Blog Posts

While January 1st is really no different than any other day of the year, it holds a symbolic meaning to many of us. We all fail and want second chances. Even for those of us made new in Christ, because of our human frailty, we rejoice that His mercies are new every morning.

I write these words with great hesitancy. You already are hearing from social media, your television, your church, and your family how you need to make changes in 2021. It is so overwhelming, you want to scream! Yet, I share these words not to add more guilt. I do not want to add things to your already overwhelming schedule. I want to share some things that have helped me grow closer to Jesus, which has given me more freedom and peace.

Here are some tips to make your New Year “new.”

Have some sort of sabbath in your life. “Sabbath” literally means,  “to cease, to end, to rest.”  God rested after His creation of our world not because He was tired, but because He knew He needed to give us a model to follow. We are so easily dominated by overwork. Work is a gift from God, but must never become an overbearing taskmaster that robs us of an intimate relationship with Him. Why is it that we humble-brag about being constantly busy, while not lamenting the broken relationships with God and family that are a consequence? Why is it that we take pride in working 90-hour weeks but don’t recognize the resulting sickness of our bodies, souls, and spirits? Remember to slow down and spend some time with the One who said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Speaking of time, remember to spend significant time hearing from and speaking to your Creator. What relationship can exist without meaningful communication? This means you need to spend time in prayer and in God’s Word. I have found some wonderful tools that free me up to enjoy God’s presence, rather than leading me to become bound to some legalistic ritual. One is PrayerMate, an app that replaced my old ever-growing and overwhelming prayer notebook. I recommend it highly. The other is to use a Bible reading plan. This benefits me, since on my own I tend to always turn to the same familiar passages rather than being molded by the whole counsel of God. In recent days I have benefited from the Gospel Coalition’s ambitious Read the Bible Plan. This year I am using a combination of the BibleProject’s Reading Plan (complete with their incredible videos) and Pastor John Soper’s wonderful, Mission 119 Plan. Another terrific option is the Five Day Reading Plan. It is thorough but not overwhelming. Whatever you use, remember to enjoy your time with the Savior as you grow closer to Him through prayer and His Word. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. (Psalm 1:1–3).

Just as you want to strengthen your relationship with God, do all you can to get to know your family, neighbors, friends, coworkers, and church family better. Of course, this also means TIME. How can we love our neighbors if we don’t know them? Remember, going to a church building for a weekly service is not the same as getting to know your brothers and sisters in Christ. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24–25)

To do all this, you must have the proper emotional and physical health to invest in these important relationships. Take care of your body. Get proper exercise. Eat healthy. Make sure you sleep! Don’t get fanatical about these things, but be a good steward of the body the Lord has given you. 

Don’t try to add more to your already too busy schedule. Set priorities for how you use you time. Get rid of time wasters so you have time for the things that are truly important. Above all else, make God your top priority. I have found that when I do that, the rest of my priorities fall into place. Have a Christ-filled 2021! Let’s exalt Him together. 

Merry Christmas!

Friends, from our home to yours, may you experience the reality of the presence and peace of Christ this Christmas season! We are currently in the season of advent, which means, “coming,” or “waiting.” The idea is that God is sending something worth waiting for! The prophet Isaiah, some 700+ years before the birth of the Messiah, proclaimed that a very special baby would be born who would be a light in the incredible darkness the world found itself in. This helpless baby would actually be the answer to the mess that men and women had made for themselves. This baby was so special, he would be born miraculously to a virgin. He needed four names to describe His greatness: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. The baby’s adoptive father, Joseph, was told by an angelic messenger to name the boy another name, Jesus, “for he will save his people from their sins.” That promised baby was truly worth waiting for!

Today, we find ourselves in another period of “waiting.” We are waiting to get back to “normal.” We are waiting for jobs to return. We are waiting to be able to go to sporting events, restaurants, and concerts. We are waiting to hug grandparents and visit loved ones. We are waiting to gather with others in the Body of Christ. We are waiting for renewed health. We are waiting to attend long-delayed weddings and funerals. We are waiting!

And while we properly wait for things like vaccines and an economic upturn that may bring some help, what we need most is that little baby promised so long ago. Jesus is truly the ultimate answer for all we face in life. He came the first time that first Christmas. After His atoning death and glorious resurrection, He ascended to heaven. While seated upon His heavenly throne, He now works in this world through the lives of His redeemed people. He is coming again to set up His eternal Kingdom based in a new heaven and a new earth. He is still worth waiting for!

Merry Christmas from our family!

From Rebekah and Tim:

From Victoria and Noah:

From Maria (notice she did not give me a photo to share – I told her I would still include her even if she did not submit a picture. Contact Maria to see what she looks like):

Praises and prayer requests:

–We praise God for our Cumberland Presbyterian Church family! They continually bless us by by their encouragement and generosity. They showered us with food this past Thanksgiving season.

–We praise God for incredible neighbors! The Timberwood subdivision in Russellville is truly home sweet home.

–We praise God for His continued grace in our lives. Through the trials we face, we are able to see God and His blessings in ways we would never have seen in any other way.

