HUNTINGTON’S NEWSLETTER

                                              

 

Vol. 2    No 4                                                                                                           April 29, 2001

 

                                       

                           Welcome to New Members at Huntington

 

Carl Poteet was received as a member through baptism on April 8. 

He found his way to Huntington through a co-worker, Max Blosser.

He works at NASA Langley Research Center in aerospace

engineering.  He has been working with Max for the past four years

on improving reentry insulation for the next generation space shuttle.

Carl graduated with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the U of

Delaware in 1996, and with a MS in the same field from The George

Washington U in 1998.  He comes from southern Pennsylvania, where

 his parents, Charles and Charlene live.  A brother, Charles, is in

 Delaware.  What about hobbies?  Piano, organ, reading and cats!  “I

 have two cats, Geiger and Gregory that keep me company at home,”

 he reports.  About his conversion, Carl says, “I accepted the Lord into

 my life December 4^th, 2000 after discussing Christianity with Max for

 over two years.  Max was there every step of the way to help me.”

 

 

 

Andrew Hartzler was received as a member through baptism on

April 15, Easter Sunday, which happens also to be Andrew’s thirteenth

birthday!  Andrew is the son of Jake and June Hartzler, and has a sister,

Lauren.  Andrew is in grade seven at Hampton Christian Schools, and

enjoys fishing camping, soccer, and reading.  Andrew reflects on his steps

in becoming a Christian.  “I grew up in a Christian family and have attend-

ed Huntington since day one!  I publicly made a decision for Christ in

November, 1999 during revival meetings with Basil Marin.”  What is a

warm memory that stands out while attending church over the years? 

Andrew responded, “Playing with friends after church.”

 

 

 

 

It’s good, Carl and Andrew, to have you to be an official part of our congregation.    Pastor Ed

 

 

            

 

 

Spring Congregational Meeting                         National Day of Prayer

Wednesday, May 2, is a time for us to gather                              May 3, 2001

once again to tend to the business of the church.               A local committee is planning a special          

Nursery and childcare will be provided, and                     activity of prayer for Thursday, May 3.  You

refreshments served.  We will look at the                          are invited to gather from 12:15 to 12:45 PM

results of our pastoral evaluation, have a mid-                   to either City Hall in Hampton or Newport

year treasurer’s report, hear some updates                       News, and gather with other believers for

of things happening, and learn about some                        about 30 minutes of prayer for the Peninsula,

capital spending priorities that will assist our                      the State of Virginia, and the Nation.

church in its overall ministry, plus an update                      Information will be handed out at the gather-

about our Children’s Ministry Director search.                  ing on specific prayer topics to be covered in

All members and regular attenders are urged                    this prayer time together.

to come and help set direction for our church.

 

 

                                                      Friend Sunday!!    May 6, 2001

 

            Just a reminder to invite someone who you would like to see come closer to

God and to a loving body of believers like we have at Huntington!  A couple

different things this year  – a Sunday school class where we can share with our

guests some things about Mennonite Christians.  It is certainly true that we are

Christians first and Mennonites second.  But some people are wondering just

what we believe.  Then our service will be led by the Youth Challenge Choir! 

They always have such a wonderful gospel thrust, just the perfect setting in

which to bring persons who are seekers!  And to top things off is the fellow-

ship around tables in the big tent.  May we make this day a day to remember!!                                                                                                        –Pastor Ed

 

 

Hampton Christian High School Receives First Place Yearbook Awards

 

Through the help of Erin Mullenex, Assistant Editor of the 1999-2000 Yearbook, the yearbook staff at

 Hampton Christian High School soared to their goal of excellence and received a first place rating from

both the Virginia High School League and the Association of Christian Schools International (ASCI).

 Edie Bontrager has been serving as teaching staff person, and works with a class of ten students.

 

The Virginia first place rating is a category which is received by only approximately 40 schools out of the

whole state of Virginia. The book was scored as excellent in concept, coverage, design, and photography.

  The ASCI award was First Place in Division 1 in Southeastern U.S.  The 2000 year-book, “The Road

 Not Taken” received a rating of superior in cover design and won Best Book overall.

 

This year Erin Mullenex moved up in the editor’s position.  Nina Deel is the staff’s photographer.  “Mrs.

B”, as she is called by her students, is working with an excellent staff again during this school year, and,

come fall, is hoping to realize some outstanding achievements and recognitions for the 2000-2001

yearbook which has as its theme, “The Space Between.”

 

Preaching Through the Summer                                      Youth Updates

There are at least 16 parables in the Gospel                      Both of these are a couple months old, but

of Luke.  Those bringing Sunday morning                         are still newsworthy!!

messages this summer will be examining these

parables and apply them to our everyday                          The senior youth hosted a special Valentine’s

concerns and needs.  Such subjects as                             Day dinner for some of our special people.

