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Family Lines Newsletter, February 10, 2005
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**What Is Covenant Marriage?**
Article contributed by West-Ark’s Dynamic Family Ministry
 
Arkansas’ Covenant Marriage law offers couples the freedom to choose to be held to a higher level of marital commitment. Couples choosing a Covenant Marriage will take extra steps of preparation for a lifelong commitment by attending pre-marriage counseling prior to receiving a marriage license.
 
Additionally, these couples will agree, up front, that if their marriage should ever run into trouble, they will seek marriage counseling before a divorce will be granted.
 
Additionally, Covenant Marriages offer more limited grounds for divorce. Couples in a Covenant Marriage will not be able to seek divorce based on the grounds of general indignities. If “separation” is the ground for divorce under a Covenant Marriage, couples will have to live separate and apart for a greater length of time before seeking divorce. Under the current law, couples must live separate and apart for eighteen continuous months without cohabitation. That is increased to two years for a Covenant Marriage couple and two and one-half years if the couple has minor children.
 
**Converting Existing Marriages to Covenant Marriage**

• Already-married couples have the option of converting their marriages to Covenant Marriage. To do so, couples will first consult a counselor, including a minister or designated layperson, to become informed about the requirements and responsibilities of Covenant Marriage. Couples converting to a Covenant Marriage will voluntarily subject themselves to the limited divorce grounds and counseling requirements.
• All couples that have completed the Dynamic Marriage (formerly His Needs Her Needs) class already meet the counseling requirement.
• Covenant Marriage declarations, affidavits and a list of Questions and Answers are available in the Information Center in the Church foyer.
• There is no charge for converting your existing marriage to a Covenant Marriage. Just present the notarized affidavit to the county clerk in the county in which you reside.
• For more information, please visit with Chris Benjamin, Paul Shirley or Mat Griffin.
 
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**Remember in Prayer**

• Fred and Janet Jackson are at UAMS in Little Rock for Fred’s third surgery on a ruptured aneurysm. Surgery is scheduled for 8 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 10. Their prayer pager number is (479) 441-2593.

• Aubrey Walden is in Sparks Hospital, room 522. He has congestive heart problems.

• Rick Nelson, father, Alan Nelson, is a hospital ICU in Kansas City, Missouri.  (See related thank you note.)

• Missy Blasdel is home following surgery last week.

• Shelley Flippo had out-patient surgery Monday at St. Edward Hospital.

• April Birkhead, granddaughter of Jeanetta Falls, is recovering from surgery.

• Ava Jones had surgery in Little Rock on February 8th. She has prayer pager number (479) 784-7490.

• Sharon Barker's mother, Shirley Austin of Gorman Towers, had a heart cath on February 4th. Further surgery to replace a valve is possible. Her prayer pager number is (479) 441-1648.

• Jim Boatright (father of Adina Boatright) will have back surgery in a few weeks. He feels like having short visits and phone calls.

• Paul Flippo is now home from the hospital.

• Maile McDonald
• John Hundley
• Marea Sutherland
• Anita Maxwell
• Adam Jenkins
• Don Green
• Larry Treat
• Chuck Cunningham
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Bea McDonald in the recent death of her brother, Monroe Remmers. Bea traveled to be with her family last week in Hawaii.
 
Our love and sympathy is also extended to Lana Howard and family in the death of Lana’s mother-in-law, Sandy Howard on Wednesday. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.
 
**Welcome Our New Member**
Jacinta Carter
2100 Brooken Hill Drive, #07
Fort Smith, AR 72908
Phone: 646-6165
 
**Prayers for Men in Service**
Matthew Faries, Shane L. Newton, Daniel Kweekul, Aaron Bailey, Philip Lux, Adam Morrissun, and Ronnie Wheat.
 
*Praise!*
Brandon Daws and his convoy made it safely out of Iraq and into Kuwait over the weekend.
His wife, Amanda, writes this note:
 
Dearest Congregation:
 There are no words to express the gratitude which Brandon and I feel for all the support you have shown in the past months. This past year has been the hardest for the both of us and our family. 
 It has also proven to be one of happiness in finding a wonderful family in Christ who provide such support. We cannot thank you enough for the tremendous outpouring of support in prayer this past week. We are truly thankful for we know God has blessed us and helped us along the way.
 All the prayers and thoughts have been exceedingly fruitful.  For now, Brandon is safely in Kuwait, and we are merely waiting for his return home. We hope to have him back with us at home the last week of this month. However, dates are subject to change. All that you have done has touched our hearts, and we thank you so very much for it all.
 In Christian love,
 Brandon & Amanda Daws and Family
 
**Written Without Ink**
Click on the link below to read Chris Benjamin's web journal.
http://www.westark.org/benjamin/blog.htm
 
**Address and Phone Changes**
Earl and Vivian Flood
9701 Apple Gate Drive
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone: 452-7585
 
Margaret Gillian
3520 South N Street, Apt. A
Fort Smith, AR 72903
Phone: 494-0115
 
David and Melissa Myers have a new home phone, 646-9906.
 
