Baby Haleigh is Here!

Our little girl is here finally. She was born this morning at 8:54 a.m. Her name is Haleigh Joy Hendershott. She weighed in at 7 lbs 6 oz and is 19 inches long. She looks great and is very healthy. Hillary is doing great and was amazing through the whole short process. She was having contractions all night and once we left the house at 8 a.m. we barely made it to the hospital at 8:35 and 20 min later she was here. God is good and we are so thankful for His provision and faithfulness.

Van, Baby and Timing

We are doing well and wanted to ask all of you to pray for us. Currently Hillary has started to contract and the doctor doesn't think we will make it a week before we have this baby. So please pray for God's timing and that everything would happen naturally. Also, both our vehicles are in really bad shape and so we are currently in negotiations with a dealership for a 2004 Honda Oddyssey. This is a huge thing for us and so we need prayer for wisdom and favor as well.

The boys are doing great and are excited to be big brothers! Thanks for your prayers and I will keep you all posted about the baby.

Taking it Easy

A new update on our family...Hillary is doing great and we are only three weeks away from Baby Time. Last week I went to the dentist and got a Root Canal. Jaxon and Riley went to Vacation Bible School, Sunday through Thursday. The job is going very well as I continue to become closer to my students. We are currently renovating the youth room putting in a Fellowship Cafe and a Game Room. In May we will be unveiling the new Youth Name and Website we have been working on since I got here. So, things have been going very well and a lot great things are happening at our church.

I have always been a fantasy football junkee and being here is no different. In fact I am facilitating two leagues at our church for our Men's Ministry. Also, we are planning on having Men's Monday Night Bible Study at the church and then showing Monday Night Football on the big screen so we are excited about how many men we will be able to attract for that. I'm excited to be involved with some things other than just Youth Ministry.

We'll keep you updated as we get near Hillary's due date. God Bless Ya'll.

There and Back Again

I have just returned home from an amazing two weeks of life changing experiences. First I led the 15 High School youth and leaders from our church to Nashville, TN to serve with GROUP Work Camps. While there we worked with a Food Bank Ministry, Catholic Charities and also a ministry named Provision which serves the homeless and inner-city Nashville population. We grew closer to God and each other while being stretched in new ways in our faith.

Then I returned for a short two days before taking 40 students to a camp called Caswell which is located on the beach here in North Carolina. Caswell is facilitated by the Baptist Association and so there were over 950 other youth from other churches besides ours. It was a very powerful week as we learned how to trust God and raise the standards in our lives. Three youth rededicated their lives and one youth who recently graduated accepted Christ for the first time. The next day I had the honor of baptizing him in the ocean.

Now I am back in the saddle planning for the rest of the summer and fall. Hillary and the boys are doing well. Today we saw the baby doctor and everything looks great for our due date August 13th. Please continue to pray for us and also for the youth we minister to.

Together Again

Hillary and the boys are here and we are all finally settling into our new home that we moved into a couple of days ago. Everyone is doing well and Hillary is very happy with the way things are turning out. Last night around 100 church members showered us with gift cards and household items to welcome us into the community. It was overwhelming but awesome at the same time. God has been so good to us and continues to build our faith daily.

Saturday, I leave for the High School Mission trip with about fifteen students and leaders to Nashville, TN. We will be working with an organization called GROUP. Every summer they facilitate work camps, serving the Nashville community. Please pray for our time and that God works in each of us.

An Awesome Beginning

I definitely feel blessed to be in my new position as Student Pastor. My first two weeks here have been amazing. I continue to experience the honeymoon stage daily as people continue to reach out to me and make me feel welcome. I have already built some great relationships. One family gave me a key to their house case I need anything. We have had a lot of needs for our house that we are moving into Saturday. The church is planning a "Pounding" for us next Wednesday night to give us housewarming gifts for our new life here. Already, we have been given a big screen t.v. couches, recliners, dressers, beds, kitchen supplies etc. God has been blessing our socks off!!! Saturday I get to see Hillary and the kids for the first time in two weeks and so I am very excited for that. Please pray for them as they drive down here with my in-laws.

