Dexter, Missouri - The 4th Annual Prayer Walk for Dexter Schools will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 9, 2016. The first prayer will begin at Southwest Elementary and from there you are free to walk at your own pace and pray for each school, gym, football field, etc.
Four years ago Roxanne and Greg McGhee felt the need to pray for Dexter Public Schools, the students, the teachers, the school board, and administrators. Greg currently serves as youth minister at First Baptist Church in Dexter.
"It doesn't matter what church you attend or even if you attend church," stated McGhee. "You are welcome to come and pray and participate. We encourage students and parents to come out and walk the campus at their own pace and pray."
Strollers are welcome for the little ones and it is going to be hot so bring something to keep you hydrated. Feel free to bring a lawn chair to sit and pray as you are free to move at your own pace. There is no time limit.
The McGhees would love to have students of all ages at the event. It is great to hear them pray for their friends, teachers, principals, and coaches.
"It’s about community and our faith in God," commented McGhee.
It is a wonderful opportunity to pray for our students, teachers, school bus drivers, parents, school employees, athletes, board members, and administration before school begins on Thursday.
"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people." Eph 6:18
Dexter, Missouri - For the last 18 months a group of pastors and lay leaders from local churches in the area have been meeting at the Crusade Center to pray for revival. Crusade Center Organizer Steve Kleffer said, “We are excited to have Bro. Ed lead next week’s Thursday night prayer meeting and want to invite any other Christians who desire to see a revival in our community to come out and join us.” He continued, “Ed Kleiman is a respected teacher on the subject of prayer and we will be claiming the God’s promise to answer the prayers of his people.”
Ed Kleiman, a Messianic Jew, grew up in St. Louis "worshipping & serving the god in the mirror" as he refers to it. From the age of sixteen to forty one he offered up daily sacrifices to this god; of drugs, alcohol, and sexual immorality. Then God granted him repentance (Acts 11:18), and God's gift of eternal life by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone (Ephesians 2:8), on October 23rd, 1994.
After attending Covenant Theological Seminary Ed preached for the first time on November 16th, 1997. In 1999 he began preaching at Sunshine Mission, a homeless shelter in St. Louis. During his 16 years of ministry at the Mission God has granted new life to some of the most down-&-out, through their trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. In 2000, Ed became part of, and now serves full time with the mission’s organization, International Messengers.
Like all great historical revivals in the past, Ed believes prayer continues to be a crucial, and still often missing element. Since 1999 the Lord has been using Ed to preach on the importance of the local church, God's design for the family, especially the role of men, the call for missions, while always emphasizing the power, priority, and purposes of prayer. Sweet Prospect Pastor Ray Rowland revealed, “Ed taught a prayer conference at our church last year and his candid and direct speaking style challenged our members to search their hearts and draw closer to God through prayer. His message of God’s grace and what He could do for our community through the prayers of His saints is exactly the kind of message Christians are in need of.”
Ed has also ministered to thousands of people here in America and all over the world by leading prayer initiatives and teaching on prayer. Ed believes prayer continues to be a crucial, but often missing element in spiritual revivals. Since 1999 the Lord has been using Ed to preach on the importance of the local church, God's design for the family, and the call for missions, while always emphasizing the power, priority, and purposes of prayer.
“Please pray for Ed’s visit to Stoddard County and ask God to move mightily so that Christians will begin to pray for revival in our community. We ask you to join us in thanking God for what He will do during these upcoming meeting on prayer,” added lay leader Rod Jetton.
Rev. Kleiman will be speaking Aug 6 - 7. He will teach a prayer conference the 6th and 7th at Living Water Worship Center. Ed added, “I am looking forward to spending time praying and teaching on the power of prayer with the people in Stoddard County. I trust the Lord will bless our time and renew a passion for Christ that will have a lasting impact on not only Christians in Stoddard County, but on everyone in the community.”
Bloomfield, Missouri - In 2015 Ed Kleiman, gave a powerful testimony of God’s grace in rescuing him from a life of drug and alcohol addiction. His message on how he kicked the habits that were running his life was well received and the Stoddard County Celebrate Recover director, Bryan Gentry has invited him back to share with those struggling to overcome addictions.
