Category: Article

by Chris Elrod

Belong to Christ, grow in Christlikeness, lead others to Christ.  This is what our youth ministry at Walter Hill is all about.  This is what we challenge our youth to focus on.  As we enter a new year, it’s a helpful place for us to begin to reflect and evaluate how we need to move forward into a new year!

Belonging to Christ is all about giving your life to Him.  Galatians 3:26-37 explains that through faith we become children of God when we are baptized into Christ.  This is when Christ takes ownership of us.  Do you belong to Christ?  Have you given your life to Him?  This is the first and most important step.  Belonging to Christ means we have been added to His church (Acts 2:41) and that our soul is saved!  If you have not given your life to Christ and been added to His church, I hope you will!  If you do belong to Christ, I hope you will work to connect to with your church family.  Seek belonging among your brothers and sisters by introducing yourself to new members or saying hello to someone you might not know well.

Growing in Christlikeness is really our personal purpose as those who belong to Christ.  Romans 8:29 explains that God planned for His people to be conformed to Christ.  We are to be conformed to our Savior rather than the world (Romans 12:2).  In 2025 could people tell you were a Christian by observing your actions and hearing your words?  In Galatians 2:20 Paul says he’s been crucified with Christ it is no longer him who lives but Christ who lives in Him.  In other words, his life was controlled by Christ!  How do you need to grow more like Christ in 2026?

Leading others to Christ is the mission we have been given by Christ Himself.  In Matthew 28:19-20 Jesus told us to go and make disciples of all nations, while promising to be with us.  Jesus is with us and has given us His Word to use in revealing Him to the lost.  We all have people in our lives who need to know Jesus.  Let’s step up to the mission Jesus has given us.  Let’s invite people to our assemblies so they can experience the love of God’s children and learn the value of belonging to Him.  Let’s open our Bibles and show people scripture so they can learn what they must do to be saved.  Let’s be unsatisfied with the lost being lost.  Remembering that we are Christ’s ambassadors (2 Corinthains 5:20).

May we all belong to Christ, so we can grow in Christ, and then lead others to Christ, who will likewise find their belonging in Christ, experience growth in Christ, and lead others to Christ.  May the Lord continue to bless us in 2026.

by Justin Morton

It seems like only a few days ago we were celebrating the start of 2025, and now here we are only a few days away from the New Year.  The past year was a good year for us as a congregation.  We were able to see both physical and spiritual growth.  But, as great as it was, we should not put everything in neutral and just coast along off of our previous successes.  We should celebrate our successes and use them as a launching point for this New Year.

The leadership at Walter Hill believes the best is yet to come.  We believe we still have much to accomplish in this community.  This year has the potential to be the best year we have ever experienced as a congregation and that is exciting.

In order for this to be our best year yet, we need every single member of our Walter Hill family involved.  It has been said, “Nothing good happens by accident.”  If we want to experience good things as a congregation, we all must be a part of the plan and play important roles.  So, what can you do, you ask?

1.  SEEK.  Look for ways you can bless others (Galatians 6:10).  Use these opportunities as a means to show others that the people at the Walter Hill church of Christ are striving to follow Jesus.  Then, invite those people to come and see (John 1:45-46).  Bringing people to Jesus is what it is all about.

2.  ENGAGE.  Do not just sit on the sidelines.  Find ways for you and your family to actively be involved in the work (1 Peter 4:8-11).  There are plenty of opportunities available.  This year, make it a point to find an area where you can help serve for God’s glory.

3.  GIVE.  Challenge your family to sacrifice something this year so you can give just a little more for the work being accomplished (2 Corinthians 8:2-5; 9:6-8).  Our giving could be the difference between people learning about the gift of Jesus and not learning.

4.  PRAY.  Spend time praying for God’s continual blessing upon us as we strive to be a light in this community and the world around us (James 5:16).  Above all, we want to honor and glorify God in all that we say and do!

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “ The more you know about the past, the better prepared you are for the future.”  Why should we settle for what we HAVE DONE, when we can accomplish SO MUCH MORE for the GLORY OF GOD?  Let’s all believe and pray that the best is yet to come.

The Hope We Have in Christ

Hope is a powerful thing.  It strengthens the discouraged, steadies the weary, and gives courage to those overwhelmed by life.  As Christians, our hope is not based on circumstances, emotions, or the changing world around us—it is rooted in Jesus Christ.

His birth reminds us that God keeps His promises.   From the prophets of old to the star over Bethlehem, God’s plan to redeem mankind was not forgotten.  Jesus entered the world not just to live among us, but to bring light into darkness and offer salvation to all who would seek Him.  His birth was the beginning of our hope.

