West-Ark Newsletter, 4 August 2005

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Family Lines Newsletter, August 4, 2005
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**HELP WANTED**
Thank you for your presence at the Family Meeting, Sunday July 31. Heres a summary of the needs announced by members of our church family . . .

LIFE Groups
Need people who are interested in forming new LIFE Groups (These will meet on Sat. Aug. 20 at the Benjamins house for more information)
Need current LIFE Group leaders to also attend the meeting on Aug. 20
Sign-up for new LIFE Group season will take place Aug. 28 - Sept. 11
New LIFE Group season begins on Sept. 18
Contact Larry Roper (996-2178), Blake Frost (996-6096), or Chris Benjamin (414-1643) if you can help

Tutoring Program
Will meet at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesdays in West-Ark Family Life Center starting in September
Need tutors and others willing to assist with children and setting up facilities
Important need for an on-site program director
Contact Leslie Holland (785-4553), Jack Lewis (783-2758), or Earl Flood (452-7585) if you can help

F.L.O.C.K. and Gateway to Heaven (Childrens Education)
Need painters, artists/cartoonists to decorate walls
Need teachers and group shepherds for F.L.O.C.K. (3 years to 1st grade)
Need small, dorm-size refrigerator
Need 2 year old coordinator and teachers for Childrens Worship
Contact Kerry or Dena Jenkins (478-6486) or Carolyn Harrell (996-8877) if you can help

Connections Ministry
Connections is aimed at making visitors welcome and getting new members connected to congregational life
Need to build a welcome station in the foyer
Need individuals to invite new members to their house for a welcome meal
Need carpenter to build directional sign
Contact Gary Brown (646-4105) or Chris Benjamin (414-1643) if you can help

Car Care
Auto maintenance available for widows and widowers over age 60.
Additional workers are welcome to participate at each Car Clinic on first Sat. of month at 8:00 a.m.
Contact Jack Lowry (474-8851) for more information

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St. Edward Hospital
Larry Schluterman is in room 3521 with pancreatitis. He is improving overall, but has days when he is in pain.
Ann Selig will enter St. Edward Hospital Thursday morning for a second and larger dose of radioactive iodine. She will be in isolation for 48 hours, but can receive phone calls.
Jimmy Hicks is in ICU following heart by-pass surgery with complications from an infection. He is close friends with the Flippo family.

At Home or in Other Places
Evonne Kelley, mother of Michael Blasdel, has been diagnosed with lung and brain cancer. She will have follow-up radiation and chemotherapy treatments.
Darold Wear is out of the hospital and back in Methodist Nursing Home soon.
Tina Eudaly, mother of Mary Burkett, is scheduled for a breast biopsy on August 8th.
Lawrence Hankins, Randys father, has gone back into the hospital with heart failure and is on a ventilator.
Christy Hesslen is recovering from Bells Palsy.
Carrie Burress requests prayers for her mother, Debbie Decker, who is recovering from surgery.
Kerrys mom, Joan Jenkins, will begin treatments soon for lung cancer.
Lynette Purvis has been dismissed from the hospital.
Clyde Hawkins, brother of John Hawkins, was dismissed from the hospital Wednesday.
Jimmy McCartney (brother of Peggy Pistole) is now at home with daily checks by home health care. If you would like to encourage him with a card, his address is 136 Highway 398, Charleston, AR 72933.

Continued Prayers
Bill Houlker, Roy & Joyce Dunavins son-in-law in New Zealand
Bob Callicott (father of Ann Combs)
Elnora Nichols (sister of Betty Summers)
Vicki Varvel (daughter of John and Nadine Hawkins)

**Sympathy**
Our love and sympathy is extended to the families who lost loved ones this week:
Dale Lusby in the death of his father, Bill Lusby of Camden, AR. Funeral services were 8/2/05.
Myra Flippo and Bob and Loretta Loudermilk in the death of their grandson, Paul Flippo Tuesday afternoon at home. Funeral services will be Friday, 2:00 p.m. at the Dayton Church of Christ. Visitation with the family will be 7:00 8:00 p.m. Thursday at McConnell Funeral Home in Greenwood, AR.
Anna Ramsey in the death of her father on Wednesday morning. Funeral services are Friday, 10 a.m. at Lewis Funeral Home Chapel.
Donna Davis in the death of her mother, Ama Hurley on Thursday morning in Van Buren. Funeral arrangements are not yet complete.

