TrACTOr PULL - Heartland Community

ECRWSS POSTAL CUSTOMER
PRSRT-NONPROFIT U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 1 • NEWARK, MO 63458
CNS International Ministries, Inc.
6417 Shelby 150, Suite A
Bethel, MO 63434
JULY 6TH, 9am ‘TIL DARK
Open House
FREE ADMISSION
SCHEDULE
5K Road Race.....................Registration 6:00am; Race 7:00am
Field Opens: FREE ADMISSION......................................9:00am
XCaliber Tractor Pull.....................................10:00am-2:30pm
Entertainment in the Main Tent.................................. 2:00pm
Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull............................. Registration 1:00pm
Pull 3:00pm
Strongest Farmer Competition................ Registration 3:00pm
Competition 4:00pm
Hymn Sing.................................................................. 4:00pm
Homestead Pickers...................................................... 5:00pm
Free Dinner & Entertainment..............................5:00-7:00pm
Music & Address by Pastor Charles Sharpe.................. 7:00pm
Fireworks.....................................................................at Dusk
*Schedule subject to change.
TRACTOR PULL
See a great FREE show by
Xcaliber Pulling from10-2:30pm.
The classes competing are:
Pro-Stock Diesel 4x4 Trucks
8500lb Limited Pro Stock Tractors
Modified Two Wheel Trucks
6400 Limited Pro Stock / 6100 lb Super Stock
REGISTER TO COMPETE IN:
5K ROAD RACE
Guided Heartland Facility Tours (including the Dairy),
5K Road Race, Antique Car & Tractor Show,
XCALIBER Tractor Pull, Farming Demonstrations,
Children’s Activities (Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull, Inflatable
Games, Barrel Train Rides, Petting Zoo),
Strongest Farmer Competition (Men & Women),
Free Dinner Served 5-7pm, Entertainment,
and of course a Great Fireworks Display at Dusk!
Our 3rd annual 5k starts at 7am.
Cash prizes $150, $100, and $50
for top three finishers in men’s
and women’s divisions. Preregistration on or before June
27th = $15 (free tshirt); after
June 27th = $20. Sign up online, or see page 11.
FREE ANTIQUE CAR
& TRACTOR SHOW
If you have a vintage car,
motorcycle, or tractor, join us!
Clubs are welcome. To compete,
have your vehicle in place by
11:00am. View the website for details, or see page 11
for registration forms to sign up by mail or fax.
Daytime concessions selling sandwiches, roasted corn on the cob, lemonade, soda, kettle corn, ice cream & more.
www.HeartlandMissouri.com • Phone (660) 284-6212
BRING YOUR LAWN CHAIRS & SPEND THE DAY
NO ALCOHOL PERMITTED • SHIRT & SHOES REQUIRED
Please join us for the annual Heartland Open House, July 6th
In God We Trust
We are living in tough days in our
nation. Our economy, our government, and
our national security all seem to be on shaky
ground. Unfortunately, many people are still
trusting in those things to get through life.
And that will never work.
The good news is that we have something
to trust in that will never fail, and that is God.
All through the Bible we see examples of how
God took care of His people during famines,
wars, and just the basic troubles of this life.
We also have testimonies in our own lives of
God’s provision. His mercy and His neverending love are available to all those who are
called by His name.
The secret is to be called. When we give our lives to God through the blood of Jesus Christ
and the work of the Holy Spirit, we really do find new life. We discover victory over sin, fear,
anger, doubt, and worry. Life isn’t always perfect. We still have bills to pay and hard decisions to
make. But, when we trust in God to lead us, things really do work out.
In this newspaper, you will read stories of some people who discovered the freedom of
trusting in God. And other stories are all around you today in the lives of people serving at Open
House. If we at Heartland can be of any help to you or your family, please do not hesitate to ask.
We pray God’s blessings on you and yours. - Charles & Laurie Sharpe
Heartland is located just off Route E (Heartland Drive) between
Newark and Bethel, Missouri. Open House will be held at the north
end of the Heartland campus on Shelby County Road 150. For more
detailed directions, visit our website: www.HeartlandMissouri.com.
More information on page 12. Or visit our web site for details: www.HeartlandMissouri.com
The Heartland Community...between Bethel & Newark on Heartland Drive
We’re here to serve!
www.heartlandmissouri.com
Heartland Christian Academy.......................... 660-284-6300
Heartland Christian College............................. 660-284-4800
Heartland Community Church ......................... 660-284-6330
Heartland Recovery Centers ........................... 660-284-6212
Heartland Auto Repair & Body Shop................ 660-284-6377
Heartland Dairies ............................................ 660-213-5100
Heartland Telecommunications....................... 660-284-6152
Heartland Tours ............................................... 660-213-4584
Calvary Medical Center .................................... 660-284-4300
Cleansing Waters Laundry/Dry Cleaning ......... 660-284-4131
Mission House Thrift Store ............................... 660-284-4175
New Creation Country Store ............................ 660-284-6347
Ozark Lodge & Steakhouse .............................. 660-284-6333
Scribbles & Scribes Ink - Graphic Design .......... 660-284-6230
Solid Rock Cafe ................................................ 660-284-6371
Changed Hearts & Lives
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Jessica Bumgardner – Heartland Christian Academy
Abundant Life
By the time I was seven years old, my
parents’ marital problems had taken a turn
for the worse. They were separated for a period of time, but decided to try and work
things out…this time with God’s help. This
involved attending a local church. Although
my mother had been raised in church,
she was not walking with the Lord at that
point, and my dad had never experienced
a life truly submitted to Christ. However,
attending that small country church really
did make all the difference in the world for
my family at that time. It was not long until
my dad submitted his life to Christ and my
mom returned to the path she was raised
on as a child. My parents’ decisions at that
time had a profound effect on me and in
April of 1991, at eight years of age, I gave
my life to Christ.
