Category Archives: Church news

Church news, Fort Scott

New Senior Pastor at Life Point Assembly of God: Gregg Sweet

Leave a comment
Life Point Assembly of God Church. Submitted photos.

Gregg Sweet, 48, is the new senior pastor at Life Point Assembly of God, 124 E. National Avenue.

Sweet went to seminary at Southwest Assembly of God University, in Waxahachie, Texas, graduating in 2020.

He has been the associate pastor at Bethel Life Center, Wichita, under Pastor Ken Squires, since 2018.

“We have a huge love for the community,” Sweet said. “We are excited to be here and to see what God has in store for the community. We love living in Fort Scott, people are so kind.”

“The church’s mission statement is ‘We are ready to meet people where they are,'” he said.

Sweet and his wife Angela, along with their pug dog, have been here since February 21, 2021.

“My wife and I love history and we like to explore, we love the old Fort (Fort Scott National Historic Site) and Lake Fort Scott and Gunn Park.”

In his spare time, Sweet likes to read and fish, he said.

His hometown is Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Sweet was encouraged by a missionary while young.

“A missionary prayed for me at 16 years old and told me God had a call on my life,” Sweet said.

For Sweet, the best part of being a pastor is ” the relationship with people and being able to share the Gospel and love of Jesus, with the community,” he said.

The biggest challenge is “learning how to do things they don’t teach you in college,” he said. “Like taxes, my wife and I are doing them now.”

His coming to the church coincided with the polar vortex extreme weather in the nation’s mid-section.

The church suffered some weather-related damage at that time and because of that, is having a community cookout fundraiser.  “We will be having a cook-out to celebrate the church’s 79th anniversary  in the Fort Scott community,” Sweet said. “And to raise money for the church’s building fund. It will be from 5-7 p.m. on Saturday, July 17, 2021. We will be asking for a $5 suggested donation.”

Hot dogs, hamburgers, chips, a snack cake and a bottle of water will be the cook-out menu.

If any questions, contact Sweet at 316-207-6557 or [email protected]

Sunday morning worship is at 10:30 a.m., and at 7 p.m. on Thursday is a Bible Study.

Celebrate Recovery is on Tuesday evenings at 7 p.m.

For more information contact the church at 620.223.4170.

 

 

 

Church news, Fort Scott

Fundraiser for First Baptist Church Youth June 25-26

Leave a comment

A fundraiser for First Baptist Church Youth will be a rummage sale at the church, 123 Scott Avenue.

First Baptist Church, 123 Scott Avenue.

The sale will be Friday, June 25 from  8 a.m.to 5 p.m., and Saturday, June 26, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Check out the First Baptist Church Facebook page for more information and pictures.

Items available: collectibles, furniture, wall hangings,
books, 45 RPM records,  household goods, and holiday decorations.

Free will donation for items, excluding furniture.

Church news, Fort Scott

New Pastor at First Southern Baptist: Kenneth Epperson

Leave a comment
First Southern Baptist Church, 1818 S. Main.

On June 1, Kenneth Epperson assumed the pastorate of the  Fort Scott First Southern Baptist Church.

Epperson has over 20 years of experience, following his education at Slidell Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisiana.

“That includes camps, evangelism work, and a singing ministry,” he said. “This is the closest I have been to my hometown, Butler, MO.’

The best part of pastoring is getting to encourage and give people hope, he said.

“Everybody needs encouragement,” he said. “We work hard at that. That’s my joy. God loves them and they will make it.”

When asked what one of the biggest challenges for a pastor is, he responded “Bringing people together. Bringing a people into unity and moving them forward in the kingdom.”

 

Tracy and Kenneth Epperson. Submitted photo.

Epperson and his wife, Tracy, have two married sons, two grandsons, with “one on the way,” he said.

Epperson said God called him at 14 years old to be a pastor.

“We had a guest speaker at our church,” he said. “I remember where I was sitting, when I heard the Lord say ‘You are going to do that someday.'”

“When I was ordained, my Mom told me when she was rocking me when I was young, she felt that I was going to be a pastor one day,” Epperson said. “That was powerful to me.”

The church, located at 1818 S. Main has Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and worship at 10:50 a.m.

