First Steps One-On-One Discipleship Seminar Scheduled for Hutto, Texas

We are pleased to annouce the First Steps Discipleship Seminar is coming to Hutto, Texas on Saturday, February 12, 2011.

First Steps is a unique one-on-one discipleship approach that will give you the resources and confidence needed to disciple another to love Jesus. First Steps uniquely teaches foundational Christian disciplines, and gives the average believer the confidence needed to fulfill the Great Commission.

Watch a video overview and Register On-Line today.

First Steps Discipleship Seminar
Saturday, February 12, 2011
New Hope Christian Church
206 Farley St.
Hutto, Texas 78634
Register OnLine or call (512) 914-2242

Advance Registration is $35 (includes one workbook)
Registration at the door is $50

First Steps Discipleship Presentations

It is The Commission of the church ...

... go make disciples, baptizing them in the name ... and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. - Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Are the members of your local church engaged in discipling others to love and follow Jesus? Join Pastor Ray Willis from Springfield, Ohio on August 10th or 11th to learn about First Steps One-On-One Discipleship. First Steps will equip you with tools and confidence to disciple another to love and follow Jesus.

Presentations are scheduled in the Austin, Texas area for Monday and Tuesday, August 10th and 11th. Meals are served at these presentations and there is no charge for Pastors or Ministry Leaders. Please call or email, if you are interested in attending. Click here to learn more on our web-site >>

For those outside the Austin area, we would be honored to speak with you about bringing First Steps Discipleship to your community.

Coming Together to Thank God

It was truly a great blessing! I do not ever recall being a part of such a Spirit-filled community event. Six of the sixteen Christian churches in Hutto united to praise the name of Jesus and to thank God for all that He has done. The unified praise team came together for the gospel, and made a joyous noise of thanks and adoration of Almight God!

This is the third Hutto Community Thankgiving Service I've participated in. Pastor Tim Muhlbrad of Hutto Lutheran Church is culprit in getting pastors together. There were 121 folks that attended. We collected $314 for the Hope Pregnancy Center in Hutto, and some non-preishable items for the Food Pantry. We also had a Turkey Raffle, that was won by my daughter. I caught some grief over that, but she had found a needy home for it, before the "comradery" caught up with me.

The following churches participated ...

New Hope Christian Church, Michael Roepke, Minister
New Revelation Baptist Church, Pastor F.L. Harris
Family of God Church, Pastor Chris Ross
LaHermosa Church of Hutto, Pastor Jerry Reynaga
Hutto Lutheran Church, Pastor Tim Muhlbrad
Straight Gate Fellowship, Pastor James McGilveary

Pastor McGilveary preached a good word on being thankful for whatever you have and whatever situtation you're in. I was priveledge to read President Theodore Roosevelt's final Thanksgiving Proclamation (1908). Read more on Roosevelt's proclamation here >>

Praise God for the Great Things He Hath Done!

Hippos are Happy Even in the Mud

We've lived in Hutto for over two years now, and we've like this "little town" very much. Certainly it has muck and mire like everywhere else, but Hutto has been able to maintain a small town feel, even in the midst of explosive growth. The people here are happy Hippos, even though we all have our mud puddles to deal with.

A number of exciting efforts are underway in Hutto. I am co-ordinating the Hutto Ministerial Alliance with the prompting and support of Hutto Police Chief, Harold Thomas. The fellowship and camaraderie of the pastors is great.

The Ministerial Alliance started an "Adopt-A-Cop" program, where each church is praying for and encouraging specific police personnel. Police Chaplain training by the International Conference of Police Chaplains is set for early May. We have nine ministers/pastors registered, and expect more to participate.

The Cities of Hutto and Taylor have adopted an Army unit that deploys to Iraq in June. The unit does aviation attack and recon. The cities will help support the troops and their families, before and during deployment. Click here to see the press release.


I'm also leading a group of local volunteers that has put together two National Day of Prayer events for Hutto, Texas. ABG is sponsoring the events and hosting the web-site: http://www.prayhutto.org/. Hutto Mayor, Ken Love, issued a National Day of Prayer proclamation to Hutto citizens on April 17th, 2008. We look forward to seeing God answer prayers for "little town" and our nation.

BTW: Remember the Jena Six? Read about the revival that recently took off in Jena, LA, where racial tensions captured media attention last fall.