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Family Lines Newsletter, March 31, 2005
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**Somebody Does It**
By David Chadwell
 
Acts 2:47 "And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved."
 
The Jerusalem church was an incredibly large congregation.  It began with 3000 (Acts 2:41).  We average around 700 Sunday morning—we are not nearly as “big” as they where when they began!  That number grew daily!  By Acts 4:4 the number of men was about 5000.  After the Christians Ananias and Sapphira died for lying, multitudes of men and women became disciples (Acts 5:14).  The group was still increasing in number in Acts 6:1.  By Acts 21:20, Christians in Jerusalem numbered in the tens of thousands.
 
An incredible fact: they did not define congregation as we define congregation.  Though bigger than most of us can imagine, they had no building—as far as we know, they never had one.  The church in Jerusalem was Jewish people who were called out from those who did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah in order to be Jesus’ disciples.  He was their teacher and example.  He taught them how to live as they focused on God’s purposes.
 
In this incredible growth in just Jerusalem, followers of Jesus Christ developed and maintained a sense of community.  They cared about each other. When that caring was threatened in Acts 6, the twelve challenged the church to resolve differences effectively as they maintained caring.  I wish I understood how they developed and sustained this sense of community.  I wish all of us better understood how to be a genuine community of disciples who let Jesus be Lord as God’s promised Christ as we seek to serve.
 
I deeply love my country.  I frequently wonder why I am so blessed to be a citizen of this nation.  However, I grieve when our culture dictates the nature of Christian-Christian relationships.  All of us could cite both the good and undesirable in our culture.  A common undesirable characteristic of our culture: we are an extremely consumer-minded people.  For many, the first thing considered is this:  “What is in it for me?  What will I get out of it?”  Thankfully, Jesus did not look at life as many Americans do.  What was “in it” for Jesus was a cross.  What he “got out of it” was death.
 
When anything happens in this congregation, someone does it—teaching, song leading, preaching, leading, van driving, visiting, encouraging, temperature control, leak stoppage, repairs, sermon tape duplication, quilting, cooking for fellowships, setting up for fellowships, storing after fellowships, office work, planning, etc.  Nothing just happens.
 
Jesus Christ made us a community of disciples who realize only he can show us (1) how to care and (2) the way to God.  Please, help “make it happen.”  Sure, it takes funds.  It also takes manpower.  Give generously.  Serve thoughtfully.  As in any thriving community, both expect and give, but never abuse.  Do not attempt what you cannot do, but do what you can—many will be encouraged and blessed.  Included in that "many" will be you!  Be a good American, but also be a good disciple of Jesus Christ.
 
1 Corinthians 12:12-14 "For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many."
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• John Fowler was admitted to Sparks Hospital (Room 410) last night with pneumonia. He will be in the hospital for several days.
• Louise Cline is in Sparks, room 411. She is improved.
• Kay Cole is in room 237B at Health South Rehab.
• Irene Willis is in rehab room 5407 at St. Edward Hospital.
• Isaac Mobley had a heart procedure on Tuesday and is doing well. He was dismissed from the hospital Wednesday.
• Anita Maxwell  -- please pray for her CT scan on April 4th.
• Adam Jenkins has two important doctor visits this week. The Jenkins Family has prayer pager 784-7490.
• Maile McDonald (see letter from her family in “Family Update”).
• Natalie Nelson’s father, Wendell Luke Fenton, has been diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma. (See note from Natalie in “Family Update.”)
• Opal Hewitt Dexter has returned to Mercy Crest at Barling.
• Pearl Shields is in Health South Rehab following a stroke.
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Aaron Canfield Logan (infant son of Coby and Megan)
• Anita Maxwell
• Chuck Cunningham
• Dennis Anders (father of Mark)
• Don Green
• Eddie Hamlett
• Frances Quenin
• Fred Jackson
• Kathleen Taranto
• Larry Treat
• Lynne Alexander
• Palmer Richardson, daughter of Scott & Lori Ann
• Paul Flippo
• Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)
 
**Bereaved**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Mitch Harper in the death of his grandmother, Beatrice Neighbors. Services were Tuesday in Nola, Arkansas.
 
**Address**
Dave and Sharon Barker & Family
2502 Dexter
Arkoma, OK 74901
Phone: (918) 626-3700
 
**Car Clinic**
Saturday, April 2
8 to 11 a.m. at the Annex
Weather permitting
 
**Widows/Widowers**
We will eat lunch at noon in the Annex, and then board the vans to visit Parks Brothers Nursery for our annual “flower shopping.” You are welcome to eat lunch even if you don’t go shopping. Call Mary Burkett (646-6079), Bobbie Hughes (674-5814) or Janice Lowry (474-8851) for transportation to the building.
 
