Abigail's Baptism Sunday

Congratulations to Abigail and her family as they celebrate this new beginning. Feel free to leave a word of blessing, encouragement or congratulations for Abigail.

The Shack: A Review

The following review is from Beth Kelley, one of the members of Western Hills:

When I picked up this book last Sunday, I was prepared for good story that would leave me feeling content. I had no idea where this story would actually take me. As a walked through the story with the main character, Mack, I also found myself face to face with God.

In this novel, Mack, who is cloaked in grief, goes to meet God at an old shack that is tethered to his grief. However, Mack does not meet the God he has perceived for so long. He comes face to face with the true God, as well as His Son and His Spirit in a way that is not the stereotypically religious way we usually envision them. God seeks to unravel Mack’s despair and draw him into a relationship with Him. He consistently shows Mack the love relationship among Himself, His Son, and His Spirit. The reader sees “the Trinity” in a new light. Their relationship is a source of confusion and joy for Mack that helps bring him closer to God. The author also shows how God seeks each of His children and loves each of us uniquely. Through this, Mack comes to understand the importance and beauty of true forgiveness, which forces him to let go of his own anger toward the one who caused his pain. Throughout the book, God continually seeks Mack and draws him back to Himself.

This book was perception shattering! The author took God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit out of categories and revealed them as they are. It made me take another look at my own relationship with God and the perceptions I had of Him. God is taken out of the hierarchy we’ve placed Him and moved to the center of our lives, touching everything within them. He exposes our perceptions and religious stereotypes for what they are and he used a story to unravel the true importance of a deep, personal relationship with God. This book goes deeper than the story told on the surface. It delves into the depths of our own grief and separation from the God who cares so deeply for us.

Beth Kelley is a follower of Jesus and an "everyday" missionary. Her current mission field is the 3rd grade classroom at Thornton Elementary in Temple.

Houston Mission Update #3

We are making new friends and having many new experiences. We have been well received by other youth groups, the VBS children, and people from the church. Pictured above is our intern, Joel, and Marlon, a long time member of the Impact Church of Christ. Last night we went to the Water Wall and then ended our evening in worship with the Maryland youth group.

Houston Mission Update #2

I'm so proud of our students! They have jumped in with both feet today working with the children. We had time to sing, teach, read, play, and above all demonstrate the love of Jesus. It has been a long and wonderful day and we are excited about tomorrow.

Samantha's Baptism

One of our students recently made the confession that Jesus is Lord of her life and was baptized. You can watch her baptism here. After you watch the video be sure to click on the comments link and leave her a word of encouragement.

Houston Mission Update

The student mission team was sent out in prayer this morning! We made the journey to Houston safely and look forward to worship tomorrow at Impact Church of Christ. We will post a picture or two each day and would love for you to leave comments for the students throughout the week. Keep us in your prayers. ~Brandon

Houston Mission Trip

This Saturday our Home Groups will be meeting at the Western Hills campus to send 16 of our students on the Houston Mission Trip. It has been a blessing to see the active role our Home Groups have taken in sending this student missionary team to work with children in the city of Houston. The pancake breakfast will begin at 8:00am and we will send the team off in prayer around 9:00am.

Special thanks to all our Home Groups and your overwhelming support. Please keep our students in your prayers this week.

Haley, Brynn and Emily Baptisms

Keep these three ladies in your prayers as they begin a new walk with Jesus as their Lord. Please leave a word of encouragement, prayer, or blessing for them.

The Samaritan Project Continues

On Sunday, June 29 we had the wonderful opportunity to help prepare a rental house for Mary Ann Garrett (see previous post). Thank you to all who put in some "sweat equity" to enable Mary Ann and her family to move into this new place. Enjoy the video of the Western Hills Church being the Hands & Feet of Jesus!

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.