After much prayer, mounds of resumes, and many hours of conversation, the Staff Search Team is excited to announce their choice for a prospective Minister of Students at DeSoto Hills. His name is Michael Bucy. He comes highly recommended and uniquely qualified to lead this vital ministry for our church. On December 7 he will graduate from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky with a Master of Arts degree. The team has talked with him extensively, along with his fiancé, Lindsay, who also graduates this December with a degree in Biblical Counseling. Their level of maturity and commitment to serving the Lord is apparent to all of us who have spent time with them. Our students will have the opportunity to meet both of them on Wednesday night, December 12. The entire church will be able to hear from Michael on Sunday, December 16 during both morning services. We will have a reception for them that afternoon in the Grand Hall from 4:00 to 5:30 and vote on the recommendation from the Staff Search team in the evening service. It will be a busy December for Michael and Lindsay. In addition to graduation and this day of decision with us, they are getting married on December 29 in Christianburg, Virginia. WOW! What an exciting time for all of us. Keep them in your prayers.

Blessed Beyond Measure,

Bro. James

As we close out this Holiday season and begin to look forward to Christmas consider this quote by John Piper. 

If Christian ethics means for us primarily avoiding bad behavior and staying home in our comfortable houses, we will meet very few non-Christians, and when we do, our words of witness will be weak because they are backed up with no labor of love. But if our love of Christ and his for us drives us into action to meet the needs of refugees and the world’s hungry, then we will cross paths with unbelievers and our witness will have great power because it will be certified by active love. So never play off evangelism against other biblically mandated acts of love, namely, feeding the poor and doing good to all (Galatians 6:10). - John Piper Read More…

Please support the youth service project “Homes for LIFE” as they try to raise enough money to build a home for a family in Nicaragua.

It has been a beehive of activity in the church parking lot for weeks now as they prepare our two overflow lots for paving. Dirt has been moved, gravel has been spread, trees have been uprooted and replanted, curbs have been poured, islands have been created, electricity has been run and it looks like we are close to having all of our parking lots paved. One word probably says it all - YEA! Thanks for your willingness to park on gravel for so long. The paved spaces we had to start with were simply not enough. I am grateful for the insight our construction team who got permission from the city for us to gravel the two additional lots prior to our opening a year ago. As the old saying goes, “we would have been in a world of hurt” had that not been done. Gravel lots have not been ideal for walking or even parking because spaces are not defined. We have been very dependant on some car lining up correctly so it could be a guide to others. I can’t help but believe that today some folks are driving around the parking lot of life with no real clue where to park. I pray that DeSoto Hills will be a guide to someone where no lines are available or apparent.

Pondering the Pavement,

Bro. James

It was a fair, fitting, and frequent question. For a time it even was a frustrating question. What was this question you might ask, “How is your horse Preacher? Where is your horse Preacher? Why don’t you mention your horse any more Preacher? Do you still have your horse Preacher?” I was not frustrated because people ask me about Lucy. What frustrated me was that I did not really have any first hand knowledge of how she was doing. Oh, I stilled owned her and knew she was being taken care of, but for over a year I had not personally seen her. In the summer of 2006, I sent her to the Moore farm outside of Senatobia because we were going on vacation. When we got back, I decided to leave her in the country. It was too hot to ride and there was no need for her to spend the summer in a hot stall when she could be enjoying the freedom of a pasture. If you remember, we were counting down the days until the move to Getwell, so I was pretty busy. By the time we made the move winter was coming on and I decided just to leave her where she was. The Moore’s gave me updates and often invited me to come to the farm anytime I wanted to see her. My intentions were good, but before I knew it, over a year had passed without my so much as laying an eye on Lucy. All my knowledge of her was second hand and all my stories about her were past tense. All that changed a couple of months ago when I moved her closer home. I now have a first hand knowledge of how she is doing because I see her often. How about you today? Do you have a fresh story to tell about your relationship with the Father? Maybe you are giving pat answers the way I used to when asked about my horse. Maybe you are giving excuses why you have not spent more time with the Lord today. Today would be a good day to bridge the gap. “Draw nigh unto me and I will draw nigh unto you.” I have rediscovered the joy of horsemanship and you just might rediscover the joy of discipleship.Back In the Saddle Again,

Bro. James

When: 3rd Thursday of the month
Beginning January 17, 2008

Time: 9:00 - 11:30 am

Where: The Attic - DeSoto Hills Baptist Church

Mission: Common Ground is for moms of all ages to connect with each other while celebrating the joys of metherhood in a Christ centered environment. Our desire is to encourage women in their roles as wives, mothers, friends and children of God.

Nursery is available

FUN * FOOD * FELLOWSHIP * SPEAKERS
PRAYER * VIDEOS * DISCUSSION GROUPS

I am happy to announce that a new ministry for mothers, by mothers, will begin at DeSoto Hills in January. Several months ago some ladies approached me about the possibility of starting this ministry. What was so refreshing about it all was that they were not asking me to start something new, but rather they were asking if they could start it. I quickly signed on and here we are today close to a kick off date of January 17th 2008. Common Ground will give women an opportunity to connect with other moms in a monthly setting designed to help equip and encourage them. Presently they are planning to meet in the “Attic” every third Thursday of the month. Childcare will be provided. If you would like more information please contact the church office or see the flyer in this week’s bulletin. It is my prayer that this new ministry will have a broad appeal and a deep impact not only in our church, but also in this community.

Bro. James

P.S. Childcare workers are needed for Common Ground. If you are interested in being hired for this position, please contact the church office at 890-2452

Well we have a brand new (web exclusive) video series called “Stories”, in this series we’ll visit different staff and church members and hear their life story. This series especially excites me because I enjoy getting to know people and hearing interesting facts and bits about their lives. I decided to start with my own, as you will see in the video I have recently noticed the massive amounts of new faces within our church family and many of you may not know how I came to be a worship leader at Desoto Hills and I wanted to share that with you. I hope you enjoy, we’ll have more “Stories” coming soon…

Marc Lewis

In Nicaragua, we’re not just building a house, we’re fulfilling a dream for families…the dream of owning a REAL HOME! With your support and in cooperation with Life Outreach International, our Homes for LIFE outreach will build 300 brand new homes for families and children living in extreme poverty.

These concrete homes are built to last a minimum of 25 years in the roughest weather conditions. To provide a home for only $3,600 means your gift goes a long way! (more…)