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Puxico came for the service and got to participate in a question and answer session with Welch following the service. From the comments made to


Brian following the service, it was obvious that many people related to his testimony and his struggles with drugs and life. Brian himself said he felt an energy in the room that prompted him to keep talk- ing. One person shouted with a joyous smile: “I’ve been clean for 18 months.” A couple of moth- ers commented that they hoped Brian’s book would encourage their child to make the change. Many comments to Brian spoke of how much his story had touched them. He openly prayed with several individuals, including two who appeared to be fighting addiction. Welch was brought to Sikeston


First UMC in conjunction with a sermon emphasis titled Radical, based on a book of that name by David Platt. Pastor Geoff Posegate noted


that the vast majority of those present Dec. 11 were “new to our church, new to church at all and/ or new to Jesus. Faith decisions were made, Bibles were given away, lives were touched. The Body of Christ is alive and well!” (About 50 Bibles that had been


Missouri Conference News Head continued from page 1A


donated to the church to be given away were picked up by people present!) “One life was pulled back from


the brink of suicide,” Geoff said. “I was wowed by all the people


that he touched with his story,” said Robin McIntyre. “I think today is going to be one of the ‘remember when’ services for years to come!” “I am still reeling with awe


and humility at what happened at FUMC this morning,” said Jill Hopson later on Sunday. “Nearly 800 people heard the testimony of Brian ‘Head’ Welch. I knew very few of them. That’s a beautiful thing. God still knows how to light a fire under his people.” “ God is alive! He is Risen, and


He still moves! Today was amaz- ing,” Zak McIntyre posted on a social media. “Thank you God! We would be useless without you with us. With you, we helped give hope to the hopeless and light to those in darkness. Today was the seed. I can’t wait to see the harvest. I’m humbled at your grace.” “This Sunday at The Journey


was an experience I will never forget,” Zak said Monday. “Seeing the Family Life Center packed wall to wall, people watching from the track above, seeing the multitude of free Bibles disappear, and being


Sikeston recognized as one of the fastest growing churches


First United Methodist Church


of Sikeston received some exciting news Dec. 14! Lifeway Research confirmed that First United Methodist Church made the list as one of America’s fasting grow- ing churches in the category of churches under 1,000 in worship! Lifeway is the leading research


organization on church growth and planting. Their president, Ed Stetzer has written dozens of books to help churches around the globe, explains First UMC Worship Coordinator Brad Aycock. Each year, Stetzer and Lifeway


reveal the largest and fastest grow- ing churches in America – all denominations combined. Aycock explained that they have been in contact with First UMC since spring, gathering information.


On Stetzer’s blog Dec. 14, he


released the list of some of the fast- est growing churches in America that have under 1000 in worship. “We are one of the most rural and oldest (years in existence) churches on the list,” said Aycock. To put this into perspec-


tive, there is only 1 Methodist church on the top 100 large- church list-over 1000 in worship (Resurrection in Kansas City) and only 1 on the under 1000 list (FUMC Sikeston). Aycock said. He praised the congregation for


their “commitment to our mission of leading people in new life with Jesus and to being open to the Holy Spirit’s leading! Here's the link to the


list: http://www.edstetzer. com/2011/12/fast-growing-small- churches.html


January 6, 2012


able to hear a radical story of transformation from addiction to freedom from Brian “Head” Welch were all amazing. Watching our church come together to pull off something of this magnitude was unbelievable. Only God could make something like this weekend possible!...The Spirit moves and God is alive at FUMC!” “Brian’s testimony was amazing


and the spirit was obviously mov- ing in that service!” wrote Glenn Lemmons. “Thank you, God, for making this day happen!” Brad Aycock said he was


speechless. “Never seen so many lives altered in one day,” he wrote. “Unreal!” Jill Hopson noted that the fact


Brian came to a church in small town American took some guts. “It sent a more powerful message than we may realize to hurting folks, youth, and young adults about FUMC understanding what Jesus really calls us to be and do.” Terry Sapp said she didn’t know


what to expect since she is not a heavy metal fan! “I was amazed at the humbleness and patience Head showed. I loved how he said God was WAY better than drugs! ..“There’s no telling how many people’s lives were changed, saved, or transformed by something at the service! Our job now may be even bigger – to continue to reach these people where they are!” One thing that stood out for


Keith Colley was the urgency of many young people to take advan- tage of getting a free Bible from the table provided. Welch told those present about


his life – from the formation of the band, to the road to success, which eventually lead to addiction to drugs, and then to his turning from drugs with God’s help, pri- marily to be there for his daughter. Overall, it was an awesome day


at First UMC. It began with the Chancel Choir’s powerful cantata at 9 a.m. and moved to the testi- mony of Brian Welch. Through this past week in worship, more than 1,000 people experienced the word of God through First United Methodist Church.


Suffering increased for poor in 2011 The year 2011 was not kind to the


poor, hungry and marginalized. The worst drought in decades


compounded by civil strife has affected more than 13 million people in Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia and Djibouti. Problems with food short- ages in the Horn of Africa have been building over the years but came to a “critical mass” this summer, said Melissa Crutchfield, UMCOR executive for international emergency response. On the heels of news of severe


suffering in Africa came a U.S. report finding another 2.4 million chil- dren joined the ranks of the poor during the past decade. The U.S. Census Bureau announced the total Americans living below the poverty line has climbed to 46.2 million. The continuing bleak U.S. eco-


nomic outlook has left more than 2 million people jobless for the last two years and 700,000 for three years. Income inequality is increas-


ing in much of the developed world driven by disparity in wages, accord-


ing to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Skilled workers com- mand a disproportionate share. Budget fights As Congress and the Obama


administration faced off over budget cuts and debt ceiling, faith leaders joined hands to form a “Circle of Protection” around programs that affect those with the most to lose: the unemployed, uninsured and homeless. Two United Methodist faith lead-


ers were among a group of 11 arrested July 28 in the U.S. Capitol as they refused to stop public prayers ask- ing the Obama administration and Congress not to balance the budget on the backs of the poor. Their arrests came after months of protest and prayer vigils held on the grounds of the United Methodist Building in Washington. Bridging the gap From the halls of Congress to the


sands of Somalia, United Methodists are working to fill the gap between the rich and poor.


A few examples: Hundreds of job seekers come


to Roswell (Ga.) United Methodist Church for a weekly dinner and range of workshops every second and fourth Monday. Open Table, a nonprofit orga-


nization founded by Jon Katov, a member of Paradise Valley (Ariz.) United Methodist Church, brings a group of volunteers together as mentors for people in poverty. The people selected for Open Table become “sisters” and “brothers.” UMCOR has been funding aid


programs in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia since July. As of Nov. 11, the agency had raised $874,921.23 for Horn of Africa relief and approved $430,929 in grants. The situation is not hopeless. UMCOR is continuing to seek donations for Horn of Africa famine relief. The United Methodist Board of


Global Ministries launched a website, Ministry with the Poor, to track how the church is engaging in ministry with the poor around the world.


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