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**Shepherd's Corner**
"Making Disciples for Jesus Who Are Eager to Serve Others"
A few weeks
ago we presented the focus statement above as the goal for the West Ark
congregation. This statement is taken from Titus 2:14 where Paul tells Titus
that God, "... gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to
purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is
good."
Why have a focus or mission statement? From time to time your
shepherds feel it is helpful to have the entire congregation give special
attention to a particular teaching from the vast amount of teachings and
concepts presented in scripture. By having our entire family look at a given
concept at the same time, we can gain greater insight into God's word by how
each of us perceives and applies this teaching.
MAKING DISCIPLES:
Disciples are followers of a particular teacher, and
we are called to evangelize.
FOR JESUS:
We are not converting people to be members of our church, but
to be followers of Jesus Christ.
EAGER:
This is the hard part. How do we become "eager" as opposed to
just willing or from duty?
TO SERVE OTHERS:
We had a lot of discussion over doing "good works" and
"serving others" and finally decided that in the context of this text, and
several similar texts, that serving others more clearly describes what Paul was
saying.
As a congregation we hope and pray that in the months to come we may all grow more eager to serve others. ~~Bob Null
**Gateway News**
The memory verse for David 1 rotation is:
"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the
outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7b).
2nd - Heavenly Visions
3rd - Faith Matters
4th
- The Word
5th - www.gateway
6th - Thine Art
**It's Almost Time for VBS**
Dates: July 21-24
Time: 9:30
a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Theme: Christ's Chosen
Learn more about how
WE
can live for Jesus today!
VBS pre-registration is very important! Parents, you may register your
children online at
www.westark.orgor
at the VBS table in the foyer.
People needed for VBS
* Pre-school family leaders
* Family and shop
helpers
* Nursery workers
* Bakers (instructions on the table in the
foyer)
Items Needed for VBS
* Baskets
* Greenery/trees
* Old bed sheets
(no florals, please)
* rugs
If you can help in any way, contact Dena
Jenkins or Carolyn Harrell via e-mail or phone.
**Inner City Ministry**
Saturday at the devotional and lunch served
"under the bridge" on Garrison Avenue, there were 79 visitors and over 20
dedicated workers
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**Remember In Prayer**
* Nancy Dockery had back surgery and is in St. Edward Hospital, room 3510.
She expects to go home this weekend.
* Janet Jackson is scheduled to see Dr. Armstrong on Monday for
evaluation.
* Jerry Canfield is recovering at home after quadruple by-pass surgery
Friday afternoon.
* Shawn McCartney (nephew of Peggy Pistole) is improving. He is in
St. Edward, room 5118.
* Bill Dickey's mother, Beatrice Dickey of Memphis, had cancer surgery
Thursday morning.
* Frances Strawhacker is recovering at home after an automobile accident.
If you would like to help with food for Frances, contact Elizabeth
Gardenhire.
* Marilyn Ogletree (Jane Choate's daughter) had such good results from her
pacemaker implant that she has been taken off the heart transplant waiting
list.
* Rebecca Holloway's mother, Helen Epton, is in Health South, room
212A.
* Wilburn Howard's sister, Daphna Curtis (age 82) had a heart cath Thursday
in Springdale.
* Mary Huff called from Nashville on Tuesday. She and Jess both saw doctors
this week and hope to come home Saturday evening.
* Mickey Mendez' mother, Lucila Lara, is in Sparks, room 647.
* Dan Ogden was in the hospital and is now home.
* Dottie Hughes requests your prayers for a friend, Jack Rowland. He is
recovering from a heart attack and by-pass surgery.
* Continue to pray for Vicki Varvel, Sandy Thurman, Elaine Jordan, Gordon
Wilson, and Floy Hamilton.
**Bereaved**
Loren Parker, a former elder of this church, died Sunday in
a local hospital. Our love is extended to his wife, Freda, and their children.
Services were Tuesday in Van Buren.
**Changes of Address**
Sandra Land
3100 N. 31st Street
#70 Nelson
Hall Homes
Fort Smith, AR 72904
Phone: 783-7468
Darrell and Christy Peters
315 Lecta Avenue
Fort Smith, AR
72901
Phone: 783-7006
**Welcome Grandbabies!**
Congratulations to Bob and Jane Fisher on the
birth of their 4th granddaughter, Grace Elizabeth Oman, born May 30th to Trent
and Leah Oman. Grace weighed 6 lbs., 2 ozs.
