East Gate Extension

-On-farm trials of cabbage produced under screening for insect control-

"The advances of science are accelerating at an amazing rate, allowing us to have a better understanding of creation through the tools of science."

-The Fortner Family-

Nathan Fortner, Founder and Executive Director of East GateExtension, is on a mission to connect farmers and researchers through the hands and feet of the church by forming collaborative solutions in response to food shortage crises around the world.  In addition to the management positions he held in agronomy in the biotech industry for 10 years and currently pursuing a Doctorate in Plant Health, he is the husband to his wife, Rachel, of 17 years and they share in the joy of raising 5 beautiful children! 

Nathan's endeavors of starting this non-profit organization began when he noticed a break in the agricultural research rope that could be tied together as a lifeline for those that need it the most.  

"It started as random conversations with two separate missionaries visiting our church; one from Bangladesh and one from Chile. Both learned that I work in agriculture and immediately began asking for ideas or solutions to agricultural issues in their communities. After the second, nearly identical conversation, I knew there was a larger underlying issue: there are people wanting to get involved in ag, they don't know how or where to get involved, and they don't know where to find appropriate expertise."

-Research trials at the World Vegetable Center for southern and eastern Africa region-

Effective transfer of research findings to growers' farms is crucial to substantial increases in crop production. By definition, agricultural extension is the application of scientific research and new knowledge to agricultural practices through farmer education. Hence, the name East Gate Extension. 

Nathan explains how he did his own research to assess whether there was a true need for a bridging of the gap,

"Through surveys we've conducted of missions organizations, we know there are many missionaries and ministries who see the need and have a desire to get involved in agriculture but don't know where to find expertise or how to get started. We also know there is an incredible amount of research being conducted in developing countries at top-notch universities and research institutes. The science and expertise are there and available! But that research and knowledge being generated are often bottle-necked at many research centers without funding or effective systems to get information to growers. 

-Nathan and fellow research scientists from the
Tanzanian Agricultural Research Institute-

There is a common theme in our conversations with scientists and researchers: they could help a lot of people if they only had access to them. Their solutions often "sit on the shelf", and they are anxious to partner with others on the front lines within farming communities (e.g. churches, missionaries,ministries, etc.) to demonstrate and share new technologies.

Many agricultural researchers also admit there is a human, or relational, element to extension efforts, for which they’re not always adequately equipped. They excel at working with plants; working with people?.....not so much.  So the gap EGX is filling is kind of double-sided. We're connecting churches/ministries who need agricultural expertise, with agricultural experts who need churches/ministries." 

As His children, we are all called to be as one in Christ.  Unity and having an active role in the community bridges divides and mends those broken ropes into circles of knots that are strong because of relationships.  Knots are actually stronger than other places in a rope that have not been broken.  In the upside down world of Christ's love, mending brokenness where there was once disconnect creates indestructible bonds that could not otherwise have been devised.  This kind of bond is visible in East Gate's mission statement.

East Gate Extension (EGX) brings the CHURCH into the gap between the struggles of smallholder farmers and the solutions of science. We assess local agricultural production constraints, identify the best science and expertise for the needs of each unique agricultural production system, then equip the Church to transfer this knowledge through demonstration farms, seminars, and literature. By equipping the Church with the best agricultural science, we can extend the answers hidden in creation, and the love given by its Creator.

-Research technicians visiting on-farm trials of cabbage production-

These connections and bridges that bring unity cannot take place without humility and some vulnerability.  In talking about some projects that East Gate is currently working on in Nigeria and Tanzania, Nathan acknowledges that,

"… we need to know if the steps we’re taking, the connections we’re making, are going to fit together for a complete puzzle… we’re making sure we are willing to be wrong. We have to be able to identify and admit mistakes. If we’re so convinced of a particular strategy or technical resource that we can’t allow ourselves to see an error, we are doing a disservice to the people we hope to help." 

The conception of East Gate Extension was actually birthed from a place of brokenness and vulnerability in Nathan's own life. 

"I started down this path as a result of a pretty nasty demotion at the company I’d worked with for 10 years. It left me angry, confused, and depressed; but it also left me relieved and REALLY eager to move on. The whole experience of the demotion, contrasted to the vision for EGX gaining momentum, has me in a strange place where I don’t feel I can totally trust God, yet there’s nothing else worth trusting either, so I’m forced to grit my teeth and trust Him anyway."