His death reminds us of God’s incredible love.  Jesus willingly sacrificed Himself, bearing the weight of our sins so we could be reconciled to God.  Through His blood, we are forgiven, cleansed, and made new.  His death wasn’t defeat—it was victory over sin.

His resurrection assures us that death is not the end.  The empty tomb is the foundation of Christian hope.  Because He rose, we have confidence that life continues beyond the grave.  We know that God has prepared a place for those who follow Christ, and one day, every tear will be wiped away.

In Christ, we find a hope the world cannot give—a hope that sustains us today and prepares us for eternity.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ… who has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

May we hold tightly to this hope and share it with others.

by Scott Miller

             Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes (L2L) is a leadership program geared to train the youth in leadership in the Church.  Leadership through the program is developed in four different ways: 1) leadership through spreading the gospel, evangelism and teaching, 2) leadership through leading worship, 3) leadership through fellowship and relationships, and 4) leadership through knowledge.  All these leadership skills are vital for continual growth of the church.  Each of these leadership skills can be used in the Church, in the family, and in the business world.  The world needs more Christian leaders!  Strengthening and sharpening these leadership skills give our youth encouragement and confidence in themselves to lead and even stand up for the teachings of Christ at times when standing up for Christ is not popular.

Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes offers a wide variety of areas that the youth can continue to develop their leadership skills including art, Bible bowl, Bible reading, blogging, debate, podcasting, PowerPoint presentations, puppets, scrapbook, song leading, songs of praise, speech, and many more.  What’s great about the Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes program is that it is for ages as early as kindergarten through high school!  This is a great opportunity for all youth, kindergarten through the seniors in high school, to be involved and work together for a common purpose.  Recently we have been encouraged with a larger number of youth group participants, and we anticipate this year even more will be involved!  Plus, we hope to have more of our elementary children involved as well.

The L2L program does involve preparing for a convention held at the Opryland Hotel April 3 – 5, 2026, but L2L is more than the convention.  The growth comes through practice and preparation.  You do not have to attend the convention to participate in the Lads to Leaders/Leaderettes program.

The program also gives adults an opportunity to serve and build strong relationships with the youth that they would not have otherwise.  As our church continues to grow, we need more adult mentors and coaches.  A mentor and coach assist our youth with planning, preparation, goal setting, time management, etc.  A mentor and coach can be at any stage in life, from college age to PrimeTimers!

Another great aspect of L2L is the opportunity for our ladies to continue to grow their leadership skills.  We continue to need more mentors and coaches for our young ladies to continue to grow in the Lord.

We want to thank those that have already agreed to coach and mentor this year, but we need many more.

The theme this year is “Faith Works” – based on the scripture James 2:17-18.  Bible bowl is on James and 1^st & 2^nd Peter. 

We encourage our youth to sign-up to participate and strengthen leadership skills covering at least two of the four leadership areas.  We begin sign-ups today and they will be open through December 21. You can sign up in the lobby or online at walterhillchurch.com/youth/l2l or by scanning the QR code!

If you have any questions, see Scott or Heather Miller.

by Justin Morton

Well, the holiday season is upon us, and I don’t know about you, but I am thrilled.  This time of year provides so many wonderful opportunities to enjoy great food, spend time with those we love, and take a little time to rest and reflect.  Over the course of the next few weeks, your schedule will likely fill up quickly, but in the midst of the busyness, can I encourage you to do a few simple things?

First, take time to slow down and enjoy being with those you love.  The older I get, the more I realize what a gift each day truly is.  James reminds us “life is but a vapor” (James 4:14).  Many of us know the pain of losing someone dear and sometimes suddenly.  One minute they were here, and the next they were gone.  So as you rush from one event to another, remember to pause and cherish the family and friends God has placed in your life.

Second, make it a priority to gather for worship every opportunity you can.  It can be easy during this season to neglect worship and Bible class because of all the other things going on.  Let’s not allow ourselves or our families to skip meeting together with God’s people.  The writer of Hebrews encouraged his readers to not neglect meeting together (Hebrews 10:25).  I want to encourage you to do the same.  We need one another’s encouragement all year long.

Finally, amid the chaos and noise of this time of year, take time to reflect on the many ways you have seen the goodness of God in your life this year.  Then spend some quiet time in prayer, praising and thanking Him for His goodness.  As James wrote, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).  We are truly blessed, and we should never stop giving God the glory for all He has done.

So go ahead and shop until you drop, wrap those presents, and enjoy all the gatherings that come your way.  But while you do, take time to slow down and savor the moments with your loved ones, gather faithfully with your brothers and sisters in Christ, and lift up your heart in praise to God for all His wonderful blessings.

