Parrent-Child Dedications on Mothers Day

One of our traditions at NHC is to have parent-child dedications every Mothers Day. Sometimes on Fathers Day, too!

We call it "Parent-Child" because raising a child to know Christ in a God honoring home is the key. And that burden doesn't fall on the child, no matter how "dedicated" he or she might be. It falls on Dad and Mom.

These kinds of dedications don't make a child a Christian or guarantee that he/she will become one. That's an issue between them and God to settle when they're ready to receive the Gospel and believe. But what it does is to set a stake in the ground that says, "We're serious about this. And in front of all of you we make this commitment and ask you as our church family to hold us accountable. We also ask your prayers and your love."

So if you have a young child, or a new child in your family no matter the age, and want to publicly express your dedication as parents to bring him/her/them up in "the nurture and admonition of the Lord", let us know by calling the office (441-7548) or emailing us (info@nagsheadchurch.org) before Mothers Day. Let us know which gathering, 9 or 11 you'll be attending. Invite your extended family to join you up front. Invite your close friends to come and witness your dedication.

And don't forget to bring a camera!

BTW, Mothers Day is May 10.

Do you really think God cares?

I saw this comment on Facebook tonight during American Idol: "I'm praying for Adam to win".

Do you really think God cares who wins a TV competition? I mean, I'd like to think His favor and grace shines on the Redskins (especially when playing the Cowboys), but come on.

Could it be that someone who prays for something that trivial and totally non-spiritual (AI is purely entertainment, feeding a hunger for "idol" worship in American pop culture. Yeah, I suppose the same could be said for most everything in the entertainment world)...could it be that God is going to get involved with who wins and who loses? Are such prayers a waste of precious breath that could be praying for starving children, swine flu victims, lost sinners, confused pastors...whatever?

I wonder. Do you?

(BTW, Adam is still alive in the competition. Maybe there's something to that prayer?)

Seeking Mo- He's back!

During the current series "The Journey - Start to Finish" Mo will be in a different location somewhere at NHC. If you find him come back here and tell us where he was. Don't spoil it at church for those seeking Mo. Just don't move him please.

Mo took a break the last couple of weeks but was back Sunday. Did you find him? He was hanging out at The Wave Cafe. Actually he was in the coffee donation jar. If no one saw him, it makes you wonder who's helping out with a buck or two???

Click on the image (from last week) to enlarge it.

New Connections Groups now forming

Connections Groups help us keep each other sharp!

Second trimester of connections groups will be getting back in gear in May. You have heard us say before and we'll continue to say, "Everyone needs to be in a Connections Group" !

Our groups are the DNA of Nags Head Church. We are offering several new groups in May including, at least one Financial Freedom Group, a marriage enrichment group, and a parenting group, along with many others covering a wide range of topics in locations from Manteo to Southern Shores. There is a group for you!

Email us at connections@NagsHeadChurch.org or sign up at the Welcome Center in the big lobby this Sunday.

Sunday Feedback April 6

Compassion Sunday. The songs, video and Jay's testimony helped us see the need among the world's children.

Stubbornness. Pharaoh thought he was the authority in the land and was bigger than Yahweh.

Whether it was in a song, a conversation, a ministry opportunity or from today's message, what did you come away with today?

Principles for Parenting Seminar

If you attended the seminar, please comment below and give us some feedback. We want to continue to bring these kinds of opportunities.

On Saturday, April 25th, the Outer Banks Youth Ministry Network is sponsoring a parenting seminar at Nags Head Church. The seminar is from 8:45am until 1pm. Cost is $15, spouse can attend free but there is a $5 charge for a second workbook if a couple chooses not to share.

Herb Owen was Andy's childrens' pastor when Andy was a kid and as cute as a button. Herb has worked with families and children for over 30 years now.

NHC we can use your help. If you no longer have children in the home but would be willing to provide free babysitting for parents please contact Andy and let him know.

This seminar is for parents of infants through teenagers. A great seminar for expecting parents to participate in and for anyone who works with children or teenagers.

Visit here for more details and information. REGISTER HERE.

Being a Compassion sponsor - Jay and Alicia

Alicia and I have been Compassion International sponsors for eight years. We started by sponsoring a young girl named Gracie from Tanzania and have enjoyed every bit of it. The experience is so much more personable than I expected. Through Gracie's letters and pictures, we have come to genuinely love her and her family, and we pray for her as if she were our own.

Compassion facilitates the relationship with efficiency and excellence. As an organization, Compassion does a great job. They have truly earned our respect and trust. The logistical aspects of being a sponsor have been simple and headache-free. Financially it's very inexpensive. Yet, it's so significant for Gracie

Being a Compassion sponsor has also helped us as we try to teach our daughter to think globally. It gives a more tangible example for her as she learns about other cultures. We've all learned a little Swahili in the process.

