Dear Pastor and Church Family,

The last two years have been an incredible journey for Rachel and I as we have served in the church that I had the privilege to grow up in. From the moment we walked onto the Springdale campus, you accepted us with love and joined us in our desire to reach young adults in this region with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This church and its pastor mean so much to me personally. They have discipled, trained, licensed, and ordained me, and it will always be my “home” church.

Over the last year, God has been challenging my faith and trust in Him in numerous ways. The question I have continually asked myself is, “Am I really willing to give up everything to follow Him?” At the same time, Pastor’s involvement with the Great Commission Resurgence was life changing for me as I saw firsthand the spiritual condition in America and around the world. During this process, God began to put in my heart an even greater passion for penetrating the lost condition in our country, especially its urban centers. After much prayer, God has opened a door that will allow me to pursue this passion.

On September 26, I will become Senior Pastor of First Baptist Church, San Francisco. Within only a seven-mile radius, San Francisco has a population of 850,000 people of which less than 4% would identify themselves as evangelical Christians. In 2009, Baptist Churches in the Bay area reported a total of only 56 baptisms. San Francisco needs a church to become radically passionate about Jesus Christ and His mission. I hope to lead such a church.

Pastor and Jeana, I hope you know how much we love you and appreciate your love and investment in our lives. I would not be ready for this opportunity if God had not placed you in my life. Thank you for the opportunity to serve alongside you in this incredible church. Church family, we love you and will miss all of you greatly. Our prayer is that God will use you in even greater ways for His kingdom work. The best days of First Baptist Springdale are still ahead!

Our last Sunday at First Baptist Springdale is scheduled to be Sunday, September 19. As you think of us, please pray as we transition to San Francisco and the work that awaits us there.

For His Kingdom,
Ryan, Rachel, and Brady Blackwell

Would you like a deeper more intimate relationship with God?  In this eight week study you can discover who He is, what He does, and what He says as you uncover the meaning behind the names of God in the Bible.  Each name reveals something new and special about God and the relationship He wants to have with you.

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This six week series by Kelly Minter is a Women’s Bible study of Ruth’s journey of unbearable loss, redeeming love, and divine legacy.  If you’ve ever felt devastated, struggled as a stranger, longed to be loved, or wept along the way, you’ll find a loyal sister in Ruth. This study includes stories, recipes, a leader guide, interactive Web site extras, and free bonus videos.

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Mr. Dennis shows us how to run a business and live a life of faith

It was in March 2010 that Kenneth Dennis, at the age of 83, decided he would sell off his furniture inventory and close his doors after 51 successful years of business in Northwest Arkansas. That was the plan. During these years his priorities had been in serving people, making friends, and taking care of his customers. He did that well and he watched as the profits of Dennis Home Furnishings increased every year.

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Life is full of interruptions…a relationship suddenly fails, an unexpected pregnancy, your career path abruptly shifts. Like Jonah, when things get uncomfortable your fist instinct is to run. Although you can’t escape life’s interruptions, you can change your perspective on them. Join us for this six week study by Priscilla Shirer, discover what Jonah learned the hard way, and begin to embrace life’s interruptions as divine interventions.

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This 7 week study by Shaunti Feldhahn is for every woman who wants to understand and support her husband in becoming all that God intends him to be. This study is not about changing him, but about changing you. It is about putting your needs aside to understand his. It is about new heart attitudes and new ways of acting. Your reward comes in seeing a wonderful side of your husband, one you may have never before seen, as he is being built up in to the man God intends.

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You are going to be thrilled and overwhelmed with what it truly means to belong to God; to be born again; to be forgiven and saved; to have the Son of God, Jesus Christ, living within you – all because of a covenant cut for you. This eight week study by Kay Arthur is very personal, “all about you” in a healthy biblical way. The very earliest pages of Genesis, the book of beginnings, not only establish the old covenant of the Law but also point toward the new covenant in Jesus Christ that we so desperately need. We invite you on this journey of discovery into a more personal relationship with our covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. Childcare is available for bible study by emailing Dorothy at dorothyo@fbcs.net.

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Every year as first graders promote into Kidz Inc from the Preschool Department we award them a brand new Bible in “Big Church”. This is to commemorate their passing from one phase of life into the next. If your child is going into first grade this fall, you may sign up for this by calling Heather Gilbert at 751-4523 or emailing heatherg@fbcs.net. Deadline to sign up is August 23rd. Please join us at the Parent Preview Night on August 18 at 6:00 pm in the Kids Theatre for more information.

This eight week Wednesday night study is for mothers of teenage girls.  It will discuss tips and tools to raise Godly daughters in an anything but a Godly world.  Your Girl will addresses some of the fiercest battles of the teen years, including conformity, purity, girl politics, and modesty.  The purpose is to challenge and empower mothers to impart a passion for God in their daughters as they grow to become Godly women. Books are available in the Reach for Life Bookstore.

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Join us each Wednesday night for this 10 week Beth Moore lecture series on the book of Revelation. In this compelling and complicated study (DVD teaching only) she teaches that God is as specific about what He does reveal as He is about what He does not reveal. Workbooks are available in the Reach for Life Bookstore.

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This 11 week class teaches you basics in ASL vocabulary and grammar for conversational sign language with people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Beginners 2 class is a pre-requisite to attending this class.

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This 13 week program by Dave Ramsey will teach you to put together a plan for your financial peace. The goal of Financial Peace University is not just information—we’re looking for transformation. Dave’s style is simple and easy to understand. He will change the way you think about money.

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Make sense of the “random” pieces of your life. Get a God’s-eye perspective, and get answers to your questions about unexplained experiences. Discover that you’ve been in the right place at the right time, every time. Workbooks for this six week study are available in our Reach for Life Bookstore.

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What does it mean to life a missional life? The eight week class explores the meaning of the term missional.  It also focuses on equipping you with all the opportunities and tools for service and ministry in NWA.

