Let the Children Come!

Matthew 19:14

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

To all young couples with children, this Sunday we will have child care available in the nursery as an option. Here is how we are going to handle this. We have asked for parents of children to volunteer on a rotating basis and Sidra Miller has volunteered this coming Sunday.

Sidra will be in the nursery right after the opening music finishes because her daughter loves the music. She will also rejoin the congregation for the closing songs.

So, if you prefer to have your child go to the nursery to play the with other children during the sermon, that will be an option starting this Sunday.  However all children are welcome to remain in the service as well.

This Sunday's music provided by Gary Grandidier's Southern Gospel Quartet. 

We will be looking at how the investment world and insurance taught me more about presenting the gospel of Jesus.   God has a plan for your life and it begins with submission.

See you this Sunday at 6:30 PM.      Love, Pastor Kent

God and Insurance

This Sunday we will be looking at the insurance and investment industry, which is my back ground, and what it has taught me about peoples beliefs and God.  So bring your calculators and your portfolios and lets have church!  OK I'm just kidding, no calculators or portfolios just come with an open mind and an open heart.

It never ceases to amaze me how God can and will use all of our experiences to move His agenda forward. God has a master plan and all of us are in this plan. I think we all fit into one of four categories within this great plan.

1.) Some are cooperating with Him and playing their roles the best they know how.
2.) Some are still trying to get with the program and figure out what the plan is about and their role in it.
3.) Some are not even aware that there is a master plan.
4.) Some are doing whatever they can to mess up the plan. (which is futile)

When it comes down to it and you look at these categories there is only one place that makes sense if you are a Christian and that is to move up to the first spot. To cooperate with God and play our role to the best of our ability.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone after a week off and am also looking forward to hearing the Gospel quartet lead our worship.

If you have struggled with your faith especially in light of the the Boston Bombing and other tragedies recently, I think this Sunday is going to be very helpful. Each of us has developed an idea of who God is. I am going to show you how the investment and insurance world helped me get a better understanding of my beliefs about God.

Hope you will join us Sunday at 6:30.  Love, Pastor Kent

Back Home!

Bonni and I are back home after a nice vacation break. Time to get back at it!

• We will resume prayer meeting tonight at 6:30pm in the sanctuary.
• Tomorrow night bible study with Bob and Judi Bertels, also at 6:30.

This Sunday April 28th special music surprise. Our service will be blessed with some true southern Gospel singing. Gary Grandidier, a member of our RTP choir, will be bringing his gospel quartet along with several other singers to provide our worship music this Sunday.

On my vacation I had time to read and think about many topics that I want to talk on. There is so much that God wants us to understand and all of it points to trusting Him in all things. He wants us to understand that this life is temporary and that the best is yet to come for those who trust Him and accept His son Jesus. God wants us to know without a doubt that Jesus was a real person in history who was sent here to give us hope and understanding of His purpose for our life.

There is a great line in a great book I have been reading called "If God is Good" by Randy Alcorn.
Randy says, "The only true sacrifice in life is to live outside the will of God!"

God has a plan for your life.

I hope to see you all soon.  Love, pastor Kent

How Big of a Blessing Do You Want to Become In This World?

A couple of months ago I shared with you four Big Prayers for our little church.  They were:

1. That PCF will become recognized as the most Loving, Caring, Compassionate congregation in the US.
2. That the RTP choir would raise over 1 million dollars for our chosen charities in the next five years. 
3. That the PCF congregation will touch over 100,000 lives world wide for Christ in the next 15 years....or sooner!
4. That we will become known in the greater St. Louis area as the miracle working church because we are a powerful praying church.

So what is happening with these big, "Only With God's Help" prayers?

• Steve Klingel, our bass player will be delivering ball equipment to the children in Columbia South America in about a week.  Equipment we have collected here in Edwardsville.

• We have started a weekly prayer service on Wednesday nights.

And, look at this picture Judy Bertels just sent to me. This is an 8th grade classroom in Chongwe Zambia, and is being completed from the funds from the Raise The Praise Concert.

Our little but mighty Praise Community Fellowship Church is already touching lives world wide. We have people from China, Russia, and Germany visiting our website and listening to the sermons.

We are impacting lives of children and adults in Zambia and soon in Columbia South America. Some of our members have made a huge impact in the lives of a local family who lost everything in a fire.

Another group of our members have been closely involved in a young persons life who is seriously ill.

To me this is what church is all about. I love when we come together to sing and worship and play music. But when I see the impact we are having on the hurting, the suffering, the widows, and the children, I then know we are doing what Jesus called us to do.

Matthew 25:35-40

³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

The question I have for all of you involved in PCF is this, "How big of a blessing do you want to become in this world?"  Because we are the only ones setting the limits!

God has a wonderful plan for you life, it is our job to say yes and fulfill it!

See you soon.  Love, Pastor Kent

Happily Ever After

Tomorrow we will take a look at the scripture:
Romans 8:28

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

If you are like me, that scripture can have you wondering, "God, are you sure you mean "all" things?

That is why I have titled tomorrows sermon, "Happily Ever After!"

Come and fellowship with us and join us as we come before God and seek His grace and presence. I don't have all the answers but I know someone who does and He will be with us tomorrow night at 6:30. We are informal so come with shorts since it's supposed to be near 80!  I love it.  Who knows maybe God will speak to you. That is my prayer for all who show up. 

See you tomorrow...I know, you might be bar-b-qing or doing yard work.  It is going to be beautiful out and you will probably have friends over. I get it. But if the spirit leads you, I will see you tomorrow  at 6:30 along with Anna, Liz, Kristie and Bill.  We are going to have a good time even if you decide it's too nice.  Just remember who made the beautiful day for your enjoyment!

Love, Pastor Kent

This Sunday Hear Anna, Liz, and Kristie Hurst

There is something about music that opens the soul to worship. PCF is blessed with all the musical talent available to us. This Sunday Anna Harris, Liz Ahrens, and Kristie Hurst will be leading worship.

Coming soon! There is new talent in the wings getting ready to debut. Randy and Christine Bellings daughter Loren brought a new song to practice Monday evening. What is exciting about this is, she wrote the song. I will let you know when the song is going to debut.

Still haven't decided on the topic for Sunday but I will keep you posted.


Hope to see you all Sunday evening.  Love, Pastor Kent

Bible Study Tonight

Tonight at 6:30 "not a fan" Bible study continues with Bob and Judi Bertels. Come and join us.

How is the church and the Hell's Angels motorcycle club alike?
"You have to profess to be bad to join either one!"

The author Adrian Rogers says, " The church is comprised of people who have finally realized that they are sinners and banded themselves together to do something about it."

What are you facing in your life right now? Do you feel discouraged or fearful?

Then listen to this amazing promise:

Romans 8:38-39

³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

For those of you in the RTP choir you will recognize these words in "I'm Not Afraid"

What can separate you from the love of God?    NOT:

• Death
• Life
• Angels
• Principalities
• Powers
• Things Present
• Things to Come
• Height
• Depth
• Any Other Creature

Hope to see you Sunday.  Love, Pastor Kent