THE HERALD. As long as the earth exists, seedtime and harvest, cold and hot, summer and autumn, day and night will not cease.

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1 THE HERALD Hillcrest Baptist Church 2200 Iverson St. Temple Hills, MD (301) October 2014 As long as the earth exists, seedtime and harvest, cold and hot, summer and autumn, day and night will not cease. Genesis 8:22 HIGHLIGHTS IN THIS ISSUE From the Pastor s Heart Page 2 Ministry Spotlight Page 11 Ministry News Page 3 Bible Quiz Page 12 Missions News Page 4 Mark Your Calendar Page 13 Hurlebaus Hall Page 6 Read Through the Bible Page 14 Church Humor Page 8 in One-Year Poetry by Alfreda Page 9

2 From the Pastor s Heart Greetings Church Family, The Miracle The Book of Acts chapter 3: 1-8, tells a story about a man who was lame from his mother s womb, who was unable to walk and was dependent upon his care takers. One day he met two followers of Jesus - Peter and John, who believed that there was power in the name of Jesus. When he was introduced to the Name of Jesus and upon trusting that Name, he was set free from his disability. A miracle took place in the lame man s life. He honored the Lord by going to church. He entered walking, leaping and praising God. We have witnessed a miracle take place at Hillcrest Baptist Church. The grandmothers of Reginald Hardy, asked the church family to join them in praying for a miracle in his life. Who knew that our obedience in prayer would result in a miracle unfolding before our eyes? God intervened and vetoed the doctor s diagnosis of no future hope. When Reginald was in a comma and at the point of death, the church called on the Name of Jesus. Several weeks and months went by without an immediate response from God. Without wavering in faith, we consistently lifted Reginald s name before God believing that He would in due time honor the prayers of the Saints at HBC. Good news! Reginald, walking without assistance, made a surprise visit to our weekly bible study. On Sunday morning, he walked down the aisle with tears streaming down his face to surrender his life to Christ. Oh Happy Day! We rejoice with his family and delight in the joy of knowing God s miracle working power is still alive. Be reminded that God always hear his children when they pray. Our prayer time on Wednesday is never wasted, but always end in hope for the hurting. I encourage you to document your prayer request and make note of your date of deliverance. To God be the glory for what He has done. Oh Happy Day!! Your Humble Servant in Christ, Pastor W. Clyde Pearson VISION We exist to raise up mature believers to serve HIM! MISSION To EQUIP every member for Kingdom ministry. Core Values Equip the saints / Experience a big God / Evangelize the lost / Edify His people 2

3 MINISTRY NEWS Church Office Hours Monday Friday 10:00 am 4:00 pm Sunday Worship Sunday School 9:45 am 10:45 am Morning Service 11:00 am OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE Nursery Do you love caring for infants and toddlers? Would caring for infants and toddlers a couple hours each Sunday be perfect for your schedule? You may be the one we are looking for. The Nursery is looking for an Assistant Coordinator. If you re interested, please contact Valaria Carroll at (301) for more information. Mid-Week Service (Wednesday) Bible Study 11:00 am - 12:00 pm 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm Prayer Service 6:30 pm -7:00 pm Church Ministries If you would like to serve on one of the HBC Ministries, please contact the church office for a list of ministries in need of volunteers. Children s Church Need Volunteers Our church is growing, and we are in need of help with monitoring, teaching, and arts and crafts for Children s Church. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Deacon Tony Williams. Wednesday s from 6:30 pm 8:30 pm (during the months of September May) On-Line Giving Will you be missing Sunday services this holiday season? Keep up with your financial commitment to the church s ministry with our on-line giving, even when you are away! There is a link on the home page of our website that you can use for safe and secure online giving ( For more information, contact the church office. A B C ABC s For Becoming A Christian Admit to God you are a sinner. Repent and turn away from your sin. (Romans 3:23) Believe that Jesus is God s Son and that God sent Him to save people from their sin. (Romans 10:9) Commit your life to Jesus. Trust Him to be your Savior and Lord. (Romans 10:13) 3