That's it for now. Please know that we love you all and appreciate your prayers. Here is my new address, 10220 Eastfield Rd. Huntersville, NC 28078

The Beginning of a NEW Season!

I arrived in North Carolina safe and sound Friday Night. I am settled into my host home and today had my first day as Student Pastor at Independence Hill Baptist Church. Hillary and the boys are doing well back in Ohio. They will be meeting me down here June 14th and we'll be moving into our new house which will be ready by then. I feel like I am living a dream honestly because I am around such caring and thoughtful individuals and they have made me feel right at home. When I arrived I found a large poster on my office door that said "Welcome Justin" which all the youth signed encouragements like "can't wait to see you" and "we're so glad you are here". I am so excited to see what God does in the lives of the Youth here.

God has been so faithful through this whole process. Thank You everyone for your prayers and love for our family.

God's Provision is SWEET!

God has provided a couple of key things for us as we move closer to our move date. First, my sister called me and said that she wanted to give us her 1995 Honda Accord. It's a huge answer to prayer because it gives us two vehicles and Hillary won't be stuck at home when I go to work. Also, we may have found a place to live. A family in the church has a 3 BR 2 Bath house for rent which is being remodeled and sits on 2 acres of land. It's only a 1 1/2 miles from the church. It's very affordable for us to rent and will save us gas money since it's so close. So as always God has better plans than we can imagine.

We are doing well and are very excited about moving to North Carolina. I will move down first on May 30th and then Hillary and the boys will be down around June 15th. Please continue to pray for our transition.

There and Back again!

I returned from a great time with my future church family in North Carolina. While I was there I spoke and met with everyone you could imagine, and it was quite exhausting. A great family housed me and I was able to build relationship with their son Ryan (13) who has been disconnected to the Church for a while so it was definitely a divine appointment. The conference in Atlanta was amazing and we walked away with a lot to pray about as God was speaking about the future and church direction. I also got to spend some quality time with the Pastor. You would think at the end of the day two spiritual giants like ourselves would have a bible study and pray but instead we watched the NBA Playoffs!!! Go Cavs!

We are still looking for housing and our moving date will either be the 19th or 28th of May. Please continue to pray for us!

Back to the South

Tomorrow I will be flying back down to Charlotte, North Carolina for six days. While I am there I will be spending time with the Youth Group, teaching Sunday school, greeting parents and meeting the Deacons of the Church. On Monday I will be going to Atlanta with the Pastor and two other staff for a leadership Conference called ORANGE. Please pray for me and our family as we continue to take the next step with Independence Hill Baptist Church. On May 18th the congregation will be voting to make our hiring official. Until then we are looking for housing and preparing ourselves anyway we can for this big move.

Loving North Carolina!

Well, Hillary and I are back from North Carolina and we had a great experience. Yesterday we met with the Pastor and Children's Pastor discussing Youth Ministry
Philosophy and other related topics. Then in the evening we spent some time with the Search Committee. They asked us questions and allowed us to share from our hearts. We finished off the night with some hang out time with the Pastor and his wife. This morning we went to Breakfast where he told us that they would like for us to take the next step. This is great news and basically means that once the Deacon Board approves me as the committee's first choice for student pastor, then they can offer me the job. Next weekend I will be flying back down for Church on Sunday and to meet the parents. Then on Monday, travel to Atlanta for a Leadership Conference with the Pastor and some of the church staff. Unofficially we will be moving to Charlotte by the end of May and we are so very excited!!!!!! Thanks for your Prayers and Thank you Jesus for your faithfulness and provision.

Kicken It Down South

Well, we made it safe and sound to Charlotte, North Carolina. The Pastor picked us up and took us to the church to meet some of the staff and also took us on a tour. Independence Hill Baptist Church was founded in 1872 and has a deep southern history to it. Recently they have built a beautiful worship center and offices to add to the older church building. We'll be heading back to the church tonight for a youth sponsored dinner and then youth meeting. So far, so good and it's absolutely beautiful so that's been a nice bonus. Please continue to Pray!

