Many of us watched in shock as we saw the reports of the tornadoes that ripped through Oklahoma on Monday, May 20, and wondered how we could help those affected by this tragedy. The best way for people to help is by giving to Disaster Relief. As you know, 100% of the donations will go towards those affected by the storms and not salaries. Giving can be done directly to Oklahoma Baptists at http://www.okdisasterhelp.com.
1. Pray for those affected by the storms-especially those who have experienced the death of a child.
2. Pray for our Disaster Relief volunteers and staff who are already mobilized.
3. Pray for our churches as they seek to minister to the needs of their congregations. As far as we know, none of our SBC churches were damaged (a miracle!) and they are all collecting donations.
4. Pray for responders who are still on the scene. More than 100 people were rescued throughout the night, but there are still at least 20 school children trapped under debris. We are still praying for miracles of life.
5. Pray for hearts to be open and sensitive to the Gospel during this time.
The Hillcrest Media Team is still in need of volunteers to help in audio, lighting, set/stage design, video, and broadcast. We welcome all who are willing and able to help regardless of their knowledge of the equipment we use. We can teach and train you to use the equipment so please don’t let this be a limitation.
Needs:
Rehearsals are on Wednesday nights at 6:00 PM and all are required to attend a short Sunday morning rehearsal at 8:00 am every Sunday.
Contact: William Gryder | media@hillcrestbc.com
What an incredible unity and Spirit that has moved fresh upon Hillcrest. Many of you have expressed to me that you sense there is a new spirit, attitude, and outlook at Hillcrest, and I could not agree more. It seems that God in His mercy and grace has chosen to move in many ways in the life of the Hillcrest family.
The times of worship have been Christ exalting. Our Lord’s words from the Sermon on the Mount in our study of Matthew, entitled “Jesus Our King,” have been encouraging, exhortative, and engaging. The many decisions that have been made to follow Christ as Savior and then to follow Christ in the waters of baptism have brought great celebration in our times of worship (more than forty since October 1, plus more than forty being counseled and mentored for baptism). The baptisms of some of our international college students brought tears of joy and celebration and have allowed Hillcrest to touch the ends of the earth at home.
In early November, we welcomed Ryan Mason to the Hillcrest family and staff as our Minister of Education. Since that time, he has hit the ground running, and I am not certain if he has stopped to breathe. Ryan is currently equipping our Decision Counselors, developing a complete mentoring strategy and program, and encouraging and equipping our Sunday School leadership team and educational staff.
We will be opening our newest educational building on Easter Sunday. This building has a large room that will seat approximately 175 and an overflow area that can be used for additional seating or as a buffet or serving area. The building will open none too soon, especially for our College Ministry, as the Lord has blessed Hillcrest once again with fifty to seventy-five students on any given Sunday.
Finally, and maybe it should have been first, and no doubt much earlier, I want to express my thanksgiving to the Lord and to each of you for being faithful stewards. In the middle of December, I sent a letter out regarding our budget needs and year end giving, and you responded! For those of you who do not recall, we increased our 2012 budget $250,000 over 2011. At the time of the December letter, we were nearly $185,000 under budget, but due to your incredible response of generous giving, we reduced that budget shortfall by just over $50,000, as we closed the 2012 budget only $131,560 under budget.
Also, you need to know that our total gifts during December were outstanding, especially since we were not in a capital funds campaign, with total receipts being $407,483. The amazing thing is that we have experienced probably the best first quarter of giving in my nearly 22 years at Hillcrest. As of March 10, 2013, our total receipts are $478,219.59, and we are $9,031.77 over budget year-to-date. Because of your spirit of giving, we are able to fulfill our commitments to our missions budget and missionaries, and, in our most recent Finance Ministry Team meeting, our leadership moved to finish paying off Who Is Willing (WIW) to our trust funds. For those of you that have not been around long enough to know about WIW, this was our capital funds campaign for our $4 million building program that included our student and children’s ministry buildings.
When all is said and done, I want to thank you for always being faithful and encouraging, but I ultimately praise God from whom all blessings flow! As our cornerstone states: “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21, NKJV)
Are you considering baptism? What better day to celebrate your new life in Christ than Easter Sunday. If you have made a decision for Christ and have not been baptized, contact the Pastor’s office if you would like to be baptized on Easter Sunday, March 31.
Contact: Nancy Simmons | (469) 575-9977 | nsimmons@hillcrestbc.com
Tommy Foster came to us in February of 2011 as our Student Minister. Tommy’s heart for students and their families is evident to anyone who knows him. Please take the time to let Tommy, Gretchen and their family know how much they are appreciated!
Day 1: Pray for all the missionaries who will be joining us for GIC. Pray for their safe travel and sensitivity to the Spirit’s guidance as they prepare to share the mission God has called them to with the church.
Day 2: Pray for the Lord’s spiritual protection over GIC. Pray that the Holy Spirit will move unhindered with the might and power of God to accomplish the Lord’s will. Pray that God is glorified.
Day 3: Pray for all those involved in GIC – those working behind the scenes organizing and planning, serving in child care, preparing food, media production, the speakers, and the many other essential areas of service that make GIC possible.
Day 4: Pray that the hearts of the youth and children will be inspired and transformed through this time of focus on missions. Pray that God will begin to plant and grow seeds in their hearts to fulfill the great commission and that they will be ready and willing to answer His call.
Day 5: Pray for the missionaries’ time of fellowship, that it will be refreshing and invigorating, especially during their time with their Sunday School classes and Saturday’s Men’s and Women’s Fellowships.
Day 6: Pray that your heart and the hearts of all who attend will be open to the Spirit’s leading. Pray that God will raise up servants, missionaries, and volunteers from amidst the church to serve in Jerusalem, Judea, and the ends of the earth in obedience to Christ.
”Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20
Day 1: IMB Apprentice Missionaries – Thailand
Pray for the transition from South East Asia to Thailand and for ease in learning Thai. Pray that the Lord will provide national partners, friends, Christian accountability partners, and a church family among the dispersed Burmese people.
Day 2: IMB Field Personnel – Russia
Pray that God will continue to equip them for the mission He has given them and allow access to smaller towns outside the city. Pray for believers to step forward to further the Gospel message and for the lost to be open and receptive of Christ.
Day 3: Megacity Evangelist and Church Planters – East Asia
Pray for boldness, protection, and love for the house church Christians. Pray for God to prepare the hearts of the unreached, to raise up those who will take the Gospel to the unreached, and to bring new believers into the churches.
Day 4: Church Planting Team Leaders – Russia
Pray for the Gospel to permeate the hearts of the lost in the city and that they will realize Christ is about a relationship and not a religion. Pray for God to provide personnel to assist with IT services, English classes, and upcoming Olympics.
Day 5: Pray especially for the spiritual and physical protection of these men and women and their families serving in high risk areas.
Day 6: Pray for each missionary’s GIC preparation and safe travel, as well as for their continual spiritual growth.
“Jesus told them, ‘The harvest is plentiful,
but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’” – Luke 10:2
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