John Kasica has been a musician with the famous and highly regarded St. Louis (MO) Symphony Orchestra since 1971.  In this radio conversation John tells of a humbling but very funny experience that happened during a sympathy concert featuring him in solo.   His performance the previous night received a standing ovation.  But the next night, just before the scheduled time of his solo, all his sheet music dropped to the floor…and scattering!  In dropping down to retrieve it, it was too late to perform!  So John did what any creative orchestra musician would do under the circumstances: during the time allotted for his solo, he hid under the nearby xylophone!   After the concert John apologized to gracious orchestra conductor, Leonard Slatkin.  Then he remembers getting in his car to go home … and asking the Lord “Why?” … and chuckles in reporting that there was “…silence in heaven for a half hour!”  (as in the book of Revelation).  The 30-year-ago experience still stands fresh and tall in his memory as a great lesson in humility.  – John Kascia, now also leading the St. Louis Creative Arts Fellowship, tells the impacting, life-changing, very positive story of receiving Jesus Christ into his life.

Solomon Kendagor, native Kenyan, with his wife Ruby directs the International Students, Inc ministry (www.isionline.org seeking to lovingly share the message of Jesus to thousands of international students in the St. Louis, MO region.  In this radio conversation Solomon speaks of an amazing supplement to his USA ministry:  he broadcasts on KASS-FM Radio in Kenya to an estimated 6,000,000 people in the Kalenjin language group each week … from his cell phone in St. Louis!  It is done on Saturday evening in the USA and is heard each Sunday morning there.  He speaks on radio on major issues with confirmation that he is being used to have a righteous influence in Kenya.  In this “fun” interview, Solomon reports that his beloved and treasured wife Ruby (a native of Trinidad) calls him “King Solomon” … and he addresses her “Queen Ruby.”  This ministry together includes Ruby overseeing a monthly Friday evening meal in St. Louis’ Memorial Presbyterian Church (located just two blocks south of Washington University) which is typically attended by several hundred international students from 30 or so countries.  Solomon and Ruby Kendagor are appreciated friends of mine for many years.

Fireproof is an absolutely powerful movie, receiving rave reviews, that warms the heart and biblically faces the issues of today’s culture!  As of this writing, Fireproof, which cost $1,000,000 to produce, has brought in more than $20,000,000. (The following is from www.fireproofthemovie.com)  Stephen Kendrick has served as co-writer and producer for all three of Sherwood Pictures' films, including their newest release, “FIREPROOF.” He and his brother Alex helped establish Sherwood Pictures in 2003. He also worked with Provident Films, developing Bible study resources and other tools for churches in conjunction with FACING THE GIANTS and FIREPROOF. Stephen and Alex also worked on the Thomas Nelson novel of Facing the Giants.   Stephen has served as associate teaching pastor at Sherwood Baptist Church since 2001.  In his church staff role, Stephen leads the church's prayer ministry, major ministry events, an adult Sunday school class, and The Great Adventure-an adult discipleship program that he developed. Stephen also serves as the senior pastor's preaching assistant.” 

On a personal note, Stephen and Jill Kendrick of Albany, GA, have three children: Grant, Cohen, and Karis.  Harold and Joan Hendrick of St. Louis, MO have three children: David, Stephen, and Karis. Karis is the Greek word for “Grace.”

Professor John Warren Kindt, University of Illinois, is an expert in the area of gambling problems.  His research is widely published in scores of professional journals and elsewhere.  In this interview Professor Kindt points out some rather remarkable information:  President Putin of Russia has shut down 2,230 casinos in Russia!  This action begs the question:  What does Russia know that many politicians and others in the United States do not know about how casinos negatively affect a country and culture?  Fascinating information is found in this brief radio conversation.

Dwayne King in a radio discussion tells us about Kingdom Air Corps (www.kingdomaircorps.org) which he founded and leads.  Located in Alaska, Kingdom Air Corps hosts a group of certified pilots in training to fly safely in primitive conditions to advance the Gospel of Jesus.  His ministry includes working with Eskimo/Native young people wherein some of them have flown solo, flying to Russia across the Bearing Straights from Alaska, and developing the first Russian missionary airplane and first Russian pilot for it.  Much of Dwayne’s adventuresome life is reflected at www.kingdomaircorp.org. 

My new relationship with Dwayne became very personal when I learned that he and my son, David Hendrick, had served the Lord together and became close friends in Siberian region of far southeastern Russia, in the city of Khabarovsk.  You should have seen Dwayne’s face when David surprised Dwayne in joining us for lunch in west St. Louis, MO) County!  What a reunion! 

From Dwayne’s bio on his website, www.kingdomaircorps.org …… In 1991, Dwayne made one of the first missionary airplane flights to Provideniya, Far East Russia and made 14 other flights in subsequent years.  He and Carolyn moved to Khabarovsk, Russia to work with the Russian Baptist Church in October 1993 and remained there until March 1999.  As field superintendent for SEND Far East Russia, working directly under the leadership of the Russian Baptist Church, Dwayne and Carolyn helped start and build new churches, train new leaders through Far East Russia Bible College, and recruit construction teams, teachers and new missionaries…. 