It is when we share our stories that shape us, stretch us, and break us, that we build connection with others, because there is familiarity in facing difficult circumstances and overcoming those obstacles that brings us together.  We are all made in His image and we have a lot more in common than we ever imagined.  When we come together in unity, we tie another knot.  We have the ability to make a difference in our families, our communities, our cities, our countries, and our entire world, when we come together to celebrate (tie) our diversity rather than divide (sever) ourselves.

Please join us as we celebrate the diverse beauty from around the world at the 

Fashion of the Nations Show 

benefiting East Gate Extension.

 It will be a visual delight with messages of hope and encouragement you won't want to miss!  

Proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction of night sky photography by Landon Hough will go directly to EGX.

Tickets at the door:  Adults ($10), Children ages 4-12 yrs. ($5),  Free for children ages 3 & under.

 

 

 

Springfield Dream Center

Never wait to see how you feel before you decide what you're going to do.

-Joyce Meyer

Several years ago, I was riding one of those giant tour buses with big cushy blue-striped seats.  We were headed back to our hotel after touring the St. Louis Dream Center, spearheaded by Joyce Meyer.  My husband's grandmother was sitting next to me and as we were pulling away from the complex, she asked me, "So, would you want to do something like this someday?" I stared out the window as our driver waited his turn to enter into the long line of buses carrying hundreds of women to the conference.  I watched the neighborhood kids pick up their sack from the "lunch cart" stationed on the sidewalk and a game of basketball was going on between some young men in the parking lot.  An old towering stone church stood there, clustered amongst the box-like education buildings and meek housing units.  I replied, "I don't think the work God gave me will look just like this, but He gave Joyce a dream to help others fulfill theirs and I've got one too. We all have one." 

I would like to share with you the dream of a little girl from Harrisonville, Mo.  At 11 years old, she told her mom that she wanted to grow up to be the "Mother Theresa of the United States."  By the age of 16, Jody Glazner (pronounced like the glaze on your donut; I've included this because I feel I owe it to all 'people whose name is never pronounced correctly' proper clarification, as my struggle with my maiden name was very real) began inner-city missions and started an outreach for high-schoolers at her church.  "It was a place they could come to with others their age in a positive, welcoming environment."

Jody went on to study Public Relations at Missouri State University with an emphasis in Non-Profits.  She was ecstatic to have acquired an interview with Teach For America upon graduation.  She knew she aced it, and the job was as good as gold, until the very last question.  It was at that moment, God spoke to her heart.  "I'm so sorry," she answered. "I won't be able to finish the interview.  I think I'm supposed to be somewhere else."  That place was right here in Springfield, as the Student Ministry director for Northpoint Church.  She spent four years with the students before moving into her current position heading up the Give Back program where she's been for the last three years.  The Give Back program organizes events that offer numerous ways for citizens to give back to the community through projects, donations, and volunteer opportunities.  Jody's passion for interacting and helping the community has always been rooted in her solid belief of truly investing in the neighborhood.   

This past January, Jody arranged a meeting with the director of the Chicago Dream Center and came away from that meeting knowing that was the reason she had walked away from that interview three and a half years earlier.  The idea of a dream center was her "somewhere else."

She received a letter from Hamlin Baptist in March.  It was an invitation to write a proposal for their church building in Zone 1 on Atlantic St.  Hamlin would be moving to their newly built location on the northwest side of town and wanted to see their current space put to good use by offering it as a gift to an organization that would utilize that space for a worthwhile cause.  And so it happened that Jody and her team applied and presented to the Hamlin Baptist board with the idea of bringing a dream center to Springfield.  She knew she was up against some tough competition, but ironically as it worked out, the proposal of a Springfield Dream Center was the only one left in the interview process, as all of the other candidates had suddenly dropped out.  This was the interview that was destined to be!

The Springfield Dream Center was chosen by Hamlin Baptist in August and then received ownership of and began work in the building in December.  The 501c3 will fully launch during spring break, March 13th, with community dinners, free counseling, tutoring, and after- school care.  They will be working hand in hand with nationally recognized programs such as Circles and Northwest Project. Their goals over the next 5 years are to increase the after-school program from 50 to 200+ spots, create scholarships for volunteering high-school students, provide job and life skills classes, and host telemedicine care. 

