News & Updates

Letters from the Troops

Jeff Wilson — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:58:37 GMT

During VBS last month our Preschool children made keychains and decorated pocket notebooks with foam stickers to send to the troops. Additionally, the 5th graders completed several kits (toiletry, health care, gun cleaning); as well as stuffed neck pillows, decorated journals, and then wrote a personal note inside. They also wrote notes inside Bibles and Pocket Testaments and packed all of these items into care packages which we then mailed. All together the VBS children sent over 55 boxes to soldiers serving our country over seas!

We've recently recieved several thank you notes from the soldiers who received those care packages and we wanted to share them with you. Please continue to pray for our young men and women in the military - pray that, if they do not have a personal relationship with Christ, He will send someone to share the gospel with them. And if they do know our Lord and Savior, pray that they will sense His presence, protection, guidance, and strength daily.

Henderson Hills Baptist Church:
I would like to say thank you for the care package. Keep sending them, although soldiers, sailors, airman, and marines don't always write back to thank you for your efforts. I am certain of this one thing, that they are humbled to receive a blessing from a person they have never seen. It is funny, that we don't see GOD, but he gives us blessings each day. Just like Henderson Hills Baptist Church.
God Bless and Thank You!
Wil Wooten

LT Wil Wooten
JCCS-1 Personnel/Force Generation Officer
DSN: 485-2863
SVOIP: 243-6287
william.wooten@iraq.centcom.mil
william.wooten@s-iraq.centcom.smil.mil

Hello, I am WO1 Lisa Coffing and I wanted to thank you personally for the care packages you sent to me and my soldiers. It was greatly appreciated. In fact, they have opened and eaten all of the ramen noodles that we don't see too much out here, but we have hot water so we can make them. We always like something that reminds us of being home, which we miss very much as I am sure you know. Just wanted to send you a little thank you note of appreciation for taking time out of your busy day to remember us. I also want to include my soldiers names. They wanted me to tell you thank you and they appreciate you taking time out to send packages. They loved them!!

SFC Reginald Jones, SSG Anthony Marsh, SGT Ellis Williams, SGT Dewayne Davis, SGT William Glover, SPC Shayne Miai,
SPC Brian Alston

Lisa A. Coffing
WO1, SC
Information Systems Officer
CSSAMO OIC
SVoIP 678-7675
lisa.coffing@iraq.centcom.mil

To the Friends at Henderson Hills Baptist Church,
Thank you for the care package you sent. It is great knowing so many people back home support the military overseas. The flip-flops are cool and the new razor came at just the right time. I now have a small notebook with upside down dinosaurs on the cover and seven decks of cards. I will probably give the cards to friends or I could play solitaire for weeks!! Just kidding. I have put the small needle point crosses in my uniform pocket and I keep the prayer cloth with the bible you gave me. Please thank everyone for me, for their work and generosity.

-CW3 Kane VanVuren
Older brother of Daniel VanVuren
Brother in-law of Tracie VanVuren
Uncle of Cole and Grant VanVuren
...and one heck of a Blackhawk pilot!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
My name is Specialist Benjamin C. Payne and I am 19 years old. You don't know me, but I am from Russellville, Missouri. I am stationed in Bagram, Afghanistan and I have received some of your care packages. I am truly grateful for all of your prayers. I can only speak for myself, but I believe that God has an important plan for each and every one of us and I can see it unfolding everyday. I wish I could tell you of these wonderful experiences but my job is one of which I can't say and/or talk about. Just know that there are soldiers over here that see the work of the Lord every day; most of them don't even realize that it is happening and these are the people that I shared my care packages with. I received a little camo book that was called You're Holding in Your Hands a True Story and when I opened this book there was a picture of a boy named Andrew Weathers. Just let him know that I said "hi" and that it's good to see the effects of the work we do. I have hung his picture on my door and see his smile every day to remind me no matter how hard it gets over here that it is keeping boys like this free and able to have the same fun that I did as a kid. Keep up your kind work and generosity. It really does make a difference in a soldier's attitude toward his/her work. This act of kindness has not gone unnoticed.

Specialist Benjamin C. Payne

(*Each of these individuals gave permission to share their messages as is, with contact info included.)

