We were meant to live for so much more…

My friend Chris Miller is the youth pastor at Church of the Heartland’s Plymouth campus.  One of my favorite parts of the week is going youth group!  Chris went on the mission trip to Uganda with me, and last week at youth she spoke about living for something bigger than yourself.  She showed this video:

Her message was basically this: we were meant to live for so much more!  When we fulfill Jesus’ command to love God with all of our hearts, all of our souls, all of our minds, and all of our strength, it won’t matter to us how much stuff we have.  We won’t be competing with each other for the best cell phone or the fanciest iPod.  When we focus on loving God and caring about what He cares about, the rest of our priorities will line up. 

Like most of the teens who were listening, her words challenged me.  And I want to challenge YOU – think about what you’re living for, where you spend your time and resources, and what is most important in your life.  Do you care about what God cares about?  Let’s encourage each other to keep our hearts and minds focused on things that will matter in eternity.  Because we were meant to live for so much more….

Leigh Anne

We’re Home!

Some very tired, very grateful missionaries arrived back in the States late Monday night.  I’m still amazed at what God did in Uganda.  Childrens’ and youth workers were empowered…. 400+ kids and 125 youth showed up at two simultaneous camps and heard the message that they were God’s treasures….. and pastors and leaders from all over the nation of Uganda attended our leadership conference.  They were blessed, encouraged, and refreshed as they went home to reach their regions with the gospel.

Our mission trip was incredible.  I will never forget the awesome children at Grace Children’s Home at the Beshiishas’ house.  Their stories and their faces have left a permanent impression.  We were blessed to spend time with Williams and Peruth in their home  and to get to know their church family, who served us tirelessly while we were visiting.

Thank you to everyone who prayed for us or supported a team member financially!  Continue to keep Williams and Peruth and their ministry in your prayers.  When we see you, we would love to tell you some Uganda stories!

This missionary is still very tired from the long journey, though… Bye for now

Leigh Anne

Summer in the Heartland

In Logansport, we’ve been celebrating Summer in the Heartland by dressing according to different themes.  Last week was tie dye or Hawaiian day.  Check out some Logansport people showing their spirit!

This week we honored our graduates from KWAM and nursery and our high school graduates and celebrated with cupcakes after service.  We had nine total graduates, and we are very proud of them!

Tomorrow a mission team of fourteen Heartlanders leaves for a mission trip to Uganda.  Be sure to keep them in your prayers!

Happy Birthday, Pastor Heath!

Today we’re celebrating the birthday of  Church of the Heartland’s awesome president, Pastor Heath Hiatt!  Pastor Heath, we at the Logansport campus just want to thank you for everything you do to bless Church of the Heartland.  We love seeing your face every Sunday on the video announcements   Without your leadership, your vision, and your input, Heartland wouldn’t be the same.  We appreciate you!

So, quick everybody, visit Pastor Heath’s blog or his facebook page and tell him happy birthday!

Ode to Summer

I am a 9th grade English teacher at a tiny school called Caston…. and we only have a few more days until school gets out for the summer!  In celebration of both the end of our poetry unit and the end of our school year, I had my young poets write poems called “Ode to Summer.”  The second one, although not the most poetically correct, is probably my favorite.  Here are the summer thoughts of freshmen, captured in their poetry…

Enjoy And happy summer to everyone!  Leigh Anne

Ode to Summer

Oh, sweet summer

How I wish you would come!

No more school, no more stress

It’s all just a bunch of fun.

Oh, sweet summer

How I wish you lasted all year!

No spring, no fall, no winter at all

Oh, sweet summer

How I love you so much!

Sleep in late, party all night

Eat all you can munch

Oh, sweet summer

You’re such a beautiful thing

No pain, all freedom

Makes me want to go insane

Ode to Summer

Summer, you bring so many nice things

From flowers to birds to rain and sunshine.

You make it possible to swim outdoors

But you also bring more chores to do

Like mow the grass, pull weeds,

And other things my mom can think of.

