Highland Lakes church of Christ

REMEMBERING OUR SPANISH WORK!

Salvador SanTillian is ready every Sunday morning to teach a Bible class in Spanish. This is a worthy endeavor. Do you have friends who would benefit from this Spanish Bible study? Let them know about it by giving them a warm, personal invitation.

VISITING FOR THE MASTER (VISITATION PROGRAM)

The Team, led by Cary & Brenda Miller, will meet on Wednesday, April 25th, at 6:30 pm in the library for their assignments.

APRIL FELLOWSHIP MEAL

. . . next Sunday, April 29, 2018, Noon!   Hosts & hostess will be: Ken & Gail Darnell, Bill & Mary K. Flanary and Myron & Janet Fietz.

IT’S ALMOST THAT TIME AGAIN. . . .

Summertime is approaching and with it comes Bible Camp in early June! For several years now our congregation has been involved in sponsoring the children of the congregation so they can attend the “Heart of Texas Bible Camp” in Brady, TX. We would like to continue this ministry in 2018.  The cost per child is $125.00 which the church will pay for our kids who want to attend. The sessions are:

Session I (June 3rd-8th) — Ages: 4th — 7th grade

Session 2 (June 10th-15th) — Ages: 8th —12th grade

In the past some members have chosen to sponsor a child and relieve the church of the cost. If you would like to help in this worthy cause, please talk to one of the elders. – Joe

HELPING HANDS PANTRY

Needs:  Deodorant, shampoo, soap, toothpaste

Thank you for your support of this ministry!

THANK YOU NOTE

Dear Church Family,

John and I want to thank everyone for all your prayers and concerns.

We expect treatment to begin soon and if it be God’s will, recovery will follow, as we know God has a plan for us. Many thanks,

In Christian love, Ida & John Brewer

AN ACT OF KINDNESS HAS NOT GONE UNSEEN

Thanks to those who met Thursday for our monthly “eat out”. A great fellowship. When it came time to pay, I noticed a couple paying for one of our sweet ladies. No names given here — this act was unseen by many, but I am sure, the Lord took notice. Thanks to all!  Bill Flanary

BEAUTIFUL FOOTNOTES

We are looking forward to getting to see our fellow workers, Dennis & Sharon Welch in June. What follows is part 2 of their latest report. Please pray for them and their prayer requests. For the elders, Ken D

Mission Cambodia News & Update: January – March 2018 Pt 2

Other news and highlights…

Faithful servants with Prayer Circles Cambodia (PCC) have traveled over a half a million kilometers (310,000+ miles) of prayer travels in Cambodia and Laos as “prayer warriors” asked God to flood this place with His grace, mercy, forgiveness, healing, righteousness and justice. Dennis is thrilled to be a part of this team as they pray for workers and encourage churches. We continue to pray that the Spirit of God will go before them and prepare the way for His Word, Isaiah 55:3-11. We’re praying that the Lord blesses all who receive Him with the full benefit package as in Psalm 103. We’re praying that the Light of the Word destroys the darkness. John 1:1-13. See also, Luke 10:2.

Sharon was invited by an organization in the U.S. to go and encourage local women in India. Especially to help a group of women eager to learn and serve in disciple-making themselves. It was a blessing to see how God is at work among the local Christians and to meet new people. We pray our efforts and partnership with the brethren in Kakinada, India and beyond will bring glory to our Lord.

Volunteer Opportunities —The longer we are in Cambodia, the more we see God continues to open doors we didn’t expect. This allows us to meet new people, learn about their ministries and work and be blessed with spiritual fellowship. Sharon continues to help with the library at PEACE International School, has joined a ladies book club and is reading “What Every Church Should Know About Poverty.”

Thank you for praying with us…

In addition to the prayer requests within the text above, please pray for our planned trip to the States in late May through June. We hope to see you then!

We beg you to join in our prayers for our community as we continue this local outreach ministry to make disciples who are one-and-all competent to make more disciples.

Finally, as we look to our long-term future in Cambodia we are praying and planning on where to reside and what our next steps might be. As this begins to take shape we ask that you pray for us to remain in the heart, in the center of God’s will for His servants in Cambodia. He constantly amazes us by His answers.

We’re grateful to God that He uses you to bless us and our work through your faith, love, encouragement and prayers. May God pour out His blessings on you for your faithfulness. PLEASE PRAY!  With love & blessings, Dennis & Sharon

IMPORTANT NOTICE

Under the direction of the elders, the deacons will initiate a preliminary planning meeting to address potential safety incidents that could occur at the church. The first meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 19th at 10 AM in the fellowship room.

VISITING FOR THE MASTER (VISITATION PROGRAM)

The Team, led by Cary & Brenda Miller, will meet on Wednesday, April 25th, at 6:30 pm in the library for their assignments.

