I came to the US in August

of 2010 as a transfer student

with the Department of Mining
Engineering at Missouri S&T.
When I first got here, it was a
challenge finding a church
since I did not know anyone,
but I needed to find a living and
supportive church family that
would help me grow in the Lord.
It seemed too hard to find a
place I could call home, but after several months

Growing
up in a small
town is just one
of those things
that, if given
that chance,
one cannot deny
as a blessing. Sometimes it may be considered as one in disguise, but one none the
less. Its to growing up in the small town of
Warsaw, MO, that I credit much of the man I
am today. It was in that small town of 2,000
on Truman Lake that I learned the things
most dear to my heart, including my passion
for God and community. Growing up, I always succeeded in school, and was always
that kind of kid that nobody had any beef
with and a surrounding of friends who would
give anything just to see the other happy.
My family, although slightly dysfunctional at
times, always had the best motives at heart,
and were as supporting as can possibly be.

of searching,
a
friend of a
friend invited me to
First
Assembly of
God one Sunday morning. That
was the beginning of the greatest spiritual journey in my life. I
met a church community that
loves and shares its own fami(Brendarh continued on page 4)

These were blessings that I never truly realized until my high school years. I came to
know Christ as my personal savior during
July following my seventh grade year at a
youth rally at the Ozark Tabernacle church,
(Starks continued on page 5)

ALL NATIONS
CHRISTIAN
FELLOWSHIP
All Nations Christian
Fellowship (ANCF) is a
campus Christian organization that seeks to serve
the student community
at Missouri University of
Science and Technology.
It is a ministry of presence for students of
many nations. Students
from all continents have
come together to provide
a place to call home, and
a place to find together(ANCF continued on page 2)

SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS WEEK COMING THIS MONTH

We are looking forward to welcoming Robert Martin to First Assembly for Spiritual Emphasis Week, with nightly services August 16-19.
Evangelist Robert Martin is a 6th generation
Pentecostal. He was profoundly influenced by
this unique heritage, especially through his childhood pastor and grandfather, Rev. Walter C. Caraway. These ingredients were the catalysts of
Robert experiencing Gods grace and answering
the call to preach at the age of fourteen.
Transitioning from a small town of less than
300 to a public school in Orlando of several thousand, he was introduced to a whole new culture
of ministry. In 1998 he became a member at
Faith Assembly and began to serve under Pastor
Johnnie Wilson in a cutting-edge youth ministry
that now sees an attendance of over 1,500 students weekly.
This synthesis of fervent Pentecostalism
and innovative evangelism has shaped the DNA
(ANCF continued from page 1)

ness. We join hands with

the nations to worship
Jesus, to encourage one
another in our faith, and
to share the hope we
have been given with others on campus.
The vision of ANCF
is to take hold of the opportunity to reach out to
the nations and share
the Word of God with
them. Our activities are geared toward fellowship,
discipleship and evangelism. Prayer and Bible
study are key elements of the weekly meetings.
The fellowship is open for everyone who

of Roberts life and pulpit ministry.

Since graduating Bible college in 2006, his
preaching ministry has
taken him throughout the
United States as well as
24 countries around the
world sharing the full gospel message of Christ as
Savior, Healer, Spirit Baptizer, and soon-coming
King!
His singular passion
is to see a fresh awakening of Pentecost in this
generation.
When Robert is
home, he continues to serve his on the leadership
team of Mainstream Youth Ministry and by teaching and preaching throughout the various ministries of Faith Assembly.
would like to be a part of a growing ministry that reaches across
many nations in a single night of
worship and fellowship. ANCF is
currently ministering to every continent in the furtherance of the
Gospel of Jesus. The meetings are
every Thursday at Havener Center
in the Meramec/Gasconade room,
from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm. We
come together to worship, to pray
and to share Gods word.
Every third Thursday of each
month we meet in the home of our host family to
have what we call Love Feast. We bring in food
from our own tradition to share, and enjoy a sharing of traditions, songs, dances, writings and
more. We usually do this as an open mic event.
The Love Feast is a night of laughter, and song
and great fun. At one Love Feast gathering we
had thirteen nations represented, and we hope
this new semester will bring more.
Whether you are a student looking for fellowship or someone who wants to be a part of a
great ministry, we welcome you, and hope you
will join us.
Carol Hudler

