Our First Sunday in the Gym

I don't know about you, but I could feel the energy and excitement in the air yesterday. It was our first Sunday worship in the Gym/FLC and it was great! Scott Meyer kicked off a new series on the Exodus titled "Road Trip: When God Moves His People" and called us to hear and respond to the cry of the oppressed.

As the previous blog's pictures illustrate, the auditorium remodel has begun with the removal of the old pews. Therefore we have begun our soujourn in the gym for worship! Thank you to the many people who made the move possible. Countless hours of work by several people went into converting the gym into a very usable worship venue. Western Hills is blessed to have so many who quietly serve behind the scenes.

August 20th was also the first Sunday of our new Bible Seminar format. I've heard many good comments about the 2 Seminars taking place. Neil Haney's seminar is covering the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. Larry Matthew's seminar is titled "Faith Risks" and is examining how people in the Bible have taken risks of faith to serve God.

I believe yesterday was just the first of many times of excitement, blessing and challenge for the Western Hills Church. Thank you again to all those who made it possible. And thanks and praise to God for all He has done, is doing and will do!

See you next Sunday!

- Scott Seela

The work is under way. Here are the first pictures of the effort. God is doing amazing things. I am excited about our first worship together in the Family Life Center (gym) this coming Sunday. There has been a ton of activity around the building to get ready for it. Numerous people are working behind the scenes to make sure everything is ready to go. What a great time to be a part of Western Hills!

Keep checking in...

Scott

It's Begun!

The worship center remodel has begun! Yesterday morning we hosted our last worship service in the current auditorium and by yesterday afternoon an entire section of pews had been removed. (Thanks to the efforts of Jake and Jim). So at this point there is no turning back. We are headed to the Family Life Center (gym). It will be exciting to see the new worship center take shape over the next 3-4 months. Each week during the remodel I will post pictures of the progress here on the blog.

Lot's of other things are going to happen this Sunday. We launch the Bible Seminar. You will have two choices. Check out the website for all of the details. We will also open the COFFEE SPOT. This is one of our many efforts to welcome people as they come into our building. We want to be a place that CONNECTS people to JESUS.

Youth Ministry Sunday Night-Be There!

Sunday night Matt Peacock will be sharing all of the things God has been doing in the lives of our students this summer. This group has traveled from Mississippi to Colorado in the name of Jesus and have some exciting stories to tell.

You need to be there. I know it is not always easy to be present on Sunday night, but this Sunday night you need to make the effort. It is easy to say, "I don't have any kids in the youth group why should I be there?" Here is the reason...Do we believe in our students or not? Do we want to see them grow to mature disciples in Jesus or not? Are we willing to do what it takes to reach the next generation?

Western Hills is a church with a passion for young people. That is one of the reasons I love this church so much. Many churches have dismissed the "kids" to the backroom or the basement thinking they will just keep them happy, then when they are old enough we will call them to follow Jesus. WRONG! By then it will be too late. Most people make a lifelong commitment to Jesus before the age of 18. If we do not consider our children and teenagers as a priority-one-mission field then we might as well coast into obscurity.

So why do you need to be there? Because our teens need to know that a life of faith is worth it. They need to see people who are living it right now. They desperately want to know it is real. So join us Sunday night, your presence might just be making an eternal difference.

Random Thoughts

This post is some of the random thoughts that are going through my brain...

#1 - Thanks for the encouragement from Sunday - Many of you have come to me to share how much you enjoyed part 1 of AWESOME WONDER. This series has been loads of fun to prepare for and to deliver. Thanks for your encouragement. I am glad you share my complete amazement at how BIG our God is. I can't wait for this coming Sunday. I saved the coolest pictures for this week.

#2 - Only 1 more week in the auditorium - I can't believe this coming Sunday is our LAST Sunday to worship in the auditorium as it currently exists. Starting on August 20 we will be worshipping together in the gym. I am excited because it will cause all of us to break out of our habits. God is going to bless us so much during this time.

#3 - Coffee Spot Opens - Also on August 20 the Coffee Spot will open up. I know you are wondering what is so exciting about coffee? (Especially since I don't even drink coffee.) I am not excited about the Coffee Spot because of the coffee, I am excited because of what it means for this church. Our elders have laid out a vision of CONNECTING the UNCONNECTED. The Coffee Spot is just one of the strategies we will employ to accomplish the mission. How welcoming will it be for a first time guest to walk in our door, be greeted, and receive a hot cup of coffee served from a very warm and welcoming environment? We are simply taking advantage of every opportunity to connect someone to Western Hills and connect them to Jesus. It all starts with a smile.

#4 - Operation Backpack - Once again this church shows its love for this community through the collection of school supplies for Wayman Manor. ALL of the backpacks have been claimed! Thanks for loving on some kids like Jesus would. This is one more reminder that we are a church that sees the mission field in our own backyard. Be sure to return your backpacks this Wednesday night.

That's all for now.

Scott

Pardon our Progress

The remodel of our worship center is about to begin. The construction schedule is coming together and coming quickly. Because it will be happening fast we will begin worshipping in the Family Life Center on August 20. That means only 2 more Sundays (Aug. 6 & 13) will we worship in the auditorium as it currently is. This is an incredibly exciting time for WH. Keep on praying as God keeps blessing us and calling us forward into His future.

See Ya Sunday,

Scott

Don't Miss This Sunday

You will not want to miss this Sunday. I'm not kidding! I will be starting a 2 sermon series called AWESOME WONDER. We will be discovering how BIG our God is (and how small we are). We serve a God who created the universe and everything in it, simply by saying the word. All around us are miracles that shout out His glory. The Psalmist says...

the heavens declare the glory of God.

the skies proclaim the work of His hands

For the next 2 Sundays we will explore the heavens and see what they teach us about the God who spoke them into existence. I have been hanging out on the Hubble Telescope site and the NASA site lately. I have gathered a ton of cool stuff I want to share with you. The next 2 sermons will be image rich and visually stunning. The messages will be great opportunities to invite a friend or co-worker to church. This will be the kind of presentation they can understand, even with little or no church background. So bring them and let them hear how BIG our God is.

See you Sunday

Scott

If you were not with us in worship today you missed out. God continues to do AMAZING things among the Western Hills church! Today was our "DARE TO MOVE" Sunday. We collected the gifts and pledges for our auditorium remodel effort. After all of the cards were counted, Neil Haney announced, more than $100,000 dollars had been pledged! The second amazing announcement is that a member (who wishes to remain anonymous) will finance the remainder of the project at 0% interest. This kind of response to the project will allow us to bring the needed updates to the auditorium without incurring great debt or reduce any funding to current ministries. God has once again delivered on His promise to do amazing things! As I said in the sermon I have never been more excited to be at Western Hills than I am right now.

Scott

Back from Trek!

Last week I joined Matt Peacock and the youth group on a trip called Wilderness Trek. This is one awesome experience! Wilderness Trek is a 5 day backpacking adventure in the mountains of Colorado. Using the challenges of rappelling, hiking, and climbing to teach spiritual lessons about following Jesus. As I hiked along it occurred to me how many lessons of Trek fit our church right now. Here are a few...

