He is Risen!
He is Risen, Indeed!

This joyous exclamation proclaiming the resurrection of our Lord is declared by believers around the world. In at least 250 languages, Christians greet one another with this good news, reflecting the New Testament passages that record the announcement to the disciples and to the world. "He's alive!" "The tomb is empty!" "He is not here!" "He is risen, just as he said!"

Imagine the grief of the hour as they took His lifeless body from the cross and placed Him in the grave. Imagine the excitement of those who were the first to hear..."Christ is risen!"

This Easter week we will celebrate the resurrection with the same excitement that has characterized Easter worship for believers for over 2000 years. In doing so, we join millions who declare that He is Lord.

In some countries, the paschal greeting is accompanied by a triple kiss of peace. We may not be doing that this Sunday, but if you join us this week in worship, there's a really good chance you may get to say to the world "Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed!"

Bro. Mickey

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Note:
Upper Room Weekly Communion Discontinued
The Upper Room will still be open for prayer each Sunday at 9:15, but communion will no longer be served at that time. Details here.

Children's Ministry - Building the House

This summer our theme for Over the Edge Pre-teen Camp is LEGOs. Hopefully, you remember the time you had a LEGO set or children played with them. I remember having fun with legos as a kid, but they were not as cool as they are today. In this day and time you can make anything. People have made the Star Wars Death Star, life-size car, an air craft carrier, and even a LEGO version of Stephen Hawking (Don’t ask me why.) The main scripture for the week is Hebrews 3:4- “Every house is built by someone. But God is the builder of everything.”

When I first saw that verse, I thought how appropriate for me starting at Northside. Even though the last children’s minister and volunteers had developed a good structure, there are many opportunities to add and build to it. My desire is that God will to be in charge of building this children’s ministry. To do this, I will need volunteers to step up and help build a dynamic children’s ministry that will reach all of Victoria.

There are two things that we will be adding to and building on. The first is Kid’s Worship on Sunday mornings. Please pray about helping in that area, whether it is once a month or every Sunday. We will be starting a new curriculum, and will be making some changes. For this to happen, I will need you to be a part of the help.

Starting May 11, we will be starting Extreme Kid’s Live. This will be a fun program that will be an outreach to unchurched kids. This is a very easy program to serve in, and there is no lesson preparation involved. If you are interested in serving this summer, contact me at davebenefield@victoria.org.


Dave

He Knows My Name

     “Grayson, Bobby, Katy, whatever your name is please pick up that toy.”  This is how a typical conversation may begin at our home.  I’m not sure about you, but having a wife, three children, and two dogs I easily get confused on who I am talking to.  This is especially true when I am flustered or frustrated.  I’m sure this has never happened to any of you reading this.  Why am I sharing this with you?  Reading through the scriptures recently I noticed several times God reminding us that He knows us personally even calling us by name. 

 “But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” Isaiah 43:1

 “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep” John 10:14-15

 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” Jeremiah 1:5

     I’m not sure about you but it is very humbling to consider I get confused with my very small family yet God knows each name of the ones He created.  With roughly 7.1 billion people on this planet that is no small task.  Not only does He know who we are but He has plans for each one of us.  Again being the leader of a small family it is often hard for me just to keep up with our weekly schedule let alone the future plans.  All of these things have allowed me to focus on just how small and weak we truly are.  There is nothing we could do that could even come close to the power of God.  Why is that God feels the need to tell us so many times how He knows us and created us?  It is because to many times in days of trial and tribulation our minds wonder and question if God really hears us, knows us, or cares about us. 

     He knows our voice but do you know His?  My children know my voice because they hear me frequently.  When they are playing outside and I call for them they come because my voice is familiar to them. Do we know the voice of God? How can you know the voice of God?  Listen for Him.  If you listen you will hear.  We do not become familiar with something by doing it once or twice a month you must be constantly listening for God’s voice.  Isn’t it good to know that our Father is never distracted from us, never forgets our name, and never takes His attention from us?  This week take some time to actually listen for God.  Clear your thoughts and remove the distractions and just spend some time talking with God.  Remember you don’t need to introduce yourself He already knows your name! 

 Tom Smith

Pastor of Music and Worship

Waiting...Waiting...Waiting!

WAITING!  WAITING!  WAITING! 

This weekend my wife and I went and watch our youngest son at a school track meet.  We spent most of our day sitting in the sun and cool breeze just watching and waiting for our son’s events to take place.  Lots and lots of waiting.

                Then finally it came time for our son’s events and the waiting was over.  We sat up and watched with more intensity.  We didn’t want to miss one minute as he took his mark and waited for his events to begin.

                Many times we ask God to intervene or act on our behalf and then we wait and watch.  Waiting can sometimes become hard.  We may not understand why we have to wait, but God’s timing is always best.  So therefore, we may have to wait.

                Matthew 24:42 “…keep watch because you do not know on what day the Lord will come.” 

When God decides it’s time to move and work in our lives we need to sit up and watch with intensity.  We need to be ready.  We need to be looking out for God to begin moving and meeting our needs and request. 

Many times we get distracted while waiting.  Our minds wonder and we begin day dreaming to the point we miss out on that which we were waiting on.  I grew up in a deer hunting family and can remember getting up while it was still dark and going out to sit in the deer stand.  The waiting game began.  There were a few times I fell asleep and almost fell out of my chair.  On one occasion I remember jerking myself awake and looking around and there was a deer looking right at me.  The second I began to reach for the gun the deer was off and out of site.

