www.bellavistachristian.com

Friday, November 7, 2014

Pass the Baton Sunday

Nov. 2, 2014 was a special  Sunday as Pastor Ron Carter passed the pastoral legacy on to Joe Williams as new lead pastor at Bella Vista Christian Church


Friday, October 17, 2014

Scenes from Church Picnic 2014





























New to the BVCC Family...

Roger & Rebecca Anderson

Roger is a native who graduated from Bentonville and the U of A.  Rebecca is from Texas and a graduate of Phoenix Seminary in Phoenix, AZ. The Anderson’s moved back to NWA from Arizona in 2007 after both retired from their jobs. Roger was employed with Revlon for 38 years and Rebecca left her position as Women's Director for Central Christian Church in Mesa, AZ.  They have three children and nine grandkids scattered across the US.  The Anderson’s keep busy playing golf, raising grapes and pumpkins on their  farm in Centerton. Plus, Rebecca has a beautiful little Christmas store that's open during the season.


 
Barbara Thurston
Moving to Bentonville in 2005, Barbara has worked with Walmart for over 16 years in different divisions, but currently as a route driver for Print Solutions. She and her husband, Allen, have family land in Kansas that he takes care of. She has three sons living in Springdale and a daughter in Fayetteville. Barbara has served in different areas of church ministry through the years, but she is looking forward to becoming more involved and getting to know the people at BVCC. She said everyone here has “been so accepting of her and little Alex.” 




Cheryl Carl & Derrick

Derrick, a Junior at Bentonville High School, is enjoying his newfound freedom in driving and also likes to do online gaming and using his mechanical skills to build. He is already connected with our Student Ministry and the 5th Quarter gatherings at the Arenado’s after the home football games. Cheryl & Derrick moved to Bella Vista twelve years ago from Sallisaw, OK to be closer to family, job opportunity, and a better educational system. Cheryl is a home health provider employed with Comfort Keepers and enjoys photography. In her spare time she takes pictures for weddings, special occasions, families & pets. She recently did photos for our church picnic, which can be viewed on our website. Cheryl’s husband, Mike, is the General Manager at Norm the Tire Man in Bentonville. His son, Riley, also visits them regularly.  Passing by BVCC daily as she went to work, Cheryl said “I felt the Lord speaking and leading me to get back in church.” 


 

Donna Banks 
was baptized by Linda White




Roger & Carol Kendall
The Kendalls, originally from Iowa, moved to  NWA in March 2014 from Prescott Valley, Arizona. Since their friends reside in Bella Vista, Roger & Carol decided this would be a perfect place to live because they wanted to be closer to their daughter, Julie, in Columbia, MO. Roger was the Athletic Department Administrator at Grinnell College in Iowa and later sold oxygen equipment. He currently is working part- time at Debbie’s Pharmacy.  Carol is employed at the Wal-Mart Pharmacy in Jane, MO. The couple enjoys nature, taking rides to see the new areas, and entertaining. Serving the Lord has been a big part of their lives. For almost 40 years Roger was a part of church worship teams… singing and playing a variety of instruments. Carol led a ladies’ Bible Study called “Pure Hearts.” Roger and Carol had visited several churches in Bella Vista, but while attending an estate auction this summer they met BVCC member, Carrin Devor, who was handling the sale. She invited them to come by and join us in worship sometime...and they did!  Roger & Carol will be joining the Pomykala’s Life Group this fall.




   Maggie Elliott
Wanting to be closer to the family after the birth of their first child, The Elliott’s moved to NWA from Arizona. Maggie enjoys being a stay-at-home mom these days, but has a Masters Degree in Child & Family Therapy and licensed in Arizona. Wes does contract work with Walmart. Wes and Maggie value their time together and every Sunday the entire family from Arkansas gathers for a big dinner. Maggie enjoys running in her spare time, but the family loves a  variety of outdoor activities. Maggie was searching for a neighborhood church that would be a safe place to meet other moms and for her children to grow in the Lord. She read in the newspaper an article about our MOPS meetings, (Mothers of Preschoolers), and felt BVCC could be what she was looking for.  Maggie also volunteered at our Spy Academy Vacation Bible School in July.

