Invite your friends and neighbors for this special day of revival with Dr. Charles Wilson at New Hope Fellowship. Join us this Sunday, August 29, at the Northwest Arkansas Holiday Inn Convention Center, 10:00 AM.

Dr. Charles Wilson has been Senior Pastor of Sunnyvale First Baptist Church since 1990. Under his leadership, Sunday School attendance has grown from an average of 180 to over 2,000, with a membership of over 5,000. This truly shows his desire to reach East Dallas County and beyond for Christ. Dr. Wilson is the author of 9 books, and out of his love for hurting people, founded Life Builders Counseling Center in 2000. Dr. Wilson and Paulette have two children: Son, Chad (married to Wendy), and son, Jeremy. Charles & Paulette have four grandchildren; Cheryl & Brendon, and twins, Kadden & Kaylee.

Aug. 22     Summer Missions Wrap-up Sunday

Aug. 29     One Day Revival with Dr. Charles Wilson

Sep. 5        Labor Day

Sep. 12      Lifebuilder Sunday

Sep. 19      Bless Our Schools Sunday, Golf Tournament

Sep. 26      TBA

Oct. 3        Great Giveaway

Oct. 10      Guest Testimony, Donnie Smith, CEO of Tyson Foods

Oct. 17      Apologetics Conference with Dr. Jim Burkett

Oct. 24      Directors of Like Elijah Ministry, Nathan and Melody Durant

Oct. 31      “I Love My Church Day”

Nov. 7       Guest Testimony, Springdale Mayor, Doug Sprouse

Nov. 14      Veteran’s Day Service with “The Singing Men of Arkansas”

Nov. 21     Thanksgiving Meal

I remember mission work and sending groups to Denver, Springfield, Nixa, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Iowa, Mexico, Turkey, and Western Peru. With joy I pray for our current mission sites of Montana; Rio Bravo, Mexico; Iquitos, Peru; and Guatemala City, Guatemala.

I remember all of the Bodybuilders whether we were bowling, golfing, renting a Racquet Club, or simply having a picnic. I remember our church instituting “Trunk or Treat” and “The Great Giveaway” in Northwest Arkansas.

I remember the friendship and partnership of the Hancock family as our first music and youth ministers. I remember when we started New Hope North, which eventually became Northwest Arkansas Family Church, and sent many of our friends to help with that work.

I remember God’s abundant grace poured out on His people in this fellowship. The Apostle Paul stated it best in Ephesians 3 verse 20; “God is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

Happy 15th Anniversary New Hope!

Josh has served faithfully at New Hope for 15 years. During the early years of the church, when Josh was in high school, he loaded up all the sound equipment in his 1990 Ford Thunderbird at 6:00am and then set it all up at the Holiday Inn. As the church grew, he bought a small pick-up truck and loaded it every Sunday. Expansion then required his truck pulling a trailer each Sunday. Soon after, the church secured two Step Vans and Josh drove one of them each Sunday morning. In the late 90′s Josh became the Jr. High Student Pastor and took full reign of the Student program in 2004. Through the years he has set up and taken down our worship center every Sunday morning…that’s about 750 Sundays. Josh has led our students to be on mission as they have served in Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Texas, Oklahoma, Iowa, New Mexico, Louisiana, Tennessee, Colorado, Missouri, Montana, California, and many other places.

We are now receiving a “Love Offering” for Josh as he goes off to Law School. Let’s all be generous and show our love for Josh and all that God has accomplished through him at New Hope. There will be a reception honoring Josh on Sunday evening July 18^th at 6:00pm at the Recreation/Activity Center located at Century and Kelly Streets in Springdale. We hope you will make plans to be there.

It ought to be against the law…but we think of it as a blessing!

Women’s Newsletter July, 2010

Join us 10:00 AM at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Springdale.

June 10
Let’s pray for safe travel as students drive to their hotel in Rapid City, SD and have the chance to see Mt. Rushmore.

June 11
As students and workers arrive in Haugan, MT late in the evening, may they find rest and recuperation.  May God prepare the hearts of the people of Haugan and the people of St. Regis, that they might be open to the Gospel.

