The Connection

DR. GEORGE O.

WOOD TO

SPEAK FOR

ENCOUNTER

Sylvester and Heather met in the beginning of 2012. After a few months of getting to know one anoth-er and feeling God drawing them together, Sylvester and Heather were engaged on May 25, 2012, and were united in marriage at First Assembly on September 29, 2012, with Pastor Ray Cook performing the ceremony. Sylvester is a graduate of Newburg High School (1995) and Rolla Technical Institute (1996), having also attended MS&T (back when it was UMR). Sylvester became employed at Archer-Elgin (formerly Elgin Sur-veying and Engineering) in June, 1996, and has been employed there ever since. Sylvester is currently a Professional Land Surveyor, where he oversees the daily operation of the companys professional surveying

services. Sylvester has attended church somewhere or another since his birth, having accepted Christ as his savior at age 9, becoming filled with the Holy Spirit at age 11 and being re-baptized at age 25. Sylvester has been attending First Assembly since 2006 and has been active in the church either in playing drums with the various worship teams, filling in occasionally for Pastor Ray in the Line upon Line class and by serving on the churchs Trustee Board. In his spare time, Sylvester enjoys exercising, being outdoors, music, reading, and art. Heather is a graduate of Rolla High School (2003). The Furse family is blessed that Heather can proudly call herself a Stay-at-Home Mom. Prior to stay-ing home with their baby boy (more about him in a minute), Heather was a clinical research assistant at Clinical Research of the Ozarks. Heather has attended First Assembly since birth, being one of the old timers who was here when Pastor Chuck started his tenure. Heather was saved at age 7, baptized at age 10 and

(Furse continued on page 5)

Dr. George O. Wood, general

superintendent of the Assemblies

of God, Springfield, MO, will be

guest speaker at First Assembly of

God - Rolla, 1608 N. Oak St., on

Sunday, June 7, 2015, at 6:00

p.m., according to Pastor Chuck

Whitmire.

A popular speaker and writ-

er, Dr. Wood was elected chief ex-

ecutive officer of the church at the

52nd General Council in August

2007. As general superintendent

of the Assemblies of God, USA, part

of the largest Pentecostal denomi-

nation in the world, he is a member

of the denominations Executive Leadership Team and Executive

Presbytery. The church has over

(Wood continued on page 6)

CELEBRATE AMERICA SPEAKER DANNY WHITE Wired by God with a teachers heart, Danny White has a passion to encourage other leaders. He

desires to be a channel and not a dam with the wis-

dom hes picked up from over twenty years experi-ence leading Marines, loving his wife Nora, and par-

enting their seven children who keep him young at

heart and ever-learning. Danny blesses God for His

grace and truly being Semper Fidelis (Always Faith-ful), especially during lifes desert experiences or the tough times. After retiring from the Marine Corps as a

Lieutenant Colonel, Danny founded Lead with Liberty,

for Calling #2. In 2014, he published A Widowers Walk: from Desert to Destiny, an autobiographical

story of his leadership journey.

Danny is passionate about Jesus Christ and en-

couraging all leaders along their leadership journeys:

at home, at work, and in community. He founded

Lead with Liberty (leadwithliberty.com) to pass along

the lessons he has learned as a Marine, husband, and

(White continued on page 4)

Are any of the following activities sinful of them-

selves? Art, crafts, music, dance, drama, literature,

humor, sports, games, culture, government, science,

technology, eating, drinking, or work? No! We partici-

pate and enjoy these things on Earth, not because we

are sinners, but because we are human. Yes, on this

Earth and under the Curse, many of them have been

perverted by sin. However, is it possible, as resurrect-

ed humans in Heaven, that we will still engage in

these pursuits in a perfected state? Yes! Lets look at this more closely.

Work. Are you surprised that you will be work-

ing in Heaven? Did you think youd get all eternity to rest? Consider this: When was work created? It was

before the Fall of Man and the Curse. God had great

purpose for Adam and Eve and His creation from the

beginning. Adam and Eve were instructed to, Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have

dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of

the air, and over every living thing that moves on the

earth (Genesis 1:28). Adam was put in the Garden of Eden to tend and keep it (Genesis 2:15). God al-ways intended man to work and exercise dominion; it

was only after the Fall and the Curse that it became

so difficult. But in Heaven, we will have responsibili-

ties and fulfilling work without the hardships and frus-

trations brought by the Curse. The final chapter of the

Bible declares, No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,

and his servants will serve him (Revelation 22:3). Government. Remember Matthew 25:21? His lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful serv-ant; you were faithful over a few things. I will make

you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your

lord. And they [Gods servants] will reign for ever and ever (Revelation 22:5c). Our goal will be to exer-cise dominion in a way that glorifies God and serves

others well. (Arent you looking forward to loving the government?)

Eating and drinking. Revelation 19:9 speaks of

the wedding supper of the Lamb. Revelation 21:6

says that God will satisfy our thirst from the spring of

the water of life. Revelation 22:2 describes the tree

of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, one crop each

month. Dont you imagine that food and drink will taste better than ever in Heaven (and there will be no

food allergies or acid indigestion to minimize our

pleasure)?

