Prayer Focus: Pray that Berea would be a sending, supporting, and shining church until all have heard.
Kids (and Kids at Heart) Korner
For Missions Month, here is an activity packet from Ethnos 360's "Mission Minded Kids" program. On the activity pages, you'll find a website where you can visit to have your kids learn more about what it means to be a missionary!
Ethnos 360 Mission Minded Kids Activity Pages
Hope to see you all on Sunday!
Keep Pressing On!
Mark