4 MISSIONS NEWS Let s Talk About Church Planters and New Church Plants in the Windy City Chicago Submitted by Elaine Hall, Trustee for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) For members of our Hillcrest Baptist Church Family who do not know about missions and missionaries, please read on. As a Trustee on the North American Mission Board (NAMB), I have traveled to several cities in the Northeast and Midwest regions. One of the Board of Trustees meetings was held in the Chicago, Illinois, also known as Chicagoland. While in Chicago the Trustees and their spouses went on a vision tour of the city to meet church planters and visit the new church plants. This was my first visit to Chicago and I learned so much. For example, I learned the region is famously known for da Bears, da Bulls, and da Burbs. I learned that Chicago is one of the most ethnically diverse regions of the nation, but the city s neighborhoods remain the most segregated. Chicago has 77 neighborhoods, each with its own unique identity. There is Little Italy, Little Village, Greektown, Chinatown, North Side, South Side, Bronzeville, Highland Park, Ravenwood, Uptown, Downtown, The Loop, and many more. Surrounding the city are more than 200 towns and suburban communities that extends more than 30 miles in all directions from Lake Michigan. There are 8.7 million people who live in the 10 Illinois counties in the metro area. Including the Wisconsin and Indiana counties, Chicagoland is home to 10 million people, the third largest city after New York and Los Angeles. In Chicago there are 2,000 people groups who spoke 200 different languages. However, there are not many Christians. Only 1 in 10 people attend the area s 2,924 evangelical churches. Across Chicagoland, 308 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches in 10 counties have about 17,000 people in attendance on any given Sunday. That s about 55 people per SBC church. Also, it is only one SBC church for every 32,000 people in the region. Catholicism is the leading religion with 3.3 million members. Muslims are the second with over 300,000 and growing fast. While I was in Chicago, I saw several Muslims with their Korans (Qurans) in their hands on the street corners trying to stop me and other people to share their beliefs. There is a need for 184 new churches in the 10 Illinois counties of the Chicago metropolitan area. Therefore, 21 of these church plants have already launched, meeting in homes, community centers, and rented facilities, reaching neighborhoods and suburbs with worship services, Bible studies, and ministries to meet the needs of body and soul. Please meet Marcus Randle, a Chicagoan who had plans of escaping the crime of South Side Chicago, but God had other plans for Marcus and his wife, Mattie like it says in Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 4

5 MISSIONS NEWS (continued) Please pray for Marcus and Mattie Randle and the work they are doing in Chicagoland at the Resurrection House. Thank you for allowing me to share with you about the NAMB Trustee meeting and Vision Tour in Chicagoland. Love and Blessings always, Your sister in Christ, Elaine Hall 5

6 Hillcrest Baptist Church Hurlebaus Hall Deacon Albert & Elsie Hurlebaus Who was Albert and Elsie Hurlebaus and why is Hillcrest s Fellowship Hall named after them? We have to know where we came from to understand where we ve been and how we got here. You see, the Fellowship Hall was not always exclusively the Fellowship Hall. It was the original church constituted and dedicated on November 29, It became the Fellowship Hall after the new church was built and completed in The Fellowship Hall which was also known as the Dining Hall was named after the Hurlebaus because of their dedication and the great work they did for the church and the surrounding community. Let s take a step back in time and imagine what our sanctuary looked like before the beautiful cathedral ceilings and the elegant red and white pulpit and pews. When you step through the double doors into the Fellowship Hall from the hallway, straight ahead is what appears to be a stage. This area was the pulpit. If you walk across it you hear a hollow sound because that s where the baptismal pool existed. Also, imagine, the food pantry as the room where people changed out of their wet clothes after they were baptized. A very small office was located directly to the right after walking through the double doors. The ladies and men s bathrooms were adjacent to the office. The area that is now the kitchen was originally used for Sunday school classes. A petition separated the bathrooms and the Sunday school classes. Although, back then there was no kitchen, the space where Sunday school was held was also used to serve food to the congregation, including guests on Sunday evenings after the church service. These were known as Sunday Socials. This fellowship was very important to the members of the church and to those invited to join. Years later, after the new church was built around what is now the Fellowship Hall, the kitchen was installed and the Sunday Socials turned into Wednesday Dinners. Today, the Fellowship Hall is used for all kinds of events, AWANA and Sunday school classes and all other kinds of church socials. In 2004 the Fellowship Hall was named after Albert and Elsie Hurlebaus. Deacon Albert and Mrs. Elsie Hurlebaus left a legacy of love, agape love that sought nothing in return. That s the way they were described in a tribute written by Earl T. Tildon in 2004 for the dedication ceremony. The Fellowship Hall was named after the Hurlebaus because they were faithful and dedicated members of Hillcrest. Al and Elsie, as they were affectionately known, were committed to bringing souls to Jesus and increasing the membership of Hillcrest Baptist Church. Even after the composition the neighborhood changed, Al and Elsie visited homes in the community to eat, laugh, and invite folks to church. Every Tuesday, they would go out to the surrounding homes to follow-up with people they had previously invited and to visit those they hadn t visited before. Making sure to keep a record of each visit. That s how many of the members in the neighborhood came to join the church. 6

