Seven Churches, One Heart: Hot Springs Comes Together for Easter

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I am so excited to have this newsletter going out to keep everyone updated on events and ministries going on around the world!

When Jesus affirmed Peter for his confession, He said: "I also say to you that you are Peter (Petros), and upon this rock (petra) I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it." The word "Petros" means pebble or fragment of rock. The word "petra" means bedrock or boulder. It's as if Jesus was telling Peter that he was going to be a small part of something huge — and that is still all of our calls today.

Whether you are in Asia, Africa, Europe, or the Americas, we are all faithfully building the Kingdom where we are. It reminds me of Nehemiah, where each family had responsibility over a portion of the wall or gate. That's where we find ourselves today — each of us having our place, each of us ready to assist and help as needed.

May we realize that we are all small parts of something huge. Something that the gates of hell cannot prevail against. Thank you for being faithful stewards of your portion — know that you are loved and prayed for from our portion of the wall.

Women of Impact was created to help women experience a genuine, life-giving relationship with God. At its core, this ministry exists to remind women that faith is not about striving, performing, or checking religious boxes — it is about intimacy with a loving, present God who meets us right where we are.

The heart of Women of Impact is rooted in the belief that God desires relationship over routine. Shannon understands firsthand how overwhelming life can feel: "Women understandably feel so overwhelmed today by life's demands. Children, work, home, school, aging parents, volunteer efforts, church, sports, health, appointments, bills — the list can go on and on. Even the most structured can find themselves prioritizing which fire requires the most immediate attention next. And unfortunately, this is where Christian cultural messages sometimes pull us away from intimacy when we need God the most."

Her response is always to point women back to God's love: "The goal of Women of Impact is to always remind the ladies of God's incredible love for them — God's call for us to come just as we are, to meet Him in the messy, let go of formality or man-made expectations, and to seek first above all a raw, vulnerable, and free-flowing relationship with Him — the Keeper of our Hearts."

The ministry welcomes women in every season of life, creating a space where women can come as they are — imperfect, searching, hopeful — and encounter the transforming love of God. Shannon explains that intimacy with God doesn't require perfect circumstances. God meets women in everyday places — during the school pickup line, a quiet drive, a short prayer between tasks, or a moment of surrender in the middle of a busy day. When women learn to recognize God's presence in these moments, faith becomes less about survival and more about living fully connected to Him.

To Shannon, the overflow is natural: "Ministry is the overflow from intimacy. It's a natural extension of our relationship with Him. When we draw close and let Him move through us — healing, holding, loving, and setting us on fire — we can't help but become women who pour over and impact the world around us. When you truly touch the Presence of God, there's always an overflow. God is not the God of just enough. He's the God of more than we could ever hold."

Community is another cornerstone of Women of Impact. The ministry believes women were never meant to walk their faith journey alone. Through gatherings, events, and ongoing connection, women are encouraged to support one another, pray together, and celebrate God's faithfulness in their lives.

Women of Impact has an exciting season ahead. Tea & Testimony, led by Janet Lowry, will join 4–5 other women's ministries across Hot Springs to share testimonies of God's goodness and faithfulness. Sole Warriors, led by Kandus Patterson, will walk various parts of the city in prayer over the community. The 2026 Ladies' Retreat "Show Me Your Glory", led by Samantha Lapomardo, will focus on surrendering and encountering God's glory. The new Soak & Equip series focuses on soaking in God's Presence through personal worship, followed by equipping classes for gifts and callings. Recently, Women of Impact hosted Lakeview Assembly's "Signs of Praise," a worship team dedicated to worship through dance and paint. All of this is in addition to the monthly women's ministry meeting every second Wednesday of the month, where Shannon has been leading a series entitled "Possessing Your Identity As Daughter of the King."

More than a name, Women of Impact is an invitation — an invitation to move beyond surface-level faith and into a vibrant, personal relationship with God. It is a call for women to rise up as daughters of the King, rooted in truth, secure in identity, and empowered by the Holy Spirit. God is at work, drawing women closer to Himself and awakening hearts for more.

Afrika wa Yesu — meaning "Africa for Jesus" in Sena, one of the tribal languages of Mozambique — began growing in Rod and Ellen Hein's hearts in the 1980s. Their calling was born from prayer, fasting, and intercession as part of a small church in Zimbabwe that prayed for the nations.

Trinity Church of Hot Springs has been actively supporting different ministries in Africa — among them, the work of Rod and Ellie Hein of Afrika Wa Yesu, located in Inhaminga, Mozambique. Inhaminga is a small rural town in central Mozambique that still carries the effects of the long and devastating Mozambican Civil War. Many communities live in deep poverty with limited education, healthcare, and access to stable employment, leaving people vulnerable to fear and uncertainty.

In this environment, traditional beliefs in witchcraft, spirit worship, and fear of curses remain strong in many families. For many Christians working in the region, ministry includes helping people turn away from fear and toward faith in God and the freedom found in Jesus Christ.

Augustinho is a young man whose family was deep into witchcraft, like many other families in the area. Eventually, he came to a crusade in Buzi and rededicated his life to Jesus. Today, he is an active member of Afrika wa Yesu in Buzi and serves as a youth and worship leader. This is his story:

Generational curses and spiritual strongholds can affect families for many years, bringing fear and suffering from one generation to the next. Yet God's power is greater than any curse — Augustinho's story reminds us that through Jesus Christ every chain of darkness can be broken, and no stronghold is stronger than the power of God.