Thanksgiving Holiday

We hope and pray that all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday and have a chance to spend time with your families. There are so many things that I am thankful for, first would have to be the love of God, to send His only Son to die, to be our sacrifice, so that we have eternal life with Him, second would definitely be my wife, how she has stood by my side through these past 11 years, some years absolutely wonderful and others there were times I didn't understand why she stayed but she did and I am so thankful to God for the blessing He has given me in her, my kids, my friends, and even down to the simplest of all things, just to be able to put gas in my car. There are so many people out there that don't have much, so this year be thankful for the choices you have as you sit down to eat. Remember those that will be traveling this week, we will be going to Chattanooga for the week, so please pray for our travels and everyone else as they go to be with their families for the holiday. Have a wonderful, Christ filled holiday!

Chris

ABS newsletter

Update from Mark

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am approximately 30 minutes from venturing into a Thanksgiving holiday and a wonderful time with my family. As I prepare to ease into a few days of food, football, and peace I wanted to write a group of people that I am deeply thankful for during this season. I am truly blessed to be on this ministry and mission with you all and I cannot tell you how grateful we (my family and I) are that God has placed us in this place at this time for His glory. Happy Thanksgiving! We are truly thankful for you. We are deeply thankful for our God and for what He is doing among us. I hope that your days away are filled with peace and rest and family.

I will keep this note brief, because I am guessing that all of you are thinking about Turkey, Travel, & the Tide (or Tigers) these days. But, God is at work among us and I want to keep you posted about a few things to be thankful for:

- As I baptized folks on Sunday night, I just cannot get over how amazing it is to seek to grasp the complete and present and ETERNAL transformation that God provides for us. He is good! His love endures forever!!

- It appears that God has provided two amazing couples who will be working with our students! Within the next week, we will be introducing our church to our potential Middle School and High School Ministers. Praise God!! It has been a remarkable experience to watch as God moved someone that we all dearly and deeply loved (Hank) to a new ministry field. Then, to see God raise up a two couples who will partner with what God has been doing among our students has been overwhelming. Our personnel and our staff team have met extensively with these couples and we cannot wait for you to meet them as well. More info coming SOON!

- Our fellowship is working toward a multi-phased Master Plan that will be an exciting and WELL-THOUGHT process. It will be fun to share with our fellowship as things become more clear.

Pray & Expect!

There are so SO many things to be thankful for and to be expectant of from our God. Join with me in praying for our student ministry… in praying that God moves in Spirit and power among us… in knowing that Christ is resurrected from the dead, therefore we are HIGHLY expectant. ‘ I thank my God for you, in all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.’ – Paul, in his letter to Philippi I love you guys! Happy Thanksgiving!!

By Grace… For Glory,
Mark

Reminder

Hi all!

Just a reminder of shopping for our three Christmas children. Rachel and I started. When you purchase something, post it so we do not buy repeat toys :)

God Bless,
Wes

Christmas Children

Hi all,

I mentioned a few weeks ago about adopting three students at Holt Elementary (where I teach) for Christmas. I recently got the information on their Christmas wishes and clothes sizes. The students are 6, 9, and 11. Of the three children, the 11 and 9 year old are boys. These are the same children of the family who lost their home to a fire earlier in the school year. Please pray about what you may be able to get. Also, we need to somehow communicate what has been bought so we do not get repeat gifts for the same child. Below is the information:

11 year old boy (fifth grade)

Clothes
Shirt size 12
Pant Size 12
Socks 5-6
Underwear 12
Shoes 4 and 1/2
Coat 12

Toy wishes under 25.00
Pictionary Man
Wits and wagers
MP3 Player

9 year old boy

Clothes
Shirt size 10
Pant Size 10
Socks 5-6
Underwear 10
Shoes 3 and 1/2
Coat 10

Toy wishes under 25.00
WWE Championship Belt
Loopz
Bakugan Bakutriad

6 year old girl

Clothes
Shirt size 7
Pant Size 7
Socks 2-3
Underwear 7
Shoes 12
Coat 7

Toy wishes under 25.00
Doll with Salon Chair
Scrabble Flash
MP3 Player

Thanksgiving Party

We had a great time last night with everyone, how awesome is it to see how our class is growing. There were so many people there last night I know I didn't get a chance to talk to everyone, what a problem to have. Robin took a few photos and I have them updated on the side in the Photostream. Hope everyone has a great weekend and we'll see you on Sunday.