Lesson #1 - Travel Light
When you have to carry everything on your back for 5 days you start to really evaluate how much you need each item. In church the temptation (at least for us minister types) is to always want to load down the church with program after program. Programs are not bad, but they can be deceptive. Staying busy with program after program does not automatically equal the mission of God. We need to carefully and prayerfully evaluate everything we do to ensure that it is keeping us on target with our mission.

Lesson #2 - Not everybody goes at the same pace
I am not going to lie...It is frustrating on the trail to be patient with those struggling to keep up. God uses such opportunities to teach me patience. He also teaches me that as Western Hills moves forward we must be patient and all move together. However, as we are patient there is a difference between encouraging those who struggle and stopping the forward movement. We must be sensitive to all who are a part of this great church but we can not stop just because the journey is too tough. Which brings us to lesson #3...

Lesson #3 - The best journeys are not easy journeys
Through the adventure of Trek we climbed and stood on top of Mt. Shavano (one of Colorado's 14,000ft.+ peaks.) The climb was NOT easy. Let me say again...The climb was NOT easy. Every part of my body hurt. BUT it was worth it. To stand on the top and look for miles in every direction made every step pay off. As this church goes where Jesus would go it will not be easy. At times it will simply be uncomfortable, other times it will be great sacrifice, either way the destination is worth it.

More reflections later...
It is good to be back home.

See you on Sunday,
Scott

Interview with Shelby Garmon

God continues to bless Western Hills with new people and families. We believe that each person who comes to Western Hills is a gift from God. Each person brings both talents we need as well as opportunities to minister. Shelby and Emily Garmon are among the many new faces here at Western Hills. We thought it would be fun to sit down with them and learn more about how God is shaping their lives. We also get to see Western Hills through fresh eyes as we work to become a church that is CONNECTING the unconnected, CARING for our people, and CHANGING LIVES for God.


WHBlog: Tell us just a little bit about your family and why God brought you to Temple?

Shelby: Emily and I grew up in Corpus Christi and met at Church of Christ South. We attended Lipscomb University in Nashville for two years before moving back to Corpus Christi to lead the college ministry at Texas A&M - Corpus Christi. We were married in 1995. Emily worked as a paralegal while I completed college. After graduation, I worked for 7 years as a commercial lender for Frost Bank while Emily finished her degree in chemistry. Emily was then accepted to medical school at UTMB-Galveston and we moved to the Houston / Galveston area in 2002. Our first daughter, Kendra was born in May of 2002. Our second daughter, Camryn, was born in August of 2005.

A number of things led us to Temple. Being that we had 2 small children, we wanted to find a good place to raise our kids. Scott & White seemed to have the best program for Emily's residency as far as quality of training and a family friendly program and atmosphere. Most importantly, we wanted to be in a place where there was an active church and group of Christians who were ready to reach out to each other and the community. God answered our prayer in bringing us here.

How did you first hear about WH?

Shelby: We heard about Western Hills through Chris and Jennifer Burnett. They were very enthusiastic about Western Hills and assured us that it was the kind of church home that we desired.

What were your first impressions of Western Hills?

Shelby: The first Sunday we walked in the door at Western Hills, we knew this would be our Church home. Donna Leavelle was the first person we met and made us feel right at home. She introduced us to lots of people, took us on a tour of the children's area, and just showed us the ropes. It's obvious the people at Western Hills know how important even the first few minutes are for people who are visiting and searching for a church family. We felt the warm, friendly, and loving atmosphere God has blessed this family with and knew we wanted to be a part of it.

What factors influenced your decision to become part of the Western Hills family?

Shelby: We were drawn to WH for a number of reasons. The people were obviously a major factor - there is a genuine atmosphere of love and acceptance and seems to be a strong commitment to drawing new families into WH. We also liked the fact that there is a good 'mix' of age groups at WH. We were happy to find that WH was deeply committed to a strong children's ministry. Last of all we were excited to see that WH was involved in building closer relationships through its small group efforts.

How can WH help your family to grow closer to God and look more like Jesus?

Shelby: The way we feel that we will grow as a Christian family most is just through being involved. It's amazing how much one can grow when they are reaching out and ministering to others. We know our children will also grow from the efforts at WH to make children a high priority. One of the areas Emily and I have grown the most over our years of involvement at churches is through a strong commitment to be involved and grow through small groups ministry.

What ways do you hope to minister/serve/get involved here at WH?

Shelby: In the past we have helped out in areas ranging from children's classes to sponsoring youth activities to leading a college ministry effort. As I mentioned above, one area where Emily and I have really enjoyed serving in the past is in small group ministry. It's amazing how people tend to flourish and grow and get to know each other on a deeper level through this ministry tool. We are excited about getting to know more people and find the various areas where we feel that God can use us best at WH.

Remember to pray! Our elders have called us once again to a collective season of prayer. The elders are challenging us to be in prayer everyday from now until July 30. On that day we will gathering the gifts/pledges for our DARE TO MOVE campaign. This is our effort to COMPLETELY pay for the remodel of the auditorium. Why are we eager to pay for it with out having to borrow? Because having all the funds in hand allows us to keep all current ministries going and even expand some. I believe this glorifies God!

So as you pray here are some things to remember in your prayers...

• our elders and their leadership
• the numerous new people God has brought to us
• for God to bring numerous more people to us
• for us to be ready to minister to all God brings our way
• for God to use the new auditorium for His glory
• for your part in the Dare to Move campaign

What an exciting time to be a part of Western Hills! So what are you praying for? Post a comment and let us know what you are asking God's blessing on right now.

Praying for you,

Scott

God is GOOD!

What a great morning to be a part of what God is doing with and through the Western Hills Church. Neil Haney (one of our elders) announced the effort to remodel our auditorium to bring it up to date. The new design looks AMAZING! Thanks to Patty for giving us all a peek into the future through her artist rendering seen above.

Many times churches choose to build something when they are stuck and there is no excitement. The belief is that "if we build we can get some folks motivated and get some energy back in the church again." It is an effort to kick start a church when church has become stale or stagnant. I can guarantee you that is NOT the case here. God is blessing WH in some amazing ways. Our elders are leading us into this effort because we need it to keep up with all the blessings God is sending our way. Every week we have new folks walking through the doors for the first time. These people are looking for a place to connect with God. We are going to see that we give that one chance the best possibility.

Be in prayer for the next 20 days asking God to direct our steps as we follow His lead.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Western Hills is on the Move!

So are you still planning to be there this Sunday, July 9? We will be tackling Myth #3: Church Should be Easy. Also there will be a special elders announcement about some exciting plans for the Western Hills Church. I am telling you not to miss. The whole day will be about the amazing things that God is doing to move this church forward. God apparently has some BIG dreams for us. One year ago we entered into 40 days of prayer and fasting. We trusted the verse in Joshua 3:5 that says...

consecrate yourselves because tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.