June 12
The first full day of work will start strong.  May the students feel energized and prepared, and may God provide direction and mission.  As students invite members of these communities to the church, may their hearts be open and receptive.

June 13
May God bring just the right people to the three worship services this day.  May our students sing, speak, and pray for God’s glory.

June 14
May Alan and Sarah be strengthened and encouraged, may their continuing work receive God’s greatest blessing.  As student’s complete outside work projects, may they be safe and productive.

June 15
Bring someone to you, Lord.  May someone recognize their need for a Savior as the Spirit calls them to Himself.  May they accept the sacrifice Christ made for their freedom.

June 16
May our students receive strength for their final day, may they be encouraged when reflecting back on the work God has used them to accomplish.  May they encourage Alan, Sarah, and the people of Haugan in their final full day there.

June 17
May our students have safe travel back to Rapid City, and may our workers receive a second wind of energy to finish this great work they’ve led.

June 18
May our students enjoy ‘Holy Exhaustion’ – knowing they’ve served the Will of God.  May students and workers have patience with each other on this long day of travel.  May our students be filled with the Glory of God as they return home.

I love my DVR!  I like to set it to record my favorite shows, and then I can watch them whenever I want to.  I also skip the commercials.  My television shows revolve around me.  I also like Starbucks – where I can order a double grande skinny vanilla latte in a venti cup.  Starbucks is known for making coffee-drinks any way you want them.  My coffee shop revolves around me.  Using iTunes and an iPod, I can buy and listen to virtually any song ever published, within seconds of clicking a button.  My music revolves around me.  When I open up the Amazon Online Store, it recognizes that I’ve purchased things from them before, and immediately customizes their site to feature similar things that I might like to buy.  My bookstore revolves around me.  I certainly take advantage of these conveniences, but the Bible cautions me not to become overly concerned with them.

“Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.  Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.” (Galatians 5:25, NLT)

It’s easy for me to forget that the world doesn’t really revolve around me.  I’m not here to chase my own happiness or custom-build a perfect life.  When Jesus walked on earth, he didn’t seek easy experiences.  Instead he confronted the establishment, rescued us from sin, carried his cross, and died in agony from the world’s sinful choices.  In everything, Jesus brought glory to God the Father.

No matter how much I can customize my life on earth, no matter how much happiness or convenience I pursue, it’s all meaningless and empty.  For God’s purpose is so much larger.  It’s not about me; His purpose is all about Him: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31, NLT)

As we walk through our sinful world, may we reject the world’s idea of happiness through selfishness, and embrace a life that seeks but one sole purpose: the glory of God.

We love a good story. We know that television drama isn’t real.  We are aware that medical doctors don’t actually narrate sappy summations at the beginning and end of their workday.  We are aware that Dancing With The Stars should really just be called “Dancing” since no real “star” has ever appeared on the show.  We are aware that the bachelor’s rose was purchased by a stage hand at the local grocery store a few hours before the taping started.  When we engage with the story, however, we don’t let those realities get in the way.

One commonality among this type of entertainment is self-centeredness.  The dramas, especially, focus on the personal problems of characters.   An entire show can be about one character’s ever-evolving “love life”.

More and more technology shares this self-centeredness everyday.  Just before writing this, I quickly glanced at Facebook.  Of the hundred or so “updates” I could see, all of them were about the person who posted it.  One person had posted: “Make me feel better i wanna feel better. You make me feel better… put me back together.”

I’ve watched as so many young people engage in a constant stream of communication with their boyfriend or girlfriend.    Whether through Facebook or through text messaging, the conversation never stops.  It takes brief periods off for sleep, but otherwise there is a constant, never ending conversation happening between these two people at every waking hour.  So what is the problem?

Drama…It’s self-centered, attention-seeking, demanding, unattractive drama.  When you have constant contact with someone twenty-four hours per day, you run out of valuable things to say.  Instead you cling to this person and create the problems, situations, and traps that give you something to talk about.  You start testing just how much they love you.  You demand from the other person something they simply cannot give you:  your own happiness.

