Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving - the disappearing holiday. Over the past couple of decades, I have watched as Halloween and Christmas have slowly merged together, all but obliterating this important holiday. It brings in almost no revenue for stores and asks for nothing more than a thankful heart.

We live in a world where we expect perfection from service workers, employers, employees, - even Pastors. Nothing is ever good enough for us and we feel like we have done a great deed if we don't complain about the services that we receive - sometimes even tossing a dollar their way to ease our guilt.

We are never satisfied with the home we live in, the car we drive, the job we work in or the money we make. We believe we deserve more and better than everyone else. We spend our lives trying to be better and have more than the people around us.

So why is Thanksgiving so important? The message of this simple holiday is to remind us that we have more than we deserve and that many people aren't as fortunate as we are. It is SO important, if but one day each year, we remember to thank God for his blessing - to thank those that serve us in their jobs. To enjoy family and friends without trying to outdo each other.

Give thanks!! Spend some time this weekend giving God the glory He deserves.

Shawn

Blairsville Judgement House 2008

One Voice Ministries is pleased to announce our participation in the 2008 Judgement House at FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF BLAIRSVILLE on Oct. 23-25. If you have never been to a Judgetment House event, I beg you to check one out in your area. If you live close enough to Blairsville, take time to check out our Judgement House this year.

Be Careful For Nothing

Just as many of you, our family has been feeling the strain of the recent economic downfall. As our budget has tightened, it seems that every added expense possible has hit - vehicle repairs, medical bills, a baby on the way, etc. As a budget counselor, one would think I should be concerned, but the truth is - I have had a peace that I can't explain and my mind keeps going back to Phillipians 4:6. It says "Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be known."

Be careful (full of care) for nothing. In modern terms that simply means "chill" or "don't get stressed out over anything".

By prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be known. Basically, this is saying that you should thankfully pray and let God know what you are in need of.

So if you put it all together, it says something to the effect of : Chill out and let God be God. Just tell him what you need and be thankful for what he gives (and has given) you.

I know times are rough, but keep your head up and remember that God is in control.

Shawn

Another baby on the way

Angela and I are excited to announce that we are expecting our third child in May of 2009. Please keep us in your prayers as we face this new and exciting challenge over the next year.

Shawn

TN getaway/Praise Service

We just returned from a little getaway to my home town of Erwin, TN. We had a great time as we got to spend time with our family and friends. I stayed up half the night with Mark (the cop that had the stroke) on Tuesday night, which really was nice after all that had happened.

Sunday was an especially awesome experience for us as we tried something new for our ministry. Instead of preaching or singing, I felt that God wanted me to lead a praise and worship service, utilizing scripture between the praises to minister to the congregation. I wasn't sure how this would be received, but I have to admit that the feedback from the church has been very positive and I hope to be able to follow in this path again in the future.

God bless,

Shawn

Are You Ready?

I have watched this video several times over the past couple of years and have to admit that every time I watch it I am caught off guard.  I believe that a great number of churchgoers are going to be the same way. . . they will know what's coming, yet they will be caught off guard as the trumpet sounds.  Are you ready??

Cardboard Testimonies

I thought you might enjoy this video. God bless.

Priorities

I have been a minister for 17 years now and have spent the past 10 years working as a Social Worker. As you can imagine, I have dealt with a hundreds of people in need during my life, however, I must report that I have never seen anything like what I have witnessed in our small community over the past few months. People who have worked hard their entire life, some making a great deal of money for years, have now found themselves in a severe financial state. With the failing U.S. economy, even retirees are starting to find themselves looking for non-existent work.

These economic woes have unfortunately started to work their way into congregations across our nation. Not only is this effecting the way churches assist families in need, it is starting to effect how we minister. As I have started watching churches throughout our area start cutting back on outreach programs in an attempt to continue operations, my heart breaks. While I understand that less money coming in means that a tithe will be less, we are finding that people are not giving at all due to decreased wages . . many times while refusing to reduce other household costs (cable, internet, etc.).

My plea to you is to prayerfully sit down and pray over your household budget, asking God to lead you in what items you can cut without reducing your giving below what God asks of you. Our main priority in life is to minister. When we don't give, we hinder the ministry of our churches in reaching lost souls for our Lord. I am not asking for a donation to our ministry, but rather ask that you join MY family in keeping our priorities in order during this tough time in our nation's history.

In Christ,

Shawn Howell

Another Milestone

One Voice Ministries is pleased to announce that we have broken yet another milestone this month with over 62,230 visitors to www.ovmonline.com. Exactly one year ago (May 2007) we reported breaking the 50,000 barrier. THANK YOU ALL for helping us reach this amazing milestone.

Shawn Howell
Director

Georgia Mountain Passion Play

I have been a part of the Georgia Mountain Passion Play for around 7 years now and am continually amazed at how emotionally touching it is for me to watch a person I know portraying Christ being beaten and nailed to a tree. Through two performances each year (3 starting this year) the Holy Spirit moves through our auditorium and truely makes this reinactment real for those in the audience.

For those of you who can make it, I hope you will consider joining us at First Baptist Church of Blairsville (http://www.fbcvision.com) as we once again portray the life, miracles, death and resurrection of Christ . . .but this year with a twist, as we look at our Lord through the eyes of Paul as he witnesses to a Roman jailor. Come. Look. Respond.

If you make it, look for me in the media booth sitting behind the computers.

God bless,

Shawn

Happy New Year

Welcome to 2008. As I began thinking about what to write in this newsletter, I looked back to my 2007 New Year post and couldn't believe how far we had come.

Last year Angela we faced a great decision. Angela was working as the Administrator of a local hospice company. Her work had her away from home most of the time to the point that the boys and myself rarely saw her. She missed Christmas and New Year, worked late and left early. We knew this wasn't the life that God wanted, but were greatly afraid of how we would be able to afford to pay for our home, food, utilities, etc.

Shortly after the new year (07), we both felt God leading Angela to leave her job. We trimmed our budget to the bone for a few months, then God began rewarding our obedience as I just can't explain. Through this experience we have really learned that God is our provider. We never went bankrupt, we never went hungry. Sure we had to sacrifice some things, but what we mostly found is that the more money we had, the more money we wasted . . and the less money we have, the more we depend on God.

We have come a long way spiritually this year, and our goal for this coming year is to be a great deal closer to God at this time next year. I hope you will join us on this journey.

Until next time,
~Shawn