An upcoming event at the church is Vacation Bible School, which is August 4-8 from 9 a.m.to noon at the church.

For more information contact the church at 620.223.2986.

 

Church news, Fort Scott

Vacation Bible School Today Through June 12

Leave a comment
First Baptist Church, Fort Scott. Submitted photo.

Curbside Take-Home Vacation Bible School is offered on June 9 through 11 at First Baptist Church, 123 Scott Avenue, from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

The event is for ages 3-12 years old.

Join us for a mystery island adventure as we track down the One True God!

Everything that your child would normally do at Vacation Bible School can be picked up in a bag in front of the church building.

You can pull up and the bag will be handed to you through the car window, or you can get out of the car and pick up the bag.

To conclude VBS there will be a family day on June 12 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the parking lot across from the church. There will be a cookout and games for all to enjoy!

Please call the church office to enroll from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 620 223-3080.

 

 

 

Church news, Fort Scott

FS Aglow Lighthouse Meeting June 10

Leave a comment
Fort Scott Aglow Lighthouse welcomes guest speaker, Patty McCullough, Thursday, June 10th, 2021.
Patty lives in Pittsburg, KS, with her husband of 45 years. They have two children and five grandchildren. Patty is a Christian artist in painting and music.
In 2013 she studied and graduated from Zola Levitt Institute of Jewish Studies. She attends Open Door Fellowship in Pittsburg and serves in the music ministry.
Come and hear about the Jewish Foundations of our Christian Faith and the Feasts of the Lord.
Guests are welcome to visit our Lighthouse monthly gathering at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, June 10th in the conference room of Fort Scott Inn, 101 State Street.
This is an interdenominational ministry opportunity for women, men and youth to worship, pray, fellowship and grow in unity. The goal of Aglow International is: Every nation touched, every heart changed.
Our Lighthouse desires the body of Christ to come together to meet the needs of those that cannot speak for themselves in Bourbon County. For more information contact Amanda Gilmore at (620) 215-0418 or Bob Reazin at (620) 363-0257.
Church news, Food, Fort Scott

10 Years of Ministry: Feeding Families in His Name

Leave a comment
First United Methodist Church at Third Street and National Avenue,

Feeding Families in His Name celebrates 10 years of ministry on May 11, 2021.

 

 

“We started the ministry because of a seen need of school children being food insecure,” Jean Tucker, coordinator of the weekly meal, said.

 

 

“Tom Braker had the idea ten years ago and gathered a group of people who started the program on May 11, 2011,” she said. “The administrative board of the First United Methodist Church voted unanimously to start the program.”

 

 

The meal is offered each Wednesday evening at 301 S. National, the Fort Scott First United Methodist Church from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

 

 

“From May 11, 2011, until March of last year we served the meal in the basement Fellowship Hall,” she said. “This allowed us to visit with the families and get to know them and their needs other than a hot-home cooked meal. Now we must visit with them as they drive through.”

 

Feeding Families in His Name offers a meal to Fort Scottians each Wednesday evening.

 

 

“Since the beginning of COVID-19 restrictions, we have served to-go-meals only,” Tucker said.

 

 

“The ministry has extended past the serving of a meal,” she said.  “Some of our dinner guests have become our valued weekly volunteers. We believe that the meal is a delivery system for God’s love!”

 

 

 

Currently helping weekly are Tom Braker, Steve and Susan Cole, Tom Coyan, Joey Beerbower, Linda and Leroy Cox, Betty and Pat Galan, Koyle Link, Lisa Robertson, Phyllis Colthart, and Don and Jean Tucker, plus a group of 15-20 dessert bakers who bake one or two desserts every week, Tucker said.

 

St. Martin’s Academy students clean up after preparing and serving the meals for Feeding Families in His Name on May 5 . From left to right:  Oliver Stover, Jack Costanzo, Deneys Lategan, and Aidean Harris.  In the background is volunteer Tom Coyan,  who is responsible for FFiHN food inventory and kitchen. Submitted photo by Steve Cole.

 

A different group helps with the entrée and serving every week.