SECTIONAL YOUTH RALLY TO BE HELD AT FIRST ASSEMBLY

Saturday, August 15, First Assembly will host a youth rally for youth groups in the Sullivan section.
The service will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary with special speaker Robert Martin. An after party
and concert will be held in the gym after the youth rally with rapper D Breezy.
I AM A MARRIED FATHER OF TWO FROM METRO EAST ST. LOUIS. I
ATTEND AN AG CHURCH; HOWEVER, MY MUSIC FOCUSES ON THE
HEART CHANGE AND GROWTH MORE THAN DOCTRINE. I HAVE BEEN
WORKING IN RAP MINISTRY SINCE 2013, BUT I HAVE WORKED
YOUTH MINISTRY SINCE 2010. AMONG FAMILY, WORK, AND MUSIC
RESPONSIBILITIES, I AM WORKING TOWARDS A DEGREE IN YOUTH
MINISTRY THROUGH GLOBAL UNIVERSITY. RAP HAS BECOME SUCH A
BEATIFUL FORM OF EXPRESSION TO ME. IT GIVES ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO REACH A POPULATION THAT I MAY NOT OTHERWISE HAVE
BEEN ABLE TO IMPACT, IN A WAY THAT I NEVER THOUGHT POSSIBLE.
GOD HAS GIVEN ME THE CHANCE TO MINISTER TO KIDS WHO ARE
STRUGGLING ALONG PATHS THAT I HAVE ALREADY WALKED. IT IS A
BLESSING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS ABOUT MY WALK
WITH DRUG ABUSE, THEFT, ANGER AND FIGHTING, SEXUAL PROMISCUITY, SUICIDE
AND DEPRESSION, AND LOSING FRIENDS TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. MY STORY AND
MESSAGE IS UNIVERSAL FOR ALL AGES, ETHNICITIES, SEXES, AND RELIGIONS.
BREEZY

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CLASSES FOR STUDENTS

CALC COLLEGE CLASS
High School Senior and College Students join us
for fruitful and nourishing discussion regarding
relevant happenings both around campus and
the outside world. We can help you find your biblical stance on important issues so that you, as a
Christian student, can defend your faith in an often challenging and ever-changing environment.
We are often open to discussion and teaching
topics, so feel free to bring any questions or topics, and find your place in Gods world. Our goal is
to equip and reinforce students faith, while
maintaining a healthy and rich discussion environment. CALC Class is held in room 110, near
the bottom of the office side stairs following first

service.

COLLEGE AND CAREER CLASS

College and Career has joined forces with Carol
Hudlers Making a Ready Defense. As we move
into the new school term, we will be about 1/3 of the
way through our current study. However, anyone can
join the class at any time. The class is a good mix of
young and middle-aged people, creating a lot of good
discussion in the class! College and Career meets at
10:45 in the classroom off the overflow.

BIBLE BASICS: BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION

Why is Job in the middle of the Bible if it
was written at the time of Genesis? Where was
the garden of Eden? Who was Obadiah? We'll
get answers to these questions while building a
foundation of basic Bible knowledge. We'll talk
about the structure of the Bible and types of writing, look at the geography, and construct a timeline of major events.
Join Alhesha Lane on Sundays at 10:45 AM,
starting September 6th in Women's Christian Education class, room 103 or Wednesdays at 6:30,
starting Sept 9th in room 200. No tools necessary.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES F OR SUCCESS

Backpack. Filler Paper. Notebooks. Folders. 3-ring Binders. Pencils. Pens. Crayons.
Scissors. Erasers. Glue. Glue Sticks. Dry Erase
Markers. Graph Paper. Sketch Book. Calculator. Ruler. Pencil Box. Facial Tissues. Storage
Bags. The list goes on and on. Did your Back
to School list look anything like this? It looks a
bit overwhelming, doesnt it? For many struggling families, the thought of purchasing all
the needed supplies can be crushing. Every
student likes to start off the year with new
school supplies. It feels a bit like Christmas!
What can we do to help all students experience the joy of a new school year?
The Benevolence Department is grateful
we have been able to provide backpacks filled
with school supplies to families from our
church and our community the past four
years. Over these years we have filled and distributed nearly 200 backpacks with the number of backpacks shared growing each successive year.
If you would like to help with this ministry, you may bring in any of the needed items
or even pack a backpack yourself. (School
supply lists are available at most retail stores
or
on
schools websites.) Please
drop off supplies
in the designated
box in the foyer on or before
August 5th. If
you would rather not have to

hassle with shopping, you may designate a

gift on your offering envelope and we will do
the shopping for you. If you are in need of a
backpack with school supplies for your child
or children, please complete the form found
in the foyer and return it to the office on or before August 5th. (Please complete one form
per child.) Backpacks will be distributed on
Saturday, August 8th from 8:30-10:30 a.m. in
the Roberts Family Life Center.
If you have any questions or would like to
volunteer for this ministry, please contact
Lyndon and April Bartle at 341-3087.
Thank you so much for your support of
this program!
April Bartle
(Brendarh continued from page 1)

lies with the people they barely know. I felt

like a part of the church family from the very
first day. Most importantly, God gave me peace
and joy. Since joining I have had the opportunity to do mission work with First Assembly;
building a church in Springfield and working at
the teen challenge center in Minden, LA. I have
also been a part of a campus fellowship (All Nations Christian Fellowship), that serves the student community at MS&T. We have weekly
meetings where we do bible studies, praise and
worship, evangelism, and love feast. Being
around other believers gave me the chance to
learn and to grow in my faith, and also the
chance to be a witness to those who do not
know the Lord. 1 Peter 3:15.
Lebogang Brendarh Pharithi

