Former US Senator Jim Talent of Missouri shares the warm story of his coming to faith in Christ.  As a young legislator he was driving and listening on Christian radio to James Dobson interviewing Hispanic Evangelist Luis Palou.  As the radio discussion drew to a close, Palau was invited to lead in prayer those listeners who wanted to receive Jesus.  In approaching downtown St. Louis Jim pulled off Interstate 44 and, still in his car, asked Christ to forgive him his sins and come into his life!  Following this inspirational story, Senator Talent speaks of his concern that our country has only a partial and incomplete anti-missile defense system.  At the same time, more nations – some of them “rogue” nations – are developing nuclear weapons and the capacity to “deliver” them.  Jim calls attention to the movie 33 Minutes – Protecting America in the New Missile Age.  33 minutes, he noted is the time required for a missile to get to the United States “…from the other side of the earth.”  A trailer of 33 Minutes can be seen at www.heritage.org/33-minutes --

 “Jim Talent is a Distinguished Fellow at The Heritage Foundation (where one of his specializations is National defense, military readiness, and terrorism), and Vice-Chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction (WDM) Proliferation and Terrorism, co-investigator/author of "World at Risk" the Report of the Commission on the Prevention of WMD Proliferation and Terrorism, a follow-on to the 911 Commission Report.”

Cal Thomas tells his compelling story of his impacting life change, how he found meaning in life, and how he fights to protect life.  He discusses his experience and worldview in anticipation of his return to the St. Louis, MO area, once again speaking in behalf of all human life…from conception to grave. 

The group sponsoring the Cal Thomas visit on Thursday, March 18th -- to the East Side of Greater St. Louis, MO and inviting others to be their guests -- is “Mosaic Health and Pregnancy Centers” (www.revealmosaic.com). There is no charge to attend the banquet. To see the amazing story of its leader Kathy Sparks, click here.

From the Ambassador Speakers Bureau:  With a twice-weekly column appearing in over 500 newspapers nationwide, Cal Thomas is the most widely read and one of the most highly regarded voices on the American political scene. He is a panelist on the popular "Fox News Watch" show. His latest book, ‘Common Ground: How to Stop the Partisan war that is Destroying America,’ was co-written with Bob Beckel. He and Beckel also write a twice-monthly column for USA Today.  A graduate of American University, Thomas is a 40-year veteran of broadcast and print journalism.  He is a writer of force and clarity and has authored ten books.

The Missouri Baptist Convention, composed of 2,000 Missouri Churches, can only be victorious and fruitful as they seek the Lord God in prayer and repentance.  Recognizing this reality, Interim MBC Executive Director David Tolliver and Spiritual Renewal leader Robert Loggins are leading times of prayer throughout the state, calling for groups to seek the Lord for His mercy and grace. (Times and locations found at www.mobaptist.org.)  The last of this series will be a “Solemn (Sacred) Assembly” of prayer, repentance and praise the on Sunday night, October 26, the evening before the MBC Annual Meeting begins in the Millennium Hotel in St. Louis. The brief interview summarizes the definition, role and concept of the Missouri Baptist Convention, and calls special  attention to the need of racial reconciliation and growing harmony. Drs. Tolliver and Loggins plan to attend each gathering.

The Urbana Missions Conference, sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, is likely the largest missions gathering in the world.  Nearly 20,000, most of them students, are expected in St. Louis, MO for Urbana09 (www.urbana09.org) December 27 – 31, 2009.  Urbana Director Dr. Jim Tebbe, longtime missionary in the Middle East, provides a very enlightening and inspirational overview of this every three-year assembly that focuses on completing the Great Commission  (Matthew 28:19, 20) of Jesus.  Many of today’s Christian leaders give glowing reports of their days at Urbana.  Through 2003 Urbana met in Champaign-Urbana, IL.  Growth demanded that InterVarsity (www.urbana.org) look for another site, and St. Louis, MO was selected for Urbana06.  Also on air is Deb Meyer, Urbana’s coordinator of community relations and volunteerism in St. Louis.  Deb extends the invitation and challenge for 2,000 volunteers to come forward and serve Christ at Urbana09.  The giving of one’s self as an Urbana09 volunteer just after Christmas would be a wonderful Christmas gift of service to Jesus Christ.  Volunteers can register on line by going to www.urbana09.org  and clicking on “volunteer.”

