MEET AMY AND A HOST OF OTHERS WHO ARE AND WILL

MEET AMY AND A HOST OF OTHERS WHO ARE AND WILL

One day last fall, I was reflecting on the vision statement of the church. I thought that the statement was and is where we needed to be as a church. We exist to see people changed by the Gospel and living out their Christ-centered purpose.

But I was trying to determine how we as a church should go after this vision. During that time, God brought back Hebrews 12:15 to my memory. The first part of that verse says, “See to it that no one misses the grace of God.”

It’s such a powerful statement. It’s such a clear, yet simple call to action as believers. It is all encompassing (no one), yet all satisfying (grace of God). God wants us to engage with his plan for restoration in the world.

But what does this idea of “See to It” really mean at a practical level? We all have a personal responsibility to engage in the mission of God in the world. We are all asked to love, to serve, and to share the Gospel with the world around us.

It also means that we use the most effective means necessary. For First West, we believe that if we focus on Northeast Louisiana (NELA), New Orleans, Louisiana (NOLA), and the world, then we believe we’re right where we are supposed to be in light of our vision and mission.

Finally, “See to it” helps examine our methodologies constantly while holding true to the doctrinal mandate. If every church member did just one thing to make sure that someone who was lost was able to connect to the grace of God, then what a change this world would experience. “Seeing to it” by loving, praying, giving, going, and serving are all things in which everyone in our church can engage.

So it’s nearing time for Transform 2015. There are things that you can do as we prepare for the next year’s mission endeavors.

The first is giving. Invest in eternity. We are trying to solve

humanity’s biggest crisis (sin and separation from God) with humanity’s greatest hope (Gospel). Giving partners you with those going to not only shape individuals, but also generations! And in so doing you are able to have a very real and eternal impact

The second is going. There is a great opportunity in front of you. Everyone aspires for greatness. You get to live out your God-given marching orders and be a part of advancing the Kingdom.

So I’m left with one final question for you. How will you see to it?

FROM OUR PASTORMichael wood TABLE OF

CONtENTSflexing mucsles, teachingkids, seeing to it 4 - 5

engaging in missions 6

transform giving 6

how to give 7

mission trip opportunities 8 - 9

Who dat? meet reagan farris 10

a tajiki journey 11-12

serve sterlington 13

a student’s trek to guatemala 13

Broaden horizonssummer recap 14

meet our missionaries 153

The lights were turned on in the audito-rium of a coal-mining town. Two former college football players and an ex-WCW wrestler came out and began to obliterate stacks of concrete for cheering fans. You could feel the levels of testosterone begin to rise in the room. Guys and girls cheered at the feats of strength these men showed off. Not only concrete but cans of soda too. The men would smash can after can of Sprite Zero with their bare hands all over the crowd. Hot water bottles would be used, but not for medicinal purposes. Rather, the men would blow them up like a balloon potentially risking injury. The stunts had everyone on the edge of their seats. But then, one of the men took the microphone and told a story. In the church, it’s a story we’ve all heard before. It’s the story of the Prodigal Son.

On this particular night as Stephen Mack-ey, a member of Team Impact, told the story the crowd could not focus. Teens were up and down getting snacks. They were having fun laughing and telling jokes. It was unlike any church meeting ever attended. The reason? In the country of Wales, 3% of its people are evangelized. That night in Maesteg, South Wales, the majority of the room had barely even been inside the walls of a church, let alone know how to act. It comes with the terri-tory in proclaiming the Gospel in Wales.

First West has been working in the county of Bridgend, South Wales for seven years. Every summer, a group of missionaries leave from West Monroe to teach, sing,

play, and invest in the people of Wales, with hopes of seeing a harvest.

“First West loves Wales. We’re completely invested in what is happening here in Brid-gend. It’s exciting to see year to year who plugs into this mission experience, ” says Global Ministries Pastor Mark Fenn.

The 35-member team representing both West Monroe and Fairbanks campuses, the ULM BCM, and a few other churches were given the keys to primary schools, high schools, and nursing homes. In Wales, there is no separation of church and state. The Gospel can be openly shared in the class-room as part of a religious studies program.

Amy Fontenot, a member of the First West team, says, “Our group got to have deep conversations about the Gospel and why we were there. It was a very in-depth account of what we believe.”

