Misc. Holy Land Pictures

Our oldest and youngest travelers: JB Mills (81 yrs old) and Lincoln Goering (9 months old)









David wanted someone to protray Mary & Martha so Sue Johnson was chosen as Mary and I was chosen as Martha (Luke 10:38-41). How appropriate -- I am guilty of being too busy and miss the really important things!





David made us "hug and make up" -- ha - he didn't want the sisters mad at each other :-)









Arabian "Kaye"












































Robert Jones & Steve Crawley











Andy Swart and Brian Smith










Kristen & Matt and Rachel & Derek -- Temple Mount behind them













Kimberly and Pat Moore - sunrise in Tiberias










Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil
Silly guys: Keith, Jeff, Rob -- best of friends and MAJOR Hog (Arkansas Razorbacks) Fans!!



































John Ankerberg, author and television show host was at our hotel - so Jeff had the privilege of getting his picture with him.

Easter & Happy Birthday, Andy and Mom!

Today was a very special day. We began the day in celebration of our Savior's resurrection! Thank you Lord for giving your precious Son to be our Savior and then for the promise that we will someday be resurrected and will live eternally with you! Hallelujah. He does live - and He lives in my heart. I pray He lives in your heart too!


After our worship services, we also celebrated Andy's 28th birthday and Mom's (Dorothy Boore) 79th birthday with a big turkey lunch - along with Grandma's homemade noodles and all the fixin's!! Andy's birthday is actually March 25th and Mom's is April 5th - but since we will be traveling to and from the Holy Land on those days -- today was our day to have a birthday party!



Andy got a homemade strawberry cake (my sister Bev's yummy recipe) and Mom got a homemade apple pie and ice cream. (See posting below of Andy's 'then & now' pics)







Happy Birthday to both of you. Andy, we are so proud of the man you have become and how God is using you for His Kingdom work!! We love you!








Mom, we are so thankful for you and the godly heritage you have given to us. We love you too!









This week begins an exciting adventure for many of us. Jeff and Rob are leading a group of 39 to the Holy Land. We fly out on Tuesday morning, the 25th and return Sat., April 5th. Andy, Rachel & Derek are joining us for the trip (we so wish Carman, Josh & Erika could go--but Carman is in the final weeks of her masters program/student teaching and couldn't be gone and Josh has to work during this time. Erika will be going to Maryland to see her newborn baby niece born to her identical twin, Emily & husband Tim, so won't be able to go either--we will miss all 3 of you!). Rob & Kaye, Adrienne, Mike & baby Lincoln and Matt & Kristin are going too! Then several friends from Texas and from Arkansas are joining us as well. I'm certain it will be a life changing trip for all! We appreciate your prayers for health and safe travels. I will post all about the trip on my blog upon our return.

HAPPY EASTER TO EACH ONE WHO READS THIS. GOD LOVES YOU AND SO DO I!!


Debbie

Andy - Then and Now - 28 years old!

Happy Birthday, Erika!!

Happy 30th Birthday to Erika Michelle "Sherman" Swart on March 3rd!!

Josh hosted a party last night for Erika at "Noodles" - a delicious Italian restuarant in Fayetteville. The majority of the group had Central Arkansas "ties" but now all live in NW Arkansas -- Brandon Lupkey, Matt Outlaw and Jai "Jackson" Stevenson from Conway; Chad Stevenson from Greenbrier and Amanda Outlaw from Little Rock. Others who joined the party was Danielle Lupkey, Brandon's wife, originally from Ft. Smith, Seth and Stephanie from Rogers and Susan, Erika's sister from KC.

We enjoyed great services again today (I've added a few more pictures to the "The New Community Church" posting below). I fixed "momma's roast & fixins" for Erika's birthday lunch and here are a few pictures.

We are so thankful Erika is a part of our family and wish you many, many more "happy birthdays!"

We love you, girl!!
Debbie & Jeff

Girlfriends

Glo Jensen, Conway, AR

God has blessed me with many, many wonderful friends over the years. One good thing about being in ministry, it has afforded me the opportunity to make many friends from all over the country. The negative thing about making friends in the ministry is when we move away - it is always so hard to say goodbye. I am very thankful that many friendships have continued (due in a large part to the convenience of email) - even though separated by many, many miles! Since I haven't saved pictures on my computer from years past, I don't have pictures to post of many of those sweet friendships -- but here are some of those precious friends that I do have pictures of or was able to at least take a digital picture of a regular photograph (sorry, the quality isn't very good on those). There are several of my friends' pictures in other postings on this blog, so I won't duplicate here for the sake of "space." I do love each of you! (These are not in any order---I still haven't mastered this blogging in getting pictures and text properly, so if the name doesn't line up with the picture, please forgive me!).

