October 20, 2023
Denise Beck is executive director of Velvet Ashes, a support organization for women in missions. Josh Beck in July took over as executive director of Barnabas International, a group that provides resources and encouragement to missionaries globally. Donna Cole, global partners counselor at College Heights Christian Church, calls the Becks an “amazing servant couple.” . . .
August 30, 2022
The Christian Church of Carl Junction has launched a new campus at the former home of Ozark Christian College, which now is the site of Joplin's Neighborhood Life House, a Christ-centered nonprofit.
— UPDATED WITH TRIBUTE VIDEO INFORMATION — Dwayne Good, 85, who performed in the gospel duet The Good Twins with his identical twin brother, Dwight, for more than 55 years, died on April 10, 2022. The brothers graduated from Lincoln Bible Institute together in 1958, and ministered through music to churches around the world as The Good Twins for more than 55 years. We interviewed The Good Twins for this 2008 feature article.
Briefs about the 10-year anniversary of the deadly Joplin tornado, Passion for Planting, Mid-Atlantic Christian University, Holley Christian Church's 150th anniversary, and more.
August 22, 2018
A fire likely started by lightning destroyed Guthrie (Okla.) Christian Church last week. The blaze started just before midnight on Aug. 14. No one was hurt. “We lost 49 years of books, pictures, sermons, memories and even my college books,” pastor Don Riepe told the Guthrie News Leader. Riepe is an alum of Ozark Christian College. Guthrie Fire Chief Eric Harlow said the building was a “total loss.” The church was still smoldering the next morning—last Wednesday. Later that day, there was a special prayer meeting near the site, with many people offering support. “We want to thank everyone for
June 10, 2018
By Josh Quade After completing her internship interview process, a college student wanted to discuss her options. She’s pursuing both a Bible college and regular university degree for a career in media and graphics arts, ideally in a church’s creative arts department. On the surface, her description of potential internships lined up well with what our church could offer—some elements amazingly so. We had brought her in, introduced her to the team over several get-togethers, conducted personality profiles and orientations, and discussed logistics. All quite helpful and good. But I found the team’s questions for her the most encouraging: What are
March 21, 2016
By Jennifer Johnson For more than 125 years, the house at 516 N. Wall Ave. in Joplin, MO, has reached local residents for Christ””as a private home, as the first campus of Ozark Christian College, and later as the home of North Joplin Christian Church. Today, this historic building continues to facilitate ministry as the Neighborhood Life House, a nonprofit organization that builds relationships with community members and shares the love of Jesus through a variety of programs for children and families. “A group of us at College Heights Christian Church had been working with a ministry to an apartment
April 24, 2014
By Paul Boatman Shortly after 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 17, 2013, an EF-4 tornado, with winds nearing 200 mph, cut a devastating quarter-mile wide swath through Washington, Illinois. Jeff Browning, lead pastor, and Jon Pittman, worship/youth minister, were leading services at Washington Christian Church as the storm roared through the city, narrowly missing the church building. This interview took place two weeks later. Tell about your experience. Jeff Browning: When we heard tornado sirens after Sunday school, we got people into tornado shelter areas, but when an ominous dark cloud blew past and the sky appeared to be
August 9, 2013
Why do some married couples grow deeper in love, while others experience more pain with each passing season of life? What can we do to keep a new love young until we”re old? By Randy Gariss As the old couple held hands and slowly rose to their feet, so did the audience. The congregation”s ovation was sweet and deafening. We were recognizing a couple in our congregation for their 71 years of marriage. And everyone could see not only that John and Phyllis”s love survived the tests of time, but they had the marriage all young couples long for. There is something winsome
December 6, 2012
On Nov. 19, College Heights Christian Church (Joplin, MO) hosted the premiere of Steadfast, a full-length documentary about the May 2011 Joplin tornado and the response of local churches. Gregory Fish, an Ozark Christian College graduate, directed the film, and 50 percent of the profits go to rebuilding efforts in Joplin. Watch the trailer and learn more at www.steadfastdocumentary.com.
