Columbia Christian Magazine Fall 2016

Columbia Christian A Magazine for Followers of Christ in Columbia, Missouri

Fall 2016

starting over

How A Devastating Plane Crash Saved John Abbott’s Life – Page 10 –

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SPONSORED CONTENT

— Matt Gordon

Columbia Christian Magazine

Fall 2016

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staff Fred Parry Publisher

Melody Parry Associate Publisher

Sandy Selby

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Copy Editor

Carolyn Preul Editorial Design

Jim Schicatano Alex Jacobi Contributing Writers

Cathy Atkins Tonya Christensen Scott Claybrook Joni Griffin Susan McCollegan

5 News Briefs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Why We Worship Jesus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Profiles in Faith: Starting Over. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 God Is Love. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Body Odor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Soul-Deep Security. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Q&A with Susan McCollegan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Q&A with Scott Claybrook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 2016 Christian Women’s Conference . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 CoMo Christian Men’s Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Publisher’s Note: Mixing Religion And Politics. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Contributing Columnists

Matt Melton Marketing Representative

On the Cover: First United Methodist Church, Downtown Columbia Photo by Notley Hawkins

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Publisher’s Note To Request Advertising Information:

Mixing Religion And Politics

Please call 573-449-6644 or email Fred Parry at Fred@CoMoChristian.com.

To Request Additional Copies:

T

he past six months of the political season leading up to November’s general election have been almost unbearable in many ways. Regardless of your political leanings, it’s hard not to be embarrassed by the process and the actions and words of the leading characters.

While I’ve been interested in politics for most of my adult life, I’ve done my best to avoid sharing my views in recent weeks.

Don’t get me wrong. I’ve made up my mind but, unfortunately, I don’t have the highest degree of confidence in my decision, nor do I have the words to adequately defend my choice. I learned my lesson the hard way that it’s best to avoid discussing the topics of religion or politics in a social setting.

While it’s been a particular challenge this year not to mix the subject of religion and politics, the distinction between the topics ought to be clear. Our religious beliefs are tied to what we believe to be true about God. Our political beliefs are tied to what believe to be true about the order of society through laws, policies and our own ideals about the role of government in our lives.

The lines do become blurred because many of us, as Christians, have such strong opinions about both our faith and our corresponding political viewpoints. To complicate things further, we have this expectation that our government has a responsibility to take action on the issues that we are passionate about. For example, Christians concern themselves with protecting children, seeking justice and protecting the sanctity of life. We also are concerned about human rights and seeking peace around the world. Given the shared ideology between religion and government, you begin to understand that the laws and rules that are designed to maintain order in our society are often ordained by God. Is that a coincidence? Probably not.

Given this strong connection, it’s surprising that there are so many attempts by some to scrub religion from our everyday lives. We’ve allowed prayer to be taken from our schools while religious symbols have been removed from public property. Right here in Boone County, we allowed our county commission to cover an Ichthus (or Jesus Fish) from the Desert Storm Memorial that was dedicated to honor the sacrifice of two young Christian men. Ironically, it’s likely that the Christian values of these young men were an important part of their decisions to voluntarily join the armed forces and fight against injustice in the Middle East.

By my way of thinking, removing Christian symbols and practices from public places is essentially the equivalent of giving preferential treatment to atheists and agnostics who seem to show no tolerance for any belief that runs contrary to their own.

In the end, the best compromise is that the church should avoid telling Christians how to vote and the government should avoid telling people how to worship. We may be guided by our faith in the polling booth, but we must never forget the tenets of Christianity that allow us to offer grace to those with opposing viewpoints. For this to work, tolerance must become a two-way street.

Fred J. Parry, Publisher fred@comochristian.com

Please contact Melody Parry at 573-449-6644 or email Melody@ CoMoChristian.com.

To Contribute News Briefs and Stories:

Please submit news briefs and story pitches to Fred Parry, Publisher, Columbia Chrstian magazine, 711 West Broadway, Columbia, Mo., 65203 or by email to Fred@CoMoChristian.com.