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This 13 week program by Dave Ramsey will teach you to put together a plan for your financial peace. The goal of Financial Peace University is not just information—we’re looking for transformation. Dave’s style is simple and easy to understand. He will change the way you think about money.

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In Isaiah Part 1, we’ll meet the Holy One of Israel, and learn how He deals with those who claim Him as God but don’t honor Him as God in the way that they live. And we’ll find the destiny of nations, the future of all mankind … including ours. You won’t want to miss this ongoing, in-depth Wednesday night study.

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The Living Proof Live Simulcast brings beloved teacher Beth Moore and worship leader Travis Cottrell via simulcast from the windy city of Chicago directly to our community! Enjoy the perfect mix of biblically sound teaching and worship from the comfort of our church home!

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This Sunday morning we will be observing the Lord’s Supper during worship hour.  This is a very special time in our church that will include ministry moments of personal prayer. This unique day built around the Lord’s Supper will fulfill James 5 in praying for the suffering and sick by anointing them with oil and appealing to God for healing. Yes, ONLY God heals and He heals people not only from sickness, but has the capacity to heal people from suffering. Suffering touches in some way the vast majority of people. Join us in praying for a grand and glorious day.

“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful” James 5:16

Week 1 Message

Week 2 Message

Week 3 Message

Week 4 Message

A Women’s Ministry Dinner Event.  Tickets are $5. Join us for a night of great food, fun and fellowship as we learn about health, nutrition, fitness and beauty from a panel of experts including Sherry Johnson, The Biggest Loser season 9 contestant. Come learn how we can be beautiful from the inside out.

Students will meet at the 24/7 at 5:30. This is a great night for out newly promoted groups to get together and meet each other.  This time we are featuring “THE ONE BIG THING RACE 2.0” and a concert by Nick Thurmond. We’ll have pizza on Saturday night and students will stay the night with their connection groups. On Sunday morning we’ll wake up to delicious biscuits from Cracker Barrel, then come to the church together for morning worship.

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This is the final trip of the year for graduating fifth graders. The cost includes transportation to Silver Dollar City, supervision, lunch and supper. Your kids will need to bring spending money for snacks and souvenirs. We will leave from and return to Kidz Inc. A 2010 Permission Slip is required if you have not already turned one in this year. If you have a season pass you may sign up in the Kidz Inc office at a reduced price of $35. Deadline for all sign-ups is Tuesday, July 20th.

Sunday night connection group for men in their 20′s and 30′s.

Congratulations graduates!

Your hard work has finally paid off. We pray though, that you will not lose sight of the plans God has for you. You are destined for greater things. We hope to give you some advice as you go forward. Live your life by Proverbs 3:1–12. Find your satisfaction in the Lord and His will. Seek things from above, in doing so, God will surely bless your life.

The fact is you are the critical generation. The world is in desperate need for what you have to offer. We challenge you all to step up and be a light in this darkness. Let everyone see the hope that lives in you. Seek God, and in the pursuit of that, bring on a revival in your homes, workplaces, cities, and country. The next big step begins now.

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Annual Kidapalooza Summer Festival. Come serve your community and have a blast at the same time. We will be having a cookout, several carnival games, inflatables, and concessions. There will also be musical performances and a performance by Motion. Register to help here or contact Gina Musgrave for more information.

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Date: Sunday, July 4
Time: 9:15 AM

Presented by First Baptist Church of Springdale choir, band, and cast. The theme this year is Generations. Let our worship team bless you with patriotic songs and performances, as we remain committed to reaching all generations with the gospel of Christ. Please bring someone with you for this special day.

Date: July 4, 2010

Join us for our Third annual Fireworks at the Crosses!  We will celebrate with food, fun, music, fireworks, and a special baptism service at the foot of the crosses.  This will be an amazing event for the entire family.  Come out and celebrate Independence Day with us and rejoice as others are baptized into our family of faith.

Date: Sunday, July 4th
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Pinnacle Hills Campus

Baptism at the Crosses will be a night of worship and celebration in Jesus Christ. There will be food, music, and a fireworks display. This is a night you won’t want to miss!

Baptisms won’t take place until after 7:00, but if you plan to be baptized, please arrive no later than 6:00. We will provide everything that you will need, including a baptism robe, towels, and a hair dryer. All you will need to bring is a change of clothes.

If you are interested in being baptized, please click the “Register Now” button to the top right. We are so excited about what the Lord is doing in your life and look forward to rejoicing with you as you make this next step.

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Educate yourselves before you medicate! This is a great opportunity for all senior adults to be able to talk to a pharmacist. Bring your over-the-counter medicines, prescription drugs, and herbal or dietary supplements and let Pharmacist Coulter talk to you about them. We are taking registrations for 15 min. intervals.  Register Now.

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We are praying for record numbers of families, students, and children to be touched by our ministries this summer and for many salvations as well. We know that lives will be changed for eternity this summer and we need you! In addition to these activities and the activities of each Sunday, our World Mission Outreaches this summer include mission trips to Africa, Haiti, China, and Tampa. We need you to help, to pray, to go, or to help send someone!

Our ongoing Ministry Budget needs your continued, faithful support as well through our Summer Program of Giving. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, our weekly budget need is 280,000. When you are home this summer, please give faithfully of your tithes and volunteer to help with any one of our summer ministries. When you are out of town, your routine giving is essential to the success of the ministries that continue while you are away. Please remember, to reach this summer goal, which represents the amount it takes to operate the ministries of our church over this 15 weeks of summer, our church will need gifts at every level from small to great, from little to much. The amount we give in dollars is not the issue; the issue is for us to honor God with the first tenth of all He blesses us with.

Please join us in making this the greatest summer of ministry in our history. We need you! Thank you for being a giving church that cares about eternity.

Are you living a Radical Life for Christ? In this 8-week companion Bible Study to Dr. David Platt’s new book Radical our Adult and Student Connection Groups will discover what it means to be Radical  for Jesus. In Radical, David Platt invites you to encounter what Jesus actually said about being his disciple, and then obey what you have heard. He challenges you to consider with an open heart how we have manipulated a God-centered gospel to fit our human-centered preferences. Then he proposes a radical response: live the gospel in ways that are true, filled with promise, and ultimately world changing.

