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Tuesday, April 3, 2012

BAPTISM SUNDAY

April 1, 2012 was a beautiful and moving day to be remembered at BVCC!  We had 11 people follow Jesus' example and was baptized during our worship services.  Take some time to get better acquainted with each of them and watch for their profiles on next week's blog.

 HOPE GORDON

 ELLEN PATTON (Hope's mother)

 JUDY BAKER
 We rejoiced as we witnessed Judy Baker’s baptism. Judy’s testimony of faith is below:

“I was baptized as an infant in the Catholic faith and attended religious schools for 16 years.  I never felt the need to be “re-baptized” because I affirmed my original baptism many times after accepting Jesus my personal savior. But when I read about Jesus’ baptism in The Story this spring, I decided that if HE did it, I should also do it out of obedience. I don’t plan to change my life in any specific way, but want to open myself to any new possibilities that God may have in store for me.”

Judy and husband, Herb, moved to Bella Vista in October 2010 from West Bend, WI.   Judy is the American Heart Association Director of Publication for the Midwest Affiliate and Herb flies his restored Navy Trainer T-28 plane in air show aerobatics.

 TRAVIS HELDT

Travis Heldt made his decision to follow Christ and was baptized on this day. 
Travis and Ellen have lived in Northwest Arkansas four years.  He is employed with Wal Mart Transportation Logistics. 
Ellen loves taking care of the family and is homeschooling eight-year-old, Emily.  Logan, 4, attends Little Sprouts Learning Center, but will begin home school next year.
 The Heldt’s are a very outdoor oriented family, especially enjoying boating, hiking, and camping.
 They became a part of the BVCC family in July 2010 and have been serving and connected with many of the church activities.

 DON HEINS
 Don Heins felt the Lord was nudging him do make his recommitment of faith and be re-baptized on April 1.  We rejoiced with Don’s family on this decision.
Don has been employed at the Wal-Mart Warehouse in Bentonville for 24 years.
He and wife Kathy have resided in Pineville for 19 years. They have four sons and two grandchildren.
 Don is a mineral collector, buying and selling crystals.  He has won four national competitions with his displays over the years.  Kathy is enjoying her family and free time after working outside the home for many years.  Having a church home has been important to the Heins family. Don assisted in the construction during a building expansion at the Rogers Christian Church. They joined the BVCC family on March 29, 2009.

 KOLTEN STRAUSS (Baptized by his mom, Timeni)

After accepting Jesus as His personal Lord and Savior, ten-year-old Kolten Strauss was baptized by his mom, Timeni, during the first service.
 Kolten is the son of Troy and Timeni Strauss and brother to Kami.  He attends Cooper Elementary and likes to build with Legos, go fishing and swimming.  The family loves to have BBQs, play basketball and board games.  Kolten and the family became acquainted with BVCC through the children’s bus driver, Vicki Pomykala, and by Timeni’s friend, Jackie Charles.

 ELAINE FARRELL

Elaine Farrell said her love of The Story and joining Pastor Ron and Chad Rhodes’ Life Group have highlighted her months at BVCC, after a neighbor told her about the church. She looks forward to the Sunday talks and the relevancy of the stories to her life today.  Someday Elaine hopes to take a trip to the Holy Land to see all of the places we have talked about inThe Story.

Her life is very busy, as she has two daughters. Twenty-year-old, Alanna, resides in Bentonville and her youngest daughter, Elise, will graduate from BHS this spring.  Elaine has also been a Remediation Teacher at Thomas Jefferson Elementary School since moving to NWA from Dallas in 2004.

She enjoys outdoor activities, especially swimming in the summer, gardening and landscaping.  Usually a few times a week she tries to get in a little baking. 
 
 CHRISTINA LEONE

For Christina Leone April 1, 2012 was a special morning for her life as she followed Christ’s example in baptism. Christina, husband Jeff, and daughter Ava Rose moved to NWA two years ago from Reding, Pennsylvania.  For BVCC it is a bittersweet time... we rejoice with Christina’s decision of baptism, but sad to learn their family will be moving back to Pennsylvania in mid-summer.
Christina is a Home Transcriptionist working at her house with a company in Georgia.  She was previously with Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale.  Jeff is a Chemical Mix Technician at Rockline.  Ava Rose attends Centerton-Gamble, but the family is happy to have received word she will be able to attend a Christian School when they move next fall. 
The family loves to take walks, play in the sand, and feed the ducks at BV Lake.  Christina said they look forward to the move back East and getting involved again at their home church.


 ERIN LUNA
 It’s always a great day to see our teens make their decision for Christ.  Erin Luna did just that on April 1. She is the daughter of Glen and Rose Luna and granddaughter of John Hix.  Erin is a Freshman at Bentonville High School. 
Her family, along with brother Caleb, moved to Bella Vista eight years ago from Tulsa, OK.  In her spare time, Erin loves to read and swim.


 EMILY WASHALISKI

 OLIVIA WASHALISKI

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