For the location of the Chaifetz Arena, click here.

Don Browning, college and seminary classmate, even in his career in music ministry is known for his ability to tell funny stories and make us all laugh.  But in this radio conversation he shares the serious and painful drama of his daughter’s becoming a martyr while in Wedgewood Baptist Church in Ft. Worth, TX.  From the church website: Wedgwood Baptist Church is often remembered for the event that occurred on the evening of September 15, 1999. Just before 7:00 pm that evening a crazed gunman entered the building and interrupted a youth activity, a "Saw You at the Pole" prayer rally. He fired over 100 rounds from two different handguns, and exploded a homemade pipe bomb. Seven young persons were killed, and seven others were wounded before the gunman ended his own life.  Syndey Browning was among the seven who died in that nightmare.  (Learn more at www.wedgwoodbc.org, including how to obtain Don Crawford’s book of the story, A Night of Tragedy, A Dawning of Light.) Don also reflects upon the memorial service held in the Texas Christian University football stadium wherein he and others spoke comfort and witness as to the grace of God in the painful trial.  Then Governor George W. Bush of Texas attended and ministered to Don and Diana.  The service was aired by CNN and was seen around the world.  The interview is additionally stirring as we hear Sydney Browning’s recorded voice sing about where she is right now: “O They Tell Me of a Land” and “I’ll Fly Away.” Don and Diana have been asked, “How can you go on after this?”  They answer that “going on” in their ministry and Christian living is their way of affirming the Biblical truth and their solid assurance that Jesus is able to provide comfort and victory through everything that we face in life…and death.  They rejoice in knowing that their beloved Sydney is in Heaven. They rest securely in the Scriptural promise that for the believer in Jesus “…to be absent in the flesh is to be present with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8)

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Hear Bi-vocational Pastor Todd Burpo of Imperial, NE, author of “Heaven is for Real,” the New York Times best seller.  Todd shares some of the amazing heart stories his (at the time) 46-month-old son Colton Burpo brought back of having briefly gone to Heaven, providing details he could not have otherwise known!  Including ebooks, sales of Heaven is for Real now exceed 4,000,000!  National interviews with Matt Lauer of NBC’s Today Show, CNN, and ABC Television with Colton Burpo and his family can be found and seen on Youtube.

From www.heavenisforreal.com,the following summary description: “Heaven is for Real: A little Boy’s Astounding Story  of His Trip to Heaven and Back, by Todd Burpo.”

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Bret Byus and Mark Reighard took action on their vision to provide transportation to missionaries on furlough.  The ministry they founded, Righteous Rides, owns and maintain vans available for that purpose.  At the time of this writing, they have 40 vans, an immediate objective to acquire 10 more the following year, and a goal to have a total of 100 within five years.  They only one paid staff member and about 100 volunteers.

Their website, www.righteousrides.org reports:  Righteous Rides is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization whose mission is to provide reliable transportation at a reasonable cost to missionaries on furlough.  Through donations of cars, cash, etc., Righteous Rides is able to keep a fleet of late model Chrysler minivans on the road for use by missionaries home on furlough.

Also heard on this radio conversation is Dwayne King, leader of the Kingdom Air Corps (www.kingdomaircorps.org) based in Alaska, and a speaker at one of their banquets supporting Righteous Rides.

From their website:  Kingdom Air Corps exist to prepare missionary pilots and mechanics for “real world” missionary environments.  Our purpose is to teach  Mountain Flying, Bush Operations, Capabilities and Limitations of the Pilot and Aircraft, and Good Judgment in both flying and aircraft maintenance.

Enjoy this radio conversation with Bret Byus and Dwayne King.

Bob Caldwell began leading youth mission trips to urban areas in the early 1990’s.  From those early days churches wanted their young people to be a part of a sound and trusted summer witness and discipleship mission experience.  Thus was born Global Encounter Ministries (www.globalencounter.org), described on their website as “… a conservative, evangelical, para-church organization …” whose mission is “… Loving, winning, and training men and women as fast as possible in order to fulfill the Great Commission.”  Now each summer scores of churches send their young people by the hundreds to GEM sponsorship to advance the Great Commission of Jesus (Matthew 28:19, 20) in inner-city areas. 

In this radio conversation, Bob Caldwell shares specifics of the Global Encounter vision and activity.  A great strength of GEM is that, regardless of the size of a church, any church can send even one youth to a sound, discipling, witnessing, “fired up” youth mission ministry – a ministry with a good extended “track” record -- through participation in the Global Encounter summer experience.   

Following his sharing the vision in this “on demand” radio interview, Bob includes an expression of appreciation for GEM’s partnership with and support from the Missouri Baptist Convention.

Should young people in your church be a part of next summer’s Global Encounter mission trip?

For more see http://www.floridabaptistwitness.com/10713.article.

This particular conference is a “first” for St. Louis.  Ruth Carlson (Administrative Assistant to Phyllis Schlafly) and emcee Mary Suzanne Cozarth invite girls (12 and up) and ladies … hopefully their mothers … to a “Beautiful Conference” in Twin Oaks Presbyterian Church in St. Louis, MO.  Upon reading this, the conference may have already passed for this year, but … watch for others in the future.