**Baby Shower**
A shower honoring Jamey and Amy Burkhart is planned for Sunday, April 3rd, from 2:00 – 3:30 p.m. in the Annex. It’s a girl! The Burkharts are registered at Toys-R-Us.
 
**Family Update**
Dear Church Family:
 I wanted to give you an update on Maile.  She is doing much better this week. We thank you all so much for the prayers that you have prayed for our Maile. We had a doctor's visit today in Fort Smith, and her blood counts were a little different than they have been for a long time. Maile's doctor in Little Rock felt on our last visit that her body was able to get 100% of the chemo she has been needing. This is a blessing because she has done so well with treatment, but also it has definitely made a difference in a lot of ways. I ask you to please continue to pray for Maile that she can just keep fighting this disease, and I firmly believe that God's hand has been and will continue to be on her.  I ask that you pray for her doctor, Robert Saylors in Little Rock that he would be mindful of exactly what needs to happen with her treatments.  He is such a blessing to us.  Maile will be having a treatment and a spinal tap on Monday, April 4th; this is so hard on her and on us as her parents. These taps are done to make sure everything is still okay and to give medicine to protect her spinal fluid. Please remember her on that day.  We have approximately 9 months of treatment left.  We give God all the glory for the wonderful way Maile has responded to these treatments; without Him and all of your prayers for Maile we could not have seen the light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you again,
Travis and Jeanie McDonald (3/28/05)
[Edited for length]
  
Dear Christian Family,
 It has taken me over a week to even gather the strength to write a note to ask for your prayers. My family, specifically my father, needs your prayers … he has Multiple Myeloma.  My family has been in shock and is so greatly saddened by this news. Every part of me hurts.  We will be heading to Little Rock on April 11th for the week to meet with one of the leading research/physicians in the world who does the most extensive research on this horrible bone marrow cancer.
 Please pray for my dad to find comfort and strength in the Lord through this journey and that he grows closer to Him. Although he isn't showing it, I know he must be terrified.  Please pray for my mom to remain strong and courageous and to find comfort in the Lord.  Please pray for my siblings and myself to be faithful and strong.  Please pray for me to be the example I need to be to help my sweet, strong, loyal, hard-working and loving father follow our Father's lead through this battle.  Although there is no cure, please pray that one of my dad's siblings will be a bone marrow match, and that he will respond to his treatment. Please pray for the physicians who will be guiding us through the treatments to find a way to properly manage this cancer and give my daddy more years with his grandchildren.  My dad is so anxious to spend many fishing trips with Luke (who is named after my dad)… nothing has thrilled him as much as having a grandchild named after him.
 God is so good.  We know our God is a loving God.  We know He has a plan for each and every one of us.  His Will will be done.  Please pray that we will have the strength to overcome the difficulties set before us and that each step of the way we will see God's hand and grow closer to Him.
 In Him,
 Natalie Nelson (3/28/05)
[Edited for length]
 
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**Connections Ministry**
Do you want to help visitors from our local community make a connection with Jesus? Do you want to help new members in our fellowship feel a part of who we are and what we do? Do you feel the need to connect in service to the body that meets at West-Ark? If you want to make a difference, then you are needed to serve as a part of our “Connections Ministry.” We need people to visit with those from our community that worship with us. You will be their link to our services, activities, programs and fellowship …our best foot forward. Please contact Gary Brown if this sounds like a way you can put your talents to work for God. People from all ages and backgrounds are needed. You might be the difference for someone looking to connect with Jesus.
 
**It’s VBS Time???**
Yes, it is indeed! We will have our organization meeting Sunday, April 3 at 5 p.m. in Room 100. Everyone is welcomed and encouraged to attend. This year’s VBS is going to be even bigger and better than ever. Come join us to learn all of the details and to see how you can help. As always, we need all talents and all ages to make our VBS a success! We’ll find a place for you. If you are unable to attend, but would still like to help, please contact: Carolyn Harrell or Dena Jenkins.
 
**Guest Speaker on April 3**
Sunday evening, Julian Reynolds from Southern Christian Home will be our guest speaker. He will report on the work being done for the children and encourage us in our support of SCH. Many West-Ark members are involved in this mission to support underprivileged children and help provide them with the opportunity to learn more about Jesus.
 