LADIES RETREAT

Remember the 40th Annual Heart of Texas Ladies Retreat on April 27 and 28, Friday night through Saturday noon, at the Heart of Texas Bible Camp in Brady.

The flyer and a sign-up sheet is in the back of the auditorium.

BEAUTIFUL FOOTNOTES

We are looking forward to getting to see our fellow workers, Dennis & Sharon Welch when they visit us the first weekend in June. It will be such a blessing to hear 1st hand what the Lord is doing in Cambodia. What follows is part 1 of their latest report. Please pray for them and their prayer requests. For the elders, Ken D

Welches Grapevine for the glory of God – Mission Cambodia News & Update: January – March 2018

Blessings from Cambodia. We pray that the Lord has blessed you and you have found strength in Him in the time since we last wrote. We are so thankful for your support and prayers. We know that God is hearing your prayers and answering our cries. What an amazing God we serve who takes care of our needs before we know we even have them.

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groaning too deep for words” — Romans 8:26

Praise & Thanksgiving…

We are giving praise and thanksgiving for Sharon’s recovery from her fall down the stairs in late December. The last 3 months have kept her pretty busy with lots of physical therapy. We are happy to report she has made good progress and now has about 75% usage of her hand, wrist and arm. Thank you all for your prayers.

We celebrated the 7th year spiritual birthday of our middle daughter, Theary on January 2nd. Our hearts are filled with joy as we see her growing in faith and spiritual maturity. Theary continues to be such a joy and bright light to those around her. Join us in a prayer of thanksgiving as we celebrate the new life God has given her!

The Lord has blessed us richly with our Cambodian daughters. We are grateful for the ways they have helped us learn and grow in our ability to understand Khmer culture. Two of our girls, Theary (26) and Sreypov (21) celebrated their birthdays in February. We enjoyed a wonderful time of reflection, good food and family time out in the countryside.

We are extremely grateful to have new neighbors in our area, for community and fellowship. During the last few months we have had some of our dearest friends move closer to us. We are especially thankful we can join together to minister and outreach in our communities. Since we moved into our community a little more than a year ago and started praying for this neighborhood we are now aware of four churches on our street alone. Praise God! Please join us as we pray we will have a positive impact for the Kingdom in this community and Cambodia.

We recently joined an intensive workshop “Coaching for Christian Leaders.” This workshop was refreshing and left us encouraged. Coaching methodologies include powerful ways to help others, increase effectiveness and impact the Kingdom.

Orality Network — We continue to look for ways to be a positive influence on the Body of Christ, and to make disciples of all people. Before writing was developed, cultures passed along their cultural traditions, including their history, identity, and religion through their stories, proverbs, poems and songs. We continue to reach out to the people groups of Cambodia with the common goal of making God’s Word available to oral learners in culturally appropriate ways that enable the Good News to spread everywhere

We’re grateful to God that He uses you to bless us and our work through your faith, love, encouragement and prayers. May God pour out His blessings on you for your faithfulness.  PLEASE PRAY!

With love & blessings, Dennis & Sharon

YOUR HELP IS APPRECIATED

Please check . . . . . . the “Continue to Remember” list and the “In The Military” list periodically, updates are very important! If you think that your name or the name of a loved one needs to be removed (or added), please let the secretary (Helga) know! And as always, a written note or an e-mail is best. Please cut out the “Continue to Remember…” list for your own prayer sessions. We need to reduce this list; of course, continued prayers are very important. Your help is very, very much appreciated!

DINNER TOGETHER

The group will eat together on Thursday, April 12, 5:30 pm, at the Grand Central Café in Kingsland. The sign-up sheet is on the table in the back of the auditorium.

LADIES RETREAT

The 40th Annual Heart of Texas Ladies Retreat on April 27 and 28, takes place at the Heart of Texas Bible Camp in Brady. This year’s topic is: “More Precious Than Rubies” from Proverbs 31. Friday night activities from 6 to 8:45 PM and Saturday activities from 8 AM to 1:15 PM. A Salad supper will be served Friday evening and Breakfast and Lunch will be provided on Saturday. The flyer and a sign-up sheet is in the back of the auditorium.

WELCOME “NEW” MEMBER

Vicky Parr has been a “member at large” here for many years. She and husband, Jay, had divided their worship attendance between here and the Cherokee church of Christ close to their other home, the ranch in Cherokee. After Jay’s passing, Vicky is now making her home “fulltime” in Kingsland. All her information is in our current directory. Just delete the Ranch address and other info. that does not apply anymore. Welcome, Vicky, as a “new” but familiar and faithful member!

