Mr. Dennis shows us how to run a business and live a life of faith

It was in March 2010 that Kenneth Dennis, at the age of 83, decided he would sell off his furniture inventory and close his doors after 51 successful years of business in Northwest Arkansas. That was the plan. During these years his priorities had been in serving people, making friends, and taking care of his customers. He did that well and he watched as the profits of Dennis Home Furnishings increased every year.

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Congratulations graduates!

Your hard work has finally paid off. We pray though, that you will not lose sight of the plans God has for you. You are destined for greater things. We hope to give you some advice as you go forward. Live your life by Proverbs 3:1–12. Find your satisfaction in the Lord and His will. Seek things from above, in doing so, God will surely bless your life.

The fact is you are the critical generation. The world is in desperate need for what you have to offer. We challenge you all to step up and be a light in this darkness. Let everyone see the hope that lives in you. Seek God, and in the pursuit of that, bring on a revival in your homes, workplaces, cities, and country. The next big step begins now.

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In 1973, young, ex-marine Charlie Foster and his wife, Gloria, left their home in Indianapolis, Indiana, bound for Northwest Arkansas with a dream of expanding their family business. While still settling in to their new residence, a bus driver from a local church, First Baptist Church of Springdale, noted a bicycle belonging to the couple’s young daughter in the driveway and stopped to extend an invitation to church. Soon after, a member of the FBCS pastoral team came by the Fosters’ home to visit with the new Arkansans. The result: Gloria Foster accepted Jesus Christ.

Charlie, however, was less than enthused about his wife’s decision.

Still, Gloria determined to attend FBCS the next Sunday. Reluctantly, and after much persuasion, Charlie agreed to tag along. The couple made their way to the church and sat through the sermon together. Gloria, who, at the time, was 7 ½ months pregnant with their second daughter, Dawn, recalls, “When they gave the invitation, I nudged Charlie and asked if this was the time to go down.” Charlie’s response was abrupt. Gloria remembers her husband “snapping at her, telling her to be quiet.” Undeterred, Gloria stood and began walking the aisle toward the front of the church. To her surprise, Charlie came up from behind and managed to “somehow maneuver around her,”beating her down the aisle.

On that day, at the front of FBCS, together on their knees, the lives of Charlie and Gloria Foster were forever changed.

In 1985, Charlie was hired by FBCS as Minister of Singles and Facilities. Today, Charlie continues to serve the church as Minister of Senior Adults and Pastoral Care, a position Charlie both loves and performs with energy and passion. “I can get fired up encouraging our senior adults in living their life to the fullness for His glory. God has also allowed me to walk alongside many who have lost loved ones and encourage them to stay faithful as God is able to see them through the next stage in their life.”

While Charlie feels privileged to minister to the senior adults of FBCS, he also enjoys the opposite end of the spectrum—encouraging young couples as they bring new life into the world. “As I consider what I love most about our church, I would say that it is the people God has placed here and how I have been able to minister to them in many different settings. One of the most miraculous things God has allowed me to be a part of is seeing the wonder of His creation in the life of newborn babies. I stand amazed when I am able to spend time with a young couple and see the joy and love in the gift of a child.”

After twenty-five years at FBCS, Charlie can recall countless extraordinary memories and moments. He shares that some of his favorites involve witnessing God’s healing and restoration in the lives of people. “I have seen Him put together or put back together broken lives—people who have been saved or those who have allowed Him to see them through very difficult times. It is amazing to see God at work.”

When asked to describe how he has seen the church transform during his time here, Charlie answered simply, “The desire to see people come to the Lord has never changed. It was the heart of our church twenty-five years ago, and it is the heart of our church today. As we face the future, FBCS will never fail as long as we keep our focus on Jesus, reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Jesus Christ. And we will.”

So, if you are in the halls of FBCS and see a man in a brilliantly-colored suit, bowtie, and with a tremendous smile on his face, holding open a door or shaking a hand, odds are it is Charlie Foster, still doing God’s work after twenty-five years… and loving every minute of it.

