News -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

From the Hillcrest Beacon ( June 30, 2008 )...

Weekly Updates from the Church Staff:
From the Pastor
Education
Music/Administration
College/Career
Youth
Children

Information:
Attendance/Giving
Deacon/Yokefellow on Call
Van Driver
Greeters

From the Pastor

– Tom Goodman

"Neighborhood Connections"

What lengths would you go to connect with your neighbors? How about sleeping on their living room floor for a night or two?

That's what Peter Lovenheim decided to do, and he wrote about his project in the New York Times. A tragedy in a nearby house awakened him to the fact that he really didn't know his neighbors that well. "Did I live in a community," he asked himself, "or just in a house on a street surrounded by people whose lives were entirely separate?"

He thought about the childhood sleepovers he used to have at friends' houses and the insight into those families he gained, and that gave him an idea. He decided to ask his neighbors if he could bring his sleeping bag over to their houses and spend the night on their living room floor.

Of the 18 or so neighbors he asked, more than half said yes. "There was the recently married young couple, both working in business; the real estate agent and her two small children; the pathologist married to a pediatrician who specializes in autism."

And then there was a neighbor seriously ill with breast cancer. "My goal shifted: Could we build a supportive community around her – in effect, patch together a real neighborhood?" People in the surrounding houses ended up taking turns driving her to doctors' appointments and watching her children.

"Why is it," Lovenheim asks, "that in an age of cheap long-distance rates, discount airlines, and the Internet, when we can create community anywhere, we often don't know the people who live next door?"

Good question.

I probably won't go so far as to sleep on someone's living room floor, but I'm slowly getting to know my neighbors. There's Joe, a single man and former pro football player. There's Russ and Kathy and their son: They've taken us out on their boat and tried to teach me how to stand up on a wakeboard. There's Steve and Jean: We saw them frequently during the lacrosse games that our youngest sons played. I stood in the yard with a couple across the street to watch fireworks one night, and I've shared gardening tips with an empty-nester, but those relationships still need development. Today, I waved at a man who just bought a house near us: I'll have to carve out some time to welcome him to the street.

How are you doing at connecting with those around you? Jesus commanded us to love God and love our neighbors, adding, "There is no commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:30)

Education

– Herb Ingram

If you want to grow your group, have parties and involve a lot of people in leadership. That was the conclusion of a recent survey by Josh Hunt of growing Bible study groups. Those who held 9 or more fellowships each year were twice as likely to be growing than those who had less than three.

People were strongly encouraged to bring friends, and responsibility for the party planning and execution were distributed widely, involving a large number of people. Now what could be easier than that?

Have a party, grow your group!!

By the way, it is biblical!

Get into the habit of inviting guests home for dinner. – Romans 12:13 (TLB)
Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. – 1 Peter 4:9 (NIV)
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. – Hebrews 13:2 (NIV)
Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends. – Luke 14:12a (NIV)

Deep Thought: Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again.

Music / Administration

– Gene Chappell

I recently read an interesting article in a newspaper about how Americans give, according to the George Barna's research team.

Only 5 % of American adults donated 10% or more of their income to churches or charitable groups last year. Christians tend to give more.

"Among the most generous segments were evangelicals (24%), conservatives (12%), people who had prayed, read the Bible and attended church during the past week (12%), registered Republicans (10%)." (Sorry, it didn't provide a break-out for Democrats as a group.)

"The segments of society who were highly unlikely to tithe included people under the age of 25, atheists and agnostics, single adults who have never been married, liberals, and adults who make less than $20,000.00 per year."

College / Career

– Courtney Carlson

As we prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July this weekend, I started to think about what it means to have freedom. It is more than a day of fun, food, and fireworks. It is a day when we can reflect and be thankful for our freedom as a nation. When I think about all the people that have made it possible for us to celebrate our independence, I think about Steve, one of the guys in our college group, who is in the Marines. I have heard his stories and am amazed at his commitment to this country even when things are tough. I am thankful for all he has given and continues to give so we can be the nation we are.

These thoughts about freedom remind me that true freedom comes from knowing and being in Christ. The Bible reminds us that "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (Galatians 5:1). We have this freedom because Christ sacrificed His freedom for us. What a true gift! On this holiday, I am not only thankful for our freedom as a country but my freedom from slavery!

Courtney

Youth

– Jim Siegel

It's hard to believe, but we leave for Grand Cayman this Saturday morning, July 5. We will meet at the church, load our gear, and depart at 7:00am for Houston to catch our flight. While in Grand Cayman, we will work with Bobbi Flowers, the Children's Minister at the FBC Grand Cayman. We will provide an Upward Basketball Camp, and a VBS for approximately 100 children. Please pray for traveling safety, and pray that God will work mightily through our students. We will return late Saturday night, possibly as late as 1:00am Sunday morning (if all travel occurs as scheduled).

Upon our return, we will begin intense training for this years Uncivil War. We have created a battle cry for the War this year. "Bring It Home." "It," of course, is the most coveted prize in all of sports: the Uncivil War Trophy. After spending the last two years in Milwood, it is time for the trophy to return to its rightful owners. As in the past, we will meet from 6:30 - 8:30pm each evening July 21-25.

Awaiting the Shout,

Children

– BJ Linam

I've asked Karen to give you a recap of our Summer Camp....

Summer Camp 2008 was awesome! The building was packed with 153 kids and 64 leaders for three days of basketball, cheerleading, Bible study, and fun. We learned

what comes out of our mouth matters,

we should be slow to speak and quick to listen, and

when we store up treasure, that treasure should be in heaven.

Preparing for an event like Summer Camp always seems like tons of work. However, when several kids come to know Jesus as their Savior, all the work becomes more than worth what it cost. Nothing excites us more than to have been a part of a child becoming a part of God's forever family.

Summer Camp doesn't happen without a whole lot of people doing a whole lot of work. We wish we had room here to thank everyone personally. You all know who you are, and your treasures will be waiting.

Can't wait till next year!!!

Karen Raulie & Debbie Wuthnow
Summer Camp Co-Directors