Welcome to the Family!

We were excited to welcome new folks to the church family on June 30, 2013. We are looking forward to some their baptisms in Lake Avalon on July 28.

  

 JEFF & CYNDI NORRIS

A job opportunity and living closer to family made the move to NWA from Arcadia, Florida a good one for the couple.  Jeff works for a logistic firm in Rogers and Cyndi is employed with the Wal Mart Pharmacy Division.  They have three children (two remain in FL and one in KS) and are enjoying having a grandchild.

With Jeff's parents and their one child living in a neighboring state, they try to spend quite a bit of their time visiting and helping them, but they also enjoy

kayaking, camping and traveling back to Florida.

Jeff and Cyndi were active in the Christian Church in Arcadia. They have volunteered with the elementary children on occasion and also enjoyed participating in the environmental day of service with their church. (Instead of a regular church service, the congregation would go around the community doing outside jobs for others.) Jeff and Cyndi had been checking out quite a few churches in the area and a visiting relative suggested they try BVCC. After attending a few months, they got connected with David Conrad’s Friday night life group last season.

 

 BONNIE NORTON

Bonnie, who will turn 100 years young in January 2014, lives her life to the fullest everyday. She moved to Bella Vista in 1971 from Spring Valley, a suburb of San Diego, CA. She raised three children and is also blessed to have 10 grandchildren (including BVCC’s own Kara Morgan), 7 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild. She was also employed as office manager for a hospital for many years.

An avid amusement park attendee, Bonnie loves roller coasters and still rides them when she can. Last year while vacationing in Florida, Bonnie also tried parasailing and loved it!  She has traveled all over the world through her lifetime.

Bonnie was very active in her children’s lives while they were growing up. She loved helping and taking the kids to scouts, dance classes and other activities. Bonnie has served the Lord faithfully through the years in church and has collected many different versions of The Bible... and still reads them daily!

 

DANNY & NAOMI LEE

The Lee’s, both born and raised in Arkansas, were looking for a “change” in their spiritual life when they visited BVCC with a friend a few months ago. 

Danny is a veteran of the Vietnam War and was later employed with the Springdale West Water Plant and worked at Rockline before his retirement.  Naomi, a minister’s daughter, worked for Rockline for many years and other fast-paced factory jobs. They have four children, all still living in the state, along with five grandchildren. 

Health issues have changed their lifestyle over the past few years, but they feel blessed they still are able to enjoy their garden, flowers & fruit trees on their 10 acre property. They also love to care for their three little dogs. Naomi likes to crosstitch and Danny is a woodworker who builds shelves and other items.

Before the health struggles began, the Lee’s served in different areas of the church.  Naomi sang in the church choir, played piano, assisted with Wed. meals for children at church and they enjoyed going to Bible studies.  Danny and Naomi feel that the Lord might use them in the future serving the residents of the local nursing homes.

 

 DENVER, KRISTEN & NORAH RENFRO

The Renfro’s met while attending college in Oklahoma and moved to NWA 15 years ago. Denver is currently a Program Manager at Wal Mart and Kristen is looking forward to starting nursing school this fall.

They have two girls; eighteen yr. old Katherine attends UCA in Conway, AR, and Norah, 5, will be a Kindergarten student at Ambassadors for Christ Academy this coming school year. She loves horses and drawing. The family is very sports-minded and enjoys watching athletic games together such as football, baseball and soccer. The Renfro’s also enjoying reading and just hanging out together as a family.

In the past, they have served with children in the church they attended, but Denver has also coached soccer in league play. The couple learned of BVCC after an invitation from Jerry Lamb.

 

ROB & MARGE SABATA

Rob and Marge are long-time residents of NWA and both are retired Arvest bankers. Presently, Rob continues to do part-time work as a CPA, while Marge is sharing her stories of encouragement with others as a cancer survivor. Three daughters reside in different states around the country.

The Sabata’s have always volunteered and given of their time to help charitable boards and organizations. They both love American History, antiquing, and attending music concerts. Rob is very musical and sings in the Sona Singers, Barbershop Harmony Society and plays the trombone in the BV Community Band.  Rob and Marge recently purchased a Winnebago RV and are looking  forward to a new adventures traveling around the states.

Rob and Marge knew of BVCC from some of their friends who make BVCC their home. They look forward to continuing their service to help grow God’s Kingdom. Rob has served in various leadership positions in the church and took part in a mission trip to Mexico. They both would love to become more actively involved in serving local missions in the future. Rob and Marge will participate in our lake baptisms at Lake Avalon on July 28.

 

CAROLANNE SPAIN

A lifelong Arkansan, Carolanne taught Kindergarten & 2nd graders at Elmdale Elementary in Springdale before taking an early retirement due to health issues. Prior to that she was a teacher for Headstart.

She and husband, Bryan, enjoy their family time together. He is a truck driver who has traveled all over the US, but they are glad he recently took a local job to be closer to home. Carolanne and Bryan have two daughters and one grandchild living in NWA. They are excited about the news that two more grandbabies are on the way!

The Spain’s love to fish and target shoot together, and Carolanne is also an avid reader.  Growing up on the farm, she enjoyed raising and caring for a variety of animals and would like to possibly do some work fostering dogs at a local shelter.

Carolanne has a passion for children, especially the younger ones, and has taught those with special needs through the years. While teaching in the Springdale school district she was able to serve families with food distribution to children in need. Carolanne feels this is a ministry that could benefit kids in Bella Vista through our church and she is praying that God might open doors in this area.

We were thrilled to see Carolanne join BVCC with her friends, Naomi & Danny Lee, on June 30, 2013.