Charlie and Gloria’s daughters, Alesha and Dawn, both graduated from Shiloh Christian School. Alesha and her husband, Corbin, have two children: Presley (2) and Maddyn (7 mo). Dawn and her husband, Greg, have three children, Abbey (9), Emma (7), and Will (2).
Click here to download the entire March 2010 edition of RealLife.

On February 27 and 28 of last year, men from all over Northwest Arkansas were invited to attend a conference at The Church at Pinnacle Hills entitled Fearless. Our church leaders began planning for the conference with the hope of engaging between 400 and 500 men. Instead, just over 1,100 men participated in Fearless, far surpassing all expectations. Shawn Smith, Springdale Campus Pastor, describes, “God blew us away. We had men who came who had lost their jobs, sons who came with their fathers, and God met us in a powerful way….”

Two of those men in attendance were Ken Hough and Mark Sewell.

Ken Hough, an employee of Tyson Foods, began attending The Church at Pinnacle Hills with his fiancé, Nicole. The couple’s relationship was in trouble, and Ken admits he was “searching for answers.” Ken contemplated attending the conference but was “unsure if [he] wanted to take the step.” He explains, “This was all new to me. Finally, Nicole just asked if I wanted to go. Next thing I knew, she registered me. Truth is, it was God’s pursuit of me working through Nicole. And I had no idea what to expect.”

But when Ken stepped into the Pinnacle Hills Gatheria on the first night of the conference, he was “amazed how welcoming, helpful, friendly, and kind everyone was, and the conference hadn’t even started yet.” A short time later, as Pastor Ronnie Floyd began speaking from the book of Daniel, Ken’s mind resonated with one thought, “I want to be that man. I want to be fearless.”

Later, during Nick Floyd’s message, “Fearless through Weakness,” Ken was struck by the idea that “God’s grace is sufficient.” Ken explains, “I think it was then that I truly started to feel weak. The whole time I had been trying to do everything on my own, be in control… in the driver’s seat. I thought I could fix what was broken. I sat there numb.”

As Nick concluded, Pastor Floyd took the stage and ended the session with an invitation. Ken remembers, “It was the first time I had ever gotten up from my seat during an invitation. It was the first time I ever prayed and opened myself to God, saying, ‘I can’t do this myself anymore. I am weak, but your grace IS sufficient.’ At that moment, it was like a chilling rush of calm and peace came pouring from the back of the Worship Center over me. The tears stopped. I felt together and at peace. I looked around at all the other men at the altar and wondered what had just happened.”

Shortly after, Ken met with Nick Floyd at a local restaurant, and in Ken’s words, “I took my first steps in becoming a fearless man.” On that day in that restaurant, Ken accepted Jesus Christ. “I was ready,” Ken said. “… And it was my decision.”

When asked how the Fearless conference affected his life, Ken responded, “Well, I was saved. That’s a pretty huge effect. I’m not perfect… nowhere near. But the Fearless conference allowed me to start reaching out and making friends with good Christian men who will help pick me up when I fall and help me with my walk as I continue to grow in Christ.”

Mark Sewell also attended Fearless. Mark, a father of three and a local chiropractor, was a member of First Baptist Church of Springdale and drawn to the conference by the title. He explains, “I realized that I was fearful of totally surrendering every area of my life to the Lord. I knew that if men would humble themselves… and truly abandon themselves to the will of the Father, something amazing would happen. I wanted to be a partaker of what the Lord had in store….”

And Mark was not disappointed. He remembers the moment that “touched his heart” near the conference’s end and time of invitation—the same invitation Ken Hough walked the aisle for the first time. Mark recalls, “Men went forward with hearts that were broken before the Lord. I could tell walls were falling down and men were being set free from all kinds of fear.”

Mark Sewell believes the Fearless conference helped him renew a passion to be courageous for the Lord. “The humility I saw in other men encouraged me to know that I am not alone—that other men face the same challenges that I do every day. I was challenged to live my life for eternity; to live fearlessly for my King; to totally surrender every area of my life to Him; to see Him first in all things; and to abide in Him.”

