Higher Purpose Ministries

40 Days In The WORD

January 15 – February 19

Momentum is growing for this great Bible Study.  New Hosts and Facilitators have been signing up and we have groups that will be meeting during the week in homes and on our campus.  This week we will be inviting everyone to actually sign up to be in a group.  I am excited because I know the blessing this will bring to so many people.  No matter what level of spiritual growth you may be at, whether a new believer, a young believer, a mature believer, a seasoned servant, or even a seeker of truth, you will receive a great benefit from learning and practicing these techniques. 

 I have always believed that it continual development is the key to personal growth and so I have a comittment to be a lifelong learner.  Even though I have taken preaching courses in college, seminary, and at the doctoral level, I continue to attend seminars, read books, and listen to audios on how to improve.  Every believer should have this same attitude.  Even the Apostle said, “I have not yet arrived.” 

 Many of you recall the days when every church had a “January Bible Study.”  This is our updated version!  Here is some important information you need to know.

 We begin 40 Days In The Word on Sunday morning, January 15th!

 Quick Schedule:

 Sun. January 8:  Hosts and Facilitators may pick up books and DVD’s at the 40 Days Table

Sun. January 8:  Sign up to be in a Small Groups During the A M Service and Bible Study

Sun. January 8:  Training for Hosts and Facilitators at 5:00 PM in B-206 (if you did not attend the last training time in December)

 Sun. Jan. 15:  Participants may pick up workbooks ($10 / each) at 40 Days Table (couples can share if they want to)

 Sun. Jan. 15:  Children begin 40 Days In the Word at 5:00 PM

Sun. Jan. 15:  Youth begin 40 Days in home groups

Sun. Jan. 15:  Sunday Evening Service will participate in 40 Days In The Word at 6:00 PM

40 Days Table (The RED Table) in the Atrium has More Information

 Our 40 Days In The Word Team:

Pastor:  Bro. Bobby Atkins
Campaign Director:  Bro. Kelly Carr
Communications Coordinator:  Ronnie William
Small Groups Coordinator:  Robert Morris
Prayer Coordinator:  H. C. Starkweather
Weekend Service Coordinators:  Steve Payne  and Jonathan Carpenter
Student Coordinator:  Will Crum
Childrens Coordinator:  Angela Hudgins

I would like to thank each of these people for stepping up to serve the Lord and His church by leading out in these areas.  I know their deep desire is to help Christians grow in their knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The purpose of this campaign is purely to aid individual believers in personal spiritual growth.

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 PRAY: Get Prayer Reminder Cards in Bible Study or at the 40 Days Table

“Nothing of Eternal Significance is Ever Accomplished Apart from Prayer.”

• Pray that God will graciously bless our HOST Homes by bringing people together to launch new groups. Ask that God will create a bond of friendship in these groups during and beyond the 40 Days In The Word campaign, as our members develop lasting relationships to His glory and honor.
• Pray that God would stir in our church an authentic hunger for spiritual transformation and lasting Kingdom fruit. Ask God to guide our members into a deep, lifelong commitment to spiritual growth.
• Pray that we will dedicate ourselves to prayer for the 40 Days In The Word campaign. Get us spiritually ready for what YOU want to do. We know that without YOUR power we will labor in vain. Encourage us to saturate these important 40 days in prayer.
• Please pass on praises and answered prayers to Bro. H. C. Starkweather so we can rejoice together in the victories God gives us.

A Prayer Request from the Apostle Paul…

“Pray that the Master’s Word will simply take off and race through the country to a groundswell of response, just as it did among you.”  2 Thessalonians 3:1 (MSG)

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 Current Host Home and Facilitator Volunteers (some in homes and some in other locations) 
See our newsletters for the current list of host homes.

Sunday Evening Groups on Campus (these groups will be meeting in conjunction with the Sunday evening services.)

Everyone meets in the Auditorium at 6:00 PM to view the DVD

Bro. Bobby Atkins (Bro. Bobby’s group will meet together in the Auditorium)

Bro. Kelly Carr

Bro. Royce Litchfield

Bro. Steve Payne

Bro. Jonathan Carpenter

(If you would like to watch the lesson together and then facilitate a group afterwards, please contact Robert Morris or Bro. Kelly.)

We strongly encourage everyone to be part of a small group on some day or night of the week.   Everyone should feel welcome to choose a day or night of the week that fits their schedule the best, and if Sunday evening works best for them, then we are providing this option.

Bro. Bobby will be leading a group in the Worship Center for those who do not want to be in a small group. On Sunday evening, everyone will watch the video portion of the lesson each week, then Bro. Bobby will lead the remainder of the lesson in the Worship Center for those who do not wish to go or are unable to go to another room in the church.

The rest of the staff (Kelly, Royce, Steve, Jonathan, and Angela) will be leading a small group in the church for those who are willing and able to go to another room for the remainder of the lesson each Sunday night. Bro. Will is leading a student group in a home at that time.

We look forward to making this journey together as a church! So please sign up TODAY so we will have a WORKBOOK and Scripture BOOKMARK available for everyone.

HOST HOMES STILL NEEDED:

We are still looking for Host Homes where groups can meet to go through this six-week Bible study together. We want to have enough homes so that EVERYONE – that’s 100% of our congregation – can be in a small group study. Will you consider opening your home to a group for the Campaign?

Here’s what you DON’T need in order to become a Host Home:

• You don’t need to be a Bible scholar – Rick Warren does all the teaching, and all you have to do is push play!
• You don’t need to be a born leader – if you’ve never led a group discussion before and want to give it a try, the video gives coaching tips to the hosts, and the discussion guide gives you step-by-step instructions to follow. If you don’t feel comfortable leading a group, we’ll assign a discussion leader to your home, and all you have to do is provide the home!
• You don’t need to have a decorator home – people aren’t coming to look at your home or eat a big meal (although a few snacks would be nice!). People in our church want to connect with each other in a deeper way, and we need Hosts who are willing to exercise the gift of hospitality and just provide a place. It doesn’t even have to be in a home – you could host a group at work, at a recreation center, or at school! The only requirement is that you have a TV and a DVD player.  (Even a laptop that will play DVD’s will do.)
• You don’t have to be a church member – If you are not a member, we will assign a member to your home to lead the discussion, but you can still open your home and host a group. This might be the time you’ve been waiting for to join our church!

Here’s what it takes to be a host:

• H  ave a heart for our church family,
• O  pen your home for a six week video seminar,
• S  erve some coffee or soft drinks,  and
• T  ell your friends.

 Beware the Pain of Regret:

One of my favorite speakers is Jim Rohn.  He recently passed away, but left us with some real gems of wisdom that have blessed me and thousands of others.  He said…

“We must all suffer from one of two pains: the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons.”

Please make every effort to invest in your own spiritual growth by making a six week commitment to 40 Days In The Word.  Regret occurs when we neglect the things that are valuable for things that are comfortable. 

I want to especially challenge every church leader who holds a position of spiritual leadership to lead by example with your public participation and encouragement.  God lifts us to leadership so we can lift others.

You are loved,

Bro. Kelly

“The Bible isn’t meant to just inform us, it is meant to transform us. 40 Days in the Word will teach you how to be not just a hearer of the Word, but a doer of the Word!” Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life

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