Weekly News and Updates

February 26, 2026 | Volume 40, Issue 8

FROM YOUR PASTOR'S HEART ... Walking by Faith, Hebrews 11:20-40, Part 2

Life is a faith-walk. When you walk by faith you can have so much more peace and confidence as you TRUST IN GOD, no matter what happens! He’s got you in the palm of His hands.  Not every result of walking by faith ended the way we would expect, but every person was commended for his or her faith. They trusted in God, no matter what.  Will you trust Him, no matter what? Come worship with us this Sunday morning as we continue to explore how to Walk in Miracle-Working Faith.

Last Sunday afternoon, we had a Church Conference to vote on the Chaffee Crossing Campus. After a presentation on the proposal, we had questions and answers and some people to speak about the issue. After only 35 minutes, folks were ready to vote. We voted by secret ballot on the proposal, “That Heritage Church Van Buren launch a campus at Chaffee Crossing.” Even with secret ballot, the measure passed by consensus, 100% in favor.

What is next? We showed a picture of the pastoral family who the leadership team interviewed on 2/22 and approved by consensus to invite to lead the Chaffee Crossing Campus. After the vote, the family formally accepted our invitation. They will be letting the multi-site congregations they currently serve know about their decision this weekend. Hopefully, by the next newsletter or Sunday 3/8, we will be able to share with you their identity.

May I remind you of our message on Hebrews 10:19-25?  My prayer is that it will become a framework for us during this upcoming season. The writer of Hebrews tells us how to have A BETTER WAY OF LIFE by four movements:

•     MOVEMENT 1: DRAW NEAR WITH CONFIDENCE.

•     MOVEMENT 2: HOLD FAST WITH HOPE.

•     MOVEMENT 3: STIR UP LOVE.

•     MOVEMENT 4: GATHER TOGETHER CONSISTENTLY.

•     All the while, encouraging one another!

We can do this, friends! … For the LORD’s glory! I want to encourage you to be praying everyday about who the LORD would have you encourage to become a part of the Heritage Church family! Pray. Ask the LORD who He wants to put on your heart. Prayerfully, invite them to come to Heritage with you. Everyone needs the LORD, and everyone needs a church family. Do not neglect the assembling together as is the habit of some, but encourage one another, all the more as you see the Day of the LORD drawing near!



Can’t wait to worship with you Sunday!



Wes

P.S. Don’t forget, we have a Community Night of Worship and Prayer this Sunday! It will be at 6:00 pm at Butterfield Church. It will be an hour of worship and prayer as several area congregations will come together as the Body of Christ to worship Jesus and pour out our hearts before Him. This is for everyone! I pray you will show your support and be here. There will be children’s ministry for 5 years old and below (see below for details from Madison Simmons). We invite the older kids and youth to worship and pray with us!

This Sunday night, March 1 and 6:00 pm, we will join Butterfield and other area churches for a night of prayer and worship at Butterfield.

What you need to know:

• Timothy Team Teachers will still meet at 4:30 pm, but will dismiss in time for everyone to head over to Butterfield.
• Other Sunday night activities after 5:30 pm will be cancelled, so we can all attend.

Parents: A note about childcare for the event

We'd love for you to attend the collective worship night with us at Butterfield Church this Sunday night. I wanted to give parents a heads up of where your children will go if you decide to join us! You'll find me at the North entrance of the Worship Center on the left side. They will have staffed rooms for children infants - 5 years old. I'll be floating around and checking on the classrooms so your kids will recognize a familiar face. Children Kindergarten and above will attend service with their families.

Madison Simmons

Women's Conference, March 6-7, Deadline to Register is March 3

Open to women of all ages, we are hosting a FREE live simulcast of the Celebration National Conference 2026, March 6 & 7 in the New Room.

The theme this year is Freedom! And where the Spirit of the Lord is there is Freedom! (2 Cor 3:17). It's going to be 2 days full of good food, good fellowship, and great teaching.