When asked how he would encourage other men to attend the upcoming men’s conference, Mark answered, “I would tell them that if we seek Him, we will find Him. There is nothing more important for any man than being what God has created him to be. I would tell them that we need to learn to lean on one another instead of trying to do it all on our own.” Ken Hough is the first to agree. He adds, “If you’re thinking about going, stop thinking about it and just register. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

This year, the Northwest Arkansas Men’s Conference: Men at the Cross, will be held on February 26 and 27 at The Church at Pinnacle Hills. The conference will be partnering with Joe White, Rick Rigsby, and Men at the Cross, a “ministry of radically committed men serving Christ, family, church, and the workplace.” Speakers include Dr. Joe White, Dr. Rick Rigsby, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, and Dr. Nick Floyd, and worship will be led by Josh Stanbery.

Take it from Ken Hough. “Lives were changed last year, and lives will certainly be changed again. When it was all said and done at Fearless, it was difficult for me to find the words to describe the experience. You just have to feel it for yourself.”

Ken and Nicole Hough were married by Nick Floyd in May 2009. They have two children, Drew and Peyton, and a baby on the way. Mark Sewell and his wife Regina live in Springdale and have three children, Hayle, Braegan, and Blayne.

Click here to download the entire February 2010 edition of RealLife.

When Shawn Smith went to a Student Pastors’ conference in April of 2001, he had no idea God was about to change his life forever.

“One morning I read Psalm 84 where it says, ‘blessed is the man…who sets his heart on pilgrimage.’ For me, that was a clarion call that I needed to see God and His presence in a fresh way in my life.” Shawn knew God was calling him to a 40-day fast.

But it was a big step for Shawn. The longest he’d ever fasted was seven days. Shawn had watched his wife, Tracey, be transformed on a previous 40-day fast she embarked upon. Although he was still reluctant to go on the journey himself, he was so desperate to see a new work of God in his life that he was determined to “go there or die trying.” Less than one week after God’s call, Shawn began his 40-day journey of fasting and prayer.

Shawn didn’t really know what he expected God to do during his fast. He knew he wanted to draw closer to the Lord, but really didn’t have any idea how God would reveal himself. “I was so desperate; I didn’t have any big dreams of what God would do. I just thought, if I make it out alive, bless God. And if I don’t, bless Him then, too.” As he began his fast, Shawn made a list of 15 things he was praying about. Some were for his family, but most were about his desire for personal revival.

Tracey took the journey along with Shawn, not only as a spouse, but a prayer warrior. Tracey took the first ten days to prepare herself physically and spiritually to be an intercessor, then joined Shawn on his fast. She used their son’s afternoon naptime and mealtimes for prayer and study of God’s Word. Shawn had shared a few things he was praying about with her, but mostly she interceded on Shawn’s behalf.

The initial hunger was difficult. At the time, Shawn was serving at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. As a Student Pastor, Shawn was always around food when he was with students. But he came to realize that without the distraction of worrying about his own physical need, he was able to be more focused on the people he was with. He began to understand that “mealtime should be about connecting with people, not stuffing your face. I came to realize how dependent I had become on food and how small my prayer life was. The longer I fasted, the more I wanted God and the less I wanted physical nourishment.”

Satan had plans to derail and discourage Shawn. There were a lot of strange spiritual attacks during his fasting journey. “One night, our home computer crashed. I lost four years’ worth of sermons. Gone. It was like Satan was saying, ‘I’ll show you.’ But I knew I was more spiritually aware at that time, and also knew God would bring me through it.”

During his daily Bible reading, Shawn found another passage that helped him understand why God had called him to fast. Psalm 143:11 says, “For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me in Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.” “I realized that my personal revival wasn’t for my good. It was for God’s glory. I desperately wanted my own life to be changed, but realized it would only happen if God got the glory.”

Shawn made no public announcement of his fast and privately told very few. About halfway through the fast, he was sitting on the stage after a Wednesday night student worship service. He was weak and wasn’t feeling well. One of the students asked him if he was sick. It was then that Shawn realized he was broken not only spiritually, but physically.