What about art, drama, sports, technology and

the others? Can we glorify God with art and drama,

exercise dominion with science and technology and

delight in our human bodies performing sports now?

I Corinthians 10:31 exhorts us to whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. With our resurrected bodies and minds, why wouldnt we have even great-er capabilities to accomplish these things and give

glory to God in Heaven in ways we couldnt dream of on Earth?

Beverly Flori

Note: Any italics used are mine for emphasis; they were

not used in Scripture.

Reference: Randy Alcorn, Heaven, pp. 409-451 Fathers, invite all of your family to church with you on June 21

Nothing kicks off summer like a relaxing canoe trip on the beautiful Meramec river in June! Men and boys, we

hope you can join us on our annual campout and canoe trip! We will be leaving Friday, June 12th at 5 PM from

First Assembly and heading to Steelville. We will set up our campground and tents, then enjoy fellowship

around the campfire that evening. Then Saturday we will hit the river for a 6-mile canoe float along scenic

bluffs, beautiful valleys, and deep waters. Feel free to bring your fishing equipment! You will need a tent and

food for lunch on the river on Saturday. We will take care of dinner on Friday night and breakfast Saturday

morning. Cost is $25 per person. We need individuals to sign up by June 8th by calling the church office (364-

1266) or signing up on the church website under events. If you have any questions, get ahold of Sam at 578-

1770 or [email protected]. We hope youll join us!

I am just writing to give you a heads up on all of our

kids activities happening here at Rolla First Assembly

this summer.

Vacation Bible School Our theme this year is "Everest: Conquering

Challenges With God's Mighty Power". The

ages for attending this event are from 4

years old through 12 years old. If you

would like to be a part of VBS as a

volunteer this year, or just need

to sign your child/children

up, you can register at this

website: groupvbspro.com/

vbs/ez/rolla1stag. We will

begin each day by 8 am

and finish by noon. We

still need support staff

like crew leaders,

teachers, craft and

kitchen help, etc., so if

you have the time and are willing to help kids seek

out God in their lives, come join us July 6th through

the 10th!

Extreme Tween Week This event is for kids entering the 5th - 7th grades

next fall. We will have a week full of fun and adven-

ture, starting Monday, June 22 at 8 am until 4:30 pm

each day. On Thursday, June 25, we will start at 8 am,

but continue the fun through Friday morning at 9 am

with a sleepover at the church. The cost is $80 again

this year, and spots are limited for this event, so con-

tact Pastor Brian or Sam Parker at the church office

(573-364-1266) to sign your young people up today.

Kids Camp Ages are 8 years old through 12 years old, and

the cost is $147 this year (up $7 due to rising

food/energy/maintenance costs). The

last day to register your child for camp

is Friday, June 19, by noon. All registra-

tions after this date are considered

late and an additional $25 late fee

will be added to the balance for

camp per child, so please sign

your child/children up as soon as

possible! Once camp is full, no

more registrations will be accepted. We

are Week 3 of camp this year, which is July 20

through the 24 and we will leave the church that Mon-

day morning promptly at 11 am. Contact Pastor Brian

or Miss Beverly for forms and details.

Looking forward to the best summer ever!

Blessings, Pastor Brian

MENS CAMPING AND FLOAT TRIP

SUMMER EVENTS FOR CHILDREN

Days after being

commissioned as a U.S

Marine Second Lieuten-

ant, a mentor advised

him to pay attention to

every leader with whom

he served, learning from

both the bad ones and

the good ones. After see-

ing the impact of incredi-

bly positive leadership

from the Commandant

of the Marine Corps on

down the chain of com-

mand after the December 1997 accident, he began

to intently study leadership by observing over 300

leaders from the U.S. and 21 other countries dur-ing his service in the Marine Corps.

Along my leadership journey, he wrestled with

the realization that he didnt know who I was and that I was bound up in figurative prisons: being a worka-

holic, defining myself by what he did, and by seeking

affirmation from others. In turn, he now has rock-

solid answers to the questions: Who are you? and What are you doing here? and Whose applause are you seeking? We look forward to welcoming Danny White as

our special speaker during a combined patriotic ser-

vice on June 28 at 10 am.

On June 28, we will have a very special combined service at 10 am. The choir has been working on a

presentation entitled I Love This Land. I Love This Land reminds singers and listeners alike to take the time to remember what a privilege it is to live in this "sweet land of liberty." It features familiar songs like

"Battle Hymn of the Republic," "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," the "Armed Forces medley," and more.

Along with the choral presentation, Danny White of Lead with Liberty will be speaking. Danny is a re-

tired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel with over 21 years of service.

We would like to recognize each person who has or is serving in any branch of the armed service. We

would love to see you in uniform for the service, and we will be displaying photo-

graphs in the foyer. If you have photos to share, please drop them by the church

office or email them to [email protected].

ANNUAL CELEBRATE AMERICA SERVICE

father. Lead with Libertys mission is Proclaim liber-ty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants

thereof ~ Lev XXV X (inscription on the Liberty Bell). Along his leadership journey, he has experienced true

liberty as a leader and has a passion to encourage

others to seek and experience the same freedom in

their own lives.