–We praise God for our families, even though they are miles from us.

–We praise God for YOU, dear friend, and for your love and support.

–Please pray we will honor Jesus through all we say and do.

–Please pray we will have opportunity to share Jesus through this holiday season.

–Please pray we will continue to rely on Jesus to provide all of our physical and spiritual needs.

How can I pray for you? Please let me know.

Brian Heinen

802 E 23^rd Street Russellville, AR 72802 (479) 886-0765 

bheinen.com  brheinen1@gmail.com

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the peoples!
Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice!
Seek the LORD and his strength;
seek his presence continually! (Psalm 105:1–4 ESV)

Even in the midst of our season of COVID, election chaos, and financial struggle, I pray you have a thankful heart that recognizes God’s power and His loving care for you. As the Psalmist says, may you call upon His name and seek Him continually through this challenging time. As the Scriptures remind us, when we seek Him, we WILL find Him, if we seek Him with all of our hearts!

Our little family has much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season. We are extremely thankful this day after Veteran’s Day for all who have served our country in the armed forces. Thank you!

Thank you for your service!

Our girls are doing great. Maria continues to manage online classes and on-campus classes. She officially moved into the next phase of her elementary education training. She is happy to be our chauffer, which we appreciate!

Victoria and Noah are enjoying married life. Victoria is juggling classes at the elementary, middle and high schools. Because of COVID, the middle school went all virtual for a few weeks. Now the high school is doing the same. It looks like her Christmas concerts will be cancelled. Her students did great in their All-region contest.

Rebekah is applying for social work jobs, now that New Jersey finally approved her state license. She and Tim enjoy their home church, as well as their visits to Tim’s home church as he preaches every other week. Rebekah sings quite often. Their two cats keep them busy.

Leah continues her ministry of intercession for many of you. We celebrate our 34th wedding anniversary this week. How wonderful it is to keep growing more in love as the years pass. Here is a wedding picture I know you have seen before. It is the only one on my computer, so enjoy!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetie!

I turned 58 this week. I am another year older, but I don’t know if I am another year wiser. Rebekah called from New Jersey, Victoria had her class sing for me, and Maria bought me a Packer facemask.

I know many of you are facing troubling circumstances in your lives. If I can pray for any of you, please contact me. If any of you are struggling with the heartbreak of this season, please read my recent blogpost, I had a dream… . I invite you to participate in an online support group that is detailed in the blogpost.

In this season where you wonder where God may be, I invite you to read Scripture with me online. I always find Him best in the pages of His Word. If you want to explore and discuss God’s Word with me, please contact me.

We are in the midst of trying to figure out what we can do for Christmas at our wonderful church and in our neighborhood. Like your Thanksgiving, ours will probably be a bit low key this year. Even so, Happy Thanksgiving!

Again, how can I pray for you? Please let me know.

Brian Heinen

802 E 23^rd Street Russellville, AR 72802 (479) 886-0765 

bheinen.com  brheinen1@gmail.com

Unlike MLK, these words do not describe my inspiring aspirations for the future. They describe a recent dream I had while I slept. It is a very rare occurrence for me to remember a dream. I don’t believe this was a prophetic dream, nor do I believe it was dream caused by too much pizza the night before. It simply was something that happened that made me think about my life.

In my dream I was the busy pastor of a thriving, vibrant church. I was blessed to partner with incredible local ministry colleagues and a wonderful denominati0nal family. We were active sharing the love and truth of Jesus Christ with a lost and dying world and the supernatural fruit of repentance resulted. Occasionally I had the privilege to travel the world to encourage international workers as they faithfully served. It was a wonderful dream.

Then I woke up. None of those things were true in real life. I love the tiny, mountain church family I am blessed to share God’s Word with on Sundays, but due to physical limitations I am not able to do the work of a shepherd among them. As an interim, I have no authority to lead. Being unable to drive, I cannot be a presence in a community that is 40 minutes from my house. I seem to struggle to be a light here in my own neighborhood. I pray for my past ministry partners, but often feel forgotten and even sometimes ignored by those busy with their own ministry responsibilities. I will never travel the world to cheer on my missionary friends and see the pioneering work of God firsthand. While my wife and I once prepared to be missionaries, we are now limited to praying that others will be called to the peoples we love.

I wonder if my almost 60 years have been wasted as I sometimes served in congregations that really didn’t want me but felt forced to hire a credentialed worker because of denominational regulations. Did my life bear any fruit that pleased my Savior? I can honestly say that everything I did in my decades of imperfect ministry was done with a heart desiring that God would be glorified. As I look back, I doubt if I made much of an impact for Him and the furtherance of His Kingdom.

Instead, as I look back I fear that the deep wounds that my family experienced through years of being the subjects of scrutiny, gossip, slander, and suspicion were not worth it. Did my desire to fulfill a mostly fruitless ministry-calling ruin the lives of those I love most? I hate to think some of this might be true, but I wonder.

I write these words not to elicit sympathy. I write these words to express my grief. Grief is what we experience when we mourn the loss of something. For me it was the loss of the American-ministry dream. I had hoped that the Disney-inspired “just believe and work hard and your dream will be fulfilled” ministry-mantra would happen to me. I mourn its loss. I mourn what it has done to my family.

