I was born in Lamar, and grew up in and around Carthage until I was eleven.

My parents raised my sisters and me in church. My Mom grew up a Lutheran and my Dad didn’t go to church much as a kid.

We began attending FCC, when I was [...]]]> My Name is Brandon Stuckey.

I was born in Lamar, and grew up in and around Carthage until I was eleven.

My parents raised my sisters and me in church. My Mom grew up a Lutheran and my Dad didn’t go to church much as a kid.

We began attending FCC, when I was just barely in Preschool, and my family still attends during Maple Leaf weekend.

Growing up in the church I had many people who invested in my life by teaching Sunday school lessons that I’ve still not forgotten. People like Shirley Jones, the Renkens, Lowell Catron; each imparted wisdom and faith.

I was baptized during a week of VBS, inside “Granny Gump’s House.” On Aug. 9^th 1999, which became in some ways a first step in a bigger journey. I was baptized, because I understood what it meant; not necessarily what was implied by my surrendering my life to Christ. So in truth I was saved, but my heart wasn’t all into it.

Then on December 26^th 2000, God toppled the dominoes, for which I now can say Praise God. My Dad who was (and still is) a truck driver, was involved in a collision with the seventeen-year-old who veered into his lane that wintery day.

My dad had only ever had one dream to drive a truck, and so after that moment, not only was it the guilt of the young lady who was killed – as my parents were active youth group leaders- it was the end of a dream. It was then that my Dad got God’s dream. My Mom one night was listening to a Focus on the Family radio broadcast which featured a ministry called Transport for Christ. To sum, my family packed up and moved away to Omaha, Nebraska where I had just begun sixth grade.

With a new School, new Church, and a new world, full of great possibilities about which I wasn’t thrilled. I was upset for selfish reasons, I focused too much on what I had lost, I wanted what was past so much that I was endanger of sabotaging my future. I had at least the vague notion of running back to Missouri. Cutting overland and then staying there. Quickly, one night after church, God changed this rebellious and embittered Brandon, into something new.

My mom’s advice/ultimatum was, “Things can be good here, or they can be bad, it’s up to you.”

So I decided to make good things happen, and fortunately God allowed them to.

The Church we attended had a strong and active Jr. High and High School Groups, which created a lot of growth and the first mission trips I’ve ever gone on. Pretty soon, I’d gone from Middle School to High School. My first year was good, I was involved with Drama and Speech, and I was still a regular attendee and active participant in church, I even got my braces off. Yet, this growth and effectiveness, was met with spiritual resistance and temptations which all together I wasn’t as strong as I should have been in resisting them, and later in High-School I paid for it.

Before that summer (2006) my Dad, finished his training and we began to look as to our next place of service. We were between Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and East Saint Louis, Illinois. What led my parents to E. St. Louis was the fact that the chapel was only open on Sundays.

This time I was much more excited to move and definitely willing to see what God had in store. It was then that I met my next spiritual mentor. One night at the chapel, a furniture mover came in and when my Dad and the Lead Chaplain in Omaha were talking, he offered to move us free of charge. That’s how I met Fabian Shepherd. While moving some boxes, he saw that I had written: “Cuidado” (Spanish for Caution) he was from Panama and knew Spanish, he also saw that I was a good worker and offered to take me on for a summer helping him. I spent two weeks that summer with him, delivering furniture.

When I finally came back home, in Belleville IL, I attended for the first time the church my family attends and then the very next day, I started my sophomore year of high school at a new School. I quickly got involved in FCA, seeing it as a bible-study and of course as group of Christians with whom I could connect. By the end of that first year, two things started up. I was now in Leadership of FCA, and I was working the whole summer with Fabian to earn money for a trip to France.

That summer with Fabian was long and hard, long miles and long days, hard work and hard conversations. He lovingly corrected my many faults, and really gave me the encouragement to work hard and to continue with my faith. He taught me practical things, like “never enter a church without leaving your sacrifice upon the altar.” Not only about faith, but lessons about life, lessons that still can come whispering back into my ears. The mid-point of that summer I went to CIY with my youth group, to Lee University, in Cleveland, Tennessee. Where again I felt God’s call into the ministry; this having been my third CIY summer conference, I was at each of them (in fact each of the Five I ultimately attended) capped off with the call to ministry. This time it burned so brightly, it echoed so deeply, that something deep was changed. Later as the summer closed down, I met three different individuals at the Dulles International Airport and prayed for and talked with about God. One was a Cab-driver from Latin America, one was a business man from Africa, and one was a student from China.

I began the new school year with enthusiasm and I was the Junior Officer, set in line to be President of FCA, my senior year. It was however my sins, that kept my ministry ineffectual. I lost a lot of great chances for friendships and it always seemed that the group starting with great numbers would dwindle down by the end of each semester. Senior year, I was president,and with two other capable officers, we led FCA. Yet again our numbers waned. Even the Wednesday morning Bible study I would lead, often times had only me. I knew there had to be change but I was so crippled by sin, I couldn’t shake it off. I graduated and set about plugging into the church. My school plans for the fall fell through, and I was compelled to stay at home for two years, going to community college and working.