Ruth Carlson wrote  …

“You are invited to a Christ-centered women’s conference called “Beautiful.”  The conference will focus on what true beauty is—women finding joy in their identity in Christ—and how to reflect God’s character in attitude, relationships and dress. Beautiful begins with a fashion show on Friday evening, Feb. 10 and continues Saturday morning with keynote presentations, music and breakout sessions.  Women ages twelve and older are invited, with a special encouragement for women to come together—especially mothers and daughters.

“Beautiful is the creative effort of a consortium of women from various local Christian churches, to provide an opportunity for women to experience an unleashing of confidence in their identity in Christ reflecting true beauty in all areas of life.  The venue is Twin Oaks Church (141 at Big Bend); selected for its size, amenities ease of parking, location, and welcoming invitation.

“Our keynoter is well-known Christian author and conference speaker, Shelley Noonan, author of “The Companion Guide to Beautiful Girlhood” (http://www.shelleynoonan.com). Beautiful features Christian pop-artist Jonny Diaz, author and singer of “More Beautiful You” Sample Lyrics:  “There could never be a more beautiful you ~ Don’t buy the lies disguises and hoops they make you jump through ~ You were made to fill a purpose that only you could do ~ So there could never be a more beautiful you…”  (http://www.jonnydiaz.com/).

“Cost ranges from $30/person Early Bird registration to $40/person at the door.

“For families of 3 or more, cost will be $90 maximum.  Lunch is provided on Saturday.

“For more information see:  www.BeautifulConference.org”

“Ruth Carlson

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This is an amazing story of forgiveness by Carla Carrabino!  Following a 2008 college float trip in the Lebanon, MO area where drinking was involved, Brian Miller lost control of his car and crashed into a tree.  One of his passengers, best friend Salvatore “Torre” Carrabino, II, only child of Carla Carrabino, was killed.  At age 22 Brian faced the possibility of 22 years in prison.  Motivated by her forgiveness of Brian, and desiring a redemptive consequence, Carla pursued the Laclede County (MO) Prosecutor to consider an alternative sentencing program. After several months of working together, a unique program was developed,  a first of its kind. As the result the presiding judge gave Brian a 17 year suspended sentence … a miracle in itself.

Days after Brian’s sentencing, Brian and Carla began receiving invitations from St. Louis, MO, high schools – none of which they initiated -- to make presentations related to drunk driving.  As they begin, students are unaware of who they are and why they are there.  Brian opens by telling his story, building up to the acknowledgment in his role in Torre’s death as a result of his drunk driving.  He then introduces Carla, the scenario resulting in utter shock from everyone in the room as they hear their story and witness them in a warm and supportive friendship.  In addition to the obvious warnings against drunk driving, Carla’s remarkable choice of forgiveness of Brian is evident as she shares about her son and their amazing connection and experiences.

Because of Brian’s dedication to preserving the memory of Torre, which goes far beyond parole obligations, Brian is developing a “not for profit” organization to be known as “A Mother’s Mercy.”   Its purpose is to make a positive difference in any life impacted by the potential choices or dangerous consequences of driving drunk.

In their first experience of telling their gripping story on radio, you can now hear Carla and Brian share it in their own words.

(At the time of his death, Torre was but a semester away from graduation at Missouri State University in Springfield, MO.  Desiring to fulfill her son’s dream of graduating, in 2009 Carla was invited to “walk” at the graduation exercise to receive the posthumous degree for her son.  The university official spoke to the assembly and said “May I have the attention of this arena.  Salvatore Rosario Carrabino is receiving his degrees posthumously by his mother, Carla Carrabino.”  The entire arena stood and applauded.)

Dan Cathy, President and COO of Chic-fil-A and son of its founder Truett Cathy, teams up with Senior Pastor Doug Munton, First Baptist Church of O’Fallon, IL in an interesting and animated radio conversation.  Beginning 40 years ago, which included dressing up with his brother in fun outfits in helping their dad’s early restaurant days, all the way until now, Dan has been intimately involved in the family business and family values … literally … that characterize Chic-fil-a, which God has so wonderfully prospered.   

Dan Cathy’s host for a St. Louis area gathering is his long time friend Doug Munton, a leading pastor in the St. Louis, MO region who serves First Baptist of O’Fallon, IL. Dan Cathy agreed to speak to a business luncheon (open to all) hosted by the church.

Chick-fil-A is one of the great business success stories of our time.  Dan Cathy, Chic-fil-A’s CEO and son of founder Truitt Cathy, has us laughing all the way through this brief radio time.  Dan is very thankful for Chic-fil-A’s remarkable success and for the biblical principles lived out and role modeled by his father.  Dan interweaves a lot of humor as he tells a bit of his story, which includes his confession that he once “let the air out of the tires” of his buddy’s bicycle! From his father’s one store beginning – where Dan as a lad was involved even then in fun ways -- Chic-fil-A now covers much of the country with more than 1,500 restaurants … and others on the way.  See www.chick-fil-A.com.