So many are grieving today. COVID has destroyed precious lives and separated families. Jobs and financial security have been lost. Some have been forced to give up certain freedoms they enjoy, at least temporarily. Our divisive political climate seems to be destroying the country we love. Social media contributes to the destruction of long-held relationships. Churches are being split over things that don’t really matter. So many have lost so much! And just like the families who due to COVID were unable to hold funeral services to say good-bye to family members, multitudes of people are now frozen in time and unable to deal with the losses of life.

To truly heal and move on, we must take the time and energy to journey through several stages. After the crisis of loss, we often numbly deny what we have experienced. Sometimes we erupt in anger or tears. We face questions we cannot answer, such as “If only I had done this, would they have died?”, or “Why did this happen to me?”. Sadness, hopelessness, loneliness, numbness, and feelings of guilt and blame are all part of our journey back to some sense of “normalcy.” Quite often we go back and visit these various emotions and experiences time and time again. Some never make it very far in their journey back to a life of renewed hope and healing.

I often hear from my Christian friends that all I have to do is “believe the promises of God” and try really hard not to feel bad or sad and my grief would go away. But as I explore Holy Scripture, I don’t see that being true. Jesus Himself cried out, “My God, my God, why did you abandon me?” (Mt. 27:46). Jesus wept at the tomb of His friend, Lazarus (Jn. 11:33-38). The psalmists acknowledged their losses and wept (Ps. 6:6, 39:12, 42:3). So did the prophets (Is. 22:4, Jr. 9:1). Ecclesiastes reminds us there is a time to weep (3:4). We can never weep over loss if we never acknowledge our loss. How wonderful to think that God doesn’t get angry at us when we grieve. Instead, He sees our tears. Those tears are precious to Him (Is. 38:3-5)!

I wonder if the reason I lived a life with frequent loss is so that I can help others right now who are grieving. I pray I won’t be like Job’s friends who after sitting with Job in silence for a week, began a diatribe pointing out Job’s lack of faith and blaming him for his suffering. Rather than comforting their friend, they increased his suffering.

Instead, I want to truly listen to the broken-hearted. I want to pray for them. I want to allow them to express their emotions and ask their tough questions. I want to help practically with things that the grieving person might not be able to do right now. I want to remove some of their responsibilities that are weighing on their tired hearts. I want them to understand it is normal to grieve. I want to encourage them with the healing balm of God’s Word. And I want to help them lament.

In Psalm 13:1, David cries out, “How much longer will you forget me. Lord? Forever?” Yet, a few verses later David proclaims, “I rely on your constant love; I will be glad because you will rescue me. I will sing to you, O Lord, because you have been good to me.” Often we can’t move on to that place of trust and worship until we truly acknowledge our pain and loss. So many of the Psalms include a lament, where people pour out their complaints to God. Perhaps they are trying to persuade Him to act. Oftentimes they end up remembering God’s faithfulness in the past that enables them to trust Him in the present. They know that God is the One to run to when loss comes. They know God is their help, even if they don’t see it right now. It is an honest cry that allows one to trust. The problems are not often solved right away, but hope is renewed through lament that God will act in His way and in His time.

Have you experienced life-crushing loss recently? If you need someone to listen, contact me. If you would like to be part of an online healing group where you can share your brokenness in a safe atmosphere where people will love and pray for you, message me and we will start one up. I can truly say that while I sometimes go back and visit the unpleasant places of my grief journey, I am now experiencing God’s presence and peace in ways I never would have if I had not experienced my loss. He is faithful. And I want to introduce you to Him.

[Inspired by Lesson 3, “What Happens When Someone Is Grieving,” in Healing the Wounds of Trauma (American Bible Society, 2014).]

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; he knows those who take refuge in him. (Nahum 1:7)

Friends, I trust that you are experiencing the grace of God in great measure as you seek Him in these strange but crucial days. I apologize for not writing a September newsletter. The month flew by before I could sit down at my computer.

I won’t give you an update on our girls, but will give you links to their Facebook pages if you want to follow their busy lives: Rebekah Hope Thorpe; Victoria Grace Greenawalt; Maria Faith Heinen – We are so proud of them!

Please pray for Leah. She is an amazing wife and mother, but is so limited by the physical and emotional challenges she faces. She never complains about her homebound condition. Yet, I would love for her to have the ability to do more of what she would like to do. I asked her what she wanted to share in this newsletter and she simply stated, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

I am very thankful that I was approved for disability and received my first monthly check for $1709 in September. The judge ruled in my favor without the need for a hearing after reviewing my case file. This is a huge relief! Please pray Leah and I will be good stewards and will survive on this amount and that we will be able to take care of past debt that hangs over our heads.

Last month, I had my appointment with a neurologist from the University of Arkansas Medical School concerning my physical condition. I followed this up with another round of tests. I did not yet hear of any results. I waited over a year for this appointment. God has answered your prayers.

