NON-PROFIT

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

1608 N Oak St Rolla MO 65401-2342 573-364-1266 www.rolla-firstassembly.org office@rolla-firstassembly.org JANUARY 2012

Chuck Whitmire
Lead Pastor
pastor_chuck@rolla-firstassembly.org

Spotlight on . . .

MAKING EVERY CHRISTIAN A MISSIONARY

Mike and Jennifer Spurgeon

I graduated from the University of Missouri Rolla in 2003 with a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. I work at Tacony Manufacturing in St. James as an Engineer where I have been employed since 2002. In 2009, after many years of prayerful consideration by Jennifer and myself, I decided to join the Missouri Army National Guard. After completing Basic Training and 18 months of Officer Candidate School I received my Commission as a Second Lieutenant and was assigned to B Company of the 311th Brigade Support Battalion as a Platoon Leader.
Spurgeon continued on page 5

Ray Cook
Associate Pastor
fireguy@rollafirstassembly.org

Dalton Avery
Youth Pastor
pastordalton@rollafirstassembly.org

~ Weekly Schedule ~
Sunday Morning Worship Contemporary - 9:15 am Traditional - 10:45 am Christian Development 9:15 & 10:45 Sunday Evening Service - 6:00 pm Caf College Group at Open House Wednesday Evening - 7:00 pm Prayer Service Royal Rangers Girls Ministries The Forge Youth church Prayer Meetings Sunday 9:00-9:15 am MondayFriday 7:00-8:30 am Tuesday 12:00-1:00 Second Fridays Monthly 8pm-3am Saturday 6:00 pm Bible Studies Men's: Tuesdays 6:30 am Ladies: Thursdays 9:30 am
Youth Girls: Thursdays 7 am at Panera

Brian Feller
Childrens Pastor
pastorbrian@rollafirstassembly.org

Sam Parker
KCA/TSC Director
kcatsc@rollafirstassembly.org

Additional Staff
Cora Parsons
Office Manager office@rolla-firstassembly.org

I would like to start off by saying Hello to all of our Church Family. Though we have been able to meet and share part of our lives with several of you over the years, it is a blessing to have this opportunity to share a little about our family with those we may not have otherwise. My name is Mike Spurgeon and I am thirty years old. I am most happily married to my wonderful wife of nine years Jennifer. Together, we have been blessed with two beautiful children; our daughter Jacey who just turned seven, and our son Jaxen who is almost four. We were both born, raised, and continue to live in the St. James/Rolla area.

Mark Berry
Custodian

Inside:

~ Office Hours ~
Monday-Friday 8-12 and 1-5 Office closed January 2

Pansy Bingham
Business Administrator pansy@rolla-firstassembly.org

Abby Swearingen
Media Assistant media@rolla-firstassembly.org

Nursery provided for

Berean classes China Vision Trip Prayer Watch Living Christmas Tree photos

This month:

Coming Up:

Pinewood Derby Annual Business meeting KidCare fundraiser

Newcomers Luncheon Valentines Banquet

Are you making any New Years Resolutions for 2012? Why not invest in a resolution that will benefit you for eternity? Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Matthew 24:35 Take advantage of the opportunity to make the Word of God a richer part of your life by taking either the Berean class on The Book of Acts or the Christian Service Series class on Spiritual Gifts, both beginning Sunday, January 15 at 6pm. Did you know that the Holy Spirit is referred to over 50 times in the book of Acts? Did you know that the ministry of laypeople is referred to over 30 times? The Holy Spirit was given to empower us for witness and service. Are you curious about spiritual gifts? Are you looking for your place to function and

a greater understanding of how God has gifted you for service? As Pentecostal believers, it is important that you have an understanding of the book of Acts and an understanding of spiritual gifts. God has a special job for you to do in the Body of Christ. Why not take this opportunity to grow in understanding of His Word and His specific purpose for your life? There will be copies of the textbooks for both classes and information about cost, etc. in the foyer at church. Please register by January 8. At the first meeting, both classes will discuss alternate meeting times to accommodate the schedules of the class members. See you there. -Beverly Flori

Sunday January 1 2

January 2011
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday 3 4 Rangers, Girls Ministries, The Forge Youth Church 10 11 5 6 All Nations Christian Fellowship 12 Board meeting 6:00 am Rangers, Girls Ministries, The Forge Youth Church 13 9

Saturday 7 On call this weekend: Pastor Chuck 341-8086

Happy New Year!