Exciting Days Continue for Our Walter Hill Family!

  As we move through the final weeks of 2025, and it’s hard to believe that it is already November, our Walter Hill family has much to look forward to!  We continue to be blessed with visitors, fellowship, ministry opportunities, and exciting progress on our building project.  The next phases of our building project will occur around several scheduled events.

  First, mark your calendars for our Annual Gospel Singing on Friday, November 14, starting at 7:00 p.m.  We’ll enjoy an evening filled with singing, encouragement, praise, and fellowship.  Please invite friends, neighbors, and family—this is a wonderful outreach opportunity to share the love of Christ with others.

  The week following our Gospel Singing, our general contractor will begin constructing a temporary wall inside the auditorium.  This will allow work to continue safely and efficiently on the build-out of our new pulpit area.  We will lose some seating capacity, so we need to make sure we try to consolidate seating as much as we can and move to the center of the rows to allow room for our visitors.  We will have an overflow room available, but we should make every effort to make room for all who want to worship with us.

  Next, make plans for the little ones to join us for Cookies with Santa on Saturday, December 6.  More details of this event will follow, but it is another outreach opportunity and will bring many visitors to our facility and provide an opportunity to teach the gospel.

  Immediately following our Cookies with Santa event, the general contractor will begin demolition of the small kitchen area and the Adult 1 and Adult 2 classrooms.  The existing pulpit and baptistry area will remain and that demolition will occur after the new pulpit area is mostly completed.   As of right now, we are not anticipating having disruptions to our Sunday morning assemblies.                                                                       

  The entire construction and remodel process is moving along smoothly, and we thank everyone for your prayers, support, and flexibility.  Our remodel and expansion represent more than a physical update—it’s an investment in the spiritual growth of our church family and an opportunity so spread the gospel in our community.  Our goal is not to build walls and classrooms, but to convert souls to Christ!

by Justin Morton

          Last Sunday evening we had a great time at our Annual Fall Fellowship and Trunk or Treat.  A lot of folks stayed after our Bible classes and enjoyed some good food, fellowship and fun.  We want to say a BIG thank you to the Fall Fellowship committee for the time and effort they put into making last Sunday night such a successful evening.  We would also like to thank each and every one of you who brought food, candy for the kids and stuck around even though it was wet and cool.  We are blessed with a great congregation of the Lord’s people here at Walter Hill!

          Don’t forget the shepherds have asked us to consider and pray about the appointment of seven men to the role of Deacon here at Walter Hill.  Those seven men are Doug Argo, Greg DeMario, Trey England, Kip Nickell, Ed Phillips, Brandon Thomson and Jake Wilbanks.  Let’s prayerfully consider these men based on the qualifications mentioned in I Timothy 3:8-13.  Should there be no scriptural objections to these men serving in the office of Deacon, they will be appointed as Deacons of the Walter Hill congregation next Sunday, November 9^th.  Please be praying for these men and their families as they consider working in this important role.

         Lastly, we have a big announcement for all the children and young people of our congregation.  Starting this month, they have an opportunity to begin collecting Bible trading cards.  Apologetics Press, a great company associated with the Churches of Christ, recently produced Discovery Bible Cards.  Our shepherds have graciously allowed us to purchase several boxes.  Each child who wants a pack, will receive a starter pack of 10 cards.  From then on, our young people can earn additional cards in various ways.  Each month we will let our children and parents know all the ways additional cards can be earned.  I plan to talk more about it this morning, but for now, maybe have your kids grab a sermon notes handout and fill in those blanks – wink, wink.

         There is a lot of excitement and good things going on at Walter Hill.  May we not grow content or stagnant, but instead always be looking for ways and opportunities to help spread the love of Christ.

by Justin Morton

Recently, the airwaves were flooded with people talking about the ceasefire agreement in the Middle East and praising our President for his help in negotiating the agreement.  And while that is certainly worth talking about, there was something else our President said in the aftermath of his visit that caught my attention.

 While answering questions on Air Force One, the President was asked if helping with the agreement would get him to heaven.  The President said, “I don’t think there’s anything going to get me in heaven”.  He went on to say, “I think I’m not maybe heaven-bound, I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make heaven”.

The President of the United States made those comments for all the world to hear.  For the last several days I have been thinking about that statement.  If one of the most powerful men in the world feels this way, then you know there are many others who do not hold such powerful positions who feel the exact same way.  They go throughout their daily lives thinking there is no hope of eternal life for them.  Perhaps we even have friends or family who feel this way.