While we are extremely blessed by these developments, Leah and I have been overwhelmed by the trials of life we are all facing right now. I am so burdened by the condition of our nation and by the inability of western cultural Christianity to make any impact for the sake of Jesus’ kingdom. I am praying for the true Church to truly be the Church as we experience a fresh vision of Jesus Christ. He is our only hope! Remember these words: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

I continue to pray as to how our family can shine the light of Christ in our neighborhood. I pray for 80 surrounding households regularly (5 per day). I started a neighborhood Facebook page to connect our neighbors better. I give out gospel resources as I can and I hope to soon start handing out fresh-basked cookies to let our neighbors know we love them.

After much prayer, I am attempting to start some online or neighborhood outreach opportunities:

1. I was recently certified to facilitate trauma healing groups. I want to begin an online or neighborhood Healing for Wounded Hearts group. It is a holistic and Bible-based approach to helping people heal from wounded hearts that recognizes that trauma affects every part of a person: mind, body and spirit. The lessons use art, stories, activities and questions to help people engage deeply with themselves, with God, and with each other. At the heart of this process is the Bible, which tells us about the healing love of God. The group would meet weekly for six weeks. Let me know if you are interested.
2. I would also like to start an online or neighborhood group for those wondering who Jesus is and what true Christianity looks like. Christianity Explored will be a seven-week study through the gospel of Mark. It will focus on who Jesus is, why He came to earth, and what that means for us. If you have question about Jesus and would like to participate, please let me know.
3. If those opportunities don’t appeal to you, perhaps you would be interested in meeting with me online for a time of one-to-one Bible reading. I would love to read a short passage with you and explore our questions together.
4. I am starting a weekly prayer gathering through a telephone conference call. Many people don’t have the ability to go to church for a prayer meeting or meet with friends for prayer. How crucial it is during these challenging times to seek Jesus together. More details to come.
5. I would love to offer my virtual services as a Biblical counselor. While I am not a medical professional nor a trained therapist, I love to listen and see how the Bible speaks to us as to how Jesus can impact our lives and bring renewed hope. Let me know if you need someone to listen.
6. Above all else, I can pray. How can I pray for you? Please let me know.

Rev. Brian Heinen

802 E 23^rd Street Russellville, AR 72802

(479) 886-0765 

bheinen.com 

brheinen1@gmail.com

Friends, in the midst of the trials of COVID, racial division, economic upheaval, and political unrest, may I take a moment to praise our loving Savior who has defeated all our enemies, including death itself. He is worthy to be praised!

Our family, like yours, is trying to adjust to our always changing circumstances. Maria will be living at home for her next year at Arkansas Tech University. With all the restrictions due to COVID, ATU will not offer much in terms of campus life this year. The possibility that the students may have to move off-campus is always looming. It will be cheaper for her to stay home and drive the 15 minutes to class. It will be nice for her mother and myself to have her around. She is an incredible help to us and is our main source of transportation. She celebrated a quiet birthday on August 2nd.

Victoria and Noah are enjoying married life. Victoria began her teaching career last week. She is in the process of meeting her coworkers in the Atkins School System. Somehow she needs to learn how to teach music and choir to students of all ages when the state is recommending that students only sing outside. After work, Noah has been working hard making improvements to their home. I am sure their landlord is very thankful.

Bekah and Tim are doing great adjusting to being newly married. She is praying that the New Jersey social work board will vote to give her a state license at their next meeting. The board has not met since February. When I asked Rebekah to send me a picture, she sent me one of their cat on a leash. I don’t know why they would put a cat on a leash. Tim continues to enjoy his job and recently picked Reggie White to be on one of his Madden teams. There is hope for that Giants fan yet. She celebrated her birthday in July.

Leah and I continue to praise God for His grace and provision. We both battle fatigue but at least we are tired together. I was scheduled to have a disability hearing the end of July, but the judge read my pre-hearing memorandum and ruled in my favor without a hearing. It will still take some time for him to write the brief, but at least we know the outcome. We don’t yet know the amount he decided upon. Please pray for God’s provision until we start receiving assistance. God is good!

We continue to pray for our neighborhood. Our next door neighbors just moved away after only being there 6 months. That is typical on our block. I put together a Facebook page for our neighborhood, but need to get the word out to the neighbors. It seems many desire to stay connected during this time when so many things isolate and divide us.

I continue to receive training, especially in the area of trauma healing. So many are deeply wounded right now. How wonderful it is to introduce brokenhearted people to our Great Physician who can heal even the most damaged souls.

I also am blessed to fill the pulpit for the fine people of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Appleton. I couldn’t ask for a kinder, more receptive audience. The main ministry for Leah and myself is one of intercession. How can we pray for you right now? Please contact me with your praises and requests. We love and appreciate you!

Brian Heinen 802 E 23rd St, Russellville, AR 72802 479-886-0765 bheinen.com brheinen1@gmail.com

Friends, our update this month will be brief. We have no new weddings to report, although our newlywed daughters are both doing well and enjoying their new lives with their wonderful husbands. Maria is terrific as always and Leah remains faithful to her Lord even though she faces constant emotional and physical suffering.