July 13, 2012
By Karen Wingate On May 22, 2011, an EF-5 tornado bulldozed through the south side of Joplin, Missouri, demolishing a regional hospital, nine schools (including the high school and adjoining tech school), several large stores, churches, businesses, and more than 8,000 homes. Hundreds were injured, and 163 died. In the ensuing months, relief came from across the country. This is the story of just one of those efforts, as churches in 21 small western Illinois communities helped a young widow rebuild her home. As they worked, they saw God rebuild relationships and restore faith. After the violent storm subsided, Stephanie
By Mark A. Taylor Maybe the best line in the panel interview article posted this week comes close to the end of it. Luke Erickson, from Mountain Christian Church, in Joppa, Maryland, shared the question the church asks anyone interested in community service projects or mission trips overseas: “How are you engaged in your own neighborhood?” It”s a question born of genius. It prods the would-be servant to get out of himself and into the church”s mission. For example, I may feel good about “sacrificing” a couple hours to work in a food pantry; I may think I”ve given a
September 30, 2011
By Chris DeWelt “My food . . . “ It was quite tasty. A large whole lamb fixed in a traditional Albanian way””stuffed with rice. Really good rice. It even had some almonds and bits of liver mixed in. The college students all looked my way with some degree of uncertainty. Maybe it was because the whole lamb was present (minus the wool and hide). Fish with the head attached is one thing, but this definitely was stretching the comfort zone, and here in Durres, Albania, we had already been stretched quite a bit. Perhaps I was a bit
September 28, 2011
Joe Klein, Time magazine”s political columnist, devoted Sunday”s column to reflections on a day worshipping and serving with College Heights Christian Church (Joplin, MO). He writes, “The message was simple, powerful . . . but not nearly as powerful as the sight of people of all ages, wearing white t-shirts, gathering up into work teams and spreading out around town to help people who were still suffering from the ravages of the tornado and others who were just suffering because they were poor or infirm or elderly.” The piece, part of the “Joe Klein”s Road Trip” series, is affirming of
By Victor Knowles It was a searing scene straight from of the book of Revelation. Thunder crashing, lightning flashing, wind howling in excess of 200 mph, hail hammering everything in its path like a merciless Hun invasion, and “ball lightning”—big balls of red fire bouncing across the ground like bizarre basketballs from Hell. “It was like a nuclear bomb was dropped,” exclaimed a stunned Errol Bolt, who has survived several hurricanes in his native Jamaica. And when the EF-5 tornado had spent its fury, one-third of the city of Joplin, Missouri, lay in ruins. The Weather Channel’s Al Roker initially
Dave Pelzer, author of A Child Called “It”: One Child”s Courage to Survive, has been spending time in Joplin, MO, working with foster families and helping with recovery work. According to an article in the Examiner of Independence, MO, Pelzer has been volunteering at College Heights Christian Church and offering his counseling services. Pelzer complimented College Heights for the “military precision” of its donation center. “People check in at one end, and within an hour, they leave at the other, loaded with nonperishable food, medical and hygiene supplies, baby needs and more,” the article says. “Sometimes the turnaround time is
News this week focuses on the many churches, parachurch ministries, and families affected by the tornado that struck Joplin, MO, on Sunday. Victor Knowles, president of Joplin-based Peace on Earth Ministries, shares the good news that all 37 Christian church/church of Christ parachurch organizations in Joplin came through the storm without significant damage to their buildings. However, a number of staff from these ministries did lose their homes. And one of the many people killed in the storms was Natalia Puebla, a freshman at Ozark Christian College from Carthage, MO. Doug Welch, a professor at OCC, shared yesterday, “I still had a stack
  by Randy Gariss Preacher, You”ve Got Friends This article is adapted from a chapter that appeared originally in Preacher, You”ve Got Friends, compiled by Murray Hollis. This collection of life and ministry stories and advice is written by 25 Christian leaders, all of them with considerable ministry experience. The book is available for $15 plus $3 shipping at www.christianfriendsconnexion.com. Or write Christian Friends Connexion, 1111 Windsor, Joplin, MO 64801.  In 27 years at the same ministry, there have been multiple opportunities and reasons to leave. Sometimes the temptation to resign and start fresh somewhere else involved joy and
September 21, 2008
By Randy Gariss “So how was the North American?” On the surface, that question seems rather innocuous, but somehow over time that simple inquiry has come to prompt a surprisingly complex and emotional set of responses. When it comes to evaluating a North American Christian Convention, you will hear every answer possible: “It was great!” “It was lacking,” “It was very helpful,” or a frustrated, “I can”t figure out where the NACC is headed!” How can there be such diverse reactions to the same experience? It is probably because our personal expectations for the convention are also extremely varied, and
April 27, 2008
By Sheree Shih I grew up in Taiwan, thousands of miles from where I am now . . . both geographically and spiritually. After finishing college in Taiwan, I was accepted as a graduate student at the same school. As I was checking out the school Web site, I noticed an exchange student program with Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas, U.S.A. I convinced my parents to let me take advantage of this golden opportunity by telling them it would be the most economical way of studying overseas. ACQUAINTED WITH CHRISTIANS The application process went well, and I came to
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