To Dwayne’s knowledge, Kingdom Air Corps has now trained the first Eskimo/Native teenagers to solo airplanes, with an ultimate goal that they will also advance the Gospel of Christ through their flying 907 232 1027 

Dwaine King’s recent visit to St. Louis was to speak at a special event for Righteous Rides (www.righteousrides.org), a ministry of 40 vans located just northwest of St. Louis, MO, providing quality, functional, and insured transportation for missionaries on furlough.

Paul Kruse is a home repairman and remodeler with a hunger to serve God.  While helping to “plant” (begin) a church, he went to a nearby big “truck stop” just west of St. Louis at Foristell, MO and got an OK from management to lead a weekly Sunday morning worship service in one of their available rooms. In that process Paul discovered that homeless men would find their way to the truck stop, but that the area Salvation Army had no provisions for homeless men.  So Paul began helping them.  Very soon the Salvation Army asked Paul if they could refer homeless men in that area…to him!  During the first week he received about 60 calls for help.  From these small beginnings Paul Kruse began www.firststepbackhome.org.  Within just a few years the ministry has provided approximately 1,000 homeless people (including women and children) about 5,000 nights of a Motel (costing the ministry $32 per night); has found many of them employment (most are willing to work) through an agency that would pay them at the end of each workday; found bicycles for them to get to work; worked with area food pantries to help feed them; and assisted 11 families having no place to live to each get into their own apartment.  All the while the truck stop Sunday services continue,  with Paul having ministered cumulatively it about 3,000 truck drivers and store employees.  If you would like to help this Matthew chapter 25 ministry, visit his website or call Paul at 314 852-5288 or 636 561-3179.  

Carl Landwehr helped begin the Vitae Caring Foundation and now leads it.  Their focus is to provide “soft-sell” media campaigns that aim – and prove to be highly successful – in more unborn children being allowed to live.  Carl talks of the nature of some of the campaigns, some of cities where they are conducted, and ways in which they are proven to be effective.  At the time of the interview, Carl is pleased to report that a guest speaker at an upcoming fundraisers is Michael Reagan, son of the late, great President Ronald Reagan.  Learn more at www.vitaecaringfoundation.org.

Call him “Len,” he work with and ministers to Iranians around the world and reports great works of God among them.  Born as one of four children to a medical missionary and his wife, Len speaks the language fluently.   “Iranians love Americans,” he notes.  Evidences of a wide range of God’s working among them are the many reports of Jesus appearing to them in dreams and visions.  He urges the radio listeners to “… make friends with Iranians and love them … until they ask you why.”  At the time of this radio recording, he is to visit St. Louis, MO.

Brian Lester, third of four generations now leading The Lester Family (www.thelesters.com), widely known in the Midwest USA for singing popular gospel music since 1925. The singing Lester family was begun by Brian’s grandparents and continued by his parents, all four of whom are now in Heaven.  Under his leadership Brian continues this great tradition of honoring Jesus through their music.  The concert Brian discusses in this radio conversation  – typical of so many – is to raise money for Joni Ericson Tada’s Wheels for the World (www.joniandfriend.org), a great ministry providing refurbished wheelchairs and other walking accessories for poor disabled people in third world countries … in Jesus Name … free.  Judy Redlich, undeterred by her on physical blindness, directs the St. Louis Gateway portion of Joni and Friends (www.joniandfriends.org/st-louis).

The following article was Published the day after airing the above radio conversation, which included a focus on Wheels for the World:

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS  STLtoday.com | Posted: Wednesday, August 10, 2011 7:45 am |

Missouri Department of Corrections director George Lombardi says the program allows prisoners to give back for the crimes they committed.

End of www.stltoday.com article

Brain surgeon Dr. David Levy (www.drdlevy.com) grew into a lifestyle of offering to pray with each of his patients before, and usually after, surgery.  Most patients agreed to it … with very positive results.  In time, in private consultation with patients especially troubled, Dr. Levy eased and comforted them into a process of forgiveness.  His book Gray Matter relates stories of how patients who specifically forgave others … who then frequently prayed for their own forgiveness … often in that very session would begin emotional, stress-relieving, and physical healing.

To see an article featuring Dr. Levy’s focus on forgiveness and its results (from Dr. Charles Stanley’s In Touch Ministries entitled Forgiveness: Potent Medicine, visit http://www.intouch.org/magazine/content/topic/forgiveness_potent_medicine.

From his bio:  “Dr. David Levy is a neurovascular surgeon who specializes in the treatment of aneurysms and other blood vessel diseases of the brain and spine …  An engaging and accomplished speaker, Dr. Levy has been a recipient of the People’s Choice Award in 2010, voted America’s Top Surgeon in 2010 and 2011, and Best Doctor Award yearly since 2007...”

We had a laugh in the intro of both of the brief radio segments (aired on different days) that I recorded with Dr. Levy. I recalled in the old “Beverly Hillbillies” sitcom, Jethro was trying to decide whether to be a garbage truck driver or a brain surgeon!  David Levy, in having been an auto mechanic, had to make a similar decision.  He concluded that if he could fix cars he probably could fix people!  Fortunately he decided to become a brain surgeon.

Again, www.drdlevy.com.