To all those who may feel hopeless, the Bible promises JESUS CAN SAVE YOU!  While God is a God of justice, He is also a God who delights in forgiveness, not punishment.  Micah the prophet said, “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance?  He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love” (Micah 7:18).  God delights in steadfast love or mercy.  Mercy is what God is willing to offer anyone who will repent of their sins and obey His will (Matthew 7:21).

God sent His son, Jesus, to shed His own precious blood, so every one of us can have forgiveness of our sins and hope of eternal life (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:7; I Peter 1:18-19).  No one deserves to go to heaven.  There is not a single person who is “good enough” to “earn heaven” based on their works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  All of our righteous deeds are like “a polluted garment” (Isaiah 64:6).

“BUT GOD!”  Those are two of the most beautiful words we read in our Bibles.  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).  No “good deed” is going to get anyone into heaven, but Jesus can.

If we know someone who thinks they have no chance of heaven, let’s share the hope we have in Jesus Christ.  He can and will save anyone who submits to His will and obeys.  Friends, no sin is too big for God’s grace.  Jesus is enough to get “anyone” into heaven.

In Justin’s bulletin article last week, he wrote about how exciting it is to finally have our building project underway, and he is correct, it is an exciting time.  Over the course of the next several weeks and months, you will see many changes taking place with the building.

With those changes comes challenges and adjustments.  Some classrooms will become unavailable for use, e.g., Adult 1 and Adult 2 will be demolished to allow for the auditorium to be expanded.  Also, a wall between the teen room and the 2-3 year old class will be removed which will give the teens some much needed additional space.  One more change that will be very noticeable is the installation of a temporary wall in the auditorium.  This wall will be 8’ from the north wall and run almost the length of the auditorium.  With that change, a few chairs will be removed while construction continues behind the wall.

The elders, the renovation committee, and the contractor are working to keep our auditorium available for worship during construction, but it may require some of us to temporarily use a classroom for overflow if there is insufficient space in the auditorium.  We have done this before, and we are confident that we can do it again while construction is ongoing.  God has greatly blessed Walter Hill with growth and the opportunity to expand our facilities.

We will see some classes moving to other rooms temporarily and some classes combining with others, but the good news is that we will have classes for everyone.

We will do our best to communicate with you as these changes take place.  As with any building project, schedules and plans are subject to change.  We need not ask for your patience as we know how much you show your understanding and your trust all the time.  Your commitment to the Walter Hill church family is evident by the love and fellowship you show for one another.

As the building undergoes renovation and expansion, maybe it is the right time for us to evaluate our own lives.  Are there changes we need to make in our lives that will bring us closer to God and closer to one another?  Living the Christian life is not a static state.  We must continue to self-evaluate to make sure we are faithfully walking in the light.

Paul tells us in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Let us all strive to be transformed daily, shunning the temptations of the world, and living a life that seeks the will of God.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ, will walk with us every step of the way!

by Justin Morton

It has finally started!  After a lot of dreaming, planning, praying and waiting…construction began on our building expansion this past week.  What an exciting time for Walter Hill!  It seems like forever ago the elders and ministers were sitting down talking about what Walter Hill needed in terms of our current facility.  While we still have a long way to go to get to the finished product, our remodeled facility will soon be a reality.

I hope you will continue praying and asking God to bless us every step of the way in this process.  We want to use our facility to minister to those who need love and help (Philippians 2:3-4).  We hope to fill it with many visitors and those who have never obeyed the gospel of Christ so they can learn about God’s wonderful plan of salvation and the hope we have through Christ Jesus (Romans 10:13-14).  Most of all, we pray we witness countless people respond to God’s amazing grace and accept that wonderful free gift of salvation and then begin lives of service to the Lord (Romans 6:23).

This newly renovated auditorium and classroom space is not so we can beat our chest and say, “Look what we have done”.  No, we want to proudly proclaim, “Look what God is doing!”  Our goal in all of this, is not for the glory of men, but for the glory of God.

We live in a postmodern world that is filled with evil and sin.  But God is still God and His Word still has the power to convict even the hardest of hearts.  The Hebrew writer wrote, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).  In the midst of all the turmoil in our culture today, more and more people are looking for truth and for the Lord.

In the coming months, after much prayer and planning, our dream will become a reality.  We will have a renovated facility that holds more people.  But what will we do with this space?  Will we just admire its beauty?  Will we just come in and sit in our new “usual spots” as always?  Will we boast about how much more space we have?  Will we sit back and keep focused on ourselves?  What will we do with all this “new” space?

I pray the answer to “what will we do with all this space” is this: I will consider who I can invite to help fill this big auditorium.  Friends, the harvest is plentiful (Matthew 9:37) and we are going to have plenty of space.  The question is “ What are we going to do about it?”