Freedom For LIfe Concert

If you like music, GOOD music you WILL want to come to this concert. Barry Ward is a very talented artist and is going to be playing and singing to help out Berean Ministry. The concert is free, there will be food fun and fellowship along with the great music.

A FREE WILL offering will be taken to help the thousands of prisoners Berean serves.

Lunch Date

We had a special day at the Berean office but best of all was Kathy and Marvin were both back. We did not expect Kathy back as we knew David was still in the hospital and were all shocked when she walked in the door.  She told us David is getting out of the hospital this afternoon so she grabbed these few hours and came to help us out. Marvin got back from his 2 week vacation in Gulf Shores.

When Marvin goes on vacation he doesn't really just lay around, he spent time removing the glass shower doors from the tubs in the condo he was staying  replacing those with shower curtains. The owner asked him to do it and he did it.
We had 88 requests for Bibles today and around 250 studies. Below the owner of the building, Wayne came in to check on things.

 Mark also came so we were very efficient on entering the studies and Bible requests

Marie came today bringing gifts. 

 A huge container of tomatoes. Robin took most of them to can for the winter. 

 Robin kept everyone busy stuffing studies while the Bible requests were entered. 

 We had a special surprise today. Stephanie, Israel and Elisabet brought lunch for everyone. 

 It was DELICIOUS!

 After lunch Israel helped sweep up the floor. 

 He was fascinated with the little carpet sweeper. 

 Elisabet helped pull out the replacement garbage bags. 

 She was happy to help. 

It is always a special day when the grand children come to help out at this office. A big thank you to Stephanie and all the other wonderful volunteers that helped out today.

The Speaker AT the Banquet

The Berean Banquet was held tonight and what a night it was. Rhonda sent a few pictures. Below is a picture of the table before it got all messed up with food. I think Pam and Myrna did all the center pieces.

The band playing while we ate was really good called Rivers of Life Band which was made up of all pastors of the Methodists church.

Ken Helmuth gave an update on Berean activities around the world. One man was honored for volunteering 40 years at the Peoria County Jail. After that came the testimony of Jon Watts who was only 17 years old when he was placed in the Tazewell county jail for possessing drugs, domestic abuse and assaulting an officer. He was placed in lockdown and someone gave him a Bible. Today he is a youth pastor and loves the Lord.

Sparky introduced Dr. Lew Sterrett, the main speaker and when Dr. Lew spoke we all listened.

He told about a horse he trained that slammed against the fence time after time. Only later did he find out that this horse had never been able to be contained in a fence. Dr. Lew spoke a lot of fences and how they are there actually for our freedom. I sure hope someone recorded his talk, it is really worth listening to again.

It was an amazing evening and one I'm very glad not to have missed.

The Banquet

The Berean banquet is THIS Thursday and it starts at 6:00 pm at 5 Points Washington. We are very pleased that the horse trainer/ minister Dr Lew Sterrett will be speaking. 
We didn't even think to discuss the banquet this morning. We were short handed with Marvin on vacation and Dave still in the hospital and Kathy staying with him. Thankful Mark made it back from his many mission trips to help out on the computer.

We had some problems with the postage machine today which also set us back as we had a lot of mail to process and stamp. Bill arrived and was able to get it going. 

 Chuck, Vonnie, Shirley, Joyce and Glenna went right to work opening the studies while mom and Leila read letters. 

 Marvin came in with a big box full of greeting cards Jan donated for the jail. Mark goes to the jail every Sunday and offered to take them. 

 When Jeanette arrived she was put to work helping Robin wrap Bibles. 

 Wayne, the owner of the building came in today to make sure all was well. We are always glad to see him. 

I wasn't sure what to do about lunch as yesterday I was too busy to go shopping or prepare anything. I planned on stopping at Sam's club to buy us all something for lunch but last night Robin sent a text that Sam's club had a fire and the store would be closed for maybe a month.  Mom offered to drive to Walmart and pick up rotisserie chicken, salad, fruit, rolls and a caramel apple pie for dessert.  We took a break and all really enjoyed that. Everything was so delicious, OR we were so hungry from working overtime. After lunch the Bibles were labeled and loaded into Bill's car. We had 124 Bible request this week and almost 300 studies come in. Peoria church has too many studies to grade so when Roanoke called to ask for some we were glad to send them all the studies this week.  Every time we have a need we are blessed with someone stepping up to fill that need even without us asking. THANK YOU!