If you're ready to build relationships with the community, offer your expertise and talents, and invest in your neighborhood, there's no better place than the Springfield Dream Center.  Big dreams are taking shape and volunteers are needed!  There are opportunities available for all ages and abilities at www.springfielddreamcenter.com.  

World Gospel Mission: Marg Hartung

Marg in breathtaking Monument Valley

The definition of determination according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is  a quality that makes you continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult and also a fixing or finding of the position, magnitude, value, or character of something.  This word came to my mind when I thought of Margaret Hartung with World Gospel Mission, for she does not deter from reaching the nations.  In 1974,  Marg's life as a teacher was changed when God spoke to her about being a messenger to a nation on the other side of the earth.  She took a leave from teaching Spanish and German to study theology at California Lutheran University, went to Dallas for linguistics courses with Wycliffe Bible Translators, and embarked on trips with her home church to Mexico, Thailand, Burma, and Ecuador.  She joined Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1996 and after training, studying, and raising support, found herself on a one-way flight to Tanzania in 1998.  After studying Swahili for a time, she was assigned to the Rangi project as a Literacy Specialist.  The Rangi are a people group in north central Tanzania who number over 350,000.  Her challenge; to write primers and story books for the Rangi people.  She dedicated her time to help them read and write their language which was previously only spoken.  Her determination in East Africa for 7 1/2 years,  gave the Rangi a gift that could now be passed on to generations to come.

While still working in Tanzania, she began having symptoms that were later diagnosed as Parkinson's Disease.  After much deliberation, she took a furlough and worked in the US, inputting primers and books into the computer for Wycliffe's Mexico Branch.  Not only did she receive restoration during this time, but she received her next  nation. 

Betsy Newman receives recognition

The American Indian Field of World Gospel Mission needed Marg's expertise to finish a project that Carol Cochran had poured herself into but never completed.  Carol had lost her battle with cancer in 2002, after just two student books of the primer were written, along with a partially completed teacher's manual.  On the first of December in 2007, Marg arrived in Farmington, New Mexico, about 30 miles from the eastern border of the vast 27,000 square mile reservation.  Since her move, she has been working diligently to complete the work Carol began years ago.  It has not been an easy task. The original volumes had been corrupted in the computer and needed revision, but she has made some strong headway with the invaluable help of Navajo friends and fellow World Gospel Mission colleagues.

Marg began her journey into Navajo culture with the aid of Betsy and Alfred Newman.  Betsy had worked extensively on the first two volumes with Carol.  As a young man, Alfred was one of the 420 Navajo's who joined the marines to become a code talker in World War II.  Over the course of a year's time, Marg and Betsy modified and corrected what they already had, completed the teacher's manual for Volume 1 and wrote another for Volume 2 using Carol's research.  Betsy then translated both manuals into Navajo for those teacher's who would be teaching in the native language.  After the books were edited, Marg began teaching from the materials in a pilot class at a local church.  Benjamin Hogue,  a 16 year former delegate of the Council of the Navajo Nation, co-taught the class. His wife, Lolita, assisted in book sales, attendance and student relations.  The pilot class took a vital role in the completion of the books, as Marg spent the next six months fine-tuning the materials.

Navajo language instruction

Ben & Lolita Hogue

The Navajo have the largest and most sophisticated form of American Indian government.  It includes 88 elected council delegates representing 110 chapters.  Meetings take place at the local chapter house, usually conducted in the Navajo language.  At chapter house meetings all across the Navajo Nation, Marg has had the privilege of introducing the primers to those who already read and write their language and instruct them how they can effectively teach using the books. 

San Juan College is now teaching a Navajo Reading and Writing Class using the materials, as well as one at Summit Training Post in Window Rock, and another at Shonto Bible Church.  Two more teachers have also expressed an interest in using the books and manuals for a future class.

It is Margaret Hartung's determination that forces the barrier to become the avenue.  It is a quality that makes her continue trying to do or achieve something that is difficult.  She does not deter.  She has allowed God to move through her to fix or find the position, magnitude, value, or character of something in His Nations all across this beautiful planet. 

If you would like to support or contribute to the work Marg Hartung is doing with World Gospel Mission at the American Indian Field in Peoria, AZ, you can donate online .   While you're there, flip through the pages of The Call to read some amazing stories from the rest of the world changers at WGM, headquartered in Marion, IN.  

Cherish Kids

"When I was about 16 years old, I started bringing home neighborhood kids to help them in any way I could.  I could just tell they were hurting in some sort of desperate situation.  My parents were concerned at first, but I would tell them not to worry, I would take care of them." 