And amazing things He has done and is doing. Over the last year we paid off the debt on the gym, added Scott Seela and Matt Peacock to staff, sent a group to Mississippi for Katrina relief, started a new ministry in Wayman Manor, hosted a PACKED Upward league, hosted our inaugural Financial Peace University class, AND have been welcoming lots and lots of new people to Western Hills. Now the elders will share with us the next step that God is calling us to take as we move ahead.

See You Sunday
Scott

Success in spite of rain!

Last night's 4th of July celebration was a BLAST! Thanks to Elwood and Ann for opening your home to us. Even the the rain right before dark was not enough to slow us down. One of the coolest things of the evening was watching every young boy play in the rain. The food was great and plentiful, the spirit warm and loving, the fireworks were great and the turnout was tremendous.

In fact as we crammed into the Smith's large living room the thought struck me, "We are NOT a small church." I know it is tempting in church to want to stay small so "you can know everyone." Well it seems we need to get past that thinking because even with the fantastic turnout still 2/3 of the church was not present. We are a big church. So our challenge is not how do we stay small so that we can personally know everybody, our challenge is how do we create opportunities to connect with each other as we continue to grow?

Our elders have called us to be a place that is "connecting the unconnected." As we continue to put that in practice we WILL grow. Growth is what God desires for His church. Growth means more folks are connecting to Jesus and to Jesus' people. Growth comes with some challenges though. We will have to think in some new ways...increased small group opportunities, 2 services, new Bible classes, more prayer groups, new ladies Bible study opportunities...etc, etc. If God continues to bless us with more and more singles/couples/families joining our church then these are some of the things/ideas/issues we will have to think about and move toward.

Isn't being a part of a growing church fun?!

Scott

Celebration Tonight

Today is the day! The yearly Western Hills 4th of July extravaganza. If you have not participated in this event yet then you need to BE THERE tonight. This year will be different in the simple fact that the Beckers, who have hosted the event for years, have moved to Ballinger. Elwood and Ann Smith have stepped up to the plate and opened their home to us this year. So let the celebration begin.

Remember we will gather and celebrate tonight and then there will NOT be a meal or classes tomorrow night (Wed. July 5) at the building.

Have you made you plans to be there on Sunday??
Hope so...

See you tonight,
Scott

Don't Miss Next Sunday

I know it is only Monday but I can't wait till next Sunday...(and usually my Monday's are spent recovering from the Sunday before.) You will not want to miss this coming Sunday! I am serious, make plans now to do what it takes to be in worship on July 9. I won't spoil the surprise but don't miss it. We will be focusing on the future of Western Hills and our mission of "connecting the unconnected" to God.

So how is that for a teaser? Do I have your interest?

See you on Tuesday night @ the Smith's
Scott

PS -Keep checking in to this blog for more updates and clues.

What a Sunday!

WOW! It is Sunday afternoon and I am simply exhausted from the adrenaline rush I have been on today. The worship this morning was an awesome experience. I am not sure what I liked best..the singing was energized, the prayers were heartfelt, the reading of the 23rd Psalm powerful, and to top it all off...3 more families joined our church and our mission. In the last two weeks 5 families have committed to being a part of what God is doing here at Western Hills. It seems He is blessing us in some BIG ways. I have often said it is God's desire to bless His church beyond our wildest imagination. We just have to position ourselves to receive it. So to the Cunninghams, Rainers, Gibsons, Garmons and Frisch's we say WELCOME. We consider you a gift from God to help us be the church He is calling us to be here in Central Texas.

Because of the CROSS
Scott

Surprise Visit

Last night as I came down the hall carrying Cutter, Aloha grabbed me and said, "There is someone you have got to meet, John Roberts." For those who may not know, John Roberts is a former minister of Western Hills, now serving in Memphis. He, his wife and son were traveling and made sure to stop by and see friends at Western Hills.

This was my first opportunity to meet John. He struck me as a humble and sincere man with a deep faith in God. I was also struck by how many from this church threw their arms around him and his family. He literally could not walk down the hall without a sea of hugs and handshakes.

Again, I was reminded how much love Western Hills has to share. We continue to be a CONNECTING and CARING place almost by nature. Jesus says the world will be able to recognize my followers...Not by their doctrine...Not by their logo...Not by their clothes...But by their LOVE. It was amazing to see just a small taste last night. I continue to be grateful to serve in a church as caring as Western Hills.

Because of the CROSS
Scott

Build and Bring!

We are off and running with the Mythbuster Series. Many of you have encouraged me with how much you are looking forward to the series. Thanks! Encouraging words are always a blessing. What is even more encouraging is the number of people I am meeting every Sunday morning. God is bringing a tremendous amount of new people through our doors. When I ask a few questions I inevitably find out that all of these people are coming because YOU are inviting them.

That is the simple idea behind BUILD & BRING. You are building relationships with people God has ALREADY placed in your world. After investing in a relationship you bring them to church. This is our ongoing evangelistic strategy. That's it. We trust that God will cause the seed planted to grow.

You are in my prayers as you minister in the world.

See you on Sunday,
Scott

PS - Myth #2: God wants me to be HAPPY.

MythBusters

Raise your hand if you have seen this show? Ok, many of you have. If you are in the few that have not let me explain. The show is hosted by 2 balding and goateed guys who have an insatiable desire for truth, science and blowing things up. The premise of the show is to take a widely held belief, urban legend, or myth and try to recreate it in "the laboratory".

Well on Sunday, Toby Wilson (preacher for the Belton Church of Christ) and I will attempt to be Mythbusters! We will challenge some widely held beliefs by finding out what God has to say about that. So just like the show we will attempt to bust myths minus the goatees and the explosions.

This Sunday's myth is ALL ROADS LEAD TO HEAVEN!

See You on Sunday,
Scott M.

NEW CREW TIME

Last night Crew Time made its move to a new night and a new location. Our new Crew Time room is awesome! (Thanks to Patty Thomas, several teens and the Band of Brothers for helping transform the room.)

For those who don't know, Crew Time is a high-energy, active time of worship and learning for our 2 year olds through 5th Graders. Our Crew Time staff of teens and adults lead our kids in worship & interactive learning.

Crew Time has also added a new friend. Last night we met Dennis the Crew Time Carpenter. With Dennis' help, the kids learn about God, Jesus and many other things.

The room was packed with kids & energy as we learned about and participated in WORSHIP!

Be sure to stop by at 6:30 pm on Wednesdays to see Crew Time in action.

Wayman Manor

Last night the teens of Western Hills hosted their second Sidewalk Sunday School on the playground of Wayman Manor. In a word it was AWESOME. Our teens (and teens from Ave. T) prove that Jesus is bigger than any racial, social, or economic barrier or difference. Armed with kickballs, bubbles, frisbees and fingernail polish these students went to work playing with and loving on the children of Wayman Manor.

I am excited to be a part of a church that is committed to getting out of its building and going where Jesus would go. Keep our students in our prayers and keep Wayman Manor in your prayers. If this effort is part of the mission God has for Western Hills then the possibilities are far more than anything we can ask or even imagine!