To Support Our Ministry:

Please consider advertising your business, church or religious organization in our magazine. Financial contributions may be made payable to the CoMo Christian Men’s Coalition, 711 West Broadway, Columbia, Mo., 65203.

Your prayers that God will use this magazine to bring mid-Missourians closer to Christ would also be appreciated.

Columbia Christian Magazine is produced by ICM Custom Publishing Solutions, on behalf of the CoMo Christian Men’s Coalition, 711 West Broadway, Columbia, Mo., 65203. Copyright 2016. All rights reserved.

Reproduction or use of any editorial or graphic content without the express written permission of the publisher is prohibited.

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News Briefs

Tigers On The Prowl Benefits 10 Charities

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The fourth Tigers on the Prowl Campaign, presented by Cost Cutters, concluded with the auctioning off of all 10 tigers on Friday, Sept. 23, at the Holiday Inn Executive Center. Tigers on the Prowl is a local fundraising charity that brings together 10 midMissouri charities, 10 sponsors and 10 local artists to help raise funds, awareness, and make a difference in our community. This year’s campaign raised $91,000 for 10 local charities. To see pictures of all 10 of this year’s tigers, as well as pictures from the event’s auction, visit “Tigers on the Prowl” on Facebook.

Fathers Supporting Fathers Coyote Hill Christian Children’s Home is looking for fathers who care for the fatherless by becoming one of 300 men committed to caring for children in mid-Missouri. The “300 Club” is a group of men, each committing to give $1,000 to Coyote Hill to help serve boys without fathers. For more information, contact Coyote Hill at 573-874-0179 or office@coyotehill.org.

Christian Teachers Needed Would you like to invest in the lives of the next generation? Do you have a calling from the Lord and a passion to teach? Heritage Academy currently has openings for instructors for the spring 2017 semester. Please visit the Heritage Academy’s website at www.heritageacademyofcolumbia.com to find more information.

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Why We Worship Jesus

by Jim Schicatano

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s a Christian, I sometimes wonder if fellow Christians understand why we worship Jesus.

It is true that we all recognize Jesus as the Messiah, believe that He was part of the Trinity, and is God. However, over the years, I have learned that people emphasize different characteristics and qualities of Jesus’ life. Some accentuate His terrible suffering, His sagacious parables, or even His spectacular miracles. Yet, there are definitive reasons we worship Jesus.

First, it had nothing to do with His suffering. I hear people pray “by the stripes of Jesus” and “through His bloodshed.”

There is no doubt that few people would voluntarily suffer the way Jesus chose. Yet, through the ages, people have also suffered just as much. Torture is a dreadful part of human history. Tragically, people have always committed atrocities against others. Jesus certainly suffered, but his suffering was not unique.

We also do not worship Him for His words. Jesus was undoubtedly a charismatic speaker. Nevertheless, He is not alone in that regard either. Throughout history, many people have been able to deliver articulate, moving, and powerful messages. So, while we can admire His charismatic speaking and profound parables, they are not something that particularly deserves our worship.

Nor was it His miracles. The New Testament records many of Jesus’s miracles. Yet, he is not alone in miracle-working either. Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Elijah, and Elisha are just a few Biblical icons who accomplished miraculous feats. In addition, Elijah, Elisha, and Peter brought back people who had died.

It was also not His actions. Jesus gave selflessly of Himself, and demonstrated love, sacrifice, compassion and mercy. Yet, others have also devoted their lives to the service of others in much the same way. And they were not necessarily Christian.

It was not even his birth. Although Christmas is arguably a Christian’s favorite holiday, it is not necessarily the reason we worship Jesus. We should certainly remember and celebrate His birth. However, children are born all the time, so His birth was not unique. Of course, His conception was indeed a miracle.

While all of these features are certainly worthy of our respect and honor, none is unique in history.

Why then do we worship Jesus? There are two primary reasons.

First, let’s go back to first century Judea. That was a period of animal sacrifices, where animals were slaughtered to atone for personal sins. They believed that the healthiest,

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finest animals made the best sacrifice. In addition, a common animal used was the lamb.