No matter how frequently you can communicate with someone, no matter how special they seem, and no matter how much time you spend together, it will never be enough.  A person will never fill that void.  There is a void inside each one of us that yearns to be filled by God.  As long as we try to fill that emptiness with other people — as long as we seek self-worth through selfish means — we are failing to accept the perfect solution, Jesus Christ.

May we accept our love and complete fulfillment from Christ alone, and relate to each other in love, without manufactured drama or self-focused living.

June 21-24

9:00 AM – Noon
1003 Century Street
For children 4 years old – 5th grade.

Pick up a registration form this Sunday in your child’s class or at the information table.

As we head into the summertime, there is a lot of activity happening at the church. We’re preparing for a great Vacation Bible School, as well as several mission trips. Summer is a very busy time for your church, with a lot of ministry activity. Although summer is a very active time for the church, it is also a time when many families miss services while traveling. It’s important for the people of New Hope to remember that ministry to our community and within our fellowship continues at full-speed, even through the summer months.

I’ll be looking for YOU at worship this Sunday!

Sunday, June 27, will be a great day to invite a friend to worship. We will have special rodeo guests and participants with pony rides for the kids.   Remember to wear your western attire.

Join us 10:00 AM at the Holiday Inn Conference Center in Springdale.

We just completed a preaching series entitled “Ordinary Lives of Extraordinary Faith.” The question arises, “How do I build my faith?” I believe the best way to build your faith is to get to know the Lord better. This means that we should all be in His Word on a daily basis so He can speak to us. It also means that we should make it a daily practice to pray daily so we might present our petitions to Him. The more you get to know God, the more you learn to trust Him in every segment of your life. Building your faith is simply learning to trust the Lord in every situation. How well do you know Him? Are you getting to know Him better every day? Are you building an extraordinary faith?

Building His Kingdom

New Day Ministries in Montana is alive and well under the direction of our Mission Evangelists Alan and Sarah Damron. The Damrons have restarted one church and have started another in a town 15 miles away. God is at work in the Western Valley of Montana.

New Hope Amazon Ministries continues to reach out and move forward. Our Mission Evangelist Brandon Carroll has been instrumental in starting a house church in Iquitos and continues to lead his staff to reach out to the surrounding villages on the Amazon River.

Jehovah Jireh Baptist Church, our Hispanic Mission, has started meeting on Sunday mornings at the RAC. Pastor Avelino Berroa is working very hard and building a local church designed for our hispanic brothers.

We are sending a group of our young people and their sponsors to Guatemala once again this year. God is doing a work in the ministry of CASA as they raise and train children in a Christian environment. There are many churches working to support this vital mission and we are honored to be among the churches involved.

For the past two years we have sent a group to Reynosa, Mexico during the Christmas holidays. These voluteers have made a significant impact in the lives of the people living near the border.

I want to ask you to consider your place in our mission trips and plans for this year.

Building His Church

Great days lie ahead at New Hope Fellowship. Our 15th Anniversary celebration is planned for the weekend of August 14-15. Our Youth Group will be serving in Montana, Guatemala, and Oklahoma City. VBS will be wonderful this year. Rodeo Round-up Sunday is upon us. We hope to double the number of Lifebuilder groups for the fall. Our building fund continues to grow positioning us to move forward toward our own “planting place.” We are seeing people saved and baptized. Fifty people have been discipled through our Tuesday night disciple’s class. Our crowd on Sunday mornings continue to grow. God is good!

Be a part of what God is doing at New Hope!

Billy (the atheist I told you about last month) and his family came Saturday and Sunday night. We meet with his family on Wednesday and Friday nights. God is doing an amazing work in him and in his family.

Jackeline, Tylor, and I will be in NWA from the 22nd of July till the 11th of August. We look forward to spending time with our New Hope Family.

There is much for which to pray… thank you for joining us in the spiritual battle for souls in this dark valley of western Montana:

Souls to be saved in this valley
Mission Teams coming to help this summer from Springdale, AR, and Tulsa, OK
Teenagers and their parents in St. Regis and throughout the valley (a possible Teen Center)
Continued use of the St. Regis Community Center (this was approved through August!)

