BRANCHES September 2009

RANCHES
september 2009
This Fall at High-Life
CHANGING YET THE SAME
Ordination, Hardly Ordinary
KEN STUART’S ORDINATION SERVICE SEPTEMBER 6TH
P R E S B Y T E R I A N
C H U R C H

P R E S B Y T E R I A N
C H U R C H
pastor’s note
KEN LEGGETT Interim Pastor
BOB BRADSHAW Executive Director
MELISSA PATTERSON Executive Assistant
KEN STUART Associate Pastor, Children’s and Family Ministry
NANCY McCREIGHT Assistant Director, Children’s Ministry
DEE PETCHER Director, Nursery
PAM MAYES Administrative Assistant to Children’s Ministry
JAKE PATTON Associate Pastor, Youth Ministry
KIM DELCHAMPS Administrative Assistant to Youth Ministry
KAYLA KIMMONS Sr. High Female Director
WINNIE WINFORD Jr. High Female Director
JEREMY MCNEILL, Sr. High Youth Intern
AARON SHAFFER, Jr. High Youth Intern
BILL NASH Associate Pastor, Small Groups
WILL SPINK Associate Pastor, Pastrol Care and Assimilation
KAREN PARKS Director, Women’s Ministry
BOB BOERNER Young Business Leaders (YBL)
JAMES PARKER Chief Musician
MARK STEARNS Mercy Ministry
ALEX SHIPMAN The Village Church
DALE BOWEN Lincoln Village Preservation Corporation
JONATHAN BARNETTE Director, Communications
PHILLIP BARRETT Graphic Designer
LEN FORSYTHE Director, Facilities and Grounds
DAVE WOOD Facilities
SHARON DUTCHER Office Administrator
CAROLINE HESS Receptionist
BRANCHES
Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Barnette
Designer Phillip Barrett
CONTRIBUTORS
Nanette Respess
Amy Gandy
Jake Patton
James Parker
“Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.”
–Psalm 133
I love to see you engaged on Sundays! It delights my heart to no
end when our people gather on Sunday for worship. Seeing you
engage thoughtfully and affectionately with God and with other people in, around and through
worship is the highlight of my week.
From the parking lot to the pew, I enjoy seeing all the spiritual sacrifices being presented
before God. I get to see you laying down your life to serve one another in love. It amazes me
to see the growth that’s taken place in you from one week to the next. As you step into Sunday
from your small groups where you’ve lived in authentic community, the growth is noteworthy
and it affects our worship.
Honestly, when you’re not there, Sundays are just not the same. The difference isn’t paralyzing,
but it’s noticeable. When you’re not there, we can make it, but the room is a little less complete
because of the way that only you help fill it.
I’m not kidding. It’s like having all of our pastors on vacation at the same time, our Chief Musician
missing or one of your Greeters not standing in the hall saying hello with a smiling face.
YOU really make a difference and I delight in YOU! It’s the way your family drives into the
parking lot in three separate cars. It’s the way you hold hands with your spouse walking up the
sidewalk. Hey, don’t ever cut that out! It’s the way you talk to me in the hall, making me late to
Sunday School. It’s the way you make coffee, teach my kids, or pass the “Friendship Register.”
Or is it a “Pew Pad?” Regardless, when you’re not there to pass it to me I have to scoot down
the pew and reach for it. I prefer you filling that space beside me. I love the way you sing. Did
you know that sometimes I close my eyes and listen for your voice? I do.
I delight in Sunday because together with all the saints I am engaged and experience the
LORD’s blessing, life forevermore. See you on Sunday!
Ken Leggett
Interim Pastor
PHOTOS
Phillip Barrett
Jeanette Leggett
Jonathan Forsythe
Wendy Mosier
feedback!
Please send your suggestions,
comments, and annoucements to
branches@southwood.org
1000 Carl T. Jones Drive | Huntsville, Alabama 35802
(256) 882-3085 | www.southwood.org

putting ourselves out there
by James Parker
People have said to me, at one time or another, that they aren’t sure if they
could ever stand up in front of a room full of people and sing. Usually they
say how nervous they would feel. It’s easy to picture in your mind all of the
American Idol contestants who get an ear full from Simon Cowell. NOT a fun
situation to find yourself in! But it’s just like any other skill or profession. The
first time, or first couple of times that you put yourself out there, it is a little
scary, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.