I recently had the privilege of meeting with Marla Robison, the Assistant Director of Cherish Kids, and cherishing kids is exactly what she does.  Helping children find a safe, loving, and nurturing environment has been her passion since she was in high school.  She volunteered for 1 1/2 years at Cherish Kids before becoming their first and only employee. Cherish Kids
is a non-profit organization ran almost entirely by dedicated volunteers who are committed to a threefold mission:

RAISE AWARENESS of the needs of children in crisis locally, statewide and around the world.

OFFER RESOURCES by providing credible information and guidance to families and individuals who desire to help.

PROVIDE SUPPORT by assisting children in crisis with essential needs and providing financial, emotional and spiritual support to families and individuals in their effort to foster and adopt.

The vision of Cherish Kids is:

"... founded on the belief that every child is a gift from God and deserves to be cared for and cherished. Cherish Kids endeavors to improve the quality of life for children who find themselves displaced or orphaned. The vision of Cherish Kids is to make a difference in the lives of children in crisis by collaborating with state, counties, churches and adoption agency leaders."

Unfortunately, there are nearly 2,000 orphans and 11,000 children in foster care in the state of Missouri, 100,000 orphans and over a half million in foster care in the U.S.  While discussing these astounding statistics with Marla, she noted that there are far more churches than there are orphans and if only one family from each church took in a child, every orphan in America would have a home.  The state is overflowing with children who need families, and Marla believes that foster care should have always come from the church.   I have to agree that one of the reasons there are so many children in state custody is because we as the church have placed our calling of caring for the displaced onto the shoulders of the state.  After all,  Jesus himself was adopted by his father Joseph, and we are all orphans adopted by our Father.  We are sought after, sons and daughters of Christ, welcomed as His children.

The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.  Romans 8:16

I am reminded of an article I once read by Kinsey Thurlow, titled Is the Church ready for the abortion law to change?  I encourage you to read it in its entirety but she concludes with these impactful paragraphs,

God has defined pure and undefiled religion as caring for orphans and widows (James 1:27). But why? Why did He define it this way? Because it is imitating Him. It is the emulation of the very expression of love that the Father has bestowed upon us. When we were alone, orphaned and without hope, He ordained our adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself.

As a Father to the fatherless who sets the lonely into families, God desires to display His heart through His people.  He commands us to vindicate the weak and fatherless, to do justice to the afflicted and destitute, and to rescue the weak and needy (Psalm 82).

Unless the nation is revived, and God’s people turn toward a fatherless generation of children, we are not prepared for a change in abortion law. Yes, we should keep contending for the law to change, but also for God to raise up a people who are not just against abortion, but are truly Pro-LIFE.  O God, restore the value of life in this nation, and teach us to love and pursue the unwanted.

There are five different ways you can help CherishKids rescue orphans locally and around the world. 

1.  You can donate!

2.  You can volunteer!

3.  You can provide respite care!

4.  You can provide foster care!

5.  You can adopt!

One month after Marla started working with Cherish Kids, she attended her first Adoption Exchange, in which they film a short interview with a child up for adoption so prospective parents can view it.  A 12 year-old boy sat nervously in front of the camera.  Hoping to provide comfort and reassurance, she sat down to talk with him before the interview.  His last comment of their brief conversation was, "I wore my best shorts, do you like them?"  She told him they were the best looking shorts she had ever seen and slipped out of the room so they could begin.  She smiled and waved goodbye to him from afar so he couldn't see the mascara stains and tears streaking down her cheeks.  Marla promised me during our meeting that she will find a spot for anyone willing to help, regardless of their calling, whether it be support through donation, volunteering, or providing a loving home.  I loved how heartfelt she expressed, "There's a place for everyone!"  Truly, there IS a place for EVERYONE! 

Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.  Matthew 19:14

Check out Cherish Kids and all of their fun gatherings and events including their annual 5K/10K run by visiting their website or facebook page! 

Pregnancy Care Center

Pregnancy Care Center

 

 

Love life.  It really is that simple. 

I recently had the privilege of speaking with Kimberly Costello, Development Director of the Pregnancy Care Center.  I think she wore a smile the entire two hours that we spoke, a joyous grin that couldn't be pried off with a crowbar. We discussed the history, services, and events of the PCC and nestled in each was a very lively story.  Oh, how I love a good life story!  As I listened to each one, the corners of my mouth began to creep upward, and when she stepped out of the room to grab some literature, I caught myself stretching out my jaw with OHH's and AHH's. Those smile-inducing stories are reflected in the name of their most recent campaign, NOW: Hope.Help.Life.   