I was just a child, but I remember
having an understanding of salvation and
Jesus definitely did a work in my heart!
However, once I became a teenager things
began to get more difficult. Several of my
friends were not living a Christian lifestyle
and my church was having some problems
at the time as well. I began searching for
something different, something solid that I
could stand on. I felt like the faith of my
childhood was slipping away, though I really did not want that to happen. I began
to feel the influence of youthful desires like
never before and knew if I did not make a
change in my life things were not going to
go so well for me anymore.
When I cried out to God in desperation He was so faithful to hear my prayer
and send me to a place where I could learn
how to live out my faith successfully. At age
19, I enrolled in what is now called Heartland Christian College. During my time in
Bible College, I truly learned what it means
to be His, and how to live a life that brings
glory to His name. Jesus was no longer just
a piece of my life, but encompassed every
area: work, school, friendships—everything!
During Bible College and for several
years following I worked for the Heartland
Christian Academy boarding school,
helping young people who had faced
many of the same youthful struggles
that I did. By the mercy of God they
Life with Jesus
is not a fairytale,
but it truly is more
abundant.
were removed from those difficult situations
and then sent to a place where they could
have a better opportunity to succeed.
Since that time, I
have also had the amazing opportunity to be
part of Heartland missions, specifically in the
country of Egypt. For
me, this was a lifelong
dream made a reality.
Having the opportunity
to help people in a country without all the freedoms we enjoy and take
for granted everyday
has only further solidified my own faith. It has
been a privilege to build
friendships with people
in that country through
the years and I know the people of Egypt
will always be written upon my heart in a
special way.
Today, I am married to a man with a
powerful testimony of God’s redemption
and am blessed to walk this life with him.
We recently had our first son, who continues to be a tremendous blessing to our
lives. I am currently teaching English and
Bible at Heartland Christian Academy and
love what I do. Teaching young people academics while also helping them find God’s
path for their lives is a privilege and great
responsibility that I am thankful to God for
every day. Life with Jesus is not a fairytale,
but it truly is more abundant. In each and
every struggle I have faced through the
years He has been there to guide me and
help me through it. I could not imagine life
without Him.
Pictured here, Jessica and her husband
Josh dedicated their one-year-old during a
recent Sunday morning baby dedication at
Heartland Community Church.
F or v i d eo te s timonie s of c h an g e d l i v e s , v i s it o u r we b s ite
www.heartland-ministries.org
Courtney Mintz – Heartland Women’s Home
Set Free from Addiction
MY GOD IS A REDEEMER, RESTORER, FAITHFUL, AND FREEING GOD!
My name is Courtney Mintz. I had a
great up-bringing, supportive parents, and
an awesome childhood. Although my parents never took my brother and I to church,
I did have grandparents who would take us
occasionally. So I knew about God and believed in Him, I just did not know the depth
of the Christian walk.
As a teenager I always went the extra
mile to fit in or try and fill the void I felt in
my heart. After high school I met the love of
my life and we got married in April of 2002.
I thought my fairytale life had just begun,
but in reality it was headed for destruction.
I had postpartum depression after the birth
of our son and I started abusing pain pills.
Within three years of this horrible addiction one pill a day turned into sixty pills a
day. I was out of control; it consumed my
life.
My husband did not know what to do
with me so he decided to take me and our
son to my parents’ to live because he had
had enough and he could not take it anymore. My parents and husband decided to
take me to a secular rehab in Oklahoma
where I met a doctor. I left my husband, son, and parents and moved
to Oklahoma to be with him.
This turned into a nightmare.
He gave me all the drugs I
wanted, but he also beat
me. One thing led to another and by the time I
was at rock bottom I
was hooked on heroine
and ecstasy. I would
do anything to get my
next high.
In October of 2008
I woke up and realized
I had nothing but an
empty apartment. I had lost my husband, out, but because I was trying to do it in my
son, and parents! I sat on the step of my own strength, I lost that passion for Christ
apartment crying out to God to please in my heart. But God kept working in my
help me because I could see myself dead life.
When my ex-husband called me and
or in prison if I did not do something
different. I called my parents and told offered to let our son Spencer come live
them I needed help. They mailed me the with me, I could not believe it! I thought to
handbook to the Heartland Women’s myself after all I had done, God still loves
me enough to give
Program.
I
me back my son
read over it and
and have another
within a month
chance to be the
I was divorced,
godly mother that
bankruptcy
he deserves.
finalized, and
Even another
was here at
chance at getHeartland to
ting my son back
start my new
did not stop me
beginning.
from falling into
After betemptation. After
ing here for
I graduated I did
six
months
- Philippians 1:6
stumble, but with
God got ahold
the awesome supof me. That
port system we
empty void I
had felt in my heart for so many years have here at Heartland I got back on track.
had been replaced by the love of Jesus! I truly believe if I had not walked through
I decided that I had to surrender all to that I would not be where I am today.
Today I work at the Heartland WomHim—my wants, my family, and
my son. A year into my en’s Recovery Home. I oversee the Women’s
program I thought I and Children’s Home, helping other women
had it all figured learn how to be godly mothers our children
deserve.
I can say today that because of Him I
am redeemed and free from my drug addiction. He has restored my relationship
with my parents and brother, He gave me
my son back, and best of all I can call myself a child of God.
Courtney prays her story will encourage
other women to seek help. “If there is anything I want to do,” she says, “it is to give
hope to mothers who are trying to get their
children back because I am a living proof
that God works miracles.”
“Being confident of this very
thing, that he who began
a good work in you will
perfect it until the day of
Jesus Christ.”
Andy Garcia –
Sharpe Land & Cattle
Changed
by God
Early on in my life I always wanted to
be a part of something. Gangs became my
thing. Having power and respect was everything to me back then, and the lifestyle that
came with it was drugs and then prison.