“The first Wednesday (of each month) is St. Martin’s Schoolboys; the second Wednesday during the school year, the Community Christian Church, under the direction of Gail Sackett, alternates with the First United Methodist Church; the third Wednesday is the Nazarene Church Small Group, under the direction of Gretchen Goodyear; the fourth Wednesday is the First Presbyterian Church under the direction of Alesha Martin and Sandra Cowan, and the fifth Wednesday is Pioneer Kiwanis under the direction of Kelly Collins,” she said.

 

The amount of meals served has grown.

In  March 2011, the ministry served 44 meals, on  March 10, 2021, they served 281 people a meal, Tucker said.

 

 

“The most we have served is 422 meals on a Wednesday last November,” Tucker said.

 

 

” I just did some math and the number of meals served since we began May 11, 2011, is over 98,000 and we have averaged 1,233 meals each month for the past year,” she said.

 

 

The ministry receives funding from the Fort Scott Area Community Foundation.

 

 

For more information, contact Jean Tucker, Coordinator of FFiHN at 620-223-4617 or church office at 620-223-1950

 

Bourbon County, Church news, COVID-19, Food, Fort Scott

Knights of Columbus Fish Fry Is A Drive-Through This Year Through March 19

Leave a comment
The men of Knights of Columbus Council #796 serve the Lenten meal in February 2020.

 

New this year because of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the annual Knights of Columbus Fish Fry planned a drive-through pickup of the food served.

There are only two dates left for the event, both on Fridays from 5-6:30 p.m. March 12, and March 19.

Because of the pandemic, all the workers will be wearing masks and gloves to serve the meals.

But as in the past, it will be at 702 Holbrook,  at Kennedy Gym, which is a part of Mary Queen of Angels Catholic Church.

 

The fish fry in 2016.

 

The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic men’s organization, that has a “great tradition of fish fry’s nationwide,” Mark McCoy, spokesman for the group said.

 

The meal had to be simplified this year because it is a drive-through, McCoy said.

 

“Meal #1 will be catfish, french fries and coleslaw, Meal #2 is catfish, cod, fries, and coleslaw and Meal #3 is baked cod with fries and coleslaw,” McCoy said.

 

There will be no home-made desserts this year that have been provided by the ladies of the parish in past Lenten fish fry meals.

A row of homemade desserts lines tables at the Knights of Columbus  Lenten Fish Fry in February 2020 at Kennedy Gym.

Logistically, it would not work, McCoy said, since the drive-through was new this year.

The annual Lenten fish fry is also a community event where lots of conversations happen between attendees, McCoy said.

“We look forward to going back to sit down dining” in the future, he said.

 

Church news

Spring Break Kid’s Camp At Uniontown Methodist Church March 15-19

Leave a comment

The Uniontown and Hiattville United Methodist Churches are hosting a Spring Break Kid’s Camp “Mystery of the Messiah,” Monday, March 15 through Friday, March 19, 12 noon – 2:30 p.m. The camp starts with a free noon lunch, transportation will be provided if needed.

Children, in preschool through 6th grade, are invited to join us for a fun-filled mystery-themed week of games, crafts or science projects, music, and more. All this takes place at the Uniontown Methodist Church, 505 Sherman  Street, Uniontown.
Early registration is appreciated. Registration will be limited to 30 children. For more information contact Pastor Carl Ellis at the church phone 620-547-2469 or email [email protected]
Church news, Food, Fort Scott

St. Martin’s Academy Helps Feeding Families in His Name

Leave a comment
Students from Saint Martin’s Academy are from left to right, Jack Duffy from Nebraska, Kenny Ritson from New Jersey, Deneys Lategan from South Africa. Submitted photo.

Saint Martin’s Academy joins a growing list of community organizations and churches that are contributing to the success of Feeding Families in His Name.

Feeding Families in His Name started Ten years ago on May 11, 2011, at the First United Methodist Church serving a free weekly meal to the community in the Fellowship Hall to about forty people.

The meal currently serves an average of three hundred meals a week.  Only to-go meals have been served since the first of March 2020 because of Covid-19 restrictions.

Each year the number of people who volunteer for the project has grown until now it encompasses more of the community.