 

In fact, the Pregnancy Care Center is full of people with hearts to help, to give hope, and cherish life.   The PCC's mission is to provide health, wellness, and relationship education for young people facing an unplanned pregnancy, and presenting healthy relationship education in local schools to equip teens to make positive choices.   They do this through their many services free of charge:

Pregnancy Testing Program Mentoring & Enrichment Programs Ultrasound Program Healthy Relationship Programs Healthy Pregnancy Classes Parents and the Law Fatherhood Program Community/Medical Referral	Family Support Program Labor and Birth Courses Adoption Education Lactation Consulting Baby and Maternity Resources Smoke-free Babies Community Presentations Choices Project

The complete scope of these all-encompassing services are quite impressive.  Pregnancy Care Center partners with more than 50 community organizations, universities, schools, social service organizations, and foundations to meet the needs of every young woman and her family members that walk through their door.  They have served over 231,617 young people since 2000, delivered crisis intervention and medical services to 12,863 new clients, and volunteers have invested more than 440,716 service hours.  With the help of their wonderful staff, volunteers, and supporters, the PCC has been able to make a notable community impact.  Teen pregnancies have declined over 24% since 2000, and 100% of those that participated in PCC's Nutrition Education Program, have avoided low birth-weight and pre-term babies.  Over 95% of clients make a positive pregnancy choice following an ultrasound, and more than 6,100 lives have been saved.  PCC has been working passionately to reduce Community Red Flags which include:

v  Child Abuse and Neglect

v  Communicable Diseases

v  Domestic Violence

v  Homeless Children and Adolescents

v  Access to Health Care

v  Childhood Nutrition

v  Smoking During Pregnancy

v  Single Parents in Financial Distress

v  Children in Poverty

v  Illegal Drug Use

Pregnancy Care Center is definitely making a difference in our community, the proof is in the numbers.  Yet, the numbers are just a side effect, the real difference is in the lives of those that need a hand to hold, a friend to cry with and confide in, someone to reassure them that everything will be o.k.  PCC's goal is to save lives by respecting, honoring, and valuing each young woman they come in contact with.  In order to reach out to those in need, the Pregnancy Care Center has acquired a Mobile Medical Unit to connect with all those that are unable to get to the center or those that are unacquainted with the services the center offers.  The Mobile Medical Unit provides professional medical staff, pregnancy testing and ultrasounds.  The mobile unit's wheels roll through the Ozarks various days of the week, offering a direct, easily accessible center to those who need it  most.

You can help Pregnancy Care Center to continue to reach out to those that need hope, help, and life!  Find out how you can volunteer in any one of the many different positions PCC needs to fill at their Volunteer page or give financially at their Donate page.  PCC holds several events each year, find out more about their Annual Banquet coming up on April 13th. You can listen to Abby Johnson, former Planned Parenthood Director, share her story at last year's banquet by clicking here. Thanks to the Pregnancy Care Center for searching out the heartbeats that bring a smile to the soul.  You can keep up with PCC and hear about all their amazing stories on facebook.  

Find a way to get involved and love life!  Yep, it really is that simple.

Heart of the Ozarks

 

In 2004, Heart of the Ozarks was just a name whispered so clearly and unmistakably into the spirit of its future founder. I had the privilege of touring the organization's facilities with Phil Wilson, president of Heart of the Ozarks.  He was so kind to guide me and narrate as we passed through each branch of HOTO.  Today,  Heart of the Ozarks is comprised of six programs including the Hand Extended Food Pantry, Family First Services, Life A New, Freedom Recovery Services, Pass It On, and D.E.R.T.  Phil had never imagined that HOTO would encompass so many services, but each service has been formed out of a need from the local community.  It has been "The local community caring for local people" since its inception.