JUNIOR BIBLE QUIZ BENEFITS CHILDREN

We are gearing up for a new season of Junior
Bible Quiz! Practices will begin Sunday, September 6,
during first service. Maybe youve heard about JBQ
and are wondering whether or not your child should
be involved. Here are four good reasons to consider
making the commitment.
Quizzing Teaches Proper Competition. The quiz
material contains information on having proper attitudes toward others, including the Golden Rule. JBQ
has a strong emphasis on teaching children to live
what they are learning. We will focus on good sportsmanship and working cooperatively.
Quizzing Allows Families to Spend Quality Time
Together. Parental support is as essential in JBQ as it
is in competitive sports. Often the whole family learns
the material through family devotions. Learning the
material is a great springboard for spiritual conversations as a family.
Quizzing Teaches Valuable Discipline. The com(Starks continued from page 1)

just outside of Cole Camp, MO. However, my faith soon became

brittle and malnourished as I was beaten down by the world and
temptation. I began to chase down what seemed like an everlasting path of sin, constantly in pursuit of what would make me
happy, and in turn, I threw my heavenly Father to the wayside. I
didnt care what came, I always figured I could handle it myself,
and that I wasnt clean enough to go back to God yet.
It wasnt until my sophomore year of high school that one
of my close friends invited me to the Back to School Bash at the
First Baptist Church of Warsaw. That night, I realized that my
attempts to save myself were futile. I sat there in a room full of
friends, yet I felt all alone. Everything I had done to them, my
twisted motives that overwhelmed my everyday actions came to
the forefront of my mind. I just couldnt take it anymore, and it
was then that I truly laid down my selfish desire and took up my
cross in its place. I became an active member in the youth ministry, and was led to serve the Lord and the community that had
given me so much. I was baptized the summer following my first
(Starks continued on page 6)

mitment needed for quizzing is a valuable form of discipline for children. Many parents of quizzers have
seen marked improvement in their childrens schoolwork, behavior, and relationship with peers.
Quizzing Keeps Gods Word Alive in the Hearts
of Children. The memorization and repetition needed
for quizzing keeps Gods Word fresh in boys and girls
hearts and minds. JBQ helps ground children in the
doctrinal beliefs of the Church.
I hope these four reasons encourage you to consider committing to JBQ. Every family planning to participate, as well as anyone interested in more information, is asked to attend a kick-off
meeting Sunday, August 30. We will
have a luncheon after second service
in the gym. I am looking forward to hiding Gods word in our hearts as we experience a fun and exciting quizzing season!
Erin Gibson

ESTATE AUCTION

There will be an auction of Phil and Carin Allens estate on Saturday, August 29, starting at
10:00 a.m. at their home located at 10891
Breeden Drive in Rolla. Phil and Carin had
many quality items including lots of Phil's
tools. All the proceeds will go towards the establishment of an endowment fund for KidCare
America/Thrive Student Center, the after-school
mentoring program at First Assembly of God Rolla.
Sam Parker

(Starks continued from page 5)

mission trip, and felt truly on fire for God.