John the Baptist referred to Jesus as the “lamb of God.” This was God’s sacrifice, given to atone for the sins of the world. Jesus was the first and only person said to live a life without sin — ­­ the perfect lamb. His voluntary death was the purest offering possible, and it exceeded anyone else’s sacrifice.

Secondly, not only was Jesus the perfect sacrifice, but He also defeated death through His resurrection. His resurrection demonstrated that He was who He claimed, and it allowed God the Father to embrace Him as the perfect sacrifice. In addition, all of humanity can take part in this atonement by accepting Jesus as Lord, and believing in the Resurrection.

No event in human history can match the significance of His resurrection.

There are numerous reasons to admire and honor Jesus.

He certainly suffered, spoke profoundly and with eloquence, performed miracles and led a selfless life. However, we worship Him because He sacrificed His life for the atonement of our sins. Then He symbolically demonstrated that not even physical death could prevent Him from completing His mission which was paying the price for the sins of humanity. n Jim Schicatano is the author of The Soup of Life. Visit his website at www.thesoupoflife.com.

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Profiles in Faith

starting over:

How A Devastating Plane Crash Saved John Abbott’s Life

By alex jacobi photos provided by the abbott family

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background

On June 19, pilot John Abbott was supposed to lose his life.

On that sunny day, he and his father-in-law flew the blue summer skies in his boss’s 1949 Texan T-6 plane. It was a smooth flight on a dream plane after a peaceful morning of church and Father’s Day festivities. But soon enough, the serenity ended when the plane’s engines spontaneously failed. The plane plummeted near North Teal Bottom Road in Henley, Missouri. And although tragedy had struck and their lives could have easily ripped from the seams, the world didn’t fall apart. It only broke open.

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Abbott first found God in 2008, when his sister and dad invited him to The Crossing. On that day, he decided to go because he was desperate, needing some sort of comfort after his wife left him. Before that first visit to The Crossing, Abbott was Catholic.

In those days, he went through the Catholic motions but still lived for himself. He looked at other Christians as freaks — cult-like members who were Bible-thumpers.

But after he visited The Crossing, new understanding seeped in. He realized Christianity was much more than he had thought it was.

“I didn’t understand that being a Christian is loving your brother and neighbor,” Abbott says.

As Abbott continued on his Christian journey at The Crossing and his divorce was finalized, he began dating a woman named Angie, who had a strange premonition about her next marriage. She told him that the next man she married would be in some kind of incident that would make him become a great man.

Abbott shrugged Angie’s prediction off, not knowing what was to come.

Although Abbott’s life certainly improved after becoming a Christian, there were still areas where he needed to grow. For one, he was a workaholic, working 80 to 100 hours a week.

“I spent more time working than sleeping or anything else,” he says. “It seemed like work was taking over and I couldn’t say no to these jobs.”

He also struggled in merging his family from his previous marriage with Angie’s family from her previous marriage. Between those stresses and trying to piece together the basics of Christianity, Abbott wasn’t always giving 100 percent.

“I wasn’t giving and loving to my potential,” Abbott says. “I was living in my kingdom of self.”

Although his job can serve as a distraction in life, overall Abbott’s innate love of hard work has served him well. He decided at a young age, right out of high school, that he wanted to work with planes and got his degree in Avionics and Aviation Technologies from Southern Illinois University. While there, he worked on his pilot’s license and did stunt flying. Now, he owns an aviation and brokerage business, is a flight instructor and full pilot, and manages 160 apartments in Jefferson City.

Between giving so much to those endeavors and attempting to have a family life, Abbott was living a full and bustling life, unaware of the hardships to come that would show him a whole new side of his faith.

wake-up calls In early 2016, Abbott began to better understand just how much he needed God.

Angie was finishing her bachelor’s degree at Lincoln University, where she was taking a class that required her to study Dante’s Inferno. That class brought up the topic of hell between her and Abbott, and one day, the two of them listened to a sermon called “23 Minutes in Hell” on the way back from a trip to Kansas City. In the sermon, Bill Wiese talked about how one night at 3 a.m. he had a vision of what hell was like and he felt the sulfur, smoke, drought, heat, agony and terror.