Due to a recent check-up at the doctor, Shawn knew he was not in good health. He was almost a hundred pounds overweight and knew that if he didn’t make changes to his lifestyle, his health would continue to decline. God revealed more to him during his journey. “When I’d finished my fast, I hadn’t lost a lot of weight, maybe 30 pounds. But I felt so convicted about my life and my physical fitness that I began to walk, then run and work out. I had always been an athlete, but had not taken care of my body.” Ultimately, Shawn believes the things God showed him during those 40 days saved his life. But he is quick to point out that fasting is not a weight-loss program. “This is not ‘The Biggest Loser.’ It’s not a contest. You should check with your doctor, but be prepared because not all doctors believe in fasting, especially extended fasts.”

And not all Christians do, either. Once word of Shawn’s fast became public knowledge, he was surprised to receive negative feedback from several people. By that time, Psalm 143 was ringing in his ears and Shawn knew the journey was about God’s glory, not his. It didn’t really matter to him what others thought.

Breaking his fast, Shawn felt emotionally drained and recharged at the same time. “I went to Texas Land and Cattle and ate a dry baked potato and a cracker. It was weird. But I was filled with anticipation about what God would do next.” That same weekend, Shawn, Tracey, and their son Kyle were involved in a car accident. Sorting through the aftermath was challenging, yet God used it for His ultimate good. And that’s what Shawn believes life is about. God’s glory.

Shawn ended his fast a different man. Tracey says, “I cannot emphasize or share enough about how mentally, emotionally, and spiritually different he was after the fast. This was truly my biggest challenge because he was a different person completely. There was an intensity and passion that was born out of that time that remains today.”

Regarding fasting with others, Tracy also offers, “Do not take lightly the opportunity to intercede and participate with someone in a fast. I call this fast “our” journey because God used it in both of our lives. I learned the discipline of praying under and for my given authority, and as a result continue to reap the benefit of the answers we prayed for during the fast. Do not underestimate the lasting answers from such a short period of time.”

The longest fast Shawn has done since that time is seven days. “Remembering the power of it makes you want to do it again. But it’s important to understand that it’s not what you’re fasting from, it’s about what you’re fasting for. It’s not about the absence of food. It’s about pursuing God so intently that you are willing to draw away from your normal life and be with Him. There is incredible spiritual insight and power that comes with prayer and fasting. The days I spent on my first extended fast have forever shaped my life.”

Click here to download the entire January 2010 edition of RealLife.

In August of this year, a mission team of over twenty members from First Baptist Church of Springdale and The Church at Pinnacle Hills traveled to Malawi, Africa, with the primary objectives of planting a church, engaging in village evangelism, conducting a Vacation Bible School for village children, and taking part in the construction and launch of Esther’s House orphanage.

Most of the team spent approximately seven days in-country while members of the Kennedy and Copher families, along with cameraman D.J. Judd, remained for a total of fifty-four. No matter the length of their stay, all members of the 2009 Malawi mission trip came face to face with a people and a country in desperate need of hope.

Josh and Kristin Copher, members of The Church at Pinnacle Hills, have partnered with both church campuses through the Bigger Than Life Christian Foundation to launch and support Esther’s House. Josh shares a brief glimpse of the cruel realities of Malawi. “Life is very hard in most sub-Saharan countries, especially in Malawi. In this one small country, two thirds the size of Arkansas, there are now over one million orphans, most fending for themselves without food, shelter, or hope that anyone even cares. With the average life expectancy of 37, most children don’t get the opportunity to even know their parents….”

While living among the Malawian people for nearly two months, Josh and Kristin found themselves up close and personal with the statistics. “I know that we have all heard [of the hardships] before, and it’s easy to move the information to the back shelf of our minds. But when you witness it first-hand…. When you carry a widow dying of malaria to the hospital, pray with a single mother infected with HIV, or feed a starving child who has lost every person they know, it changes your life.”

The realties of the country quickly hit home with the Kennedy family as well during their stay in-country. Parents to four children of their own and sharing their three-bedroom Malawi home with a total of nine people, Zach and Erin Kennedy agreed to take in a two-month old, orphaned baby girl named Anna for three days and two nights a week.