In comprehensive schools, classes from Louisiana culture to IPhone photography to Family Dynamics were taught with the hopes of sharing the Gospel with the students in the classroom. Hundreds of students heard the clear and life-changing message of the Gospel.

Five periods in the day were scheduled for the students. In the classroom, the previous assembly gave students the freedom to ask questions of all types.

“I loved teaching kids! I have never had the opportunity to teach a class before, and I enjoyed it. You could tell they were eat-

ing up everything you were saying,” says Amy, a senior,

Biology major at ULM.

She is a member of our Fairbanks Campus and one of twelve BCM

students on the Wales mission trip. Her job was to teach about Health

Care in America.

“I also loved being able to incorporate the gospel into my healthcare class.

They asked very hard questions about the latest news, and I was able to point them directly to the Bible,” says Fontenot.Amy taught on how health care in Amer-ica is structured, but then addressed the role of Christians in taking care of the poor and sick. Helping students under-stand the need for spiritual healing was an overall objective for her teachings. “I didn’t know I had that in me,” she said. “It was the Holy Spirit working.”

About 25 minutes away, in the coastal city of Porthcawl, Caitlin Dew walks into St. Georges School. It’s a private elementa-ry school. It’s the very first time that the team from First West has ever been here. There’s a certain level of anxiety, because ultimately team members are hoping to share the Gospel with children. They are uncertain how open the administration will be to their message.

“Honestly, I was a bit nervous to stand up in front of a classroom on the other side of the world and teach kids, but it was so fulfilling, says Caitlin. Their eagerness to learn and listen to us was extremely encouraging.”

But as the team gears up for the half-day experience in the school, they decide how to do their assembly. Every school has a morning assembly to focus students on what they will learn for the day.

But just like the comprehensive schools, the primary team turns this assembly on its head. The group introduces the school to the “Tooty Ta,” a fun interactive dance that the kids and teachers enjoy.

“Oh, the Tooty Ta! This pure silliness was one of the best parts of our assemblies. The kids loved it because we got on their level and put all “grown-up pride” aside,” says Caitlin. It got them laughing and comfortable, which built trust between us. Of course, the headmaster’s face, when we asked them to join in, was

by brandon rodgers

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always priceless!”

The craziness in the room begins as they teach and sing with the children. It is rumored that schools have adopted this as their school song after being introduced!

But the assembly is just the beginning. Just like the comprehen-sive schools, leaders ask children to attend one of the outreach events and then separate into classes.

In her classroom, Caitlin is teaching the “Words of Louisiana.”

“Does anyone know this word?” she asks.

“Ummm…ow-e-shee-ta,” one student guesses.

Another says, “Ooo-ee-chee-taw.”

“Ouachita is the answer,” says Caitlin.

Caitlin, who is also a part of our church’s Fairbanks campus, taught many different words to educate the students about life in Louisi-ana. From Natchitoches to the roux, all of Louisiana was covered.

“My personal goal for going on the mission with the children was just to be a light to them,” says Caitlin Dew. “Some of the children would boldly ask me, “Why did you come all the way here?” And I would gladly tell them that they were the reason we came, and it was because God loves them so much and so do we.”

The schools knew that this band of missionaries was unashamed-ly Christian. Throughout the day, the team would reiterate that in hopes to plant seeds.

Danielle Cagle was also on the primary team. She says that plant-ing seeds are what this team’s mission has been.

“What this team does is plant seeds and lay the groundwork to see ultimately Christ do a work,” says Danielle.

The comprehensive school team, primary school team, and retirement home team all worked together to invite people to

attend the outreach events scheduled throughout the week.

So what’s the point of the trip? It’s to see lives changed. We return to the auditorium in the coal mining town. While Stephen Mackey is preaching, Kyle, a volunteer from The Vine Christian Centre (First West’s host church), is getting sound equipment ready for the quick intermission that will soon take place. However, as the story-telling of The Prodigal Son continues, a woman sitting on the front row begins to listen intently.

Stephen Mackey from Team Impact proclaims that Jesus will lovingly and graciously accept you as you are if you would turn to Him. The question is posed to the crowd, “who would want to know this God?”