**Birthday Announcement**
Please join our family in celebrating the
90th birthday of LeRoy Null.
Come and Go Reception
April 9, 2-4 p.m.
Bob and Patty Null
1530 River Overlook Loop
Van Buren, AR
Call for directions:
474-0529 or 285-5509.
Cards only, please.
 
**LTC Awards and Pizza**
Sunday, April 3
Following morning worship in the Family Life Center.
 
**Senior Game Day**
Thursday, April 7 in the Annex
1:30 – to when we finish!
 
**Children’s Library**
Parents: You can help us by taking books your children pull out to look at or read and putting them in the “returned books box” at the Library entrance. Also note no food or drinks in the Library area.  Thanks so much.
 
**Motherly Love**
Motherly Love is a program that attempts to fulfill the admonition of Paul in Titus 2:4-5 that the “older women” teach the “younger women.” In today’s society that pulls us in many directions this responsibility has become a challenge for most Christian women.  For lack of a better way to define “older women” and “younger women,” we will define the older women as those in the congregation who no longer have children living in their homes. “Younger women” will be any others, whether single (out of high school), newly married without children, or those who still have children living at home.
 The Motherly Love program will consist of a meal hosted and served by the older women for the younger women and will include a devotional and prayer time conducted by the younger women. After the meal will be a lesson about the responsibilities of the Christian woman toward her family and home. The evening will conclude with a time for dessert and discussion. Babysitting will be provided at a different location for those who need that service.
 Young women are encouraged to invite their non-Christian friends and also suggest subjects for the lesson. Older women can help by offering their home for the meal, serving, providing food, teaching a lesson, or offering to babysit.
 If you have questions or would like to participate, please call Coleen Shirley at (479) 474-5256.
 
**Happy Birthday**
 
April 10
Clayton Amos
Michelle Boozer
Lisa Hollomon
Robbin Murphy
 
April 11
Sarah Botteicher
Rachel James
Greg Simpson
Duane Walker
 
April 13
Rick Carson
Rachelle Robison
Sara Rye
Gina Williams
 
April 14
Tim Davis
Wilburn Howard
Don Neisler
 
April 15
Tom Beard
Staci James
 
April 16
Chandler Harper
 
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**Family Life Ministry**
By Brad Pistole
 
It’s that time of year again…time to announce our plans for graduation services at West-Ark.
 
It’s hard to believe another year of school has almost come and gone, but before you know it, proms and graduations will begin.
 
There are 5 different schools represented with this year’s senior class. All of their graduation dates are listed on the youth web page and you can find a copy of this same schedule on the parent’s information table and on the youth information board.
 
Our graduation service will take place this year on Sunday, May 22nd. We will ask all of the seniors to meet at 9:30 a.m. in the small youth room in the FLC on Sunday, May 22nd as we prepare for our special service together.
 
In the coming week, I will be sending a letter to all of our seniors regarding our plans for this year. If you have a relative that is a senior at West-Ark who would like to participate, please let me know as soon as possible so we can involve them. We want to make sure that everyone is included in this special day.
 
I will send everyone an information sheet that will need to be returned to me along with a senior picture for our bulletin board. Then, you will need to bring your cap and gown with you to the youth room on Sunday, May 22nd.
 
We pray that God will continue to bless this year’s senior class both now and through the transitions they will soon face. May He bless all of our young people as they strive to serve Him.
 
**First Sunday Nursery**
 
A.M. Nursery
Melissa Walker
Dena Jenkins
Irene Willis
Annette Sharp
 
P.M. Nursery
Dixie Burkhart
Gina Williams
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 692
Bible Classes  422
Sunday Evening 303
Small Groups 7
Wednesday PM  231
Contribution   $16,014
Children’s Home   $185
Hispanic Contribution $143
AM Hispanic Attendance  38
PM Hispanic Attendance  7
Laotian Contribution $245
Laotian Attendance 32
The Way Contribution $40
The Way Attendance 31
 
**April Communion Workers**
Prayer Leader: J.T. Smith
 
Servers:
Chris Burress
Travis McDonald
John Wood
Doyle Wright
Curtis McDonald
Greg Null
Mike Burk
Rick Nelson
Aaron Hite
John Kamp
Andrew Todd
Michael Jones
Joe Parker
Jim Pratt
Ben Pearson
Bill Moss
 
Ushers/Nursery communion
Jay Wood
Bill Kamp
 
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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