Samuel's Sluggers

Would you like to be one of Samuel's Sluggers?

I received this letter from one of the streams of Tatesbrook in Houston, TX. Many of us know Tony and Allie from their time at UK and Tatesbrook and have visited them in Houston and watched their growth as Christian parents and leaders in their church. I know Samuel gets his bravery, strength and discipline honestly from his parents.

Please be in prayer for the Lucas family

Grace & Peace,
Kevin

Here is the letter:





Dear Friends and Family,

Samuel turned three on March 3rd this year. On March 7th he was diagnosed with Type I Juvenile Diabetes. Samuel had just been potty trained, when he started going to the bathroom every few minutes. We initially thought he was just playing and having fun with his newly discovered accomplishment.

Then we noticed he was drinking water heavily and looked very skinny.

After researching this on WebMD.com we didn't want to believe what we had found, but after his condition worsened and he began vomiting, I took him to the pediatrician. It was very sobering and scary to hear we were right, diabetes. The pediatrician checked Samuel? blood sugar and discovered that it was off the charts and over 800. We rushed to Texas Children's Hospital and spent a few days there in the pediatric intensive care unit mostly so that Tony and I could learn how to take care of a diabetic child. After just one eight hour class and several sleepless nights, we brought our son home. To say the least we were nervous about taking care of Samuel. It felt like bringing home a brand new baby with all the nervous anticipation of a new way of life.

Samuel gets 5-8 finger sticks a day and two insulin injections. We closely monitor his diet, exercise, sugar levels and insulin dosage. He is the bravest little boy I have ever seen. He chooses where he receives his insulin and which finger gets stuck. He even prepares the monitor and sometimes pushes the insulin syringe himself. He takes a very active role in monitoring his diabetes. He even reminds mommy and daddy when we forget to check his blood. He is incredibly smart and brave.

It's been about 6 months since Samuel got diagnosed with juvenile diabetes. These months have been an adjustment, but we are trying to make it as much of a way of life we can. God has definitely held us in his hands and given us strength. Samuel has received almost 1,000 finger sticks and 400 insulin injections. As these numbers continue to increase so will our efforts to manage his diabetes.

One thing that continues to concern us is that Samuel, along with millions of children living with Type I diabetes are innocent victims of their own autoimmune system. Their own bodies destroyed the cells that produce insulin. Insulin is the key that opens the cells of the human body and allows nourishment from the blood to enter. Without insulin the cells will starve and die. Without insulin a Type I diabetic will die. Injected insulin is not a cure but merely a life support system to keep Samuel alive.

Our family along with many others is teaming up with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) to raise money to find a cure for this disease. JDRF is the world's leading non-profit founder of diabetes research. The goal for this year is to raise more than 86 million dollars for diabetes research. JDRF is very close to finding a cure for this very scary and potentially life threatening disease.

We have decided to swing in to action and do something to help Samuel be cured. We have created a team named Samuel's Sluggers and are swinging for the fence to raise $1,000 for the cure of juvenile diabetes. On Saturday, October 14, we participate in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes held at the Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas. The money raised will go toward research to find a cure for Samuel's disease.

There are two ways you can help us make a difference for Samuel and all those living with diabetes:

1. Join our Family Team Samuel's Sluggers which consists of family & friends who collect pledges and walk with us. Simply register on-line at: http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=86396507


2. Make a tax-deductible contribution of any amount on-line at: http://walk.jdrf.org/walker.cfm?id=86396507


3. Or mail a contribution, made payable to JDRF (write Samuel's Sluggers in the memo section) to:

Samuel Lucas
16726 Schooners Way
Friendswood, TX 77546


Thank you and God Bless,
Tony, Allie, Samuel & Nora Lucas

Administration Meeting Minutes - August 26, 2006

Attendees:
Josh Wilson, Scott Faulkner, Cindy Faulkner, James Davis, Matt Hind, Kim Hind, Carol Davis

Next Meeting:
Saturday, September 23, 8:00 AM

Purpose of Administration Meeting:

Developing leaders that can follow through with excellence in all of the five fold ministries as we coordinate body wide activities and serve each other as unto the Lord

• Discipleship
• Evangelism
• Worship
• Service
• Fellowship

Specific Topics discussed this month:

Finances:
Offerings down for the summer, but still above our budget for the year. No extra payments on the mortgage the last few months and our checking account balance is going down, but nothing out of the usual.

