Submitted by Sunset Alumni on Tue, 01/10/2012 - 06:00
Hello Brother, Sisters and Friends:
Karen and I want to thank all of you for your prayers and love throughout the years. Your prayers are paying off. The Lord's work is blossoming and coming to a head as if it is about to explode. All three congregations that the Lord has used us to get started are doing well and growing. They have become self-supporting and self-sufficient. It is great watching what the Lord has done as we see these congregations working on their own. It leaves us with mixed feelings similar to the feeling of watching your child grow up and move out on their own.
Presently, our main concentration is on the Homestead church of Christ. This congregation, at one time, was over 200 members and is down in the thirties. But God has opened their hearts and it is now starting to grow again through us working through J4L (Jesus 4 Life) ministries, which is a youth group of over 170 people ranging from 4 to 29 years old and Redland Christian Academy. We are now reaching to their families, and bringing them to the Homestead congregation. It is a fun church planting, working through the children to reach the parents.
Hello everyone as per the letter below We have been trying to raise money to buy a bus. We have raised 2/3 of the money ($4000) the price for the buses are around $6000. Tommy Taylor (of Taylor Bus Co and member of the church in Murray, KY) purchased all the buses and is willing to sell us one at his cost. The buses will be in Florida for a few more days. If you or if you know anyone who can help us out please contact Paula Harrington at the phone below she is one who has spearhead the collection (God bless her)
In Service With You Mike & Karen Hoots
Dear Friends and Family,
Tommy Taylor (of Taylor Bus Co and member of the church in Murray, KY) went to Zellwood, FL to a bus auction this Saturday. For $6000, we can buy a bus for the Homestead Church of Christ. However, that doesn't leave much time to raise the funds. Please pray for this project and please consider donating to this cause. No amount is too small. Feel free to call or email if you have questions. Here's the link to the Christian Chronicle article with more information:
Here is another support letter of one of the disciples we are training for ministry that God has sent us through The AIM (Adventures In Missions) program. His name is Rob and he has decided to stay here and work with us for at least 3 years.
I send you there support letters because they give you a fresh prospective of the work we are all involved in and it also makes it easier for me to keep you updated.
As far as personal news Karen and I are doing well, but as I have said before money is a big problem, we are going backwards every month. If you know anyone at all that is willing to help us out financially please lets us know, and keep us in your prayers.
Submitted by David Creek on Thu, 10/16/2008 - 02:27
Last Sunday, we were blessed to worship and fellowship with brother J.W. Terry. He was the preacher and evangelist at Moss Bluff for more than 30 years and as soon as the man walked in, he had nothing but respect from this young preacher.
There is a tradition I like that is practiced in some places where a preacher will defer to a visiting preacher who comes into the assembly and ask him to preach instead. Though I extended the offer, he is advancing in age and declining in health and I don't think he heard me, but if he did, I imagine he would have preached a powerful message from the Word.
I have so much love, admiration and respect for all of the Gospel preachers who have gone before me and preached and lived the Word all these years.
It's humbling to know I am part of the next generation of Gospel preachers. It can be a daunting task to take the torch from the likes of Bill Hunt (who faithfully finished the race just one week ago), David Kirk, Cline Paden, Norman Gipson, and countless other men of God.
Submitted by Jerry.Starling on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 19:10
What a ride we have had in the 40+ years since the Gray Eagle conferred his blessing on us and sent us out into the unsuspecting world - and, yes, the unsuspecting church as well!
In 1967 we headed back to New Zealand. I'd been there for three years before coming to what was then Sunset School of Preaching. I came to SSOP intending to return to New Zealand. Rex & Eleanor Merrick, KIWIs (i.e., New Zealanders) were also in our class. Working together, we had recruited nine other families to come with us to New Zealand - all from our July class of 1967. They were Larry & Helen Deason, Jack & Rita Harriman, Roy & Joyce Dunavin, David & Molly Dennis, John & Wanda Bizzell, Glen & Anne Gray, Joe & Sally Jones, and Kerry & Tommi Cain in the first contingent. Dave & Barbara Chamberlain followed two years later after fulfilling a commitment to the church that supported them through school.
Submitted by David Creek on Mon, 05/19/2008 - 11:32
It’s been a year today since my class and I graduated from Sunset.
One of the first things that comes to mind about that day was standing inside the original chapel room with all of my colleagues and instructors just moments before the graduation began. Taking long, slow looks around the room. Going from person to person and trying to make the most of what very little time I had left with them.
And then walking to the back of the room with tears in my eyes, knowing my time there was over and this would be the last time all of us would ever be in the same room again.