Congratulations to Paul and Coleen Shirley on the birth of a grandson (the
first of four grandchildren due this summer)! Paul Tyler Frost was born June 12
to Craig and Shelley Frost in Clarksville. Ty weighed 8 lbs. and was 22 inches
long.
**Note of Thanks**
Thank you for the many acts of kindness you have
shown us during my recent illness. Your prayers have meant so
much.
Love,
Helen Branum
**Widows/Widowers/60+**
Due to the holiday, there will not be a Car
Clinic or Widows/Widowers luncheon for July.
**Jail Ministry Update**
Five men from the Sebastian County Jail were
baptized Saturday, June 21st. They are Jesus Jimenez, John Murie, Leon Hunter,
Michael Alston, and Charles Bausley. Mike Williams, Steve Breedlove, David Burns
and Milton Hendrix do a tremendous job teaching the gospel at the jail. ~~Dan
Cathey
**Sunday in Worship**
Morning: "The Faith to Yield to God's Courage"
by David Chadwell
Evening: Family Meeting and Fellowship Meal in the FLC. All who can, please
bring desserts!
**Happy Birthday**
June 30
David Burns
Martha Gunter
Judy Walker
July 1
Shelby Breedlove
Kevin Curtis
Roy Dunavin
Ruth
Gouty
Dillon Hamilton
DeAnn Hankins
Hunter Pistole
July 2
Trevor Curtis
Nelda Fowler
Wendell Gilbert
July 3
Amanda Burkhart
Dwonne Cogswell
Jane Fisher
Lindsey
Yowell
July 4
Reva Hoff
Suzanne Karr
Jim Newton
Cory Wakefield
July 5
Margaret Gillian
**Very Important VBS Meeting**
If you plan on working in VBS or even
think you will, please come to a very important meeting, Sunday, July 6, at 4:00
p.m. in Room 100.
If you cannot attend this meeting, please get in touch with
Dena Jenkins or Carolyn Harrell.
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**Family Life Ministry**
~ Brad Pistole
As I write this article, David Boozer and I are anxiously awaiting plans
for another great week of service with the young people from West-Ark and The
Way. Throughout the week of June 24-27, our teens will be scraping, painting and
restoring a house for one of the families from The Way.
It's good to take a moment to reflect on all that has already happened this
summer. I never want to plan so many "things" that our kids are too busy to stop
and consider how God has used them in his kingdom to influence others. So let's
take a look back together.
So far this summer we have spent a week in the mission field at the City of
Children in Ensenada, Mexico. While we were there, we built relationships with
122 orphans through daily play times and 5 nights of VBS. During the same
week we also built a new porch for the teen girls at the City and we built a new
house for a member of the church in Mandeadero.
When we returned, we had a big Youth and Family night in our FLC as we
welcomed our new 7th grade class into the youth group. The following Sunday
night, we had almost 100 teens and family members get together for a night of
fellowship at Ben Geren Park. As I have already mentioned, this week we have
workcamp with the specific goal of getting our teenagers from West-Ark and The
Way involved with closer peer relationships as they share bonds through Jesus
Christ. What better way to do that than to serve others side by side.
As this week comes to a close, about 15 teens from our group will leave for
Green Valley Bible Camp. This week of camp always seems to stretch our kids.
It's so exciting to be a part of these various summer experiences and see and
experience this time of spiritual growth with the present and future leaders of
our Lord's church.
Finally, our teens have also started work on VBS 2003 in which we will
focus on "Christ's Chosen." That's another special week that will take place
July 21-24. Registration is already open waiting on you and your
children/grandchildren. Don't miss out on all that's happening. Talk to Brad, JT
Smith, or Gary Brown and find out how you can get involved. You'll be
glad you did.
**NURSERY**
A.M. Infants
Cristy Pressley
Kay Pressley
Hannah Pressley
Toddlers
Louise Howard
Cami Stancil
P.M. Nursery
Robertta Moses
Laurie Armstrong
**Schedule of Services**
Sunday Worship (10:30).................573
Sunday Classes (9:30)
................. 414
Sunday Evening (6:00)...................287
Small
Group....................................N.C.
The Way (4:00)
................................76
Wednesday Worship (7:00)...........
268
Sunday Contribution ................$14,768
Laotian
Attendance.............................31
Hispanic
Attendance..........................48
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