George Verwer (www.georgeverwer.com) was radically converted to Jesus Christ in a Billy Graham meeting in New York City.  After being called to serve in missions, in proposing to his wife he said: If you marry me, you’ll probably be eaten by cannibals in New Guinea!  As a part of his sold-out commitment to Jesus he founded Operation Mobilization (www.om.org), now with 6,500 servants of Christ in more than 100 countries.  I met George in an annual meeting of The Mission Exchange (www.themissionexchange.org), composed of representatives of more than 100 mission-sending agencies, this one convening in St. Louis, MO.  I was there to see my friend from college days, Avery Willis (www.averywillis.com), receive TME’s very first Innovations in Missions Award in behalf of himself and the “orality” movement.  But at that same gathering my new friend George Verwer was awarded TME’s Lifetime Of Service Award. Under George’s leadership, OM spotlights 7 Global Concerns: (1) children at risk; (2) abused women; (3) the extreme poor; (4) the HIV & AIDS patient; (5) people with impure water; (6) the unborn; and (7) the environment.  In OM’s worldwide distribution of literature, the paperback book True Grit on the plight of women worldwide is being promoted and offered free.  George Verwer gives testimony that it changed his life.  Order your free copies for your reading and distribution.  Donations accepted but not required.

Part 1

Most churches have less than 100 in attendance, thus most church youth groups are small.  Ryan Webb, 25-year-old middle school art teacher, founded and is leading the Food for Life ministry.  It embraces a vision of helping Christian students from different churches discover and encourage each other in their respective schools.  You may not live in Ryan’s area, but the need is everywhere.  Perhaps his vision can also become yours.  Hear Ryan discuss the two-day Food for Life Conference in efforts to advance the vision.  Adults and students are invited, meeting at the Eagan Florissant (MO) Civic Center on January 8 & 9, 2010.  See www.foodforlifeconference.com.

In visiting Vancouver, St. Louis Pastor Jeff Wells is attending his fifth Olympics…in ministry.  His “team”  -- Action Ministry International  founded by former Olympian David Guinn -- utilizes the Olympic tradition of exchanging lapel pins.  The pins they distribute – one by one – simply read “Jesus.”  So with whomever they can have a conversation – Olympians, their family members and friends, and spectators -- Jeff and his team begin a conversation like: “I’ve got a pin and I’d love to give it to if you’ll let me tell you the story behind it.”  80% agree.  Then in 60 – 90 seconds they summarize the story of Jesus.  Many have prayed to receive Christ.  The visit goes longer if the recipient chooses, as they frequently do. Their goal was to share with 15,000 people in Vancouver. Action Ministry Olympic Updates (AIM) appear on Facebook.

Cindy Wells and Andrew Shores of CEF (www.cefonline.com) explain how your church can sponsor a weekly after school Good News (Bible) Club in an elementary school in your neighborhood … legally.  The U S Supreme Court has ruled, under “equal access” laws, that public schools cannot deny Christian believers after school meeting access…if they allow such meeting access to other groups.   So Cindy and Andrew of Child Evangelism Fellowship explain how CEF provides support (training, expertise, materials, mentoring, etc.) to individual Bible-believing churches in order for them to minister the love of Jesus to elementary school children in their respective neighborhoods.  This focus and support is a major part of the CEF ministry.  They want to help.  Call on them to discuss it. – Child Evangelism Fellowship is a wonderful, well established and solid world-wide ministry (in more than 160 countries) sharing the Gospel of Jesus to the world’s most responsive age-group to the Gospel – children.  CEF recognizes that the majority of the world’s people who come to saving faith in Christ do so by the time they are in mid-teen years.  So they focus on presenting a child-like, clear and simple Biblical message to the children of the world. --  The world headquarters of Child Evangelism Fellowship is one hour west of St. Louis, in Warrenton, MO.  A very important website to help you advance this vision, this great “open door,” is www.cefonline.com.   Call on CEF!  (Cindy Wells – 636 724-7992 is the acting Director of CEF in St. Louis, MO.  Andrew Shores is a member of that local board of directors.)