Congratulations to Christopher Lewis and Jennifer Carter who were united in marriage on Saturday, June 5, 2010, at 6:00 PM in the Hermitage Church Sanctuary. I led Chris and Jenny in premarital counseling and presided over their ceremony. Chris is the son of Lisa Anderson, the grandson of Dot Waffird. Members of his wedding party included brother, Nick; long-time friend, Cory Rice; cousins: Kenny McNeese, Trey McNeese, Madi McNeese, Tyler Koon, and Emilee Koon. We pray for a long and loving marriage.
Our love and prayers are extended to Judy and Clint Riggan and Eddie and Lisa Kirkus in death of their son, Brandon Lee Kirkus Dunlap, on Wednesday, June 2, 2010. Brandon was thirty years of age. He suffered from addiction and depression. His death causes those of us who knew him to consider how we might reach others who suffer in the same way.
Congratulations to Logan Dalton who signed an NJCAA National Letter of Intent and scholarship papers to play baseball with Vol State Community College in the next academic year. Logan played as the Mt. Juliet High School everyday right fielder in the 2010 season. The team record was 35-7. He contributed 60 RBIs in the last two years. Logan is the son of Steve and Lori Dalton and the brother of Chase Dalton, who plays baseball at Lindsey Wilson College in Kentucky.
Vacation Bible School opened at 9:00 AM this morning with 213 children in attendance. An army of workers descended on the place after second service on Sunday and turned the entire facility into one of the most beautiful places on earth. Color, color everywhere. I know that Pastor Carol Waller is an amazing leader of children’s ministries but the significantly talented team of volunteers who assist her are also amazing. There are families who moved away years ago and live in other states who are moved down for the week for their children to attend VBS at HCN. May the imprint of God’s Word and Spirit be stamped on the hearts and minds of these kids as they sing and dance and study and play and eat and live in community for a week with their friends. They expect many more tomorrow.
The 2010-2011 Church Board met on Sunday for their first monthly session and elected Matthew Mullins as Secretary of the Church Board and Scott Steinmetz as Treasurer of the Church. Newly elected members who attended were Jerry Keener, Wendell Marlowe, Teresa Vines, Jeff Cater, Beverly Mitchell, and Carolyn Washing.
I received this email today and print it here believing the person who wrote it would not object as it brings praise to God. “In your letter last week, you stressed the financial needs of the church. With the $44,000 listed as the amount needed, we were really skeptical that the needs could be met. There are so many financial needs within the church body that we just didn‟t think it could be accomplished. As soon as I saw the financial report in the bulletin yesterday, I sent my husband a text and told him the good news (he had to work). His response was simple—we should never doubt the Almighty!! This may seem like a small thing in a world full of problems, but for me, it was a sign that He will provide what we need. With all the things happening in our lives, I need these „small‟ reminders that he hears our prayers. I am still amazed at God‟s hand in our lives. Thanks for being faithful and doing what God would have you to do. Asking for a specific amount of money shows your trust and faithfulness in a living God.”
Anna and I leave with our sixteen MissionAfrica’10 Teammates on Thursday of this week. We begin the flights which will carry us across the world to Nairobi, Kenya. A bus will carry us four hours into the Kali village where we will re-unite with the people we came to love two years ago. We will assist in additional construction in an AIDS orphanage. We will visit in four large public schools and teach the gospel. We will visit and work with the people in the community. We will preach in three to four different churches on Sunday. At the end of the weeks, we will spend three days in the Serengeti, chaperoned by members of the Masai tribe on morning and evening jeep excursions into the park. We are taking lots of gifts from you: homemade quilts, Bible story books, baby dolls, cross necklaces, crayons. When people have little, something is everything. Please pray for our safety and health and for effectiveness in mission and ministry. We will pray for you. Preachers for the next three Sundays are HCN pastoral staff members: Ken Jewett, Rondy Smith, and Carol Waller. I will listen to them when I return via our website.
In Christ Jesus,
Pastor Howard
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