But you are better than some seasons

For you provide the most

Like fruits and meats and other things that are in season

But this year’s summer is going to be the worst

Because I won’t be able to do much but work

Because of that one little D in algebra

Because when I get grounded in the last semester

I can’t get ungrounded till next year’s report card

Ode to Summer

Ode to never ending sunshine,

to road trips that I never want to end

to extra time

Ode to crazy tan lines

to shorts and flip flops

to pool parties and outdoor barbecues

Ode to open houses by the dozens

and free food galore,

to saying goodbye to friends

and an older brother charging into the future

Getting Ready for Summer

At the Logansport campus, we celebrated the long holiday weekend (woo!) and geared up for summer in the Heartland by wearing our sunglasses!  It was a hit!  Check out some of the Logan faces rockin’ the shades

Next week we’re going with a tie-dye theme.  Can’t wait to see what people come up with!

Uganda Update

I thought you may enjoy an update on our ‘09 mission trip to Uganda.  14 missionaries will be leaving for Uganda June 8-22.  Our focus this year is leadership training as well as kids and youth camps.  Thursday & Friday of the first week, we’ll be sharing vision and strategy to youth and kids leaders.  Saturday we’ll be hosting a kids camp at one location and a youth camp at another.  The goal will be to provide on the job training for the conference attendees as they work side by side with us at camps.

Week 2 will be spent nourishing Pastors at Word of Life as we host a leadership conference for Pastors in Entebee.  Another awesome part of the camp is that all Pastors that have been trained through GIM Bible Colleges are invited for the week of teaching and fellowship.  Daily workshops will be provided to encourage and build up Pastors!

Friends, please pray for our team…unity,  impact,  protection and fruitfulness.  Thanks to all who have support the mission through prayer, giving, and words of encouragement.

This video reminded me of what an awesome privilege it is to preach  the gospel in another nation.  Watch it and let it touch your heart.

Michele

Wear Your Sunglasses…

This Sunday, we would like everyone to wear their favorite pair of sunglasses to church!  We are gearing up for our summer sermon series, and there will be a different themed item that we’ll ask everyone to wear to get into the spirit of the season as summer gets closer.  I, for one, can’t wait until it is finally here!  Let’s celebrate the warm weather – and the school vacation – together!

Another important reminder is that there will be a YOUTH PARTY on Sunday at 2:00 at Pastor Jim and Michele’s house.  This is going to be a fun kickoff for summer youth events, and all teenagers and their friends are invited.  It will be a great opportunity to get connected and learn more about what Church of the Heartland Logansport has to offer teenagers!  We have an awesome youth team assembled, and I am really, really excited about what God is going to do in our teens’ lives.  Pray for an amazing kickoff on Sunday!

Currently happening in Logansport…

I have a few thoughts to share with you!

First, here at the Logansport campus, we are LOVING Heartland United!  It’s an awesome chance to connect and learn more about each other.  We have had a great turn out at our small group discussion, and it’s really been a blessing to get into God’s Word and get connected.   I also love hearing from so many different pastors!  Praising God for mogulus and a church family that extends way beyond Logansport, Indiana!

And how great is it that we can do life together from the comfort of our own homes and still be part of what’s going on at Church of the Heartland??  I love technology.

In other news, the deadline to register for KIDS CAMP, which is happening June 4-6, is coming up this Sunday.  The cost is $85, and it’s going to be an awesome time for the kids (and the adults who are going to be part of camp).  After the deadline we can’t accept any more campers, so be sure to see Leigh Anne and fill out an application if your child or someone you know wants to go to kids camp!  I can’t wait!

Don’t forget about the Crosshair meeting this Sunday after church!  Come and be part of planning what’s going to happen next at Church of the Heartland.  Everyone is welcome!

Have a great week!

Heartland United

Heartland United is coming to you Thursday April 30, May 7, and May 14 at the Logansport Campus. COTH ministries are hosting mid-week video teachings called Heartland United. We will be using great COTH teachers with a message that is burning in their hearts broadcasting live from their campus or home. Mark your calendars and plan on being part of this new avenue of teaching people through technology!

If you can’t make it to church, church will come to you. On these dates starting at 7pm, you can watch it live on Mogulus. Here is a link.

www.mogulus.com/churchoftheheartland

This will be LIVE and you can ask questions from home or at the local churches through Mogulus. There will be time set apart for interaction and relationship, not just a message.

If you need a shot of FAITH in the middle of the week, well here it is.