Asante,
Jay and Alicia

Principles for Parents Seminar

There is still room and extra workbooks. If you forgot to register e-mail Andy if you would like to attend this great seminar on Saturday morning, 8:45 till 1. Seminar is $15, spouse can attend free if sharing a workbook. $5 for an extra workbook. Refreshments will be provided.
andy@nagsheadchurch.org

CREST this Wednesday night

CREST is an acronym for Communicating, Responding, Engergizing, Strategy and Teams. Once a quarter we get together as a church family to hear what God is doing as He uses us in ministry and mnission. Our teams get to report and share. We also hear a report of how our church's finances are doing from our treasurer. There's some vision casting and time for teams to do some meeting and training.

We'd love to see you there at 7PM.

My Story - Sam Knight

Sam's Story from this past Sunday is now on our Podcast Page and should shortly be up on iTunes.

Passing the faith along - bump

I've "bumped" this post up to the top because Annababe has updated her blog a few times since her return from Africa. It's well worth the read. There's also now a web site for the orphanage they started for the Karo "cursed" children in Ethiopia.

One of the greatest joys a Christian parent can have is to see his/her child not only serve God, but to make Jesus first in life. That doesn't mean your child has to go into "vocational" ministry. It just means that wherever their journey takes them, they're giving their all for Him.

One wonderful example of this is Annababe DeHart, Don and Mary's youngest. At 23 she's discovering God's call on her life, and it's not mundane by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, it scares her parents while at the same time they know she's right where God wants her.

Although she grew up 3,000 miles from here, Annababe has a close connection with NHC. Pastor Steve baptized her in the Atlantic. Not only is she part of our global outreach team by virtue of being Don and Mary's kid, she spent 6 months a few years ago here on the OBX with us, living with one of our families. God used that time and her church family at NHC to "redirect" (her dad's words) her life.

So what's she doing now? You'll have to read it for yourself. Then ask yourself, "Am I willing to do 'whatever it takes' for Christ?". And parents, I hope her story challenges you to instill in your children a passion for mission. They are the hope of the emerging generation lost without Christ.

And pray for this MK (missionary kid) as she discovers her place in the scheme of God's Kingdom and literally rescues the perishing while she's at it.

Sunday Feedback: A Knight's Tale

Today Sam Knight shared the story of his journey. Thanks Sam, for being so open and transparent so that we could see God's work in your life.

Whether it was in a song, a conversation, a ministry opportunity or from today's message, what did you come away with today?

Kidmo/Lil K Promo

Contact Jrwaveriders@nagsheadchurch.org to join the team!

Good News for Kurt Beach!

Kurt Beach is a real hero. In case you haven't read or heard of his story, you'll agree. Kurt's a Smithfield, VA cop. Years ago, while attempting to save the live of a baby Kurt contracted hepatitis C.

On Easter Sunday God provided Kurt with new life with a liver donated by a living anonymous donor.

Many of you were praying for Kurt. And some of you got to meet him when he was in church at NHC on Palm Sunday. That was a real surprise!

He's a great Christian guy who put someone else's life before his own and then trusted God when facing his own death.

Update from Don and Mary DeHart

Mary and I remain grateful for the faithful cover Nags Head has held over our lives and this ever expanding vision as we mobilize Native Christians here in North America (our Samaria) and abroad...where our Native colleagues are received often more readily than non-Native white missionary types.

Returning from our recent support raising furlough finds us playing catch-up in almost every arena of our lives. The death of Mary's brother sent us back to Carolina the day after arriving here...adding to an already stacked schedule.

Since returning, we have written an initiative covering 1/3 support in launching a Native pastor into a 5 month interim with an emerging Native church between now and his final semester of formal training next year. This brother and his wife have made formal application with NAIM to become full time staff upon his graduation next year...another positive step in the vision NAIM has called us to pursue. Their desire is to return to that large Native population on Vancouver Island to take the lead in that growing Native church as indigenous NAIM staff.

As well, we have another application for summer internship with NAIM from one of the students at Trinity Western University we've been developing a relationship with.

Our God is on the move speaking His ways into Native people in N.America to be involved in Great Commission ministry. In May we will participate in a conference in the greater Chicago area bringing awareness to churches of the more than 40,000 Native Americans in the area ...and not one Native church. Please pray for this conference, for five national Native American leaders, and for me as I prepare to bring one of the messages on the topic of Servant Leadership.

We have, as well, received 7 requests from churches from Alberta to western British Columbia asking us to help them begin reaching into indigenous populations in their immediate vicinity.

As Mary and I begin to look toward at least a formal retirement(in the government's eyes) in the next three years, we are intentionally feeding leadership of First Nations Partnership into the hands of one of the Native leaders currently on our team working as a school teacher "tentmaker", and with us as a volunteer. We have no plans of literal retirement, but of moving over to create space for Native leadership, as we begin moving toward living on retirement resources at age 65.