“Bankrupt  – the Two Debtors”, “Who Will                    Those attending were Ethel Bowen, and her

Be Greatest?”, “Rich and Successful, but a                       friend, Lois Hitt, Joann Godshall, Alice

Fool”, “The Shrewd Manager”, “Revolt                           Hedgepeth, and Addie Griffin.  Candles were

Against God”, and others.  If you are not on                     lit and a meal of lasagne, hamburger delight,

vacation or sick, remember the Lord’s Day                      salad, bread, and red velvet cake was served.

and come out to worship!!                                               A time for fellowship followed when all

                                                                                       played the game, “Who Am I?”  Three or

OTHER SUMMER/FALL EVENTS           four facts were read aloud about each per-

    May 29, 2001 @1:30 PM - Williamsburg                   son’s life and then they all wrote down who

    Christian Retreat Center’s 7^th Annual Golf                    they thought was being described.  The

    Classic @Stonehouse.  All proceeds will go to-            evening was enjoyed by all!!          –Ilse Deel

    ward new youth facilities. Call 566-2256 for a

    brochure and registration form.                                           

   On the same evening ten junior youth (gr.6-8)

    Sunday, June 10, 2001 - Richard & Margaret              went to a “True Love Waits” rally held at

    Keeler speaking here at Huntington.                             Liberty Baptist Church in Hampton.  They

   were a part of an estimated crowd of 1200-

    Vacation Bible School - June 25-29, 2001                   1800 youth and sponsors representing 77

    9-12:00 AM in joint effort with Warwick River            local  churches who heard Rob Hester en-

    & Providence churches, held at Warwick River            courage young people to seek God’s plan for

    Mennonite Church. Call Laura Hill @930-8953.          their lives and then follow it. He spoke on the

   issues of staying pure and maintaining sexual

    July 26-29, 2001-Virginia Mennonite Conference        integrity throughout the dating years.  The

    Assembly & Missions Festival held on the campus       culmination of the evening was an invitation

    of Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg,            to sign a pledge card promising “to God, my-

    VA.  Theme: “Spreading God’s Healing & Hope.”       self, my friends, my future mate, and my

    On Sunday morning there will be a joint worship           future children to be sexually abstinent from

    Service in the University Commons with other               this day until the day I enter a biblical mar-

    Conference congregations.  More information at            riage relationship.”  Over 700 youth signed

    info@vmconf.org or by calling 1-800-707-5535.          the pledge that evening.  Some comments

    from our youth are these: “Everyone was

    Sunday, August 12, 2001, Huntington’s Annual             really into it!”  “It was a fun and memorable

    Day @Williamsburg Christian Retreat Center.               experience!”  “It was fun and the music was

    A day of worship, good food & fellowship.                   good and they did some neat things, like the

    PlayStation 2 Race.”  “The speaker was

    September 21-22, 2001.  Join a bus group to see         good.”  “The music was loud and the lights

    “Noah” in Lancaster, PA on Friday.  A delicious           were bright!”  “Good music videos!”

    dinner at Strasburg Historic Inn.  On Saturday                          –June Hartzler, a junior youth sponsor

    visit the Mennonite Information Center, take a

    ride in Amish Country with guide, experience the

    “Amish House and Farm”, enjoy a buffet, and

    arrive home about 9:00 Saturday evening.

 

                               

Youth Movement            Age doesn’t matter to God when it comes to starting a

ministry.....Christianity Today featured the story of second-grader Sagen Woolery who

decided school children on the free lunch program needed a similar program during the

summer.....Despite facing doubtful adults, she began Kids Kitchen, which is run entirely by

school-age volunteers.....Sagen sensed her calling to the ministry from biblical references to

God calling people into service.....Now in seventh grade in Warner Robins, GA., Sagen

hopes her story inspires other young people to seek God’s calling to serve others.                                                                                                                      From TOOLKIT, Vol. 27 No. 3

 

 

                           MISSION TO ALBANIA AND ITALY

                                                                Lloyd Weaver

    

I’ve wanted to visit Albania and Bari, Italy for several years.  Unexpectedly, the Lord

gave me the opportunity to accompany Willard Eberly on an administrative trip to both

countries.

 

Albania needs the gospel.  Communism totally banned all religion for over 40 years. 

When communism fell in 1991, only the older people remembered religion and most of 

them were Moslem.  They are discouraged and say it is too late for them; however,

young adults and older teens are accepting Jesus as their Savior and becoming vibrant

Christians.  Most of the Lezhe congregation is youth & young adults.  I had the privilege

of preaching through an interpreter for the Sunday morning worship service.

 

The missionaries are eager to reach these people for the Lord and are deeply committed

to planting churches and raising up national leaders.

 

Bari, Italy is a large modern city with many smaller towns of twenty to thirty thousand

people surrounding it. The vision for Bari is to plant an evangelical church in these towns. 

I had a most wonderful experience in Torrito where Darrell & Gwen Zook are ministering.

Willard & I attended the dedication of a much needed church building Saturday evening.

While I didn’t understand the Italian language, I caught the spirit and enthusiasm of the

singing, testifying and joy of the believers.  I was overwhelmed to see what the Lord was

doing.

 

Sunday morning, a local believing couple, Rino & Anna, was installed as lay leaders

working along side Darrell & Gwen.  Rino was a druggie and Anna is the daughter of a

prostitute.  She had been worshiping Satan.  Now both are vibrant believers eager to win

their families and friends to the Lord.  What an inspiration!

 

Again, how can we thank the Lord enough for sharing His love with us and sharing with

us American believers these wonderful people of other cultures He is bringing into the

kingdom?  God is good all the time!