For me, recent days have been overwhelmingly difficult. Physically, I continue to slowly decline. This past month has been a real challenge dealing with decreased use of my hands and exhaustion. I have to use my cane more often. Emotionally, I am consumed with feelings of failure. Today is the one-year anniversary of the last day I was able to work. I have had no earned income other than pulpit supply since. Financially, we are at disaster stage. I have a disability hearing scheduled for the end of this month, but even if I win results may still take time.

Thank you for your loving support and prayers during these past years. I do not have any answers as to why we seem to face constant trials and defeat, but I continue to humbly cry out to our merciful Savior. I constantly repent and ask the Holy Spirit to search my heart. Please forgive me if I have been a burden to you in any way. I still pray. Please let me know how I can pray for you.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18

Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. Job 1:21

Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.

These words of praise from Revelation 7 echo the praise that is in my heart for the good and gracious One who sits on the throne of heaven. On May 31st, Victoria Grace Heinen became Victoria Grace Greenawalt as she and Noah made vows to each other before God and those present. Please pray for these kids to continue to grow in their love for Jesus as they also grow in their love for each other.  I am so proud of them for handling with patience and grace the trials of getting married in the midst of a pandemic.  This meant no bridal shower (and no presents!), few guests, and lots of uncertainty. I will share a few pictures here, but encourage you to look Victoria up on Facebook and ask her for more wonderful pics.

Rebekah and her new husband, Tim, were not able to travel to Arkansas from New Jersey because of COVID. She was heartbroken that she couldn’t come. We weren’t able to stream the service to her because the venue had no internet service, but she is enjoying every photo Sissy shares. Even with the pandemic, she and Tim are enjoying wonderful opportunities to reach people for Jesus. Rebekah has a wonderful online presence (check out her Facebook page, Rebekah Hope Thorpe, for encouragement and her own beautiful wedding shots) and hopes the office that issues social worker licenses reopens soon. Tim is finding opportunities to preach and has been recently hired to work at a drug and alcohol rehab center. We are so thankful for all God is doing in and through them!

Maria was the Master of Ceremonies for the 164th Homecoming of the Appleton Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The COVID-19 version of this anniversary was unique, but those who came enjoyed themselves. I praise God for those who came to know Jesus over the years because of the faithful witness of believers who called this church home. Maria did a terrific job. She continues to do childcare Monday-Friday. This past Sunday she took two cases of water to refresh those attending a local protest. She also held up a sign reminding those present of the words of Jesus, “Love one another, just as I have loved you.” (She refused to give me a picture of her at the event. I guess she is camera shy.)

Leah really enjoyed participating in the wedding, although in doing so she wore herself out for the next several days. She is praying continually for family and friends in the Twin Cities with the little energy she does have. Rebekah and Victoria both had to copy Leah’s pose at our own wedding just a few years ago.

The incredible joys of these past few weeks have been sandwiched in between the harsh realities of dealing with a global pandemic and national racial unrest and division. My heart truly aches for those struggling with COVID and/or other physical ailments. I am filled with sadness as I see people lose loved ones to death. I am heart-stricken as I hear stories about friends losing jobs and experiencing financial hardship. Like you, I was shocked and then brought to tears viewing the video of an unarmed black man murdered by someone who took an oath to protect and serve. I am horrified as I listen to stories of racism that my friends of different skin tones deal with regularly. I still can’t process what I felt as I watched on television sections of a city I once called home burned to the ground. Time after time I could do nothing but run to my Heavenly Father in prayer. I felt guilty for having to turn off news reports and for taking breaks from social media. Did this mean I didn’t care enough? How can hope and joy fill the same space as heartache and despair?

Reading the text from Revelation quoted earlier gave me insight into that difficult question. The book of Revelation begins with a breathtaking vision of the glorified Jesus Christ as He now is reigning from His heavenly throne. The book ends with Jesus our King defeating even death itself and then bringing heaven and earth together as He rules over all creation. Those redeemed by His shed blood have the hope of joining with Him for all eternity. In between are chapters full of the rebellion of mankind directed toward His loving kingship and the resulting cycles of horrific judgment and wrath that follow. The message of Revelation is intended to be encouragement for followers of the King who see chaos and suffering all around them. The reminder is that Jesus is the victor who is now on His throne and will one day come to make all things right. No wonder this terrifying book is filled with praise to the One who fills our suffering with hope and joy:

“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!”

“Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

“Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!”

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

And no wonder the final cry of those awaiting the fullness of His reign is Come, Lord Jesus!

Please pray that even with my physical limitations I will glorify my King. Pray that with my limited influence I will still make Him known. I am doing some counseling through the internet and am preparing to do some online small group sessions related to reconciliation, healing, and evangelism. I will give you details later. I struggle with overwhelming fatigue in addition to the limitations that severe neuropathy in my feet, legs, and hands bring. I don’t have my disability hearing until the end of July. Please pray for Leah and I to experience God’s provision until then. My heart is incredibly burdened for all that my friends are going through. Please message me as to how I can pray for you during these challenging times.

Enjoy a few more wedding pics!

