Last year, I wrote curriculum for LifeWay’s LifeTruths. The topic was called “I (Still) Do.” May has been the month it has been used by over 2000 churches for their Sunday School and Bible study curriculum! Pretty wild to think about. It has been so neat to hear from people that I know and even make some new friends through …
This picture was taken between the 2nd and 3rd services on Sunday. Eli was speaking a mixture of 3 languages, so not sure what he was saying. I know what he did. So, use your creativity, what’s the caption of this picture? What’s going on inside this boy’s head?
Excited to tell you today that “Coming Home” has been released on iTunes and Amazon! This musical endeavor was a labor of love comprised of songs that I have written at our church and in our home. I recorded it to serve as a fundraiser for our adoption effort of Eli. I’m now praying to see how the proceeds can …
…submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the Lord, for the husband is head of the wife as also Christ is head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. Now as the church submits to Christ, so wives should [submit] to their husbands in everything. –(Eph 5:21-24, …
Today was a great Mother’s Day at North Side. Our family dedicated Eli along with many other families dedicating their homes to new additions. Such a great time to introduce the new Agnew to the church family. The praise band did a wonderful job (without me again – I’m really going to lose my job here). They led us in: …
I’m not going to lie. The trip back from Ethiopia was the most physically and emotionally grueling experience I have ever had in my life. I knew a 16 1/2 hour plane ride from Addis Ababa to Washington, D.C. with a 2-year-old (who was learning to trust his father) in my lap would be difficult. What I didn’t expect were …
It was another great day in Addis Ababa. This was the first full day I got to spend with Eli. Much needed I think for the both of us. Started the day when the head nanny to invite me to pray with them to start the day in the baby room. As they started at sunrise, everyone dropped to their knees …
I can’t begin to express how appreciative I am to all of you for your love, prayers, and support. I honestly believe the reason Eli has had such an easy time bonding with me is the huge amount of prayer warriors joining us. You’re amazing! The last two days have been some of the longest of my life. I have traveled in some …
Passport? Check. Tickets? Check. Suitcase full of bubbles for orphans in Ethiopia? Check. Now all I need is to get my hands on my son, Eli. 22 hours from now I will be touching down in the land where my son was born in order to bring him home. I have had so many people ask me how I feel …
At the beginning of March, I whiteboarded all the major projects that had to be done before picking up Eli. This list included: CD, Honey-Dos, weddings, RELI 101 wrapup, messages, services, etc. I had to map out a plan to get the stuff done, but then I realized something: I can’t get all this done. I need help. And lots …
I am a father. The father of 2 two-year-old boys. One of the things I notice from empty-nesters is a noticeable appreciation for things that currently gets on my nerves. When my child does things that annoy me, I notice empty-nesters laugh it off. At first I thought it was because it wasn’t their child, but now I’m beginning to …
The state of adoption in our world is in crisis. First off, you have this boy in the picture above who was an orphan once, taken into a home, and then orphaned again by his adoptive mother sending him back on a one-way plane to Russia. The only thing worse than being orphaned is being orphaned twice. Second, Ethiopia is …
Today is the day! “Coming Home” is available for your listening pleasure. We are so pleased with how this project came out, and we pray that this CD will be a blessing to you. We pray that it will call you closer in worship, encourage you to say “yes” to God’s call, and think seriously about your role concerning the …
The above pictures are new ones we received of our son, Eli. A gracious woman who was in Addis Ababa last week picking up her son snapped some pictures of Eli and sent them our way. He has grown so much from those last pictures. It is so great to see him grow in size, while he is still an …
I have some pretty exciting news this morning: I am releasing an album in a few weeks. While the final details are still being worked out, I’ll give you what I got right now. Back when we accepted the call to adopt, I wrote a song for our coming son. Without ever seeing his picture or knowing his story, I …
We did receive on update on Eli yesterday. With our agency, families pass through court in groups and then also travel together. Group 91 to Ethiopia was processed through court yesterday, and we were not on the list. While that is sad, it seems very sure that we are going to be in the next group. The next group will …
A couple of nights ago while I was reading Obadiah a book at bedtime, I pointed to the corner of Africa where Eli lives. Since that time, every time we open that book up and turn to that page, Obie points to the corner and says, “E-ya, brubba, E-ya.” Yes, that is where he is for now, but hopefully, he …
We had a great Valentine’s weekend at the Agnew house. Even though our Friday night date night plans were canceled due to the snow, we had a great time. On Sunday night, the three Agnews were sharing cuddles, hugs, and kisses before we put Obadiah down for the night. As we were making sure that every family member received an …
I am writing to tell you about our next step meeting for families wanting to pursue North Side’s growing adoption/foster care ministry. We have decided to call this ministry “Homes for Hope.” Since everyone’s involvement would be different, we didn’t want to call it adoption ministry or foster care, since there are so many ways to help. We also did …