I was in a lot of rehabs in my life, but
never changed. While I was in prison I
went to chapel where I picked up and read
a pamphlet about a place called Heartland.
I applied and was accepted after I got out
of prison.
This program showed me there is a
different way of living. I started milking
cows for about two months, then went to
Calf Town where we take care of the young
calves. At five and a half months into my
program, I started running Calf Town.
It was hard at times. But being obedient helped me so much that I am now the
Dairy Supervisor. It just shows you what
the power of God can do.
It is amazing how much my life has
changed. Sometimes we would rather have
our own two feet on the ground so that we
feel we are in control. But God wants us to
hop onto His wings; only He knows how
high He’ll take you.
My mom moved here from California,
and now I can really enjoy our relationship.
She knows I am not out partying or in jail.
She has a respectful, godly man for a son.
Mom, I love you so much and your prayers
paid off!
There is a Peace I found here at Heartland, and so I stayed. Now I’m part of a
powerful church that reaches out to people
like me. God gives me the ability to talk and
help change lives because the power of God
changed me. He can change anybody.
God transformed Andy’s life, and Andy
continues to trust in God every day to live for
Him and be an example to those God puts in
his path.
Jaymes Schrock – Scribbles & Scribes Ink
Making Way for
God’s Dreams
My childhood was a typical All-American one—great family, big house, good
neighborhood near lots of family. Growing
up in a small Ohio town in “Amish country”
was about as picturesque as a childhood
could be. I grew up in the church and have
a very religious family legacy. Yep, living
the dream and loving every minute of it.
Many times we wish to live in our
childhood innocence but then the great
big reality of growing up starts to set in.
The challenge then becomes keeping our
dreams alive when so often the circumstances around us seem to want to rob us
of them. My family moved to Missouri
when I was ten, and when I was thirteen,
attending a local youth conference, I had
such a dream. I dreamt that I was in a far
off place talking to people that didn’t look,
talk, or act anything like me. I held on to
that dream watching and waiting for it to
become a reality.
I remember the first missions trip I
went on with our local church to Mexico. It
was a real eye opener to the reality of how
privileged I really was as a kid. During my
junior year my family moved to Heartland
to become part of the ministry. During my
senior year I went on two mission trips: to
Mexico again and the Philippines for the
very first time. I was certain that I was seeing my dream come true.
I hit a wall shortly after that. My family
began to have some problems and I really
questioned God for letting things happen
that did. Having grown up in such a tightknit family enviroment made it that much
harder to deal with. I thought my dream
had run its course and that this was life as
it would be from now on. Every day was a
struggle. But God remained faithful.
Did everything turn out perfectly the
way I would have wanted? No. Strange as it
may seem I found a lot of comfort in the Bible from the story of Job. Job said “though
He slay me yet will I trust in Him”(Job
13:15a). I knew my situations were nothing compared to what Job faced and knew
that if God was still worthy of honor, trust,
and love in the middle of those circumstances, He was worthy in the middle of
mine. “Though He slay me yet will I trust
in Him.”
His plans are good. Having made it
through those tough times I was happy just
to be in one piece, but God had a greater
plan. “For I know the plans I have for you,”
says the Lord, “they are plans for good
and not disaster, to give you a future and a
hope”(Jeremiah 29:11). Not only did God
help me weather the storm, He gave me my
dream back. And not just gave it back, but
made it grow and expand beyond what I
thought was possible. I was given the opportunity to join Heartland’s Missions
team traveling with Pastor Charles Sharpe
and the many teams we send all over the
world to share the gospel and help those in
need.
I have been out of the country more
then twenty times to at least ten different
countries. What I discovered was not just
God’s faithfulness to get us through
the day, but His plans are never
for us to stay at that place of
just getting by day after day
after day. He has a dream
and sometimes we have
to let our dream die to
make way for His.
When he is not
circling the globe,
Jaymes is working at Scribbles
& Scribes as a
graphic designer
on projects such
as logo design,
websites, and
branding.
V isit O ur W eb S ite
www.hlandmissions.org
Out of a desire to bless others, Heartland’s
Mission House Thrift Store opened its doors in
July of 2010. All proceeds go directly toward the
Church’s missions department efforts in places
such as Thailand, Haiti, Egypt, India, Mexico,
Colombia, Brazil, Moldova, Israel, Jericho, and
the Philippines. Our newest venture to the reservations in South Dakota is also exciting. Specifically, we have provided dishwashers, dryers,
a car, bicycles, motorcycles, food, clothing, electronics, land and so forth.
We are thankful for all of the donations
from the surrounding communities and neighboring states. Donations are welcome during
store hours; for after-hours donations, use the
drop box in the parking lot of the New Creation
Country Store. To contact the Mission House,
call 660-284-4175.
The Thrift Store is open 10am-6pm Thursday, and 10am-4pm Friday-Saturday, offering:
• Clothing and shoes for all ages
• Household items such as dishes, mugs,
small appliances
• Household furniture and decor
• Jewelry
• Books and games
• Baby, toddler, and children’s items
• Handbags and luggage
Connie Krzesinski – Heartland Community
Do You Know Him?
I grew up in the small town of Paulding, which is located in the northwestern
part of Ohio. My family was Catholic and I
always knew there was a God but never really understood what having a relationship
with Him meant. My husband joined the
church soon after we were married and we
had three children, Vinc, Ryan and Kelly.
Our family was active in the church and I
thought life was pretty good.
On December 27, 1993, my life was
forever changed. My husband and our two
sons were cutting wood and a tree fell on
our son, Ryan, and he
was killed. He was nine
years old. A part of my
heart went with my
son that day and I had
emptiness inside of me
that I cannot describe.