Michelle Lord and

Stephanie Jones, Red Oak, TX

Robin Bowman, Greenbrier, AR

Robin McCown, Jacksonville, TX


Sharon Hanks, Red Oak, TX

Glenda Curry, Red Oak, TX

Norma Crass, Conway, AR

Pam Glover, Conway, AR

Carolyn Smith, Tyler, TX

Brenda Riley, Moore, OK

Toya Aultman Conway, AR

Leslie Lemons, Mesquite, TX

and Cindy Briscoe, Rowlett, TX

Sher Craig, Conway, AR

Pam Murrey, Forney, TX

Brenda Christian, Hawkins, TX

Wilda Head, Conway, AR

Karla Crow, Forney, TX

Kerry Stitch, Bryant, AR

Love to all,

Debbie

New Community Church

As you know, our son, Andy has felt the call of the Lord to plant a new church in Northwest Arkansas. Jeff & I are thrilled that we are able to be a part of this new church plant. The core group have been meeting for Bible studies and occasional evening worship services for the last 6 months. But we are excited that God has given us a "home" - at least for 3 months and could be up to two years. We are now having Sunday morning worship services at the Bellview Elementary School in Rogers -- very near where Jeff & I live. Here are some pictures of the services this morning. Matt Outlaw is leading our worship time and does a great job. Today, his wife, Amanda sang with him. Andy's target group is 20-30 something's so we have several college students, engaged couples and young families with small children including two newborns and another baby on the way! We are averaging around 45 in our worship services, which is a great start for a new church. When Jeff started the mission work in Nevada, Missouri -- many Sundays we averaged less than a dozen. I know I'm prejudiced, but Andy does a great job preaching - he makes his "momma and daddy" proud! Carman is a blessed asset to his ministry as well. Josh & Erika are also working with us in this new church plant and when Josh is in town and not on the road, he is a tremendous help with the sound. We appreciate your prayers for Andy as he leads this new family and for God to richly bless the New Community Church for His honor and glory!

The pictures below taken on Sunday, March 2nd:

We are in Arkansas

We have completed the move to Rogers, Arkansas and all is well!


We were so appreciative of our sons, Josh & Andy, and their good friend, Brandon Lupkey for driving to Red Oak Monday from Arkansas to help us in the move. And we are forever indebted to our friends there in Red Oak for helping us load the trucks, providing food for us, and sending us off with their well wishes! Because of the great job everyone did, we left Red Oak 3 hours ahead of schedule and thought we would drive all the way to Arkansas. However, 540 which is the interstate from Ft. Smith to NW Arkansas that is in the mountains with deep, deep valleys got a coating of ice in the early evening which resulted in many accidents and even the highway being closed. So we spent the night in a little town off the beaten path in Oklahoma and drove on in Tuesday morning arriving around noon. My Mom and sister, Kaye, were waiting for us. With their help, the boys, and a couple more guys, we had the trucks unloaded by late afternoon. On Wednesday, Josh, Andy, Mom and Kaye did a great job of helping us get the furniture all in place and my kitchen in order. Thanks to all!!!

Jeff & I will now work at it "slowly" to get the boxes from the garage unpacked and put away.


Our new address is 3901 Amour, Rogers, AR 72758. I will be using the email address: debbieswart@jeffswart.com. I would love to hear from you!!



Thank you for your prayers.

Cedar Heights Baptist Church

For the past 3 years and 10 months, I have had the privilege of being the secretary for Cedar Heights Baptist Church in Cedar Hill, Texas. Having been a "secretary" almost all of my adult life and for many years, being my preacher husband's secretary, I have found being a church secretary to be where I am most comfortable. Prior to moving to Texas, I was secretary for almost 8 years at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Conway, Arkansas. Jeff & I both feel that it is a much better situation, when I am secretary at a church where we are not members and/or where he is not the pastor. Consequently, my time at Cedar Heights has been very enjoyable. The good folks there quickly became dear to my heart. Since Jeff was always in his own pulpit on Sundays and I was with him, we never had an opportunity to worship with our brothers and sisters at Cedar Heights until today. So on our last Sunday in Texas, we were able to attend the worship service at CHBC. I was overwhelmed at their love today in both well wishes, hugs, and a very generous love offering!! Thank you so very much, dear friends, for your tremendous outpouring of friendship!

This is the fine staff--left to right: Josh Claycamp, Associate Pastor (Josh preached this morning and did a great job!); Royce Dodd, Pastor; Kyla Gleason, Children's Minister; Mark Isbell, Youth Minister; and Mark George, Music Minister. You have been a great group to work for and with. Thanks to each of you for putting up with me!! :-)

This picture is of Pastor Royce and Cliff Erwin, Chairman of the Personnel Committee presenting me with the wonderful love offering. Both of these men have been very kind and helpful to me during my tenure as their secretary. Thanks, guys!

Also the week prior to my last day, I had a very enjoyable lunch with 4 wonderful gals who were so good to me. They willingly filled in for me when I had to be absent and also helped me in many projects when I was in need of an extra hand. Girls, you will be my friends forever and I love and appreciate each of you! From left to right are: Helen Carr, Myra Brooks, Betty Oswald and Milly Jo Holveck.

And this picture is of my sweet friend, Lana George and my little buddy, Issac. They would come to the office often and Issac was a joy. He knew Miss Debbie had candy in her cabinet for him, so he was always "hungry." Mark & Lana's parents live in the same area of Arkansas that we are moving too and I look forward to seeing them when they are there visiting family!! Marketplace Express---right, Mark!!?!?

And the last picture is of Kyla and myself. Kyla is a sweet gal and God is going to use her in a wonderful way for His kingdom's glory.

I sure am going to miss all of these fine friends.

Thank you again for allowing me to be your church secretary!!