“No One Left Behind” - 2 Peter 3:9

The command of God implores us as we “go into all the world, we are to preach the Gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15).  The FAITH Riders take this calling seriously as the lifeblood of its existence and passion.  This is a ministry, not a riding club or gang, and our sole purpose is to share the life-changing Good News by equipping the saints to engage in practical ministry opportunities.  Through the ministry of FAITH Riders, bikers and others are learning about Jesus Christ and receiving His awesome gift of salvation and eternal life in Heaven with Him.  FAITH Riders is reaching people with their bikes who may not normally step foot into an organized church or Bible Study.  It’s putting rubber, as well as shoe leather, onto the Gospel message. For more information contact Richard Cox or Jeff Hairston– Your Chapter Director at First Baptist Church of Springdale or Bob Ryan at our Pinnacle Hills campus. No matter what you ride, or even if you don’t, all are welcome!

• Monthly Rides
• Weekly Bike Nights
• Sunday Coffee Shop
• Ministry Events
• Community Service

Come join our young singles ministry for a fun trip to Kansas City! We will leave on Friday and have a blast eating, shopping at the Plaza, and going to a Kansas City Royals baseball game. Saturday is your choice of going to Worlds of Fun and experiencing great rides and shows, or visiting the new Schlitterbahn water park and  all the attractions there.  After this fun day in the sun we will grab a bite to eat and head home.  The cost of the trip includes tickets to the baseball game, the hotel room, and tickets to the park of your choice on Saturday.  You are responsible for the cost of your food and any extras.  When registering, there are four options to pick from.  This depends on your room choice, based on the number of people per room.  Please pick which option will work best for you.  The ‘standard rate’ assumes you and three roommates, and the price increases from there as there are less people per room.  Don’t miss this fun trip!

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Vacation Bible Xtreme is an awesome event for the entire family. This year features performances by BMX Stunt Rider Vic Murphy, Illusionists/Escape Artists Living Illusions, music by the Shane Schauer Band, plus much, much more. We’ll wrap up on Wednesday night with lots of fun. You don’t want to miss it!!

Preschool Vacation Bible Xtreme is open to all children who have turned three as of August 30, 2009 through Kindergarten. Registration is only required for ages 3-Kindergarten. Childcare is available for ages birth- two.  If you have any other questions or are interested in volunteering, please contact Suzanne Hewitt.

You can watch “Esther’s House, Africa” every Sunday on Daystar at 4:30pm CST or on Mondays at 4:30.

If you want more information of sponsoring a child at Esther’s House, donating to a project or cause in Malawi, or to watch all of the episodes, visit www.puremission.org.

On a bitterly cold morning on February 11, 2001, Pastor Ronnie Floyd stood before the congregation of First Baptist Church of Springdale and unveiled a pioneering approach to reach the Northwest Arkansas region with the gospel of Jesus Christ through the inception and creation of the Pinnacle Hills congregation in Rogers, Arkansas. In 2001, few churches in America had undertaken the mission of becoming one church in more than one location. While the strategy was “innovative,” it was also “unproven.”

On that Sunday, Pastor Floyd implored the Springdale congregation to “embrace the vision.” And they did. 350 people from the Springdale campus were commissioned to begin the Pinnacle Hills congregation, and on the third Sunday in August 2001, the Pinnacle Hills campus was launched—the “unproven” yet prayer-soaked vision was set into motion.

Because the Springdale congregation committed to the dream of Pinnacle Hills, today, the Pinnacle Hills campus that began with only 350 faithful individuals averages 2,501 people weekly. Since its launch, over 1,534 people have been saved and baptized in the fellowship. The Rogers location is no longer a vision, but a thriving, successful body of believers reaching Northwest Arkansas in mighty ways with the Gospel.

On Sunday morning, April 25, 2010, Pastor Floyd once again stood before the people with a vision—a new and compelling strategy that will allow our church to advance the Gospel into the largest city in the Northwest Arkansas region—Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Pastor reminded the church of our missional vision, “Reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the World for Jesus Christ.” Of the vision, Pastor said, “That’s what we’re all about…. [It] consumes our church…. Everything we do as a church flows from the heart of this missional vision. We take very seriously the assignment…. Our message is the gospel. Our mission field is the world, beginning right here in Northwest Arkansas.”

In 2009, the city of Fayetteville boasted a population of 74,552. According to research, an estimated 66.1% of the population of Washington county (with the dominant cities being Fayetteville and Springdale) “have never been born again and do not profess having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.” Pastor added, “We know from our own research that we have conducted in the last five years, the most unchurched city in our region is Fayetteville.”

Shawn Smith, Springdale Campus Pastor and Multi-Site Leader, said, “There are a lot of great churches in the city of Fayetteville doing great things for God, but as we looked at the ‘lost’ index of the region and the amount of people who live in the city who don’t attend any church, we are compelled to start a work there. According to the North American Mission Board statistics, there could be as many as 50,000 people who live in the city of Fayetteville who do not have a personal relationship with Christ. This is remarkable, and we must take the gospel to these people.”

Pastor added, “Within our Southern Baptist work in Fayetteville, we have 19 churches in the city and its outlying areas. While those 19 churches touched on a given Sunday 2,108 people, in Fayetteville, they reached and baptized only 107. Dear Church, we must go to Fayetteville more strategically….”

The new Fayetteville campus will be located at 3484 W. Wedington Drive, an area of tremendous population growth and expansion in Fayetteville. The building, which occupies 15,780 square feet, will be leased and “constructed inside as we desire,” said Pastor Floyd. The venue will accommodate 500 individuals with areas for children’s and preschool space and a worship center that will hold 344 people. The building will be completed in the late fall of 2010, though the launch date for this campus has not been determined.

