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Family Lines Newsletter,  October 18, 2007
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**October 27 -- Youth Ministry Planning and Consultation**
New Location and Additional Session Time
 
Robert Oglesby from the Center for Youth and Family Ministry at Abilene Christian University will be at West-Ark on Saturday, October 27.  He wants to meet with our teens and parents during three sessions on Saturday. 
 
The first session will start at 8:00 AM with breakfast in Room 106 in the main foyer entrance.  This session is for parents.  Please come to discuss the future of Youth and Family ministry at West-Ark.
 
The second and third sessions will be for teens in the upstairs room of the FLC.  The second session will begin at 10:30 AM. The third will be at 12:30 PM.  We strongly encourage teens to come to one of these two sessions.  We are holding two sessions for teens in order to create an additional opportunity for teens that cannot make the earlier session.  We encourage the teens to bring their dreams and observations and share them with Robert.
 
Robert will continue to serve West-Ark as we plan for the future of a vital ministry that God has entrusted to us.  Mark your calendars and plan to attend!  Please contact the church office for more information. 
 
I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:11-13
 
**Robert Oglesby, Director of ACU Center for Youth and Family Ministry**
 
Youth ministry is a passion of Robert's life.  He devoted over 20 years of his life to full-time youth ministry.  He found incredible joy in building two youth ministry programs at the Western Hills Church in Temple, Texas and the Southern Hills Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas.  He spent the last 16 years with the Southern Hills church before he moved into his role of teaching at ACU.  The last five years have been a tremendous time of growth in the number of youth ministry majors at ACU.  Robert has built a nationally recognized program.
 
Robert had actually been teaching at ACU as an adjunct professor in the Bible department 11 years before he came on full-time with the school.  Across those years, he was able to teach over 400 full-time youth ministers and he was able to train many interns through his work at Southern Hills.  Robert still remains active in church work at Southern Hills as a Family minister.  He teaches both adult and youth classes.  He is a Wilderness Trek Coordinator, Middle School Church Camp Co-Director, and family pastoral counselor.
 
Robert speaks across the country at youth rallies, retreats, and seminars.  He is frequently used as a church consultant. He specializes in the hiring process, church crisis situations, and evaluating a youth ministry.  Robert is married to Jenny (Linn).  His wife teaches junior and A.P. freshman English at Abilene High School.  They have three children: Lauren (20), Greg (17), and Leslie (15). 
 
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**In Our Thoughts & Prayers**
• Ada Light (Ben Pearson's mother) has moved to Ben and Sandi’s home under hospice care.
• Betty Monk (Gene’s mother) improved greatly last weekend! Her pneumonia cleared up, and she is able to visit with family.  Betty has begun short sessions of physical therapy.
• Bill Seiter (father-in-law of Ellen Seiter) is scheduled to have surgery to remove a tumor from his pancreas on Oct. 24 in Little Rock.
• Bob Williams (father of Debbie Belote) is very ill with a bladder/UT infection.
• Chuck Combs had surgery Monday to drain off fluid from a previous surgery. He is home now and doing well. Ann says, “Thank you for being so faithful in prayer for such a long time for us." Chuck’s prayer pager is 441-1648.
• Eleanor Casey continues to improve with therapy at Ashton Place.
• Marcia (George) Fletcher, Sue & Harvey’s daughter, is in the hospital in Little Rock with pregnancy complications.
• Randy Scott’s foot was caught under a forklift last week. His toe is broken, but he is much better and able to wear shoes.
• Rusty Howard (son of Wilburn & Louise) had a setback last weekend. He developed an infection in his incision and had to return to Little Rock for treatment.
• Stephen McElroy, nephew of Sarah Smith, is recovering from injuries sustained in Iraq.
• Sue Goodson (Karen Benjamin's great-aunt) is doing well and appreciates the prayers of Christian friends in Fort Smith.
• Troy Risley (Clark's father) had a post-surgery appointment on Monday and is doing very well.  He thanks everyone for all the prayers and cards.
 
**Continued Prayers**
• Joel Prigge (brother-in-law of Louise Howard)
• John T. Smith, Sr. (JT’s father)
• Luther Williams (father of Sonia Henry)
• Margaret Stone
• Melissa Meeker (niece of Jeff Loftin)
• Pete Mendez
• Ona Dickens
 
**Bereaved in Prayer**
Our love and sympathy is extended to Mary Broyles in the death of her aunt, Thelma Cane, of Jefferson City, MO.  Mary’s mother was one of 14 children, and Thelma is the last of her siblings.
 
**Prayers for Missionaries**
• Our missionary families in Vietnam and Laos.
• John Paul & Ruby Lee Hundley in France and Belgium.
• Steve & Colleen DeLoach, Operation Guyana.
• Evangelists and their families with whom we work in Ethiopia and Nigeria.
 
**Prayers for Our Military**
Brian Perkins
Brian Harris
Kyle Evans
Mike Gooden
Mitchell Bryant
Ron Wheat
Shawn Walker-Bandy
Stephen Christian
Thomas Lara
 
**Thanks Be to God!**
Sarah Smith’s son, Jonathan Smith and her nephew, Stephen McElroy, have both returned to the states!
 
