Sunday, July 20, 2008

Heading "home" to Mobile

We are getting on the road to Mobile, Alabama tonight - our hometown. I am really excited about seeing our family, especially my mama! We will be staying at the Harvey's house, but we are hoping to see all of our family, Richard's side and mine. We will be having family portraits made while we are there. Also, we plan to spend a day down at the beach - Yeah!!! I am really ready for salt water, sand and seafood! I hope to see some old friends, too.

Anyhoo, we'll get back home to Texas on the 29th of July. Keep us in your prayers, (specifically me, I'm having lower back trouble). I'll post lots of pics when we return!

Talk to Y'all Later!

Love,
Shannon

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

VBS 2008 Report

Wow!!! I hardly know where to begin; my heart is so full! The Lord has blessed us way beyond our expectations and we had great expectations! As you can see from the slide-shows we worked really hard to make it a success. We could not possibly have done it without the help of so many people and other churches! Praise the Lord! FBC Academy gave us so much - decorations, crafts, and they sent about 15 people (5 adults and about 12 youth) every day to help us lead VBS. We received decorations, too, from FUMC of Hamilton, which had actually been from other local churches. Also, we had several workers from our church who worked so hard. Our total worker enrollment (including FBC Academy folks) was 32. How Awesome!!!
The children who attended were such a blessing! They came from all over town and even some from out of town visiting family. We had a total enrollment of 47 kids with a daily average of about 37. And, they all absolutely loved it! We had some who begged their parents to let them finish the week even though they had other plans made. What a compliment! On Thursday which is usually always the day that focuses on the gospel message, we had 11 make decisions after the plan of salvation was presented to the older children (1st - 6th grades). 8 of those 11 were for salvation and 2 will definitely be baptized in our church - Praise God from Whom ALL blessings flow! We will certainly be following up with all of them. We prayed for an annointed VBS and I believe the Lord blessed us with it and with a springboard opportunity to begin a children's ministry that will bring families into the Kingdom of God for His glory! We were able to put into the hands of every child an invitation to join us on Wednesday's this school year for an AWANA ministry. I also believe that the Lord made it clearly evident to our people that our children's ministry is a possibility and is a necessity to the growth and future of our church!
Thank you all who prayed for us! We know that your prayers did not go unanswered and I pray that you will be blessed for doing so! Also, I ask that you continue to pray for our church's children's ministry and for the future of our church! May God do a great and mighty work among us and may we give Him all the Glory!!! I do so already!!!
Believing Him,
Shannon

VBS 2008 Outrigger Island

VBS 2008 Decoration Photos

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

I'm Getting Excited!

I will soon have pictures to post of Graham's birthday party, Saturday, June 28th. (Friday, the 27th was actually his birthday. He turned 5. I can hardly believe it! I also have pictures to post of Justus' sports (more football, track and baseball). And, I still have to post pics from youth camp.
But what I am getting so excited about right now is VBS. We are 2 days into the decorating and I am so very EXCITED about what God is going to do! We received so much from First Baptist Church of Academy, Texas and we also received a lot from First United Methodist of Hamilton. Our hallways are lined from end to end with water and fish with blue clouds on one side and on the other sand with seashells and beachballs and sandcastles. There are 3 huge palm trees on the sand side and surf boards and a dune buggy. The Missions Outlook room is beautiful thanks to Ken and Stella Taylor who will be teaching the Missions lessons. The Crafts room is almost complete and is equally beautiful thanks to Bobbie and Buttons Bass. Bobbie will be leading crafts. Thanks also to them for the hallways and the Snack Shack awning as well as a whole lot of other help they have given!!! Our Bible Study Beach Hut is about half-way complete and we still have to put up our volcano and waterfall in the sanctuary. We also have the foyer area to do which will serve as the registration area of VBS. It is all coming together so wonderfully and although it is tiring work, it will be so worth it when the kids come rolling in on Monday morning ready to learn all about how God is REAL! I just cannot wait to see how God will bless! First Baptist of Academy is also sending youth and adults to help us lead in VBS. We are soooooo blessed!
Please be in prayer for us! If you got an email from me about a month ago with all of our prayer needs, please continue to pray for those! If you need another copy, let me know. Richard and I and our family really need to be covered in your prayers as well! It is stressful on the boys being out of our routine. Granddaddy and Grandmama will be here tomorrow through Saturday to help with them! I know they will enjoy their time together! Richard still has all of his studying for Sunday to do and we are hosting a July 4th church picnic on Friday afternoon to register kids for VBS. Also there is the visiting of sick folks and other ministry that Richard has to do. We just really covet your prayers this week and next.
I love VBS! It's going to be GREAT! All praise and honor to HIM, the LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!