If there is a mother
reading this who has lost a child, you know
exactly what I am talking about. During this
very difficult time in my life, my marriage
seemed to be falling apart, I felt like I wasn’t
being the mom I should be to my other
children and I knew our family needed
help. One day I had a sudden desire to start
reading the Bible, which was something
our family had never done. I was searching
for the answer to why this was happening
to our family. Our family started attending
a Christian church; we started reading the
Bible together as a family and the children
enjoyed going to Sunday school. I felt that
God was pulling our family back together
again. In July of 1998, my husband and I
gave our hearts to the Lord and for the first
time in my life I had a peace that I had never known before. My favorite Bible verse is:
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and
lean not on your own understanding; in all
your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall
direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6. I knew
that whatever God would put before me,
He would be there to help me through it, if
I put my trust in Him.
It is easy to say that we trust the Lord,
another to put it into action. Our oldest son
turned away from God and it was a downward spiral for him for many years and instead of trusting God to take care of him, I
thought I needed to be there to bail him out
all the time. He ended up in prison and I felt
that I was losing another son. In 2010, the
hand of God came upon our family when
a judge in Ohio allowed our son to come
to Heartland to go through the men’s program instead of more prison time. His wife
and children moved here in 2011. (We have
five wonderful grandchildren!) It was such
a blessing to know that they were raising
their children in a Christian community.
Our daughter visited Heartland several
times and she felt God calling her to move
here. In October, 2011, we packed her up
and moved her to Heartland. I was really
struggling with “empty nest” syndrome
back in Ohio. Our children and grandchil-
dren were 500 miles away and I was having
a very hard time adjusting to the quietness
of our home.
The more I came to visit our children
the harder it was for me to leave; not only
because of the children but I felt a real sense
of belonging here. After a visit in January,
2012, I clearly heard God telling me that
we would be moving to Heartland and it
would be in July! I thought there is no way;
we would have to sell our home that we had
lived in for 25 years and all the stuff that
goes with it. My family all lived close by and
I helped out a lot with
my elderly mother.
How could this work
out?
My husband and I
talked to Pastor Charlie about what God
was telling us and he
said “Well, I don’t want you to move here
just because of your children; this is a ministry and you need to be here to help other
people, but if this is what you want to do,
then list your home with a realtor and if it
sells, you have your answer.” We listed our
...to really know Him
we must trust Him
with ALL of our heart...
home and had a buyer in two weeks. We
had our answer—we were moving to the
middle of a cornfield in Missouri. On July
14, 2012 we arrived at our new home in
Heartland. It wasn’t easy leaving our family and friends but my husband and I knew
that God was directing our paths.
I am currently working in the position of fourth grade instructor at
Heartland Christian Academy.
God has been faithful to provide my daily needs in and
out of the classroom. I have
been so blessed to share the
love of Jesus with my students and I am so thankful to be able to
work with such wonderful people at the
school. God is so good.
In September, 2012, our daughter married a wonderful man from Colombia,
South America and we are now expecting
our sixth grandchild. I have really enjoyed
meeting so many people from different
countries and learning about their cultures
here at Heartland. This is a privilege that I
would never have experienced in Ohio.
Pastor Charlie often asks us, “Do you
know Jesus, do you really know Him?” I
believe to really know Him we must trust
Him with ALL of our heart and when we
do, He will take us places we never thought
possible. If you don’t know Him, I encourage you to start reading the Bible and God
will speak to you. God bless you!
In addition to their own children and
grandchildren, Connie and her husband
Keith open their home to other young people
in need of friendship and encouragement.
Jeremy Deacon – Heartland Christian College
How Firm a Foundation
Drugs and alcohol. This was the very
thing that I grew up seeing, so I went after
the same things that the people around me
were doing. I was the typical high school
all star athlete and had a drug and alcohol
addiction to go with it. Notice I said addiction and not sickness because it was all a
choice.
I chose to live this kind of lifestyle and
I can say that the only reason I would regret it is because of the time lost to be able
to serve Jesus. On the other hand, I would
not take it back because I strongly believe I
would not be where I am today if it was not
for the rock bottom roads that eventually led me to Christ and into a two year
Bible college.
Jesus has set me free and because
of His love and mercy I now have the
life I always wanted—one full of peace
and joy with the help of true friends
and leaders that have surrounded me
in their lives, who have displayed to me
what it means to have a true relationship
with God and with friends.
Coming to Heartland Christian College has truly helped me and has shown me
that there is something far greater than just
living life. Bible College has given me purpose and direction in my life not because
of the College, but because of the Jesus
who lives on the inside of me who has
used Bible College as the foundation
for the rest of my life.
Since his graduation from
Heartland Christian College,
Jeremy continues to work on
Heartland’s construction
crew. He plans to continue
his education.
Heartland Community Church
Straight from
the Heart
You have probably seen Pastor Charles Sharpe and the Heartland Community
Church on your local tv station. Our Straight from the Heart program airs every
week, and is also available online at www.hland.tv.
Our church is the focal point of this small community in northeast Missouri
called Heartland. One of our greatest joys is seeing families restored and made
healthy by the power of Jesus Christ in their lives.
Our church services are held at the Heartland Christian Academy gymnasium
(located at 101 Nations Boulevard), and are always open to visitors. We welcome
anyone from the surrounding area who would like join us for:
Sunday School.........................................................................................9:00am
Sunday Worship.................................................................... 10:00am, 6:00pm
Wednesday Worship (Royal Rangers & Missionettes for Kids)....... 7:00pm
Also, a Spanish-language meeting is held Fridays at 7:00pm in the Men’s Center Power Barn building near LaBelle, with Spanish worship music and a translated
sermon.