It got me thinking about some things. In many contexts, I have a lot of confidence.
It’s not difficult for me to stand up in front of 500+ people and sing
because at this point, I’ve done it hundreds of times. But if I put myself in a
different situation, my confidence would vanish. In the past, when I’ve found
myself spending time with people who I knew were hurting, and longing
for something they couldn’t quite understand, I was weak and scared and I
didn’t speak the truth of Jesus. I’d open my mouth, but I would so often say
what they wanted to hear, and not what they needed to hear. Namely, that
their longing is common to all men, and the only way to scratch their eternal
itch is to embrace Jesus as Savior, Lord, and Brother.
So what am I so afraid of? It’s as if, in spite of what I know, my fear of rejection
and awkward conversation is trying to drown me! It’s intimidating to
face it, just as it would be intimidating to face Simon Cowell and Randy
Jackson (not so much Paula) and open your mouth and show them who you
really are. And nothing can ease the fear besides just moving through it.
I think that all of us struggle with fear and doubt to some degree, and steps
of faith are often not taken because the fear seems overwhelming, even
crippling. We want to be certain that if we put ourselves out there, we won’t
be rejected. The hard truth is that Jesus said his disciples will be hated because
of him, and he has also commanded us to take his gospel message
to the ends of the earth. So, we’re supposed to put ourselves out there and
show the world our true colors, knowing that people will hate us? Sounds
appealing, right! But the good news is that Jesus isn’t going to leave us
hanging. The Gospel story is a comedy and not a tragedy. It ends with a
wedding and a dance, instead of the death of the entire cast. So we can
be encouraged that, even if Simon and Randy hate us, or our friends reject
us, the true Judge of men has welcomed us into the gospel comedy, and
given us hope to warm us and comfort us, so that our burden becomes
light, and our yoke becomes easy. The very last thing Jesus told us before
he left the earth was this, “And surely I am with you always, even to the
very end of the age.” So lets practice putting ourselves out there for the
sake of the kingdom. My guess is that the more we share the love of Jesus,
the easier it gets!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Child Information Cards
2009/2010 Child Information Cards will be located on tables outside the
library on Sunday the 6th and 13th. Parents with children in Nursery through
6th Grade are asked to complete one card per child, even if you have completed
cards in the past. Children’s Ministry uses the information to better
care for children and effectively communicate with parents.
High-LIfe Returns
Senior High-Life returns Sunday, September 13th at 7pm. We will have
great fellowship, worship, an intro to what High-Life is all about, and
many surprises. You don’t want to miss it!
YBL Lunch
Young Business Leaders invites you to our Fall Luncheon with John
Croyle on Thursday, September 24; 12 Noon at the Huntsville Marriott.
John was a former University of Alabama National Championship
defensive end for the legendary Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. At 19 John
had a dream of creating the best children’s home in America, and
since then over 1,800 children have called Big Oak Ranch their home.
We invite you and a guest to hear and meet John as he shares his life
story, his faith, and the life lessons he has learned from parenting 1800
children. RSVP for this event is on or before Monday, September 21st.
Register by calling the YBL office at 882-6003 or email us at bob@
yblhsv.org. The cost is $20 a ticket or a table of 8 for $160.
september 2009

this fall at
HIGH-LIFE
by: Jake Patton
I was a 9 year old boy in the Panhandle of Texas playing with G.I Joe’s when
saints of Southwood were drawing a line in the sand for the youth of Huntsville.
The Lodge was a dream no one had envisioned yet, the program was
simple and hospitable, and on the other side of the country, I was in the
woods with my make shift M-16, putting it all on the line for God and Country!
But on this side of the Mississippi, there were a few soldiers who found
a spiritual ‘stick in their craw.’ There were some that, in their zeal and passion,
made the students of Huntsville a major ministry focus of this church
even before the construction of the Lodge or the hiring of a pastor. It’s
the age old question, “Which came first, the Pastor or the Youth Ministry?”
For Southwood, the ministry came first only then to be followed by
a youth ministry staff.