Paul Bowling 
Paul has lived in NWA all of his life. He enjoys fishing, going to movies and taking new adventures. He is the son of Janet Bowling and the late James Held, who passed away only a few months ago. Life has changed for Paul over the past four years. He previously worked as a mechanic for the Ball Corporation in Springdale until he was diagnosed with (FSGS), stage 5 kidney failure. He takes dialysis three days a week, five hours each time.Paul received good news this week that he will be having a kidney transplant sometime within the year. His mother, even though not Paul’s blood type, has offered to donate her kidney to someone else so that he will be able to get a one.  Paul asks that the church family pray that the Lord will guide and give them strength as he and his mom go through this process. One evening in early spring while visiting our church website, Paul began reading the page on scriptures about baptism. He called the church office to learn more about it. After several meetings with David Conrad, Paul made the decision to become a Christ follower and was baptized by immersion on May 18, 2014. He also desires to join the church family. Paul is appreciative for the friendships he has made so far at BVCC and is looking forward to seeing where God can use him in the future. 

Sherry Shao


Living in the NWA area for many years, Sherry and her family became acquainted with BVCC when they were moving to a house just a few blocks away and some of our church family went over to lend them a hand. The family also attended many of our outreach dinners at Thanksgiving, Christmas and the Easter Seder. (They enjoyed helping with preparations at these meals.)  Sherry is employed at Wal-Mart GSS as an analyst in the Anti-Fraud Department. Her husband, Mike, works in Rogers at Cognosante as an office clerk for health insurance. They have one daughter, Christine, who attends college in Wheaton, IL. Sherry enjoys hiking, trail walking, reading, artwork, and chatting with her friends, while Mike likes to exercise at the gym. She is excited to find a neighborhood church and looks forward to getting more involved at BVCC. She transferred her membership on 08-17-14.







Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Preparing for their Awareness Trip



Please keep our Cambodia Team in your daily prayers as they prepare their hearts and minds for their upcoming mission trip to Cambodia to visit Rapha House. Those going include: (front row left: Cassandra Baumgarten, Vanessa Weatherford, Dianne Shoe, Heather Waltrip, (left) Sally Rhodes, Chad Burghart, Jeremy Waltrip, and David Conrad.

The Circle Maker

It was a unique prayer experience in both services as we closed each one with one large circle as we prepare for our new, upcoming prayer series "The Circle Maker."



Happy Day

Amber Waltrip is excited as she has accepted Jesus as her personal Savior and waiting to be baptized by her dad, Jeremy. Pray for Amber and she begins her new life in Christ and for her family.


New Members at BVCC

 Margaret & Steven Russell


 Lonnie & Debbie McClinn


Stu & Sherry Saxton

Special Music

The BVCC Elementary Girls' Ensemble blessed us with their beautiful harmonies at recent services this spring. Thank you, girls. You glorified Jesus' Name!


Daddy/Daughter Baptisms

We celebrate the baptisms of Troy Strauss and his daughter, Kami, recently.  Pray for their family - mom Timeni and their son, Kolten, as they keep their Christ the center of their family.

 

Seniors Enjoy "Jonah"

The BVCC Senior Ministry had a great time at the Sight & Sound Theatre in Branson at the new production this season "Jonah." The charter bus trip and lunch was also a highlight of the day.



Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Maundy Thursday Service


This year's unique service was a living depiction of Leonardo Da Vinci's portrait of the Lord's Last Supper. It was a beautiful presentation to begin Easter weekend.

Haiti Mission Trip

The Serving trip to Haitian Christian Mission was an incredible blessing to so many as the team from BVCC led the children in the three-day VBS, distributed hundreds of pounds of food to the villages, and gave away 6 suitcases of clothing to the kids.