A Church on Target

Our Elders have called this church to a new vision. Well actually they have reminded us of what our vision has always been. There is a saying that says, "The MAIN thing is to keep the MAIN thing the MAIN thing." Keeping the main thing the main thing is what our elders are helong us to do. SO in case you have missed it the vision/mission of the Western Hills Church of Christ is...

to Connect the Unnconnected

to Care for our People

to Change lives for God

Now the EASY part is to come up with the statement. The HARD part is to LIVE it out.
I want to invite eveyone who is a part of this church to begin praying about what God will do wiht us and through us in the immediate future. I believe he has BIG dreams and I can't wait to see them come to life.

End of the Spear

Fifty years ago this month, five men were martyred in the Amazon jungle of Ecuador and their story changed lives around the world. This month, the rest of the story will be told in a powerful motion picture coming to theaters called End of the Spear. Come and experience this unbelievable true story on opening weekend Jan. 20-22 and your view of missions will never be the same. This is a full Hollywood production that displays (in a postive way) the power of the Gospel message to change the culture of an entire people.

Upward Basketball Begins

Last Saturday, January 14th, we had our first day of Upward Basketball Games at Western Hills.

The Kindergarten teams started the day with excitement and energy! The 4th through 6th Grade Boys teams ended the day with heavy-duty action. In between, the day was filled with some great plays, awesome shots, loud cheering and a whole lot of fun.

Our coaches did a great job helping their kids do their best. Our referees did a great job teaching the kids the basics of the game with patience and love. Our concessions stand volunteers served up hotdogs, nachos and sodas with smiles. Our devotional speakers inspired and challenged the half-time audience. Our other volunteers did what was needed to make the day a success. (Thanks Kim Stern for hours of time keeping!)

All of these people made it possible to tell

a bunch of kids and their parents about Jesus!

It was a great day! There are 3 more game days at Western Hills.

• January 28th
• February 12th
• February 26

Come and join us for a game or two (or the whole day).

Or better yet...

If you are interested in helping serve in the Concession Stand, contact Matt & Heather Stephen.

If you are interested in helping with Refereeing a game or 2, contact Robert Moore.

If you are interested in giving a short half-time devotional, contact Marie Matthews.

If you want to help in any way needed (as Jesus would!), contact Scott Seela.

BUILD & BRING

These are two words you are going to hear me say often. Why? Because I believe in them. This is our strategy for reaching the lost of Central Texas. Sounds too simple, right? I know strategies for reaching the lost and bringing people to Jesus have been made complicated and intimidating.

So what is BUILD and BRING? It is simply this...prayerfully consider the people God has already placed in your circle of influence. This includes co workers, fellow students, friends, members of your bowling team, other soccer moms, your next door neighbor, guys at the gym...get the picture? You pray about God using you to be a missionary to those people. Don't get intimidated yet! Your job is to BUILD your relationship with them and then BRING them to Western Hills. Now that's not so scary is it? Another way to say this is with the words INVEST and INVITE. You invest in their lives and then invite them to join you for worship. I have a passionate belief that folks who come into our worship will encounter a living God. They might not understand everything or be able to put their experience into words, but they will NOT leave unaffected.

So there it is. The grand strategy in two words...BUILD and BRING. I wish I could take credit for this but Jesus beat me to it years ago.

God will do amazing things in 2006. I am praying for you and look forward to meeting the person/persons you bring to Jesus this year.

See you on Sunday,
Scott M.

Christmas Presents for Meadow Village

What a blessing this church has been to the kids in Meadow Village!

Western Hills, along with Canyon Creek, took on the challenge to help the kids living there have a good Christmas by providing gifts to 164 kids. On Saturday, December 17th we had the opportunity to pass out presents in the Meadow Village Apartment Complex in Temple. It was a great time! Some people were expecting us. Some were not. As each door opened and gifts were handed off, the Love of Jesus was truly shared. Everyone was extremely grateful. The smiles and thank yous were heartfelt.

I want to say Thank You to this church for taking on the challenge to share the love of Jesus through this ministry project. The generosity of Western Hills continues to impress me!

For those who took a name or two, I encourage you to keep those kids in your prayers. The ministry at Meadow Village continues to make an impact. Pray for our teens and others who regularly go there to minister to kids.

Thanks again for being living examples of what it means to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus.

God's Blessings.
-Scott Seela

Sweet Week Grand Openings!

This could possibly one of the best weeks ever. WHY? Because of the grand openings...First The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe opened. I have not seen it yet (and with twins it is doubtful I will see it anytime soon) but the early reviews are telling me it is INCREDIBLE. I am most encouraged by many telling me the Christian elements and themes are not diminished at all. Second grand opening this week: KING KONG. This is the movie that Peter Jackson (director of the Lord of the Rings) has wanted to make all of his life. And again the early reviews tell me it is an amazing movie. (Again with the twins not sure when I will see it, but I can hope). And finally the last grand opening is today. The Chick-fil-a across from our church building is open for business! I may not make it to Chronicles or Kong as fast as I would like but I will be feasting on the perfection that is a Chick-fil-a sandwich. In honor of the new store I wanted to share this post with you from another minister, Perry Noble. He writes about some of the lessons a church can learn from Chick-fil-a.

Enjoy!

Scott M.

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Lessons the Church can learn from a Chick-fil-a

#1 - They Keep Things Simple What is Chic-fil-a known for? Uh, one guess...think about it...did you say CHICKEN? Ding ding ding--we have a winner! You can't go to Chic-fil-a if you want a hot dog...well, I guess technically you COULD...but you would leave disappointed. They don't have a very large menu selection, which enables them to do a few things well instead of trying to be "everything to everyone." The church should apply the same. I believe there are many churches trying to maintain programs that at one time WERE very affective--many lives WERE changed--BUT what may have worked 30 years ago may not work today. However, the mistake that many of us make as church leaders is that instead of getting rid of things we add to our plate--and our "ministry menu" looks so large--and we are doing a lot of things--but really doing none of them well. One of the things we are striving for here at NewSpring is the simplicity of ministry. We KNOW that we cannot do everything well--and so we say no a lot more than we say yes to certain programs and/or ideas...and not because we don't care--but because we do care and it is our desire to honor Jesus Christ in the best way possible by providing an excellent ministry environment.

--

#2 - They Stick To Their Convictions You know what I love...AND HATE...about Chic-fil-a? They are not open on Sunday! (Just being honest!) There are Sunday's when I long for a chicken sandwich from there--but I can't get one, not until Monday. I remember hearing the story of when Chic-fil-a was negotiating with shopping malls to open up within the mall and one of the stipulations was that they had to be open on Sunday. The leadership didn't really have a decision to make--they had convictions...and were willing to walk away from the opportunity that the malls were giving them because it would have meant going against what they felt was right. The malls realized they needed Chic-fil-a and backed down...and so we can now shop till we drop and refresh ourselves at the little sample stand outside of the restaurant. (Come on, you know you've snatched a nugget or two!) If a church is going to be able to maintain ministry in today's society then the leadership is going to have to have a clear vision of what the church will and will not do--and be able to stick by that vision--no matter what. It is my conviction that God's word never changes...and I have an incredible high view of Scripture...but the methods used to communicate His word often change. We will never compromise Scripture here--that is one of our core values--but we will always be willing to use whatever methods it takes to reach people. One note on this before moving on...Chic-fil-a has often received criticism about this aspect of the way they operate--but it has not deterred them at all. You cannot let criticism derail your vision--ask God to light your heart on fire--to fill you with His vision...and stick to it no matter what.

