May 22, 2011

Charging Into Hell

By John Carson

      Recently, I went to play basketball in a park across the street from where some of our kids at Impact Church of Christ live.  It was not an ideal place for me to ever be as a white person, much less playing basketball, especially when my kids tell me that they do bad stuff at this park.  I played some ball with a couple of our boys, when a middle-schooler from the neighborhood joined in to play with us.  This is exactly what I hoped; I wanted to run into a kid from the neighborhood I didn't know.  This kid was named Donnie, and he seemed like a nice kid.  I remembered our middle school boys were hanging out that night, so I asked Donnie to join us.  He hopped in the van, and we took off to the church.

         It would be nice if outreach always went that smoothly.  I like taking the kids to church and getting them out of their hellish neighborhoods.  My whole job is centered on telling these kids about Jesus, and to hopefully get them out of the chaos and hell that is in their life.  The next day, I realized just how much I hated dropping my elementary kids off at the same place after Children's Night.  I knew what would happen when they went through the door.  They would be ignored, slapped in the head, yelled at, and hungry.  The positive is that they were coming from church where they were loved, hugged, fed a hot meal, and taught about Jesus.  It saddens me to drop them off into the chaos and mess surrounding their lives.  I don't like doing this because it feels like everything we just did at church is contradicted and reversed at home.

       All of this reminded me of a quote by Charles Thomas Studd, a Scotsman after my own heart.  He says, "Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell; I want to run a rescue mission within a yard of hell."  I only wish I could keep them out of hell longer.  I'm glad that I can charge into their hell and bring a little glimpse of heaven into their lives; I just wish it could be more.  So until then I'll keep playing basketball and driving my van in that neighborhood to bring kids to church.  I also encourage you who read this to do the same.  Find the hells in your world and charge into them bringing a little glimpse of how the world should be and how heaven is going to be.

Read this and more about John's ministry at

http://followinghiscalltohouston.blogspot.com/

Order of Worship  

Worship Leader -- Brent Evans
This Is The Day (on screen)
Welcome
Prayer -- Jim Wilson

Lord, I Lift Your Name On High (on screen)
Mighty to Save (on screen)
#290 -- Shine, Jesus Shine (vs. 1, 2)
How Deep the Father's Love For Us (on screen)

Table of the Lord
Offering
#239 -- In Moments Like These

Coins for Christ
Children's Worship
#395 -- Follow Me (vs. 1, 2, 3)

Message -- John Carson
Song for Responses
#909 -- There's a Fountain Free (vs. 1, 2, 3)
Shepherd's Prayer 

In Our Thoughts & Prayers  

•  Betty Williams received good news. Her tumor is reduced after just two weeks of treatments for lymphoma!
• Burnie Morris' bone marrow biopsy went well. He will get test results about May 26.
• Eldon Pence (father of Cyndi Glidewell) is home from the hospital. Continue to pray for his recovery.
• Jake Greer (grandson of Tom & Mary King) had melanoma surgery last week (5/13/11).
• Karen Farris is at Baylor Hospital in Dallas for tests and anticipates surgery on Friday (5/20/11).
• Mary Lewallen (mother of Trish Carson) is much better and was able to go home from the hospital on Wednesday. Her doctors will continue to monitor her progress and digestive problems.
• Mary Burkett's mother, Tina Eudaly, received good news last week: she does not have leukemia and will not have to have radiation or chemo treatments! 
• Myra Flippo-Puckett is extremely weak and sleeping much of the time. Pray for peace and comfort for her and her family.
• Ollie Amos is back at home following gall bladder surgery.
• Tyson Lewis (son of Soul Quest Director, Tim Lewis) had complications after open heart surgery. Continue to pray for his recovery.
• Winston Turpin received a good report from the eye doctor. There is no sign of dysplasia (pre-cancer cells), and he can have a follow-up check in six months with his Fort Smith doctor.

Continued Prayers

•  Allen Mobley
• Caidan Dockery
• Harold Gouty
• James Word
• John Richards
• Lance Haines
• Lela Neal
• Martha Bonilla
• Mary Frances Jackson
• Pauline Reed
• Richard & Mary Broyles
• Sammy Martin
• Wilma Son

Welcome!

Cody & Kayla Plank

Mason (son, age 6 years)

473101 E 1127 Rd

Muldrow, OK 74948

Phone: 479 650-6711

How Do I Become A West-Ark Member?

If you would like to place membership, please indicate this on your attendance card and place it in the offering plate.

Divorce Care

Wednesdays, 6:30 PM, in Room 211
For more information, contact Shanna Davis at sdavisnrs@aol.com.  

Overcomers Outreach

We now have a NOON meeting time for Overcomers Outreach on Thursdays. We also have our regular meeting at 6:45 PM on Tuesdays.

Faith Fusion Planning Session

Sunday, May 22

5:00 PM in Room 100

Everyone is welcome to help

with this fun, family event.