Note from Donna Roper: Just wanted to share our news. Wesley returned to Fort Smith yesterday [Tuesday] from Kuwait. We are so happy and thankful to have him home. We want to thank everyone for all the prayers and support while he was away from his family. God is so good!
 
**Wedding Invitation**
Charles and Marcia Dye
request the honour of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Meredith Anne to Nathan Brook Thomas
son of Dale and Patty Thomas
on Saturday, October 20th
at two o’clock in the afternoon.
Springdale Magnolia Gardens Inn
501 North Main Street
Springdale, Arkansas
Directions: I-540 to Springdale, Exit 73 – Elm Springs Road, go east, Elm Springs becomes Huntsville Road, approx. 2 ½ miles, cross 71B. Five blocks on left.
 
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**Fall Festival**
Saturday, October 27
6:00 to 7:30 PM 
We need more volunteers!  Please sign the list posted on the bulletin board in the foyer (opposite Library). There are many ways to help: work a booth, bake/bring finger foods, bags of candy, donate small toys, or donate cash so we can buy in bulk!
 
**Tutoring Program**
We need candy and toothpaste to give our children at Halloween. Please give your donations to Deborah Wilson.
 
**Candy & Children’s Home**
If you would be interested in something similar to a “candy of the month” program that benefits a children’s home, please see or call Sedalia Douglas.
 
**Gateway (Grades 2-6)**
A teacher and helper is needed for Wednesday night Game Workshop.  Contact Carolyn Harrell.
 
**Notes of Thanks**
West-Ark Family,
We would like to thank you for all the cards sent and calls made after the death of our father.  It was such a comfort to know so many were thinking of us at this time. 
 Love,
 Jane Smith and Connye Neal
 
Breakfast for Lunch Event
Our biggest thanks to Paula, Fran, Geneva, Genevieve, Leo, Ruth, Mary, Mary Francis, Wanda, Barbara, Inez, Norma Jean, and all the others who could not be with us Saturday. You are among our “great cloud of witnesses” who set such a godly example for us. Thanks for praying for us all the time.
 
Thanks to the teens (and siblings) who came to serve: Jessica, Jenapher, Clay, Uriel, Pedro, Spencer, Caleb, Chris, Brooke, Kaylee, Logan, Olivia, C.J., Seanie, Allison, Andrew, Ana, Meredith, Carl, Trevor, Trenton, Eric, Shay, Julie, Kate, Nash, Kacey, and Jenna.
 
You worked so willingly. You finished a job cheerfully and then asked, “What else can I do?” God’s Kingdom would flourish if we all had such an attitude as that!
 
Thanks, grown-ups for your support, and thanks Chuck and CV’s for the food and flowers!
 
May we strive to glorify Him who gives us strength.
 Mike and Mary Burkett
 
**Griffin/Lankford Art for Guyana**
• Watercolor 5 X 7 barn, custom framed.
• Reasonable donation -- minimum of $20. Please remember when making donation that the cost of supplies alone is more than $20.
• 100% of donation goes to Guyana Medical Mission Fund!
• Larger framed pieces available.
• Watch for table on Missions Sunday (November 11).
 
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**COMING YOUTH EVENTS**
October 20-21 – Senior High    
Eureka  Springs Passion  Play
J T & Nancy Smith
 
October 27 – Junior High & Senior High 
Youth Ministry Planning and Consultation Sessions with Robert Oglesby
 
October 27 – Junior High
Fall Festival/work booths
Dena Jenkins
Tiffany Null     
 
October 27 – Senior High
Hayride at Martins’
Gary & Rochelle Brown
Scott & Kathy Martin
 
* See the sign-up sheets on the youth board upstairs.
* For more details contact the event sponsors or contact the church office if you prefer getting the details by mail or text message.
 
**Library Memorials**
• In memory of Leroy Null by Jerry & Meg Canfield:
Why a Suffering World Makes Sense by Peterson, and
Heaven: A Christian’s Journey into Eternity by Doughty.
 
• In memory of Darold Wear by Margaret Thompson & Family:
NIV Commentary on Matthew by by Wilkins, and
NIV Commentary on Acts by Fernando.
 
**Happy Birthday**
October 21
Karen Benjamin
Amanda Broom
 
October 23
Adam Dizer
Paul Quenin
 
October 24
Louise Biggers
Alyxander Logan
 
October 25
Mary King
Jacob Null
 
October 26
Farrell Graves
Cyrus Haworth
Hope Hesslen
Shirley Washburn
 
October 27
Amy Burger
Lee Farris
 
**Morning Nursery**
Elaine Hill
Flora Johnson
 
**Evening Nursery**
Tiffany Blake
Sheila Vaught
 
**Attendance and Contribution Count**
Sunday AM Worship 618
Bible Classes 393
Sunday PM Worship NC
Life Groups 11
Contribution $15,087
Children’s Home $247
 
Lao Worship
Attendance 45
Contribution $220
 
Iglesia de Cristo
Attendance 58
Contribution $229
                                                                           
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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