West-Ark Newsletter, 9 December 2004

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Family Lines Newsletter, December 9, 2004
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One of the songs sung in my childhood congregation contained the statement, "Time is filled with swift transition." Many times this past year I was reminded the song is filled with truth! From driver's license to high school graduation, to college, to marriage, to first full-time work, to beginning a family, to graduate school, to three children, to mission work, to stateside work, to age 64 and counting, my life is change! As people in every generation, I look back wondering how it passed so quickly. As I lived, it did not seem to be flying by -- but now it seems to have streaked by.

Let me share with you two things now occurring in my life. Sunday night I talked about the shipment of medical supplies, Bible study aids, and Bibles we plan to send to Eugene Elangwe in Cameroon, West Africa, in January, 2005. We have almost $7500 of the needed $10,000 shipping costs. We no longer seek funds for medicines [though much needed, they are too expensive]. C.U.R.E. donated over a ton of medical supplies you boxed for shipment. C.U.R.E. will utilize their network for shipping the supplies. Seven different Wum clinics will use those supplies. We will meet urgent physical needs and present Christians as compassionate people. Some there are suspicious of Christians.

I asked you to look at home and contribute Bible study aids (concordances, Bible dictionaries, reference books, commentaries, etc.), and Bibles (English is one of the basic languages there). Bible House book store in Searcy, AR, is making a significant contribution to that collection. The objective is to supply the preacher training school with some materials and to provide Bibles to congregations. There is plenty of room to ship books regardless of size or weight. Thanks for all your help, time, and generosity!

In the past month, with MUCH technical help from Debbie and Ron Belote, I opened a personal web site, www.davidchadwell.com . On that site, free, are bulletin articles, adult Bible class materials with guides for teachers, and sermons. (In time this will include sermons from Oxford, MS, and West-Ark.) I also hope to have all of my out-of-print books on the site as well as writing new material for the site. If you know of anyone who can make use of any of these materials, please let them know they are available for use free of charge. Right now I need a few people to scan some out-of-print books to become part of this site. If you have interest, time, and access to a scanner, please let me know.

I hope the site will be useful in numerous ways. It is a mission outreach -- people around the world have access to the material. It can supply help to small congregations experiencing difficulty having a regular minister. Hopefully, it will stimulate the thinking of preachers who read the materials. Hopefully, it will stimulate Christian individuals in their personal studies. Hopefully, it will be something God can use in His great and wonderful purposes.

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

**Cards and Prayers for Those in the Military**
Most of this year, we have run a prayer list for loved ones serving in the military. Below is an expanded list with both names and addresses. With the holidays fast approaching, please take a little extra time to send a card or an encouraging word to those serving far and near.

**Christmas for a Child**
Christmas is a wonderful time of the year for most people. But to the inter-city poor it can be very depressing just to know that there is not enough money to pay the bills, let alone buy gifts for children. We can help out if we are willing to share a little with those in need. On the bulletin board in the foyer are envelopes with names of children in need of Christmas. It is an excellent opportunity to minister to those in need, invite the poor to be a part of us, and share the gospel.

**Invitation from Sara Word**
As some of you know, I've been in Chile these past three months with one of Harding's study abroad programs. It was a great experience -- God blessed me so much. This coming Sunday (the 12th) at 4 p.m. at the church building, I'm planning on showing a slide show (a shortened version!) of all of the pictures I took while in South America. If you're interested in seeing and hearing some about my semester abroad, please come!