Chris

Mission Update

Henry at the West Alabama Food Bank has bought another building in Northport, we were waiting for him to close on the property in order to see what kind of work needs to be done before they start using it. He is in the process of putting a list together of all the things that need to be done and once the list is done he will be giving me a call to let me know what it is he needs. Once I have that information I'll set up a date for us to go and help get them ready to move in and start operating out of that building. Keep looking for updates, as soon as I know, you all will know. Thanks, Chris

Here is the last email from Mark to the ABS leaders, just for information if you are curious what is happening in our leadership.

Chris

Things you should know:

- November/ December Calendar

o 21 – Normal

o 24 – No Activities

o 26 – Iron Bowl (UA Recently Asked Our Pastor to Dress for this game and he IS expected to play! Watch for #00)

o 28 – Normal

§ December

o 1 - Normal

o 5 – Normal

o 8 – Adult Service in Gym (Children in Worship Room in Prep for Musical)

o 12 – Normal AM/ Kid’s Musical in PM

o 15 – Normal

o 19 – Normal in AM/ Adult Choir & Praise Team Worship in PM

o 22 – No Activities

o 24 – Lord’s Supper @ 4 PM

o 26 – One Service Only – 10 AM

o 29 – No Activities

§ January

o 2 –Normal – Happy New Year – Life Returns to Normal…. 2011 is a year that is loaded with expectancy!

- I will release our 2011 Training and Equipping Calendar by early December. This will be a GREAT year of ABS team unity and training.

- There are so many mission projects going on among our ABS that I can’t begin to list them without missing several things that are going on…. Here are a few examples – kids are being fed every weekend in 3 of our schools; a group is preparing to be trained in disaster relief; a group just went to Branscomb (sp?) and fed a boat-load of kids on Veteran’s Day; a group is raising resources for a family who needs help with a special needs child; ministry @ hospice care; and I am leaving out SO many stories. We are a church on mission and our lives on mission will be great news to this city!

Pray for…

- Our Student Ministry! God is alive and well and He is continuing to lead the way as Vv longs to impact our students. As we move much closer to God’s next leaders in our student ministry, I am asking you to continue to pray for clarity, purpose, and passion for what God has for our kids. As you know, we are seeking two leaders for our students – A MS Leader and a HS Leader. Christ is resurrected and alive among our students and we have major expectancy!

- Our fellowship as we move into the holiday season. I am asking God to guide our fellowship to honor God with our resources; to approach Christmas in a way that does not leave us strung out, but filled up with our God; to approach Christmas as a people who are debt free on Dec 26!; to approach Christmas with Christ as the center and a consumer mentality as an after-thought.

- THANK YOU! You guys prayed for me and I am so grateful. Last week was an amazing week of Revival in Aliceville. I walked away encouraged and amazed by our God. Thank you for your prayer!

I love what God is doing among us. I am praying that our ABS will be a place that is fixed on Christ; that is filled with hope; and that lives with great expectancy because Christ is alive and His life is fleshed out among us. Pray for your ABS. Pray for what God is doing in this church. Pray for unity and expectancy and let’s watch as God uses us to change this world for His sake and for His fame. I love being a partner with you for His gospel.

By Grace…. For Glory,

Mark

Sick baby

Hey Friends!
Just wanted to let you know I won't be at church tomorrow. Aisley B has been running a fever so I'll be at home with her. It seems like it's just a cold, and she had shots earlier this week, but please say a prayer for her.
Also, we need to collect money for our adopted kids. Wes will be in the nursery, but give your money to him in big church please :-)
See everyone soon!!

To God be the Glory!

Hey guys. Can I get everyone to remember myself and the other 4 guys being ordained tonight at church. I am truly honored to be a Deacon for our church. I know that I am not worthy of the honor, but I am humbled to be chosen to serve. We got to hear the testimonies of the other families, and there is something very powerful about sharing what God has done and continues to do in your life. Me and Melanie were so encouraged to hear their stories. Thank you guys for all the support you give me and Melanie. See everyone tonight!

