16 in 32, giving us 20 in 12

There are 32 more weeks of 2012.  I had a goal for our church to see 20 decisions and baptisms this year.  We have had 4 to date, leaving us 16 to go.  That means we need to average a baptism every other week through the rest of the year.  Out of the norm?  Improbable?  Yes to both, but not impossible!  Bro. Kim has put together a schedule for the rest of the year that has me excited.  Watch for more details about the next '16 weeks of preparation' leading up to the 16th of September when we will begin '16 weeks of harvest and celebration'.  September 16th is National Back to Church Sunday, and, if we have the volunteers, ... the Sunday we start dual services!  Our best days are yet ahead of us!

Teen Challenge Visit

Teen Challenge came and shared their ministry with us yesterday morning and "Wow! What a great day!"  Last night our service consisted of a time of testimony and sharing about the morning service and the feelings it stirred in each of us.  There was a clear theme among the testimonies.  People were reminded of how gracious God had been to them.  This generated a renew appreciation and desire to serve.  Experiencing the presence of God is always a humbling time.  Hitts Chapel was very blessed to have had the men's choir from the Cape Girardeau facilities of Teen Challenge USA.  May God continue to bless this great ministry!

Teen Challenge

The men's choir from Teen Challenge will be presenting their ministry to us this Sunday morning.  Each year we invite the men from the Cape Girardeau, Mo facility to come sing, give us an update,  and share some personal testimonies.  It is always a great service that proves to be one of the highlights of our year.  You don't want to miss this Sunday.  We will be having a potluck meal with them after the service.
Teen Challenge USA has been offering hope and healing for those with life-controlling problems since 1958.  They have over 200 residential centers nationwide.  To learn more about them checkout www.teenchallengeusa.com.  We are proud to be monthly supporters of this wonderful ministry.

The Love Month

Hearts, candy, and cupid.  February.  Seems like a logical decision to do a sermon series on relationships this month.  So, Bro. Kim got us started last week with a message on Loving One Another-relationships inside the church.  Next week, Bro. Mark Book will bring a message Loving Your Sweetheart.  The following week, Bro. Shawn Parker will preach to us about Loving Our Children.  Then I will wrap it up the series with a sermon on Loving Your Neighbor-looking outside the church.  I look forward to my turn in this series.  I'm excited to get to share my vision for our church this year.

On a side note.  While doing research for this sermon series I learned that as long as records of the divorce rate have been kept, Arkansas has always ranked among the top five.  For the last ten years, we have been 2nd only to Nevada, and rarely by more than a few tenths of a percent.  Relationships need to be a major focus for churches across our state.

Church Growth

Bearing new fruit is rarely as hard as pruning the existing vines!

A Fresh Start

The great thing about New Year's Day is what it represents.  A Fresh Start.  A new year yet untainted by my bad decisions, laziness, or failures.  Equally yet untouched by good decisions, thoughtfulness, and successes.  2012 will be whatever you make of it, make it the best!  Start the year off with us here at Hitts Chapel Sunday morning.  See ya next year!

Christmas Morning

This Sunday morning we will celebrate the blessed occasion of Christ's birth.  We will complete our Advent sermon series and light our final candle, the Christ candle.  I look forward to celebrating Christmas with all of you.  We will conclude our service taking the Lord's Supper.

Journey to Bethlehem

Tonight is the final night of our live nativity, Journey to Bethlehem.  It is open to the public 7-9pm.  Come take your own journey to Bethlehem!

Children's Program

I failed to mention the Children's Christmas Program is happening this Sunday.  Be sure to come out and support them.  They always do a wonderful job!

Looking towards Love

This Sunday will be the fourth Sunday of Advent.  We will light the candle representing LOVE and look into John's Gospel for the sermon text.  Narrowing down the Love of the Savior into a single sermon is a daunting task.  The scope of the concept is overwhelmingly broad.  Also, John's Gospel (like Mark's) does not tell the Christmas story, rather it begins by introducing us to John the Baptist.  However, John's Gospel is rich in material that magnifies God's love toward mankind.  That being said, I look forward to working through John's Gospel again.  The sermons of Advent have been foundational and theological for me.  Building sermons on the hope, peace, & joy we have as a result of Christ's salvation has brought me back to the most basic of motivations to accept Christ's invitation.  These are the elements of life I believe every human searches for in life.  Maslow places these needs toward the top of his Hierarchy of Needs.  That is to say, humans can survive without them, but live a frustrated and discouraged life at best.  Jesus said it this way, "I have come to give you life to the fullest!"  Many in our world just survive throughout their days fulfilling their own understandings of what life is supposed to look like, all the while missing out on a full and fulfilling life.  It has been my observation that such fulfillment is only found in communion with Christ.  I look forward to exploring the Love of our Savior with you this Sunday.