As a church, we are eager to serve people in our community and beyond. Our
College students do service projects in nearby towns, and we provide a monthly
worship service at a local nursing home. Members of the congregation also help
feed the hungry through an outreach to the homeless in Kansas City. We also send
mission teams to places like Egypt, Israel, India, Moldova, and the Philippines every year. We support local pastors in many nations and host an annual conference
where missionaries can come to be refreshed and renewed. Our Thrift Store provides affordable clothing and household items to local residents, while the proceeds go toward blessing people internationally.
If you are looking for a church home, we invite you to consider Heartland.
And if you would like to know more about new life in Jesus Christ, please call us
at 660-284-6330.
Our Mailing Address:
6417 Shelby 150, Suite A, Bethel, MO 63434
Phone 660-284-6330
• • •
R adio & T elevision P rogramming S chedule
CW (Formerly WB) ........................................Sunday, 6:00am
KTVO Channel 3 ............................................Sunday, 9:00am
WGEM Channel 10 & WGEM 105.9 FM Radio.Sunday, 9:00am
CGEM Quincy Cable (Fox) ..............................Saturday, 12:00pm
KHQA Hannibal TV7 (CBS) .............................Sunday, 7:00am
WTJR Channel 16 . ........................................Sunday, 11:00am /
Tuesday, 9:30pm / Thursday, 2:00pm
view the T V S H O W O N L I N E :
www.hland.tv
Victoria Van Horn – Ozark Lodge & Steakhouse
What God has
done for Others,
He will do for You
Hi, my name is Victoria Van Horn. I
was born in the great state of Texas, into a
Christian home, with two older sibblings—
Joshua, and Elizabeth. But our family didn’t
stay small for long. A couple of years later I
had a little sister named Rebekah, and then
along came Michael, and Andrew, then
another little brother named J.B. But, God
didn’t stop there, He blessed us with one
more... and this time it was Hannah, which
we were all excited about after all of those
boys!
My parents always took us to church;
every Sunday and Wednesday we were at
God’s house. So, growing up in a Christian
environment I was blessed to hear the story
of Jesus and how He came to save us from
our sins over and over. When I was about
seven years old I accepted Jesus as my Savior. Soon afterwards I was baptized in water.
My younger sister was filled with the Holy
Spirit before me and I wanted the same experience for my life, so I began seeking the
gift of the Holy Spirit. God did not forget
about me and He gloriously filled me too!
Some could say I have missed out on
the pleasures of this life. I have not used
drugs, or drank alcohol. I have
had a sheltered upbringing.
But, when I look back on
my life, I don’t really feel
like I have missed out
on a thing. It is quite
the contrary, I have
been so blessed to
have not been exposed to the hardships and pain
that sin brings.
I am very thankful to God and
my wonderful
parents for how
I was raised—in
the fear and admonition of the
Lord.
My family and I
moved to Heartland
in the summer of
2012. We are blessed to be here. I now work
at the Lodge in housekeeping and sometimes I cover the front desk. I really enjoy
my job. I believe God has blessed me with a
love for cleaning. I like to make things pretty for our guests. One of my favorite parts
about my job is starting the day with group
prayer; it is the perfect way to start the day!
My Supervisor, Miss Judi, leads this time,
and I will always hold it dear to my heart.
I hope I will go on to do the same all of my
life, because when you put Jesus first everything else works out.
Life has not always been easy, but it has
been good because God has been here with
me through it all. I am learning more and
more to trust God. He is always the same,
He does not change. What He has done for
others He will do for you. If you will call
out to Him He will be there to help you and
bring life to you through His Son, Jesus.
I have learned over the years that walking with God is a continual process. It never ends until we get to heaven. Just like the
apostle Paul wrote in Philippians, “Not as
though I had already attained, either were
already perfect: but I follow after... Brethren, I count not myself to have
apprehended: but this one
thing I do, forgetting those
things which are behind,
and reaching forth
unto those things
which are before, I
press toward the
mark for the prize
of the high calling
of God in Christ
Jesus” (Philippians 3:12a, 13-14
KJV).
Victoria just
finished her first
year of Bible College, and is always
ready to share about
the joy Christ brings
to her life.
Chris Orr – Heartland Men’s Recovery Program
The Grace of God Poured Out
I’ve heard that the name Christopher mean “bearer of Christ”. However,
up until about a year ago, I lived my life
in every way but Christ-like. I am not
proud of the man I used to be, if I can
even call myself a man during those
times, but I suppose I would not have
this testimony to give without having
experienced the chaos which was my
life. I certainly wouldn’t have been able
to readily recognize the amazing and
undeniable redeeming power of Jesus
without having been through it.
I used to be a drug addict—I started smoking weed at age fourteen, using
acid and crack almost daily at age fifteen,
snorting heroin at age twenty-four, and
eventually to the point of shooting anything that would break down in water
and get me high (although my true ambition always remained heroin). During
those years I also sold drugs; mostly
marijuana and heroin, but I did not discriminate. If there was a market for it, I
would sell it. I mainly dealt so I could
use as much as I wanted; also for status
and recognition among the people I associated with. What a fool I was to think
that pleasing and impressing other dope
fiends would ever amount to anything.
Then of course there’s plenty of fast
money that comes from with being a
drug dealer. I could satisfy any sinful
desire I had at the time, but money
was never my biggest motivating
factor.
That reckless behavior
turned me into a criminal—
I’ve had seventeen various
felony arrests and countless
misdemeanor charges. Of
the seventeen felony arrests,
I’ve been charged in a court
of law for eleven of them.
Of those eleven charges,
I’ve been convicted of seven.
This has caused a revolving
door effect for me in county
jails and Missouri prisons.
From what I now know is
God’s awesome grace and mercy, I have been fortunate to have
only served a total of five years
locked up. Although, that does
not include time spent in inpatient
rehabs for drug abuse and depression.