Erin Kennedy told of Anna’s story. “When Anna’s mother went into labor, she was forced to walk ten miles alone to the regional hospital. She made it but just barely. She delivered Anna and a little boy, Anna’s twin’s brother, but the baby boy didn’t make it. Anna’s mother needed a blood transfusion, but the policy of the local hospital requires that someone from the family must first donate blood before blood from the reserve can be given. Because Anna’s mother had no one to donate for her, she couldn’t receive the transfusion and died. A completely needless death. But somehow, Baby Anna survived.”

For children like Anna, Esther’s House provides security and stability that, otherwise, is simply not available. Josh Copher explains, “The vision for Esther’s House is to share Christ’s love by creating a comprehensive model that addresses the spiritual and developmental needs of the village and engages the community to help lift themselves out of their current circumstances. Many people hear of Esther’s House and think it’s just an orphanage. It’s much more than that. Esther’s House is a platform for ministry and sustainable development in the country of Malawi….” And while the purpose of Esther’s House reaches “far beyond the scope of caring for the kids within its walls,” to five-year-old twins, Isaac and Precious, Esther’s House is simply home.

Zach Kennedy explained how the twins had lost both parents to malaria and had been living in a nearby village, bouncing from home to home. The boys were finally taken in by their grandmother, but because she was already caring for six other orphaned children, she did not have the means to properly care for the twins. As a result, the two boys were placed at Esther’s House. Erin Kennedy remembers that when she first met Isaac and Precious, they were extremely cautious of people. Erin recalls, “We used my children as examples and literally had to teach them how to give hugs and be hugged. At first, they weren’t so sure about it, but not long after, they would come running up to us with arms open wide.”

Zach remembers how the mission team members did their best to interact with the twins, though the language barrier made it difficult. “Some of the men got creative,” Zach said. “They came up with other ways to show the boys that they cared.” Mission team member, Roland Weber, made the boys a beanbag toss game and also supplied them with matchbox cars. Team member, Sammy Kirkendall, then fashioned and painted a homemade ramp made from scrap plywood. “No other kids in the village had toys like that,” Zach explains. “But very few children in Malawi also receive the quality treatment and care Esther’s House provides. Esther’s House children just have a better shot at life.”

Josh Copher adds, “To me, Esther’s House is a perfect example of what “church” is all about. We are not called just to preach the good news. We are commanded to go and be the good news. The Bible tells us that if we claim to live in Him, we are to walk as He did. It’s not about building buildings or about elevating our work in this impoverished country. It’s not about ‘fixing’ people or their culture. It’s about pouring ourselves into selfless acts of love and compassion as He did. It’s about meeting physical and spiritual needs as He did and sharing the hope and good news that we all have to look forward to.”

But one million orphans? Is it even possible to make a difference in the midst of such a monumental crisis?

Zach answers, “If you focus on the millions, you’ll be paralyzed with inaction. But when you look into the eyes of one, you begin to believe you can do something to make a difference. You hear the ‘dollar a day’ statistic all the time. In Malawi, most people earn a salary around that amount, if they are one of the 60% who are employed. Being in Malawi brings new perspective to the statistics. Numbers turn to faces. Faces become friends. I used to think that when Jesus said, ‘To whom much is given, much is required,’ He was talking about people like Bill Gates—the top 1% of the richest people in the world. Then, you move to Malawi, and suddenly it is hauntingly clear. We have been given much. And much is required of us.”

Josh Copher responds to the question, ‘Can people really make a difference in Malawi?’ with an unequivocal ‘yes!’ Josh adds, “Just ask any of the team members that have traveled to Malawi over the past eight years. Thousands have come to know Christ; many new churches have been planted…. Thousands of kids now have a meal to eat every day, the foundation for a scalable model is being implemented, Christian leaders are being developed, widows are being cared for, a reality television show is being produced, and our great God is being glorified! The impact on lives here and there continues to grow, and His favor is ever increasing.”

