Mena SDA Church

Polk County Fair

2009-09-04T18:50:00.000-07:00

Rod Run 2009

2009-08-28T20:34:00.000-07:00

2008 Vacation Bible School

2009-08-23T18:31:00.000-07:00

Vegetarian Cooking School - March 8, 2009

2009-08-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

Cossatot River Outing - 7/26/09

2009-08-15T13:45:00.000-07:00

2004 Pathfinder Camporee

2009-08-15T06:30:00.000-07:00

Mena and Surrounding Area

2009-08-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Tornado Photos

2009-08-08T22:06:00.000-07:00

Vacation Bible School 2009 - Wednesday - Friday

2009-08-05T20:37:00.000-07:00

Vacation Bible School 2009 - Monday & Tuesday

2009-08-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

New Horizon Chapel October 2004

2009-08-02T19:46:00.000-07:00

NEW HORIZON CHAPEL EXTERIOR

NEW HORIZON CHAPEL INTERIOR

CHAPEL PLATFORM

New Horizon Chapel May 2004

2009-08-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

NEW HORIZON WORKERS

INTERIOR

EXTERIOR

ZINC FOR THE ROOF

THE ROOF IS ON

NEW HORIZON STUDENTS

The Mena Star - March 11, 2004

2009-08-02T19:30:00.000-07:00

Seventh Day Adventists build church in Belize

Members of the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church have recently spread goodwill afar by traveling to Belize, Central America, to build a church for the residents of the San Pedro area.

Spokesman Richard Lawry said he and a group of friends from the church had gone on a vacation in the spring of 2003.

"It was a great vacation but we came away realizing how much we have here and how little they have there. We wanted to do something to help but we didn't know exactly what," Lawry said. "Shortly after our vacation, Don and Minnie Johnson moved to this area and started attending our church. They had spent a year living in Belize on an island off the coast called Caye Caulker. They suggested going to Belize and helping there. That's how it all began."

Lawry said the members of the church jumped on the idea and after much planning, money-raising and preparation, it culminated in the journey to Belize and the building of a church in San Pedro.

"There were 17 of us who made the trip down," Lawry explained. "We bought the building materials there, and assisted the locals in the construction of the church. It was hard work but very rewarding. We owe a special thanks to Don and Minnie for going down in advance and arranging permission with the government, and supervising the pouring of a concrete slab prior to our arrival."

In addition, Troy Morrison, a nurse anesthetist at Mena Medical Center, was able to arrange the donation and transportation of an anesthesia machine from Mena Medical Center to La Loma Luz Hospital in Santa Elena, Belize.

"Troy knew of an anesthesia machine that wasn't being used by the hospital and he spoke with MMC Administrator Vince DeFranco about donating it," Lawry explained. "Mr. DeFranco agreed to the donation and it was shipped down prior to our trip. Troy had the distinct pleasure of seeing his machine being put to use at La Loma Luz Hospital."

Lawry added that all of the money to build the church in San Pedro was raised exclusively through the generosity of the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church. He added it was a most rewarding experience for all.

"This was one of the most satisfying things I have ever done, and I would do it again in a heartbeat," Lawry added. "I came back a different person and I know the others were affected the same way. We had a chance to get to know these people: they became our friends, and we knew the conditions we left them in, which makes it all the more poignant."

Lawry said there are plans on the horizon to return: the Belize government has promised his church a plot of land on Caye Caulker for a second church. He says, God willing, they'll return to do it again.

this article originally appeared in the March 11, 2004 Mena Star

San Pedro Sun - Feb 26, 2004

2009-08-02T19:28:00.000-07:00

New Chapel for New Horizon

"We love our brothers and we try to help in any way possible," stated "leader of the pack" Don Johnson, one of seventeen Seventh Day Adventist Church volunteers who traveled to Belize from Mena, Arkansas. The group arrived in San Pedro last Thursday bearing gifts and ready to assist in building the newest chapel on the island. "Our latest project is building a new chapel for the Principal, staff and children of the New Horizon Academy. This concrete building will measure 35 by 60 feet and will hold up to 150 people when completed".

The chapel has been completely funded through the kind donations of the congregation from Mena, Arkansas. This noble group held gospel concerts and garage sales to raise money. Not only did these members donate, they also passed the word of a church in need. Soon Florida and Tennessee congregations also sent donations. Mr. Johnson commented, "As the word spread donations just started pouring in. If it is for a good cause, such as this one, people will help and donate."

In an interview with the San Pedro Sun, Principal Miguel Hernandez of the New Horizon Academy, mentioned that both the students and faculty of the Academy were immensely grateful for all of the help they have received. "There are many plans for improvements to the school. Our school accommodates 125 students and nine staff members and our facility is fairly small. In the future, we plan to expand our facility to house a high school and eventually a pre-school."

This "group of angels" from the USA also brought with them surgical equipment to donate, as well. This equipment was given to Santa Elena's La Loma Luz Hospital in the Cayo District of Belize. They also spoke to Milo Paz Jr., President of the SP Lions Club, regarding future donations for the San Pedro Lions Inter-Community Clinic.

"We are traveling to Caye Caulker to see in what ways we can assist that community," stated a very enthusiastic Johnson. "God asks us to help one another and we are simply trying to do our part," he ended.