All these elements contributed to
me being a huge failure throughout
my life. I dropped out of high school
twice before finally graduating after
a fifth year. I enlisted in the Navy and
was discharged before I ever made it
to boot camp. I dropped out of college
three times. I quit every good job and
career opportunity after a short period
of time, and passed over quite a few
more because I knew I would not follow
through. I have also destroyed many relationships and caused a lot of hurt to
people who loved me. Yet, the biggest
mistake I ever made was being raised in
a Christian family and knowing who Jesus was, but denying Him and considering myself an agnostic. I was definitely a
real loser, going nowhere real fast.
Then somewhere along the way,
God began to get my attention. Because
I kept myself so numb, it took me a long
time to realize what was happening.
Heroin has a remarkable capability of
killing pain and all feelings, whether it
be physical, mental, or spiritual. The first
big wake up call came when my brother
(and closest friend) died of an overdose
on April 1, 2007. I was in prison at the
time and felt responsible because I was
the one who introduced
him to
heroin.
I vowed to stay clean and attempted to
live a good life, which I thought would
honor his life. That lasted about three
months.
After another short stay in prison
for parole violations, and a divinely orchestrated series of events, I heard about
Heartland. The mother of a woman I
was in a relationship with was very familiar with Heartland. She knew of my
history, my addiction, and the trouble I
was in. She highly recommended I get
to Northeast Missouri immediately! At
first I did not think it was the place for
me, but after two back-to-back marijuana distribution charges, and God throwing
me signs saying, “This
is the way dummy!” I
figured I better give
it a shot. It was not
long after coming to
Heartland I knew I
was where I was supposed to be.
Being raised in
the Catholic church
and going to Catholic
grade school, I had a
foundation in the Bible and who Jesus is.
Sadly He was never
introduced to me as a
living person I could have a relationship
with. He was more like a character in a
book. That has changed since coming to
Heartland. I had the opportunity to take
a class at Heartland Christian College
and it proved to be the most influential
and educational experience I’ve ever
had concerning Jesus and my individual spirituality. It was there that I learned
who Jesus really is, why He came to
earth, what He accomplished, and how
to have a relationship with Him. I also
learned how to pray more sincerely and
effectively, how to worship in a manner
pleasing to God, and to be bold in my
faith and love of the Lord. These principles coupled with weekly group classes
at the Heartland Men’s Recovery Center, daily morning devotions, and regular church services at Heartland Community Church have been instrumental in my growth as a man
and a child of God.
With all that
being said,
I consider
my time in the Men’s Recovery Center
as discipleship training.
I know there are many areas of my
life needing work, but I also know I am
no longer the broken and empty man
I once was because I have been sanctified by the blood of Jesus. Paul wrote
to the church in Corinth, “If anyone is
in Christ, he is a new creation; the old
has gone, the new has come!” It is also
written, “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent
man, I was shown mercy because I acted
in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of
our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the
faith and love that
are in Christ Jesus.”
I believe these things
with all my heart. The
death of my brother
has given me the desire to spread this
good news to others
who may not know
the Lord, because
you never know how
much time you have
on this earth, and everyone deserves the
chance to know the
joy and peace which
comes from knowing
Jesus, and most importantly, the opportunity to spend eternity in heaven with
Him. I thank God every day for giving
me new life and allowing me to see just
a little clearer what His purpose is for
me.
People are noticing a difference in
Chris. He gives his best on the job every
day as part of the electrical crew, and is
an encouragement to the people around
him.
I thank God every
day for giving
me new life and
allowing me to
see just a little
clearer what His
purpose is for me.
Zach McCurdy – New Creation Country Store
He Makes All Things New
My testimony isn’t the typical “addicted to drugs and alcohol” story, but it is
about how God took a man from nothing
and made him into a new creation.
I grew up in a “semi-Christian” home.
When I was growing up my mother was
saved and always made sure my siblings
and I were in church. My dad wasn’t saved
when my parents were married. I was saved
when I was nine years old at youth meeting, and my dad was saved not long after.
When I was first saved, I was on fire for
God, and went to every church event that I
could find a way to get to. I had great support from my mother and friends. When
I was in junior high our church hired a
new youth pastor, who helped me through
some of the toughest times in my life. My
family life wasn’t the greatest. My parents
fought a lot. I fought with my siblings all
the time. We were in and out of church, but
my youth pastor helped me stay on track.
Then one summer the leaders of my church
decided that they didn’t like the way he was
running the youth group, and asked him
to leave. I remember it being the first time
I lost hope in the church, in God. I was so
upset and couldn’t understand why God
had taken him out of my life. That was the
beginning of my descent.
When I went into high school, I was
still attending church, but my relationship
with God had all but vanished. Then, when
I was a sophomore, I started dating an older girl in my school. After a few months,
we started having a physical relationship,
and it spiraled into a sexual addiction. I put
my relationship with her before everything
else in my life. Everything I loved­—band,
football, my family, church, God—all became secondary to my addiction. I found
myself lying to everyone, sacrificing everything, so that I could spend time with my
girlfriend. One day my mother confronted
me about my behavior and I broke down. I
realized that it was consuming my life and
I ended the relationship. After that I started getting my life back on track. I was back
in my Bible and prayer time.
My senior year of high school, my parents decided to get a divorce. It was pretty
hard on me and it sent me into a serious
rebellion. I was very angry with my father
and started doing the things I knew he hated. I started drinking and smoking, I got a
tattoo, and I was in several different physical relationships. I was falling away from
God for the second time since I had been
saved.