Micah Kersh Weekend

Dennis Newkirk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 11:18:54 GMT

Our hearts were saddened to say goodbye to Larry and Kim as they move to Houston. God used them mightily in the last 15 years in ways too countless to list. We rejoice in the opportunity that lies before them in their new church home. But, we recognize also that God remains at work here at Henderson Hills. He knew long ago that we would need another worship leader.

When the decision was made to start a Saturday evening service, it was also recognized that an additional worship leader and preachers would be necessary. A Teaching Team was developed and the search for an additional Pastor of Worship and Arts began. After months of consideration and prayer, Micah Kersh was called by the church to serve as worship pastor. He was called with the same title as Larry Harrison and he began leading us in worship, in rotation with Larry.

This weekend, June 20th & 21st we welcome Micah to the primary role of worship leader. The Worship and Arts Ministry has enthusiastically welcomed Micah. The Elder Council has affirmed their confidence in him, and I certainly offer him my wholehearted support.

You'll get to learn more about Micah, his call, his family, and even some secrets this weekend.

Dennis

Online Contributions

Jeff Wilson — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:16:29 GMT

Due to an expiration date on the online giving form members have not been able to make online contributions since June 7^th. We have corrected the expiration date and online contributions are now working.

However, anyone who had recurring payments (automatic payments) those have now all been canceled and they will have to be re-entered. If you have been using the online reoccurring giving option, you will need to reset that contribution option.

If you would like to begin making online contributions or reset your reoccurring contribution option, click here: Online Contributions.

For more information please contact:
Administration Office | 405.513.7509
Vanda Wall, Financial Administrator

A letter from Larry...

Jeff Wilson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:53:33 GMT

Dear church family,

Only in the church can the good times be the best and the difficult times be the worst. And it’s the good times that make the bad times so much more difficult. And when you’ve had 15 years of amazingly good times, then the bad time of a departure is just going to be unbearably difficult. The ‘community’ that we have experienced here at Henderson Hills thru the years has been everything I see described in Acts 2. We have shared resources with you and you with us, we have laughed together, cried together, shared many meals together. I believe we have truly experienced what the bible calls ‘Koinonia’ in every sense, the fellowship of God’s people. And now we move to the next chapter of our lives as God begins a new work in us and in you here at Henderson Hills.

Please know that this church will always hold the dearest place in our hearts. You have allowed us to grow up here in many ways. You watched and prayed for God to give us a family. He so faithfully has done that in our little girl, Halle. In many ways, we will never look at Halle without thinking of how you walked with us thru the process of God ‘gifting’ her to us. It just doesn’t get any more special than that. Thank you for giving me wings and space to fly as God has directed. Thank you for being willing to let me pursue teaching and developing that call. I believe God is going to use ‘every drop and morsel’ of what you have allowed here in the next phase of our calling. Kim, Halle and myself are who we are today because of how you have loved and nurtured us thru the years. We will never be the same.

We know that God has incredible blessing for Henderson Hills in the coming days and months, just like He has always had for Henderson Hills. Henderson Hills has always been a place where God has just poured Himself out in spite of ourselves. That is the history of Henderson Hills. I believe it is the future of Henderson Hills as well. I plan to keep a close watch on this place that I love so much. I hope you will come and see us at Second Baptist Church whenever you are in Houston. Family is family, no matter how many miles separate us. And from God’s perspective, there will be a Day when we will all worship together and miles and separation will be no issue. I can’t wait!

But for now… ‘this I call to mind and therefore I have hope, because of God’s great love we are not consumed for His compassions never fail us, they are new every morning…great is Your faithfulness! The Lord is my portion, therefore I will wait for Him!” (Lam 3:21-24)

God’s best to you all!

Larry, Kim and Halle

Chuck Newkirk Reception

Jeff Wilson — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 19:37:56 GMT

This Sunday afternoon, June 14th, from 2-4 p.m. we will have a come-and-go reception for Chuck and Jill Newkirk as a thanks to them for the many years of service and ministry here at Henderson Hills. We will share refreshments, stories and fond memories of our time with their family. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend as this will be their last weekend with us.