Women’s Newsletter June, 2010

I’m encouraged each week that I attend services at New Hope, and I hope that you are too.  As the summer schedule gets packed with vacations and activity, remember to carve out time to worship together with New Hope, your local church.   Hebrews 10:25 remind us “…let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.”  I know I am always encouraged through worshiping each week with the people of New Hope, and I hope you are too.

As we head into the summertime, there is a lot of activity happening at the church.  We’re preparing for a great Vacation Bible School, as well as several mission trips.  Summer is a very busy time for your church, with a lot of ministry activity.  Although summer is a very active time for the church, it is also a time when many families miss services while traveling.  It’s important for the people of New Hope to remember that ministry to our community and within our fellowship continues at full-speed, even through the summer months.

I’ll be looking for YOU at worship this Sunday!

When television and radio were first introduced, ‘mass media’ was truly born.  In one moment, one person could be instantly communicating with thousands or millions of other people.  Nevertheless, only those who were on TV or Radio were able to communicate in this way, one-to-many.  Neighbors, friends, and loved ones still practiced old-fashioned one on one communication.  Even with the advent of the telephone, email, instant messaging, cell phones, and text messaging most average people used these tools in a one-to-one fashion.  It was just one person calling or messaging with one other person.

Then Facebook.  This web site changed the communication game.  Now, mass communication is practical and available to everyone.  By typing one short message and “posting” it on a wall, you communicate something to every one of your “Facebook Friends”.  The average person can now communicate with their friends and family though mass communication, one person talking to many people.  This revolutionary concept brings friends and family together.  It allows new avenues to share the Gospel message with large groups of people.  It encourages more consistent contact with those you love.  The advantages seem endless.

Unfortunately, the disadvantages are endless as well.  Christians must remember that our God is not surprised by new technology and that His word applies to our entire life whether online or off.

Tips for Facebook and the Christian Life

Don’t trade quality for quantity
Most “status updates” or “posts” on Facebook lack useful meaning.  Telling your friends on Facebook that you are eating Tacos isn’t the same as telling them that Christ loves them, or that you’re praying for them.  Just because you can communicate constantly, doesn’t mean you should.  “Careful words make for a careful life; careless talk may ruin everything.”  Proverbs 13:3

Just because you can say it publicly, doesn’t mean you should.
There are many people willing to engage in public fights on Facebook.  I have witnessed many relationships fall apart in the course of public postings on a Facebook wall. “If another believers sins against you, go privately and point out the offense…”  Matthew 18:15

Use Facebook as a tool to minister and to reach out in the name of Jesus.
Like any community, Facebook has people who are hurting and lost.  As Christians we have an absolute responsibility to this community.  “If any of you are embarrassed over me when you’re around your friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to Jesus when he arrives in all the splendor of God, with an army of the holy angels.” Mark 8:38

Don’t Lie
Just like chain letters and email “forwards” occasionally Facebook statuses are “copied and pasted” so that they are passed along from friend-to-friend.  As Christians, we must be people of the truth.  Never forward along anything that you can’t verify is true.  Be known for being accurate and truthful so that your messages to others have real value. “So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” Ephesians 4:25

Let your words be useful.
Online or off, God calls us to use our words in a particular way.  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”  Ephesians 4:29

“My daughter can’t go on mission trip if you’re not going to let her bring her cell phone,” the perturbed mother continued, “What if there is an emergency? She needs to be able to call me.”

What did we ever do without cell phones?  Today’s teens don’t know a world without the mobile phone.  They are connected constantly.  They use phones to connect with their friends through text messaging and Facebook.  Their lives are a constant stream of information, drama, and storytelling.  Their minds are distracted constantly, if only by the soft buzz of a vibrating phone.  From the moment they hear that sound, the compulsion begins.

When I notice that a student’s phone is making a noise while they are trying to do another task (like participate in a Bible study), I always start counting down from 30.  “29, 28, 27, 26, 25, 24…bam!  6 seconds before they looked at the phone,” I say to myself.  I’ve noticed that most students can’t last longer than about 15 seconds from the time their phone goes off until the time they look at the screen.