--

#3 - Things Are Always Very Clean I never NEVER been into a nasty Chic-fil-a--EVER. The restrooms are always nice--the floors always look like they have just been mopped--despite the tons of traffic they get...they manage to keep things nice and neat. We can REALLY use this lesson! I have this deal on Sunday's that when I am walking into the building we are renting and I see a piece of paper on the ground--I pick it up. When I go to the restroom and I see a paper towel on the floor--I pick it up. People, especially the unchurched, want to come into a clean environment. At NewSpring we have an incredible team of people who show up early each and every Sunday to sweep, to mop, to vacuum--to make sure that the worship environment is as clean as possible...and it does make a difference. And let me say this before moving on...at Chic-fil-a I have NEVER seen a dirty area for kids--it's always clean--and that matters. It breaks my heart when I hear of churches who place their children in some damp, dirty room with people who are there because someone made them feel guilty about not working with kids (and we wonder why many kids hate church.)If a church is serious about reaching the lost and unchurched--one of the BEST things they can do is make sure the children's area is both clean and safe. The only people who will tolerate less than perfect conditions for their children are parents who grew up in those same conditions and are completely unaware that other options exist.

--

#4 - The People Are Always Friendly Maybe you have had a different experience...but I don't think I have ever met a rude person at Chic-fil-a. From what I have seen--they always have a smile on their face--and say "thank you." I always tell churches that one of the best things you can have for your church is have a team of people who great others on Sunday's. Who stand outside--even when it is cold and rainy--and say things like, "good morning," and, "good to see you!" Trust me--this makes a difference. I remember visiting a church once and this little old dude sort of shoving a worship guide in my hands and not smiling at me...I actually said "good morning" to him...and he gave me a dirty look! I thought, "if I were unchurched--THAT would be the ONLY excuse I needed to not come back here." And those who are interested in reaching the unchurched--you know that is the way they think.

Mexican Food and Evangelism

Ok! I thought I knew about every hole-in-the-wall-dive-Mexican-food restaurant in Temple/Belton. One of the reasons I love living here is there is an abundance of GREAT Mexican food places -- and I have dined at all of them...or so I thought. On Sunday afternoon, our own Lurry Leavelle (doctor extraordinaire!) and his wonderful wife Donna invited Erica and me to join them for lunch at a Mexican food place. It was one I had never been to nor even heard about. The name: "Fruteria Ruby Tacos del Sur y Pollos del Norte." I am NOT making that up. (I will just refer to it as Tacos del Sur for short.) Immediately I was intrigued. Could there possibly be a decent Mexican place in Temple I have not heard of?

---

Tacos del Sur is located on East Ave. G. It is actually one of three places of business owned by a family (restaurant, store, and nursery). What we experienced there was nothing short of south-of-the-border nirvana. I am high on the place for these reasons...The salsa was great (always important when sizing up a Mexican food place), the food was authentic, the portions where large, the prices small, and the place was spotlessly clean! If you are are a Mexican food lover...And who isn't? Then you have got to try Tacos del Sur.
---
So what does all of this have to to with evangelism? Simply this...I heard about Tacos del Sur because Lurry cared enough to invite us. Because of his invitation I had a tremendous experience and now I am telling YOU about it. The advertising world for years has said there is no better advertising than "word of mouth." So why not for the church? You tell a couple of friends about Western Hills and then invite them. It's that simple. For too long the church has said that evangelism is the best done by setting up Bible studies with people you hardly know. While studying the Bible will always be a good thing, most people I know are not gifted to lead a Bible study. But everyone can invite friends and neighbors. Right?! To expect everyone to do evangelism by leading a Bible study would be like expecting Lurry to have cooked the Mexican food himself. He didn't do that, instead he took us to where the great feast awaited.

---

So what is holding you back? Be praying now for the people in your circle of influence you need to invite to Western Hills. When you do that, congratulations you have just become an evangelist. I will see you (and your invitee) on Sunday.

Want to meet for lunch afterward? Dare you to try the salsa verde!

---

Adios Amigos

Scott M.

Sharing God's Story

In our current sermon series titled "Coming Home for Christmas," Scott Meyer has led us in re-examining the account of the first Christmas as told in the Gospel of Luke to prepare us for Christmas. We believe we must prepare our lives, not just our houses, for Christmas. That is to say we need to prepare our lives for the coming of the Christ.

Last night, we continued this preparation by looking back over the incredible story of God caring for and leading His people. The story of God can be told either in terms of the main characters of the story, or of pivotal events that helped shape and define the people's journey of faith. To do this, we focused on 5 key characters/events:

• Creation, Adam & Eve, Sin (Genesis 1-4)
• God calling Abraham (Genesis 15)
• The Exodus from Egypt (Exodus)
• God choosing David as King (1 Samuel 16)
• The Angel Gabriel's Announcements (Luke 1)

We gathered as families and friends around tables in the fellowship room to create "ornaments" that symbolized each of these characters/events. The ornaments are to be visual reminders of the Story of God Redeeming His People.

As we made each ornament, each table recounted the story that went with it. From our young children to our adults, the stories of God's working were shared. The young taught the old. The old taught the young. The church was blessed.

I encourage you to continue telling The Story as we prepare for Christmas.

God's Blessings.

-Scott Seela

Coming Home for Christmas

Christmas Season is HERE! I am excited about this season for many reasons.

1. It will be the first Christmas for Cutter & Cooper (our twins).
2. Our Christmas lights are already up!
3. I am grateful for all God is doing through Western Hills right now.

We are in a series I am calling "Coming Home for Christmas." We all spend lots of time preparing ourselves for Christmas: shopping, decorating, cards, lights, cooking, etc...All of this to celebrate the coming of the Christ. Well I believe we must prepare our lives, not just our houses, for Christmas. That is to say we need to prepare our lives for the coming of the Christ. Be sure to invite a friend to join us each Sunday in December as we look at the preparations made for the very first Christmas.

Love Ya Much
Scott M.

Mistakes and Church

This post is from another minister, Perry Noble, who preaches at the NewSpring Church. I found his words to be very insightful. Hope you are challenged and encouraged by them.

#1 - If You Are Not Making Mistakes Then You Are Not Trying!I can say that our mistakes here at NewSpring have came from people who love Jesus, love the church, love people--and are really trying to do what they think is right. In doing that we will drop the ball from time to time. However, that is OK--the church has played it safe for way too long.