Rev. Brian Heinen

802 E 23^rd Street Russellville, AR 72802

(479) 886-0765 bheinen.com brheinen1@gmail.com

The month of May is special in the Heinen household, because we celebrate both Leah’s birthday (May 18th) and Mother’s Day. We love to celebrate Leah! This is what I shared on Facebook:

“Happy Birthday 🎂 to Leah Heinen, my wife who is as lovely now as when we first started to date what seems like just a few years ago. You are the most incredible mother and you are truly my best friend. I love you!”

Happy Birthday, and Happy Mother’s Day, sweetie!

I also wished my mother, Jane LeBreck, and my step-mother, Mary Heinen, a Happy Mother’s Day! They both were hospitalized during this COVID-19 season. They are now home after quite a scare, and are recovering. My dad, Robert, and step-father, Duane, also have been hospitalized in recent months. Please pray for my parents to experience the healing, sustaining grace of Jesus.

Maria is now done with a very successful school year at Arkansas Tech University and is busy doing childcare for the summer. Rebekah is enjoying her newly married life in New Jersey, even in the midst of the pandemic. Victoria lost her adjunct job at the high school because of COVID, but was just hired for the fall semester as the vocal music director for the nearby Atkins school district (K-12). She and Noah get married in a little over one week!

Please wish them congratulations and pray for them as they begin their lives as one.

I have faced some challenging days physically, but have also experienced God’s presence in a soul-strengthening way. I greatly enjoyed participating in a support group which was also part of the training required to lead trauma/healing groups. One person has said that due to various COVID-related problems, people suffering from trauma will be the largest mission field around the world in coming months. Only the peace and presence of Jesus Christ can bring healing to such wounded hearts. I look forward to reaching out to many with the mercy of our Lord.

Our church began to meet again in May, with masks and proper social distancing. I am doing some premarital counseling, thanks to the internet. I am making slow progress in my disability case, and am anticipating a hearing the end of July. I am excited about how my personal ministry is developing even with my health challenges and our ever-changing world. Here is part of what I shared from our last newsletter, for those of you who missed it:

After three decades of pastoral ministry, including planting churches, acting as chaplain, serving as a children’s/youth worker, leading as camp director, and shepherding existing congregations, I am now beginning a private ministry that will serve pastors and local church fellowships. Details can be found at bheinen.com. Many pastors, especially those serving in smaller congregations, often need people to come alongside and encourage them and assist them with duties that they don’t have time to fulfill. The foundation of this new ministry is prayerful dependence upon our mighty God, and I will take every opportunity I can to personally pray for my pastor friends. My family remains committed to praying specifically for our neighbors as we reach them with the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

To exalt Jesus, I will focus on three main areas:

1. Communicator. I hope to give pastors a needed break by providing church pulpit supply. I also am available to speak at camps and conferences. I am a trained FaithSearch Discovery presenter, and encourage your church or group to host this wonderful evangelism/apologetics seminar. Check out what FaithSearch is all about at faithsearch.org.
2. Counselor. Many pastors just don’t have as much time to invest in biblical counseling as they desire. I will make myself available to help busy pastors out in this area. I am now a SYMBIS premarital assessment facilitator, and would love to do premarital counseling for those whose pastors are too busy to do so. I am also a certified Fresh Hope group facilitator, and hope to lead support groups all around our community for those with a mental health diagnosis (and those who love them).
3. Coach. The role of a life coach is to help people decide where they want to go in certain areas of their lives and help them get there. The Christian Life Coach helps people discover where Jesus Christ wants them to go, and helps them get there by the power of the Holy Spirit. I would love to help individuals and groups be all that Christ wants them to be. My special areas of interest are Spiritual Formation, and equipping people going through transitions in life. If your church is between pastors right now, I would love to “coach” your entire church family during this transition.

Jesus Christ is my life, my everything. I want everyone to know Him. To borrow words from the apostle Paul, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28 ESV). This is my desire. Would you help me?

I need your prayer! Only the Holy Spirit can change hearts and lives. I simply want to be His instrument. Contact me to be part of our prayer team.

I need your financial partnership. Would you prayerfully consider giving a generous gift to help me get started? How about a monthly gift? I hope to make all my services available for whatever people can afford. This means I will need supporters like you to supplement what clients can give. Right now, until we become a 501c3 organization, donations will just be considered gifts and are not tax deductible. You can give by sending a gift to our home address or by visiting bheinen.com. I realize that during this time of economic upheaval in our nation, this is the worst possible time to ask for funds. Yet, there are so many now who need spiritual encouragement.

I need you to use my services and refer them to others. How can I serve you? Your group? Your church family? Please let your friends know I am available. I can’t wait to share my incredible Savior with you and your friends.

Please contact me if you have any questions or if I can help in any way.

How can I pray for you? Please let me know.

Rev. Brian Heinen

802 E 23^rd Street Russellville, AR 72802

(479) 886-0765 bheinen.com brheinen1@gmail.com

Friends and family, I trust you are experiencing the sustaining grace of Jesus through these challenging times.  While you did not gather on Easter to worship the Risen King with other believers, I pray that the reality of the resurrection still filled you with Christ’s living hope.