Ed Kleiman, is a full time minister, who God saved and redeemed from a life of drugs, alcohol, and sexual immorality at the age of 41. He has spoken to Celebrate Recovery groups all over America. His story of repentance and hope in God’s grace has granted new life to some of the most down-&-out, through their trust and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Local Celebrate Recovery meetings are held each Wednesday night at 6:30 at Living Water Worship Center (LWWC) in Bloomfield, Missouri. The meetings are open to anyone in the area trying to kick habits, hang-ups or addictions. The large meeting starts with songs from a rocking praise band and then sobriety chips are offers to those reaching milestones in their recovery. The last 30 minutes are reserved for testimonies from those who have recovered or a lesson on one of the 12 steps or 8 principles. Then there is a meal and time of fellowship, before the men and women break into separate small groups to talk about that night’s lesson or testimony.
Saddleback Church launched the first Celebrate Recovery program over 20 years ago. It was designed as a program to help those struggling with hurts, habits and hang-ups by showing them the loving power of Jesus Christ through the recovery process. It is a biblical and balanced program that helps individuals overcome hurts, hang-ups, and addictions. It is based on the actual words of Jesus and the traditional 12 steps rather than psychological theory. Celebrate Recovery has helped thousands of people recover from addictions and is now being used in over 20,000 churches worldwide
Gentry concluded by saying, “Story’s like Ed’s are very helpful to those struggling to overcome addictions. I’m thankful to be a part of our Celebrate Recovery program here at LWWC and am looking forward to having Ed speak at our upcoming meeting. We hope anyone who is looking for help will attend a meeting and see what God has been doing to change our lives!”
While he is in town Ed is also speaking to a group of pastors and lay leaders who have been praying for a revival in our community. They will meet Thursday night at 7:00 p.m. in the Crusade Center 1410 Scott St. in Dexter, Missouri. Then on Saturday August 6th and Sunday August 7thhe will be leading a prayer conference at Living Water Worship Center. There will be a breakfast and 2 hour prayer and teaching session starting at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday with an evening session starting at 6:00 p.m. that night. Ed will also deliver the Sunday message that next morning.”
Who: International Missionary Ed Kleiman
What: Stoddard County Prayer Conference & Revival Prayer Meeting
When:
-Celebrate Recovery meeting -6:30 p.m. Wednesday Living Water Worship Center
-Prayer Meeting with local pastors -7:00 p.m. Crusade Center
-Sat. Morning 8:00 a.m. Breakfast provided by the Church
-Sat. Evening 7:00 P.M. – 9:00 P. M.
-Sun. Morning 11:00 A.M. -- Title: Our Hearts Desire & Prayer!
Where: Living Water Worship Center 18094 state Hwy. 25, Bloomfield, MO 63825
BELIEVE Series Focuses on 10 Key Beliefs
How important is it to know what you believe and why it matters? At Sweet Prospect General Baptist Church we have begun the BELIEVE Sunday school study series, which is an innovative Bible-reading experience that will guide families on how to “live” out the teachings of the Bible. It focuses on 10 key beliefs, 10 practices and 10 virtues of the Christian faith, which will guide you to think, act and be more like Jesus. “Too many Christians attend church every Sunday, but don’t really know why they believe what they do about Christianity. This affects their actions, damages their witness and limits the true joy of being a Christian,” said Pastor Ray Rowland.
The best thing about the BELIEVE study is its grounded in the Bible and offers a unique discipleship experience that will help Christians of all ages become more like Jesus in their beliefs, actions, and character. This series illuminates the core beliefs of the Christian faith to help you think, act, and be more like Christ. The three sections will challenge you to ask yourself. What Do I Believe? What Should I Do? Who Am I Becoming?
Another wonderful aspect to this study is how the lessons are written for all age groups. The BELIEVE experience includes books of carefully selected Scripture for adults, students, and kids; a companion book for discipleship and growth; a storybook and a coloring book for children; and curriculum for every age group. Each Sunday the adults, teenagers, kids and even preschools will be going over the same 10 key beliefs, 10 key practices, and 10 key virtues of a Christian, so our whole church can learn to be more like Jesus together. Adult Sunday school member Mary Boyer added, “I love the fact that each week my kids will be studying the same key belief that we went over in the adult’s class and then the sermon will be on that same topic allowing me to go home and discuss how we are living out that week’s lesson.”