The woman in the front row raises her hand.

“On the count of three, come and meet with someone who will explain more.

1…..

2……

3……”

This woman races to the front where Kyle is standing. While Kyle the volunteer, who has been faithful to the church for several years, was working, his mother was listening to the Spirit of God pull her into a relationship with Himself.

“I’ve been praying for my mum for nine years,” says Kyle through tears, “what your church does here helps bring people to God.”

“I had the honor to talk and pray with Kyle’s mom,” says Kelly Moravek. “She had given her children the opportunity to go to church and learn about the Lord. But life for her got in the way.”

This is one of nearly 300 people who made a significant decision while the First West team was in Wales. In June 2016, another trip will be made to Bridgend. Maybe you could be a part of what God is doing. How will you #seetoit?

Amy Fontenot teaches on American Health Care.

Caitlin Dew helps children with a craft.

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Caitlin Dew helps children with a craft.

Engaging in Missions God is a sending God, who commands us as believ-ers to go in His name, to carry His name to the ends of the earth, so that He might receive glory from all people. There is no other name under heaven by which men may be saved. Jesus specifically said, “Go” (Matthew 28:19-20) and “Be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8), and with those commands He promised His power and presence would be with us through the Holy Spirit. As a church we have committed to fulfill the mission to “see to it that no one misses the grace of God.” (Hebrews 12:15) The question for us is, “Are we living as sent believ-ers?” At First West we engage in a number of strategies to help us fulfill our mission. We identified NELA, NOLA, and the WORLD as the primary focus areas of our ministry efforts. We work through

many local ministries to see to it that no one in Northeast Louisi-ana misses the grace of God. You can be involved in one of these strategic initiatives almost any day of the week! Just contact our Local Ministries Office and Local Ministries Pastor Richard Gates can help you plug in to a ministry that is best suited to you. In New Orleans, we have partnered with Life House City Church to help that church plant reach their city, beginning with a focus in the Up-town area. We will have our first mission trip with them in the Fall of 2015. Would you consider go-ing on a short-term mission trip to work with our friends in NOLA to impact their city with the Gos-pel? To reach “the world” we part-ner with a number of missionaries in strategic places to advance the Gospel. Mission trip participation is a primary tool that we use to help reach those who do not yet

know Christ. Would you consider signing up today for one of the First West mission trips we have planned for this year? Together we can pray, give, and go!

Let’s see to it!

Mark FennGlobal Ministries Pastor

giving ad

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During our morning services, we take a moment to continue worship by giving.

In Worship

In this technological age, we provide a way for you to give online. You can set up recurring payments or do one-time gifts by visiting firstwest.cc.

On the Web

Now giving can be at your fingertips. Use the SecureGive app to give to First West. YOU CAN ALSO Text the word TRANSFORM and the amount of your gift (example: TRANSFORM 200) to the number 855-906-3222

On Your Mobile Phone

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During our morning services, we take a moment to continue worship by giving.

In Worship

In this technological age, we provide a way for you to give online. You can set up recurring payments or do one-time gifts by visiting firstwest.cc.

On the Web

Now giving can be at your fingertips. Use the SecureGive app to give to First West. YOU CAN ALSO Text the word TRANSFORM and the amount of your gift (example: TRANSFORM 200) to the number 855-906-3222

On Your Mobile Phone

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FW: Tell us a bit about your family.

RF: I married the most amazing woman ever created, Beth Hazel Farris. We met while I was interning at a church during college. She is a super talented singer/songwriter. I have four kids who will change the world! (I am a little biased!) Reece, Asa, Charlieanne, and Jude. I am the only introvert in the house. Even the dog is outgoing, and Beth’s bunnies are extroverts!

FW: I know it’s a long story…but give us a little bit about why you and your family moved to New Orleans.

RF: God said “Go.” I could leave it there. I’ve learned that pros and cons aren’t always God’s means for determining plans and directions for our lives. We know God called us to this city to start a church that makes disciples and plants churches. New Orleans, with all its flaws, is also a very important and interna-tionally influencing city. For 300 years, this city has had the nations represented here. It’s a city that highly values commu-nity and loves to celebrate. We see all of that as a potential for a strong and global impacting church to rise out of. We believe God could raise up leaders from here and launch them into so many different contexts and cities in the country and world to plant reproducing churches.

