West-Ark Newsletter, 4 November 2004

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Lines Newsletter, November 4, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, November 6
8:30 a.m. Prayer Breakfast in the home of Gary and Rochelle Brown.
RSVP by calling 646-4105 so we can plan for adequate food.

Missions Sunday, November 7
9:30 a.m. Combined class for all adults and teens in the Auditorium
10:30 a.m. Worship (Dan McVey, Guest Speaker)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 2
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**Thanksgiving Fellowship**
If you don't have plans for Thanksgiving, you are invited to join us for lunch in the Family Life Center, Thanksgiving Day, from 12:00 noon until we all leave. Please sign the list in the foyer to let us know what you plan to bring. Also, let us know how many of your family will be attending.
~~Sandy Berger

**Widows/Widowers**
The bus will leave the Annex Saturday, November 6, at 11:30 for lunch at the Lowry home. Call Mary (646-6079), Bobbie (674-5814) or Janice (474-8851) if you need transportation to the Annex.

**Ladies' Retreat**
Kerr Mansion in Poteau
January 28-29, 2005
The cost will be $65 and will include all meals, lodging, and a retreat t-shirt.
A sign-up sheet is posted in the foyer. A $35 deposit is requested when you sign up and may be given to Christy Anders, Heather Curtis, or Donna Roper. Invite your friends, neighbors and coworkers -- all ladies are welcome!

**Campus Room and Fellowship Room Renovations**
The Campus Room in the Annex was recently expanded to accommodate our growing Lions for Christ ministry.
Many thanks to Jim Selig and Ron Moreton for their skilled work in this renovation.
The LFC's are now painting the room, arranging their furniture, and making a place all their own!

**Annex Fellowship **
The Annex Fellowship room was also remodeled and the closet area was relocated. The fellowship hall will soon be repainted by the LFC's. Thanks to everyone who helped with this good work!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 3
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

**In Our Thoughts and Prayers**
* Del Ingram is in Sparks rehab room (204A). She has improved and plans to go home Friday.
* Bill Miller is in Sparks Hospital, room 692. He is having a bone scan and other tests.
* Velma Johns, mother of Jeannie Cole, has moved to rehab at Baptist Hospital in Little Rock.
* Beatrice Neighbors, grandmother of Mitch Harper, is in room 584 in Sparks Hospital.
* Anita Maxwell will have an MRI this week.

**Continued Prayers**
* John Hundley
* Jean Dicks
* Larry Treat (chemotherapy)
* Don Green (chemotherapy)
* Taylor Anders
* Adam Jenkins
* Eddie Hamlett

**Bereaved**
We extend our love and sympathy to Charlotte Pinedo in the death of her brother, Edwin (E.T.) Fagan who died Saturday. Memorial Contributions may be made to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, AR. There will be no formal service held.

Our love and sympathy is also extended to Paul Shirley in the death of his brother-in-law, Tom Pendleton, Tuesday night in Belle, Missouri. Funeral arrangements are pending.

**Prayers for Military**
Continue to remember in prayer Daniel Kweekul, Phillip Lux, Johnny Lindgren, Jeff Amos, Brandon Daws, Matthew Faries, Aaron Bailey, Michael Gooden, and Shane Newton.

**It's a Boy!**
Congratulations to Josh and Kim Bice on the birth of their son, Joshua Noah on November 2nd. Noah weighed 7 lbs., 15 ozs. And was 21 ½ inches long. John and Beverly Lankford are the happy grandparents.

**Baby Shower**
A shower is planned for Melissa McCord on Tuesday, November 9th, from 11:30 a.m. until noon in the Annex (following Tuesday morning class). Hostesses are the ladies of Tuesday Wings. It's a boy!

**Notes of Thanks**
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
We want to express our gratitude for the overwhelming love and support you have given our family since John broke his leg. We found ourselves in a situation that no parent ever wants to experience. We appreciate so much all the ways you blessed us. The visits, the calls and the cards lifted our spirits. Thanks also to the many who brought us snacks, reading material and other helpful items. Most of all thank you for your prayers. The power of prayer has brought John back to us. Please continue to pray for us as his leg heals.
James 5:13-16
In Him,
Rick and Trisha Carson

West-Ark Church,
Just an update for you about Chuck. He finally has started his radiation and chemotherapy treatments this week. He has to go to Denver every day (Monday-Friday) for the radiation and the chemo is every night orally. He is also doing angio genesis treatments which are an experimental thing. You can read about it online if you so choose. Many, many thanks for the prayers being lifted to our Father on Chuck's behalf. We serve THE ultimate healer and He is faithful to hear our cries. I will keep you informed as time goes along. The treatments will be for 6 1/2 weeks.
In His grace,
Karen "Kirby" Cunningham

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 4
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This past week, I had an encounter that reminded me of the story in Luke 17. Jesus made the choice to help ten lepers who were in desperate need. As a matter of fact, they "cried out" for his help. They were so anxious to "be healed" and yet so quick to "be on their way."

After Jesus helped them, they went on their way. Later, one of the ten realized the magnitude of what had been done for him and he returned to thank Jesus.

About 3 months ago, I received a call at home from a former teen. (I hadn't heard from them in years). They called to tell me that they had just recently realized how much I had done for them throughout the years and they wanted to say thank you.

Then, to my surprise, they actually came to Fort Smith and asked to talk to me. They said they wanted to come in person and thank me for all the retreats, camps, classes, late nights, and sacrifices that had been made to help them develop spiritually as a disciple of Christ during such a difficult time in their life.

They said they had taken for granted all that was offered to them spiritually during High School. They realized this when they went to college and starting talking with all of their new friends about their youth group experiences while growing up, and that made them realize just how blessed they were to be a part of a church that cared so much about their spiritual development.

They even asked to speak to Yvonne. They wanted her to know that they realized the sacrifices she has made over the years to help minister to the teens at West-Ark.
I can't tell you how much this meant to us. What a "shot in the arm!"

Is there a teacher, coach, co-worker, volunteer, mentor, elder, grandparent or friend that you appreciate? When was the last time you told them "thank you" for making a difference in your life? How often do you thank God for continuing to do immeasurably more than you could ever think or imagine?

Aren't we all just like the lepers in Luke 17? Haven't we been given hope when there was no hope? May we all take the time to return and thank God for all He continues to do for us!

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 722
Bible Classes 556
Sunday PM 227
Small Group NC
Wednesday P.M. 379
Contribution $16,605
Children's Home $227
the Way Attendance 47
the Way Contribution $48
Hispanic Attendance 47
Hispanic Contribution $133
Laotians Attendance 37
Laotian Contribution $210

     Servers:
        Greg Simpson
         Bill Walker
         Darrell Moses
         Bernie Morris
         Sam Lively
         Ron Morton
         Jim Newton
         Patrick Pruitt
         Mark Carpenter
         Billy Yowell
         Tom Beard
         Mike Williams
         Andrew Todd
         Landon Abuzeide
         Micheal Jones
         Barney Puckett

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Making disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------