Towards the end of my senior year,
my uncle had me convinced that I should
move to San Diego to live with him and
join the Navy. So, the week after I graduated, I jumped on a plane and headed for
California. While I was there, I had lots of
time to myself. I started getting into my Bible several hours a day, and began to realize that my life was in a serious mess. I rededicated my life to Christ and started liv-
ing for Him again. After a lot of prayer and
talking with my spiritual leader, I decided
that the Navy wasn’t what God had in store
for me. When I returned home, I found
out what He did have in store for me. Two
weeks after I got home, I met the woman
that is now my wife. She has helped me to
be the godly man that I have been called to
be. I have re-kindled my relationship with
my father and have let go of the things in
my past that have caused me pain.
A few months after we were married,
my wife started talking about moving to
Heartland. At first I was strongly against
the idea of moving here because of rumors
I had heard over the years. After visiting
several times, talking with Pastor Charlie
and Mr. Barton, and seeing Heartland for
what it really is, we made the decision to
move. I can’t imagine calling any place else
home. Just being surrounded by people
with the same beliefs and hearts for God
has changed me for the better more than I
could ever have imagined. I love being in
a place that is all about winning souls for
Christ. Living here has helped me come
closer to God and be a better father, and
husband to my family. I thank God for
Heartland. God willing, I plan to stay for
quite some time. We have a son and plans
for more children and wouldn’t want to
raise them any other place.
You may recognize Zach from his post
behind the register at New Creation Country Store. He is usually wearing the same
smile he has passed on to his son.
Heartland
Tours
Customized tours of Heartland
are available for groups.
Visitors can tour the Heartland Dairies
and see the milking carousel—where
over 3000 cows are milked three times
a day. Plus, there are lots of new kids
at the goat dairy right now! Also, learn
about the businesses and ministries
which make up the Heartland
community.
To schedule a tour, call 660-213-4584.
(All guided tours must be scheduled in advance.
Scheduled tour times start at 9:00am with last
tour given at 3:30pm. Tours take 1.5-2 hours
depending on group size; we can accommodate
from the smallest of tours to charter buses.)
Open House Entertainment
Live, from Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, Heartland welcomes The
Homestead Pickers back to our 2013 Open
House. They are a special collection of four
seasoned performers, musicians, comedians, actors, storytellers, and composers
with many years of experience entertaining audiences both in Branson, and around
the United States as well as tours of Ireland.
Their performing home is the McHaffie
Homestead cabin built in 1843 and located
on the main street of Silver Dollar City.
Their eclectic blend of fiddle, banjo,
guitar, hammered dulcimer, and unique vocals depict the early days of American music, bluegrass, gospel, and even some Irish
tunes with humor. They’ve performed for
governors, senators, preachers, and presidents. The Homestead Pickers have thrilled
millions over the years with their antics and
top-notch musicianship and they continue
to be the highest rated attraction at Silver
Dollar City.
Please join us for a free performance
on July 6th, 5:00pm in the Entertainment
Tent at the Heartland Open House.
FARMING DEMO
M
R
A
F
T
S
E
G
N
O
STR
Free TRACTOR PULL
ER
To enter these events, clip & mail the registration form, or visit our web site for details:
www.HeartlandMissouri.com
Antique Car
& TRACTOR Show
5k Road Race
Registration INFO
Sign up for the Annual Heartland Open House 5K Road Race to be held at 7:00am
on Saturday, July 6th. There will be cash prizes of $150, $100 and $50 for the top three
finishers in the men’s and women’s divisions. There will also be first place medals for
men and women in the following age groups:/ 14 and Under / 15 – 19 / 20 – 29 / 30 – 39
/ 40 – 49 / 50 – 59 / 60 – 69 / 70 – 79 / 80 + /. The race will be professionally timed on a
scenic hilly route on Heartland Drive (Route E).
Pre-registration on or before June 27th = $15 (will receive a FREE t-shirt); registrations after June 27th until race day = $20 (free t-shirt only if still available). Sign-in the
day of the race begins at 6:00am at the Ozark Lodge & Steakhouse, 400 New Creation
Road, Newark, MO 63458. Visit the web site to register online.
Remember the look of the old ’57 Chevy Bel Air, the ’67 Mustang Fastback, or the
’67 Plymouth Road Runner? If you are a car enthusiast who enjoys viewing them or if
you have a vintage car, motorcycle, or tractor you would like to show off, join us for the
Heartland Open House Car & Tractor Show. Car and Tractor Clubs are also welcome.
For the Car Show, Special Features or Class Entering include: Mustangs – all models; Corvettes – 1953-present; Street Rods – any to 1948 and 1949-present; Muscle Cars
– 1960-present; Cars Stock – 1900-1954 and 1954-1965 and 1966-present; Truck – all
makes, all models; Motorcycles – all makes/models.
Tractor entries will be 1975 and older, judged on originality, condition, and appearance. To pre-register, please complete the online registration form, mail the form below,
or pick up a form at the Heartland Auto Shop. Registration is free; prizes will be awarded for First, Second, Third Place in each category as well as Longest Distance and Participants Choice. Participants may also register the day of the show before 11:00am.
To be eligible to compete, vehicles must be on property, in place by 11:00am on
July 6, 2013. NOTE: Route E will be closed from 7-8:00am due to the 5K race. Awards
announced at 2:30pm at the registration tent. Must be present to win and be photographed. No alcohol on property, and pets must be supervised or on a leash.
CAR & TRACTOR SHOW
Registration Form
Heartland Open House - July 6, 2013
Registration is free! One registration form per car/tractor registered.