FW: How did the church get its name?

RF: We sat around a table before moving here with several young men that I had discipled over the years and talked about the vision and strategies that we felt God was calling us to. We wanted even the name of the church to communicate with people the goal and strategy of the church. LifeHouse City Church came about. We want to invite people into our houses to discover Life in Jesus and to live out Life together as an authentic faith family on mission in the world. People live their lives in homes. A house should be a safe place. In our homes, we dream together, celebrate together, mourn together, relax and just be together. A house that is centered on Jesus is an amazingly powerful tool for God to use to draw people to Him and for disciples to be trained. Our home gatherings are called Lifehouses. We added “City” to show that we are all connected and networked together to accomplish the mission in the City.

FW: What do you see happening in the city of New Orleans,

especially in light of trying to establish a new church?

RF: God is doing something huge! He has been bringing in great leaders and church planters with hearts for the city and endurance for the fight like never before. There is a unity in the ranks in this city like I have never experienced among God’s people. Before Katrina, this was probably the hardest city to reach with the Gospel. Post Katrina we believe this has become one of the most fertile soils in the country!

FW: Why is such importance placed on discipleship and community at LifeHouse?

RF: Because it is the heart and mission of Jesus. In John 17:4, Jesus’ High Priestly Prayer, Jesus says to the Father, “I have accomplished the work you gave to me.” He’s not talking about the cross here. He’s had an earthly mission to do. This was said in the past tense. What was it? The rest of the prayer is about the men he had discipled and was now launching into the world! Community is the byproduct of making world-vision disciple makers. When you are engaged in the battle, community becomes an absolute necessity. We need each other. We are called to do this together. The early church wasn’t guilted into being together. They genuinely loved each other and wanted to be together. The Gospel united them!

FW: Let’s play a word game. When I give you a word, what’s the first thing that comes to your mind in one word? (maybe two)

FW: Missions. RF: Every Believer FW: Church. RF: God’s Tool FW: Louisiana. RF: Bi-polar FW: New Orleans (sorry that’s two words). RF: Our Jerusalem FW: Jazz. RF: Eh’ FW: Crawfish. RF: Yes, please FW: Saints (as in the NFL team). RF: A New Orleans religion

FW: How can people from First West connect with your ministry there?

RF: You can labor daily in prayer with us! We believe everything rises and falls on the church’s faithfulness to pray. It is the work of ministry. Give. It costs to do ministry. We want to be a church known for incredible generosity in the city. We want to put money into people. Go. Come on a mission trip and put your hands to the work alongside of us. Some of you may even be called to relocate here for work and join us in that way.

We sat down with Reagan Farris, pastor of LifeHouse City Church in New Orleans, to discuss his church and First West's partnership. Below is a portion of that conversation.

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West Monroe

Donna Strickland did not have a medical background and wondered if, at her age, she even had what was needed for such a trip. Upon receiving encouragement from her family, though, she struck out on her first-ever foreign mission trip. She was happy to discover that her age was an asset since this culture highly reveres the older generation. She realized it didn’t take med-ical training to be a blessing—she knew how to love and how to pray.

“It was a wonderful experience to pray over that village,” says Donna, who would have her prayers interpreted by a local.

This was Ronnie Green’s fourth trip to Central Asia. It had been three years since his last trip, and he was debating whether he should go this year. Sharon told him that people in the village were asking her when he was coming back. He decided that if his visit meant that much to them, he needed to go.

He learned firsthand just how much it meant to them when he was visiting with the mayor of the village, who pulled out a pocketknife Ronnie had given him during his last visit. He said he carries it around and shows it to the other men in the village and tells them that Ronnie said he would come back. “And you did! The pocket knife is a reminder that you keep your word,” said the mayor.

Ronnie understands that his ministry is “about getting their trust and building rela-tionships.”

This year, he was afforded a special visit with the village mullah (their top spiritual leader) who had heard their testimonies be-fore and came back to hear more. Ronnie reported that the mullah was asking ques-tions...which shows openness.

Up until seven years ago no one in this

village had any knowledge of the Gospel. Today there are converts in this unreached and unengaged nation because of the work of Sharon and the local mission teams.

