Church Corner 6/11

New Beginning Church

By Diane Robinson

“To Know” was the message Pastor Bob preached this past Sunday taken from Psalms 46:1-11. “God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.” Did you know that?  “Be still and know that I am God.” Did you know that also? 

Not many are still long enough to know when the Lord is trying to tell us something or that He is there to help us during our trials and tribulations. If we would just pray and then listen to what He is trying to do in our lives we could live a more victorious life. He is always there today, tomorrow and always.

He will not run from you, but you will run from Him. If this world is dragging you away from the Lord and the chance to know Him, then you have chosen to know Satan instead, which is the enemy of the Lord.

We have a revival coming in July 10-13 with Brother Jeff Lewis. We are also checking on building a pavilion for cookouts, picnics and maybe even some services outside. We are also planning on a home made ice cream social coming soon. 

We are looking forward to our busy summer plans and invite you to be part of New Beginning Church and enjoy what the Lord has in store for us.  

For our prayer list this week, we want to add Marie Barnes, Dennis Veazey and Techler Clark, who need a touch from the Lord. We also want to remember the Kenny Smith family who lost a son this past week in a car accident. Kenny is from Heber Springs and a cousin of mine. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.

“You cannot do a kindness too soon, because you never know how soon it will be too late.”

Bethlehem Baptist Church

By Hazel Love 

This past Sunday, Bro. Emmett Gabbard and his wife Doris, from Rogers, were our guest for both services. Doris shared a message in song, “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder,” before Bro. Emmett delivered the message. The title of the morning message was “Where Will You Spend Eternity?” Bro. Danny and Robin sang “Wonderful, Merciful, Savior” for the special music.

Sunday is Bethlehem’s 120 year Homecoming Celebration. Shawn Hammontree will be returning to his home church to deliver the morning message. Shawn is currently Youth Minister at Antioch Baptist Church in Conway. Randy and Gigi Burgess will be our special music guests for the day. 

Randy is the son of Bro. Cecil Burgess. Services will begin as usual with Sunday School at 10 a.m. and worship service at 11 a.m. Potluck lunch will be served following the morning service. We were hoping to have lunch outside, but with the heat the plans will probably be changed to the FLC. Bring enough food to feed your family, plus 1. Drinks will be provided. Following lunch, an afternoon of special music is planned. Evening services will be dismissed.

Please continue to be in prayer for our new pastor, Bro. Martin Jameson and family as they prepare to make their move from Mississippi to Greenbrier. Bro. Jameson will begin at Bethlehem on Aug. 1.

Our Galilean’s and sponsors have been in Gary, Texas, this past week at National Galilean Camp. The GMA’s will be leaving Tuesday for the same camp grounds for National GMA Camp. Please keep all of our youth in your prayers.

Wesley United Methodist Church

By Lynn Beatty

The Arkansas annual conference of the United Methodist Church met this past week at the Hot Springs Convention Center and several people from our church had an opportunity to attend. One of the highlights for our church in particular was the ordination service on Tuesday night in which our pastor, the Rev. David Hoffman, was ordained as an Elder and received into Full Connection in the church. 

We would like to thank the Vilonia United Methodist Church for the loan of their church van as well as a driver which made it possible for our group of nine to ride down together. This was an important night for the Rev. Hoffman and his family, and it meant a lot to us to show them our support. We are blessed to have Brother David and his wife, Kim, in our church family, and it was an honor to attend this special service and be there with them.    

Our annual church picnic will be held tomorrow at 5 p.m. in our fellowship hall. With Wesley’s United Methodist Women serving as hostesses, the meal will consist of grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and the congregation has been asked to bring potato salad, coleslaw, baked beans, and desserts, and to invite a guest as well.

Plans continue for our Vacation Bible School, which will take place June 26-30 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. This year’s theme will be the Shake it Up Café, and according to VBS coordinator, Betty Reed, “the focus will be on finding God’s recipe for each of us, and how important it is that the right ingredients are used to make something good.” Children preschool to 12 years of age will be invited to attend. 

Wesley United Methodist Church is a compassionate and friendly family of faith. Our Sunday worship service begins at 10 a.m., with Sunday School at 9 a.m. Nursery is provided. We also have a Wednesday evening service which includes a prayer team at 6 p.m., potluck supper at 6:30 p.m., and Bible study at 7 p.m. 