Time to Pray

This Wednesday Hillary and I are flying to Charlotte, North Carolina. I will be interviewing with Independence Hill Baptist Church for the Youth Pastor position there. As I have written before, the Pastor has invited us to see the church, meet with him and also the committee while seeing the Charlotte area. We are very excited and are hopeful that this is where will be landing. Please pray for our time there and that God would lead us in our conversations and interviews. Thanks for praying and I will keep you updated!

My Job Search

I heard back from the Pastor of Independence Hill Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. They will be flying Hillary and I down for a face to face interview Wednesday April 16th. While there I will be seeing the Youth Group, meeting with the Pastor and also meeting with the Youth Search Committee. Hillary and I are very excited and have a great feeling about this opportunity. Our prayer is that God would continue to lead us and that He would give peace to us and the church through this process. I am still pursuing other jobs until a deal is done. I have a 2nd interview with a church in Ohio tomorrow. Thanks for your prayers!

Hanging with Family and North Carolina

Today, after my interview with Independence Hill Baptist Church last night the Pastor called me and has invited Hillary and I to go to Charlotte, North Carolina for a face to face interview. This is exciting news because I feel like God may be opening a door and showing us the next step. The church is not interviewing anyone else but us which means if all goes well then they would offer me the job as Youth Pastor. Our time at home has been good. We live with Hillary's parents and the boys have been happy to be around Grandma and Grandpa. Today we went to another grandma's house for lunch. We had a great time and we'll continue to make our rounds to see everyone we can.

Home...safe and sound!

Well I got home last night and after sleeping in this morning I am feeling more settled in. I still have to unload our stuff from the moving truck but that won't be too bad. Today I got a surprise interview call from a church in Ohio and it went very well. The position is for Associate Youth Pastor overseeing the Jr. high Ministry which would be really cool. I have an interview tonight with the church in N.C. and then Tomorrow an interview with a different church in Ohio. So I am excited about the possibilities and just trusting God along the way.

Elders Farewell Party

Tonight we had a final farewell for the three elder couples leaving staff. It was great time of reminiscing and encouraging each other. I will miss these guys tremendously! God has done a whole lot in me during my time on the YWAM Leadership team.

Guys Night Out!

Last night about 25 guys staff went to Buffalo Wild Wings Restaurant(BW-3)for a final time together before I leave on Saturday. We had a blast and I am so blessed to have known so many awesome men who are have given their lives to missions. Each one has invested in me in one way or another. Hillary and the boys arrived safe and sound to Ohio and they are doing great. Also, I got a call yesterday from a church in Piqua, Ohio that wants to interview me on Tuesday. Still, a lot going on and I am excited and sad to move away from Denver. It's the most beautiful city anywhere!!! Please continue to Pray for us.

A Baby Girl is coming!

Today we had another ultrasound and this time to my surprise but not Hillary's we found out that we are having a girl! We're very excited and it's just another reminder of God's faithfullness to us and our family. Her name will be Haleigh Joy and right now she is 20 weeks and 3 days along. The doctor said she looks great and is very healthy. Please continue to pray for Hillary's pregnancy! Hillary and the boys fly out tonight and they are very excited to see all the grandparents back in Ohio.

A Busy Week!

A whole lot is happening here with our family. We have four more days with YWAM! Wednesday Night Hillary and the boys will be flying home to Ohio. Saturday I will follow with a moving truck and trailer pulling our mini van. I'm very thankful to not be driving by myself but with my buddy Ted. Before Hillary leaves we will have another ultrasound on Wednesday where we will hopefully learn the sex of our third baby. Last Wed I interviewed with a woman representing Independence Hill Baptist Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. It went very well and Next Monday the 31st I have been asked to do a second interview with them. So....with all that being said pray for us as I continue to interview and we begin our transition!

Another Opportunity?

