Sylvester and Heather met in the beginning of

2012. After a few months of getting to know one another and feeling God drawing them together, Sylvester
and Heather were engaged on May 25, 2012, and were
united in marriage at First Assembly on September 29,
2012, with Pastor Ray Cook performing the ceremony.
Sylvester is a graduate of Newburg High School
(1995) and Rolla Technical Institute (1996), having also
attended MS&T (back when it was UMR). Sylvester
became employed at Archer-Elgin (formerly Elgin Surveying and Engineering) in June, 1996, and has been
employed there ever since. Sylvester is currently a
Professional Land Surveyor, where he oversees the
daily operation of the companys professional surveying
services. Sylvester has attended church somewhere or another since his birth,
having accepted Christ as his savior at age 9, becoming filled with the Holy Spirit
at age 11 and being re-baptized at age 25. Sylvester has been attending First
Assembly since 2006 and has been active in the church either in playing drums
with the various worship teams, filling in occasionally for Pastor Ray in the Line
upon Line class and by serving on the churchs Trustee Board. In his spare time,
Sylvester enjoys exercising, being outdoors, music, reading, and art.
Heather is a graduate of Rolla High School (2003). The Furse family is
blessed that Heather can proudly call herself a Stay-at-Home Mom. Prior to staying home with their baby boy (more about him in a minute), Heather was a clinical
research assistant at Clinical Research of the Ozarks. Heather has attended First
Assembly since birth, being one of the old timers who was here when Pastor
Chuck started his tenure. Heather was saved at age 7, baptized at age 10 and

DR. GEORGE O.
WOOD TO
SPEAK FOR
ENCOUNTER
Dr. George O. Wood, general
superintendent of the Assemblies
of God, Springfield, MO, will be
guest speaker at First Assembly of
God - Rolla, 1608 N. Oak St., on
Sunday, June 7, 2015, at 6:00
p.m., according to Pastor Chuck
Whitmire.
A popular speaker and writer, Dr. Wood was elected chief executive officer of the church at the
52nd General Council in August
2007. As general superintendent
of the Assemblies of God, USA, part
of the largest Pentecostal denomination in the world, he is a member
of the denominations Executive
Leadership Team and Executive
Presbytery. The church has over
(Wood continued on page 6)

(Furse continued on page 5)

CELEBRATE AMERICA SPEAKER DANNY WHITE

Wired by God with a teachers heart, Danny
White has a passion to encourage other leaders. He
desires to be a channel and not a dam with the wisdom hes picked up from over twenty years experience leading Marines, loving his wife Nora, and parenting their seven children who keep him young at
heart and ever-learning. Danny blesses God for His
grace and truly being Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful), especially during lifes desert experiences or the
tough times. After retiring from the Marine Corps as a

Lieutenant Colonel, Danny founded Lead with Liberty,

for Calling #2. In 2014, he published A Widowers
Walk: from Desert to Destiny, an autobiographical
story of his leadership journey.
Danny is passionate about Jesus Christ and encouraging all leaders along their leadership journeys:
at home, at work, and in community. He founded
Lead with Liberty (leadwithliberty.com) to pass along
the lessons he has learned as a Marine, husband, and
(White continued on page 4)

Are any of the following activities sinful of themselves? Art, crafts, music, dance, drama, literature,
humor, sports, games, culture, government, science,
technology, eating, drinking, or work? No! We participate and enjoy these things on Earth, not because we
are sinners, but because we are human. Yes, on this
Earth and under the Curse, many of them have been
perverted by sin. However, is it possible, as resurrected humans in Heaven, that we will still engage in
these pursuits in a perfected state? Yes! Lets look
at this more closely.
Work. Are you surprised that you will be working in Heaven? Did you think youd get all eternity to
rest? Consider this: When was work created? It was
before the Fall of Man and the Curse. God had great
purpose for Adam and Eve and His creation from the
beginning. Adam and Eve were instructed to, Be
fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have
dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of
the air, and over every living thing that moves on the
earth (Genesis 1:28). Adam was put in the Garden
of Eden to tend and keep it (Genesis 2:15). God always intended man to work and exercise dominion; it
was only after the Fall and the Curse that it became
so difficult. But in Heaven, we will have responsibilities and fulfilling work without the hardships and frustrations brought by the Curse. The final chapter of the

Fathers, invite all of your family to church with you on June 21

Bible declares, No longer will there be any curse.