On the Kennedy family blog, Zach and Erin tell the story of meeting their night watchman in Malawi, a man named Crispen. The Kennedys explain, “Every night we would take him a meal and share the leftovers with his family. One night [we] realized that we had always expected him to eat outside and never invited him in. I told him to come in and pulled up a chair at our table. Shocked that we would invite him in to eat, he bowed down to his knees at our table to thank us. He thanked us repeatedly, and I began to wonder how long he would stay on his knees. The humility of Crispen challenged my pride and my understanding of caring for the poor. If charity only involves handouts, then humanity is only surviving and not being restored. We could have taken Crispen a meal each night and he would have continued to feel like he wasn’t worthy to sit at our table. Our work should be one of restoring humanity. Helping people understand their worth in God’s kingdom restores a piece of humanity stolen away by sin. It is these moments that we, too, are humbled to realize our worthlessness without a Savior.”

The truth is, we can make a difference in Malawi. Josh Copher makes clear, “The effort is not a single or even once a year commitment. It’s a year-round, ongoing ministry of this church that relies on our continued prayer and support. Future plans call for a medical training center, school, and guesthouse for teams to stay, all of which need leadership and funding. Our prayer is that the Lord will continue to impress on the hearts of our congregation the desire to personally get involved…. There are multiple opportunities available to plug in with Esther’s House at whatever level you are able, and one thing is certain, you will be blessed.”

In October, Zach Kennedy’s parents, Russell and Karen Kennedy, flew to Malawi to spend a week with their son and his family. While there, Russell and Karen spent time painting scripture from Psalm 139 in Esther’s House over the wall where the orphanage’s babies will sleep. It reads, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are your works, and that my soul knows well.” While the babies’ little lives may begin in heartbreak and tragedy, Esther’s House is a beam of hope in the darkness of despair, reminding the children and the world that they belong to a loving God. And as Erin Kennedy asks, “Who knows what the effect might be of making a difference for just one? You never know the impact just one of those little ones might have on their world.”

A reality television show documenting the Kennedy family’s two-month stay in Malawi is in the works and is set to air early next year. If you have questions about how to give to Esther’s House or want more information on our church’s mission opportunities, please contact our Global Missions Ministry by calling 479-756-7151.

Click here to download the entire December 2009 edition of RealLife.

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Photos by Brian Armas.

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Thousands attended each campus for Summer Freedom in the morning. We were so blessed by the worship ministries of each campus along with Vietnam Veteran and Hero Tim Lee. Tim brought a stirring message, giving his testimony and the result was that many people came to Christ at each campus. What a great morning of honoring America, those have served and are serving, and most importantly – sharing the Good New of Christ!

Last night at Pinnacle Hills was so exciting! People were everywhere, enjoying music, food, and fellowship. The fireworks that ended our evening were phenomenal, but the absolute highlight was the baptism of 117 people at the foot of the crosses! Thanks goes to all of our staff and volunteers who worked so hard to make this day possible. Below are a few photos.

As he grew, Steve’s dream of playing baseball professionally pushed him to work diligently toward his goal, and by the time the young athlete graduated from high school in 1983, he was drafted into the minor league. Nevertheless, Steve resolved to first attend college with the hopes of being drafted again after his college career.

That same year, Steve accepted a scholarship to Grand Canyon College in Phoenix, Arizona, and in his freshman year, his team won the NAIA National Baseball Championship. Steve’s future had never seemed brighter, and his dreams of playing the sport professionally were just within reach.

Until one day in 1985 that changed everything.

Read the whole article and view the entire July 2009 Real Life

Once again,Thank you to everyone who had a part in impacting Northwest Arkansas with the love of Christ.

Photos From Adventure Week

His name was Michael Guyer, and the two had struck up a friendship while playing basketball outside Elizabeth’s home. Many times Elizabeth had invited Michael, a ninth grader, to church, but had been unsuccessful in convincing him to attend. “He would say he would go with me,” Elizabeth recalls, “but when we would stop to pick him up, he would have some excuse not to go.”

But Elizabeth did not give up on her friend.

Read the whole article and view the entire June 2009 Real Life

When that takes place in that morning, we will see thousands of lives influenced and prayerfully, many changed forever. On that Sunday night, both of our campuses, plus thousands of others will witness our 2nd Annual Fireworks at the Crosses! This event was huge last year, and this year it will be awesome too! The fireworks phenomenon will be preceded by a wonderful outdoor baptism at the crosses. Last year, we baptized 64 people at this event, and we are praying for that many and more this year.