The Lion’s Den (Student Center) now has its own phone number
and answering machine. The new number is 452-0359.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
Dear Friends,
 Thank you for all your prayers and cards. Thanks to Roy and Joyce Dunavin for their visit.
 Alice Jean Rogers
 
To Our Family in Christ Jesus of the West-Ark Congregation of the Church of Christ:
 Thank you for your prayers, cards, and kind thoughts on our behalf during Gail’s hospital stay. We would especially like to thank Earl Flood, Bill and Lynn Dickey, and Dr. Michael Cole. Gail is home and continues to recover from her illness. It is such a joy and wonderful assurance that our family in Christ is bringing their loving thoughts before God’s throne on our behalf. Thank you again!
 In Christian love,
 Gail & Jerry Russell
 
We would like to thank everyone for their prayers on behalf of Rick’s dad, Alan Nelson. We ask that you continue to pray for him because he is still in the ICU in Kansas City, MO. He lost over 30% of his blood in surgery. He is improving, but still in a lot of pain. They have been so encouraged by your prayers.
 Thanks,
 Natalie Nelson
 
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**Special Contribution for Guyana Flood Relief**
This Sunday, February 13, we will have a special contribution
for flood relief for our Guyanese brethren.
 
**LTC Announcements**
• Bulletin Boards and Banners group will meet February 12 from 9 to 11 a.m. in the Annex.
• Jr. and Senior High Choir 2:00 – 3:30 p.m.  (Girls bring a snack; guys bring a 2-liter drink.)
 
**VBS Announcements**
• We need fabric for 100 VBS biblical period headgear measuring 27” X 45”. Please give your materials to Sheila Vaught or leave it in the coat closet located behind the auditorium.
• Mark your calendars for VBS, July 18-21, 2005.
 
**Senior Game Day**
Our next time for fun and fellowship is Thursday, February 17, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. in the Annex. Hope to see you there!
 
**Baptistry Towels Missing**
We have seven of our new green towels missing from the baptism dressing rooms. If you have taken them home for laundering, please call Nancy Dockery and/or return them soon.
 
**Sunday Evening**
“God Wants Us to Be Encouragers”
Mark Anders and David Chadwell, Speaking
 
**Harding University Performance Groups at FS Convention Center**
The Harding University Jazz Band and the Harding Wind Ensemble will soon be on tour and are giving a free performance at the Fort Smith Convention Center on Thursday, February 24th, 7:00 p.m.  John Berger (son of David and Sandy Berger) is in the Jazz Band.
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
February 16
Arianna Heras
 
February 17
Bob Null
Allison Todd
 
February 18
Keith Byrd
Kenneth Hatcher
Maddie Pressley
Daniel Word
 
February 19
Mitchell Bryant
Yolanda Gunn
Emily Hamilton
 
February 20
Doris Hall
 
February 21
Jill Roberts
 
February 22
Meredith Brown
Gary Hamilton
 
February 23
Rita Brown
Wayne Roberts
 
February 24
Lynne Alexander
Lucille Graves
 
February 25
Sarah Newton
Elmer Nye
 
February 26
Linda Neal
 
February 27
Grace Atchison
Ryan Dockery
Betty Moreton
 
February 28
Jane Choate
Don Griffin
Yvonne Pistole
Rachel Seiter
Marilyn Selby
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
*2005 Summer Mission Preparation  -- The Heifer Project**
 
If you were able to attend the Teen/Parent meeting we had  back on January 9th, you probably remember our discussion about an exciting new opportunity we have for our teens and families this June. If you were not able to attend that meeting, this will give you a brief recap of our plans for June 24th-27th.
 
This June, we will travel to Perryville, Arkansas to take part in a 4-day preparatory mission experience. The Heifer Project International is a very exciting program that teaches teenagers about service to others and the realities of life for people who live in various third-world countries.
 
The 200-acre farm is home to all kinds of animals, hands-on service learning projects, reconstructed third-world villages, and many other things. Several great things about this program include its short distance from Fort Smith, low cost compared to other mission trips, and the great opportunities it provides to young people who are inexperienced with missions.
 
We have 30 spots reserved for our June 24th-27th trip and the cost will be $155 which includes housing and meals. (Spending money is up to each individual.) Our spots will include 25 teens and 5 adults. We will leave on Friday morning, and we will return Monday afternoon.
 
Several people have already turned in their $50 deposit and release form which is required for each participant and due no later than March 13th. Our first official meeting to discuss plans for this trip will take place on Sunday, March 13th, at 5 p.m. in the West-Ark Youth room in the FLC.
 
If you are a teen or adult who is interested in participating in this event with us, please see Brad A.S.A.P. for an information packet. Please be in prayer about this opportunity for our teens and families.
 
**Nursery**
Morning
Trish Carson
Jane Dunavin
Morgan Dunavin
Dwonne Cogswell
Vicki Anderson
 
Evening
Terri Jones
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 623
Bible Classes  430
Sunday Evening 219
Small Group 21
Wednesday PM  349
Contribution   $16,233
Children’s Home   $281
Hispanic Contribution $173
AM Hispanic Attendance  43
 PM Hispanic Attendance  10
Laotian Contribution $237
Laotian Attendance 24
The Way Contribution $29
The Way Attendance 42
 
Office Phone (479) 452-1240
Fax  (479) 452-5767
office@westarkchurchofchrist.org
www.westark.org
 
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"Making disciples for Jesus who are eager to serve others."
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