5K ROAD RACE
Registration Form
Heartland Open House - July 6, 2013
Name___________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________
City________________________ State______ Zip_______________
Age_ ____________ Male___ Female___ Tshirt Size______________
Liability Release
Waiver Must Be Read and Signed Before Mailing:
I know that running is a potentially hazardous activity. I should not enter or run this
event unless I am medically able and properly trained. I agree to abide by any decision of a race official relative to my ability to safely complete the run. I assume all
risks associated with running in this race including, but not limited to, falls, contact
with other participants, the effects of weather, including high heat and/or humidity,
the conditions of the road and traffic on the course, all such risks being known and
appreciated by me. Having read this waiver and knowing these facts, and in consideration of your acceptance of my application, I, for myself and anyone entitled to act
on my behalf, waive and release Heartland 5K and all sponsors, their representatives
and successors from all claims or liabilities of any kind arising out of my participation
in this event even though that liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on
the part of the persons named in this waiver. All fees are nonrefundable. Furthermore,
I hereby give the event sponsor permission to use my photograph or video/film and
to publish and/or display the same without incurring any debts or liabilities to me of
any kind.
Signature___________________________ Date ____________________
Mail with payment to:
Heartland Open House, 6417 Shelby 150, Bethel, MO 63434
Name___________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________
City________________________ State______ Zip_______________
Make____________________ Year_____ Body Style_____________
Liability Release
I agree that Heartland or Representative Staff are NOT responsible for
any accidents to me or my car/tractor or its contents.
Signature___________________________ Date ____________________
Fax registration to 660-284-6320, or mail to
Heartland Open House, 6417 Shelby 150, Bethel, MO 63434
2013 OPEN HOUSE EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
5K Heartland Open House Road Race, 7am
The first event of the day starts early at our third annual Heartland
Open House 5k Road Race, so get your running shoes on and get
ready. Registration at 6:00am, race at 7:00am. Entry fee before
June 27: $15.00 (includes free t-shirt) / after June 27: $20.00.
Pre-register at www.HeartlandMissouri.com, fill out the form on
page 11, or sign up on race day at the Ozark Steakhouse.
Info About Heartland & Open House Events
At the Main Entrance Information Tent you can get an overview
of the ministries and businesses which form the Heartland
Community. The Heartland Creamery is on hand with free cheese
samples from 9am-5pm, and be sure to REGISTER TO WIN a free
night’s stay at the Ozark Lodge. Also register for open house
events such as Car & Tractor Show, Pedal Tractor Pull, or Strongest
Farmer Competition.
Car & Tractor Show
Threshing Demonstrations, 10:30am & 3:30pm
If you have a vintage car, motorcycle, or tractor, join us for the Car
& Tractor Show. Clubs are welcome. To compete, have your vehicle
in place by 11am. Pre-register online at www.HeartlandMissouri.
com, or fill out the form on page 11. Participants may also register
at the Info Tent the day of Open House. Entry is free.
Join us at the north end of the Open House field to see the antique
steam engine in action. No gas will be running this machine! It
will be full steam ahead as you watch farmers demonstrate how
to thresh the way your grandpa used to do it.
Heartland Tours, Departing 10am-4pm
Plenty of concessions will be available to purchase snacks
throughout the day – sandwiches, roasted corn on the cob,
kettle corn, ice cream, lemonade shake-ups, soda and more. (A
free dinner will be served 5-7pm.)
Hop on the tour bus for a driving tour around the Heartland
Community and over to the Heartland Dairy. See the 60-stall
carousel milking machine in action, and make a quick stop at the
Goat Dairy. Upon your return, visit the Heartland Ford Museum
and Solid Rock Café, and browse through the New Creation
Country Store featuring Heartland apparel, Creamery cheeses,
our own candles, cookbooks and more. Or, request a drop-off at
the Mission House Thrift Store and see what we have to offer.
Food
Xcaliber Tractor Pull, 10am-2:30pm
It first began as a competition between farmers who would
boast about the strength of their horses. Now come and enjoy
the contemporary version as Xcaliber Pulling brings us a truck
and tractor pull with some real “horsepower”!
Games & Activities
There is plenty of old fashioned fun for the children to enjoy! In
addition to inflatable games, kids can play games, have their face
painted, and laugh with the clowns. A reading tent with puppets
gives them a chance to rest and wind down. We also have some
fun planned for the adults—watch as your neighbors compete
in the “Strongest Farmer” competition. Bring your lawn chair and
settle in to enjoy the day together.
OPEN HOUSE SITE MAP
Kids’ Pedal Tractor Pull, 3pm
Register your kids or grandkids to take on some weight of their
own in the Li’l Tikes Tractor Pull. Sign-up for this event begins
at 1pm at the Info Tent, and is open to the first one hundred
3-12year olds.
= Restrooms
= Handicap Restroom
Petting Zoo
A popular spot at our Annual Open House is the Petting Zoo filled
with calves, kids, ducklings, and rabbits for children to experience
hands-on. Heartland also has exotic animals on display. Wild
zebras, camels, peacocks, and watusi cattle make their home in
the fields near the Heartland water tower.
TRACTOR
Strongest Farmer Competition, 4pm
A little friendly competition among neighbors for the title of
“Strongest Farmer”. Both the men’s and women’s events include:
water bucket carry, bale toss, corn scooping, hedge post toss, feed
sack stack, and wheelbarrow race. First ten men and women to
register at 3pm at the Info Tent will compete. Prizes awarded.
Entertainment Under the Big Top
Throughout the day, the Entertainment Tent is available for shade
and visiting. We will also feature music by Heartland children’s
choirs, a hymn sing, and a special show by The Homestead
Pickers. See schedule on page 1.
Free Dinner & Entertainment, 5-7pm
BBQ
Join us from 5-7:00pm for our free Open House dinner featuring
BBQ pulled pork or beef sandwiches, good old fashioned baked
beans, cottage cheese, and soft drinks. Then, sit back and enjoy
some great music and a greeting from Pastor Charlie Sharpe.
Fireworks!
Stick around at the end of the evening for a BIG fireworks display
over the lake. There is a great view from the north end of the
field.
Visit Our Website for Details & Directions:
FOR KIDS
Shelby Count y Road 150 at the west edge of heartland
www.HeartlandMissouri.com