There are multiple aspects of the ministry in Central Asia. First West adopted a leper colony in the region. Although the mutilating and dreaded disease is now curable, this village does not have ready access to the medicines to treat the disease. Lepers are ostracized from society just as in ancient times.

Transform funds supplement their medicine, food, and other life needs. Another project funded by First West was the building of a water wheel to transport water from the river to the leper colony. The colony can grow food to provide nutrition and produce income, which in turn will allow them to be-come more self-sufficient. Even small things like providing scissors to a sewing circle can be life transforming to a nation that has so little.

The Central Asia team learned to be God’s hands and feet, no matter how plans changed. “Good workers always have a plan; wise ones are always looking to see where His hand is moving and guiding, and they join in,” said Donna.

A tire blowout one day prohibited them from going into one of the villages and, by the next day, Donna was sick. She didn’t let that discourage her, though, and used the time to pray for the rest of the team. God opened a door bigger than anything they would have ever imagined, including a chance meeting with government officials in another village that couldn’t have been ar-ranged if they had tried. One of the officials asked Ronnie what he was doing there.

He replied, “I just want to help people who don’t have what I have by teaming up with Sharon.” By the time they left that day, they had clearance to build a new medical clinic

A TAJIKI JOURNEY

On May 26, 2015, First West took a group of three short-term missionaries to Central Asia on a ten-day adventure to work with an unnamed people group that First West refers to as the “Bongay People.”

They worked alongside Sharon G., who got the call to missions while on staff at First West when she participated in her first mission trip.

The Bongay People are shepherds living in a nation with a non-religious government that does not promote or al-low any religious activity. In fact, the coun-try is one of the top 20 countries known for Christian persecution. This makes mission work very difficult, but Sharon was able to gain admission into the country to work on a humanitarian platform that involves meeting tangible, physical needs.

The First West short-term mission trips provide support to her, bringing medical supplies and even trained medical professionals.

Paula Gates is a retired RN who returned to Central Asia for the second time this year. “I never feel like I am more in God’s will than when I am on mission. I feel like I’m at the ends of the earth. You have to hike to get there or go on a donkey.”

Bringing medicine opens doors for the team to share Jesus.

Paula asks if she can pray after administer-ing a medicine. “They don’t think God is a loving God,” she says of the people who are 95% Muslim...a non-devout type with a mix of Animism. She hopes she can show them a loving God through her work among the people.

by Cheryl Wicker

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and another gentleman donated a piece of property to the clinic.

As I think back, I am reminded how God is seldom early, but never late. He’s always on time,” says Donna. “Because of and through Christ Jesus, He had prepared this journey, specially designed ahead of time, just for us.”

Donna was able to join the group on another day, wrapping babies in blankets, praying for each child as they did so.

“We were able to pray over them in Jesus’ name,” said Donna. “It may not have been what we had foreseen, but God’s love was shared through us--His hands and feet.

When people ask Ronnie why he needs to travel all the way to Central Asia when there are plenty of lost in his town, he tells them, “We need to minister to them (the locals) but we’re still commanded to “go.” What if no one went to Central Asia? They are dying every day. Someone needs to go.”

Ronnie and the others on the Central Asia team heeded the call to go. “We are experiencing the blessings of reaching out to a people group that has never heard of Jesus Christ,” he said. Paula continues to be involved in local ministry but knows she will go to Central Asia again. “If one day I can’t go, I’d want to send people,” she states. “If there are people who can’t go, it’s important to support missions.”

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for people considering a mission trip is the financial aspect. “When I found out what the

A TAJIKI JOURNEYtrip cost, it was a little overwhelming,” says Donna. She realized since God called her to do it, she would need to count on Him to bless her with the funding. She found that many of her friends and acquaintances who knew of her upcoming trip were willing to donate funds, allowing her to go.

Ronnie adds, “When I committed to going, someone would walk up to me and hand me an envelope and say ‘I want to be a part of your trip.”’

Paula feels that it is important to provide an example to her children of sacrificial giving. “We are going to go as much as we can. We will sell our house and buy a smaller house if we need to. I can do without a lot of things to be able to go.”

The Central Asia team lived among people who are so poverty stricken, they use cow patties for fuel. That gave the team members a new appreciation for their blessings.