Pastor Floyd announced that Dr. Nick Floyd, Associate Pastor and Preaching Assistant, will serve as Campus Pastor of the Fayetteville location. “We will be trying a new model that includes [Nick] speaking weekly at that location,” Pastor said. “I may be there occasionally in person, but only consistently by simulcast.”

Dr. Nick Floyd is ready for the challenge. “This is an incredible opportunity to reach the people of Fayetteville like never before,” Nick said. “We have a huge task in front of us. We need the prayers and help of every person from Springdale and Pinnacle Hills. We want the city of Fayetteville to know they have a new church who wants to love the community and meet the physical and spiritual needs of those within it.”

While the prayers of everyone in our current locations are vital, Pastor Ronnie Floyd called for no more than 200 adults to help launch the new site. “I need pioneers,” he told the church. “I need people willing to sacrifice to make this location successful. I need people who want to see that city come to Christ. I need people who are willing to commit to attendance, who will invite and bring others, serve in a ministry, and also people who are willing to come alongside the ministry financially.”

On February 11, 2001, when Pastor Floyd challenged the Springdale campus toward the vision of Pinnacle Hills, he closed his message with the words of a hymn. The song, from Pastor’s childhood days in his father’s small Texas church, speaks of a vision and the call toward it. “On Jordan’s stormy banks I stand and cast a wishful eye, to Canaan’s fair and happy land, where my possessions lie. I am bound for the Promised Land. Yes, I am. I am bound for the Promised Land. So who will come and go with me? I am bound for the Promised Land.” In 2001, the church accepted the call toward a new vision, and ever since, lives have been transformed by the power of the Gospel through the ministries of The Church at Pinnacle Hills.

On April 25, 2010, Pastor Floyd again closed his message concerning the advancement of our mission into Fayetteville with the words of the old hymn and added, “I want to be in the will of God. So who will come and go with me?”

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We had a blast together! It was interesting to have someone else plan our date and provide great questions.

Our first stop, after dropping the boys off at my sister’s house, was Colten’s for dinner. According to the date “rules” we were supposed to let the waitress choose our meal. We could give her one stipulation, so we told her no seafood. Since Michael is the picky one I let him choose the stipulation. I was not nervous at all, but our waitress was! I told Michael before we got to the restaurant that we would either get someone who was excited to play along, or get someone who would be apprehensive. Even though she was nervous, she picked out great food. Michael was served a steak, salad, and stemmed broccoli. I had loaded chicken with a side of sweet potato fries. It was so good.

Before we left we had more fun with our waitress. You should have seen her face after she took our picture and asked if there is anything else she was suppose to do. I jokingly replied, “pick up the tab” Ha! We did leave her a big tip for being a good sport. We had great conversation and felt like two teenagers in love while throwing peanut shells at each other.

Michael talking during the picture! Ha!

The next point was to choose an activity to do together. We were going to go to the Razorback baseball game, but I didn’t bring my coat and it was getting cold. We chose a movie instead. No, movies are not the best place for conversation, but we chose the drive-in movies where it is more intimate and asked our questions in between the movies. We watched Blindside (again), and New Moon.

There were great questions to be discussed; picking out a $2.00 dessert in a grocery store for each other; yelling “my husband is HOT” in public; kissing at every red light until someone honks; and carving our initials into a tree. So many fun ideas! We laughed and laughed because we went through many stop lights and they were all green. Finally, we started hitting a few red ones, but nobody would honk at us, even after it turned green a while. Ha!

I love dating my husband! One of my Love Languages is quality time. After last night…

My LOVE TANK is full!

Bod 4 God is a 12 week challenge to a better body. It focuses on the 4 keys to weight loss:

• Honor God with your body
• Motivate yourself for change
• Manage your lifestyle habits
• Build a circle of support

Join us for this Wednesday night study as we dive into Steve Reynolds book on weight loss! For more information, contact Heather Gilbert .

The whole date was awesome so it was difficult to choose. After much debate and discussion, we agreed that our favorite part of the date was Point Three. We went bowling while we discussed all of the “topics”. Not only did we have excellent conversation (as we did throughout the entire date), but also we just had a blast playing together!! We always play games with the babies but we rarely get to play a game by ourselves and I think we had forgotten how much fun we both can be when it is just the two of us. Don’t get me wrong–we still have lots of good times together….but it really felt like we were back to “dating” and not married with two kids. Oh, and not to mention, we laughed a lot about how many petty disagreements we had gotten into because of H.A.L.T. Haha.

Thanks for Great Date #1 and we can’t wait to go on Great Date #2 tonight!!!
Matt and Sara Scott

I just wanted to let you know that you have people doing the date experiment all the way in Seattle

I found your website through a blog that I follow and have since passed it along to my sister and our entire community group at Mars Hill Church in Seattle. We are all loving the dates and really enjoying the conversation that comes from some of the questions. We do wish we had the free childcare though!! I think it is great that you offer that for couples.. what a blessing to them.

Here’s a pic of our last stop on the 2nd date.. dessert. Yum!

Becky

My favorite exclamation point would have to be where we ate our dessert. We were for time sake going to go home and eat it on the porch outside before the kids knew we were home, but our plans changed. As we drove home Blessed Trinity Church was having a carnival and so my husband pulled in there, we walked around and then at our desserts at a table as we talked and people watched. If we were not doing this experiment, we never would have went to pick our desserts, so there would have been no reason to stop at the carnival and spend a few more extra moments together talking. We so enjoyed this experience. Our waitress was great and happy to play along, we had fun in the store, the carnival and even carving our names in to the tree in the dark!!!!!

I wanted to say how much we appreciate you doing this and offering it for anyone to play along. We are excited to see what the next experience will bring.

Thanks again,
Jodie & Ken Smith

We took the boys to the church then headed for the 36 club in Fayetteville. He was so excited about the first ! point. But believe it or not we DID NOT catch a red lights all the way down 71 business to Dickson street, which never happens. We were laughing so hard by the time we got to Dickson and it was a red light we could be still enough to kiss! Which was fun. We have been together for a while now and with raising 2 boys under 4; have two stressful jobs with both mom and dad working fulltime, I know we sometimes just forget to laugh with each other. I love Jon’s laugh, he giggles when he gets really going!