Fast forward a couple decades to where the few have become many. Just
last week, 80 adults challenged the carpenters who built the Warner’s patio
by filling the porch to hear the Youth Ministry’s state of the union and plan
for the Fall. So much has happened in the last 15 years! And when one looks
from 50,000 feet, you see how the timeless values we committed to ‘back
in the day’ are still here. On another note, one is forced to admit that in
order to keep those values in place, we have to work smarter. We need
to make adjustments that will help us effectively and winsomely reach the
students of Huntsville.
Over the last year, your Staff and Session have wrestled with this
question, “How can we be most responsible with our staff, leaders,
and programs to serve those that God brings through the door
of High-Life?” Allow me to highlight 2 issues/questions that might
appear in this season of High-Life and will help us answer this question.
Simply put, they are 2 fallacies that usually accompany large
youth ministry programs.

Fallacy #1
As High-Life engages more students & acquires more
staff, volunteers are less necessary.
As High-Life grows within a growing church, staff are hired to do the work of
the ministry BUT, more than ever, their focus now shifts to help you do the
work of the ministry (Eph 4:12). The High-Life volunteer base is at the size
where we need to hire a seasoned staff in order to help facilitate these volunteers.
Over the past Summer, Kayla and Winnie were promoted to act as
Sr. and Jr. High Directors. One of the most important aspects of their new job
description is this particular issue, leadership development. Not only are they
spending time with students and administrating the ministry, they are hunting
YOU down, bringing YOU with them to school lunches, and helping YOU
show the students of Huntsville love and significance. There are too many
students coming through our doors to be reached with 5 staff members. One
of the hallmarks of High-Life ministry has always been a powerful presence of
the saints (you) within these walls. It captures the heart of Paul when he thanks
the church of Phillipi for their Partnership (Phil 1:2)! Consider this...even now,
we are looking for more small group leaders and saints who will come along
side of staff to reach our covenant students and their friends this year! We
are anticipating a large number of students who would like to be placed in
small groups with only a few group leaders to offer. The question of the day
is how can we as a congregation come along side of a wealth of students
that he has already placed in our midst. The answer? We wouldn’t dream of
doing it without you.
Fallacy #2
As High-Life engages more students and acquires more
staff, you must sacrifice intimacy and closeness among
staff and students.
We believe that the kingdom of God is strongly advanced through relationships!
A youth group consisting primarily of large group venues is a difficult
place to form and propagate relationships. Currently, High Life is ministering
to several hundred students while having a mailing list of over 600 students!
So, where can a student find the time or place to be vulnerable in such a large
group? Where can a student find a venue to be transparent and honest with
these kinds of numbers? Where can they find authentic relationships? The
answer is small groups! But wait, there’s more....(in your best infomercial
voice). High-Life has engaged in small group ministry for over 10 years. In
addition to this major program, you will also find healthy opportunities to
share much like you would in a small group. For example, In Greenhouse (our
Sunday School program), you will not find rows of chairs or couches along
the perimeter for students to hide. Instead, tables and chairs are peppered
thought the Lodge’s family room to help foster small group discussion and
interaction. Also, during High-Life on Sunday nights, we have added an element
that will help students feel more comfortable sharing their heart, fears,
and struggles. This year, students will be able to text in their questions at
the end of High-Life for discussion and interaction. While Greenhouse and
High-Life will never be a “small group,” we have planned to add small group
elements to each of our large group programs in order to foster relationships
across the board.
We are looking forward to a strong year in the Youth Department. As we continue
to grow and act responsibly with those that God brings in, we desire to
maintain the highest level of partnership with the saints to provide a place for
relationships both with God and each other to prosper. May it be so for the
sake of His Kingdom.
Most kids think they are even cooler than Bill or Winnie. Our church is strong because of their involvement in ministry. It also benefits the leaders to be at High-Life….it keeps them young. Ha ha.
-Kellyn Mahesh
Ken changing positions, etc.). They are needed now more than ever. They lead small groups and really get close with the kids.
always there for the kids and can keep order especially now that the youth ministries are changing (Bill leaving,
them. They lead games and are involved with the kids during the games. They cook food for all of us, they are
Adult leaders are HUGE in the Jr. High ministry. Jr. High Life especially would be chaos without
able to smile and be cheerful during it all.