During this time, I hadn’t decided what I was going to do, but the one thing that I simply couldn’t forget, simply couldn’t shake away. I was called to ministry. So I set about asking Pastor Ian, about where I should go. He said, “For preaching, Ozark.” So I looked into and with my Dad we made a campus visit and that was it. I had found my place.

Now as I’m finishing my first year. I have found it hard to reconnect in some ways to the country in which I was born. It has not been so difficult reconnecting to the church or to this youth group. I am so thankful and blessed that I have this opportunity, to serve and though I am far from perfect, I continue to pursue the calling God has placed upon my life and I hope that you will allow me the opportunity to help you find your place in the story into eternity.

Pick up the Bible for relational purposes—not functional ones—so that you will love God and not just know [...]]]> There was a post I read from a preacher I like to listen to.  His post was 7 tips to help study the bible.  Two of them really stuck out to me.  I’ll share them with you.

Pick up the Bible for relational purposes—not functional ones—so that you will love God and not just know or use him.
Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’“

Don’t think you need more knowledge. Often you need more obedience to the knowledge you already have.
James 1:22: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

When you study the scriptures what kind of filter do you bring?  How do you come to the bible?  Too often I approach it pridefully.  I want it functionality, and the knowledge… then lets move on.  Take time to sit and let it penetrate your heart, mind, and soul.

to read the full article click here.

I am from a mixed family with my parents divorcing when I was around 2. My mom [...]]]> I was born in Lebanon, Indiana and lived around there until I was 8. At this point, my parents decided they wanted to pick up and move. We moved from rural Indiana to rural Missouri in 1995.

I am from a mixed family with my parents divorcing when I was around 2. My mom remarried to who I consider my dad when I was 4. I have one older brother and an older half-brother. We moved a lot when I was young, which caused me to deal with being new at a lot of schools. That made it hard when I was young since new kids are generally considered outsiders at school. About the time I would start fitting in, we would move for a better job or nicer home, often changing school districts. With this moving, we rarely went to church. There were a few occasions where we would go for a while, but eventually that would phase out. During these periods of church attendance, I learned who God and Jesus were, but not their entire scope. I believed in God, but grew to think that I didn’t need church or to be baptized, but that it was only between God and me. Due to the lack of support from a church body, I really struggled in my walk and failed more time than I can count. Ecclesiastes 4:9 NLT “Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.” Eventually, I stopped trying all together. Except for the plead for help when things were going bad, I lived and acted as if there were no God, no Jesus, no Faith. I made it through high school with little to no growth or steps in my faith. It was mostly a backslide. As I entered my college career, my backslide continued through my sophomore year. I was going through life from class to party and no regard for anything I learned when I was younger. Most of my friends were in similar situations and we thought nothing of it. Eventually, one of my friends was convicted and made huge changes in his life. He was my best friend through high school and roommate in college. Thanks to God using him, he invited me to start going to a small group and service with Campus Christians. At first I was extremely hesitant and resistant. Even putting on my “Christian” mask when I needed to and continuing living in sin. Through a lot of patience shown by my friends, God softened my heart and shined His light on my life. It was during these times of growing that I learned what true Faith is, and started living it out. I was born into Christ in January of 2008. This event really is signified to me as a new birth, due to the changes in my life following this.

The next few years passed with myself following closer and learning more about God and Jesus. It was July 4^th, 2009 when my life really started changing. In the middle of my last summer break from college, I was only worried about MMA and Jiu-Jitsu. Between working on a farm, working out, training, and going to church, I thought I had everything I needed, but God had another plan. He introduced me to one of His prized daughters, Seagan. From that day forth, my life completely changed. We started dating after a few days from meeting each other. We spent as much time together as possible. We were engaged 3 months to the day after we started dating. Just shy of another 3 months and we were married. Now I have a disclaimer, while I praise God for my wife and our life together, marrying someone within 6 months of meeting them, possess some real growing pains while being married. Thankfully, through God’s strength and love, and the patience that only the strongest faith can bring from Seagan, I have grown into the man that I am today. I owe everything that I have and that I am to God. It was His love, patience, timing, and guidance that has made me reach today. The gift of His daughters hand in marriage has taught me so much about caring and loving that I used to blow off as being soft. Now I know better.  1 John 3:18 NLT “Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

The biggest thing that I have learned in my Walk through life is the sovereigns of God.  Ezekiel 18:32, “32 I don’t want you to die, says the Sovereign LORD. Turn back and live!” God never abandons any of His flock. He will never abandon you. We can never shape God into what we want, HE shapes us and usually does/is doing it without us completely realizing it. He provides in all situations and His foundation never crumbles. I want each of the students at First Christian to know that God loves them and He has placed leaders that love them. It takes a body to live. Ephesians 4:12 NLT “Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.” I love each of you and pray for all of you.