“If someone wants more adventure, what better adventure!” says Ronnie. “Exotic foods, the people we meet, and places we go. You can’t imagine!”

Donna Strickland meets and loves on a child in Central Asia

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serve by chad merrell

sterlington

These past two years I have gotten to ‘go and make disciples’ in Guatemala, a beautiful country in Central America. The people there are friendly and generous, but many of them don’t know the redemptive love of Jesus. When we go to Guatemala as a student ministry, we get to show them that love.

Mitch and Amanda Munoz are the missionaries that we partner with there, and with them we get to visit many villages. Our aim in the villages is to show Christ’s love. In a village called Los Chili-tos, we were able to build a fence on their mountain to make travel safer for the people.

In Amapa, one of the other villages we went to, there is a ministry for women to make bracelets and by that to create their income. We got to help make bracelets and encourage them in a Bible study.

Each week as people walk into the gym at our Fairbanks Campus or prepare to leave after our weekly worship gathering, they walk past a large board with the words “SERVE Sterling-ton” written across it. The board is one of the few “permanent” fixtures in the flexible space and is quickly becoming a “fixture” in helping members of the Fairbanks campus be readily mobilized to #seetoit that no one misses the grace of God in our communi-ty and beyond. When needs or ideas to bless others in our community are made known, they are then turned into a “SERVE card” and hung on the board. Each week, families and individuals can grab a card on the way out and meet a need in the community. The board serves as a mechanism to put people into motion, showing the love of Jesus throughout the area. The board is becoming a hub for ministry, and the stories are piling up. Recently a single mom found herself struggling with some maintenance issues in her home. Feeling the financial pressure as well as the pressure to get it fixed, she reluctantly made her need known to us. The result was in her words, “amazing.” A team of men from our church took the SERVE card and committed together to help this young lady. A small leak under the sink turned out to be a much bigger problem, but the men fixed it all. At the end of the project, they refused to let her pay even one cent. Her reaction says it all, “I was overwhelmed, I didn’t know

A STUDENT’S trek TO GUATEMALA

The most important thing we do in Guatemala is share the Gospel. We get to do this through Bible studies, speaking at schools, and door-to-door evangelism. In Guatemala, God showed me how blessed we are to take part in His plan.

It is such a privilege that the God of the universe chooses to use us! The trip was an amazing experience, and I encourage people to go. God moves in our hearts when we are willing to serve Him. I also learned on this trip that God provides.

If you cannot go, you can give. I don’t think there is a single thing better to invest in than the spreading of God’s Word. Our God is a global God, and He is moving in hearts here in Northeast Louisiana and Guatemala. I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to go and share God’s great love.

A STUDENT’S TREK TO GUATEMALA

what to do. I was already blessed that my church would help, but when they went above and beyond, I was blown away. There is no way I can let you know what a load they took off my shoulders. I prayed for help. Thank you.” From Random Acts of Kindness to major repairs and bigger investments, needs are being met in a ways that show the love of Jesus all over NELA. This fall the SERVE board will be expanded to include ways to bless others in NELA, NOLA and the World as we creatively seek to bless church plant partners, assist missionaries, meet known needs and ensure that the church is showing the love of Jesus to everyone. We truly want to “See to it that no one misses the grace of God.”

Catherine and her friends had an amazing time sharing Jesus in Guatamala.

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West Monroe

Carl Whitlock, a 13-year-old boy with an infectious smile, wasn’t always the positive kid that he is today. “I used to have a ‘don’t care’ attitude,” says Whitlock. But that was before he joined the Broaden Horizons program.

Whitlock, who lives with his grandmother, along with a brother and 4 sisters, joined the Broaden Horizons program two years ago. Although reluctant at first, thinking it wouldn’t be fun, he quickly changed his mind.

Although Whitlock enjoys the summer program the most because of fun activities like field trips and spending time with friends, it was the after-school program that revolutionized Whitlock’s academics. He was making F’s in math before coming to the program, even though his grandmother would stay up all night helping him with homework. Through the homework assistance he received at Broaden Horizons, he started making A’s and B’s in math. Two of his siblings found similar results through the program. His sister, Camya, was close to failing the 4th grade but is now on the honor roll. His little brother, Mario, was making F’s in most of his classes and now he’s on the honor roll as well.