So, is this fundamentally changing us?  Ten years ago few people had cell phones, and no one had a phone small enough to carry in their pocket.  We were not constantly connected to each other, there was no unending stream of communication telling us what our friends were thinking or doing or seeing.  Instead, communicating with someone meant using complete sentences, and sometimes seeing them face-to-face.  We were not exposed to a word-for-word transcript of a couple’s breakup, or photos of a friend we once respected, now enjoying his “drunkest vacation yet”.  There was a time when what I was eating for dinner was irrelevant to my friends, but now apparently it is important enough for a “status update.”  There was a time when our minds and our hearts were present, in the moment, with the people we love.  What are we losing?

Is there a Christian response to this change?  What advice would the Apostle Paul give to believers in the New Testament Church about this shifting technological landscape?  Are we controlling this technology, or is it controlling us?

Over the next five weeks, this article series will explore those questions and more.

Please join us on Sunday, May 23, 10:00am at the Holiday Inn Conference Center for an inspiring service that you won’t soon forget.

Let us know you’ll be there by confirming on Facebook.

Churches all over the United States have begun offering electronic payment options for their members. This move is designed to enhance the convenience of giving to the church by offering more options about how to give.

What are your options when giving to New Hope?

Your Own Online Banking Bill Pay Service

Do you use an online Bill Pay service through your bank? As you go online to pay your bills, you can schedule your tithe at the same time. All you have to do is setup New Hope Fellowship as a “biller” in your online banking bill pay service. When you set us up as a biller, you’ll need to enter our mailing address: PO Box 6100, Springdale, AR 72766 and our phone: 479-750-4673. We don’t require an account number; you can put anything in that blank. After this one time setup, you fill in the amount you wish to pay, and we receive your gift on the date you’ve specified.

NEW COMING SOON!  Online Giving

In the coming months we’ll be releasing a secure online giving module at the church web site. Using this tool, you’ll be able to give to the church securely with a credit or debit card. You can make a one time donation, or you can schedule recurring donations from your credit or debit card. You’ll also be able to review your contribution history online (no matter what method you use to give).

Paper Checks or Cash on Sundays

As long as they exist, these will always be an option for you to give at New Hope. You can give using these methods at our Sunday Worship Services by dropping your check or cash into an envelope and placing it in one of the green buckets near the doors.

Paper Checks by Mail

You can always mail your check to the church office. Our address is PO Box 6100, Springdale, AR 72766.

In a little over three months we will celebrate our church’s 15th Anniversary. I believe the weekend of August 14-15 will be one of the greatest weekends in the history of our church. We have heard from many friends from the past already and they are planning to be back with us during our celebration. Our committee is hard at work with plans for the big day. Be sure to mark your calendar as this is a “must be here” weekend.

I met this past week with Pastor Avelino Berroa who leads our Jehovah Jireh Baptist Mission Church. Pastor Avelino is excited about this new work. In January they began having morning worship services at our Recreation/Activity Center (RAC) and have grown to 20 people each week. Be in prayer for our Hispanic mission as they move forward in outreach this summer. They are planning a major work the end of May and the first of June. We are planning some joint ventures with them in the future.

Have you thought about serving in our preschool or children’s areas on Sunday mornings? We need you to help teach and lead our children. Give us a call at the church office and join our teaching team.

Coming June 21-24

Saddle up for VBS 2010 where kids will be ridin’ the range and roundin’ up questions like: “What is God’s plan for me?” and “How can I be like Jesus?” At the end of the day, they’ll discover that God’s Word has all the answers.

Volunteer to help with VBS by contacting the church
office, 750-4673.

Two of our very own mothers and daughters will be providing entertainment for the program this year. You will enjoy Jan Clark and daughter, Mayci Smith and Carol Jenkins and daughter, Melody Jenkins as they share their stories with us.

All ladies and little ladies are invited to attend, after all we are all daughters. This is a great opportunity to invite a friend.  Reservations are $5.00 each and you can sign up at the women’s table on Sunday or email karen@newhopefellowship.com.  You can also sign up by calling the church office at 750-4673.

