Westmeade family, in order to make this a successful event for our church and community, we need your help! Please sign up to decorate a trunk and/or work a shift for the inflatables. Prizes will be awarded for best decorated trunks so start planning now!

Sign up to decorate a trunk or volunteer at the inflatables HERE.

OCTOBER 17-18 // THE REFUGE

RETREAT LEADERS

Rick Hagans

Harvest Evangelism was founded in 1985 by Rick Hagans after returning to Alabama after working for David Wilkerson and his ministry World Challenge. In the beginning, Rick’s vision was to create a Christian ‘Coffee House’ which could be a safe place for the community’s residents to find a safe space, hear the gospel be presented, and be discipled. But after a while, it was found that many people who heard and accepted the gospel here had nowhere to go. Some even took the back off the stand-alone arcade games in the coffee house to sleep inside at night. It was also at this time that Rick was taking men home to live with him, his wife, and then, one child in their small trailer. This gave birth to His Place, the ministry of Harvest Evangelism which offers men a one-year Christian recovery center where men are offered gospel-centered discipleship along with various other things that aid them in not only defeating their life-controlling addictions but helping them turn into contributing members of society and the Church.

During the 90s Rick became disheartened by the seemingly emotional manipulation and short-lasting effect of summer church camps where he had been regularly preaching. So one year instead of preaching a summer camp at the beach he took a team to Mexico to work with the poor and destitute in the U.S.-Mexico border town of Reynosa. Since then Harvest Evangelism has taken over 10,000 people down to Mexico for short-term mission trips to work with local missionaries and an orphanage that was started by Rick Hagans and a partner in Mexico in 1998. Harvest Evangelism Missions has also been able to take mission teams to other countries in Latin America, Europe, and Asia.

After a few years of having His Place in operation Rick, and his wife Kim, once again began welcoming people in need into their homes. This time around they opened their home to women in need of a safe place to be and grow. This was the start of Hosanna Home. Hosanna Home, like His Place, is a one-year Christian recovery home that allows women, and their children up to age 12, to overcome their addictions while being immersed in gospel-centered discipleship.

With all these ministries, Harvest Evangelism began Harvest Thrift Store in 2000 to help with the financial cost of caring for all the people involved in the ministries. Through the years the store has grown to be able to provide a portion of the annual budget of Harvest Evangelism.

Kenny Young

Kenny is a product of the ministry of His Place where he now serves as Director. Kenny has witnessed over and over again the power of the gospel and the grace of God.

Corey Bonds

Corey is the Minister of Music at Westmeade Baptist Church in Decatur, AL. Corey’s gifting in music, combined with a pastoral calling and the heart of a discipler, make him unique in the area of ministry through music. Before coming to Westmeade, Corey was Director of Bands at Campbellsville University in Kentucky, while also serving a local church as Minister of Music. Corey and his wife, Katherine, have three sons – Paxton, Parker, and Price.

WHAT IS FIRST STEPS?

First Steps meets the first Wednesday of each month between February and November from 6:00pm to 7:15pm. Participants can jump in on any month and then continue until they’ve completed all ten basics.

CORE seminars are an invaluable and indispensable part of disciple-making at Westmeade. These in-depth seminars cover topics like: Systematic Theology, Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Apologetics, Missions, Evangelism, Meeting with God, Fear of Man, and many more. Over time, the material taught in CORE will teach every basic and foundational truth that a Christian should know, live and share. CORE seminars are every Wednesday from 6:15-7:15pm and are for all ages.

• Current Series: “Apologetics (Defending The Faith)”
• Location: Sanctuary
• Teachers: David Burdeshaw, Corey Bonds and Andrew Campbell

• Current Series: “Basics Of Christianity”
• Location: The Refuge
• Teachers: Justin McAlpin

• Current Series: “Ephesians”
• Location: Upper Room
• Teacher: Ben Tinley

If you have any questions, please contact David Burdeshaw at david@westmeadebaptist.org or 256-353-8239.