Mary and I were blessed to be among y'all recently, so well loved by some of God's good followers.

Gratefully alongside,
don and mary

Busy Month

April has been a very busy month at NHC so far...F1RST Wednesday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday have all been great times of worship.

If you missed any of the messages, or just want to listen to them again or share with a friend, make sure you visit our Podcast!

A week off

I'm taking a "vacation" week to get caught up on some other things. But I'll be in town all week.

If you have to speak with me, please do so. Otherwise, pastors Tom, Steve and Burnie are on call and ready as always.

Where's that paint brush?

Rick

Local TV celebs

These two NHCers have been seen acting on local television commercials:

Bethany McKenney at Bear Drugs. "The Bear cares".

Steve Wise at Stack 'Em High. Someone must have waved a waffle in front of him to get Steve in front of a camera.

Watch out Hollywood!

Sunday Feedback Easter!

Wow!

The Resurrection is the ultimate proof that Jesus is who He claimed to be. Who would die for a lie? And because He overcame we can, too.

Whether it was in a song, a conversation, a ministry opportunity or from today's message, what did you come away with today?

Thanks to everyone who put in the extra effort to make Easter at NHC so truly amazing. Thanks especially to God for giving us the vision and empowering us to share with so many.

Good Friday Feedback

Although Christ's sacrifice is something we should consider every day, Good Friday is an extra special time to focus on the Cross and all that He has done for us.

Whether it was in a song, a conversation, a ministry opportunity or the message/story, what did you come away with from the Good Friday worship gathering?

Beautiful Scandalous Night

Death is usually not a welcome topic for people to think or even talk about.

Crucifixion is, by all accounts, one of the most painful and gruesome ways to end a life.

For those who knew and loved Christ, His death certainly had to seem like a hopeless and untimely end of the Messiah's journey.

Yet, the Christian Church remembers that day as "Good Friday". What is so good about it? Join us this Friday evening at 7pm and again on Easter Sunday morning at 7, 9 or 11am as we look at the big picture of that beautiful scandalous night.

At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night, You and me
Were atoned by His blood
Forever washed white
On that beautiful scandalous night

Supporting One Another: Our own stimulus idea

Who you gonna call…to fix your car; to replace your door locks; to cut your hair; to resize your wedding ring; to get pizzas for your kid’s party….

We are creating a directory of NHCers who are in business or provide services. The idea is that as a church we should be supporting one another economically when we can. As I look over our church there are lots of people representing lots of trades and talents. Did you know we have…

Photographers
Hair dressers
Electricians
Carpenters
Painters
Real estate brokers
Mechanics
Child care providers
Wedding professionals
Florists
Computer geeks
Engineers and surveyors
Food service providers
Accountants
Plumbers
Heating/Air conditioning mechanics
Massage therapists
And more…

But who does what?

So we’re creating the directory to put in your hands so when you have a need, you can at least check to see if someone in the church can meet it.

If you would like to be included all you have to do is fill out a form. Email info@nagsheadchurch and ask for it or pick up a hard copy from the Welcome Center at church. We would like to have the directory available by May.

New Mailing Address for Dale Hamilton

And be sure to read his latest blog entry. The link is to the right on this page.

Dale is now in Baghdad.

Alan Dale Hamilton (LEP)
Charlie Company 1-63 CAB
FOB Mahmudiyah
APO AE 09322

Update from Adam and Melissa Hoffman

Friends,

Congratulations to the 2009 National Champion Tarheels. Its been a great couple of weeks in the tournament. We've found some friends to watch the games with but was wishing we were on Franklyn Street (along with many of you) last night.

In all seriousness, last night's game was a great start for a week for us. It is spring break for the students. Most of them are gone but a few are still around. Without the day to day work associated with running class, it has freed us up to take some days off. We'll be focusing our time away from the office putting out a newsletter and working on some adoption stuff. For Easter, many of the staff are taking a community camping trip to the beach. Last year we moved in during Easter weekend when many of the staff were away on this trip.

The newsletter will highlight the Program Director's Training that took place the last weekend in March. It went extremely well and some new sites will be looking to launch this fall.

Pray for the students and staff to be able to rest and refocus for the remaining weeks. Pray against the end of the year exhaustion that often hits and pray that we as a team of students and staff will finish well.

Celebrate with us one year here in California. April 1st was our official one-year anniversary of beginning our new assignments. We are amazed at the work God has done in the past year and can't believe we got to be a part of it. We look forward to this coming year of service with anticipation that God will continue to train and educate college students about his global purposes of being glorified.

