Evangelism Chair
Tami Anderson
This is one of the most widely quoted verses from the Bible. It has been called the "Bible in a nutshell" because it is considered a summary of some of the most central doctrines of traditional Christianity. This verse reminds us of the love of God, which offers us hope in the midst of heartache, peace in the midst of turmoil, guidance in the midst of uncertainty, joy in the midst of loss, and gives meaning to our lives. It is this love and the hope it gives us that we want to share by reaching out to the community, welcoming visitors, and staying connected to our church members.
If you are new to our church, welcome! We appreciate the opportunity to get know you. You are welcome to participate in all ministries, Sunday School classes or programs the church offers.
By signing the friendship register handed out during worship, it allows us to send you a note of thanks for being with us. In addition you can fill out a "First Time Visitor's Survey" at our Welcome Center, which is located in the foyer.
If you have questions or need assistance, feel free to contact Pastor Bill, Pastor Madeline or Tami Anderson.
Join us again soon for worship or one of our other church programs.
Beginning when someone joins the church, this team helps new members become connected, involved, and informed so they can become active members of our church and participants in ministries fitting their needs. We are in the process of revitalizing this ministry.
"Mommy, do you have Jesus in your heart?" That was the question posed to me by my daughter, Maggie, when she was just 2 1/2 years old. She had been enrolled at My Friend's House day care and had been attending chapel with Miss Jean for just 6 months when she asked me this. I was happy to be able be to reply "Yes, I do" and was awestruck at what her child care center had already taught her about God. But it also made me realize, we probably needed to get her to church and Sunday School and not just Chapel. It still took us a few years, and a second child, Andy, to get serious about attending church. But when we did, and we thought about where we wanted to attend, we realized that we were already part of a church family, NWHills UMC, through our many involvements at My Friend.s House. The children were certainly already familiar with the church, Miss Jean, and many of their daycare friends also attended church. Now Maggie is in the Youth Group, is a Confirmand and was one of the liturgical dancers at Advent. Andy.s busy with Celebration and being Joseph in the Christmas pageant. Rainer.s involvement in many My Friend.s House workdays lead him to be called to be a Trustee and to be part of the ECO Group. I.ve led the My Friend.s House council for many years and continue working with children and youth by helping out Ms. Beth at Celebration, ushering and being called recently to serve on the Youth Council. We.ve made many good friends and enjoy being part of a church family and learning and growing with our Sunday School classes, as well as serving in mission opportunities with our class and the church. We hope you, too, find a place here at NWHills!
Jeanie Leonard-Mueller with family Rainer, Maggie and Andy Mueller
Some friends invited us to visit Northwest Hills UMC about 24 years ago, and we felt so welcome we knew immediately that we wanted to be a part of this friendly congregation. We joined a Sunday school class led by Bill and Britt Cain and Jody and Pat Damron. It wasn't long before Lynne Cline invited us to become involved with the youth program at Northwest Hills. What a blessing it was to have a place to serve and worship and play with the youth of this church!
Over the years, NWHUMC has continued to be our home and we continue to grow here and raise our family here. We still enjoy helping with the youth program here at our church, and we've also had opportunities to serve with other members in finance & budget, adult education, and other areas of the church. We have a great time learning and sharing in our Seekers Sunday school class. We've also taken Disciple classes, attended Emmaus walks and other church retreats, and gone on UM ARMY and other mission trips. We've made many great friends as we've worked and studied side by side with them. And most important of all, we continue to grow in our relationship with God.
We're excited as our children are receiving the same opportunities, enjoying their own Sunday school classes, vacation Bible school, youth Bible study and mission trips, music, serving in worship services and at church events, etc. So MANY members of this church are helping them to grow in their own faith and character, and that means the world to us.
