SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: You can help!

Watch the video to discover a special opportunity we have to be Good Samaritans in our community. More details will be coming soon!

View the OUTLAW Trailer

Our new message series explores men and women who followed God and became OUTLAWS because of their faith.

New Addition to Western Hills Family

Congratulations to the Bullock family on the arrival of Claire Catherine! Mom and family are doing well and look forward to being home soon.

Happy Father's Day

Join us on Sunday as we celebrate Father's Day. We will explore our Bibles as we discover the heavenly Father that loves us more than we can imagine!

Video Blog #2

In this post Scott Seela describes our new ministry to 5th & 6th graders and extends a special invitation to come and see the new home of Route 56.

Equip and Send: WHY Houston Mission Trip

Last night Western Hills took a step in a new direction as we prepare for the summer student mission trip. Nine Home Groups have chosen to send our students as missionaries to Houston this summer to serve children through the Impact Church of Christ VBS program. Last night each Home Group was paired with 1-3 students that they will support through prayer, encouragement, and financial assistance.

It is exciting to be part of a church family that takes an active role in equipping and sending. What a blessing it was to see the outpouring of love for our students through the prayers of our Home Groups.

In Honor of Our Wives...

Here is a great parody, of a Carrie Underwood song, that is from the point of view of being a minister's wife. So to Erica, Qwynn, and Heidi...this is for you. Thanks for putting up with us.

Enjoy!

Scott

Welcome to Our Youth Intern

We are excited to welcome Joel Brown who arrived this past Sunday to begin his youth ministry internship. Joel is an entering senior at ACU majoring in Biblical Text and Philosophy.

Joel comes with a passion for teaching and mentoring our students as they follow Jesus.

Please keep Joel in your prayers as he joins the wonderful work that God is doing at Western Hills.

Feel free to leave Joel a word of blessing, encouragement, or prayer.

Thank you,

Brandon

2 Minute Replay

Here is the 2 minute replay from our message on the story of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:25-37. To learn more about the Samaritan Project click HERE.

Sunday Night Reflections

Well, if you missed it today here is what the Samaritan Project is all about. In the message we explored the parable of the Good Samaritan and discovered that what made the Samaritan good was that when he saw a need he simply met the need. He did not try to rationalize his way out of it. At the end of the message we distributed sealed envelopes and dared everyone to take the Samaritan Project challenge. In the envelopes was cash in varying amounts from $5-$20. The challenge is this...the next time we see a need in front of us we are going to meet the need. We are not going to talk ourselves out of it. We will use this money (after all it is God's money) and address the need. If we have to add more money to it we will. That's it. It is simple. See a need, meet a need.

The only other thing we ask is that you send us a note or email and share with us the story of how God used you to meet a need.

Have a Great Week!

Scott

On a personal note: I am so grateful to our elders for their leadership and courage to allow us to attempt ideas like this. They are a blessing to serve.

Samaritan Project

Once an expert in the law asked Jesus for the greatest commandment, Jesus responded with the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4), an ancient Jewish doctrine that called Israel to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength. But what Jesus did next would change the course of history. Jesus actually added to the Shema. He gave his followers a new directive - to love God with all their heart, mind, soul and strength, but ALSO to love others as themselves. This Sunday we are going to discover some of what it means to live out this call from Jesus. We are calling it "Samaritan Project." Hope to see you on Sunday.

Sunday Night Reflections

As another Sunday comes to an end here is what is running through my mind.

• I loved seeing the babies and their families on our pulpit this morning
• We had a great crowd this morning
• Todd did a great job leading our worship...I thought the singing was great
• Thanks to Seela for bringing the message to us today
• It was a real treat to see many "old" faces like the Bundy family and the Ross family

Well that's all for now.

Scott

PS - Don't miss next week! Come and discover what the "Samaritan Project" is all about

Voices of Blessing

Yesterday was our Senior Sunday for the high school students graduating from our student ministry. To bless our students we gathered several people with the gift of wisdom to share their blessing on video. To hear the blessings in their own words watch the video above. After you watch the video leave your own word of blessing in the comment section.

Senior Sunday '08

This coming Sunday, May 4, is Senior Sunday at Western Hills. This is a day when the church comes together to support, encourage, and challenge those who are graduating from high school to lead lives on a mission for God. Our youth minister, Brandon Baker, will lead this special worship experience and bring the message.

Video Blog 1

Sunday Night Reflections

Here again are some of my assorted thoughts at the end of another Sunday.

• I have enjoyed the series on Temptations...hope you have too!
• It was a blessing to see James and Barbara Penland in for a visit.
• I continue to hear great stories from our Home Groups, I am so grateful to the elders for blessing this effort.
• Another great family became "covenant members" today. It is incredible the way God is using Western Hills right now.
• 2 of our Home Groups have been hosting newcomer lunches. This is an incredible ministry...keep up the great work.
• Our students went to Wayman Manor to be Jesus to the kids there.

That is just some of the stuff I am grateful for...how about you?
Have a Great Week!
Scott M.

Sacred Grounds

Western Hills is a growing church! Yes, we are growing numerically, but more importantly we are growing in kingdom impact. Two current signs of this are found in our commitment to children and students. To achieve a greater impact in these 2 life stages we are redesigning some of our current building space to meet our strategic plans.

Above - is the new home for Route 56 - our new ministry focusing on students in 5th and 6th grade. This area is upstairs at the end of the hall that runs across the front of the building.

Below - is the loft over the gym. Plans are for this area to be transformed from storage into the new home for WHY (our youth ministry).

If you would like to make a financial donation to either effort see Brandon Baker or Scott Seela.

God Bless
Scott

Nick's Baptism

Congratulations to Nick on his recent baptism. You are invited to leave a comment or word of encouragement for him as he begins his new life in Christ.

Sunday Night Reflections

Sundays are always long, but incredible days. It is late on Sunday night and my mind is still going over all that happened today. Here are some of the things that I am grateful for

• The singing this morning! (thanks Todd for leading us.)
• Launching the new series on Temptation
• Kyle's words during the Lord's Supper
• Nick's Baptism
• Seeing the church surround Nick following his baptism
• Being with Godly men during the Elder's meeting
• Worshipping tonight during 1st Sunday Worship

Each week I find myself more grateful to be a part of this church.

God Bless

Scott

Zack's Baptism

We want to congratulate Zack on his decision to give his life to God. Click the comment link to leave him a word of blessing or encouragement.