Celebrating the Opening of Southeast Christian Church's
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Celebrating the opening of Southeast Christian Church’s SOUTHWEST CAMPUS Connecting people to Jesus and one another November 20, 2014 The Southeast Outlook Section B Celebrating 80 Years •Great Personalof MemberService •FREE Service Financial Credit Counseling •Checking Account Options •Incredibly Low Auto Loan Rates Eight Convenient Branch Locations in Louisville (502)(5 459-3000 • (800) 292-9490 • www.kytelco.com B22 SouthweSt CampuS NOVEMBER 20, 2014 | SOUTHEASTOUTLOOK.ORG Yet again, God does immeasurably more than we ask or imagine A letter from DAVE STONE Southeast Christian Church Senior Pastor Southwest Louisville has a new friend and neighbor and we are so excited to open our new church home to folks in that area of the city. Once again, we are elated that the Lord has given us more people than we ever dreamed. This has become a wonderful pattern at our new campuses and one we hope to MIke Drake/The SOu T h e a st O u T l oo k repeat every single time we extend our reach into Kentuckiana. There are so many unchurched folks membership. The Southwest staff has for help with our kids and students. And This campus is very welcoming. You in this part of the city and this is an already heard tons of God stories and are please pray the Southwest Campus will can see it in the hugs and the smiles as amazing opportunity to really make a just on fire to see what our Lord will do continue to grow and bless others while people greet one another. huge difference. The lives of many can next. Our mission is to connect people to being challenged by God’s Word. The excitement is contagious. It’s just be changed for all eternity. We’ve been Jesus and one another! “Now to him who is able to do immea- a joy to be there. Although there have thrilled with how many unchurched have Continue to pray for the Southwest surably more than all we ask or imagine, been a few challenges that come with been coming. God is blessing abundantly. Campus and all God will do through the according to his power that is at work large crowds, we’ve been able to adjust, I’m so proud of James Hauser and lives of folks there. There are so many within us, to him be glory in the church, and things are already running smoothly. how the folks are responding to his lead- stories that are being written…all for HIS and in Christ Jesus throughout all gen- The Southwest staff has done an out- ership. We’ve had baptisms every week, glory. We’d love for you to consider get- erations, forever and ever. Amen” (Ephe- standing job. along with folks coming forward for ting involved in many areas, especially sians 3:20-21). Th ank you for reaching so many for Christ, and allowing us to provide all your fl ooring needs. 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Companion Care Services With much appreciation, -Bobbie E. CALL FOR FREE ASSESSMENT Serving Kentucky (502) 426-9783 [email protected] and Indiana www.home-companions.com B4 SouthweSt CampuS NOVEMBER 20, 2014 | SOUTHEASTOUTLOOK.ORG James Hauser passionate about serving Southwest Louisville By Ruth ScheNk | [email protected] don’t fill out this application, I’ll make Southwest campus Senior you miserable.” pastor James hauser is Southeast Christian Church’s South- I wrote a letter explaining why I would pictured with his wife, west Campus Pastor James Hauser has be the worst candidate possible: I didn’t leann and sons Bryson, a long history at Southeast. He served like speaking in front of people. I didn’t left, and caden. as the high school pastor at the Blanken- want to work in the church and so on. p h oto c O u r T e S y O f baker Campus from 2005-2012. The son They read my application and said, “We T h e h a u S e r f a mi ly of a recently retired pastor, Hauser also think you are the best candidate. We feel served as the pastor at Ozark Christian that we have been rejected, and we feel Church in Monett, Mo., and youth pastor like you’re just one of us.” at First Christian Church in Salem, Ill. I ended up in this itty-bitty church Hauser is excited about the oppor- with just six people in the 20 to 30 age tunity to reach many who do not attend group. Two families had kids. It was church in the area of 90,000 homes with awful and awesome at the same time. I more than 200,000 who do not attend don’t sing, but worship was so bad that church. I offered to lead worship. The lady who played the piano for us hadn’t played the Ozark Christian College and have two what DiD you leaRN aBout BeiNg DiD you alwayS waNt to Be a paStoR? sons, Caden, 10, and Bryson, 9. a paStoR fRom youR DaD? I went through different shifts in high piano in over 20 years. In some ways, it was a nightmare My dad is the biggest lover of people school, but basically thought I would be I’ve ever seen. He is a model of Christ in a math teacher and coach. I loved foot- church, and I loved it. The people were how DiD you get to SoutheaSt? my life. When I thought he should knock ball and math. I thought I could do that, so real and encouraging. I got to a point In 2004, I was a youth pastor in Illinois when Southeast was looking for a high out a few people, he’d hug them. and with summers off, be the best volun- where I knew this was where God was school pastor. My brother John did an teer on the planet. While I was growing leading me. That itty-bitty church did internship at Southeast with then Youth what woulD people Be SuRpRiSeD up, I saw that my dad was always dying so much for me, and I learned so much Pastor Jim Burgen. to kNow aBout you? for volunteers. from them. Later we merged with a church down When Phil Heller, who was the high I love looking for a good deal. My wife So I had a plan, but my dad said all of school pastor then, asked if I would be us had to go to one year of Bible college, the road and now that church has 150 to is unbelievable with sales and coupons. 200 there every week. interested in coming to Southeast, I said We can make $40 stretch a long way. then do what we wanted. So I went to I didn’t think so. Great things were hap- Missouri Southern State University at pening in Illinois, and I couldn’t imagine the same time I went to Ozark Christian how DiD you meet youR wife leaNN? what iNtRigueS you aBout a chuRch iN We met at a Christ In Youth camp my leaving. the Dixie highway coRRiDoR? College. They came back two weeks later and senior year of high school, although she There is a large amount of people in a I did not want to attend Ozark or asked if I’d given it more thought. was not interested in me until college. small amount of space. any Bible college but did in order to I called my dad and brother John. honor my parents. My attitude at school Long before that, my dad had preached They said I absolutely had to do it. I I grew up in a blue-collar factory town. reflected my lack of desire to be there. a revival at her church. When LeAnn’s called Matt Proctor, now the president of I appreciate people who work hard. mom heard that my dad had a son her Ozark Christian College. He said I should For me, I had to adjust to living in what chaNgeD youR miND? daughter’s age, she said, “Bill Hauser’s strongly consider the move. Louisville’s East End. I didn’t grow up A friend of my dad asked if I would do son is a senior. Maybe you two will get So in January 2005, I joined the staff like this. weekend ministry at a small church of married someday.” as one of the high school pastors. I’ve One thing I’ve picked up from the about 25 people. I explained that I wasn’t James and LeAnn got married the been part of an incredible team, which other campus pastors is that God has going to be a pastor, but he said, “If you summer of their sophomore year at was hard to leave.