7 Hillcrest Baptist Church Hurlebaus Hall (Continued) Deacon and Mrs. Hurlebaus consistently visited homes and always made everyone feel welcomed at Hillcrest. Each of them would always give a kind smile and say I m so glad I saw you at church Sunday. They often started their conversations with let s talk about Jesus. They were faithful and didn t put a deadline on the time they would spend bringing souls to Jesus. They would continue to visit those who they did not convince to come and hear the word of God on their first visit and would check on those who did visit, always encouraging them to keep coming to church. Taking names and saving souls seemed to be their edict. Many times Elsie and Deacon Al were the only members who went out to the community on occasions. Elsie said she liked to get up close and personal and always took the time to get to know the people they visited. Deacon Albert was one of the few men in the church at that time who was dedicated to helping with the Sunday Socials and serving at the Wednesday dinners. He played a major role in getting the appliances for the kitchen so that the church could feed its members as well as the community. Adults paid 50 cents and 25 cents for their children for a hot meal before going off to their Wednesday night church activities. That money was used to put in more equipment so that more people could be fed. Deacon Albert did dishes and clean up duty in the kitchen right along with the women. Mrs. Hurlebaus was the chairperson of the Loyalty Diner now known as the Fellowship Hall and head of the Kitchen Committee. Additionally, Elsie, always taught the adult Sunday school classes and held devotion every Sunday morning. She would bring pictures and things to make her point. She was a wonderful Sunday school teacher and it made people want to be a part of Hillcrest s membership. The passion she had for teaching God s word in Sunday school resulted in many people joining. Although they didn t have children of their own, all of the children in the church were theirs. They treated them all with the same love and compassion. The Hurlebaus were faithful and dedicated members and continued to attend service when they could, even after they moved to an assisted living community. When they were not able to attend, the Hillcrest family went to visit. From time to time the Deacons would drop by and pick up Deacon Albert and bring him to church after Elsie passed away. Deacon Albert passed away about four years after Elsie. He was the last of the original church charter members to pass away. Deacon Albert and Elsie truly loved God and the members of Hillcrest. They left a donation $75,000 to the church in their will for the beautification and upkeep of the Fellowship Hall. Deacon Albert and Elsie Hurlebaus will be forever memorialized through the Fellowship Hall for their love, dedication, commitment to God, faith, and the community. Note: Special thanks to Mrs. Josie Williams for her amazing recollection of the history of our church and her willingness to tell us these stories. 7

8 The Herald is currently published quarterly and will prayerfully move to monthly issues at a later time. If you would like to submit an article or information to be included in the newsletter, you may do so by ing hbhillcrestbaptistchurch@gmail.com (subject line Attn: Newsletter) or by submitting a hard copy to the church office. Let us hear from you! The next deadline is December 7, Additionally, we look forward to receiving feedback from our readers on how we can make the newsletter an even better publication. We re always looking for additional members to join us. If you would like to be a part of the newsletter committee, please reach out to Deacon Chris Carroll or contact the church office. DO YOU HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST? If you believe in your heart that Jesus Is Lord, the Christ, the Savior, the Son of the Living God, and you are willing to turn from sin to God, then receive Jesus Christ now by faith and pray this prayer: Oh, God, I know I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died on the cross for me. I believe His shed blood paid the price for my sin, and that His death, burial, and resurrection were all for me. I now receive Him as my personal Savior and Lord. Thank you for forgiving me of my sins and for the gifts of salvation and eternal life. In Jesus name I pray, amen. Take God at His Word and claim His gift of salvation. Remember, it s God who does the saving not your good works, not your family pedigree, and not your church. Believe and you will be saved. CHURCH HUMOR Answers from July Bible Quiz 1. (c) Brothers of Jesus (Matt. 13:55) 2. (b) Herod the tetrarch (Mark 6:20) 3. (b) Isaiah (John 1:23) 4. (b) Martha (John 11:24, 25) 5. (b) The Father (John 15:8) 6. (a) An ax and a winnowing fan (Matt 3:10, 12) 7. (b) A woman with a hemorrhage (Matt 9:20) 8. (b) Because of their unbelief (Matt 13:58) 9. (a) His death and resurrection (Matt 16:21) 10. (a) He refused to go to the party (Luke 15:28) 8