Our first stop was Family First, a program that supplies families with the tools necessary to cook and eat healthy while being budget conscious.  The Family First facilities are still in the works and will need additional funding or donations of expertise to finish it up.  Services include nutrition, meal planning, and cooking classes, as well as budget minded shopping exercises.  Hannah Wilson, director of Family First, works with dietitians and farmer's markets to provide information to her clients about affordably living and  eating healthy.  The classes are compromised of about eight students, and Family First is hoping to work with chefs and nutritionists to provide cooking demonstrations as well as field trips to local farms.  Classes teach how to use produce and healthy ingredients in quick and easy recipes that can be purchased on food stamps or a tight grocery budget.  There is no other program in the Ozarks that fulfills this need in the community and I applaud Family First for cutting open the fresh fundamentals of cost-effective cooking.

Our second stop was Pass It On, a program that provides a Christmas shopping experience for children and their parents to pick out a gift for one another.  A temporary Christmas shop is set up for families to come browse through thousands of gifts to find the perfect present for their loved one.  Although this is a one day event, the preparations for next year are begun as soon as the previous year's event is over.  Volunteers go through donations, browse thrift stores, and conquer Black Friday sales, in which teams  are sent to various businesses with specific gift items in mind.  As items come in, they are separated into categories based on age and gender and then pulled together to create beautiful themed baskets.    A  dinner, auction, and dance is held each year to raise the funds necessary to put more than 1700 gifts in the hands of those that would otherwise have nothing to give.  This year, Pass It On, will be on Saturday, December 8th, where volunteers get to share in the joy of giving by filling cups with hot chocolate, wrapping up presents, and witnessing children and parents beam with delight as they too are given the opportunity to give.

 

Next up, the Hand Extended Food Pantry, offers a three day emergency supply of food once a month to those in need in the surrounding community.  The three day supply consists of perishable and non-perishable items that can be combined for three meals a day for each member of the family, totaling nine meals for each member.  The pantry is open just one day a week, but manages to serve over 50,000 meal portions and $120,000 worth of food to its recipients annually.  Local businesses have generously donated refrigeration and freezer appliances and continue to donate additional food and supplies.  Hand Extended literally does just that, it reaches out and lifts up those that are struggling when grocery supplies are running short for the month. A three day supply of meals can be crucial in aiding those that have fallen on hard times and can't quite make ends meet.

The Disaster Emergency Response Team, D.E.R.T., was next on the tour.  D.E.R.T is a team of local volunteers, developed to work with first responders in a crisis situation.  A number of members on the D.E.R.T team are qualified medical professionals or have received training from state agencies and know just what to do if a disaster strikes in the community.  The team has responded to several emergencies over the years, including the catastrophic EF5 tornado that hit Joplin, Mo. in 2011 and a January fire at a local homeless shelter affecting over 150 residents.  The goal of the Disaster Emergency Response Team is to be ready and prepared to be the first deployed if tragedy stands and knocks at our neighbors doorsteps.

The final stretch of our tour was Life A New and Freedom Recovery Services.  These two life-changing programs are dedicated to helping people overcome addictions.  Over 150 people gather each week for a free meal and group counseling sessions.  Those being counseled break into groups of eight, with one facilitator, and deal with life-controlling issues including alcohol and drug abuse.  Many of the facilitators are recovered addicts themselves, having walked in the same shoes. They return the favor of support and encouragement, by being an example of hope and triumph.  Those that need one-on-one counseling to break free from a controlling dependence are recommended to Freedom Recovery Services, where state-certified counselors spend time individually helping them achieve true freedom. 

I was amazed at the scale and expansiveness of Heart of the Ozarks, an organization run almost entirely on a volunteer basis, including each program director and the president himself. What amazed me even more was that Heart of the Ozarks is truly ran by the heart.  As I sat in the waiting room at the offices, I overheard  two ladies in a conversation while working away.  The chat was about how they could make a difference in others lives and that they wanted to be ready and willing to be a blessing when called upon.  As people came and went, every single one of them boasted a smile or a joyful tune.  When Phil hurried in to meet me for the tour, he was covered in dust and yellow paint splotches.  He apologized for being a few minutes late and explained he had taken a side job painting the inside of a house just down the street.  After the tour, I started to understand why the name, Heart of the Ozarks, was spoken so clearly.  The hard work, the long hours, the sweat, blood, and tears that have poured into Heart of the Ozarks, is pouring directly into and out from God's own immeasurable heart.

If you would like to get involved at Heart of the Ozarks, you can make a donation securely at www.hoto.org or you can volunteer your time or services by contacting them through their website or by calling 417-501-HOTO.  They also offer a fantastic partnership program for local businesses who would like to contribute to making a difference in the Ozarks.  Show your support of HOTO at their facebook page!