BEAUTIFUL FOOTNOTES

“And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations.” Mark 13:10 (ESV) We have been blessed to have been long time supporters of Gospel Chariot Missions in spreading the gospel in Africa. What follows is part of the 1st quarterly report from Brother George Funk. Please continue to keep this work in your thoughts and prayers. For the elders, Ken D

WEST AFRICA Update 2018

Hi Everyone. Hope this finds you doing well. This is the GCM West African report for the first quarter 2018. As mentioned last week, we are going to break the report up into regions due to so much happening and not wanting to bore you with one loooooong report every time. Last week we sent the report for East Africa, this week West Africa and next week will be Southern Africa.

WEST AFRICA There is some exciting news regarding this West African region. The new Nigerian Gospel Chariot is complete and has just started reaching out. We now have 5 gospel chariots working in West Africa, namely Ghana, Liberia, Togo, Benin and Nigeria. Here is our goal and prayer for 2019 come 2020. We are in discussions with Isaac Daye to upgrade his mini chariot in Liberia to a Big Gospel Chariot that will then go into, not only Liberia, but Sierra Leone, Guinea, Senegal and Gambia, Wow! But that is not all, we are also speaking to George Akpabli about going further into the French speaking countries. George has said, if we can help with a Big Gospel Chariot that will be based out of the Ivory Coast, he and other West Africans will then oversee it going into Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea. It is all pie in the sky now, but God loves it when we dream and think ahead and how amazing this would be as we take Africans to reach out to Africa and in this case regions that are very Muslim. PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS TO HAPPEN.

GOD IS GREAT AND WORKING THROUGH US ALL NIGERIA The New Nigerian Gospel Chariot is now complete after two years of many issues and how we have learnt not to give up and know that we are not in this alone and that our Heavenly Father goes before us. Below shows the chariot being built in Nigeria and the chariot being commissioned by a public presentation in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, South Eastern in Nigeria. The chariot will be in Calabar, Cross River State, from March 28 till April 4, then it leaves for Aba in Abia State. It will work in Abia from April 5 – 8 and return to base on April 9. Arrangements are in place for the chariot to work with congregations and World Bible School team in Lagos till the end of April. It will then work in Kogi and Abeokuta in May, Akwa Ibom throughout June and Abuja in July.

Amen, PLEASE PRAY FOR THIS NEW GOSPEL CHARIOT…Thank you, thank you to all. To God be the Glory. In Him, Love Brother George Funk

THE BUG MAN COMETH

The exterminator will be here at the building on Thursday, April 12th. It will be best for everyone to not come on that day.

LADIES RETREAT

The ladies of Sunset Ridge Church of Christ in Brady, Texas are inviting our ladies to their 40th Annual Heart of Texas Ladies Retreat on April 27 and 28, at the Heart of Texas Bible Camp in Brady. This year’s topic is: “More Precious Than Rubies” from Proverbs 31 presented by 5 ladies of their congregation. There will be Friday night activities from 6 to 8:45 PM and Saturday activities from 8 AM to 1:15 PM. A Salad supper will be served Friday evening and Breakfast and Lunch will be provided on Saturday.

The flyer with more information is on the bulletin board, which is now located in the little hall by the “Lord’s Supper Preparation Room”. Any ladies, who do not attend Ladies Bible Class but want to go to this retreat, can get more info from Gail D or Brenda M.

WE HAVE MOVED

Some of us have heard that former members, Ken and Betty Basye, have moved to a different location and they want to know their new address. It is a care facility. Betty, esp. needs to be in a place where she can be taken care of, should something happen to Ken. So far, Ken is doing rather well. Betty has definite memory problems. Both Ken and Betty say “hello” to all their friends here at Highland Lakes.

Their new address information is available from the church office.

THANK YOU NOTE

Brothers and Sisters,

Thank you for your prayers and calls while we have been ill. We are much better, but still have a nagging cough, so keep the prayers going.

In Christian love, David & Sheri Zoller

WITH SYMPATHY

Our heartfelt prayers, love and condolences go out to Myron Fietz. His brother-in-law, Richard Enderson, passed away in Wilcox, Arizona. Our thoughts are with all in the family.

BEAUTIFUL FOOTNOTES

It is such a blessing to be able to help others in distant places have the word of God. In the photo, Brother Mike Udam has given a group of Nigerian World Bible Students their own Bibles. In what follows, Mike shares the importance of God’s word.  For the elders, Ken D

WATCHING OUT FOR PAST TENSE IN THE BIBLE

God is a powerful being that is very careful in teaching mankind through his word. Today I will like us to pay close attention to some powerful past tenses scattered all over the Bible and see how important their meanings are to man today.

Rom 16:17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. :18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. The brethren in Rome were to mark those who teach things other than what they had LEARNED. Nothing new to add again.