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

**Please Be Praying For**
* Leo Atkins remains in St. Edward Hospital. He is out of ICU and improving.
* Carl Wade is scheduled for surgery in Little Rock on Friday, December 10th.
* Eleanor Casey is home from the hospital and staying with Jim and Helen Pratt for a while.
* Darrell Wear has been hospitalized in order to adjust his medication.
* Joann Davenport's mother is in the hospital with congestive heart failure. Joann is with her, and she is improving.
* Wilma Son is out of the hospital and temporarily staying with Mike and Vicki Son in Tulsa. You may write to Wilma at their address: 9225 South 70th East Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74133. Wilma enjoys calls from friends. You may call her at (918) 493-3539.
* Bob Donahue (Melody Priester's father)
* Taylor Anders is scheduled for surgery in Little Rock on December 20th.
* Eddie Hamlett (chemo and radiation treatments)

**Bereaved**
We extend our love and sympathy to the Johns and Cole Families in the death of Jeannie Cole's mother, Velma Johns. Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, at the Downtown Church of Christ in Searcy, Arkansas, under the direction of Roller-Daniel Funeral Home.

**Muskogee Christmas Lights**
We'll be going to Muskogee to see the Christmas lights on Monday, December 13th. We'll leave at 3:30 p.m. More information is posted on the Information Center in the foyer. Please sign the list if you plan to ride on the church van with us.

**Ladies' Christmas Party**
Please sign the list in the foyer if you plan to attend the Christmas party and potluck supper Saturday, December 11, 5:30 p.m. in the FLC.

**Notes of Thanks**
Dear West-Ark Quilters,
Thank you so much for the quilt. It is absolutely beautiful and we love it. I have always been amazed by your generosity and selflessness. Thank you for thinking of us as we begin our marriage together.
Brian & Julia (Henderson) Hughes

To my Family at West-Ark:
I want to thank you for the care and concern shown to us after the diagnosis of the brain tumor. We asked for your prayers and they have helped so much to sustain us in our faith. The surgery is over now and things are looking good! I have regained some of the vision in my left eye. The doctor thinks that I may regain more of it! Thanks for the phone calls, the cards, and all other acts of kindness shown during this time. But most of all, thanks for the prayers and the love shown. May God bless each of you.
In Christian love,
Jean Dicks and Family

Dear West-Ark Church members,
Thank you so much for the prayers and get well cards for Hope during her time of need. We really appreciate it a lot.
Sincerely,
Benjamin & Hope Payne

**Request from our Groundskeeper**
Parents, please ask your children to stay outside the roped and landscaped areas when outside the building. Also, ask the older children not to pick up or dislodge the big landscaping rocks from behind the FLC.

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

While most people slow things down in December and take it easy, West-Ark teens are doing just the opposite. We have a full slate of activities for December that are designed to help us serve others, enjoy fellowship together, and grow in our faith.

We had big plans for this past Sunday, December 5th and then Mother Nature threw us a curve ball. But we didn't let that get in our way. We had a great afternoon together. We went to see "Polar Express" (a great movie for families) and then we went back to the building to celebrate the birthdays of 3 West-Ark teens. We ended the night with a challenging worship service as we took Chris's Sunday morning lesson to the "life application level."

We rescheduled our special worship service and cook out for this coming Sunday, December 12th. We will still leave from the building at 3:30, and we will return by 9 p.m. This will be for 10th-12th graders, and they are encouraged to bring a friend. The Jr. High will have a devotional at the home of Gary and Rochelle Brown after services on the 12th.

Our next big event will take place on Saturday, December 18th. Our teens will be hosting our ANNUAL FELLOWSHIP MEAL for our 60+ group. If you are in that age group and yet you don't attend because you "don't feel 60 yet," then you don't know what you are missing. This is one of the best events we have at West-Ark each year.

It is a joy to watch our young people plan, cook and serve those who have given so much to them. They have some special surprises up their sleeves this year, and you won't want to miss it. So be sure to sign up on the list just outside Room 100 and plan to be with us from 6:00 - 7:30 on Saturday, December 18th.

**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 698
Bible Classes 470
Sunday Evening 236
Small Group 14
Wednesday PM 359
Contribution $16,161
Children's Home $234
Hispanic Contribution $166
Hispanic Attendance 47
Laotian Contribution $200
Laotian Attendance 31
The Way Contribution $66
The Way Count 34

Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Making disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------