Over the years, Chuck has filled numerous positions here at the church. Chuck actually began working at Henderson Hills as a custodian back in 1993 when he was 17 years old. He then became a Youth Intern, and then the Pastor of Young Adults. From there he moved to the Teaching Team as well as Interim Education Pastor. He and his wife Jill have two children, Abby who will be 5 next month and Micah who is 19 months old.

Now God is leading Chuck to serve as Senior Pastor of Church on Mill, in Tempe, Arizona. We want to celebrate their time here as well as encourage them as they follow God's will for their lives. Please join us for this special time of celebrating all that the Lord has done through this family at Henderson Hills.

Larry Harrison Reception

Jeff Wilson — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 19:16:35 GMT

This Sunday afternoon, June 7th, from 2-4 p.m. we will be honoring Larry, Kim and Halle Harrison at a reception in the Gathering. Larry has served as our Worship Pastor for over 15 years and served on our teaching team for four years. He has done a fantastic job in that time and we have been blessed to have him here!

Now God is leading Larry to serve as the Worship Pastor at Second Baptist Houston. We want to celebrate their time here as well as encourage them as they follow God's will for their lives. Please join us for this special time of celebrating all that the Lord has done through this family at Henderson Hills.

Job Transitions - Boot Camp

Jeff Wilson — Tue, 26 May 2009 19:35:54 GMT

Bike Rally

Jeff Wilson — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:55:54 GMT

Join the College Ministry on Friday, May 29th at 8 p.m. in downtown OKC (227 Robert S. Kerr - Parking Garage) for the first ever Bike Rally! Enjoy the great weather, free hamburgers and hotdogs, live music, while hearing the gospel and getting your bike repaired. All for free! We'll also be giving away bikes to anyone with need. We've collected over 35 bikes so far, but we need more. If you'd like to donate a bike - old, broken, or new - please bring it by the Church Offices as soon as possible. See you there!

For more information contact:
College/Internationals Office | 405.513.7554
Jimmy Quinn, College/Internationals Director
Lauren Stewart, Administrative Assistant

Free Jami Smith Concert!

Jeff Wilson — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:10:51 GMT

Join us for Jami Smith in Concert - May 18th!
Hosted by the Transformation Recovery Ministry

This evening is to say “Thank you!” to Henderson Hills Baptist Church members for their support of the Transformation Recovery Ministry. There will be fun for all ages beginning at 5:30 p.m. with hamburgers, hotdogs, and face painting on the Village Green. Following that, Jami Smith will be in concert. Members of the Transformation Recovery Ministry will share some of their stories throughout the evening. You will be greatly encouraged by Jami’s music and deeply moved by how God is transforming lives through the Recovery Ministry.

Jami Smith is a nationally known contemporary musician who just recently was featured at The Remembrance Ceremony of the Oklahoma City Bombing. She wrote the song “Stand Together” just for the ceremony. She has performed with many other artists and this year led worship for Henderson Hills' “Gathering of Girlfriends” Women’s Ministry Retreat.

Please make plans to attend this free event Monday, May 18th. There will be a love offering taken during the concert to help support the Transformation Recovery Ministry.

New Transitions Ministry

Jeff Wilson — Tue, 12 May 2009 20:53:44 GMT

We all know of people who have lost their job, are looking into getting back into the job force, or are graduating from college. The economy has made it very difficult for many to quickly enter or re-enter the work force. This provides the church a great opportunity to minister...and we want to do just that.

Our desire is to help those looking for a job. How can we help? That’s a great question! We need you and your input, skills, time, expertise and more to help us define ways that we can help those looking for a job.

We will be having an Informational Meeting May 17th from 3-4pm in the (updated) High School Room. This meeting is to explore ways and opportunities that we could help. Specifically, we would like to have at the meeting people representing:

Human Resources
Social Programs
Guidance Counselors
Attorneys
Those who have been unemployed but now have found a job
and anyone who would like to help with this ministry

If you are interested, please make the time to attend the meeting on May 17th from 3-4 p.m. in the (updated) High School Room.

For more information contact:
Jeff Wilson, 405.513.7562
Joe Williams, 405.513.7511