Here's a word from our teenage son, David: I am sixteen years old and an active member of our church and youth group. I was born into this church and they have loved and nurtured me ever since. I am both an usher and a greeter for the early service as I enjoy doing both, and think they are both very important jobs. I love spending time with the youth group, as we learn about how amazing our God is and have fun together in fellowship. I've been on seven mission trips and eight retreats, all of which have strengthened my relationship with Christ. This church family has created an environment for me to grow in my relationship with Christ and has been a blessing for me and my whole family.
We have remained active in this church family through many changes over the years. It is exciting to look around and see the work that our church is involved in today. We pray that all who come here feel as at home in our congregation as we have.
Mike, Cindy, David and Sarah Vaden
My family and I, new in town and knowing only one other family in the Austin area, knew that we needed to connect with a church and fast. Both born into a long lineage of Methodists, raised in the church, and having met through Methodist camping in the Pasadena, CA district, my husband and I looked carefully and thoughtfully for a new church. On a wing and a prayer we showed up to Northwest Hills UMC, unannounced and unknown to anyone.
Upon entering the sanctuary we were graciously greeted by members of this congregation. We were given a visitors packet that we pored over when we got home. We had never seen anything like it before. This church was so active, centered on Christ, and so eager to plug us in, yet not so set in their ways that they wouldn't also be open to growth. Hallelujah, an answered prayer. We were further enthralled by a great message from the Senior Pastor, a delightful young and energetic Associate Pastor, and music and talent like we had not experienced actually inside of a church before. You could have knocked us over with a feather. People greeted us and earnestly made attempts to learn our names. As we were leaving the kids really did beg us to go to Sunday school. What parent wouldn't oblige? We were greeted by a strong summer program and the delightful Miss Jean leading the pack. It was clear God was working here.
Since that day in July we have gratefully made the 30 minute drive from Leander to be a part of this amazing church. Through the Sunday school (kids' and adults'), extra activities like breakfasts and pageants, fellowship with our incredible pastors and fabulous new friends, we have found our family. On the day we joined the church and officially transferred our membership, a congregation member that typically sits in front of us and gives the children "5" on the way back from Communion (or "snack" as one of my kids calls it) mentioned that he had no idea we were new. He thought we had been there forever — indeed, now we feel the same way.
After their first visit, we reach out to our visitors with a phone call and letter. After the second visit, a member of the Bread Delivery Team arranges a convenient time to drop off a small loaf of bread as a token of appreciation for worshiping with us. If you would like to be on the Bread Delivery Team, contact Lynne Cline at 345-8066.
Our greeters are ready with a warm welcome for all who come to worship. Contact Bob Bowker at 401-0787 to be added to the Greeters Schedule.
The Guardian Angel Team tracks those church members who have not been signing the registration pad. They follow-up with phone calls, notes, and pastoral calls. Whether you are traveling and unable to attend or ill, having a personal struggle, or time of crisis, we want you to know you are missed and want to support you with prayers or other needs. Contact Bill Cain at 345-4953 to be a part of this ministry.
I arrived at NWHills UMC in crisis and found a church home. Soon after joining the church, I became active in a Singles Sunday School class consisting of other individuals of like age and outlook. Several women in that group formed a lively Bunco group for fun and fellowship. We all grew in commitment and participation through completing the Disciple Bible Study course and attending a Walk to Emmaus. During that time four or five of my friends began training for full time ministry! A year or so later I trained as a Stephen Minister; an outreach that utilized both my education and interests. From that early beginning in 1992, my interests and participation have included outreach in Grief Recovery and serving on the Administrative Board in various capacities.
Early in our courtship I invited Ed to visit NWHills UMC. Ed enjoyed the friendly environment and stimulating conversations and soon became a regular visitor. In June of 2000, Ed and I were married at NWHills UMC - the first wedding performed by Rev. Henderson after his arrival as pastor. We sampled a couple of Sunday School classes and eventually settled in the Discussion Class. Ed loved the wide ranging discussions and gradually became an active participant. These Sunday School discussions eventually lead Ed to present a church wide lecture series on how to approach and invite people to our church. He now participates in Christian environmental activities writing articles for The Herald on conservation. Today Ed coordinates the Dan Davidson Civic Forum lecture series - part of a community outreach program to make the church a vibrant, contributing member of our neighborhood.