Church office Missions Sunday closed Combined service 10:00 No evening service 8 Communion

14 On call this weekend: Pastor Ray 578-7609

Soup and Sandwich Luncheon

Sunday January 22nd 12-2 PM
Money raised goes directly to support KidCare America. Cost: $5 for adults, $3 for kids 5-12.
Contact the office if you would be interested in helping prepare a soup for the fundraiser.

All Nations Christian Fellowship 19 Mens Breakfast

All Night Prayer 8pm-3am 20 21 On call this weekend: Pastor Dalton 202-4208

15 Building Fund Sunday Home fellowship groups 6:00

16

17

18 Family Feast 5:30 Rangers, Girls Ministries, and The Forge Youth Church

All Nations Christian Fellowship 26 27

Royal Rangers sleep over 28 On call this weekend: Pastor Brian 426-6235 Pinewood Derby 1:00 pm

Prizes will be awarded for the Top Chef, as judged by our world-class taste-testers! Hope to see you there!

22 23 KidCare America Fundraiser soup & sandwich luncheon 12-2

24

25

Rangers, Girls Ministries, and The Forge Youth Church 29 30 31

..please plan to attend..

Annual business meeting 6:00

Calendar updates at www.rolla-firstassembly.org/aboutus/calendar

As we have come into the new year, we are starting a new lesson series in Childrens Church entitled Ten Hut! In the Lords Army. The kids will explore things like the courage we get from God, how God makes a way for us to do the things He asks us to do, to the power of God in us and the help God provides us on a daily basis. So enlist now for the New Year and join us in discovering what it means to be in the Lords Army. Kids BLAST is for children ages 5 through fourth grade. It meets upstairs during the second service. A snack is served at 10:30. Blessings, Pastor Brian

Weekly Schedule
8th-12th Grade ServiceWednesdays @ 7pm Room 300 JH/HS Sunday SchoolSundays 10:45 am Room 301-302 Fine Arts (7th-12th) Sundays @ 5pm Room 300 The Cafe College Coffee House Sundays 6pm (1603 Olive)

Gentlemen, start your engines! Come join us on Saturday, January 28th in the Roberts Family Life Center for our annual Pinewood Derby. We will start the races at 1pm. Popcorn and other snacks will be available for purchase if you would like. And if you would like to participate in our Open To Everyone category, please contact Bill Gentry or Pastor Brian if you need to purchase a kit to build your car! See you at the races!!!

If you have had appreciated stock, held for more than one year, you can benefit with a significant tax advantage by giving it to a charity, such as a church, college, or qualified organization. The donor is able to take the full fair market value of the stock gift, as a charitable deduction on their income taxes, and neither the donor or the recipient has to pay the long term capital gains tax. Your tax benefits are increased and the organization will be pleased to receive the stock. Always be sure you check the contribution first with your tax professional.

God is raising up a generation of young Christian leaders in Rolla First Assembly! Full of the Holy Spirit, passionate in worship and fearless in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ! In our Wednesday night youth services we are intentionally developing leaders and cultivating Christ-like leadership character in the young people of our churchwe spend time in prayer, worship, discipleship, and biblical preaching . If your students grades 8-12 are interested in knowing Christ, in leadership, servanthood, and deeper discipleship; be sure to plug them into The Forge on Wednesday nights at 7 and Sunday School on Sunday morning at 10:45 in rooms 301 & 302. If you have any questions contact Pastor Dalton by phone 202-4208 or by email pastordalton@rollafirstassembly.org

For more information please visit our website: www.theforgeyouthchurch.org

But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV) 3:1313

Heavenly Father, as we begin a new year help us to remain focused upon You and Your goals.