The Bourbon County Network which includes United Methodist Churches of Fulton, Hammond, Uniontown, Redfield, Hiatville, West Liberty and St. John’s congregations have all supported Feeding Families.

Community Christian Church cooks and serves the Wednesday every other month; a small group of the Nazarene Church cooks and serves every third Wednesday; a group from First Presbyterian Church cooks and serves every fourth Wednesday; and Pioneer Kiwanis cooks and serves the fifth Wednesday of the month.  Many volunteers bake desserts for the meal every week.

Feeding Families in His Name is supported by private donations from churches and individuals, commodities from USDA through the Kansas Department of Children and Families, and a grant from the Fort Scott Community Foundation.

Submitted by Jean Tucker, Coordinator of Feeding Families in His Name.

 

Church news, Fort Scott

Pancake Feed, Auction and Bake Sale at First Southern Baptist Church Feb. 6

Leave a comment

 

JOIN US FOR OUR 3RD ANNUAL

ALL YOU CAN EAT PANCAKES (Regular & Gluten Free)

WITH A SERVING OF

GROUNDHOG FUNDRAISER,

SILENT AUCTION & BAKE SALE

Feb. 6, 2021, 8 a.m.- 2 p.m.

at First Southern Baptist Church

1818 South Main, Fort Scott, KS.

 

Children 7 and under FREE

8 to Adult $5.00 in advance

or

$6.00 at the door

purchase tickets at

Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce or

Contact Ida Ford 417-262-3948 or

Terri Williams 620-215-3202

Vera Norris 620-215-2066

**All proceeds go to the building fund

 

Church news, Opinion

What does the Bible say about wearing a mask?

142 Comments
Pastor Kevin Moyer. Submitted photo.

Submitted by Pastor Kevin Moyers, Rinehart Christian Church

Mask wearing in 2020 has been quite a topic of discussion.  President-elect Joe Biden says “Wear a mask.”  Dr. Anthony Fauci says, “Wear a mask.”  Did you know that the Bible addresses the subject of mask-wearing?

You might be interested in knowing that Jesus condemned the Pharisees for wearing a mask.

Now before anyone gets all “up in the air” about what I just said, maybe you should keep on reading this article.  Please don’t go away and tell folks the preacher at Rinehart is saying something that I’m really not saying at all.

Fifteen times in the book of Matthew Jesus addresses the subject of “mask-wearing.”  He addressed it once in Mark’s gospel, and four times in Luke’s gospel.  Add all that up and you have 20 scripture references that address mask-wearing, and everyone of them is cautioning us against wearing a mask.

Did you know the word “hypocrite” in the NT means “stage-actor?”  Let me quote to you from Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Greek Words as it defines the word “hypocrite”:  “Pretender; it was a custom for Greek and Roman actors to speak in large masks with mechanical devices for augmenting the force of the voice.”  Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance defines “hypocrite” this way:  “an actor; stage-player; pretender; a dissembler.”

Jesus took this word from the Greek and Roman theater and used it in such a way that people understood perfectly what He was getting at.   A hypocrite was someone pretending to be what they were not.  They were “stage-acting” in a spiritual sense.  In the case of the Pharisees, they were portraying themselves as spiritual-minded men, when really they were not spiritual at all.   They were just putting on a show.  They sounded spiritual on the outside, and maybe they “dressed like they were spiritual,” but in reality, they were not spiritual at all. They were wearing a mask.

Jesus had strong words of condemnation for those who were hypocritical “mask-wearers.”   Check out some of these scriptures:  Matthew 6:;2,5,16; 7:5; 22:18; 23:15,23,25,27,29; 24:51; Mark 7:6; Luke 12:56; 13:15.  It appears that those who act like they’re a Christian, but really they are not, are in for a terrible awakening.

Jesus wants us to be sincere in our faith, and real.  He wants us to be true.  Don’t be that person who is a “Sunday Christian,” but has nothing to do with Him through the week.  Don’t be that person who sings praises on Sunday morning and curses your neighbor on Tuesday evening.  “My brethren, these things ought not to be this way” (James 3:10).

May we all take off the masks and be what He wants us to be.

Now the other masks that you see people wearing in 2020 to protect them from the coronavirus, feel free to wear them if you want.