That got Abbott thinking about hell, and if it was really as bad as the preacher said it was.

To confirm the message, a few months later, Abbott had a dream about a demonic being chasing him and killing him. He woke up huddled in the corner of his closet and realized he had been screaming in his sleep.

His wife was in the closet with him, crying out because she was afraid.

They both prayed together, and within 10 minutes, Abbott noticed headlights coming down his driveway. It was the local sheriff’s department, answering a 911 call from Abbott’s daughter, who thought her parents were being murdered because of the screams.

“I remember the pain of that dream,” Abbott says. “Like, death would be a cake-walk compared to the lack of God in this dream, the soul tearing out of my body. It was like Satan had me.”

That experience on a May night awoke Abbott to the seriousness of hell and how desperately he needed God. Little did he know that this experience was only a precursor to what was to come a month later.

the crash “This is a story that shows God’s handprints all over it,” says Abbott about the day his plane crashed.

On that day, many pieces fell together to keep him alive. First, the plane ended up landing in a perfect space between oak trees that were cut for power lines. Not only that, but when the plane landed, the wings got

caught on the tops of the trees and came off the plane. This move got the fuel tanks away from the crashed plane, which meant the plane didn’t catch on fire after going down. If it had ignited, Abbott and his father-inlaw would have burned to death. Also, when going down, the plane lost its tail wheel, which slowed its descent.

Not only did the plane land in the ideal way, but so did Abbott. His face rammed into the navigation stick www.CoMoChristian.com

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and instrument panel, which broke his jaw and knocked out three of his lower teeth, along with crushing the upper palate of his mouth. The stick was going toward his spinal cord, but didn’t make it there because the pressure was just the right amount to damage only his mouth. Abbott also broke his left hand, crushed his ankle, and got a six-inch laceration on his leg, but that was the extent of his injuries. His father-in-law only had a small puncture on the cheek, which required a few stitches.

Looking at all the ways that this crash happened, Abbott knows that it was God who saved them.

“This isn’t just luck; this doesn’t just happen this way,” Abbott says. “There are too many variables here where I should have died.”

where he’s at now Although Abbott had to stay in the hospital for several weeks, he was able to have surgery to reconstruct his face, hand and knee. He is expected to make a 100 percent recovery and now that he has had time to heal, he looks almost the same as he did before the crash.

Although he looks like he did before, he’s not the same man. He knows that this is his opportunity to have an even greater faith in God and truly live his life to the fullest.

“I get to kiss my wife goodnight tonight,” he says. “I get to kiss my kids goodnight. That is so cool, to get to have that second chance. This is that certainty that there’s a God, where the pieces add up and the lightbulb kicks on.”

In a crash that was supposed to end everything, Abbott found new life. It was like seeing for the first time after having his head in the sand.

“This is one of the best things that’s ever happened to me,” Abbott says.

“I know it sounds crazy, but it’s made me reevaluate my life. I’m not about me anymore; I’m about God.” n

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God Is Love

By Tonya Christensen

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s it not extraordinary that God describes himself as love?

According to 1 John 4:16, God is love. This leads me to tell you why I am so passionate about getting people on the journey of knowing Jesus.

You see, Jesus became real to me when I needed love.

Oh, I did not realize that love would be the answer to all my worries, but it was. And isn’t that what we all need? People are searching for something to fill their lives, to make the wrongs right, to change circumstances, to fix relationships and to answer the desires of their hearts. We will not find the answer apart from God. Nothing can take the place of God’s gift of love. Seeking God is the only way that we will find contentment, joy, peace, understanding and most importantly — love.

Mother Teresa said it best: “People are starving for God’s love.”

God’s plan was for us to live in relationship with Him. We would sit at the feet of Jesus and pray. God wants to pour His love into us. Jesus told us that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your soul and to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-38).

So the journey this month is taking us to a place where we come to fully understand the love of Christ. Have you been there? If so, you are forever changed. If you have never

mother teresa said it best: “people are starving for god’s love.”