I just received an email from a church near Charlotte, North Carolina. They would like to interview me over the phone tomorrow night for their Youth Pastor position. I am still waiting to hear back from the church in Tennessee, Minnesota and Pittsburgh. The church in Tennessee seems like the best fit for us but we'll just wait and see what God is doing because he has a great plan for us. Next Wednesday the 26th Hillary and the boys will be flying home to Ohio and I will follow on Saturday the 29th. We'll be living in Wooster, OH until we know the next step. Please be praying for us.

Prayer Needed

I have just gotten wind of another job opportunity in Pittsburgh, PA. It would be part-time but with a wonderful upside to it. I know God is doing something, so please everyone that reads this pray for us and that the right door would open in His timing. I should be hearing back from TN by the end of the week. I believe God wants to put our family in the best situation for us to make a huge impact.

Three more weeks and counting!

Well, here we are the beginning of March and toward the end of an unprecedented era of our lives with YWAM Denver. Are we sad about leaving? Yes. Are we going to miss the people here? You bet. Hillary and I are doing well and are looking forward to what God has ahead. Last night I spoke to my good friend in Minnesota and he may have found a great opportunity for our family working with a church there. We'll see. It's good to know that there is more than one possibility out there. I am still waiting to hear from the TN church though. Please continue to pray for that. Have a great week everybody!!!

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, it's a ......

We had our first ultrasound this morning and everything is looking great. Hillary and the baby are very healthy. The doctor told Hillary she needed to gain more weight so we ran off to Good Times to get a burger once we were done. They were not able to see the sex of the baby just yet because she is only 14 weeks along. We have another ultrasound scheduled for march 27th to find out if we have a little princess or linebacker.

The Interview

I had my interview this morning with about 6 different people on a conference call. I felt like it went very well and now it's up to God if this will be an open door for our family or not. I am not sure when I will hear back but I do know they want to fill the position immediately. So, please continue to pray. Thanks

Pray for Me

Tomorrow morning at 9 a.m. our time, I am having my second interview with Eastwood Church in Chattanooga. Please pray for favor and that I would be smooth with my words and responses. I will write tomorrow giving you an update of how things went with the interview and also I will be reporting about our doctor's visit tomorrow morning.

Youth Pastor Job

This Thursday I have my second interview with Eastwood Church in Tennessee. I am one of three final candidates. Please pray for this because I really believe that this may be the best fit for me and our family. It's in God's hands! I will keep you posted.

Hillary's Pregnancy

Hils is doing great. She is tired alot which is expected but continues to be incredible as she watches over Jaxon and Riley. She is an amazing mother and I try to be a good father as well. This Thursday she has her first ultrasound where we will find out the sex. We will post the results Friday so you all may see.

Thailand Trip 2008

On December 17th Hillary and I led a team of 21 DTS students to Thailand. We first stayed in Bangkok where we lived at the YWAM Thailand base for two weeks over the Holidays. We took some time at first to relax and see the sights of Thailand. Once New Years was over we spent a week serving at 'The Well' which is a church and ministry dedicated to ministering on the streets of Bangkok to the prostitutes. 'The Well' houses and rehabilitates girls that want to leave prostitution and make money another way by making greeting cards and necklaces. We were able to spend time with the girls during the day and minister in the bars at night. The men on our team had the opportunity as well to minister to the male tourist who were soliciting sex. We would take a survey and share the gospel, challenging them to think about their decisions and the consequences that come with them.

We then moved on to Phuket which is in the southern most tip of Thailand. There we worked with a ministry called SHE which stands for 'Self, Help and Empower'. This Ministry is also committed to rehabilitating women in prostitution. We stayed at their center which was about a 10 minute walk from the beach. We also worked with a church and their youth group.

Our last destination was Chiang Rai where we served at Home of the Open Heart. HOH has many different ministries they run but mailnly they have a campus where mothers and their children with aids live. There also is an orphanage that is currently hosting about eleven kids.

We had a great trip and met some extrodinary people along the way. We know God used us which is a great accomplishment. Hillary and I were very proud of this team and we'll never forget this awesome experience.