Job Posting:
One of the goals of this team was to identify jobs that could make our ministry better and to better utilize some members that would like to contribute time and service but just don't know where to start. We have made some progress and still have a few roles

• Sound Mix ( Joe Joe and Josh have begun training )
• Greeting ( Brenda Jones, DonnaMarie, Kim Hind, others?!? )
• Maintaining a list of small repairs around the building ( need volunteer )
• Mercy administrator ( need volunteer )
• Moving Trash to curb on Thursday night ( need volunteer)
  When I returned from weekends in Indiana during July, I found all seven herbies were full and most of them had the lids open. This makes it difficult to roll them up the hill while they are full of rain water. We could really use someone to do this on a weekly basis.
• Maintain a rack of pamphlets in the new bookstore (see Mike if you are interested)
• Organizing a Preventative Maintenance program for cars and homes for members in need of help ( need volunteer )

Building: ( Donovan/Kevin )
The Steeple repair is the top priority and windows are a close second. The administration team decided to tear it down at the work day in July. That did not occur and has not occured yet, but plans to repair it are still in the works. We also added a few new items to the list.

• Number of trailers is shrinking (good work!) but the one legal trailer needs to be parked next to the shed to keep the place looking a little better
• One more window at dangerous point of falling out
• Repair the plumbing leading to the outside faucet in the rear of the building ( one of the other churches used it again not knowing that it would flood the nursery )
• HVAC ( Install air return for the sanctuary, Fix second upstairs thermostat for youth room, clean out the Mars Hill refrigerator so it can be moved, clean out junk from cleaning supply room, Ventilation for Sound room for equipment, workers and most importantly the thermostat, check out condensation in cleaning supply room )
• Remove brick mail box - replace with a normal mailbox in one of the community's cluster of mail boxes. Safer for drivers pulling out of driveway, elimination of an eye-sore.
• Baptristy is in need of cleaning and repair

A few work items that occured during August:

• Parking Lot stripe painting has begun ( Thanks Theresa )
• HVAC ducts have been repaired above Mike's office ( improves cooling capacity, reduces electric costs )
• Toilets have been repaired ( reduces water costs )

Youth: ( Matt )
The first 5th Quarter went well, but flyers did not seem to work. Our church is relational and will always depend on relationship for growth in any area. Considering breaking up middle school and high school. Considering hooking up with First Priority to have closer relationship to Tates Creek.

College: ( Josh )
College group will be going to Bob's Fall Retreat. Josh also observed that the magnets, flyers, cards are not effective in reaching people. To be successful integrating college students into the church, we will have to have them over for lunch and start relationships with them.

Calendar
We added the following dates to the church calendar:

Fifth Quarters:
Sept 1 - After Madison Central
Oct 13 - After Scott County
Oct 27 - After Woodford County

Main Church Calendar

August--
20- First day of College Shuttle
21- First Children's Church
25-27 Church campout
26- Administration meeting at campout

September--
1 - Fifth Quarter
3- Lord's Supper
16- Brother's meeting
23- Administration meeting
29- Fifth Quarter
29-Oct 1 - Youth campout

October--
1- Lord's Supper
13- Fifth Quarter
16- Mayoral Debate?
20-22 Bob's Fall Retreat
21- Brother's meeting
27- Fifth Quarter
28- Administration meeting

November--

Fifth Quarter

The first Fifth Quarter will be at the youth room this Friday night after the Tates Creek Football Game.

Peter Lord Weekend (Time/Location Update)

There have been a few changes to the times and locations for the Peter Lord meetings this coming weekend, so please note the changes and be on time as we join together with other church bodies that may not be as loose as we are in regard to time.

Here is the revise schedule of the weekend:

Location: Church at Tatesbrook, 3724 Appian Way
Church-wide meeting.......Friday 7:00 P.M.
Leadership Workshop.......Saturday Morning 10:00
Church-wide meeting.......Saturday 7:00 P.M.

Location: Living Hope Fellowship, 3640 Grace Drive
Church-wide meeting.......Sunday Morning 10:15 A.M.
Church-wide meeting.......Sunday Night 6:30 P.M.