Once we got to the restaurant I yelled to my server “how Hot my man was” Luckily, he thought we were funny and started playing along with us. The night was really all about ENJOYING one another. We loved it and I can’t wait until the next one.

On another note- we are so blessed to have you guys here at FBCS. You guys have been such a blessing. Keep up the great work.

Courtney Palfreeman

We took a picture as we were leaving Wal-Mart with the exclamation point, and then tonight while we enjoyed our dessert.

We’re looking forward to Great Date 2!

Mark and Abby Milbrodt

Holly Wiggs

Okay, so to our favorite Point last night. It would have to be Point Three ( POINT GUARD). We drove to the Church last night as our Special place and drive around the parking lot while we talked and answered the questions. We have not lived in Springdale long so we do not have a “special place”. Church is our “special place”. Due to the weather being so cold and windy we were not able to get out a walk around but we did turn up the heat in the car as point two said. Point three allowed us to really understand when and what makes us tick. The H.A.L.T. questions was very interesting to both Todd and I because we both reach our H.A.L.T moments at almost the same time of the day and it explained a lot to us as to why we run into some of the issues we run into during dinner time & after with our boys.
The one thing that opened our eyes the most was the last 2 question of this point. We both believe that we just need to communicate more in order for God to be happy with our communication. We have such a hard time communicating with each other that we don’t find the time to communicate with God. We both agreed that this was a big thing that has to change in our relationship with each other and with God.
The part of our communication that we think God wishes we would change is that we, as a couple, would communicate with him more. We both agreed that we do not share him with others. We don’t even share him with each other. We are going to work on studying the word together as a couple and as a family.
Point Three was our favorite because it truly helped us see that we need to bring ourselves closer to God as well as our boys.

Attached is the picture we took in our vehicle. The temp. was 25 outside and wind chill was 8 so we did not get out of car. We had a blast during the entire night and look forward to all the date nights to come.

I found the Great Date Experiment via a blog who’d listed it as a fun way to celebrate Valentine’s and work on building a solid marriage. Mentioning the idea to my husband, we both agreed that it would be a good change of pace way to celebrate our 2nd married V-day together.

We really enjoyed the communication plank, although I must admit the freeze-out in the car wasn’t the peak of bliss. We had a lovely (inexpensive!) dinner and fun run through the grocery hunting for desserts.

Our highlight photo is taken at the end of the date, when we were able to shimmy out of our fancy schmancy “date” garb and into comfy cuddly p.j.s. Since we don’t have any trees close by, we opted to carve our names and the date into an inconspicuous spot on our bed. It felt a little naughty and destructive taking a screw and slashing into the well-aged wooden frame, but we had a blast and now have a permanent memory carved into our bed that we’ll be able to smile about each night as we tuck ourselves under the covers.

Thanks for a fun time of sharing and laughs!

April and Jonathan Abarca

For our favorite part of the date we drove to a “special place.” We love waterfalls so we went to the Holiday Inn in Springdale and sat in the atrium listening to the sound of the waterfall. We suddenly realized our favorite TV show was on so we asked if they had a TV we could watch. We sat all alone and watched “The Amazing Race” with the waterfall in the background. We enjoyed talking about the POINT GUARDS during each commercial.

We think Great Date Night should be changed to “AMAZING DATE NIGHT!” We hope all married couples will get excited about marriage and the great testimony we can have throughout NW Arkansas as we share what we are doing. We were able to share at the MarketPlace Grill, at the Holiday Inn, and at Harp’s Food store as we asked various personnel to take our picture.

Thanks for this GREAT DATE #1!

Roland and Cindy Weber

My husband and I are sharing a picture of us following the directions related to point four. It reminded me of one of those game shows where you have a limited amount of time to get certain items in your cart! Ha! It was fun to walk around the store, the whole time thinking of what to get my sweet husband! I wont lie…it was fun to see what he picked out for me. Can you believe I had never had a Twinkie? My husband had a smile on his face the whole time…this whole experiment was very goal oriented and somewhat of a challenge and I think he really liked that Coming up with “new dessert nicknames” was a blast! Although, we have to admit, kissing at every red light until someone honks rivals this part of the experiment!

Thanks for making this available to everyone!

Eric and Leah Schoonover

We chose to go to Copeland’s in Rogers for dinner, it was really funny telling the server to order for us. She was all gung ho and then the General Manager got worried we wouldn’t like what she picked out. He came to our table introducing himself and started to explain what she wanted to do, we tried to cut him off by tell him anything was GREAT, he was worried with the $25+ limit that the Valentine dinner for 2 at $59.99 may not be affordable for us. I guess we looked poor, that is what you get for wearing converse tennis shoes with a blazer. It was wonderful! We followed the guide and did all the questions and are definitely OPPOSITE, I guess what they say is true OPPOSITES attract. We chose the boiling point, because it was freezing outside. Instead of doing the brownie point, we had a dessert at the restaurant that neither of us had ever had and fed it to each other. It was a delicious pecan crusted cheesecake with chocolate and strawberries. The tattoo was easy for me, because my spouse treats me like a “princess” all of the time, many may think “spoiled” would be more appropriate, but I wouldn’t tattoo that on my body. He chose “king”, also thought about “respect” and “loyal”. Nicknames were fun too, we already use a lot like sweetie, honey, and baby, and so we chose not to add another. However my little “cheesecake” came to mind. Our favorite point was the “final point” time alone—OH YEAH!

Thanks for a great date experiment/experience.

In 1973, young, ex-marine Charlie Foster and his wife, Gloria, left their home in Indianapolis, Indiana, bound for Northwest Arkansas with a dream of expanding their family business. While still settling in to their new residence, a bus driver from a local church, First Baptist Church of Springdale, noted a bicycle belonging to the couple’s young daughter in the driveway and stopped to extend an invitation to church. Soon after, a member of the FBCS pastoral team came by the Fosters’ home to visit with the new Arkansans. The result: Gloria Foster accepted Jesus Christ.

