News & Updates

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

Eldership - Part 3

Dennis Newkirk — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 18:28:51 GMT

This weekend you will be given the opportunity to vote to affirm the recommendation of the Elder Council that Aaron Ferguson and Mark Wood be installed as Elders. Both men are mature Christians who meet the biblical qualifications for eldership and have completed a rigorous mentoring process. For insight into that process, see Dennis' blog post below...

How do we Seek Qualified and Called Men for Eldership?

The Bible describes the characteristics and qualifications of elders, but not the process that a church should use to recognize men who are qualified, train them, and empower them to fulfill their calling. That means that the Lord has left that up to our wisdom and prayerful plans.
After 13 years of eldership, we’ve developed a process to help us in this selection. It is not perfect or fool proof, but it certainly is a sincere effort.

The process begins with the nomination of elders from members of the church. After an initial meeting with these nominees, we use a number of texts and workbooks to aid in the formal study of what scripture says about being an elder. After that study, the men are asked if they desire to proceed. If so, the elder mentoring team conducts interviews to review the progress of the potential elder, discuss his desires regarding eldership, and explore qualification issues in greater depth.

If there is consensus to proceed, they move to the next step. This phase has two primary elements; elder meetings and in-depth study. In this period, the potential elders meet with the council and take part in the discussions, but do not vote on issues. Simultaneously, these men begin theological training. Each potential elder is asked to provide a well-considered answer to about 80 questions. These questions cover a broad range of issues that an elder must know to adequately protect the church from doctrinal error and equip the elder for future teaching assignments. The goal here is not that each man must hold precisely the same points of view, but that he clearly accepts an orthodox position and can defend why he believes it.

There is no set length of time that this phase may last. Usually, it will continue from 1 ½ to 2 ½ years. As studies and meetings continue, the Elder Council members pray and evaluate the beliefs and effectiveness of the potential candidates. This brings the council to the most difficult step in the process - evaluating and seeking to understand the Lord’s leadership regarding the next step for each candidate. There maybe those who are clearly ready to proceed to the next step. There are those who should continue in the mentoring process. And then it seems right to tell other men that it isn’t the time for them to proceed, but that he should remain open to the Lord’s leadership and pray. Others may be told that they simply do not possess the biblical qualifications or that their attendance, participation, spiritual qualifications, or doctrinal beliefs do not indicate that they should serve as elders. Of course, along the way there are always men that believe that they shouldn’t proceed. Next, another interview is held with the potential elder and his wife to confirm that they are ready to continue to the last steps of the process.

The final phase involves presentation to the church. The names of the men are published to the church and each church member is asked to consider them prayerfully. If anyone is concerned with a candidate, he or she is asked to go to the potential elder privately to attempt to talk through the concerns. If satisfaction is not found, the member is then asked to notify the council of the situation. The council will then investigate and do their best to understand the issues and make some determination about whether they should proceed, end the candidacy, or postpone for further work. If the prayerful determination of the council is that the candidate should proceed, the church is asked if they can confirm the Elder Council’s recommendation of the individual or if believe that they must not affirm the recommendation. If there is a supermajority vote, the candidate will then be installed as an elder of the church.

Obviously, this is a very long procedure that requires a great deal of work for the men in the mentoring process and the council members themselves. However, at the end of the process, everyone involved can rest assured that we’ve done the best that we can to provide appropriate leadership for the church. The process is imperfect and we are constantly seeking to improve it, but we do sincerely attempt to understand the will of God.

I love being your pastor,

Dennis Newkirk