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experienced the love of Christ, come with me, my friends, and pray. Find a place in your life to be still and know the realness of Christ. Rest in the arms of our everlasting Father, and let nothing come between you and Him. God’s desire is for us to know His love so that we can truly love others and ourselves. I don’t know about you, but for me it is hard to love as Christ does. I need the strength of God to love others and myself. Ephesians 3:17-19 says that Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in Him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.

And may you have the power to understand how long, how high, how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power from God. Lastly, I wish that I could fully communicate the love of Christ, but it is not possible. I believe that God kept this part for himself. I could tell you about the fruit of God’s love but it still would not give you the true perspective of its greatness.

I’m sure that you have seen the love of Christ in others, but even that does not give words to its wonder.

So I pray you will spend time with Jesus and discover His greatest gift: Love.

Amen. n Tonya Christensen is a registered nurse at Boone Hospital Center and a leader for women’s ministry at Woodcrest Chapel.

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Body Odor By cathy atkins

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y family and I recently returned from a weekend away. Happy to be home, we opened the front door and were greeted by a horrible smell. Upon investigation, we found something that had rotted and been forgotten in the bottom of the kitchen trash can. We were able to get rid of the smell after hauling the trash out to the curb and spraying liberal amounts of Febreze.

In the same way that rotting trash repels, a good smell attracts. The aroma of baking cookies or fragrance of a loved one’s favorite perfume brings smiles, joy and happy memories. Scripture says we, as Christians, are the fragrance of Christ among both believers and nonbelievers (2 Corinthians 2:15). We are called to act and speak in ways that honor God. But Christians are also human. Too often, we leave an odor through word and deed that is a far cry from the sweet fragrance we are called to be. After you leave a room, do people know that Christ was there? Is there the Godhonoring fragrance of grace, humility, wisdom, peace, love, joy, kindness, self-control — the “sweet savour” that causes even unbelievers to take notice? Or are they unable to see past the ego, pride, anger, rebelliousness, low self-esteem or resentment?

Not long ago, I was walking through a very stressful season in my life where it seemed nothing was going right.

I was tired and frustrated. It seemed like there was no area of my world that wasn’t touched by struggle. I needed to schedule a dental appointment for one of my children. It should have been a simple task. What transpired was a series of phone conversations that resulted in me snapping at the woman on the other end of the phone. I was angry, and — in my mind — justified. But the moment I hung up the phone, I was convicted. I knew instantly that the way I treated that receptionist was in stark contrast to the God I claim to represent. I knew immediately what I needed to do. I swallowed my pride and anger, called the receptionist back and apologized. I don’t know if it made a difference or not. The damage already may have been done. But I know that too many people are pushed further away from the faith because of how ugly Christians can act. They see that as the model and want nothing to do with it.

Christians are not perfect. We are human. We get tired and stressed, we are wounded and we make mistakes. Yet, we

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He sees the trash that is hidden in the recesses of your heart and is patiently waiting for you to grant permission for Him to haul it away. are called to imitate God, walk in love and offer ourselves as a sacrifice — a sweet-smelling aroma (Ephesians 5:1-2). Old Testament references to sweet-smelling fragrances refer to sacrifices burned on the altar in adoration of God. Allow the transformative power of his Spirit to wander unfiltered through the closets and hidden places in your heart. Give Him permission to burn away the garbage in humble submission to Christ and in complete acceptance of what was accomplished for you on Calvary. Refusing to do so is to deny the fullness of what was completed for us on the cross.

God doesn’t want fake, plastic Christians that appear outwardly to look like they have it all together, but on the inside are grumpy, prideful, arrogant and judgmental. He died for you … all of you. If Christ lives in you, then He regularly sees what you are trying to pretend isn’t there. He sees the trash that is hidden in the recesses of your heart and is patiently waiting for you to grant permission for Him to haul it away. He waits to replace your fear with His hope, your sadness for His peace, anger for joy, resentment for reconciliation, judgement for grace, and pride for true confidence. The result is a beautiful transformation in how you see other people … and in how you see yourself.

Your words and actions will slowly become more Christ-like and those around you will notice something different.

So, as a Christian representing the Body of Christ … how do you smell? n Cathy Atkins is the CEO of Inside Columbia magazine.

