On March 23, 2011, at 9:44 PM, our father and friend, Billy Hornsby went to be with the Lord. Billy’s passion for God, family, life, and leaders around the world will be long remembered.

A memorial service to celebrate Billy’s life will be held at Church of the Highlands on Monday, March 28, 2011 at 6:30 p.m. CDT. In lieu of flowers we are asking that donations in Billy Hornsby’s name be made to the Association of Related Churches (ARC), wwww.arcchurches.com, a non-profit ministry which trains, resources and supports church planters.

This verse from God’s Word says it all:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me-the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.” (2 Timothy 4:7-8 NLT)

Words cannot express how much you mean to us. We are grieving, but not like the rest of men who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

This past weekend we celebrated our 6 month at Journey Church. Journey continues to grow in ways that I can’t even begin to explain, it’s just GOD! We’re meeting so many families that are coming and being touched by God in so many different ways. What an amazing ride! and I can’t wait for the next 6 months as we continue to just love on people for who they are! then God will change them!
This past week was Spring Break and the Moreno clan decided to pull out the stops and go camping! that’s right… camping! We had the best time hanging out on the Guadalupe River with some fantastic friends. The Wheatley’s rock at camping! I wish they would’ve told us to pack sleeping bags that could withstand 30 degree weather!!! it was perfect during the day but my LORD… it was stinkin FREEZING at night! 36 degrees to be exact!! Needless to say the Moreno clan after me traveling to Walmart in the middle of the night and all the kids crying because it was so cold decided that we just couldn’t hack the camping in ice temperatures so we went to a hotel at 4:30am! YUP!! Can’t take the city out of us folks! all I can say is…. “when momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy!” I could’ve sworn she sounded like Clint Eastwood when she told me to do something! I never knew that was in her! All in all we had a great time and decided to not take our camping gear back and give it one more shot! We finished up the week with some dear friends from Arkansas coming in town to see us and spend time together. The Sutterfield’s will always be our BEST friends from Arkansas! I love that family sooo much!

At Journey Church, we settled in for the second week on a series entitled “Baggage” and hit a strong topic “GUILT” The baggage of guilt weighs so heavy on many people. Whether it be regrets or unmet expectations, so many need to be freed of the “bondage” or strongholds that are the tactic of the Devil to keep you from freedom! Even to the very beginning of man, Adam & Eve experienced guilt like none other! We have to realize the power of guilt in our lives and because of this large baggage of weight that we carry on our shoulders we can’t experience true freedom or a release and experience God’s best for our lives. So many people came to the alter for freedom and some for deliverance. People were set free in Jesus name from guilt! What a powerful service we had! GO GOD! We’re so fired up about What the Lord is going to do through Journey Church and this area…

While in AR back in February celebrating the “Decade” 10yr celebration event for New Life Church (where we came from) This photo was taken. These guys are some of the most strongest leaders I know that I am in relationship with. I believe this is what true leadership is all about, being around leaders that are greater than you. Each one has been a major influence in my life! God, I’m so thankful I have them. Lord, bless them in every way.

Today was a great day hanging out with the wife and then with the family for “Family Night” Monday’s are usually a date day with my gorgeous wife as we drop off the kiddos for school, get a Starbucks coffee and then just hang out sometimes with no agenda! Obviously our main subject most of the time is talking about the church or what the previous weekend brought. The Moreno’s are getting geared up for a camping trip at the end of this weekend for spring break, and we can’t wait. We’re going to hang out with some cool peeps and campfire it up baby! We’ve been looking forward to this trip for some time! My kids are pumped! Tonight we just hung out as a family cooked some burgers, made a fire outside, and danced to Dave Barnes music! ☺ love me some Dave Barnes music!

Well this past weekend was incredible at Journey Church and a full day at that! We’ve continued to grow in our attendance every weekend and it’s been so encouraging! The worship has climbed another level as we are making adjustments, improvements, and tweaking everything we’re doing on the weekend services. We had a good many visitors attend and went on to join us for Starting Point that evening where we had to figure out where to put over 40 people in our house for a meeting! (wasn’t easy!) But these kind of meetings give me so much fuel! I absolutely look forward to these times because I hear so many stories of people that are looking to find a home church or a place that they can just be who they are and not feel pressured or looked upon in any kind of way other than valued. This stuff never gets old! These are families that have so much to offer the kingdom of God and sometimes only need a gentle encouragement of how valuable they are to a loving God! And, that they have a calling upon their lives to do something BIG for the Kingdom. There’s no higher joy for me than that! I absolutely LOVE what I do!