Things are also moving forward with the adoption process. We've completed all of the application paperwork and classes. We are now in the stage of interviews with the social worker and our home inspection. We hope these will be completed within a couple of weeks. Next is the matching process, where the birth mother will choose us. We have no time frame to expect as it is up to her desires for a family to raise her child. Pray for our patience and Christlike attitude throughout this. Pray that we may have influence over our birth mother to show her and those she loves the gospel truth.
--
With Love For He First Loved Us,
Adam (& Melissa) Hoffman
INSIGHT a ministry of the U.S. Center for World Mission
www.uscwm.org/insight
http://www.thehoffmans.info
Cell: 919-272-8865
BLOGS:
Missional: http://adamhoffman.wordpress.com
Personal: http://hoffmansinCA.blogspot.com

Precious Gems Memorial

This afternoon at 3:30 a brief memorial will be held at the Colington Road/158 site of the crash that ten years ago today took the lives of four high school juniors. You are welcome to attend. There is parking at the beach access.

Those of us who know the Lawler family (who were part of our NHC family) remember well the shock and pain caused by a drunk driver that day.

If you will, please pray for the families of Angie, Megan, Amanda, Mike (who was the lone survivor), Shana and for Melissa Marvin, the young woman who hit them and is now in prison.

Also, an update from Paul Lawler tells us that his grandson Gabriel is healthy, healed and now at home doing well.

Sunday Feedback April 5

The journey can and often is a roller coaster ride of highs and lows. God never intended us to go on the journey alone. Our worship is fed by the depth of our belief. At our lowest points are when God is able to show us His greatness most clearly.

Whether it was in a song, a conversation, a ministry opportunity or from today's message, what did you come away with today?

And just in case you wanted to see that video again, here it is!

Bible Study Resource

Looking for a way to read the Bible online, take notes, journal,  interact with other readers?

Check this resource out:

http://youversion.com

Happy Birthday Nathan! Happy Transplantiversary Tricia!

Today is a big day for both of them. It's Nate's 28th birthday and Tricia's one year anniversary from her transplant surgery at Duke.

Celebrate with them!

This monthly worship gathering for believers begins at 6:30 tonight.

There will be lots of music. Pastor Burnie Staples will lead us to remembering the body and blood of Christ at the Communion table. And Tommy and Claire Drake, who are moving away soon, will be given an "exit interview" by Rick.

It promises to be a special evening.

Spring Clean time

Over the next ten days we're hoping to get our facility spruced up after winter and ready for Spring.

If you have an hour or two or even more that you can give to dusting, cleaning, windows,weeding, etc. please give Randy Holcombe a call at 441-2334 or email him at randynagshead@aol.com. He'll plug you into a task that fits your schedule and ability.

And here's a hint: find a partner to work with you. Not only will accomplish more, but the fellowship of teamwork will build you up in Christ.

Team Growth

Our church is growing and that is a sign that a church is alive.  I don’t know about you but that excites this youth and children’s pastor.  Much of our growth has been with young families.  Our nursery and children’s ministry teams are doing an incredible job in ministry week after week.  Last Sunday we, as a church, ministered to over 100 children from the infant nursery through the fifth grade.  This ministry doesn’t just happen week after week.  

We have three great team leaders, Bari Marland, Jodi Leary and Tina Hodgson, these ladies lead three awesome teams.

With the growth of our church our nursery and children’s ministry has grown as well.  The result of this growth means we have plenty of ministry opportunities.  Both of these teams could use several more of our NHC partners to come on board and impact children and their families’ lives. 

During April we are encouraging our teams to help other partners discover their ministry.  We are asking out children’s and nursery teams to help their teams grow.  This process will include the following: 

1. Invite – take time and invite others to join their team.  We have many partners who don’t serve in ministry on Sunday morning at NHC and they may very well be the piece of the puzzle shaped to fit the ministry opportunity.
2. Include – by inviting others to join the team they are including partners in an incredible opportunity to impact the lives of children.  Over 80% of those who trust Jesus Christ as Savior do so before the age of 18 and the majority of those do so before the age of 13.  If you want to be involved in a ministry that has life changing impact than the nursery and children’s ministry may just be part of your shape.
3. Invest – For our team members to take part in the process of helping others discover their SHAPE * they are investing in the lives of other believers and helping to disciple them.  You can’t be a fully devoted, spiritually healthy, balanced believer if you are not actively involved in ministry in the church.  There is an incredible sense of worth in what you do when you discover you are helping others follow Christ.

If you are interested in ministering each Sunday during one of the worship gatherings to children and their families please contact Bari, Tina or Andy.   If the thought of impacting the lives of children and their families please take the next step and join our team.  We have ministry opportunities in Kids Zone on the nursery, children’s and kiosk teams.  It is an exciting time at Nags Head Church!  

What team do you serve on each Sunday morning?  We would love to hear from you about your Sunday ministry team.