9 Poetry by Alfreda High Tea Hello Ladies My, you look fine I really mean it Not just being kind Those hats are fabulous Some cocked to the side Small, medium and large Some very wide They said to wear gloves And I didn t have any Years and years ago I would have had plenty I telephoned my sister And told her my plight She said, Girl don t worry; Problem solved by tonight To a thrift shop she went And what do you know She found the gloves I needed That s why I love her so So here we all are At this delightful High Tea Sharing and enjoying fellowship At HBC. 9

10 So Long Lil! Long-time member Lillian Bethea has pulled up stakes and moved to Charlotte, NC, where she will be near her daughter. Lil and her husband, the late Deacon Bill Bethea, were baptized at Hillcrest in Over the years, Lil was very active in the Sanctuary Choir, the Women s Ministry and in other areas of church life. We said goodbye to Lil on August 16 th in the HBC tradition of food, fun and fellowship. We will miss her! A special THANKS to everyone who volunteered for this years church picnic and health fair. A great time was had by all. 10

11 HBC Ministry Spotlight Sunday School Sunday School Director & Assistant Director Larry Jackson & Fred Appiah This quarter we spotlight the Sunday School Ministry. Here at Hillcrest, Sunday school is not just for children. We have classes for adults as well. Sunday school allows everyone that attends to connect with the lesson no matter where you are on your walk with the Lord and that you are able to understand issues better and where we stand on those issues as Christians. The Sunday School Ministry is chaired by Larry Jackson and Fred Appaih. You can find Larry and Fred on any Sunday morning ushering members and guest to different classrooms and answering questions. We caught up with Larry and Fred to see what s going on in Sunday school and to give a little history about the ministry here at Hillcrest. How long has Sunday school been in existence at Hillcrest? Sunday School has been at Hillcrest for 59 years. How long have you been the Sunday school Director? Fred and I have served as Director and Assistant Director, respectively for 6 years. Why is Sunday school an important part of your church s ministry? First, Sunday School is the arm that reaches all ages for Christ. It provides a basic study of the scriptures at a level of understanding for that age group. It is the training ground for young Christians to develop their skill and talents for the Lord. How important is a solid curriculum to your Sunday School? The foundation of any successful Sunday School is its curriculum. The curriculum resources a church chooses for its Sunday School greatly influences the direction of the church. No other curriculum used in church reaches as many people. If a church chooses a strong, biblically-based curriculum, that s the way the church will go. If the church chooses a broader curriculum, the church will go in a different direction. Therefore, Sunday School curriculum is a major factor in the direction of the a church. Here at Hillcrest, we use printed curriculum resources that provides structure for effective teaching the Bible to people. How many classes do we have? We have a total of 10 that includes children as well as adults. Why is Sunday school important for people? Sunday School provides an environment of fellowship and a sense of belonging for each class member. It allows it s members to dialogue and share their thoughts and needs with others in similar life situations. Any closing thoughts on the subject of Sunday School? Churches do not grow by addition, they grow by nutrition. Sunday School is the reaching arm of the church that provides the spiritual nourishment. 11

12 Bible Quiz 1. Which prophet predicted that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem? 2. How long did Jeremiah say the Jews would serve the king of Babylon? 3. To what city did God send Jonah to preach against its wickedness? 4. When Jesus began His Galilean ministry, He taught in the synagogue and healed extensively in a city on the northern shores of the Sea of Galilee. What was this city which became the home base of Jesus travels? 5. Who anointed Jesus feet with oil and dried them with her hair? 6. Christ is the vine; the believers are the branches. Who is the vinedresser? 7. What miracle did Jesus perform on His way across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum after He had fed the five thousand? 8. In the Lord s Prayer, what is God asked to give? 9. In the Sermon on the Mount, what did Jesus say that His disciples should seek first? 10. Who did Jesus tell the disciples would teach them all things and help them remember all things that He had taught them, since He would not be in the world? 12

13 Trunk or Treat Thanksgiving Day (church closed) Women s Christmas Fellowship Christmas Cantata Christmas Day (church closed) Watch Night Service October 31 st November 27 th December 20 th December 21 st December 25 th December 31 st 13

14 The book-at-a-time Bible reading plan provides two readings for each day. The first reading alternates between Old and New Testament books, giving you three or four chapters a day. The Gospels are spread throughout the year. The second reading takes you through a chapter or so of the wisdom literature and Isaiah. Combined, these readings will take you through the entire Bible in one year. To prevent the frustration of falling behind and to provide some reflection time, each month consists of only 25 readings. You ll have several days each month to meditate more deeply on something that was significant to you in the past week, to catch up on missed readings, or to revisit favorite passages. 14