She attends Faith Family church in Fayette, Missouri.

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Joni Griffin

Soul-Deep Security

By Joni Griffin Woodcrest Grow Ministry Director

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want it. I need it. I’ve looked for it in lots of places: money, people and work, but soul-deep security has felt elusive and inconsistent much of my life.

Our soul is the part of us that is most real, the very essence of us that God knew before He created us. This is the “you” that exists beyond any role you play or relationship you have. Security is defined as freedom from fear or anxiety, freedom from harm. Is real souldeep security even a possibility?

When I first decided my life might go better if God was in it, I had to start from the beginning. Everything hinged on “Is God who He says He is, or not?”

If I don’t believe that, then what will compel me to believe what He says He can do? I had to spend some time with these questions before I could go any further in my relationship with Him. Even though early on I wasn’t convinced the Bible was true or credible, it’s where I started. As I engaged the Scriptures and allowed myself to wrestle with God, I discovered experiences and insights that have led me to find salve for my insecure soul. God continues to show up in unexpected ways in my life.

Like my other close relationships, I want to bring all of myself to God, consistently and honestly. Bible study, prayer, journaling and community have helped me find a way to deeper security that I can actually see, touch and feel.

There are still days that I need to be reminded if all of this is true and worth it. If you can relate, you might consider doing one or all of the following.

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Bible Study As we engage in relationship with Jesus, He often uses the scriptures to speak to us. He teaches us who He is and who we are in Him. He gives us direction, comfort, strength and answers about our daily lives. When we are reading to know God, we are able to see the world as He sees it, to think like He thinks and to understand His character.

For me, this also helps me recognize His voice.

Prayer The Bible gives us evidence that prayer dramatically changes situations and people, and even the course of nature. Prayer is a twoway conversation; there is no formula or method. It’s a relationship and it’s unique to you and God. It is as essential to knowing God and growing spiritually as breathing is to living.

Spiritual Community Journaling Journaling along with Bible study can accelerate insights from God and become a powerful faith-builder. Yes, it takes time and thought, but it slows us down and gives our heart a voice. It’s a place to be honest and real and allows us an opportunity for self-examination. Going back and rereading your journal can often reveal the fingerprints of God right on those pages!

You’ll notice themes to celebrate or areas that need more attention.

We are healed, transformed, softened and schooled when we engage in community with other people to seek God. Community can often provide the family we never had, the help we need and the grace we long for. Community is where my relationship with Jesus has grown the most!

These days I’m finding my security in a real and honest relationship with Jesus. I’m learning to strive less and trust Him more. It’s been a process, a relational dance with the Creator of my soul, but it has been life-changing. I trust Him to walk alongside you, too. n

Faith Leader Profiles

Susan McCollegan Pastor at Ashland United Methodist Church

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My career has been an interesting journey that has allowed me to work in a variety of settings where I have been able to teach. My family has been the center of my world and now includes five grandchildren. I have a number of interests, some of which are reading, knitting, and most recently I’ve started running. I am planning to run my first 5K in November.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

I love that my job allows me to continue to teach in a completely new setting: the church. I’ve always loved connecting with people through Bible study and prayer, and my job as a pastor allows me to connect with people at a much deeper and personal level. I especially love being able to help people live into their relationship with God in and through their everyday lives.

Q: Tell us about someone in the local faith community whom you admire and why?

Reverend Amy Gearhart is one of my faith heroes. I admire the steadfastness of her faith and beliefs and the way in

which she lives that out. Her leadership in creating a welcoming and safe worship space for the LGBTQ community in Columbia has served as an example of what a community can do when it comes together in the name of Christ.

Q: What would you say has been a defining moment in your journey with Christ?

Without a doubt, my call to the ministry was a defining moment. While God’s voice took me by surprise at the moment, upon reflection I realized that he had been preparing me for that moment for a long time. It was a singular moment that will be forever etched on my heart.

Q: What was the last great book you read?

Oh, wow, without a doubt Love Warrior

by Glennon Doyle Melton. We’re all on a journey, and this woman’s journey is an inspiration to all of us to keep moving forward.