The core of Lead with Liberty is my story and the events of December 14, 1997. That

day I witnessed the deaths of my pregnant

wife Jenny and five-year old son Danny in a

single-vehicle accident during a military

move. In the aftermath, I saw firsthand the

difference that positive leadership made for

me as an instant single parent to a three-

year old daughter and nine-month old son.

(White continued from page 1)

Can your children answer these questions? Can

you answer these questions? Through Junior Bible

Quiz (JBQ) your children can! The goal of Junior Bible

Quiz is not simply to memorize facts, but to plant the

Word of God deep in the heart of children, helping

them grow close to God. Elementary-age children, es-

pecially in grades three through six, are in the golden age of memorization. Children who learn poems, Bi-ble verses, and stories at this age can usually quote

them for a lifetime. Helping children hide Gods Word in their hearts will not only help them know right from

wrong now, it will also guide their decisions in years

to come. Our hope through JBQ is to plant a deep love

for God and His Word.

Beginning this September we will hold JBQ prac-

tices Sunday mornings during first service. JBQ will be

open to any student who is attending Kindergarten-

6th grade as of September 1. We will participate at

four regional meets throughout the school year

(tentatively in Springfield & Lebanon) and end with a

district meet in Springfield in March.

Quizzing books are available for $11, and, if in-

filled with the Holy Spirit at age 12. Heather is currently active in the church serving as a teacher in Sunday school and Missionettes. In her spare time, Heather en-joys playing with her son, spending time with her family, singing in the choir and crafting. And then there is Mr. Ryker William, the star of the show. Sylvester and Heather were ecstatic to find out they were expecting in January, 2013, and gave birth to their beautiful baby boy on August 23, 2013. Ryker en-joys music and dancing, being outdoors and chasing birds and rabbits around the yard. Rykers favorite ani-mal is dogthe bigger the better. Ryker is your typical little boyfull of life and without any fear. Sylvester, Heather and Ryker are blessed and honored to call First Assembly their home. God bless!

Sylvester and Heather Furse

(Furse continued from page 1)

We are pleased to announce this years summer interns! Charles Skyles, Zach Cunningham, Tiela Lau-

er, Courtney Lawson, Joel Merz, and Aleisha Flori will

work through the summer helping with various minis-

tries. Each summer we hire young adults with a call

to ministry in their lives to give them an opportunity

to experience practical ministry while building leader-

ship skills for the future.

In the Christians armor, what is buckled around the waist?

QUOTATION QUESTION. Why can we not trust our own

judgment in choosing the right way to live?

What three things does Paul say make up Gods kingdom?

terested, you are encouraged to get a copy and begin

some family study this summer before we kick off

practice in the fall. If you are interested, or have any

questions, please contact Erin Gibson

([email protected] or 573-647-0840). Answers:

Truth

Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but

in the end it leads to death.

SUMMER INTERNS

JBQ: PLANTING GODS WORD IN CHILDRENS HEARTS

Pastor Chuck and Annettes 25th anniversary of ministry at First Assembly

12,700 congregations in the United States with over 3 million

members and adherents.

The U.S. Assemblies of God is part of a larger World As-

semblies of God Fellowship with a membership of over 66 mil-

lion. Prior to his present position, Wood served the church as

its general secretary for 14 years. He was assistant superinten-

dent of the Southern California District from 1988-93. Wood

pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, CA, for

17 years. He was elected to serve as chairman of the World

Assemblies of God Fellowship at its meeting in Lisbon, Portu-

gal, in May of 2008.

The son of missionary parents to China and Tibet, Wood

holds a doctoral degree in pastoral theology from Fuller Theo-

logical Seminary in Pasadena, CA, and a juris doctorate from

Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, CA. He did

his undergraduate work at Evangel University (College) in

Springfield, MO, and served the college in several capacities,

including being director of spiritual life and student life from

1965-71. He was ordained by the Southern Missouri District in

1967.

Dr. Wood is author of a number of books including:

Roadtrip Leadership, Living in the Spirit, A Psalm In Your Heart, Living Fully, The Successful Life, and a college text on the book

(Wood continued from page 1) of Acts. Sermons by Dr. Wood may be heard at

www.georgeowood.com.

PA

ST

OR

S &

ST

AF

F

Sam Parker After School Ministries &

Missions Director [email protected]

Karen Turner Administrative Assistant

[email protected]

Mark Berry Facility Manager

Pansy Bingham Business Administrator

[email protected]

Abby Swearingen Media Assistant

[email protected]

Chuck Whitmire Lead Pastor

[email protected]

Ray Cook Associate Pastor

[email protected]

Brian Feller Childrens Pastor

[email protected]

Jason Gibson Youth Pastor

[email protected]

1608 N Oak St Rolla MO 65401-2342

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #116 ROLLA, MO

SYLVESTER AND HEATHER FURSE Spotlight family

CELEBRATE AMERICA Patriotic musical and special events

WHAT WILL WE DO IN HEAVEN? Worldview FAQs

SUMMER EVENTS For kids & youth

The Connection

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