#2 - Do Not Try To Hide The Mistake!If you make a mistake then address it. We don't do this many times in the church world, we "pray about it" and expect God to handle it. (Does it seem that at times we over spiritualize everything?) But the best thing to do when making a mistake is to address it!

#3 - Do Not Fear The Outcome When you make a mistake you can count on the fact that your approval rating will drop in the public polls. Our job, however, is not to worship people--but to worship Jesus--to do what is right before doing what is easy...and trusting in a Sovereign God to take control.

#4 - The Only Bad Mistakes Are The Ones You Do Not Learn FromUh, enough said, right? I can't wait to see what the next five years of ministry looks like here at NewSpring. God is blessing us so much...and we are going to continue to strive to be excellent in all that we do--to be creative--to be relevant--and to teach the truth in an uncompromising way. However, we are not perfect--and we will make mistakes--but that's a lot better than playing it safe!

God Bless

Love Ya Much

Scott M.

Thankful for Western Hills

In this season of thanksgiving I want to make it known that I am grateful for what God is doing with and through Western Hills. Every week He is bringing new people through our doors and giving us an opportunity to reach them for Jesus. I am grateful for all of the folks who serve to make the Sunday morning experience a authentic encounter with a living God. Thanks to everyone who serves on the praise team, runs audio/video equipment, cleans the pews, hands out bulletins, greets newcomers, and on the list goes. To each I am thankful.

I want to call each of you to be in prayer for those God will bring our way during this holiday season. Be on your knees in prayer and on you toes to respond to the opportunities God has for us.

Love Ya Much,
Scott M.

Chuck Fortenberry Honored

Chuck Fortneberry's life and sacrifice will be honored through the naming of the new Physical Fitness Center at Fort Rucker after him. Cynthia and the boys will participating in the dedication cermonies scheduled for December 9, 2005.

Chuck was a loving dad, gracious husband, and outstanding Soldier.

Continue to keep the Fortenberry's in your prayers.

Love Ya Much
Scott

Update from Jorge Quijano

"The good news over here is taking place in Blanca Flor, even though it has been raining almost 3 of 7 days every week. The foundation of the new [church] building is almost done. Brother Pedro and the men are taking this project very seriously. The brothers from Chetumal are considering the possibility of helping with labor, along with 2 or 3 from Sac Xan. I have been blessed beyond my own understanding being with these people.

"The churches [in the region] have been keeping up the good work and remaining faithful to the Lord. It has been difficult due to Hurricane Wilma, as the amount of damage has been enormous, but thankfully few lives have been lost. At church in Bacalar, I tried to have the church to consider other losses beside the material ones. We are so focused on material things, even myself, that we are able to number them so quickly and easily. But the church is totally ignorant about spiritual wealth. When the church cannot value it's relationship with God, any inconvenience makes it easy to leave and not come back. We are trying to make a list of our spiritual wealth, qualities found only in the church.

"This coming month (November) is the Ladies Meeting and then a big fellowship at the end of the year. This would have been a good time to have had the Medical Mission Campaign due to Wilma causing a lot of people to get sick. We pray for Western Hills; may God bless you and all there".

Jorge Quijano

What a Party!!

It happened again! God took the simple event of a "Jesus Party" at Meadow Village and turned it into something incredible.

Those of you who were out at Meadow Village experienced the excitement and energy first hand. Kids and families were everywhere having a great time at the creative activities that were sponsored in love.

Lots of love, candy, prizes, candy, hugs, candy, hotdogs, candy, cookies, candy, balloon animals, candy, donuts (and did I mention candy?) were distributed to the Meadow Village community.

Thank you to all who helped make this happen. Thanks for the mass amounts of candy donated and for the excitement you brought to each and every activity.

The Light of Jesus truly shined at Meadow Village! Praise God for His working through His people.

God Bless.

-Scott Seela

Get Ready to Party!

WOW! The response to the Carnival @ Meadow Village is amazing. This church is going crazy to put on the best Jesus party ever. Here is just a small sampling of the creative booths and events we will be hosting...

Fire Truck
Pig Races (don't ask I don't know either)
Fire Safety House
Hanging Donuts
Photo Booth
Barrel Train Ride
Face Painting
and much, much, much, more!

Remember...All of the booths need to be set up and running by 3pm on Sunday. We will have the limited edition Western Hills T-Shirts available Sunday morning in the foyer for $5. Buy one to wear during carnival. The weather forecast is for a great day.

See you on Sunday!

Scott M.

Fellowship Cafe Filling Up Fast

Already more than 70 of you have purchased your tickets for Fellowship Cafe. I consider this a tremendous response for the first trial run. If you have not bought your tickets yet, you can still buy them until Wednesday night. Just find Patty T. or Dianne H. and they will be happy to get you set.

See you on Sunday!
Scott M.

Fellowship Cafe

Tired of having to decide where
to eat after church on Sunday?

Do long waits and poor
service at a restaurant bug you?

Do you wish you didn't have to end
your conversation in the foyer just
to "beat the crowds" to eat?

If the answer to any of these questions is YES -
then have we got a deal for you!

Following morning worship, we will all have an opportunity to experience Sunday lunch the way it was meant to be. We are calling it FELLOWSHIP CAFE. Make plans for this special fellowship time by purchasing a ticket in advance from any of the office staff or at the Welcome Center in the Foyer. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for kids. The menu is: roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, crescent rolls & dessert. The deadline to purchase tickets is Wednesday, October 26th.

A Jesus Party!

If Jesus were to throw a party in Temple, whom would he throw it for? Jesus' list would probably include a lot of people… but we're thinking that right at the top of Jesus' list would be the people in our city who are often overlooked or forgotten people who don't usually get parties thrown for them. We believe that those who don't have parties thrown for them would be the very people that Jesus would make the honored guests at his party.

Join us for a “Jesus Party” as we enjoy a Fall Carnival with the kids and families of Meadow Village Apartments here in Temple on Sunday, October 30th.

The carnival will take place at Meadow Village from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

Several of our 20/20 Groups are sponsoring booths/activities.

Here's just a few of the booths/activities planned at this time:

• Candy Fishing
• Pig Races (I have no idea!)
• Face Painting
• Antique Fire Truck
• Cup Knock Down
• Hot Dogs
• Bean Bag Toss
• And much, much more!
  

It's going to be a great party. Don't miss this opportunity to be Jesus to someone.

If you have any questions, would like to sponsor a booth/activity or need help in developing your booth, please contact Scott Seela.

Funeral Service for Andy Anderson

Andy's service will take place at Western Hills Church of Christ on Wednesday, October 12 at 2:00 p.m.. A military burial ceremony will follow at Hillcrest Cemetary.

Family visitation will take place Tuesday evening, October 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 at Scanio-Harper Funeral Home, 3110 Airport Road in Temple.

Our thoughts and prayers are with this precious family.