2Thes 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. The Thessalonians were to withdraw from those who do not walk according to what they had RECEIVED from the apostles. Nothing new to add again.

1Thes 4:11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, COMMANDED you still showing it had already been given.

Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. :9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. PREACHED and RECEIVED feature here prominently. The gospel had already been preached and they had received it already. Nothing new should be added.

Jude 1:3 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. The faith the Christians should contend for had already been DELIVERED.

Heb. 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, :2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; God has spoken to us through his word. Nothing new to speak again.

God bless you as you painstakingly research about what you believe. – Mike Udam

MARCH FELLOWSHIP MEAL

. . . Today, Sunday, March 25th, At Noon!

Hosted by: John & Tina Brewer, Linda Lively, Linda Robertson, and Tommie Sledge.

After this, as always, we will be dismissed for the remainder of the day.

SPECIAL LETTER

A Special Letter came from Brenda K. Martin, the daughter of Jack & Betty Alarid. Both, Jack and Betty, are now home-bound due to Jack’s dementia and Betty’s own memory and vision problems. Both cannot drive anymore and are very feeble. Care givers are there for 24 hours. Betty is distraught, since she cannot attend church services anymore and she also feels very lonely. Brenda K. states that Betty would love to have visitors, and phone calls would be very welcome. Cards would be a good thing, too. The home number and Betty’s cell is in the directory or available from the church office. Please do NOT leave a voice mail, Betty does not know how to retrieve it, just call back if needed. Please keep both, Jack & Betty in your prayers. (Also their loved ones!)

APRIL DINNER TOGETHER

The group will eat together on Thursday, April 12, 5:30 pm, at the Grand Central Café in Kingsland.

The sign-up sheet is on the table in the back of the auditorium.

A GOSPEL MEETING

We are invited to attend this Gospel Meeting that started at the Cherokee church of Christ this morning. The times are: 5 PM this evening and 7 PM Monday through Wednesday.

The speaker for this meeting is Charles Cochran from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is the pulpit minister for the East Ridge church of Christ in East Ridge. He is involved with mission work in Russia and Nicaragua where he has made several trips each year. He has also been a speaker at college Lectureships and at workshops.

He has been married to his wife Ginny for 47 years and has three children and three grandchildren.

HELPING HANDS PANTRY

Has No Special Needs This Week

Thank you for your support of this ministry.

BEAUTIFUL FOOTNOTES

This is a WBS report from our Brother Sylvester. Keep these efforts in Nigeria in your prayers. For the elders, Ken D

WBS Seminar at Success Secondary School, Igarra- Friday March 16th.

We have many WBS students in this private school here in Igarra. Many of these students are also studying with the Westside congregation with Douglas Wheeler as our contact person. Others with the church of Christ in Kingsland Texas. In this school, we have one of our brothers as teacher. He helps to coordinate the WBS program in the school.

The school was involved in preparations for the up-coming exams, and the teachers were in a meeting. They gave us the chance to do our religious activities freely. We were able to invite outsiders in and teach, and preach and have fellowship. After the seminar, we had personal contact with some students: Shola Faith and Dania Sarah. Both of these girls are WBS students with the Westside church of Christ. I had a brief study with them as time would permit. They were not yet ready to be baptized, but I impressed them with the necessity of doing so.

Two More Baptized! – In the morning, just before I got ready to go to Success school, I received a call from Mr Akinyemi saying that two more students came to him that morning and said they were ready for baptism. He was wondering IF or when I could come. I told him I was ready IMMEDIAYTELY! I called Brother Ogidan and brother Chidi and together, we went and took the boys to the water and baptized them: Abdul Yakubu – is a student of Ken Snethen. He had impressed me with how he read the Bible during the Bible class that I taught. Isah Festus is a junior brother to Abdul. Both of them showed a willingness to serve the Lord. Adbdul is 15 years and his brother is 12.

All of us must be grateful to God who allows us to play a little part in His Scheme of Redemption. It is a wonderful divine privilege to be in a situation to be able to take the saving message of Christ to others. Some of my age mates in my village are still wallowing in ignorance of fetish, pagan and hopeless sacrifices. The liberty we have in Christ Is worthy of appreciation and celebration. To me, there Is no greater way to do this than in helping to teach others The Way.

To the WBS Teachers and congregations who are involved in the WBS ministry, we say THANK YOU! For hard work and for dedication. Especially knowing that the WBS school study process tasks your faith, your patience and your purse. We appreciate the many hours of grading lessons and writing letters AND waiting for the lessons to come back!!

May God be and abide with all of us. May He keep using us for His good causes and for His glory. [Amen]  Sylvester A Imogoh, Church of Christ, Ugbogbo, Igarra, Edo state, Nigeria, March 17, 2018