-Sam Wilson
or any of the other of my friends to handle. They are constantly energetic, always working and
respectable way. I’ve seen them handle situations that I know would be impossible for me
High Life would be chaos without adult leaders. They help maintain order in a friendly,
WHAT OUR CREW MEMBERS
SAY ABOUT OUR ADULT LEADERS

the call of the crayon
by: Amy Gandy
In the past few weeks at Southwood, we have
heard and seen a lot about “growing small.” As
a large church, one of our challenges is to make
sure that we as members are engaged in our
church in a significant way and that as we grow
small together as a body of believers, we take
what we have learned and are learning out into
the world and share Christ.
Also in the past few weeks, we’ve seen that
great “fall” occurrence, the return to school.
New backpacks, lunchboxes, crayons, paper
and glue have been purchased and we’ve
waved our kids off to the classroom for another
year of learning. To those who have ever been
a teacher, they will tell you that when school
starts, no matter what they are doing, the
crayon calls them. Teachers and past teachers
wax poetic about how when the children
return to the classroom, they can smell the new
box of crayons, they can hear the clicking of
the new three-ring binders and they feel this
overwhelming urge to stand at the chalkboard
and teach!
What do small groups and school starting back
have in common? Nanette Respess!
For three years, Nanette was a member of the
church staff “small group”. While her official
title may have been Administrator to the Senior
Pastor, she did a lot of other things around
the office too. As a member of the staff, she
attended weekly staff meetings where books
were read and discussed, where members
shared their hearts and their goals for ministry,
and where friendships, not just working relationships,
were grown and developed. She
was engaged with a body of believers who
supported and uplifted her in her walk with
the Lord. But, before Nanette worked at the
church, she taught 3rd and 5th grade for 18
years and every year she worked at the church
she felt the “call of the crayon” when school
started. This year, not only did the crayon call,
but also God called Nanette back to the classroom.
She is teaching 5th grade again and is
the leader of her own classroom, or should we
say small group?
The definition of teach is, ‘to show or explain
how to do something, to encourage, to give
intellectual, moral and social instruction to
someone.” As members of a small group we
are both teachers and students. Sometimes
we do the instructing and sometimes we take
that instruction from others. Nanette is using
the things she has learned from her body of believers
and is taking it back out into the world
to share with others. While she will be greatly
missed at the church office, her “small group”
will continue to pray for and encourage her as
she goes back to the classroom and her classroom
is rejoicing over their new teacher!
meet our new youth interns
Do you know the new people across the street? This fall we have two great new interns who will be
working with the youth at the Lodge. Their names are Jeremy McNeill and Aaron Shaffer! As you see
these two new additions to our Southwood family, introduce yourself and invite them to dinner! Youth
interns love free food!
Jeremy came to us this summer initially as a summer intern and ended up staying! Jeremy grew up
in the “boonies” of Huntsville and then attended Birmingham Southern College. He says that the
biggest influences on him as a youth were his father, the Beatles, “Boy Meets World” and his youth
pastor! In five years he hopes to be getting ready to graduate to from Covenant Seminary. Jeremy
jumped right in this summer on our “Mexico” mission trip and hasn’t looked back! If you need a youth
intern or a closet-cleaner-outer, he’s your man!
Jeremy McNeill and Aaron Shaffer
Aaron is from Marietta, Georgia and is a graduate of Covenant College. Aaron says that one of the
reasons he wants to work with youth is because even though his middle and high school years were
difficult, there were always Christian adults who took time to get to know him and they made a huge
impact. He credits his Father as an example of a growing believer and says he want to “be faithful in
whatever God wants him to do.”

ordination, hardly ordinary
Ken Stuart is almost as excited about his ordination as he is St. Patrick’s Day!
September 6 will celebrate the culmination of long hours of study, tests, and
oral examinations in preparation to be ordained into gospel ministry as a
teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), our denomination.
His ordination service will be celebrated on Sunday, September 6 at the
8:30a.m. worship service.
Why pursue ordination now? “When I came to Southwood, I was ‘ordainable’
having completed my seminary training. Part of my hire was for pursuing
ordination in my role with Children/Families. The tyranny of the urgent
initially won out quickly and the pursuit of ordination was put on the back
burner. Self-evaluation of why God called us here, coupled with Jake and
Will’s ordination last November, brought things back into focus. January
2009 marked the beginning of a very intentional plan to complete my ordination
process by Providence Presbytery’s August 4 meeting. God has
been so gracious and patient.”
