Dexter, Missouri - It is always fun to watch God in action.   Julie Holden and I really love the clothes ministry that started from our prayer group at the First Baptist Church. 

Our prayer group that has been meeting since 2006 and this idea was only started last year; however it is pretty neat when you can visibly feel that God is blessing your life.

Julie, several others and myself had spent most of the day Sunday preparing for the clothes give away.  In deep fervent prayer, we were seeking God to reveal Himself through this ministry idea. That's when God confirmed His presence 2x over.

FIRST:  Giving God His time on Monday morning, Julie's March 18 daily devotion subtlety confirmed the work of the previous days work.  The daily scripture for the day was:

Luke 3:10-11.  And the crowds asked Him, “What then shall we do?” And He answered them, “Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.”

Can you imagine how we felt that the Lord, our Savior spoke to us in such a way.  Not just a coincidence, but a true message from Him.

SECOND:   Evaluating the amount of clothes that had been prepared for the Monday only event.  We were disappointed to find we were low on kids clothing. Taking our desires of more kids clothes to God ... We agreed to pray for kids clothing.

God again revealed Himself through one of His Angels by providing through an unknown person at an unknown time during the night.  This unknown Angel dropped off a multitude of multiple bags of incredible quality kids clothes.  So many clothes in fact that the one-day event was extended to another full day on Tuesday.

How wonderful a feeling this was to know He heard our prayers and answered them so we may help others.

Why are we surprised when God shows us His true power over all circumstances?   We serve a mighty incredible God that we should always trust and have faith He will provide and take care of those that love Him.

We pray for His strength to guide us and hope we can do this again in the fall for a back to school giving.  I know in He will hear our prayers and give us direction to go forward with our ministries.

Nashville, Tennessee - A few local youth groups from the Stoddard County area traveled to Nashville for a nationwide youth conference called Acquire the Fire. The weekend was filled with praise and worship music, theatrical skits and plays, contemporary Christian bands, well-known speakers and preachers, and thousands of other kids and youth pastors from all over the country.

Acquire the Fire has been around for nearly twenty years and has developed into a total of twenty-seven hours of time with God over the span of one weekend. There are several locations across the United States but the one held in the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville is one of the larger sessions.

The main idea of Acquire the Fire is to get the younger generation on fire for God. This year’s theme was “The Relentless Pursuit: Captured by the Fierce Love of God”, so all of the sermons and lessons were easily related to God’s relentless chase after us and his amazing grace that so gently covers all of us.

The youth conference offers more than great music, amazing speakers, and life changing sermons. It also provides education on different options that the teens are able to choose after they graduate high school. Many representatives from Regent University, The Christian Honors Academy, and Teen Mania Ministries all set of booths and talk one on one with students or teens that are interested in pursuing God after high school.

“Acquire the Fire is a decision making, pattern breaking, future shaping, life transforming experience that effects over 200,000 kids in a 2-day event.” This is just one quote from Ron Luce, the opening speaker for the 2013 conference. He delivered several messages throughout the weekend but his most memorable was “The Gold Rush History Lesson”, where Luce rode through the stadium on a horse while speaking about our desire for worldly possessions just like the miners’ desires to strike gold.

Mike Guzzardo was another preacher that joined the Acquire the Fire team and he prepped the teens with his sermon called “Level Up”. Guzzardo was an energetic speaker that taught the crowd about growing spiritually and not just staying in one place.

The music was a key part of the fantastic weekend. Multiple bands either opened or closed the daily sessions, but the School of Worship Band (Acquire the Fire Live) played worship music throughout the session during alter calls. The contemporary bands include: Disciple, Lecrae, Rapture Ruckus, and the Desperation Band.

Keeping thousands of teenagers interested and awake after long night sessions is quite a challenge. So, the Acquire the Fire team put together a skit that was written in three different parts and was performed at three out of the four sessions. There were also many videos and slideshows involved with the sermons and lessons so that the crowd always had a visual picture.

Teen Mania’s Global Expeditions Team also attended the conference and spoke about the need of missionaries and support for the many unreached places in the world that contain people who have never heard the name of Jesus. Many youth groups and teens attended the seminar about fundraising and attending mission trips all over the globe.

For the youth pastors and/or parents that attended the conference, they too had their own session where they were able to break away and be taught different things while their youth groups enjoyed another concert or lesson.

The weekend was filled with renewed hearts and youth groups that were knit together tightly by God’s hands. As the teens grew closer to God throughout the weekend, the Acquire the Fire team took it upon themselves to create an app that is available for smart phones that include information, music, lessons, and bible verses to keep the teens’ spark alive. The team also sent out “The Relentless Pursuit” books, which contained highlights of the lessons and even more Bible verses.

Acquire the Fire will take place again on February 22-23^rd in Nashville in 2014. Each youth group that attends is counting down the days until they get to return. Tickets are on sale now at acquirethefire.com. It’s one weekend that you won’t want to miss!

Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer

Dexter, Missouri – The community is invited to attend an evening of music with the 1^st United Methodist Church with "A Voice of Praise!” featuring the Chancel Choir under the direction of MaryRuth Boone. 

“We learn in the Old Testament that we are to sing praises to God,” Boone said.  “Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises.”  This is according to the psalmist who wrote in the 47^th chapter in the Book of Psalms.  This should be an evening of uplifting music to carry out that purpose.

MaryRuth said, “This is a wonderful, talented, dedicated group of individuals who love the Lord, love music, and love our community.  It’s for a little boy fighting cancer who has family in the community.”

This is a benefit for the family of 3-year-old Drew Albritton.  He is the son of Elizabeth (Carroll) and Mike Albritton and they live in O’Fallon, Missouri.  Drew also has a sister that is only three months old and is named Reese.

Drew’s Mom, Elizabeth, is the daughter of Dean and Carolyn (Hill) Carroll of Dexter.  Elizabeth graduated from Dexter High School.  She and her brother, Clay, grew up in the church and sang in the Chancel Choir as teens.  She recently retired from teaching at T.S. Hill Middle School and has now taken a leave of absence from her current teaching position.

Drew was diagnosed in July of 2012 with Neuroblastoma, a rare cancer in children.  It occurs in less than five out of ever one million children each year.  He has had six rounds of chemotherapy, two major surgeries, numerous hospitalizations and will undergo a stem cell transplant on February 28^th.  He will spend about a month in isolation at the hospital.  Then after all that, he will receive six weeks of radiation followed by months of immunotherapy.  Too much suffering for a child of his age, but he is a strong little fellow!

He has already fought such a hard battle with this cancer and has a very long road ahead.  His parents’ Mike and Elizabeth are both teachers.  She has taken a leave of absence from her job and Mike has already missed all the work he can for now.

“Our community is trying to let them know that we care about them and want to raise money to help them in any way they can.” Boone state.  “We want to show our love and support, and to let them know we love them and that we pray for them each and every day.”

The First Methodist Church invites everyone to come hear some great music including performances by vocal soloists and a rousing piano performance. 

The event will take place on Sunday, February 24th at 6 p.m.  The program is free to the community.  The First United Methodist Church Agape Circle will serve refreshments in the Wesley Hall after the benefit.

Drew is a beautiful young boy who is fighting a brave battle against a terrible disease.  Please come out and give a “love offering” during the event. 

If you want additional information or just want to make a donation, please call 573-624-3344 or 573-820-3516.   The Dexter community wishes Drew and his family the best. 

If you would like to send a donation or even a get-well card, you can mail them to Drew Albritton, 1044 Golden Orchard Drive, O’Fallon, MO 63368.   All your generous donations, gifts, cards and prayers will be greatly appreciated.

Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer

Dexter, Missouri – If you missed Third Day performing their hits from The Miracle Tour, Wednesday night at Cape First Church, then you will have to wait a while before seeing them this close to home.  They will launch their concert tour and will be traveling to the larger cities of Memphis, Dallas, Atlanta, Nashville and Chicago.

However, one young man, had the opportunity not only to see the concert, but he got to meet the band.  Joe Rice, son of Heather and Loyd Rice of Dexter, Missouri traveled to Cape Girardeau to see the concert.  Joe was able to chat with the band members and he even had his drumsticks signed by the lead singer, Mac Powell.  This was an evening he will not soon forget!

Joe also got to hear “American Idol” finalist Colton Dixon sing on stage during the concert.  “It was awesome,” Heather stated, “WOW!”

If you get the opportunity to hear this group, you won't want to miss the chance.  To find the nearest concert or access the best seats go to their website www.ThirdDay.com. Their music is truly inspirational.