The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city,
and his servants will serve him (Revelation 22:3).
Government. Remember Matthew 25:21? His
lord said to him, Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things. I will make
you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your
lord. And they [Gods servants] will reign for ever
and ever (Revelation 22:5c). Our goal will be to exercise dominion in a way that glorifies God and serves
others well. (Arent you looking forward to loving the
government?)
Eating and drinking. Revelation 19:9 speaks of
the wedding supper of the Lamb. Revelation 21:6
says that God will satisfy our thirst from the spring of
the water of life. Revelation 22:2 describes the tree
of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, one crop each
month. Dont you imagine that food and drink will
taste better than ever in Heaven (and there will be no
food allergies or acid indigestion to minimize our
pleasure)?
What about art, drama, sports, technology and
the others? Can we glorify God with art and drama,
exercise dominion with science and technology and
delight in our human bodies performing sports now?
I Corinthians 10:31 exhorts us to whatever you do,
do it all for the glory of God. With our resurrected
bodies and minds, why wouldnt we have even greater capabilities to accomplish these things and give
glory to God in Heaven in ways we couldnt dream of
on Earth?
Beverly Flori
Note: Any italics used are mine for emphasis; they were
not used in Scripture.
Reference: Randy Alcorn, Heaven, pp. 409-451

SUMMER EVENTS FOR CHILDREN

I am just writing to give you a heads up on all of our

kids activities happening here at Rolla First Assembly
this summer.

Vacation Bible School

Our theme this year is "Everest: Conquering
Challenges With God's Mighty Power". The
ages for attending this event are from 4
years old through 12 years old. If you
would like to be a part of VBS as a
volunteer this year, or just need
to sign your child/children
up, you can register at this
website: groupvbspro.com/
vbs/ez/rolla1stag. We will
begin each day by 8 am
and finish by noon. We
still need support staff
like crew leaders,
teachers, craft and
kitchen help, etc., so if
you have the time and are willing to help kids seek
out God in their lives, come join us July 6th through
the 10th!

Extreme Tween Week

This event is for kids entering the 5th - 7th grades
next fall. We will have a week full of fun and adven-

ture, starting Monday, June 22 at 8 am until 4:30 pm

each day. On Thursday, June 25, we will start at 8 am,
but continue the fun through Friday morning at 9 am
with a sleepover at the church. The cost is $80 again
this year, and spots are limited for this event, so contact Pastor Brian or Sam Parker at the church office
(573-364-1266) to sign your young people up today.

Kids Camp
Ages are 8 years old through 12 years old, and
the cost is $147 this year (up $7 due to rising
food/energy/maintenance costs). The
last day to register your child for camp
is Friday, June 19, by noon. All registrations after this date are considered
late and an additional $25 late fee
will be added to the balance for
camp per child, so please sign
your child/children up as soon as
possible! Once camp is full, no
more registrations will be accepted. We
are Week 3 of camp this year, which is July 20
through the 24 and we will leave the church that Monday morning promptly at 11 am. Contact Pastor Brian
or Miss Beverly for forms and details.
Looking forward to the best summer ever!
Blessings, Pastor Brian