My story is fairly simple and seems somewhat common, but Jesus sculpted it, and so it is to be shared.   Isaiah 64:8 says, “Yet you, [...]]]> Hi!  I’m Keri Dougless.  I’m a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, but most importantly, daughter of the King.  Yes, I’m a princess, and I smell good.

My story is fairly simple and seems somewhat common, but Jesus sculpted it, and so it is to be shared.   Isaiah 64:8 says, “Yet you, LORD, are our Father.  We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.”

I was raised in a Christian home by my sweet, Godly, mother.  She was a single mom to my 2 brothers and I, and now that I am a mother myself, I can truly say she is an inspiration.  She taught us to love Jesus, to serve His people, to care for others, and to always be kind.  She taught me to cook, clean, and love children.  (Which is now what I do each day in taking care of my family.)

I’ve been a member of FCC all my life, except the 3 ½ years I lived in Utah.  I’ve been loved on and taught well by the many members, young and old.   As I entered Jr. High and High School, the youth group became my “second family”.  We laughed together, cried together, studied God’s word together; ate, sang, served, and even lived together, at times.  Those 6+ years of my life, when my mind was most open and soaking up every little thing I saw and heard, I was blessed to spend with people who loved God and loved me.  My life was shaped and forever changed by my youth minister, Dusty Frizzell, my mentor and a great friend, Amy Frizzell, and the many other Christian leaders and friends.  Because of the positive influences in my life I made some pretty important choices and decisions.  Hebrews 12:1-3  1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  Even though I was in high school, at the time, those choices and decisions have shaped my life as an adult as well.

First, I chose to love Jesus and live like I loved Jesus.  I spent summers going on mission trips.  These trips taught me the importance of serving others and gave me a more realistic perspective of the world than what Carthage, Missouri could give me.  I chose to follow Jesus completely and be baptized in Saltillo, Mexico in 2001; the summer I graduated from High School.   That same summer, I went to Haiti for a 2-week mission trip.  My life was completely turned upside down as I fell in love with God’s people in yet another country.  (I was already in love with His people in Mexico!)  Since then, I’ve fallen in love with the people of Jamaica and Guatemala as well and my love continues to grow and my heart continues to break for the people that are less likely to know Jesus or be introduced to Jesus in so many places around the world.   Matthew 28:18-20  18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Second, I chose to attend Ozark Christian College for the first two years of my college education.  Even though I knew all the Sunday School stories of the Bible, I learned so much in my studies at OCC that I can now apply to my life daily.

Third, I fell in love with and married a man that has taught me more about following Christ than anyone else I’ve known.  Cody and I met the summer before my senior year of High School.  We dated in high school and then through college and got married May 27, 2005.    Cody graduated OCC a year later, and one year after that we moved to Salt Lake City, UT for his first “real” student ministry position.  We spent 3 ½ years in UT, had our first child there, and then moved back to Carthage.  We have been here for almost 2 years now.  Through it all, in the past 6 years, Cody has been my rock, my provider, my best friend, my encourager, and often times, my counselor.  Marriage isn’t always easy, moving away from home is rarely easy, and becoming a parent is probably never easy…but having Cody as my husband, and Jesus as our Savior has made it all worthwhile and purposeful.

Now, I could continue my “story” on in so many different ways.  I could tell you how I struggle daily with wanting to be a “pleaser”.  I could tell you how I lose patience often, and need to ask my 3 yr old for forgiveness.  I could encourage you to drop everything and become a missionary.  I could try to convince you to go to Bible College, or change your career to staying home with your kids.  But I think it’s most important that I just tell you that without Jesus, life is meaningless.   I feel blessed that I’ve known Jesus from an early age.  I know that without Him, my story would be completely different because He’s turned my life upside down.  He’s given me a desire to live purposefully.  He’s given me a purpose in this life.

If you are a student, I would encourage you to keep in mind that the choices you make now, will definitely impact the rest of your life.  Choose Jesus first.  Then let Him define your purpose.

This is the event leading up to [...]]]> On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets.  Luke 5:1-2

This is the event leading up to Jesus choosing his leadership team.  This is a big moment in the ministry of Jesus.  As it should be for any main leader.  Picking the people you will work with is huge.  There was something about verse 1 I haven’t caught before.  I bolded that part in the above section.  “While the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God“.  Luke seems to mention this as a continues problem for Jesus.  Luke doesn’t seem to make this a big deal.  That tells me it’s just something that happens to Jesus as a regular part of his ministy.  If you read the gospels you see that it’s true.  Jesus is always attracting a crowd.  The reason for him attracting the crowd here is very interesting.  The crowd didn’t care about what Jesus could or would do for them, but  instead wanted to hear the word of God.

Let me ask you a question.  When do you go to Jesus?  Is it when you need something?  Is it when he doesn’t come through on something?  Is it when something bad happens?  Is it when you have exhosted all your options?  or is it because you want to hear the words of God?