Praise

Hi all!

I received a text today and my sister found a new job at a nursing home! Thank you for your prayers and I love you all!

Wes Chapman

Bon Fire/AL Game

Hey everyone! Brian and I are inviting everyone over this Saturday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 pm. We will be providing hamburgers and hotdogs with the fixings. If a few of you can bring chips, drinks or desserts, that would be great! Please e-mail me at jshort223@hotmail.com or text me at 865-607-7205 to let me know if you will be able to make it and if you can bring chips, a drink or dessert. That way we know how many to plan for.

We will be outside for a bon fire and we will have the TV outside to watch football.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Jenn

ABS newsletter

I'm going to start posting what Mark sends in his weekly email to the ABS leaders so you all have an idea what we are doing and what is happening in the life of our church:

The past few weeks with Abraham have been simply amazing! I hope that God has used our study to increase your faith…. To challenge your passion for and trust in Him…. To understand, more fully, what it looks like to follow Christ. Abraham, while flawed, was a man of relentless obedience, abounding faith, and significant impact. By faith, he was credited as righteous and that righteous life in and through him served to change the world. Likewise, by faith we are credited as righteous in Christ. Through faith, may our lives serve to change the world!

Thank YOU!

- We had a remarkable Fall Festival! We really have no idea how many people were on the Valley View campus, but hundreds and hundreds (if not thousand+) enjoyed a great time. Thank you to all the ABS groups who pitched in to make this such a special event!!

We have to celebrate…

- That our mission leaders and our disciple leaders have ventured through first steps in a vision for what God can do in and through our ABS

- That God is opening doors for our Middle School and High School ministries. We are seeking a pastor for our middle schoolers and high schoolers and God is opening doors. Pray for all involved as we seek God’s ‘next’ in our student ministry.

o As God opens these doors, He is showing our leadership profound ways to strengthen all ministries of Valley View. We love it!

- An amazing ‘Hayride with a Message’. While not an official Vv event, many folks from our church were involved. God used many in our fellowship to present the gospel and many committed and/or re-committed to Christ. Praise God!!!

- Life change….. I can’t type all of the stories of life-change that God is doing through our ABS studies (and in our church as a whole). I have the thrill of being in so many conversations with people who are growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. Thank you for being leaders who are pushing, encouraging, teaching, and modeling what it means to follow Christ for our church family!

Community Leaders – Equipping Session NEXT Sunday, November 14 @ 4:45 PM

Pray for….

- Our ABS structure as we enter a year of training and equipping

- Me (Mark), our Pastor & Staff, Personnel and others as we seek God’s leaders for our Student Ministry

- I would love for you guys to pray for me this week. I will be leading in a Revival at FBC, Aliceville Sunday – Wednesday. I am very expectant and I covet your prayer

I am truly grateful for this faith journey with you. I live with such expectancy as God draws us together as a church. We are uniting in vision and impact and hope and passion for our God. There are good days. Pray fervently. Expect great things. I thank my God for your partnership in the gospel! Have a fantastic week and I will be asking God for GREAT things @ Valley View this Sunday!

By Grace… For Glory,

Mark

Prayer Request

I'm sorry I forgot to bring this up this morning but remember Mark as he leads revival at FBC in Aliceville starting today through Wed. Thanks Chris

What a week we just had. How incredible is God, that He would allow us to be apart of what He is doing in the lives of those in our community, people we may never meet or ever have a relationship with. The hayride was awesome and I wish I had been in town so I could have been there every night.

As you go through this week, really think about what you are trusting God for. I mean really look at the things you have going on in your life and ask yourself, have I prayed for God to work in this area of my life, have I asked for God's will to be done in every aspect of my life, and have I let go of this area and am I REALLY trusting God for His outcome?

We all have things in our lives that we want to have a certain outcome and we all have the tendency to do it our way. I saw this on a church sign one day: "Let go and Let God", how awesome would that be if we could truly say this is how we live our lives.

I hope God blesses you all this week and you seek Him in all you do.

Chris