Deacons
   Guy Dale Adams - Transportation
   Bub Barron - Benevolence
   R. M. Bledsoe - Finance
   John Brownd - Fellowship
   Charles Burrow - Worship
   John Chronister - Worship
   Jimmie Darling - Worship
   George Leland - Fellowship
   Harold Rutledge - Building
   Justin Rutledge - Education

Staff
Pulpit Minister:
Glen Knabe
501-278-5628
glen@holdenavecofc.com
Youth Minister:
Ryan Wilson
870-217-5838
ryan@holdenavecofc.com
ymryan17@yahoo.com
Secretary:
Brenda Stegall
brenda@holdenavecofc.com
Custodian
Goldie Arnold

Praise God for faithful mothers! The kind of mother that is determined to lead her children to God despite the circumstances around them. The kind of mother that wants more than anything for her children to go to heaven. Where do they come from? Does something magical happen at childbirth to create a faithful mother? Well, something magical does happen, but it is not the creation of a faithful mother. A faithful mother comes from a faithful woman.

In Exodus chapter one we read a remarkable story of two faithful mothers, but their story begins as two faithful women. The Pharaoh of Egypt was afraid of the Israelites. They were overpopulating the area and he was afraid they would rise up and overthrow him. He tried a couple of different tactics to reduce their number. The more infamous tactic was ordering the people to throw all baby boys into the Nile River. Before that, however, he went to the midwives of Israel, Shiphrah and Puah, and ordered them to kill any boy as soon as it was delivered. Verse 17 reveals a powerful testimony about these two women’s lives. “The midwives, however, feared God...they let the boys live.”

Here were two faithful women that feared God. The knew the beauty and importance of a child; that they are gifts from God to be loved, cherished, and protected. More than that, they acted on what they believed. What was the result? “So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. And because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own.” What kind of mothers do you think they were? Faithful mothers come from women who are first dedicated to God.

There are a lot of wonderful, faithful mothers here. It can be seen in your eyes, your smiles, your hugs, your words, and your actions. Praise God for you, our faithful mothers! What a beautiful gift to give our children. Not only the gift of a faithful mother, but also the example of a faithful woman.

Welcome to the Holden Avenue Church
of Christ.   We are especially glad that
you are here. We hope you enjoy your time
with us and come back to visit real soon.
It is our hope that you will find your time
here encouraging and beneficial. If you have
any comments, questions, or prayer requests,
please share those with us. We are here to
minister to you and your family.

Please call the office for any updates to the prayer list.

May 11 - Shirley Swink
May 13 - Whitney Carpenter
May 13 - Sarah Knabe
May 14 - Kathy Green
May 14 - Mario Gist
May 15 - Brandon Fergerson
May 15 - Franklin Harris

Anniversaries

May 12 - Nate & Elizabeth Watson
May 16 - G.A. & Ethel Lewis
May 16 - Bob & Carla Stiger

Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her head down staring at her hands. When I sat down beside her she didn’t acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I wondered if she was okay.

Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked her if she was okay. She raised her head and looked at me and smiled. “Yes, I’m fine, thank you for asking,” she said in a clear voice strong.

“I didn't mean to disturb you, Grandma, but you were just sitting here staring at your hands and I wanted to make sure you were okay,” I explained to her.

“Have you ever looked at your hands?’” she asked. “I mean really looked at your hands?”

I slowly opened my hands and stared down at them. I turned them over, palms up and then palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she was making.

Grandma smiled and related this story:
“Stop and think for a moment about the hands you have, how they have served you well throughout your years. These hands, though wrinkled shriveled and weak, have been the tools I have used all my life to reach out and grab and embrace life."

“They braced and caught my fall when as a toddler I creased upon the floor. They put food in my mouth and clothes on my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on my boots. They held my husband and wiped my tears when he went off to war."     (Continued on back page)

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mother’s here today! Jamie and I are in Searcy attending the College Church of Christ for Mother’s Day. Jamie wanted to spend her first Mother’s Day with Emery and our mothers. It is neat that both of our parents live in the same town and attend the same congregation. This is an exciting and special Mother’s Day for our family since it is Jamie’s first official Mother’s Day. I am thankful for mothers and all their hard work. Jamie works extremely hard as a mother and I am glad she is around to do what she does. Emery and I would be lost without her. I am also thankful that I was able to preach my first Mother’s Day sermon here last year. I cried like a baby through the whole thing, but that is okay. When it comes to your momma, its okay to cry. I would like to say to all the mothers here today that I am thankful for all that you do and the Christian example you set for your children. I thank my mom for having to put up with me, my two older brothers and my dad who is a big kid at heart. God bless all of you and keep up the good work!

There will be a
Diaper and Formula Shower
for
Justine Stegall

Saturday, May 17 from 1 to 2:30pm Any brand of diapers Enfamil with lipil Dr Brown’s or Avent Bottles

Our gospel meeting with Steve Reeves is coming up May 18th through the 21st. Steve will be asking the question “Are you looking for something more?” Please mark your calendars and plan to attend. Also invite your friends and family to come! Steve served as the pulpit minister here at Holden Avenue from 1990 to 1995 and is looking forward to being back with us again.

Please give the fellowship committee about 10 minutes to prepare before going to the fellowship hall to eat!!!

Sunday Evening, May 11
Communion:   Alfred Couch & Perry Stegall
Announcements:   Alcobra Hall
Closing Prayer:   Justin Rutledge

Wednesday Evening, May 14
Announcements:   Charles Burrow
Closing Prayer:   Stan McKee
Devotional:   Ryan Wilson

Sunday Evening, May 18
Communion:   O. L. Riley & Mitch Reid
Announcements:   Roger Bowman
Closing Prayer:   Gus Ragsdale

Wednesday Evening, May 21
Announcements:   Jason Tubbs
Closing Prayer:   Larry Kesselring
Devotional:   Steve Reeves

"They have covered my face, combed my hair, and washed and cleansed the rest of my body. They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken, dried and raw. And to this day when not much of anything else of me works real well, these hands hold me up, lay me down, and again continue to fold in prayer". (Continued below)

Welcome & Announcements
144 - O Worship The King
4 - To God Be The Glory
837 - I Need Thee Every Hour
Prayer
480 - Blessed Assurance
470 - Victory in Jesus
315 - When I Survey The Wondrous Cross
Lord’s Supper
3 - Hallelujah, Praise Jehovah (omit v 3)
Sermon
948 - I Am Resolved (omit v 2)
853 - When We All Get To Heaven (omit v 2)
Prayer

Morning Worship:xxxxxxxxll322
Bible Class:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxl157
Evening Worship:lxxxxxxxxlll115
Evening Bible Hour:lxxxxxxxl 29
Children's Home:lxxxxxxxxl$----
Contribution:llxxxxxxxxll $5,238.23
Weekly Budget:lxxxxxxll $5,400.00
YTD Budget:lxxxxxxxll  -$2.35