I am so burdened for all of you who are suffering physically with the virus or with other scary symptoms.  I am interceding for all of you who are facing job uncertainty and financial insecurity.  I am concerned for all of you dealing with overwhelming isolation and loneliness.  These are terrifying times.  May God’s perfect love be so real to you that all fear is cast out of your hearts!  Please contact me if I can pray for you!

Our family is dealing with seclusion with humor amidst the frustration.  Leah graciously endured (or enjoyed) a three-week separation from me, as I self-quarantined myself because of symptoms.  Maria is doing a great job finishing her college coursework, although she admits she much prefers being on campus.  Rebekah starts a nanny job soon even with the strict stay-at-home order she faces in New Jersey.  She is still waiting for her social work license to be processed, which may take some time since the government offices are closed.  Victoria and Maria are doing childcare for some friends of our family.  Most of Victoria’s music students are postponing their lessons until they can meet face-to-face.  She is hoping that she and Noah do not have to postpone their wedding in May.  Please pray for them!

Our church family is missing our times of corporate worship, although we did hold a brief, drive-in service on Easter Sunday (see above).  We met for 20 minutes before a thunderstorm rolled in.  My family and I are continuing to reach out to our neighbors.  I pray for five neighbor families daily, and we passed out 33 copies of the Jesus Film over Easter weekend.  We are writing notes to them to keep in touch during this quarantine period.  This week we launch a neighborhood Facebook page to help our neighbors connect more effectively.  I am praying about and starting to organize a post-covid block party, whenever we are able to gather again.  We love our neighbors!

For those of you new to our newsletter, let me explain a little of my own recent experience.  (For you faithful readers, please skip over the next paragraph.)  I am diagnosed with severe axonopathic polyneuropathy.  My feet have no feeling left, and my ankles and lower legs are severely numb.  My ability to drive is extremely limited and I walk like I am Frankenstein’s monster.  My hands have constant pain and numbness which impact my fine motor skills.  Writing and computer work are difficult.  The symptoms continue to progress.  My wonderful team of doctors are unable to find a cause and are trying to set up an appointment with a very busy neuromuscular specialist at the medical school in Little Rock.  I took a medical leave of absence last July 1st which turned into my resignation.  I am now unemployed and unemployable.  Although the courts are now greatly limited, I anxiously await a hearing to deal with my disability claim.  For most of the past two years, I have worn a boot on one or the other of my feet to heal wounds (see above).  Yet, through this trial God has proven Himself faithful time and time again.

I thank God for this past year!  I have experienced God’s presence and peace in overwhelming fashion.  Daily I wake up completely dependent upon His grace and mercy for absolutely everything.  Corrie ten Boom has said, “You may never know that Jesus is all you need, until Jesus is all you have.”  I am privileged to live that truth every moment of every day!

One of the Scriptures that God continually brings me back to is the invitation that Jesus gives to us to “come” to Him when we labor and are heavy laden, so He can give us rest.  I daily experience the reality of these words, and yearn for others who are now hurting to experience Jesus, too.  I can’t help but think that God will use my experience to help others meet Him.  People are really traumatized right now, and Jesus wants to heal their hurting hearts.

I am praying that God will spread the comfort He has given me to comfort others.  To accomplish that, I sense God leading me to restart plans I had several years ago.

After three decades of pastoral ministry, including planting churches, acting as chaplain, serving as a children’s/youth worker, leading as camp director, and shepherding existing congregations, I am now beginning a private ministry that will serve pastors and local church fellowships.  Details can be found at bheinen.com.  Many pastors, especially those serving in smaller congregations, often need people to come alongside and encourage them and assist them with duties that they don’t have time to fulfill.  The foundation of this new ministry is prayerful dependence upon our mighty God, and I will take every opportunity I can to personally pray for my pastor friends.  My family remains committed to praying specifically for our neighbors as we reach them with the love and truth of Jesus Christ.

To exalt Jesus, I will focus on three main areas:

1. Communicator. I hope to give pastors a needed break by providing church pulpit supply.  I also am available to speak at camps and conferences.  I am a trained FaithSearch Discovery presenter, and encourage your church or group to host this wonderful evangelism/apologetics seminar.  Check out what FaithSearch is all about at faithsearch.org.
2. Counselor. Many pastors just don’t have as much time to invest in biblical counseling as they desire.  I will make myself available to help busy pastors out in this area.  I am now a SYMBIS premarital assessment facilitator, and would love to do premarital counseling for those whose pastors are too busy to do so.  I am also a certified Fresh Hope group facilitator, and hope to lead support groups all around our community for those with a mental health diagnosis (and those who love them).
3. Coach. The role of a life coach is to help people decide where they want to go in certain areas of their lives and help them get there.  The Christian Life Coach helps people discover where Jesus Christ wants them to go, and helps them get there by the power of the Holy Spirit.  I would love to help individuals and groups be all that Christ wants them to be.  My special areas of interest are Spiritual Formation, and equipping people going through transitions in life.  If your church is between pastors right now, I would love to “coach” your entire church family during this transition.

