Mission Trip Experiences and Their Impact on My Life

Background
Hello my name is
Taylor Asher. My wife,
Brenda, and I have been
married for just over a
year. We have been going to First Assembly in
Rolla together for about
2 years. In that time, we
have truly been loved
and have become a part
of the family.
Mission Trip Experiences
I have personally been on three
mission trips in my life. My wife has
been on two. I went to Mexico when I
was 11 years old with my family. We
built a church in Mexicali, Mexico, just
south of California. My second mission trip was with First Assembly in
the spring of 2015. We went to Minden, LA, with First Assembly and
worked on remodeling a house for the
family that operates the Teen Challenge center down there. My wife and
I went on this trip together. This trip
had a big impact on me in many ways.
The biggest was hearing the testimonies of the women that were in the
program. It was encouraging to hear
how the Lord was working in their
lives to set them free from the sin that
was controlling them. It is amazing
what God can do in a persons life
when they quit trying on their own and

look to Him for help.

The last mission
trip I went on was to the
Yucatan in Mexico. This
was a construction trip
where we worked on a
church in the small village of Tahdzui, Yucatan.
This trip was very impactful in my life! It was
very labor intensive, but
that didnt matter because the people
there were so grateful. I really got to
interact a lot with the locals. All of the
little kids were always there while we
worked, and the women would cook
us lunch every day. These people were
very hardworking and they seemed to
all be joyful and thankful for the little
that they had. It was during this trip
that I became a lot more thankful for
what I have. I came back to Rolla and I
was about to graduate from MS&T. I
didnt know what God had in store for
my wife and I, but I would have been
very content with being a missionary
after that trip. I remember thinking
and saying to the Lord, Lord Ill be
content with whatever Your will is for my
life, whether you want me to dig a ditch
for the rest of my life, or be a missionary
in a foreign land. Whatever Your will is,
Father, may it be done in my life. And I
trust that Youll keep my bride by my
(Asher continued on page 6)

LADIES FALL
RETREAT
Ladies (18 yrs and older), join us for the Ladies' Fall
Retreat October 29th from 9
a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The theme
for this year Is Rest, Restore,
and Renew.
Our morning guest
speaker will be Heather Gilion
who co-authored the book,
Dancing On My Ashes. She uses her God-story as a platform
to encourage and equip others.
Heather is a product of God's
redemptive plan of taking our
ashes and creating beauty.
Heather is a speaker, worship
leader, author, and artist. She
and her husband, Dallas, serve
at LifePoint Church in Ozark,
Mo. They have two boys: Noah,
9, and Zachariah, 7. You can
read more about her at dancingonmyashes.com.
Following lunch, we will
have Table Talk with Carol
Hudler, Alhesha Lane and Beverly Flori.
Cost for the retreat is
$10, which includes a light
breakfast and lunch. Nursery
available for age 4 and under.
Reservations are required and registration will be
available on October 16th and
23rd in the church foyer.

Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do

not vote, stated George Jean Nathan. Walter H. Judd
declared, People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people. Of course,
that is not true. Decisions are made by a majority of
those who make themselves heard and who vote a
very different thing. Alexander Woollcott reminded us,
Im tired of hearing it said that democracy does not
work. Of course it doesnt work. We are supposed to
work it. These quotes appear on the myfaithvotes.com
website. My Faith Votes is a nonpartisan movement inspiring Christians to vote. They report that More than
25 million Christians who were registered to vote did not
vote in the 2012 Presidential [election.] The popular
vote difference between the two presidential candidates
was about 5 million according to Wikipedia. Hmmm. Your vote does make a difference!
Jeff Myers of Summit Ministries (summit.org) lists
several reasons why our vote is important in The Political Animal Study Guide: (1) It shows others that you
care, (2) It demonstrates to those watching especially children that our form of government is worth maintaining, (3) It honors those who fought and died for the
freedoms that America holds dear, and (4) It is a reminder that being free actually has a cost. . .
According to Commit2Vote2016.com by Focus on the

Family, what is at stake on November 8, 2016?

All 435 members of the House of Representatives
34 seats (one-third) of the seats in the U.S. Senate
12 state gubernatorial seats
The makeup of 87 percent of state legislative
chambers nationwide; and
More than 100 important ballot measures in 35
states.
100s of state and local races, including municipal,
court and school board positions.
You cannot vote in the November 8 election if you
are not registered to vote. If you are 18 or older and live
in Phelps County, you may register to vote at the County
Clerks office (first door on your right) at the Phelps
County Courthouse before Wednesday, October 12 at
5pm.
Be inspired by the myfaithvotes.com website and
see what Dr. David Jeremiah and other Christian leaders
have to say about the importance of voting our faith this
November. Go to the Commit2Vote2016.com website
to see excellent answers to ten objections people have
to voting as well as quotes from our Founding Fathers
about how we the people should be involved in government. As it gets closer to the election, this website
should have a non-partisan voters guide on it as
well. Then check out http://biblicalhomeschooling.org/
classical/onevote.html to see a whole list of elections
in which one or a few votes made the difference!
Do you want a Biblical worldview represented in
your nation? Your state? Your county? Do you want
unborn life protected, God-ordained marriage between
one man and one woman protected and religious freedom to live out our faith protected?
Then please, register, do your research on which
candidates support Biblical values and VOTE!
Beverly Flori

PASTORS CORNER: ASSOCIATE PASTOR RAY COOK

Here are some verses for you to ponder and
consider: Get you a cup of coffee, sit down, and
read.
Your statues are wonderful; therefore I will obey
them. The unfolding of your Words gives light; it
gives understanding to the simple. I open my mouth
and pant longing for your command. Turn to me and
have mercy on me, as you always do to those who
love your name. Direct my footsteps according to
your Word; let no sin rule over me. