Written by
Beth Farrah, SMT Writer
Bloomfield, Missouri - Celebrate Recovery recently started in Stoddard County at Living Water Worship Center (LWWC) in Bloomfield. Celebrate Recovery has been held at different churches throughout the past couple of years but LWWC anxiously took on the challenge of hosting it back in September. The group has grown since the kickoff and will continue to grow in the near future.
Celebrate Recovery is a Christ-based program that helps you get over your “hurts, hang-ups, and habits”. Although it is similar to a twelve-step-program, the founder of Celebrate Recovery believed that Alcoholics Anonymous was missing something: Jesus Christ. With services and minds centered on the Bible, Celebrate Recovery has a success rate of nearly 85%.
Living Water Worship Center plans to reach out and touch many lives in the local area. The leader of this program is Bryan Gentry, a former member of Celebrate Recovery, believes that the program will continue to grow and thrive in our area so that many lives will be touched and changed forever.
“My wife, Tish, and I are Ministry Leaders for Celebrate Recovery at Living Water Worship Center. CR is a Christ centered recovery program that helps people deal with and recover from all kinds of issues that make our lives become unmanageable,” Gentry explains. “Married for 28 years, Tish and I have always felt God's call on our lives to serve together in ministry. We had no idea that I would end up struggling with alcoholism that took our family to a very low place. Knowing God was the answer. He helped me make the decision to turn around. Celebrate Recovery and His Amazing Grace has kept me sober for three and a half years. God has given Tish and I the burden for others to find sobriety and healing for the entire family. With Celebrate Recovery, God will bring victory and healing for life's hurts, hang-ups and habits, including life controlling addictions.”
Living Water Worship Center reaches out helping hands to those lost or in need. With God’s grace and much needed support, many lives will be altered. Even those without “hurts, habits, or hang-ups” are welcomed and are offered a chance to have a closer walk with God. Adults, teens, and children are all welcomed to Wednesday night service because there are programs for each and every one of them.
Services on Wednesday nights beginning at 6:00pm have been going on for the last couple of months, but don’t fret! Beginners 101 Class will be held for the newcomers to explain how Celebrate Recovery works and what it’s all about. Each service begins with Praise and Worship, led by Curt Hillis, the band leader at LWWC. Later, there will be “Chip Time”, where members celebrate their clean time during their recovery by collecting chips or coins depending on the length of their recovery so far.
After a large group meeting held in the sanctuary, where Praise and Worship, Chip Time, and a testimony take place, members are welcome to branch off into different small groups. Small group meetings are broken down into chemical dependency and life struggles, each lead by a different staff member of the church. There are six different small groups: two for men, two for women, one for teens (youth group), and one for the younger children (The Celebration Station).
During large group and small groups, members have a chance to get to know each other during fellowship in the fellowship hall. Snacks and drinks will be served every Wednesday night. This allows members to talk one-on-one with other people or leaders, just in case they do not feel comfortable talking about certain topics in small group sessions.
The stroll down this unusual lane is the brainchild of Brad Aycock. A very successful businessman, Brad accepted a call to the ministry several years ago.
Brad was always known for his extraordinary ways of promoting and bringing special attention to area athletes through events such as the BA Sports Extravaganza. Brad has continued his marketing prowess in the ministry with events such as Oasis and other extraordinary events.
"My summer has been filled following this guy around (Brad)," said Oasis band lead singer, Daniel Sexton. "We've been setting up in parks and different places to share our music and the message of God's love for others."Daniel is a past educator in the Southeast Missouri area. Well known for his musical talents, Daniel has also recently made a career change into full time music ministry.
"God's Grace For All" is the committed direction of Oasis. Finding a way to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to places that ordinarily would not hear of His love.
As an extension of the First United Methodist Church of Sikeston, Brad, Daniel and other staff members work diligently to get outside the typical walls of the Church building.
"We believe the local church is the hope of the world," noted Brad. "The leadership and these volunteers are willing to go anywhere to reach people with the message of hope found in Jesus."
"The church is not the building, it's the people. The church doesn't exist FOR us. The church is us," added Aycock. The willingness of the Church as a whole has shown as their average weekly attendance has grown from 300 to 700 over the past three years. It has rejuvenated the community and a spirit for God reaching many that have not had a relationship with Jesus Christ.
"Over 85% of American churches are dying," Brad went on to explain. "The message should never change, but we have to rethink the methods."
"Out goal is to get outside the walls if the church building and meet people where they are," said Aycock. "Some people may never step into a church building, for many good reasons. We want to take the opportunity to these people who need hope but don't know where to turn."
Since Oasis was launched 6 months ago, they have averaged around 120 people in attendance and have had three baptisms in the lake.
"Many of the first-time guests have come to see what this "Oasis" is all about," Aycock explained. "You don't see church at a winery very often."
As Oasis continues to grow at the Boat House Wine Company, everyone is invited to come and experience this laid back style of worship and fellowship. Oasis provides a great way to prepare your heart each month.
You will also find a great dining experience at the Boat House with an excellent menu ranging from nachos to pizza. Great music, great food and the outdoor atmosphere provides for a perfect evening.
"We're grateful to the Boat House owners for this opportunity," added Aycock.