Update on the Scott Family

Jeff, Jennifer and the kids are now situated in north Texas. Jeff has traveled to spend time at the retreat location in New Mexico. You can follow their updates by reading the blog Jeff has begun. The address is www.jffsct.blogspot.com. Keep them in your prayers as God continues to bless them and the new chapter in their life

In Him
Scott M.

Upward Basketball

What's Upward Basketball? This is an evangelistic sports ministry designed to promote community outreach, develop volunteer leadership, and share the love of Christ with children and their families, using something as simple as a basketball! Specifically designed for kindergarten through sixth grade boys and girls, Upward promotes Bible teaching, character, and self-esteem in every child.

Our 1st Game of the season will be Saturday, January 14, 2006.

Just a few ways you can be involved in this wonderful ministry:

• Be a Prayer Partner
• Be a Coach
• Be an Assistant Coach
• Be a Referee
• Help with the Concession Stand
• Help with Set-Up on Game Days
• Serve as needed on Game Days
• Tell Others about Upward

If you are interested in getting involved in Upward, please pick up one of the interest forms, fill it out and return it to the church office or Scott Seela. (Applications for Coaches, Assistant Coaches and Referees are also available.)

Upward Basketball- another great way to reach our community for Jesus!

Mission Sunday this Sunday

Western Hills has been called a hands and feet ministry congregation, and this is no better illustrated than in our MISSIONS. In order to raise awareness of our variety of missions involvement, we are conducting a Mission Fair Sunday, September 25. After our morning worship service, with our missionary Dave Meadows, we will have a potluck luncheon with displays provided to illustrate all of the ways Western Hills is involved in the mission of God.

Here's a brief summary of what will be on display:

Dave and Sarah Meadows have been doing outstanding work in greater Sao Paulo, Brazil for well over 30 years. They have been instrumental in establishing a thriving congregation in Guarulhos, as well as neighboring communities, and have developed an "after-school school" for the poorer children of their area.

Denville and Nicolette Willie have begun and developed numerous "house-churches" throughout Cape Town, South Africa. The response has been overwhelming. The church is growing faster here than in any other part of the world.

Jorge and Josephina Quijano, who live in Belize, Central America, but center their efforts in the Yucatan region of Mexico, conduct Men's and Women's Seminars, VBS, preach and teach in several villages, and are the local coordinators for the Medical Mission Program.

Speaking of the Medical Mission, Western Hills has been sending teams of 20+ people to the Yucatan Peninsula for over 15 years to treat and minister to upwards of 2000 mostly Mayan Indian poor during the 5 day clinics. Not only does this effort directly touch lives in the villages we visit, demonstrating Christ's compassion to others, but it energizes the local churches as well.

World Bible School, headed up by our own Jack Williams, brings Bible knowledge and instruction to countless individuals (mostly in Africa), who otherwise wouldn't have access to such information.

Our Youth Group is very mission oriented, not only with trips to Monte Crystal, Mexico to assist building a church clinic, along with a nightly VBS, but also to mission fields in the US, such as the Four Corners area, large metropolitan inner cities like Atlanta, and right here in Temple. Scott Meyer and Matt Peacock lead this incredible mission.

Upward Basketball, coordinated by Scott Seela and our Children's Crew, brings the mission field right to us in our own FLC, and is generating a lot of excitement and enthusiasm among the younger folks (as well as their parents).

A Whole Lotta Fun!

Last Sunday evening, we kicked off a new format for our 4 year olds through 5th Grade. This new format is called CREW TIME.

It was a blast!

We began with praise time. We are learning some great new songs during this time. They are really fun and have a great message for kids and adults alike.

We are in a series called "Stories Jesus Told." Everyone helped tell our parable for the evening, The Sower. All the kids were "Seeds" while our teen leaders were the different "Soils." Of course, I got to play the role of "The Farmer."

After our story, everyone made a book about the parable. The covers of the books were awesome! (See the picture above.)

This coming Sunday, September 18th we will start Crew Time again at 6:00 pm in the gym.

Kids, be sure to get your parents to bring you so you can take part in the story of The Lost Sheep.

See you there!

- Scott S.

Katrina Relief Fund

On Sunday, this church held a special collection specifically for aid and relief to the victims of hurricane Katrina. I am excited to announce that $5,592.80 has been collected so far. Praise God. This is simply one more sign (among many) God is active in this place and working through this church.

The money collected will be used to create a resource fund, right here at Western Hills. We are dedicated to meeting the vast needs of this disaster both immediate and future. So this fund will place us in the "at-the-ready" position to meet the needs God brings to our attention. This may include:

• purchasing immediate food/water/diapers etc
• covering cost of medications
• providing transportation for evacuees
• sponsoring a family who was displaced by Katrina

We are not sure exactly which opportunities of ministry God will bring to us. We do know He will bring some opportunity and this fund is just the beginning of His providing the means to answer the call.

May God continue to bless Western Hills with ministry.

Scott M.

Crew Time on Sunday Night

When was the last time your kids dragged YOU to church? We are wholeheartedly committed to making sure church is NEVER boring. Therefore, this coming Sunday evening, September 11th, we will kick off a new format for our 4 year olds through 5th Grade that will hopefully elicit such a response from our kids.

The new format is called Crew Time and it will take place in the FLC Gym on the 2nd & 3rd Sundays of each month during The Well.

Some of the basics of Crew Time:

The Worship
Our focus will be to not just sing “kid songs”, but to help lead our kids into worship that connects them with God. Creative use of hand motions & movements will be employed when appropriate/useful.

The Messages
The messages will be active. Use of the kids, drama, storytelling, etc. will be hallmarks of the message time. Getting the kids to actively engage with the message is our goal.

The Games/Activities/Projects
We will be using several different methods to reinforce the messages. The method (game, activity, project, craft, etc.) will vary depending on the message.

Crew Time promises to be a blast... so don't miss out- Bring your kids to the FLC Gym @ 6:00 pm before you head off to The Well.

-Scott S.

Hurricane Katrina

Hurricane Katrina is well on her way to being the most costly (in terms of life and economy) natural disaster in our country's history. As a church we will want to respond to the immense need that thousands along the gulf coast now find themselves in. The recovery effort will be a long sustained process, so we too will need to be praying and assisting over the weeks and months to come.

There are 2 ways we can respond immediately. 1) PRAYER - this is always our first and most powerful response to events that are beyond our control but not beyond God's control. Like we prayed for our 40 Days, let's pray for the people in the Gulf without ceasing. 2) HEB Drive - I have confirmed with HEB that tomorrow (Friday Sept. 2) from 8am-6pm at the store on 31st there will be a truck collecting emergency items. These items include...

• bottled water
• peanut butter
• canned tuna
• granola / cereal bars
• diapers

You can purchase the items at the truck, in HEB or bring some from home. The truck will leave Friday night to go to Waco then onto the coast. Let's make this our first of many efforts to be the Hands & Feet of Jesus to our neighbors to the east.

On a personal note...One of our Western Hills own, Kyle C. has headed to the coast as part of the National Guard to assist in the rescue and recovery. Keep Kyle in your prayers as he ministers.

God Bless,

Scott M.