**Wednesday Night WINGS**
This fall, Wednesday night WINGS will be studying "Echoing His Heartbeat" -- The Life of David by Cassandra Martin. Some lessons will be supplemented with a video. Cost of the book is $10.00. Deadline for enrollment is Sunday, August 21st. Our first meeting will be Wednesday, August 31st, with refreshments and receiving of your book. Studies will begin on Wednesday, September 7. For enrollment e-mail Peggy Pistole at jpistol@swbell.net or call 452-5667.

**Invitation**
We hope you will join us in celebrating
the joining in marriage of
Miss Erin Rene Mason to
Mr. Joshua Caleb Kimrey
With a reception in their honor
Saturday, the thirteenth of August
Four oclock in the afternoon
West-Ark Church of Christ
Family Life Center

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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."

Recently I have been involved in two occasions in this congregation that profoundly touched meVacation Bible School and Community Outreach Day. What deeply touched me was the sight of so many different members (from teens to elderly!) who were involved. In a real way, the success of each occasion was the result of so many members being involved.

This is in no way a derogatory comment on our many other ministries. I feel more than confident that every ministry leader quickly would say the effectiveness of the ministry depends on a broad-based involvement and the contributions of many members willing to do what they can. In the two mentioned, the involvement of many members with differing abilities was quite visible. Always, it is a matter of functionnot competition!

I am always amazed to note how much is accomplished when members do what they are capable of doing--with no thought about who is and is not visible. Yet, why should that be amazing? That is what scripture said 2,000 years ago.

First, Christians need the Lords concept of church. While the word church is a specific religious word now, that was not so in the first century. The word church existed before Jesus Christ was born or the Christian movement began. It simply meant those called out to fulfill a specific purpose. Christians are Gods called out dedicated to Gods objectives in righteous lifestyles through Jesus Christ. They do good works, not to exalt themselves, but to give glory to God (Matthew 5:16).

The church is not a building. It is not a location. It is not a collection of programs existing because that is what a church does. It is not an organizational chart declaring who has the right to control. It is a group of people who serve together because, in a common love for Jesus Christ, they are committed to Gods purposes and each other.

Second, Christians need to realize no Christian can do everything, but every Christian can do something. Wise is the congregation that makes it natural for all its members to be involved in ways they are capable of serving! The key to congregational success is not letting someone we consider a superior Christian with extraordinary abilities carry everyone else, but the key is encouraging all of us ordinary folks in Christ to do what we are able to do.

**Mission Update**
By Jerry Canfield
A long-time evangelist in the South Pacific and Asia visited with us at West-Ark on Sunday (7/31/05). He has spent most of the last five months in HMC supervising the construction of a medical boat to be used by Partners in Progress in Cambodia. He gave us an encouraging report on the work of our missionary in Vietnam. He reports diligence in his work, able to visit with people at all levels due to his Asian ethnicity and language skills, wise in dealing with the Communist government, and a loving servant of children from a very poor neighborhood. Together they lead a Sunday gathering which meets in a meeting room in a hotel. He believes the work could immediately be transformed into a gathering of 150-200 adults when the government permits such meetings. It was strongly recommended that we continue with support for the Vietnam work. Frankly, this project is one of the most fundamentally evangelistic and economically efficient of our foreign evangelistic efforts.

**Note of Thanks**
To the elders, ministers and members of the body of Christ at West-Ark:
Your unfeigned love for the Lord and others, especially those in need never ceases to amaze me. The Community Outreach Day proved it. Youre a big encouragement to me, and I never cease to thank God for you. My prayer for you is found in Numbers 6:24-26.
Love you in Christ,
Kathy Rosalez

To our precious Church Family:
Thank you so much for the beautiful peace lily sent to our mothers funeral. It was so comforting to us when we saw the card and knew it was from you. We love you all dearly.
Jerry & Marilyn Selby

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The past two weeks were filled with blessings for the West-Ark congregation. I am especially thankful for the opportunity our teens have had to help lead and serve during Vacation Bible School and Work Camp. These experiences are ones our teens will not soon forget.

Many new friendships and relationships were developed with area children, with people from the community, and with the teens and adults from Woodward, OK. We spent part of this past Sunday mornings class sharing some of the things we have learned through these events.

There is one BIG event left on the 05 summer calendar -- our Youth and Family Trip to Dallas, TX. This is the first time we have taken this trip in August. We adjusted our regular schedule because we didnt want to miss Work Camp/Community Outreach Day.

Our group will be a little smaller than normal, but we will be taking a group of 45 teens and adults to Dallas August 11th-13th. I look forward to this time of fellowship and relaxation with our families. It will be a great time to reflect on the things we have experienced together this summer. Please pray for our safety and for God to strengthen our relationships with one another.

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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