Make plans to attend!

I am so thankful for the leadership of Shawn Smith, Josh Wisdom, Chuck Butler, Matt Clough, and all those who assist them in ministering to our students. Matt Clough related a great story to me about one of our students who is going into 11th grade. He has been active in our Pinnacle Student Ministry for several years. Matt felt burdened for him at camp and pulled him aside and asked if he was saved. Another one of our leaders also talked to this student about his salvation. He told them both, no he wasn’t, and that he was not willing to give up what he would have to give up to be saved. His friends then became burdened for him and began praying for him. Over the next 24 hours, they prayed for him together…separately…and also over him. He had over eight people come and pray over him throughout that next day. He had many people expressing their concern for his life. Then the night after Matt first pulled him aside, he came to Matt saying they needed to talk, which they did and he prayed and gave his life to Jesus Christ! He said that he had asked God for a sign if he really needed to get saved, and it was after that everyone began to pray for and over him. That was an awesome God moment.

It is great to see our students become burdened for their friends. This story is also a testament to the power of prayer. Thank you, Church, for your generosity in giving scholarships to make it possible for so many young people to experience this life-changing week!

When Pastor Wayne Childers of South Lindsay Baptist Church in South Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, contacted First Baptist Church of Springdale and requested the help of the MOTION ministry in reaching his community for Christ, the pastor, nor anyone involved could have been prepared for the impact that was about to be made in South Oklahoma City. Pastor Childers knew of MOTION’s unique approach to sharing the gospel through creative elements such as singing, step, dance, and stomp, and he believed the group of six through twelfth grade students could make a difference. When he asked them to come, they went. Read the whole article and view the entire May 2009 Real Life

For many couples with young children, enjoying a much-needed night out as husband and wife can be a difficult, if not impossible, feat. If the obstacle of locating a trustworthy, responsible sitter can be overcome, the couple must then dig deep into their wallets in an effort to cover the cost of the babysitting fee. The bigger the family, the bigger the fee, and as a result, dinner and a movie is forfeited for Taco Bell and hurrying home. Date night becomes a non-event, and husbands and wives give up on the idea of romance, forgetting the importance of quality time together. Read the whole article and view the entire April 2009 Real Life

The pictures you will see today are just some highlights of our Men’s Conference. I hope you enjoy them. This week, I will share with you some of the great things that happened -  testimonies and experiences of the weekend.

When Patricia Purdon heard the sound of a pine tree fall on her roof and shattering glass of windows being broken on the evening of Tuesday, January 27, she knew that she wouldn’t be sleeping that night. Patricia, 71, and her sister live in a mobile home, and after the devastation of the ice storm that hit Northwest Arkansas, she wondered how she would ever get things cleaned up. Several days later, she opened her paper and saw that the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams were available for chainsaw recovery and knew she needed to call First Baptist Church of Springdale. “I picked up my purse and things and came right down,” she recalls. Read the whole article and view the entire May 2009 Real Life

On March 29th and 30th, 1996, Pastor Ronnie Floyd led a group of nearly 500 men at a conference held at First Baptist Church of Springdale entitled, The Meaning of a Man. There, Pastor Floyd challenged the group to discover their destiny as spiritual champions with such session topics as You Can Make a Difference and Being an Influencer. On the first night of the conference, Pastor implored all men in attendance to make certain their life’s priorities were in order. 1.) God 2.) Family 3.) Work Read the whole article and view the entire February 2009 Real Life

Podcasting is a way of publishing video and audio files to the internet, that allows users to receive new files automatically. You can think of this like an audio or video version of a FREE magazine subscription. You sign up for the service and then when new features are posted on this site, the files will automatically download to your computer and/or portable MP3 player using iTunes.

First of all you DON’T need an iPod, although that is where podcasting gets it’s name. What you do need is iTunes. You can download iTunes here if your computer doesn’t already have it.

How do I start?

All you need to do is click the button below to see our iTunes page. Once you are there click “Subscribe to Podcast” and you will automatically start downloading the most recent video or audio service. That’s all!