Teacher Joy

The other day, I overheard Joy trying to teach Joshy how to say one of our cousins names (William).

"Joshy say, kuh-kuh . . . William!"
~
Sometimes when we're in a hurry to do something and it's right before a meal, we'll have the kids pray silently in their heads. So today when we did that, Joy finished praying and said "I won!".

Our New Church!

There has been alot of changes for us, church wise. Starting from October we left our church at New Life Community Church to go to Hillcrest Baptist Church (website still in the making!). New Life is a mega church, so far, there are twelve different locations and sixteen different services (some in Spanish). After church we had a Bible study called Homebuilders. Where we had a pretty big group.

My dad really likes the idea of church planting, and he wanted to see models of other churches and how they do certain stuff (bulletins, worship, structure, etc.) So, we started by looking around and visiting churches and that's how we ended up at Hillcrest. It is closer than New Life and is right next to an apple orchard. =)



This is our pastor. Pastor Dennis and his wife, Tamra.

We, along with the Pastor Dennis and his family, are working on relaunching this church! So far we have been able to help--- my dad has been doing the sound for church (he taught me, so I'm going to be in charge now!), he does the website along with my mom, and he has started doing the announcements. I will be helping to do the bulletins and I help in the nursery. My mom also helps in the nursery, as well as my sister. My two brothers help pass the plates for the offering. Now, after church (at Hillcrest) we're leading another Bible study called, Fusion. We are also going to start leading one at our house which we have named HomeBuilders once again.

We have been very blessed with the opportunity of being able to help out at Hillcrest! We've already been able to do alot of things here (listed above), that we've never have done for the twelve years we've been at New Life!

At New Life they made this really great video about helping Chicago out by planting and reviving more churches.

This is the Restart video.



This is me, Mrs. Hall (Tami), and her daughter Lauren.



In December, we all went to Wal-Mart and sang Christmas carols. All of the children dressed up as the nativity scene. L to R: Naomi as Mary, Joy as an angel, Stephen as a shepherd, Ravi as a king, and Josh as a shepherd.



Mary, Jesus, and Joseph (Naomi and Martin Wells, he is the oldest of the pastor's sons)



Ravi and one of the pastor's other sons, Jonathan.

Coming Soon. . .Spring!

As you can tell, I can not wait!! I love the nice weather!!

Church Jokes!

Bare Essentials-

When the new First Church pastor came to town, one of his first official activities was to visit his parishioners. All went well until he knocked on the Jone's door. It was obvious that someone was home, but no one came to the door.

Finally he took out his card and wrote on the back, "Revelation 3:20, 'Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him,' " and stuck it on the door.

On Sunday his card found its way into the offering plate. Below his message was the notation, "Genesis 3:10, 'And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, And I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.' "


The Bishop's Visit-

Little Johnny's dad was the pastor of a small church in the Midwest. One day he told Johnny that a very important church leader, a bishop, was coming to the church and would be staying the night with them in their home. Little Johnny became very excited about meeting the bishop. "What do I get to do?" he asked.
"Your job," father answered, "will be to take his morning tea up to the guest room."
"What shall I say?" little Johnny asked.
"Just remember to say, 'It's the boy, my Lord, it's time to get up.' "

Little Johnny was very excited, He rehearsed his lines, repeating them over and over. Finally the day came, and little Johnny had learned all his lines. At the appointed hour, the bishop's tea and a biscuit were set on a tray and given to little Johnny to take to the guest. Knocking on the visitor's door, the boy became so excited his lines got all mixed up, so when he finally spoke, out came, "It's the Lord, my boy, and your time is up."


Vote!-

A parishioner had dosed off to sleep during the morning service.
"Will all who want to go to heaven stand up now."
All stood, except the sleeping parishioner.
After they sat, the pastor continued,
"Well, will all who want to go to the other place please stand?"
Somebody suddenly dropped a hymnal, and the sleeping man jumped to his feet and stood sheepishly facing the preacher.
The sleeper mumbled confused, "Well, preacher, I don't know what we're voting for, but it looks like you and I are the only ones for it."