As Christians we need to be watching as we wait.  When we see that God is moving/working we will be ready to join in.  So remember to keep watch!  Because you do not know when the Lord will show up.  See you Sunday,

Mike

               

I served at my first church for over 11 years. This was a place I had become very established in my ministry and routine. I went to my second church and served three and half years.  Both times it was not easy to leave because I dreaded the “start over phase”. It is never easy. Looking for a new place to live, making new friends, figuring out a routine, starting over in ministry, figuring out all the new rules, and anything else that a new person has to do. (Now please don’t misunderstand me- I am very excited about being at Northside.) Then I paused for a brief moment and realized I may have it all backwards.  I was given a new start and a brand new chance to do things differently. God was giving me a great opportunity  to have an impact for the kingdom. On my first Sunday, one of the things I made up my mind to do would be something different than I had ever done before. I started taking pictures of all the kids, and writing down their names so I could learn them. It didn’t matter how many changes to the programs I made or new things I added. More than ever, the most important thing was to immediately start building a relationship with the Northside kids. 

Before Christ converted people over to Him, he spent time getting to know them. One of my favorite examples is Zacchaeus. On surface level, he was a major “loser”. This man was dishonest, looked like a runt, and was mostly considered a sinner because he collected taxes for the Roman government. Most Jews despised anybody that worked for the Roman government. The plan of Christ was so much different He spent time getting to know them first. Not once did Zacchaeus’ past prevent Christ from starting a relationship with Him. (For the record, at all of the churches I have served, I would eventually get to know all the kids and was concerned about building a relationship with them.) At Northside I have a new opportunity to be more effective for him and the kingdom. Learning names is important to me, but most importantly, kids matter to God. Another story I think about is when Jesus lets the kids come to Him. The kids came to Jesus as they are; however, the disciples were trying to stand in the way of them coming to Jesus. Christ response was “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”(Mark 10:14)

Not only do I have the opportunity to do things better than I have before, but Christ gives us a new start every day. How can we make the most of it? Maybe Christ wants to reveal something new that will impact your life and others. 

Dave Benefield

Minister to Children

You're Being Watched!

You’re being watched, And you don't even know it

Think about it.

Our government is watching the other countries. Those countries are watching us and everyone else.  

With this being an election year everyone, especially the media, is watching each candidate, waiting to see what their next move will be.

With the social media at your fingertips, we are watching each other almost instantly, as life is happening.  Even as it takes place on the other side of the town, state, country, and world.

If you know that you are always being watched, does that make you live your life differently?  As Christian’s men and women of the faith, what is the world observing about us?  What do they see as they are watching us?

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:1-2 NIV

My bible say that we are to “Imitate God…” act like God would.  What would happen if the world…Texas...Victoria, watched Christians that were all imitating, acting like God?

As we end the week reflect back on the conversations, the encounters, and those you simply passed by. When they looked at you did they see you…….or did they see God? 

As we prepare for next week know that you are being watched!  Watched by those you have conversations with, those you encounter, those that you simply pass by, those that work with you, your neighbors, your children, and more.  And yes, God is also watching you. 

Be an imitator of Christ.  May others watch Jesus, not you.

Serving Him Together,

Mike

Hospitality, Fear, and the Times in Which We Live…

Hospitality, Fear, and the Times in Which We Live…

A few weeks ago, December 20^th, to be exact…I had the privilege of preaching in our Sunday Morning Worship Service. Something very awkward happened right before our service that was somewhat troublesome, raising my blood pressure and a fear in me that I have not experienced before…

A young man entered our Worship Center and told the volunteers working the Welcome Center that he “needed to speak to the pastor.”  As you are aware, we are currently searching for a Senior Pastor. Mickey, our Assistant Pastor, was in New York visiting his children and grandchildren. So, not sure what to do our Welcome Center Volunteers began looking for me.

I went over to the Welcome Center to meet the young man they were speaking about. He wore a baggy coat and had it buttoned all the way up. The bottom of his coat stuck out a bit, as if he had something tucked into the front of his pants. Upon greeting him, he said, “I need to speak to you man-to-man!” I had never seen this young man before. The more he talked, the more nervous and fearful I became.

I was sure that I did not want to take him into my office to visit, so we walked over by the church library, where we could speak, yet be in the line of vision of our Welcome Center volunteers. I asked the young man how I could assist him or if there were anything that I could pray with him about. He simply replied, “I’m here” and said nothing more… (At the time, I was trying to figure out what he had under his coat…was it one of those fanny pack things?…or was it possibly…a weapon?) I thanked him for coming to Northside and asked him if he was hungry. We had a great church-wide breakfast that morning. He said he had not eaten, so I walked him over to the fellowship hall. Our deacons welcomed him and provided him with a nice plate of food. He proceeded to enter the fellowship hall and eat. Our safety team was notified and some deacons volunteered to visit with the young man.

By this time it was 10:35am with our morning Worship Service about to start, so I returned to the Worship Center to prepare for the service. A fear that something bad could happen this morning was slowly creeping over me. To be honest, I don’t remember much about the service, except the thoughts I was having…What will I do if this young man walks down the aisle with a weapon? Will I try to tackle him and take his weapon? The mind is an amazing thing…and, because of fear, mine was running wild the morning of December 20^th. Recently, I was reading Romans, and I was reminded that you and I, as followers of Jesus, are to be a reflection of the Kingdom of God, instead of a reflection of the world…

Romans 12:17-21 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁷ Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. ¹⁸ Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. ²⁰ Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” ²¹ Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

I was told, that immediately following the service, the young man exited the church on foot without speaking to anyone. I have not seen him since. Did I handle this right? Why was I so consumed by fear? I still wonder today.

We live in uncertain times…we should all look to the Scripture, and decide how we will respond to events such as this in the future. And, most importantly, decide how Jesus would want us to respond.