This article originally appeared in the February 26, 2004 San Pedro Sun

2004 Belize Mission Trip

2009-08-02T18:57:00.000-07:00

Seventeen members of the Mena SDA Church recently returned from a mission trip to San Pedro, Belize, Central America. During their stay they helped with the construction of a new church, helped in the New Horizon SDA School, and delivered food in Belize City.

The idea for a mission trip started a year ago. In March of 2003 five couples from the Mena church went on a vacation together. On their vacation two days were spent in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. It was a great vacation, but the group came away with the realization of the great need of the people in Central America. Shortly after the group returned from their vacation, Don and Minnie Johnson moved to Cove, Arkansas and started attending the Mena Church. They had spent a year living in Belize on an island called Caye Caulker. They suggested going to Belize and helping there.

Don knew of a need for another church in San Pedro. Plans were made by the group to build a new church and the Mena Church raised over $20,000 dollars for the project. Don worked many long hours in planning and coordinating the project with the members of the San Pedro Church. Don and Minnie went to Belize 2 weeks earlier than the rest of the group to oversee the beginning of construction. Members of the San Pedro church built the church, with the help of the Mena group. Before the Mena group arrived, the slab was poured and the first two rows of cement block were up. By the time the Mena group left the walls were up. Members of the San Pedro church are finishing the church with the help of the Belize SDA Mission.

In addition to building the church, an anesthesia machine and other medical supplies were provided for the La Loma Luz Hospital in Santa Elena, Belize. Troy Morrison, a nurse anesthetist at Mena Medical Center was able to arrange for the donation of the anesthesia machine. He was excited to see the machine in the La Loma Luz hospital, and talk to his counterpart at the hospital their.

The Mena Church has been drawn closer together by this mission project. Members are not ready for the project to be over. Ongoing help is going to be given to the New Horizons SDA School, and the La Loma Luz Hospital. While Don Johnson was in Belize he received a promise from the government of Belize for land on Caye Caulker to build a church. The Mena Church is planning to go back to Belize to build another church if the Lord opens the way.

DON JOHNSON

LOU SIMSEK

JIM OLMSTEAD

TROY MORRISON

BOB LAWRY

NICK SCOTT

MIKE EASTON

DEANNA OLMSTEAD

PAT LAWRY

LAUREL EASTON

GINA MURRELL

RICHIE LAWRY

TONY MURRELL

GINA LAWRY

MINNIE JOHNSON

NANCY SISTRUNK

GAVIN LAWRY

NEW HORIZON SDA SCHOOL CLASSROOM

SCHOOLS OUT AT NEW HORIZON SCHOOL

SCHOOL TRANSPORTATION

RICHIE RECEIVING PLAQUE

OUR FRIEND LEO

GAVIN GOES TO SCHOOL

PRINCIPAL HERNANDEZ, DON JOHNSON AND ELDER CIMA

INSPECTING THE CONSTRUCTION SITE

CENTRAL CHURCH

GINA ON THE BEACH WITH THE KIDS

JIM MAKES A FRIEND

DISTRIBUTING CLOTHES

NEW HORIZON SDA SCHOOL

NEW HORIZON SDA SCHOOL STUDENTS

GINA PASSING OUT CANDY

GAVIN WITH NEW SCHOOLMATES

Mexico Evangelism

2009-08-02T17:20:00.000-07:00

In 2007 Mike Easton, Richard Lawry, and Tony Murrell traveled to the state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, and from October 15 through 20, they held nightly meetings in three locations. Mike held meetings in Rio Bravo, Richard’s were in Valle Hermoso, and Tony’s series was in Reynosa. The meetings were coordinated by Nic Garza with help from Pastor Trevino and Pastor Martinez of the East Gulf Conference in Mexico.

LOOKING OVER THE REYNOSA MEETING SITE

TONY VISITING IN NUEVO PROGRESSO

REYNOSA MEETINGS

TONY MIKE AND NIC

RICHIE DELIVERING A FOOD BASKET

VALLE HERMOSO SABBATH SCHOOL

TONY SPEAKING

BAPTISM AT VALLE HERMOSO

NIC AND RICHIE HELP PREPARE FOOD BASKETS

RIO BRAVO MEETINGS

MIKE GIVING OUT FOOD BASKETS

MEETING CONFERENCE PRESIDENT PEREZ

PASTOR MARTINEZ

CHILDRENS MEETINGS IN RIO BRAVO

ISABELL WITH HER NEW BIBLE

TONY VISITING WITH KIDS

MIKE MAKING NEW FRIENDS

BAPTISM AT VALLE HERMOSO

RICHIE AND A FELLOW BODYMAN

YOUTH AT THE VALLE HERMOSO SDA CHURCH

RICHIE PRESENTING YAHAIRA A NEW BIBLE

RICHIE AND NIC PRAYING WITH BAPTISMAL CANDIDATES

RICHIE MIKE AND TONY AT THE VALLE HERMOSO SDA CHURCH

RICHIE FINDS A CAR JUST HIS SIZE

TONY INSPECTS THE FACILITIES

MIKE AND FRIENDS

NUEVO PROGRESSO SABBATH SCHOOL

NUEVO PROGRESSO SDA CHURCH

NIC AND RICHIE EATING BREAKFAST

VALLE HERMOSO MEETINGS

TONY SPEAKING

POWER BREAKFAST

PASTOR TREVINO

RICHIE GIVING AWAY A CD