College was not a part of Whitlock’s original goals. Prior to Broaden Horizons, he wanted to be a police officer; today, he aspires to be a lawyer. And because of the help of the Broaden Horizon’s after school program, a much improved GPA will allow him admission into a good law school following college…breaking trends that would predict him to be an unlikely college candidate. President Obama has stated that “only 30 percent of low-income students enroll in college right after high school.”

Whitlock’s dream is to help people. He was inspired to be a lawyer after watching a TV show where a lawyer protected an innocent person. A recent focus test indicated that Whitlock would do well as an administrative judge. “I’d like to help peo-ple from other places—like people trying to get a green card to come to America.”

The influence of Broaden Horizons extends beyond aca-demics in this young man’s life though. Whitlock admits to an anger problem but encountered a turning point through the program. One day when he got mad at another student, Lar-rese Rollins, the discipleship coordinator, pulled him aside and taught him James 1:19 to apply to the situation. So when he

starts to get mad, he is encouraged to be “slow to anger” when this scripture pops in his head. “It helps,” he proclaims.

But the greatest change in Whitlock resulting from Broaden Horizons is the transformation of his heart. He attended church prior to joining the program and had even been baptized. But he admits his first baptism was motivated by his desire to participate in communion. Since coming to Broaden Horizons, he developed a desire to “be with God.” He became a Christian and Rollins baptized him a second time. Rollins was touched by Whitlock’s decision to dedicate his life to Jesus and the knowledge that “the things we put into him have come to fru-ition.” Rollins referred to kids like Whitlock who are the success stories of the program, “To know…they hold on to what you are saying….sets them apart from the rest. You know God is going to do something amazing in their lives.”

God is, indeed, already doing something amazing in the life of Carl Whitlock (and other kids like him) through the Broaden Horizons program.

Broaden Horizons serves over 300 students throughout the year on five campuses through its partnership with Ouachita Parish Schools. The after-school Program allows children to receive academic help from certified teachers and instruction from Christian mentors who teach “Positive Action” lessons based on Biblical principles. They are served an after-school snack and a full dinner meal four days per week, 32 weeks per year. The summer program is an intensive Summer Leadership Academy for 60 middle school students who focus on discipleship as well as STEM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math).

Many resources are required to make stories like Carl Whitlock’s a reality. Loving and committed volunteers are needed in a variety of capacities in either short-term or long-term commit-ments. There are opportunities to directly support one child for a full year (only $1,400). And of course, lots of prayer goes into a ministry like this, so prayer partners are needed. To become involved, contact Lori Pearce at lpearce@firstwest.cc.

Broaden Horizons Summer Recap

Carl Whitlock has New Dreams, New Hope by Cheryl Wicker

Carl Whitlock

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West Monroe

Jay & Jada Adcock - with their 2 daughters, live in Slovenia using the phenomenon of Crossfit as a ministry platform for sharing the Gospel and planting churches.

Ashton & Christy McIntyre - with their 2 children, have transitioned from Thailand to language school in Costa Rica in preparation for reaching unreached people groups in Nicaragua with the Gospel.

*Kate Maverick - is an XMA missionary who lives in West Monroe and leads mission teams to unreached people groups.

Callie Smith - serves in Korea, teaching ESL and ministering to women who have been victims of human trafficking.

Tolis & Courtney Konstantinidis - Lives in Athens, Greece working with children, youth, and young adults through the ministry of a church-based community center.

Todd & Tara Thomas - with their 2 sons, live in Germany and work as church planters among the Turkish peoples in Europe through the IMB.

Shaun & Rachel R. - with their 3 boys, live in Southeast Asia mak-ing disciples of new believers among unreached peoples, through the IMB.

Kay Frost - serves in Mwanza, Tanzania, working with orphans and widows through a local church ministry.

*Sharon G. - works as a church planter in Central Asia through the IMB and Baptist Global Response.

*NAME CHANGED OR ABBREVIATED FOR SECURITY PURPOSES 15

West Monroe

Let us know by using the hashtag as you are out ministering so our church family can be a part of the mission of God in NELA, NOLA, and the WORLD.