MENS CAMPING AND FLOAT TRIP

Nothing kicks off summer like a relaxing canoe trip on the beautiful Meramec river in June! Men and boys, we
hope you can join us on our annual campout and canoe trip! We will be leaving Friday, June 12th at 5 PM from
First Assembly and heading to Steelville. We will set up our campground and tents, then enjoy fellowship
around the campfire that evening. Then Saturday we will hit the river for a 6-mile canoe float along scenic
bluffs, beautiful valleys, and deep waters. Feel free to bring your fishing equipment! You will need a tent and
food for lunch on the river on Saturday. We will take care of dinner on Friday night and breakfast Saturday
morning. Cost is $25 per person. We need individuals to sign up by June 8th by calling the church office (3641266) or signing up on the church website under events. If you have any questions, get ahold of Sam at 5781770 or kcatsc@rolla-firstassembly.org. We hope youll join us!

ANNUAL CELEBRATE AMERICA SERVICE

On June 28, we will have a very special combined service at 10 am. The choir has been working on a
presentation entitled I Love This Land. I Love This Land reminds singers and listeners alike to take the
time to remember what a privilege it is to live in this "sweet land of liberty." It features familiar songs like
"Battle Hymn of the Republic," "My Country, 'Tis of Thee," the "Armed Forces medley," and more.
Along with the choral presentation, Danny White of Lead with Liberty will be speaking. Danny is a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel with over 21 years of service.
We would like to recognize each person who has or is serving in any branch of the armed service. We
would love to see you in uniform for the service, and we will be displaying photographs in the foyer. If you have photos to share, please drop them by the church
office or email them to media@rolla-firstassembly.org.
(White continued from page 1)

father. Lead with Libertys mission is Proclaim liberty throughout all the Land unto all the inhabitants
thereof ~ Lev XXV X (inscription on the Liberty Bell).
Along his leadership journey, he has experienced true
liberty as a leader and has a passion to encourage
others to seek and experience the same freedom in
their own lives.
The core of Lead with Liberty is my story
and the events of December 14, 1997. That
day I witnessed the deaths of my pregnant
wife Jenny and five-year old son Danny in a
single-vehicle accident during a military
move. In the aftermath, I saw firsthand the
difference that positive leadership made for
me as an instant single parent to a threeyear old daughter and nine-month old son.

Days after being

commissioned as a U.S
Marine Second Lieutenant, a mentor advised
him to pay attention to
every leader with whom
he served, learning from
both the bad ones and
the good ones. After seeing the impact of incredibly positive leadership
from the Commandant
of the Marine Corps on
down the chain of command after the December 1997 accident, he began
to intently study leadership by observing over 300
leaders from the U.S. and 21 other countries during his service in the Marine Corps.
Along my leadership journey, he wrestled with
the realization that he didnt know who I was and that
I was bound up in figurative prisons: being a workaholic, defining myself by what he did, and by seeking
affirmation from others. In turn, he now has rocksolid answers to the questions: Who are you? and
What are you doing here? and Whose applause
are you seeking?
We look forward to welcoming Danny White as
our special speaker during a combined patriotic service on June 28 at 10 am.

JBQ: PLANTING GODS WORD IN CHILDRENS HEARTS

In the Christians armor, what is buckled around the waist?
What three things does Paul say make up Gods kingdom?
QUOTATION QUESTION. Why can we not trust our own
judgment in choosing the right way to live?
Can your children answer these questions? Can
you answer these questions? Through Junior Bible
Quiz (JBQ) your children can! The goal of Junior Bible
Quiz is not simply to memorize facts, but to plant the
Word of God deep in the heart of children, helping
them grow close to God. Elementary-age children, especially in grades three through six, are in the golden
age of memorization. Children who learn poems, Bible verses, and stories at this age can usually quote
them for a lifetime. Helping children hide Gods Word
in their hearts will not only help them know right from
wrong now, it will also guide their decisions in years
to come. Our hope through JBQ is to plant a deep love
for God and His Word.
Beginning this September we will hold JBQ practices Sunday mornings during first service. JBQ will be
open to any student who is attending Kindergarten6th grade as of September 1. We will participate at
four regional meets throughout the school year
(tentatively in Springfield & Lebanon) and end with a
district meet in Springfield in March.
Quizzing books are available for $11, and, if in-