Charlie, however, was less than enthused about his wife’s decision.

Still, Gloria determined to attend FBCS the next Sunday. Reluctantly, and after much persuasion, Charlie agreed to tag along. The couple made their way to the church and sat through the sermon together. Gloria, who, at the time, was 7 ½ months pregnant with their second daughter, Dawn, recalls, “When they gave the invitation, I nudged Charlie and asked if this was the time to go down.” Charlie’s response was abrupt. Gloria remembers her husband “snapping at her, telling her to be quiet.” Undeterred, Gloria stood and began walking the aisle toward the front of the church. To her surprise, Charlie came up from behind and managed to “somehow maneuver around her,”beating her down the aisle.

On that day, at the front of FBCS, together on their knees, the lives of Charlie and Gloria Foster were forever changed.

In 1985, Charlie was hired by FBCS as Minister of Singles and Facilities. Today, Charlie continues to serve the church as Minister of Senior Adults and Pastoral Care, a position Charlie both loves and performs with energy and passion. “I can get fired up encouraging our senior adults in living their life to the fullness for His glory. God has also allowed me to walk alongside many who have lost loved ones and encourage them to stay faithful as God is able to see them through the next stage in their life.”

While Charlie feels privileged to minister to the senior adults of FBCS, he also enjoys the opposite end of the spectrum—encouraging young couples as they bring new life into the world. “As I consider what I love most about our church, I would say that it is the people God has placed here and how I have been able to minister to them in many different settings. One of the most miraculous things God has allowed me to be a part of is seeing the wonder of His creation in the life of newborn babies. I stand amazed when I am able to spend time with a young couple and see the joy and love in the gift of a child.”

After twenty-five years at FBCS, Charlie can recall countless extraordinary memories and moments. He shares that some of his favorites involve witnessing God’s healing and restoration in the lives of people. “I have seen Him put together or put back together broken lives—people who have been saved or those who have allowed Him to see them through very difficult times. It is amazing to see God at work.”

When asked to describe how he has seen the church transform during his time here, Charlie answered simply, “The desire to see people come to the Lord has never changed. It was the heart of our church twenty-five years ago, and it is the heart of our church today. As we face the future, FBCS will never fail as long as we keep our focus on Jesus, reaching Northwest Arkansas, America, and the world for Jesus Christ. And we will.”

So, if you are in the halls of FBCS and see a man in a brilliantly-colored suit, bowtie, and with a tremendous smile on his face, holding open a door or shaking a hand, odds are it is Charlie Foster, still doing God’s work after twenty-five years… and loving every minute of it.

Charlie and Gloria’s daughters, Alesha and Dawn, both graduated from Shiloh Christian School. Alesha and her husband, Corbin, have two children: Presley (2) and Maddyn (7 mo). Dawn and her husband, Greg, have three children, Abbey (9), Emma (7), and Will (2).
Click here to download the entire March 2010 edition of RealLife.

By God’s grace, the final report and recommendations of the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force were overwhelmingly approved on Tuesday afternoon at the Southern Baptist Convention.  Along with a new generation of  young leaders, we are all encouraged and fired up about our commitment as Southern Baptists to reach the nations. Thank you for praying for me, the Task Force, and for the furtherance of the Gospel.

To God be the glory!

I look forward to being back with you on Sunday; let’s have a great day in the Lord

This is our first ever SportsLife kickball league!! The cost is $10 per individual or $15 per couple and this does not include team t-shirts. Must be 16 years old or older to play. Games will be played on Monday, Tuesday, or Thursday nights depending on the number of registered teams. This is a great way to get in shape for summer and have a fun time of fellowship with one another at the same time. Don’t miss out on the fun!  For official rules, click here .

On February 27 and 28 of last year, men from all over Northwest Arkansas were invited to attend a conference at The Church at Pinnacle Hills entitled Fearless. Our church leaders began planning for the conference with the hope of engaging between 400 and 500 men. Instead, just over 1,100 men participated in Fearless, far surpassing all expectations. Shawn Smith, Springdale Campus Pastor, describes, “God blew us away. We had men who came who had lost their jobs, sons who came with their fathers, and God met us in a powerful way….”

Two of those men in attendance were Ken Hough and Mark Sewell.

Ken Hough, an employee of Tyson Foods, began attending The Church at Pinnacle Hills with his fiancé, Nicole. The couple’s relationship was in trouble, and Ken admits he was “searching for answers.” Ken contemplated attending the conference but was “unsure if [he] wanted to take the step.” He explains, “This was all new to me. Finally, Nicole just asked if I wanted to go. Next thing I knew, she registered me. Truth is, it was God’s pursuit of me working through Nicole. And I had no idea what to expect.”

But when Ken stepped into the Pinnacle Hills Gatheria on the first night of the conference, he was “amazed how welcoming, helpful, friendly, and kind everyone was, and the conference hadn’t even started yet.” A short time later, as Pastor Ronnie Floyd began speaking from the book of Daniel, Ken’s mind resonated with one thought, “I want to be that man. I want to be fearless.”

Later, during Nick Floyd’s message, “Fearless through Weakness,” Ken was struck by the idea that “God’s grace is sufficient.” Ken explains, “I think it was then that I truly started to feel weak. The whole time I had been trying to do everything on my own, be in control… in the driver’s seat. I thought I could fix what was broken. I sat there numb.”

As Nick concluded, Pastor Floyd took the stage and ended the session with an invitation. Ken remembers, “It was the first time I had ever gotten up from my seat during an invitation. It was the first time I ever prayed and opened myself to God, saying, ‘I can’t do this myself anymore. I am weak, but your grace IS sufficient.’ At that moment, it was like a chilling rush of calm and peace came pouring from the back of the Worship Center over me. The tears stopped. I felt together and at peace. I looked around at all the other men at the altar and wondered what had just happened.”