CURE Linen Sorting

Sunday, May 22, 1:30 - 3:00 PM

at the Vicksburg Warehouse

Our goal is to get another truck load

of bedding ready for shipment.

Table Talk 

This handout is designed to help us integrate the message given on Sunday into our daily lives.   It will have pertinent questions and discussion ideas to use around the lunch or dinner table -- or anywhere. It is for all ages, kids, teens, adults, families and friends.  Pick up one each Sunday with your bulletin!

Van Drivers Needed

Heart to Heart Baby Bottle Campaign

Children & Family Ministry

Learning, Loving, Living for Jesus

Sunday Morning Bible Classes

Infants - 6th Grade (9:30 AM)

Children's Worship, Ages 2-8

(during sermon at 10:30 a.m. worship)

Sunday Night Classes -- 6 PM

Infants

Jump! 2nd through 4th grade

Jump, Jr! Ages 2 through Pre-K

Bridge 56 for 5th and 6th Graders

Wednesday Night Classes -- 7 PM

Bible Classes for infants - 6th Grade throughout the year!

Need more info? Call 479.452.1240

King's Kids Calendar

Sunday, May 22, Bridge 56 Parents' Meeting (during morning class)

Sunday, May 22, 5 PM, Faith Fusion Planning Session, Room 100 

Youth Group News

Inner City Lunch @ Hope Park - Saturday, May 21, 10:45 AM-12:30 PM
Join in on this outreach and service project to the homeless of Fort Smith.  We anticipate a lot of people to feed so we'll need as many WAYGers as possible.  Come be the hands and feet of Jesus.

WAYG Class - Sunday, May 22, 9:30-10:30 AM
Our summer Interns continue teaching today!  Make sure you're here for all the fun, festivities and learning!

Intersect Worship - Sunday, May 22, 2011
Join us Sunday at 7 PM in room 225 for a great time of praise and worship.  While it is initiated by the WAYG and the LFC, it is open to anyone.

The Journey - Wednesday, May 25, 7-8 PM
We continue our study based on the book, "Radical."  Bring a Bible, bring a friend and be ready for God to challenge you!

Jr/Sr. Trip, Dates June 3-8, 2011
Each year, the Seniors invite the Juniors to join them on a Junior/Senior Trip so we can more intimately pass the torch within our youth group. Only the current Seniors and Juniors are invited to attend this special activity. We'll have plenty of time for some special memories together, some of them will be our Seniors' last as members of the youth group. As part of this trip (and because we can get LOTS of freebies!) we will visit the campuses of Oklahoma Christian, Lipscomb, Harding, Abilene and Lubbock. Some of the universities will provide a FREE meal for us (and we will spend the night on campus for FREE!) which makes this trip REALLY inexpensive.  We are planning to sneak in a quick visit to 6 Flags, to top it all off!  MAKE THE DECISION TO GO TODAY!  We'll leave at 5 PM on June 3 and return around 7:30 PM on June 8.

WAYG Family Clusters - Sunday, June 5, 2011, 6-8 PM
You won't want to miss out on this opportunity to fellowship with other youth group families that live in your geographical area.  PLEASE make it a point to be a part of this phenomenal gathering. Most groups have great food, awesome relationship-building fellowship and a devotional.  We are looking at rearranging which group you are in, so be on the lookout for an email with your new Cluster assignment.  And then, look for an email from your host home as to what they need you to bring! (Oklahoma/Van Buren/Alma/North cluster - Brent & Carol Evans, Central Fort Smith cluster - Host Home Needed, East Fort Smith cluster - Greg & Tiffany Null, South Fort Smith cluster - Host Home Needed, Greenwood Cluster - Blake & Colleen Frost)

Service Camp - Thursday, June 9, 9 AM-5 PM
Join us as we work together by serving and bringing God's love throughout the Fort Smith area.  Bring $5 for lunch.

Soul Quest - Sunday, June 12-18 , 2011
Applications have been emailed and handed out in class!  You will NOT want to miss out on this for ANYTHING!!  PLEASE let Rick know if you want to donate money for scholarships or if you need a scholarship. Open to all incoming 7th graders through 2011 graduating Seniors!  This week will be the BEST way to kick off your summer for God! 

Happy Birthday

May 22
Caidan Dockery
Charley Douglas
Jacob Hollomon
Russ McConnell

May 23
Malory McGehee

May 24
Mark Wilson

May 25
Emily Kee
Alexander Keller

May 26
Bonnie Marrs
Brad Moore
Rachelle Pratt
Moorea Wade

May 28
Greg Null
Hannah Null
Lenora Word

Nursery Workers

Morning
Berniece Rogers
Sharon Faries
Kelsey Spickes

Evening
Denise Lusby

Attendance and Contribution Count
Bible Classes ............  411
Sunday AM Attendance  619
Contribution ...   $18,388.57
Children's Homes .. $227.51
Coins For Christ ....     $48.35 

Lao Worship
Attendance .................. 23
Contribution ............   $184