Jesus Christ is my life, my everything.  I want everyone to know Him.  To borrow words from the apostle Paul, “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28 ESV).  This is my desire.  Would you help me?

I need your prayer!  Only the Holy Spirit can change hearts and lives.  I simply want to be His instrument.  Contact me to be part of our prayer team.

I need your financial partnership.  Would you prayerfully consider giving a generous gift to help me get started?  How about a monthly gift?  I hope to make all my services available for whatever people can afford.  This means I will need supporters like you to supplement what clients can give.  Right now, until we become a 501c3 organization, donations will just be considered gifts and are not tax deductible.  You can give by sending a gift to our home address or by visiting bheinen.com.  I realize that during this time of economic upheaval in our nation, this is the worst possible time to ask for funds.  Yet, there are so many now who need spiritual encouragement.

I need you to use my services and refer them to others.  How can I serve you?  Your group?  Your church family?  Please let your friends know I am available.  I can’t wait to share my incredible Savior with you and your friends.

Please contact me if you have any questions or if I can help in any way.

Rev. Brian Heinen

802 E 23^rd Street    Russellville, AR 72802

(479) 886-0765    bheinen.com    brheinen1@gmail.com

Friends, during this time of constant upheaval and uncertainty, remember the Lord’s great love for you. In your weakness, may His strength be made perfect. In your turmoil, may His peace that transcends understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. We are praying for you! Please contact us if we can pray for you in a specific way.

Remember this description of our loving Father’s character:

The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness…”. (Exodus 34:6). This passage is the most quoted verse throughout the rest of Scripture for a reason.

Like your families, our own clan has experienced a challenging past month. Rebekah and her new husband Tim live in a virus hot-spot in New Jersey and faced a curfew and call to quarantine before the rest of the country. They bought a cat to celebrate.

Victoria and her fiance Noah had to cancel their bridal shower. Their upcoming wedding is still in the works, but they are remaining flexible. Victoria’s adjunct job at the high school is now on hold (along with her income), and she is trying to connect with her music students online for lessons. Maria had to move off campus and will finish the rest of her semester on her computer in her bedroom. Leah, with her compromised immune system, is trying to deal with this by avoiding anyone who may be a carrier. I am listening to my doctor, who told me to self-quarantine since I have several symptoms. Let me tell you, it is difficult trying to avoid others when four people live together in one 800 square foot house. To top it all off, my mother had two heart attacks and several surgical procedures and was not allowed any visitors, including my very caring stepfather. Thankfully, she is now recovering at home. But I am not complaining. We have met with God in some incredible ways that may not have happened otherwise. Maria, Leah, and I are enjoying our study together in the gospel of Mark (with appropriate social distancing). Leah and I continue to pray though the Psalms and Proverbs (with appropriate social distancing). God is faithful and He is good.

I am really concerned for you. How are YOU doing? Many of you are fearful of disease. Some of you have parents who are high risk. Others face job insecurity and economic instability. A few of you are stranded far from home, wondering if you will see your family soon. I am so sorry for what you have to face. But I am thankful that we have Creator who knows you and loves you and is active in your life right now reaching out to you with His mercy and grace. How can I pray for you when I next meet with Him?

Because of the slowdown of our court and medical systems, my anticipated disability hearing and my upcoming appointment at the University of Arkansas Medical School seem to be on hold. This is a challenge considering I haven’t worked since July 1st. Yet, when our family met to talk about some of our virus worries and concerns, not one of us had anxiety over God’s provision. We have complete confidence He will lovingly meet our needs. I am praying about some possible ministry opportunities that I can do from home, but in a time when 50% of nonprofits may close, should I think of starting another one? Please pray for God’s provision for our family and that I will know and obey God’s will.

I don’t get out often, but before I got sick, I was able to tag along with some friends so I could attend a very special meeting in Texas. Part of the Spanish Central District is combining with the Southwestern District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. There was some concern that people would resist or struggle with this big change, but as we met a wonderful unity filled the place as the Holy Spirit visited. The transition will have some obstacles, but we will face them together for God’s glory. I haven’t been able to see my Alliance family for several years, so I greatly enjoyed the reunion.

Our small church continues to pray for each other even as we are unable to meet. We are unable to have any type of service online in the Ozark hills, so we are making use of the old-fashioned telephone. We are sad that a dear exchange student from Poland who was hosted by a church family had to go home early. We will miss her!

Can I ask a favor of you? Here are the email addresses of our family members. Please send a short note to one of them to encourage them. I am sure they could use it trying to live with a guy who has to stay in one corner of one small room. Victoria could really use a kind word as they wedding plan in these uncertain times.

leah.janie.maria@gmail.com, rebekah.hope.heinen@gmail.com, v.heinen012@gmail.com, mariaheinen7301@gmail.com

We love and appreciate you! Please let us know how we can pray for you.

Brian Heinen, 802 East 23rd Street, Russellville, Arkansas, 72802
479-886-0765 brheinen1@gmail.com
Follow my journey on Facebook and Twitter.