Shortly after, Ken met with Nick Floyd at a local restaurant, and in Ken’s words, “I took my first steps in becoming a fearless man.” On that day in that restaurant, Ken accepted Jesus Christ. “I was ready,” Ken said. “… And it was my decision.”

When asked how the Fearless conference affected his life, Ken responded, “Well, I was saved. That’s a pretty huge effect. I’m not perfect… nowhere near. But the Fearless conference allowed me to start reaching out and making friends with good Christian men who will help pick me up when I fall and help me with my walk as I continue to grow in Christ.”

Mark Sewell also attended Fearless. Mark, a father of three and a local chiropractor, was a member of First Baptist Church of Springdale and drawn to the conference by the title. He explains, “I realized that I was fearful of totally surrendering every area of my life to the Lord. I knew that if men would humble themselves… and truly abandon themselves to the will of the Father, something amazing would happen. I wanted to be a partaker of what the Lord had in store….”

And Mark was not disappointed. He remembers the moment that “touched his heart” near the conference’s end and time of invitation—the same invitation Ken Hough walked the aisle for the first time. Mark recalls, “Men went forward with hearts that were broken before the Lord. I could tell walls were falling down and men were being set free from all kinds of fear.”

Mark Sewell believes the Fearless conference helped him renew a passion to be courageous for the Lord. “The humility I saw in other men encouraged me to know that I am not alone—that other men face the same challenges that I do every day. I was challenged to live my life for eternity; to live fearlessly for my King; to totally surrender every area of my life to Him; to see Him first in all things; and to abide in Him.”

When asked how he would encourage other men to attend the upcoming men’s conference, Mark answered, “I would tell them that if we seek Him, we will find Him. There is nothing more important for any man than being what God has created him to be. I would tell them that we need to learn to lean on one another instead of trying to do it all on our own.” Ken Hough is the first to agree. He adds, “If you’re thinking about going, stop thinking about it and just register. There is nothing to lose and everything to gain.”

This year, the Northwest Arkansas Men’s Conference: Men at the Cross, will be held on February 26 and 27 at The Church at Pinnacle Hills. The conference will be partnering with Joe White, Rick Rigsby, and Men at the Cross, a “ministry of radically committed men serving Christ, family, church, and the workplace.” Speakers include Dr. Joe White, Dr. Rick Rigsby, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, and Dr. Nick Floyd, and worship will be led by Josh Stanbery.

Take it from Ken Hough. “Lives were changed last year, and lives will certainly be changed again. When it was all said and done at Fearless, it was difficult for me to find the words to describe the experience. You just have to feel it for yourself.”

Ken and Nicole Hough were married by Nick Floyd in May 2009. They have two children, Drew and Peyton, and a baby on the way. Mark Sewell and his wife Regina live in Springdale and have three children, Hayle, Braegan, and Blayne.

Click here to download the entire February 2010 edition of RealLife.

Great Date Downloads

• Download Great Date #1
• Download Great Date #2
• Download Great Date #3
• Download Great Date #4 for Husbands
• Download Great Date #4 for Wives

Great Date #5 is a little different because it is an MP3 audio download. Please right click on the downloads and listen to the audio. Track 1 will give you a small detail about what is on tracks 2, 3, and 4. Choose the option that is the most relevant to your marriage. Follow all the instructions and have a blast on your date!!

• Download Track #1
• Download Track #2
• Download Track #3
• Download Track #4

Great Date #6

All of these dates have led up to this one- Finish Strong!!  We hope these dates have brought you and your spouse closer and you two have talked about things that normally you would not have.  The goal is to learn about one another, see each other differently, and accept and cherish both of you individually as well as the ‘WE’ you created.  Please note that on page 5 of this download it says to send in your stories to a web address.  Just disregard this address and send it to datestory@fbcs.net.  We saved the best for last, so have a blast on your date!! Oh Yeah!!!

• Download Great Date #6

F.N.O.

For those of you living in the Springdale area, we will be offering free childcare on these nights through our Friday Night Out program.  If you would like more information about childcare, email ryanb@fbcs.net or click on the Friday Night Out link on the right side of this webpage.

We’re going back to Sky Ranch Cave Springs! Everyone had such a great time last year, we’re headed back again this year. Remember, Kid’s Kamp is for children who have completed grade 3-5, and registration is not complete until you have turned in the 2010 Permission Slip and the Sky Ranch Release Form. Click on to download, or they can be picked up in Kidz Inc and PH Kids’ offices. You may also sign up for horseback riding and paintballing for an additional fee of $15 each (must be 9 years old to horseback, 10 years old to paintball). Parents, if you missed the meeting or misplaced your form, please download the Camp Packing List that includes all the information you need to help your child prepare for camp. Don’t miss Kids Kamp this year! It’s going to be so much fun.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1

Being an avid sports enthusiast, Wiley served as Chaplain to the Atlanta Braves for 14 years. He graduated from Asbury College and Northeastern Bible College, where he also taught and coached.

Wiley leads the Winning With Encouragement organization and is teaching their most recent seminars: The Look of the Leader and The Encouragement Seminar.

Walt and his wife, Patty teach a marriage seminar entitled, How to Get Your Mate to be Just Like You… So You’ll Both Be Perfect. Walt and Patty have been married 35 years and have two grown sons, Bart and Brett.

Register Now

These gifts will go to help provide medical and food supplies for the victims in Haiti. We will partner with Baptist Global Response (BGR) and our direct Haiti Mission relationships. BGR is our global Southern Baptist Relief and Development organization that connects people in need with people who care.

For more information regarding BGR go to www.sbc.net.

Mandatory evaluations are in the SEC Gym on March 1st, 2nd, or 4th from 6:00-8:00 PM.  Practices begin April 26th.  We would love to have you on our team!  For more information contact Ashley Patterson.

Join us each Wednesday night for bible study for senior adults. For more information contact Charlie at charlief@fbcs.net.  The study this session is on the book of Ephesians.