SUMMER INTERNS

We are pleased to announce this years summer

interns! Charles Skyles, Zach Cunningham, Tiela Lauer, Courtney Lawson, Joel Merz, and Aleisha Flori will
work through the summer helping with various ministries. Each summer we hire young adults with a call
to ministry in their lives to give them an opportunity
to experience practical ministry while building leadership skills for the future.

terested, you are encouraged to get a copy and begin

some family study this summer before we kick off
practice in the fall. If you are interested, or have any
questions, please contact Erin Gibson
(erinrenaegibson@hotmail.com or 573-647-0840).
Answers:
Truth
Righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit
Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that appears to be right, but
in the end it leads to death.
(Furse continued from page 1)

filled with the Holy Spirit at age 12. Heather is currently

active in the church serving as a teacher in Sunday
school and Missionettes. In her spare time, Heather enjoys playing with her son, spending time with her family,
singing in the choir and crafting.
And then there is Mr. Ryker William, the star of the
show. Sylvester and Heather were ecstatic to find out
they were expecting in January, 2013, and gave birth to
their beautiful baby boy on August 23, 2013. Ryker enjoys music and dancing, being outdoors and chasing
birds and rabbits around the yard. Rykers favorite animal is dogthe bigger the better. Ryker is your typical
little boyfull of life and without any fear.
Sylvester, Heather and Ryker are blessed and
honored to call First Assembly their home. God bless!
Sylvester and Heather Furse

Pastor Chuck and Annettes 25th anniversary of ministry at First Assembly

(Wood continued from page 1)

12,700 congregations in the United States with over 3 million

members and adherents.
The U.S. Assemblies of God is part of a larger World Assemblies of God Fellowship with a membership of over 66 million. Prior to his present position, Wood served the church as
its general secretary for 14 years. He was assistant superintendent of the Southern California District from 1988-93. Wood
pastored Newport-Mesa Christian Center in Costa Mesa, CA, for
17 years. He was elected to serve as chairman of the World
Assemblies of God Fellowship at its meeting in Lisbon, Portugal, in May of 2008.
The son of missionary parents to China and Tibet, Wood
holds a doctoral degree in pastoral theology from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA, and a juris doctorate from
Western State University College of Law in Fullerton, CA. He did
his undergraduate work at Evangel University (College) in
Springfield, MO, and served the college in several capacities,
including being director of spiritual life and student life from
1965-71. He was ordained by the Southern Missouri District in
1967.
Dr. Wood is author of a number of books including:

Roadtrip Leadership, Living in the Spirit, A Psalm In Your Heart,

Living Fully, The Successful Life, and a college text on the book

of Acts.
Sermons by Dr. Wood may be heard at
www.georgeowood.com.

PASTORS & STAFF

Chuck Whitmire
Lead Pastor

pastor_chuck@rolla-firstassembly.org

Karen Turner
Administrative Assistant
office@rolla-firstassembly.org

Ray Cook
Associate Pastor

Mark Berry

fireguy@rolla-firstassembly.org

Facility Manager

Brian Feller
Childrens Pastor

Pansy Bingham

pastorbrian@rolla-firstassembly.org

Business Administrator
pansy@rolla-firstassembly.org

Jason Gibson

Abby Swearingen

pastorjason@rolla-firstassembly.org

Media Assistant
media@rolla-firstassembly.org

Youth Pastor

Sam Parker

After School Ministries &

Missions Director

kcatsc@rolla-firstassembly.org

NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT #116
ROLLA, MO

1608 N Oak St
Rolla MO 65401-2342

SYLVESTER AND HEATHER FURSE

Spotlight family

CELEBRATE AMERICA

Patriotic musical and special events

WHAT WILL WE DO IN HEAVEN?

Worldview FAQs

SUMMER EVENTS
For kids & youth