www.facebook.com/rolla.firstassembly

Looking ahead into the year 2012 there is great anticipation all around. It is an election year and that alone gives us much reason to be knocking on Heavens door. But there is that which comes in an even more personal way to the family of First Assembly. It is a year where we will be fasting and praying together every Wednesday for our children. It is a new and exciting year for missions and outreach from Missouri to China and for so many of the nations that that God has brought to Rolla. I believe it is a year of hope and anticipation in great things that the Lord will do in and through us. Prayer Watch/All Night Prayer is moving into place to prepare for the coming year though fasting and fervent prayer. The theme for the year will be Prepare the Way and as we watch in prayer and wait on the Lord we will be seeking His heart for our community, for our nation and for the many nations that God has sent to Rolla. We will watch and pray

for the presence of the Lord to be powerful and for the empowering of the Holy Spirit to pour out so that we can be prepared for a year of great things in the Lord. As the New Year approaches would you consider being a watchman who waits in prayer for the coming king, who is ready to sound the battle cry and stand on the front lines of 2012? Prayer watch is the second Friday of every month and meets in the sanctuary from 8 pm 3 am. You can come to pray all night or you can come for one hour. Trust in Gods faithfulness and what he will do. When we pray the very gates of hell are shaken. The greatest fear of our enemy is the man and woman of God who battles in prayer, because prayer takes us to the very throne of God. Lets move forward into 2012 with an audacious faith that takes God at His word. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. -Carol Hudler

Do you have a heart for serving children and a tolerance for different cultures? You may be interested in an upcoming Vision Trip to China March 23 through April 1. Mission team members will be visiting foster homes that minister to medically and developmentally challenged infants and children. We will focus on learning how the foster homes operate in order to discover their needs and ways we can help. There is still at least one opening available. We will be visiting Hope Foster Home in Beijing, China (hopefosterhome.com) and Hidden Treasures in Fuzhou. Hidden Treasures is home to

the ministry of Loaves and Fishes International (loavesandfishesintl.com). If you are unable to go, please consider contributing to the cost of the trip, or making a donation for the foster homes. For more information, please contact Elaine Harrison at 465-3222 or elainehrrsn@gmail.com. -Elaine Harrison

Spurgeon continued from page 1

Jennifer graduated from Rolla High School in 2001 and then completed the LPN program at RTC. She then began working in the Surgery Department at PCRMC. She is still employed at the hospital working part time in the Medical Office Building. She is currently enrolled in the LPN to RN Bridge program at Texas County Technical Center where she will graduate this spring. Jacey is now in first grade and loves going to school. She is very outgoing, and has a loving personality. She loves reading books, writing, and playing any kind of sport. She is very intelligent and asks lots of questions because she always wants to learn new things. She also got to go hunting with me this fall and she loved finally getting to go too; I must say I enjoyed it as well. Jaxen started preschool this year. He had a little bit of a rough start staying by himself, but now he loves getting to go see his new friends and learning new things. He is also always eager to share the bible songs he learned with us. His favorite song is Trust in the Lord with all your heart, with all your heart please do, God loves you, and you. It is truly adorable. He loves playing with his cars, monster trucks, tractors, and playing outside. As a family, we enjoy spending time together at home reading, playing games, and spending as

much time outside as possible. We also enjoy camping and usually make several weekend outings a year to Branson and Bennett Springs to enjoy the beauty of nature that God created for us. We have been attending First Assembly together for nearly 11 years along with my wifes parents, Richard and Brenda Vogeler. Aside from attending, we volunteer in the church nursery, Jennifer has helped teach Rainbows on Wednesday nights, and I show up for Car Care as often as possible. We love it here and wish everyone a Blessed New Year. -Mike Spurgeon

Chefs Dale & Sharon Edwards and Leon & Linda Conway Will serve pork loin, baked beans, and coleslaw adults $3, children $1

January 18 5:30-6:30

In the Roberts Family Life Center

Everyone welcome!
Students and first time visitors free!