All of our services are open to the public, and guests of all ages are welcome at each one. If you have any questions, please call our church office at 327-7629. Located at 2310 East Oak St., we love to see new faces, and our doors are always opened wide. If you do not have a church you regularly attend, we invite you to join us.

Holland Baptist Church

By Kathy Pearce

Jane Dunn Hairston took notes in my absence last Sunday. Layla Lopez, Jesus Lopez, and Shannon Wendorf, who accepted Christ during our recent revival, were baptized. We rejoice with them in their new life in Christ and want to disciple them as they grow in the Lord.

Veterans and their spouses were recognized followed by special prayer for those who’ve served and those who are now serving our country. Patriotic songs were led by Bro. Ron Theis. Flags were presented and Hunter Mullins was in his military uniform. Pledges of allegiance were given to the American flag, Christian flag, and the Bible.

The sermon was titled “Freedom From Fear” and included points about God’s precious promises to us. The scripture reference was II Peter 1: 1-4 and related to faith, salvation, divine protection, divine provision, eternal life, fellowship, promise to never leave or forsake us, and the priceless cost that Jesus paid on Calvary with His blood.

The service was concluded by observing the Lord’s Supper.

I also missed the service this past Sunday which was followed by a church wide picnic on the church grounds and softball in the Holland City Park. I heard it was enjoyed by many who attended.

As I write, our men are enjoying a retreat at Wood’s Cabin near the Buffalo River. Several teenagers are retreating with them. We anxiously await a report on this event.

Homecoming is set for July 10. The theme is “Cherishing the Memories....Anticipating the Future....Celebrating 142 years of Serving the Lord.“ We will have special service times, dinner “on the grounds” and a concert that afternoon by the Brakebills. Make plans to attend and enjoy seeing and fellowshipping with many you haven’t seen in a while. 

Have a wonderful day of worship with fellow believers Sunday.

Immanuel Baptist Church

By Tracy Everett

I hope everyone was ready for winter to be over because summer is definitely here. I’m just glad the hot temperatures haven’t kept anyone from worshipping in the Lord’s house. 

We have had such good attendance lately, and it’s been a great blessing to see so many visitor’s faces. It seems as soon as school gets out, the kids at church get busy with their summer camps. Our Galilean boys just returned from their camp in Gary, Texas, and our GMA girls leave next Tuesday. 

Also, I know you will want to mark your calendars for Vacation Bible School week — June 20–24. Our theme is “Beach Blast” for kids in kindergarten–sixth grade. If you have any questions or would like more information about VBS, please call Immanuel at 501-679-2612.

I hope you won’t mind me sharing a wonderful blessing that I received this week. It just reminded me so much of God’s work in our lives, seemingly behind the scenes, but He never forgets us or leaves us when we need comfort. My aunt passed away last week and our family, which is quite large, descended on Forrest City. While staying at the Hampton Inn, I spoke a few times to the desk clerk about why we were there and things such as that. 

This week, I received an e-mail from that desk clerk, with a note explaining that she had thought of our family when she received this e-mail and just wanted to share it with me, hoping it helped in our time of grief. 

Needless to say, I was overwhelmed. God touched the heart of this perfect stranger to reach out to my family and it just meant the world to me. I wanted to share a copy of it with you and hope it touches whatever need or want that you may have.

Recently, I overheard a mother and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure. Standing near the security gate, they hugged, and the mother said, “I love you, and I pray you enough.” The daughter replied, “Mom, our life together has been more than enough. Your love is all I ever needed. I pray you enough, too.” They kissed and the daughter left. The mother walked over to the window where I was seated. 

Standing there, I could see she wanted and needed to cry. I tried not to intrude on her privacy, but she welcomed me in by asking, “Did you ever say goodbye to someone knowing it would be forever?” “Yes, I have,” I replied. 

“Forgive me for asking, but why is this a forever goodbye?” “She lives so far away and well, I’m not as young as I once was and with recent health complications, the reality is, her next trip home will be for my funeral’, she replied. “When you were saying goodbye, I heard you say, ‘I pray you enough’..may I ask what that means?” She began to smile. “That’s a prayer that has been handed down from other generations..my parents used to say it to us.” She paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and she smiled even more. Then, turning to me, she shared the following…

“I pray you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear….I pray you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more….I pray you enough blessings from God to keep your spirit alive and everlasting….I pray you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger…I pray you enough gain to satisfy your wanting…I pray you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess…

I pray you enough hellos to get you through the final goodbye.”