Ken found he enjoyed Church History as he studied. He states, “The history
of Christ’s Church is full of godly men and women whose lives give us great
examples to emulate. Our forefathers wrestle through many things of which
we are the benefactors.” While reciting the Apostles’ Creed at a recent presbytery
meeting, God impressed upon Ken an overwhelming sense of how
dynamically huge God’s kingdom is and the vast scope of all the saints past,
present and future who were and are a part of what God has done, is doing
and will do to advance His kingdom. “Words will not adequately describe
how I felt reflecting on my place in God’s big picture of advancing His kingdom,
but here it goes. Reciting that ancient creed placed me in a cloud of
witnesses that spans the ages and thus, makes me feel very small and insignificant
and yet, very affirmed by the Father as part of a plan (His plan) that
transcends time, governments or the rise and fall of nations,” Ken reflected.
Ken’s desire is to act upon God’s will for his life. Ken, a giant leprechaun, is
drawn towards all things Irish and most things Celtic in general. He wonders
whether God would eventually place the Stuarts in Ireland as missionaries.
What Ken is certain of—the present and the heart God has given him for
ministry to children and their parents. Ken dreams of writing a children’s book
and birthing/refining curriculum for children’s Sunday School classes.
Many in the body have helped Ken reach this point. While Karan has kept
things going at home, Ken’s time has been spent in his office studying days,
nights and weekends. Mike Honeycutt mentored Ken through the process,
encouraged him and lovingly, yet firmly, helped him keep his focus. Ken Leggett’s
role as iPastor and friend were outward and silent encouragements.
“Both he and Mike treated me much like they would one of the pastors
even before this process began. Their leading affirmed and helped set my
course.” Pam Mayes and Nancy McCreight took many things off Ken’s plate
The Stuart Family
which enabled Ken to give greater attention to study and preparation. Ken
Newberry assumed much of the missions responsibilities. The Children’s
Committee members, the session, and the other pastors were encouraging,
helpful, and affirming.
Being ordained as a teaching elder in Children/Family Ministry is beginning
to take place more and more as churches see the importance of ministry to
children as something far more than “Sunday child care” and ministry to families
as the “God ordained unit” for the primary discipleship of their children.
“Our ministry to children is not to supplant their parent’s role in discipleship
but to come alongside of them.” Ken’s desire is to make Sundays uniquely
endearing to children as they learn of Christ’s love for them, what it means to
respond to that love and realize how they have been blessed to be a blessing.
Ken is sure that he has just scratched the surface as he walks into a new
phase of ministry.
Ken’s ordination service is just around the corner. Family and friends, both
biological and spiritual from out of town, will be celebrating Christ together.
Joe Novenson, the Sr. Pastor at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian
Church in Tennessee, is preaching. Ken served there prior to coming to
Southwood. He is a dear brother in Christ and friend whom God used to
help shape Ken personally and in ministry. Join the Stuarts as part of their
family on September 6.
september 2009

General
worship@southwood.org
branches@southwood.org
High-Life
kim.delchamps@southwood.org
Children
pam.mayes@southwood.org
Women
karen.parks@southwood.org
Singles
singles@southwood.org
September
Sun 06
Wed 09
Thu 10
Sat 12
Sun 13
Wed 16
Thu 17
Sun 20
Wed 23
Thu 24
Fri 25
Sun 27
Worship
8:30a and 11:00a
Jr. High-Life
6:00p Lodge
Morning and Evening Edition
9:15a and 6:30p
Helping Hands
8:00a Southwood
Worship-Communion
8:30a and 11:00a
First Senior High-Life
7:00p Lodge
Singles-Connections
7:00p in room 2303 (Community Builders 1.0 room)
Jr. High-Life
6:00p Lodge
Morning and Evening Edition
9:15a and 6:30p
Worship
8:30a and 11:00a
Senior High-Life
7:00p Lodge
Jr. High-Life
6:00p Lodge
Morning and Evening Edition
9:15a and 6:30p
YBL Lunch
Noon at the Huntsville Marriott
Jr. High-Life Fall Retreat
25 -27th at Camp Skyline
Worship
8:30a and 11:00a