At Journey Church this weekend, we will launch a new series entitled “Baggage”. This is going to be a fantastic series for Journey as I pray that it’s impact will be the same as it was when done in Birmingham, AL at Church of the Highlands. I strongly believe that many of us carry along baggage that we are oblivious to (hidden), sometimes baggage that we don’t want to let go (securities). Every one of us carries some sort of baggage in our lives that we need to simply let loose of or get rid of. Join us at Journey Church this weekend for this series… it’s going to be great!

Well it’s been 5 incredible months since Journey Church has started! I have to say “what a ride” Sandy & I have seen God do some amazing jaw dropping things within the church and He continues to pour out His favor! I’d have to say that I have learned more in the past 5 months that I have in years! One thing is for certain…. “IT NEVER STOPS” It’s always changing and to be a part of it is incredibly humbling. We finished our series “Facebook Christianity” with a strong message about being an “Infectious Influence” in regards to our Christianity. It ultimately requires us to not limit God within the four walls of the church. Seems like we’re really good at limiting Jesus to the size of a building rather than functioning outside the walls of a church. Facebook Christianity I believe is the real world right now we have to look at and pose the question: “If we had the profile, daily walk, relational interaction, wisdom to not live by toxic influence, but motivated to be an infectious influence for the Kingdom like Christ” What would the church look like? I believe we couldn’t build big enough buildings to hold the masses that would be infected. The Vision of Journey church is to just be that! Infectious to the community! To every person we come in contact with! To set a standard of authenticity within the church but especially outside of the church. This is our Passion!

This past weekend was amazing, as we hit again our largest crowd yet at Journey. This past weekend was also unique in that we had our very first “Baby Dedication” dedicating our babies to the Lord, also we hired on staff an AMAZING worship leader. Rick Hutchinson has joined us to become part of the Journey team. I am so excited to have him here as I know that as a whole we will go to another level in our worship with him part of the equation. I love that dude. it’s such a blessing to have someone that has character, commitment, anointing, and a stinkin servant’s heart! it’s what makes him a great leader. Rick, love you dude! Ho, and he loves golf! you know that’s the Lord! Also, Joe Star (also from Arkansas) moved down here to assist us in ministry…Joe is such a class act and could be used anywhere and be successful. His passion and drive for the things of God is absolutely stellar! I love that dude.

Sandy & I couldn’t feel more at home than ever before here in Kingwood. The people are amazing! and already we’ve found so many friends that we are going to do life with the rest of our lives. We still miss so many friends from Arkansas (especially our core) Sutterfield’s just need to move down here! (hurry up!)

All in all, the Moreno’s are doing fantastic and enjoying the ride, the sweat, the hard work it’s taking for Journey Church to build up the way the Lord desires it to. BUT we’d never trade it for the joy it brings us to witness the many calling on the name of the Lord!… Jesus Christ!

Words can’t express the emotions that we felt a couple of weekends ago as Sandy I traveled back to Arkansas to share in the moment and celebration of our previous church 10 year anniversary. We’ve been with New Life Church from nearly the beginning and to see what God has done in Central Arkansas has been nothing short of AMAZING! To witness the few families that began New Life Church with a dream to now witness close to 15 thousand people come together to worship the Lord was breath taking. But what was so compelling and moving wasn’t the amount of people as much as it was the amount of stories and testimonies that were there of how God came to the rescue of so many over the years that needed Hope. People that needed Jesus in a real way were there with changed faces and sold out lives for God. Sandy & I were so overwhelmed with emotions not only with what God had done but with what HE is going to do in New Life Church for the next years to come. As we sat back so proud and overjoyed for Rick Bezet (Lead Pastor) of New Life Church we couldn’t get Journey Church off of our minds and to think, imagine, & dream of the things that God will do here in Kingwood, TX. Tears of Joy and tears of excitement ran down our faces as we were able to see a glimpse of what God can do with people that are just willing to go after Him!