A Food Pantry Ministry (New Day Resource Center) is in the planning & beginning stages. We are so excited about this and believe this will open doors to share the Gospel in a great way. As we have mentioned before, Mineral County is the poorest in Montana and the west end of the valley—where we live—is the poorest part of that county! There are families in need without question, and we want to be Jesus’ hands and feet to them. We have decided to just begin where we can.  A few donations have already come in and a couple in our church are leading out in this by handing out loaves of bread to households in Haugan and DeBorgia—letting them know our plans in the near future. This news has received many positive responses.

Easter morning was a special day of celebration. We hosted an egg hunt for children and a continental breakfast for all ages. We had five children (encompassing 3 different families) who attended for the first time! Two others had planned to come, but got the flu, so one of our sweet ladies delivered their Easter baskets to them. The family was so surprised and appreciative. Another couple from Saltese attended services for the first time and stayed for our fellowship time afterward. It was truly a day to rejoice!

Billy accepted us in his home and we began teaching him the Bible. He is excited because we have an answer for every question he has about the Bible. We teach him every Wednesday and Friday for 3 hours. His whole family, wife, son, and daughter join our study and ask questions. His 9 year old son, Simon, reads from the Psalms every time before we pray to finish the study time. His 16 year old daughter, Paloma, has invited her friends to join our study. Billy is very excited and on the verge of giving his life to Christ. When he makes the decision this guy will be used of God to do some amazing things here. Please pray for Billy and his family.

God is doing awesome, awesome stuff. I am so humbled to be a part of what God is doing and being able to see it first hand. Thanks for being a part of it. Continue to pray for us because although God is opening up doors, other challenges arise. Iquitos is as close as it has ever been for the first time to seeing a pure gospel and church, and seeing a true discipleship movement take place. Many blessings.

Women’s Newsletter May, 2010

You are a Person of the Truth.
Christians are to live everyday with the truth at the center of their thoughts.  The truth is that every person should be loved, that everyone can be forgiven, that Jesus is the only way to Heaven.  The truth is found in God’s word and in His creation.  It is rarely found in that email forward, or in the latest bit of juicy gossip.  “So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.” Ephesians 4:25 (NLT)

If People Have Gathered for the Purpose of Practicing Sin, Christians Should be Elsewhere.
“Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.”  Ephesians 5:10-11 (NLT)

Your Life’s Purpose is to Glorify and Honor God
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

Your Priorities are Already Determined
“Seek the Kingdom of Gods above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”  Matthew 6:33 (NLT)

We’ve launched a web page called “Mission Trip Central“.  The primary purpose is to communicate the latest information on the trips to parents and students.  Parents, you may want to mark this page in your favorites, as we will be keeping it updated as trip planning progresses.  Parents and students can find downloadable forms for scholarship requests and a sample letter for requesting donations at the Mission Trip Central page.

For our whole church congregation, there are ways for you to be involved as well. First, we appreciate the prayer support that we always receive from our church body.  We also need financial support.  With the current economic climate, there are many students who cannot afford the full cost of this trip and have applied for a scholarship to cover some portion of the cost.  Many students have worked hard to earn a percentage of the cost by doing various odd jobs, and working fundraisers.  Nevertheless, the trips this summer are particularly expensive and many students have been unable to earn the full amount.  We appreciate donations toward the mission trip scholarship fund in any amount.  While the total trip cost for Montana is about $450 per student, donations to the scholarship fund even as small as $25.00 can be helpful.  If you would like to sponsor a particular student on mission trip this year, some need as little as $100 to be able to go, while some need at much as $350 to be able to go.   If you can make any donation to help reduce the costs for students and their families, please contact me at the church office right away.  We’ll need to cover these expenses before May 30th.

April 11  -  Samson: Faith that Glorifies God
April 18  -  David: Faith Greater than My Fear
April 25  -  Elijah: Faith for the Impossible
May 2    -  Daniel: Faith in Crisis

When the going got tough, these believers got…bolder?! Their lives were threatened, so naturally they prayed. But do you notice what they didn’t pray for? They didn’t ask God to miraculously intervene and change their enemies’ hearts. They didn’t pray for God to make their lives easier and more comfortable. Instead they asked God for great boldness so they could continue to speak out in spite of any danger.