You are invited to click the comment link and post your prayers for the victims of Katrina.

AMAZING SUNDAY!

If you were present during our Sunday morning worship service then I do not need to tell you that we witnessed God do some AMAZING things as we concluded our 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. For those who could not be with us allow me this chance to recap some of what occurred.

First, a big thanks to Byron and the praise team. The worship on Sunday was powerful and encouraging. Thanks for using your gifts to lead us to God.

Second, an announcement was read by Larry Matthews sharing the GOOD NEWS of Jeff and Jennifer's future plans. They will move to the Dallas area and join the staff at The Colony Church of Christ. This church offers a program specifically designed to help ministers and their families overcome and heal. Follow the link if you wish to support this effort financially.

Third, Philip, who has spent the last 4 years in prison is now released and joined us for worship for the first time.

Finally, if all of that is not amazing enough...Courtney, one of our WHY members, gave her life to Jesus in baptism.

The service ended with all gathering at the front and singing "Holy Ground" together. Only God could have arranged all of the participants.

Remember Joshua 3:5 says

Conscecrate yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things
among you.

Looks like He meant it!

Love Ya Much
Scott M.

Request Night

Isn't music a powerful tool in our spiritual formation? There are certain songs we sing that bring up all kinds of emotions and memories in me. Of course "Holy Ground" is one of those songs. Every time we sing it the memories of all of the baptisms at Western Hills comes rushing back to my mind.

This Sunday night during our service known as "The Well" we will be worshipping in an "ole fashioned way." We will be singing the songs that you want to sing straight out of our song book. Is there a song that is meaningful in your spiritual journey? Do you have an old favorite that we have not sung in a long while? Is there a song that you have wanted us to learn? In either case bring your request with you to The Well this Sunday night and our worship leaders will lead as many songs as there is time. See you there.

Because of the Cross
Scott Meyer

Back to School Prayer Blessing

Last night, during The Well, we had the wonderful experience of praying for our students, teachers and all those involved in education as they prepare to return to school. From our preschoolers to our college students, each group was lifted up to God. Many of the prayers offered were for protection and strength. Other prayers asked God to empower each student to live as Christ would.

As we prayed for our teachers and administrators, I was moved by how many of our number are working in the field of education. What a wonderful ministry they have! Not only do we have great students living as Spiritual Champions, but we have great leaders in education as living models of what it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

Continue to lift up our students, teachers and administrators in prayer throughout the school year. Encourage each one to be a Spiritual Champion that illuminates every place they go.

-In Him,
Scott Seela

Summer Fun USA

Tonight several of the churches in Bell County came together for a great time at Summer Fun USA Waterpark. This is the second year this event has been held. The turnout tonight was terrific and everyone had a great time. Each year this event is hosted by the Bell County Youth Ministries. Hosting churches this year included Ave T, Belton, Canyon Creek, Northside, Salado, and Us! If you did not make it this year you missed out. Hope to see you next year.

Mountain Top Experience

Our Trekkers are back on level ground. The Western Hills Youth Group is home from Wilderness Trek. After enduring 80 degree days and cool nights our group of 11 has come home from a week in God's beautiful creation. The week was spent getting to know ourselves, each other, and God. The trip was both physically challenging and spiritually challenging. On Tuesday of the experience each Trekker was allowed to take their water bottle, Bible and journal and instructed to go "spend 3 hours with God." This was time for prayer, journaling, worship, and simply spending some time with our Father. Below is a poem written during the "Solo Time" by Crystal Hughes. May it be a blessing to you...

God's Creation

Sparkling streams
Ripple beneath a clean crisp breeze.

Mountains majestic
Kiss radiant blue skies.

Cotton-like clouds
Send dancing shadows across rolling green hills.

Fragrant flowers
Adorn soft warm meadows.

Towering trees
Embrace tender creatures of all sorts.

Sumptuous sun rays
Soak into carefully rounded stones.

God's creation,
Heaven's imagination.

We marvel with ease
At His perfect masterpiece.

But we often forget,
Push aside and neglect,

That above all the magnificence He's made out of love,
WE are His treasure, His children, His most prized, his beloved.


Matthew 6:25-34
Matthew 10:28-31

By Crystal Hughes
July 27, 2005

A Word from our Shepherds

On behalf of the elders I would like to provide some information on the status of the replacement process for our pulpit minister.

Very early in the elder’s discussion of the next steps and the process of recruiting and hiring a new preacher it was decided that we would take our time and as much time as necessary to get the right person for the job. We want to be very methodical, intentional and prayerful as we move forward. The decision was made to give ourselves a minimum of six months before we begin the process of actively seeking and recruiting for the position.

We are now three months into that time period. Over the last several weeks the elders have had and continue to have regular formal and informal discussions concerning the vision and direction of this church, the process of recruitment and selection that may be best for Western Hills and the many traits and qualities that the next preacher should possess in order to help insure a good fit and a successful tenure.

During these last few months we, both individually and as a group, have earnestly asked God’s guidance in and through this process. As you are well aware, we have also asked for you to take an active part in this process by participating in the current period of 40 days of prayer and fasting. We firmly believe that God will hear our prayers and that we need to be sensitive to His leading as we move through this process and look to the future.

We are interested in your comments, concerns and questions. Please know that you are welcome to speak with the elders as a group or individually at anytime. We are looking at and considering a way or ways that communication between the leadership and the congregation can be accomplished in the most positive and constructive way possible. We will make every effort to keep you up-to-date as to where we are in the process.

Over the past few weeks and into the future we will be having guest speakers fill the pulpit on Sunday mornings. Some members have asked if any of these men are candidates for the full-time position. They are not. It is understood up front, when the invitation is extended, that they are not looking for a job and that if they preach in the capacity of a guest speaker they will not be considered for the full-time position. We will try to have as much continuity with our guest speakers as possible.

The elders recently asked the ministry staff to take charge of the Sunday evening period of worship and congregational fellowship that we refer to as “The Well.” The staff has taken this assignment very seriously and will be developing meaningful programs and activities for our times together. These periods of worship may be non-traditional in format but will be designed to build our relationships with one another and with the Lord, to help us explore our missional outreach to the world and to deepen our overall spiritual commitment. There will be singing, prayers offered, scriptures contemplated and there will be an opportunity to share the Lord’s Supper with those who were not present during the Sunday morning memorial feast. If you do not already regularly take advantage of “The Well” the elders encourage you to do so. Please take advantage of this great opportunity to worship God and to learn how to become a better disciple.

Finally, Western Hills is blessed to have three wonderful, dedicated ministers on staff. The elders want you to know how very important they have been to keeping things moving during this difficult transition period. We are very grateful to them for going above and beyond what is expected. I don’t have time to list all that they have done but just know that they have done amazing things with wonderful, positive attitudes sometimes on very short notice. Please take time to say thanks to Scott Meyer, Scott Seela and Matt Peacock and please be diligent in praying for them and their families as they serve us and the Lord with great dedication and enthusiasm.

May God bless us all as we strive to serve Him.

James Penland