Weekend # 2 down in the series Facebook Christianity. What an awesome series that we are experiencing at Journey. God desires us to live a “daily” walk with him. What does that mean? Daily! How do we do that? What does it take? Facebook suggests us to write our post on the wall daily But do we do that with our Christian life? So many recommitted their lives to Christ and some gave their heart to Christ for the first time! I was completely speechless and unvoiced to see the amazing things that God did on Sunday. His presence was amazing, and ALIVE to say the least! The worship was intense and REAL. I’m so thankful to be a part of something like this!

Our numbers have now reached the point where we’re having to consider other options for meeting space. Our children’s ministry is bursting out of the seams! Jkidz ministry has been absolutely stellar! BJ Dufrene & Kiki Kurtz are the absolute best at serving our kids with the gospel! Nikki Gafford & Charlene Maxwell (our nursery directors) have been soooooo stinkin amazing! Frank & Crystal Abadie (our student leaders) have been impeccable. Our teams are growing at a rapid pace as we implement the process that is to be clear and obvious for everyone who walks in Journey Church. Life Groups are flourishing, and the story’s already have been so amazing! I’m asking that you pray for us as we continue to do what God is asking of us. I know He’ll open the right doors at the right time! He’s always been faithful.

We’re also beginning on a track for Journey Church to impact the community like they have never witnessed. More to come on that, but for now have to keep it on the down-low!

Join us this weekend at Journey Church as we continue in an original series entitled “Facebook Christianity”.

Over 550 million people are now users of Facebook all across the globe with an average of 700,000 signing up everyday. Facebook has changed the way we perceive and engage in social media. Facebook begins with a “profile” so that others may view who you are, your interest’s, etc. Christianity is the same in that once we accept Christ in our hearts, we begin with a profile that is to look like Christ in our everyday decisions, attitudes, purpose etc. Join us as we dive into what it means to update your life page on a daily basis, and what it means to “take up our cross daily”.

You definitely want to invite your friends and family to this series.

WOW!!!!! What an amazing Sunday we had this past weekend with our Life Groups beginning. The whole entire weekend was full of energy and excitement I can’t even begin to describe. Last weekend, we completed our series on 5-Star family and landed on the value of Relationships! The best way to get connected and discipled is through Life Groups at Journey Church. In fact very few if not none ever really stay somewhere where they do not get connected to other people. I believe this is why the Gospel was centered around relationships. Jesus knew our “Lone Ranger” mentality would never allow us to grow as mature christians and that is why a very large portion of the new testament is centered around relationships. It’s incredibly difficult to establish relationship on a Sunday morning or meeting at church, that’s why Life Groups are SOOO valuable and essential, they are the platforms of true community. I think of it this way.. we all have seen people that are homeless under bridges, at corners, holding cardboard signs etc. However, there’s not much difference in people that come to church and don’t get connected! they have homes they sleep in sure, but they are relationally homeless! many times holding up their own signs asking for help. A healthy church is built on healthy relationships. We (everyone) were meant to “do life” with one another, that’s why Jesus kept making it clear with so many statements that included “one another”. Well, Life Groups are the key, but not just any key… they are a great place to

Grow
Learn from others
Pray for one another
Feel at home
Do Life!

Romans 12:10 says to “Be devoted to one another like a loving family”

Well Journey Church experienced that family this past weekend! So many people desire to get involved and connected! This was just a glimpse of what we experienced.

What an awesome start we had in 2011 for Journey Church. We’re only a weekend away from our first Life Group Launch for Journey Church and many more to come over the years that will birth great relationships, and introduce new friendships that will last a long time. But most importantly, this is where “church” will happen the best for spiritual maturity and discipleship! I’m so excited for this semester of Life Groups to begin, simply because of the power it brings and how God uses them so often as avenues and tools for people to not just get connected, but loved, embraced, empowered, and finally sent to do what God has always called them to do. Life Groups are SO much more than just relational connectors! Sandy & I are overwhelmed by the power, energy, “God was there” time that we had with our Life Group Leaders this past week. After all these years that I have spent in ministry around some great churches and leaders there are 2 things that are the utmost important ingredients to anything GREAT that God will be the center of and that is: HUMILITY & GREAT LEADERS. We had opportunity to pray for one another and it was such an anointed time the Holy Spirit was there in a HUGE way! I absolutely love every one of these leaders who are so instrumental in Journey Church and the body of Christ. The Church will never be as deep as the leadership of the church!

These leaders desire so much of God and His agenda and not there own. We’re expecting some big things this semester as we launch Life Groups and move forward in 2011.