GUEST BLOGGER: Kyle Richter – This complete article can be found in the current edition of the Compass. The dictionary defines sanctity as “the condition of being considered sacred or holy, and therefore entitled to respect and reverence.” The argument is often made that life demands respect and therefore abortion and euthanasia are wrong. According to the definition above the …
Eli is still weeks away from coming home, yet he has already taught me, his father, so much. If you didn’t get to catch his story, you can do so here. The short version is God has called Amanda and I to adopt an orphan from Ethiopia who has some special needs. Due to severe malnourishment, he has some delayed …
Merry Christmas from the Agnews! Pray that this day is full of Jesus and a call to give ourselves away! John 1 9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.11 He came to his own, and his …
I have received some great links to some great Christmas decorations this year. I thought I would share with you my top 5 of the season. 5. Frosty the Fisherman Never ever miss a fish. 4. Santa’s Trailer Did you happen to notice the flag flying in the front yard? 3. Redneck Reindeer Words can’t even describe this… 2. “Ditto” …
After last Sunday’s message, I have received many questions concerning why we choose Ethiopia. I answered why here a few months ago. I’ve also been asked about the need in Ethiopia and how to get more information on the adoption process there. I want to make sure that I say this before going into the need in this country: Adoption …
Today was week 2 of “A Pastor’s Wish List.” This was the Sunday I have been waiting for: “Give Orphans a Home.” The band did a great job leading us today in worship. I sat in with them in the last service, but since I was away this week, John took charge and did a fantastic job. Today, they led …
Today was a celebratory day for me. School is forever complete! Here are the top 10 quotes from today’s festivities in no particular order: “Graduates of the Southern Seminary class of December 2009, if you aim to finish what you start in ministry, you will aim too low or finish what is not Christ’s.” -Dr. Al Mohler “The Christian ministry …
I was awoken last night at @ 5:20 by Amanda hitting me and yelling, “Tornado! Trav get Obie!” In a daze, I ran through the house to a sound that seemed like the windows were about to shatter and the house was about to be lifted up. I grabbed Obadiah out of the crib fast asleep. He was startled by …
Last night, I had our band and spouses over for some fellowship time and the group’s first opportunity to listen to the “Offering” Christmas Worship CD all the way through. We were missing a few last night, but most everyone involved in the project could come. I just loved watching their faces as they listened to it. Most individuals had …
Thanksgiving holiday was a great week for our family. Having some days off of work created a lot of family time for us. While most things were great this week, one addition to Obadiah’s vocabulary changed family morale greatly. Obadiah’s new favorite word is “no” (actually it is “nooooo” because he holds it out long and shakes his head). “Good …
To remind ourselves of the blessings of God, the Agnew men made themselves look like this. Happy Thanksgiving!
I decided to try out the pre-mastered version of our Christmas CD on Obadiah the other morning. You will hear a snippet of the first track, “Joy to the World,” and you will behold my son’s stellar dance moves (at some point, you will still hear audio but the video will freeze, that was around the time Obie tried to …
I am officially forever done with school. Friday morning I mailed off five copies of my 167 page doctoral project to be bound. Later that afternoon, I filled out the last bits of paperwork needed for graduation. The only thing I have left to do is walk across a stage and determine if Dr. Al Mohler is a hugger …
(Mal. 2:13-15) 13 And this is another thing you do: you cover the LORD’s altar with tears, with weeping and groaning, because He no longer respects your offerings or receives [them] gladly from your hands. 14 Yet you ask, “For what reason?” Because the LORD has been a witness between you and the wife of your youth. You have acted …
While Pure Life was great, there was simply too much to share. And I forgot to tell parents one of the best ways to keep their children pure in an impure world. Your home needs to be the home kid want to hang out at. You remember that home when you were a kid. It was the home that all …
What an unbelievable night at Pure Life. Words can’t even begin to describe. Praying all that was taught tonight was received and applied this very evening. After a great main session led by Craig Gross via video, we had some amazing breakout sessions. If you couldn’t come or didn’t get to all the breakout sessions you wanted to get to, …
Prov 6:25-32 25 Don’t lust in your heart for her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyelashes. 26 For a prostitute’s fee is only a loaf of bread, but an adulteress goes after [your] very life. 27 Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? 28 Can a man walk on coals without scorching his …
As we continue this week on the topic of adultery, I wanted to share another concept with you. One of the best ways to avoid adultery is to focus on your spouse. Here goes: Many people think that the Bible is boring and so the equate God to be boring. Our culture envisions God as a fuddy-duddy in the sky …
I wanted to share some thoughts on this week’s elephant – adultery. Here goes: Matt 5:27-30 27 “You have heard that it was said, Do not commit adultery. 28 But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to …
Travis Agnew is now the proud owner of a minivan. Julie Houser Gordy, Becky Knight Sutherland, Shonda Tolbert Rapp and 8 others like this. Julie Becky Shonda Kelly Laura Julie Lacy Katie Amy Brittaney See all… Teresa Nicole Dove haha 🙂 Yesterday at 7:40pm · Delete Drenda Sheek I miss mine sooooo much! It got totaled on I-95. It was a great vehicle. Hope …
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