Jim and Tammy McGarry founded “More Than Carpentry Christian Ministries (MTC)” in 2006 and “will provide job training and mentoring to men and women in Wellston, MO, a small, struggling city just west of the St. Louis, MO city limits … MTC seeks to make an impact on the lives of men and women by developing relationships and serving their individual needs. A primary component will be a structured curriculum to teach the trade of cabinetmaking while the student earns a wage. Apprentice cabinetmakers will work with mentors to learn life skills, positive work habits and the value of applying biblical principles…” Jim and Tammy took a South American mission trip in recent years that intensified their burden for missions. They responded to God’s call to be missionaries in the inner-city of Greater St. Louis, MO. Jim is himself a carpenter and a cabinetmaker. See www.morethancarpentry.com.

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.  

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.

Sharon and her husband Mike Cordner experienced a growing hunger to surrender everything to Jesus and serve Him completely. In the process they discovered Pastors John Mulinde of Uganda and Mark Daniel of Orlando of the World Trumpet Mission (www.wtmamerica.com). John Mulinde had for years, with others, had intently sought spiritual transformation for his HIV/AIDS-ridden nation, literally threatened with extinction by the dreaded epidemic. With great prayer and fasting, God’s transformation has wonderfully advanced in Uganda, resulting in Pastor Mulende being invited to many parts of the world to report the ways of God in bringing about that transformation, thus seeking the advancement of transformation in other parts of the world. Sharon Cordner, out of her deep sense of commitment, accepted the invitation to serve as the US Coordinator of World Trumpet Mission. In the interview she summarizes the story, and of two of John Mulinde’s prayer intercessors visiting to St. Louis, MO.

It might have been an ongoing neighborhood upset, but our Kansas City son revealed that he is indeed a “…man of peace…” (Luke 10:6). One of Stephen’s daughters was helping her brother deliver newspapers in a hurry, running from house to house in the process. One of the papers hit against a subscriber’s door. The neighbor came out to see our granddaughter running away. Thinking she was doing some mischief, he yelled at her…and brought our sensitive granddaughter to tears. I was so moved and pleased when I heard the story of how our son and daughter-in-law handled this delicate situation that otherwise could have “festered” into neighborhood misunderstanding and resentment for years. That same day, after his work Stephen went to the neighbor’s home to calmly address the matter. You will love our 12-minute radio time of the story of the resulting peace, blessing, and bonding that emerged from this Christ-like approach to crisis. And we are delighted that our grandchildren saw firsthand from Godly parents of how God can work in doing things the right way.