Schedule (click the image to see the full schedule)

Friday, March 6, 9a-5p (lunch provided)

Saturday, March 7, 9:30a-12p

We'll have light snacks and coffee in the mornings, and the men of the Walking with Christ Sunday school class will be preparing and serving lunch on Friday.

We hope that you'll join us! Childcare is available, but we need you to sign up. Even if you can't come for the whole time, we encourage you to come for any part of it that works with your schedule. Click the picture below to see the full aWelgenda and to register.

Clothes Closet Needs Men's Items

There's a need for men's jeans (all sizes), and men's tennis shoes (all sizes). If you have any that you would like to donate, please bring them to the designated area in the Fellowship Hall.

Meal Train Team Volunteer Opportunity

Remember when you had a newborn and couldn't decide what to cook and didn't have the energy to cook? Wellll.... That's why we have a new mom's meal train team! When moms in our church have a baby we organize a meal train to help support them in their first few weeks with their little one! We're looking to grow our team that would sign up to bring a meal when we send the email out.

Depending on the year, we have usually 5-10 new babies born. All you're committing to is receiving an email to notify you there is a new meal train and you can look at the dates to see if you can provide a meal. Also... if you don't like to cook, people have ordered take-out or just provided a gift card for the family to purchase their own meal!

If you'd like to be added to the team. Please comment your email below and we will add you. 

P.S. We have one coming up soon as a baby boy Callum Yocius was born February 16th by proud parents Jenny & Mark Yocius.

Quilt of Valor Presentation

Rollin Barkley, one of our Quilt of Valor recipients was unable to be in church on Veterans Day last November when we recognized members of our congregation who served prior to the end of the Vietnam war. Every time we scheduled a time to deliver it to him unavoidable events occurred - including snow and ice. Finally we were able to make the presentation last Wednesday. We honor him for his 12 years of service in the US Navy as a Ship Fitter Fireman. He served in the Vietnam and Libyan War Theaters. Making the presentation were Pastor Wes Hilliard, and Heritage Quilter representatives Terry Freeman and Sue Weege. Joining them were his wife, Tyna, and Bob Freeman, representing our congregation. Rollin, we salute and thank you!

Dear Church family,

The call to go is an act of obedience to Our Lord Jesus Christ. And when we answer that call, we become His feet, hands, eyes, and voice to those we meet on the way. With His compassion we become like Him meeting the various needs He encountered during His ministry.

When you sent me in December for the "Water for them" mission, the goal was to dig some wells for those who didn't have water to drink. And the overall purpose was to demonstrate and manifest God's love through our actions. You responded in a way that not only brought joy to the Lord but also blessed many to the end of the earth. Thanks to your generous giving, we were able to build 5 wells so far, and three of those in areas that have never seen a water fountain.

Furthermore, the gospel was also preached in villages that have never heard before, and God's kingdom has been expanded because of all this. Doors have opened that wouldn't have been otherwise. There is great joy among the people and rejoicing before the angels in heaven. With the construction of the wells, I was able to do some outreach that resulted in a great harvest. Consequently, ninety-two children, and one hundred and eight adults confessed Christ as their Lord and savior over three days. And a very closed people group welcomed us for a showing of the Jesus film. The chief of the village stayed the entire time and said he was blessed to finally see the film he heard about and how special it was to hear it in their own language.

These are the things that happen when Jesus tells us to go and we are obediently responding to that call. Thank you very much for being part of God's work by being used by Him in such a great way. May God continue to bless you in return for your generosity, love, and for caring for those who are thirsty far away. 

Bakary Doumbouya 

Baptisms

Gary Harwell joined and was baptized.

Welcome, Newcomers!

Top Row, L to R: Shawnna and Brian Seewald; Allison and Wes Hilliard; and Corey and Cambree Alexander. Bottom Row, L to R: Teresa and Darrell Cameron; Danny Harris;

David and Sherry Kupers; Michael and Jamie Alexander; Tia, Jaxon, and Eric Smith; and Chandler and Haley Crutcher.

This Week at Heritage and Prayer Concerns

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