The first 10 lessons will make you think by asking, “What do I believe?” What you believe drives everything. The way you behave, the habits you form, the character that defines you – all are driven by your beliefs. The way we know we truly believe something is when it affects our actions. It’s not enough to believe something as the right answer; that belief must become a way of life. The BELIEVE study not only helps you understand the key beliefs of Christianity, but also allows you to explain why you believe them. Once we really know why we believe what we do, it can create true change in our individual lives, in the church, and in the world.
Here are 5 of the 10 key belief questions the study explores:
• Who is God?
• Does God care about me?
• How do I have a relationship with God?
• How do I know God’s will for my life?
• What is God’s call on my life?
At first glance these seem like easy questions, but can you answer them? What if someone asked you to explain these beliefs to them? What would you say? How would you prove you’re right? This study will give everyone a chance to think about the most important things in life and explore what the Bible has to say about these central truths.
The next 10 lessons will cause you to ponder, “What should I do?” Understanding what you believe is just the beginning. To become like Jesus, your beliefs need to not only inform you, but also transform you. It is the practice of reaching up to God and out to others that drive beliefs from your head…to your heart. The BELIEVE study will teach you the life-giving spiritual disciplines that will lead you in fulfilling your mission to love God and love your neighbor.
Here are 5 of the 10 key act questions the study explores:
• How do I honor God in the way that He deserves?
• How do I study God’s Word?
• How do I keep my focus on Jesus amidst distractions?
• How do I develop healthy relationships with others?
• How do I best use my time to serve God and others?
These are questions, or should we say actions that all Christians struggle with, but too often we don’t get an answer so we give up and just go through the motions of being a Christian. These lessons will give you and your family not only a chance to learn from each other, but to also encourage one another in doing what Christ teaches. “Hearing how others have overcome life’s struggles is so encouraging to me. Sunday school is exciting because each week I learn something new and am uplifted to hear how God is working in all our lives,” remarked adult Sunday school teacher Rod Jetton.
The last 10 lessons will help you explore, “Who am I becoming?” Jesus wants us to bear fruit that glorifies God and brings great joy to us and to others. For this to happen, we must remain in Christ. And the longer we remain in community with Christ, the more spiritual fruit, or virtues, we will produce. The BELIEVE study illuminates the virtues – the outward life changes in us – that are formed by the 10 beliefs and cemented through the 10 practices. It is a grand cycle that shapes us into the image of Christ more and more every day.
Here are 5 of the 10 key become questions the study explores:
• What gives us true happiness and contentment in our lives?
• Where do I find strength to battle anxiety and fear?
• How does God free me from addictions and sinful habits?
• How do I deal with the struggles and hardships of life?
• What does it mean to do the right thing? How do I know?
These are the types of questions everyone has to deal with at some point in life. When an unbelieving co-worker or friend is struggling in life and turns to us for help, we need to be ready to offer assistance and advice based on what Jesus taught. Can you plainly answer these questions today? What can you tell others to help them through difficult times? Are you living the Christian life described in the Bible?
We want to invite anyone who is desiring to find more meaning in life to attend Sunday school and morning worship services. Sweet Prospect is at 1201 E. Elk St. across from the Tyson plant and Sunday school starts at 9:45 with morning worship following at 11:00. This will be a wonderful opportunity to study and reflect on what you believe about the important things in life. For more information email sweetprospectgbc@gmail.com or call (573) 624-2036.
Written by Rod Jetton
Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Church of Christ will have a FREE clothing give-a-way on Saturday, July 16th.
There is an overwhelming amount of clothing available for men, women, children, babies including shoes and purses.
The FREE clothing give-a-away will be in the Church of Christ activity building located on One Mile Road next to SoutheastHEALTH and across from Burger King.
Please stop in between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. to receive gently used clothing. No registration required, no proof of income, just a kind gesture by wonderful people.