Ed and I were welcomed into the NWHills UMC family and nurtured through difficult times. The church community opened their arms and hearts and we are stronger for this support. Now we are able and willing to return the gifts of care and love through efforts to reach out to others.
Diane Coleman with husband Ed
In the Fall of 2003, Alison had just returned from an internship in Los Alamos, and she moved into one of the apartment complexes in the Far West area. Specifically, we were looking for a church with evening services, so that neither of us had to get up so early on Sunday morning. Now that we have a baby, the idea that ten is early seems laughable. Then one day, returning from classes, she found a flier on her door advertising a new evening service at Northwest Hills United Methodist, Grace Harbor. Intrigued but busy, she set the information aside and planned to visit sometime.
A few days later a friend of ours mentioned that she had attended Northwest Hills UMC and been very comfortable there. That was the tipping point, we went to the next Grace Harbor service. After a few months of attending Grace Harbor and then making the effort to attend the morning services, we skipped town and got married. At that time, we became serious about finding a church home together and so signed up to take Northwest Hills 101 from Rev. Bill Henderson. Once the class was over, we decided to join the church, and we did, just before Christmas 2004.
Shortly thereafter, we began attending the Impressions Sunday School class, which we enjoyed very much. Just over a year later, we began a new book and Bible study class, the Discovery class, which has since merged with the Great Expectations class.
We really enjoy being part of Northwest Hills. Michael serves as an usher, and Alison is a member of PPR. Our baby is frequently fussy but with the speakers and play area in the Narthex we are still able to worship with our Northwest Hills family!
Michael, Alison and Jeffrey Norman
Do you ever get that feeling that everything you're doing is serving yourself rather than God? Well, that was me. I had everything going for me: a great job, great friends, great family, great life. And I was pretty wrapped up in my own little world. Because of that, I really felt disconnected from God, a nagging feeling that I wasn't fulfilling the promises the Lord had in store for me. So I vowed to reconnect with my spirituality... but where do I start? Raised in the United Methodist Church, I decided to give NWHUMC a try.
The moment I walked through the doors I found welcoming smiles, hearty handshakes and a kind congregation that looked at me with peaceful understanding. Settling into a pew, I wondered what exactly I was hoping to find here. Of course, I didn't even have the questions yet, much less the answers, but I noticed in the church bulletin a quick mention of Thursday's Homeless Breakfast, and a contact number for Bonner Landrum. Figuring this would be a good place to start, I phoned Bonner and she agreed to meet me in the church parking lot early on Thursday morning and we'd ride downtown together. She had an easy way about her, and an energy that was inspiring. Perhaps she sensed I was looking for a greater purpose, and she couldn't wait to share her mission with me.
The Homeless Breakfast was a truly humbling and bewildering event from the very first morning, and just what I needed. Feeding the hungry is the simplest Christian act, but so reflective of God's love for every one of us. Talking, interacting, serving our "clients" on a weekly basis reminded me of Jesus breaking bread with all who came to him, no matter their social status, loving each and every one equally. We provide showers, toiletries, haircuts, social services and, most importantly, humble servitude to our fellow man. It was that humility that I was lacking; that, and an outlet to use it. We don't just give the homeless food, we give them back their humanity.
I've been going every week for two years now, and am constantly amazed at how the Lord continues to work in astounding ways in my life, challenging me to push beyond my comfort zone and take on more responsibility, not to hide behind the stainless steel kitchen appliances, but to get out and meet my fellow man who is in need. Shifting the emphasis from "me to He" has given me the most rewarding commitment I've ever made, full of inspiring people, challenging situations, and opportunities for growth and Grace. The Homeless Breakfast has changed my life, and so has NWHUMC.