NOTE: Oasis at the Boat House is held the first Sunday of each month. Due to the Labor Day Holiday, the next event will be October 6th, 2013 at 6:00 PM.
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Dexter, Missouri - On Sunday, June 30, 2013 the First United Methodist Church of Dexter, Missouri, welcomed their newly appointed pastor Dr. Barry E. Winders and his wife Carmen from Lamar, MO.
He challenged the congregation in his first worship service by saying, “…Together we will climb the mountain again but not to reach the top just so we can come down. Instead, we will climb the mountain to hang on the mountainside, near the top, near the summit…and then look for another place to climb higher.” This climbing metaphor illustrates how a person can always choose how they will travel, metaphorically, and can decide to engage challenges with passion, to commit to a goal, to compete with our past and improve, to overcome setbacks we face, and to enjoy the journey along the way.
Dr. Windors is a United Methodist ordained elder in full-connection with the Missouri Conference. He responded to his call to ministry at the age of 17. He is originally from a small rural town northeast of Paducah, Kentucky and a University of Kentucky graduate. He is an Army veteran, a Paul Harris Fellow and active Rotarian, and an avid golfer.
In 43 years of ministry, he has served as Senior Pastor and also as staff in small to mid-size churches in four states in the Midwest ranging from 13 to 600 in attendance and membership. He is a gifted communicator, leader and pastor.
Barry has four earned degrees an A.A., BA,, Th.M. and a Doctorate of Ministry with an emphasis in leadership. In 2012 he completed the ACOS certification with Saint Paul Seminary in Kansas City, MO. He is a Certified Church Consultant to churches including United Methodists, a coach to pastors, a workshop presenter, and has authored two published books.
Barry and Carmen, his wife of 33 years, have one daughter and two grandsons who live in Burfordville near Jackson, Missouri. Carmen has been an educator for 19 years and plans to teach elementary special education at Malden Schools this Fall.
The Dexter church offers multiple service options for people and guests to attend. New worship times begin Sunday, July 21. Early Worship 8:15 a.m. – 9 a.m., Cross Over Contemporary Worship 9:15 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., Traditional Worship 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
If you would like to contact Dr. Winders by email, his address is barrywinders@gmail.com.
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Adults, children and seniors will be singing in a patriotic service along with a laid back homecoming style service. If you love God and Country this is the place to be. Maria Chamberlain will be the director!
Dee Loflin, SMT Manager/Writer
Dexter, Missouri – Have you ever driven down highway 60 just outside of Dexter and wondered why there is a lighthouse on the hill? Where did it come from and why is it here in Dexter of all places?
Pastors Tim and Tina Russell or any member of the Lighthouse Church can enlighten you on what is behind 20 years of serving the Lord. Tim Russell explained, “My wife and I began this ministry in 1993 when God inspired me through a vision. I could actually see the vision unfolding and I new I had to take this chance. God would provide.”
As I sat with Pastor Russel and discussed the church and how he has been so successful with his ministry, he told me, "It's like this, the message is the same, but it's the method that has changed." And he is correct with all that the Church does and their 500 members plus, they utilize everyone in their congregation to convey the Lord's word.
The Lighthouse Christian Center offers a Smiles of Hope free dental clinic, one Saturday each month with a multitude of volunteers, even serving breakfast that morning to many. They recently prepared 89,000 meals for Nicaragua and 100,000 meals for Springfield food pantries with their Hope International of Bernie, Missouri and the Wesley United Methodist Church in Springfield. Each year they have a back to school bash offering backpacks and supplies to young students who are in need. Just this week they took a truck of food supplies to the Stoddard County Gospel Mission and the list of good deeds continues daily.
The ministry sits on 43 acres of ground, on top of a hill at the intersection of State Highway 25 and State Highway 60 with a lighthouse structure that lightens the sky for miles. There are plans to announce the blueprints for their new building and south wing for the Smiles of Hope dental clinics.
“Our vision is about loving God and loving people,” commented Pastor Russell. “We offer a place for anyone to come, no matter your social status, race, age or if you have addictions, you have a place here. Everyone deserves a chance to feel the love of God.”
On June 2, 2013, the Lighthouse Church will celebrate their 20th Anniversary and they are going to be positively without a doubt “loud” about it.
First they are excited to give away a 2013 Dodge DART vehicle that was donated to the church for this event by Harry Blackwell Doge of Dexter.
Second they are going to have Monster Trucks and a Demolition Derby on the Lighthouse Christian Center Grounds just behind the church. Now that’s "loud" entertainment!!
There will be plenty to do that day with bouncers for the kids, prizes given away throughout the day, lots of great food, and entertainment. So bring out the kids and a lawn chair, it’s going to be a BIG and LOUD day praising the Lord and celebrating twenty years of serving the Dexter community.
The Demolition Derby will offer a $1,000 to the winner, 2nd place will be $400, 3rd place $200 and 4th place $100. Trophies will also be awarded. This is a singe run event for the first 30 FREE entries. For rules or to register please contact Jess Short at 576-5341 or Josh Short at 820-2629.
For more information about the Lighthouse Christian Center’s 20th Anniversary Celebration contact them at 624-2500 or if you would like to attend their Church, service begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday.