A few years later, I drew the attention of recruiters from
around the nation. I was given the opportunity to enlist in the
Navy and become a member of the nuclear engineering program. Of course the opportunity was appealing to me, as they
offered $1.2 million of training, and over $125,000 enlistment
bonuses, in addition to being the best nuclear engineering program in the world by many. I had never considered the possibility of being a nuclear engineer, and was easily taken up by the
offer. Weeks went by, and my enlistment date was quickly approaching and the pressure began to mount. Concerns of my
family, my friends, and community came to the forefront, and I
began to realize that not once had I considered what God wanted for me. I was ready to sign away my life, and yet, I hadnt
even spent a moment in prayer. This revelation stunned me; I
couldnt breathe. I couldnt believe that I had believed to come
so far in God, yet when it came to it, I didnt even ask for what
He had to say. So I did the only thing I could do: I prayed. I
pleaded that God show me the path that He wanted me to take,
and as I did so, my desire to enlist began to subside. It was only
a few weeks later that I was contacted by representatives of the
Missouri University of Science and Technology, as well as Dr.
Dan Hagan, the Chairman of the Board of the Hagan Scholarship Committee.
I began the rigorous processes of gearing myself toward
college. I attended interviews, workshops, and filed what
seems like mountains of the most tedious paperwork imaginable to meet my financial needs. All the while, I continued to
pray, and all the while, God led me further down the path to
college. The defining moment for me came on April 15, 2014.
It was the day that I took my first visit to Rolla. I immediately
fell in love with both the town and the university. I didnt think it
was possible to maintain that small town feeling, yet not have
to drive over an hour to go to a store other than Wal-Mart. For
the first time, I could see another place than Warsaw that I
could call home. However, it wasnt until I got home that day
and checked my mailbox that I knew Gods plan for me. It was
that day that I found out that I could come to S&T, but that I
could do it for free thanks to the gift of a full-ride scholarship
from Dr. Hagan. My heart was filled with joy and thankfulness
for what God had done for me, and I couldnt wait to begin my

journey in Rolla.
My first weeks in Rolla came and went, and I knew it was
time to begin to solidify myself in the community surrounding
me. I received an email regarding a position as a Thrive Mentor
for First Assembly, and decided to apply. I was hired and
placed in charge of the high school boys group. As I was still
church hunting at the time, I decided that it would be a good
idea to try out the church that was signing my checks. What I
was greeted with was a church that radiated the feeling of
home. It was the first church that I had been to since arriving in
Rolla that I could truly feel God move and work in every aspect
of the church body, and it was from that point that I knew that
this where God needed me to be. It wasnt long until I began to
get involved with the youth group as a result of the relationships and friendships I had made with many of the youth
through my service as a Thrive mentor. I soon became a Youth
Adult Leader under Pastor Jason and took to playing bass guitar in the Youth Worship Team. For me though, it was only a
matter of time before I had to return home for the summer. I
wanted to stay here in Rolla with my new friends and continue
my ministry through First Assembly; however, it appeared that
God had other plans. I was asked to step up and take over as
an interim Youth Pastor at my former church, First Baptist of
Warsaw. I began to pray, and I pleaded to God. If I am to go
back to Warsaw and lead, give me the strength and desire, but
Lord, if you want me to stay, give me a sign. I poured my heart
into that prayer, night after night. Then, the same day that I was
to accept the job as a youth pastor, I received my sign. I had
been blessed with employment by the universitys Residential
Life department as a Summer Residential Assistant, which allowed me to reside in Rolla for the summer months and continue to further explore Gods plan for me here. I was overjoyed, I
got to stay here! It was only another few weeks before I was
blessed once more and I was given the opportunity to begin
teaching the CALC College Christian Education Class following
first services on Sundays in addition to my service with the
Youth on Wednesdays.
It wasnt even a year ago that I came to Rolla, and it has
been the will of God and this church, as well as many of the
amazing workers and fellow classmates at the university that I
am now able to call Rolla home. I cant help but to feel a sense
of awe when I take a step back to see all the pieces that God
has worked in my life to be where Im at here today. Its honestly the most rewarding, and yet humbling position I have ever
had the privilege to be in, and I have nothing other than the
grace and divine plan of God to thank for that. In many ways,
Im left speechless when I think about how God has moved in
me, and how far Ive come with Him, and I simply cannot explain the joy I have in Him and what things may await me in the
future as an instrument of His plan. So I will leave you with this:
never give up on God. Just when you think He may be done with
your life, or you are too far gone to receive His grace, He is
working hardest to win your heart, and has a truly intricate and
inspiring plan for your own life.
James Starks

PASTORS & STAFF

Chuck Whitmire
Lead Pastor

pastor_chuck@rolla-firstassembly.org

Karen Turner
Administrative Assistant
office@rolla-firstassembly.org

Ray Cook
Associate Pastor

Mark Berry

fireguy@rolla-firstassembly.org

Facility Manager

Brian Feller
Childrens Pastor

Pansy Bingham

pastorbrian@rolla-firstassembly.org

Business Administrator
pansy@rolla-firstassembly.org

Jason Gibson

Abby Swearingen

pastorjason@rolla-firstassembly.org

Media Assistant
media@rolla-firstassembly.org

Youth Pastor

Sam Parker

After School Ministries &

Missions Director

kcatsc@rolla-firstassembly.org

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

1608 N Oak St
Rolla MO 65401-2342

SUPPLIES FOR SUCCESS

A Back-to-School Program

ALL NATIONS CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP

Love Feast

JUNIOR BIBLE QUIZ

Benefits for Participants

SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS WEEK

With Special Speaker Robert Martin