Q: What are you most proud of?

While I admit that pride is one of the sins we should avoid, I have to say that in spite of the degrees and awards I have received, I am most proud of the certificate that hangs in my office that declares I am licensed for Pastoral Ministry in the United Methodist Church. n

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Faith Leader Profiles

others is miraculous. I love doing this through the pastorate as well as interactions in everyday life with my small business and my neighborhood. Seeing His kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10) is my greatest desire — all that Jesus might be glorified!

Q: Tell us about someone in the local faith community whom you admire and why?

Scott Claybrook Lead Pastor at LegacyPoint Church

Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I am a fortunate man. I’m married to Angela — my beautiful best friend. She is a spunky, Korean-American with a passion for food, animals and music. I serve the greatest boss in this world and the next: Jesus. As a bivocational pastor, I own a brand agency, Claybrook Concepts, and have helped plant LegacyPoint Church. I love biking, cooking, serving, movies and relationships most of all.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your job?

Life transformation is what I enjoy most about my job.

I hardly consider it a job. Helping to introduce people to Jesus and the transformation He brings in our lives is a passion, purpose, and an utter joy. Watching people become transformed and then actively helping transform

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Michael Kauffman, children’s pastor and elder at CenterPoint Church, is one individual I admire among many in our local Christian community. There are many people I could talk about. Having served with CenterPoint for years before they sent our church out, I have seen Michael consistently demonstrate Christ-like character amidst many difficulties. In particular, Michael’s steadfast love for Jesus, his perseverance amidst being bivocational as a teacher and pastor, and his shining example of leading his family to Jesus, daily, are what I admire most.

Q: What would you say has been a defining moment in your journey with Christ?

The defining moment of my journey with Christ was when I met His family called the church. An addict, alcoholic, drug dealer, and an absolute mess, I came into this strange family and was given imperfect but unconditional love. This tangible love of God changed my life from the inside out and showed me that I have an opportunity to do the same for others.

Q: What was the last great book you read?

One of the last, great books I read was Watchman Nee’s Sit, Walk, Stand.

Q: What is God’s desire?

The answer can be found in John 17:24. Jesus was and is crying out for people to be with Him. He loves all of humanity — every nation, language, tribe and tongue (Revelation 7:9) — and made a way of salvation through the work of the cross. His desire is for each individual believer who knows Jesus to help many more come to faith and grow mature (Matthew 28:19-20). Through this growing family of God, Jesus’ John 17:24 desire is fulfilled. n

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2016 Christian Women’s Conference 5

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photos by scott shaefer #Revealed, a Christian conference for women, was held Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016, at Woodcrest in Columbia, Missouri. The evening event featured Nashville recording artist Candy Coburn and Proverbs 31 presenter Sharon Glasgow, as well as female Christian speakers from throughout the community.

(1) More than 600 women attended the first Christian Women’s Conference, which was held at Woodcrest. (2) It was fellowship with other Christian women that made the conference special. (3) Organizers of the event spent eight months planning for the big day. (4) A little humor from the stage helped women relax and enjoy the evening. (5) Local speaker Verna Laboy was one of five dynamic presenters. (6) Sharon Glasgow from Proverbs 31 Ministries was the keynote presenter.

(7) National recording artist Candy Coburn kept attendees on their feet with her worship music.

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CoMo Christian Men’s Conference 1

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he 3rd Annual CoMo Christian Men’s Conference was held Saturday, March 12, 2016, at The Crossing in Columbia, Missouri. Keynote speakers included Ben Stuart, David Limbaugh, Darryl Burton, Tim Bounds, L’Damian Washington and Nashville recording artist Ryan Corn.

(1) An attendee participates in one of the many prayer opportunities. (2) Nearly 1,000 men attended this year’s conference. (3) Attendees take communion. (4) The conference closed with an invitation for men to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. (5) The Men’s Chorus from Columbia’s Second Missionary Baptist Church performed at the conference along with Nashville recording artist Ryan Corn. (6) New York Times’ best selling author David Limbaugh (brother of radio talkshow host Rush Limbaugh) was one of five keynote speakers.

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