When you’re on the hot seat for your faith, what are you praying for? When your teacher says the Bible is just a good work of fiction, do you pray for the boldness to challenge that opinion based on what you’ve learned? When people at school think it’s narrow-minded and arrogant to believe there’s only one way to God, do you ask God to give you the words to tell them what you believe? When your youth group leader asks you to share with the group how you became a Christ-follower, do you pray for the courage to speak?

Earlier in Acts 4, Luke (the writer of Acts) tells us that the leaders who threatened Peter and John were astonished at their courage in sharing the gospel–because these guys were ordinary, unschooled men. Their boldness to speak out about Jesus didn’t come from their own natural abilities and skills. It came from their conviction that the message should be shared no matter what the cost–and they depended on God to give them the boldness and courage to do just that.

You might feel like you don’t have what it takes to stand up and speak out. But it doesn’t matter. God can give you the words you need and the courage to share them. Ask him to enable you to speak his word with great boldness. And go for it!

Read the whole exciting story of Peter and John’s bold witness, the threats they received, and the subsequent prayer of the believers for boldness in Acts 4:1-31.

* * * God, you gave boldness to the believers in Acts, and I believe you can give me that same boldness. Help me to choose to stand up for you with that same courage, no matter how afraid I might feel***

Let me talk a bit about the Day Center for the Homeless. On February 15th we held our first informational meeting concerning the Day Center and had 42 individuals attend. It was a great first step. Step two came when we selected a steering committee to research and make recommendations toward opening the Day Center. Our committee is now meeting and they have started their work. If you attended our February 15th meeting (or if you didn’t attend but have a passion for this ministry) we want you to be involved in this process. In days to come the committee will form ministry teams for Day Center related tasks. We will be calling you to ask you to serve on these ministry teams. We still need your help and expertise on this project. If you have a passion for this work and you have not let us know, please contact us today to volunteer your time to help. You may call the church office at 750-HOPE.

Our Pastor’s Advisory Council members are looking at the possibilities of various locations for property acquisition. They will soon be joined by our Pastor’s Advisory Board to discuss these matters and begin to move on some very important decisions. Please pray for this group as they lead us toward purchasing our own property. We are thankful for those of you who have joined us in “Our Planting Place” fund-raising for the new property. We are still praying for 100% involvement in our fund-raising efforts. You may join “Our Planting Place” by signing a Commitment Card at the table in the rear of the auditorium this Sunday.

Lastly, it is an honor being the Pastor of such great people. I do not take the task lightly. Together, in His steps, we can accomplish so much more for the Lord. Thank you for your faithfulness to Him and to His church.

The Best is Yet!

Peru mission trip dates are July 5-13. Pick up a trip packet at the information table on Sunday morning. $1,500  due by May 24 to sign up.

Women’s Newsletter April, 2010

March 14 – From the Upper Room – Arrest
March 21 – The Trials
March 28 – The Cross to the Tomb
April 4 – The Resurrection

Amazon Ministries Newsletter Spring, 2010

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B.A.S.E. 101
Sunday, March 14, we will offer B.A.S.E. 101 at the RAC from 3:30 PM-5:30 PM. This class is designed to tell you everything about our church, our beliefs and our priorities. Each participant receives a binder that serves as a church handbook. Completion of this class is required for church membership. Please sign up at the information table on Sunday morning or online.

Soon you will be seeing a renewed emphasis and programming in the area of prayer. We must continue to seek the wisdom of God as we move forward as a church making disciples. I hope you are praying daily for your Pastor, your Staff, and your Church. Also I would like to ask each of you to pray for our Pastor’s Advisory Council, Pastor’s Advisory Board, Day Center for the Homeless committee, and our 15th Anniversary committee. As I look at what lies ahead in days to come I must remember, “God is able to do exceeding abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” (Eph. 3:20)  Pray!