Due to the oil spill in the Gulf Coast, we are changing locations for camp this year. Camp Windermere is located in central Missouri on the Lake of the Ozarks. You can learn more about Camp Windermere at www.windermereusa.org . Ken Freeman will still be speaking, and the Nick Thurmond band will still be leading worship. When we leave on Monday morning, we will not be stopping for lunch, so be sure to eat before you come. Bring snacks for the bus if you want. We will be returning on Friday at 4:00 PM. We will be having a parent camper meeting Sunday June13th  right after connection groups. More details and information will be available at that time. For additional information, contact Julie Birchfield.

When Shawn Smith went to a Student Pastors’ conference in April of 2001, he had no idea God was about to change his life forever.

“One morning I read Psalm 84 where it says, ‘blessed is the man…who sets his heart on pilgrimage.’ For me, that was a clarion call that I needed to see God and His presence in a fresh way in my life.” Shawn knew God was calling him to a 40-day fast.

But it was a big step for Shawn. The longest he’d ever fasted was seven days. Shawn had watched his wife, Tracey, be transformed on a previous 40-day fast she embarked upon. Although he was still reluctant to go on the journey himself, he was so desperate to see a new work of God in his life that he was determined to “go there or die trying.” Less than one week after God’s call, Shawn began his 40-day journey of fasting and prayer.

Shawn didn’t really know what he expected God to do during his fast. He knew he wanted to draw closer to the Lord, but really didn’t have any idea how God would reveal himself. “I was so desperate; I didn’t have any big dreams of what God would do. I just thought, if I make it out alive, bless God. And if I don’t, bless Him then, too.” As he began his fast, Shawn made a list of 15 things he was praying about. Some were for his family, but most were about his desire for personal revival.

Tracey took the journey along with Shawn, not only as a spouse, but a prayer warrior. Tracey took the first ten days to prepare herself physically and spiritually to be an intercessor, then joined Shawn on his fast. She used their son’s afternoon naptime and mealtimes for prayer and study of God’s Word. Shawn had shared a few things he was praying about with her, but mostly she interceded on Shawn’s behalf.

The initial hunger was difficult. At the time, Shawn was serving at Great Hills Baptist Church in Austin, Texas. As a Student Pastor, Shawn was always around food when he was with students. But he came to realize that without the distraction of worrying about his own physical need, he was able to be more focused on the people he was with. He began to understand that “mealtime should be about connecting with people, not stuffing your face. I came to realize how dependent I had become on food and how small my prayer life was. The longer I fasted, the more I wanted God and the less I wanted physical nourishment.”

Satan had plans to derail and discourage Shawn. There were a lot of strange spiritual attacks during his fasting journey. “One night, our home computer crashed. I lost four years’ worth of sermons. Gone. It was like Satan was saying, ‘I’ll show you.’ But I knew I was more spiritually aware at that time, and also knew God would bring me through it.”

During his daily Bible reading, Shawn found another passage that helped him understand why God had called him to fast. Psalm 143:11 says, “For the sake of Your name, O LORD, revive me in Your righteousness, bring my soul out of trouble.” “I realized that my personal revival wasn’t for my good. It was for God’s glory. I desperately wanted my own life to be changed, but realized it would only happen if God got the glory.”

Shawn made no public announcement of his fast and privately told very few. About halfway through the fast, he was sitting on the stage after a Wednesday night student worship service. He was weak and wasn’t feeling well. One of the students asked him if he was sick. It was then that Shawn realized he was broken not only spiritually, but physically.

Due to a recent check-up at the doctor, Shawn knew he was not in good health. He was almost a hundred pounds overweight and knew that if he didn’t make changes to his lifestyle, his health would continue to decline. God revealed more to him during his journey. “When I’d finished my fast, I hadn’t lost a lot of weight, maybe 30 pounds. But I felt so convicted about my life and my physical fitness that I began to walk, then run and work out. I had always been an athlete, but had not taken care of my body.” Ultimately, Shawn believes the things God showed him during those 40 days saved his life. But he is quick to point out that fasting is not a weight-loss program. “This is not ‘The Biggest Loser.’ It’s not a contest. You should check with your doctor, but be prepared because not all doctors believe in fasting, especially extended fasts.”

And not all Christians do, either. Once word of Shawn’s fast became public knowledge, he was surprised to receive negative feedback from several people. By that time, Psalm 143 was ringing in his ears and Shawn knew the journey was about God’s glory, not his. It didn’t really matter to him what others thought.

Breaking his fast, Shawn felt emotionally drained and recharged at the same time. “I went to Texas Land and Cattle and ate a dry baked potato and a cracker. It was weird. But I was filled with anticipation about what God would do next.” That same weekend, Shawn, Tracey, and their son Kyle were involved in a car accident. Sorting through the aftermath was challenging, yet God used it for His ultimate good. And that’s what Shawn believes life is about. God’s glory.

Shawn ended his fast a different man. Tracey says, “I cannot emphasize or share enough about how mentally, emotionally, and spiritually different he was after the fast. This was truly my biggest challenge because he was a different person completely. There was an intensity and passion that was born out of that time that remains today.”

Regarding fasting with others, Tracy also offers, “Do not take lightly the opportunity to intercede and participate with someone in a fast. I call this fast “our” journey because God used it in both of our lives. I learned the discipline of praying under and for my given authority, and as a result continue to reap the benefit of the answers we prayed for during the fast. Do not underestimate the lasting answers from such a short period of time.”

The longest fast Shawn has done since that time is seven days. “Remembering the power of it makes you want to do it again. But it’s important to understand that it’s not what you’re fasting from, it’s about what you’re fasting for. It’s not about the absence of food. It’s about pursuing God so intently that you are willing to draw away from your normal life and be with Him. There is incredible spiritual insight and power that comes with prayer and fasting. The days I spent on my first extended fast have forever shaped my life.”

Click here to download the entire January 2010 edition of RealLife.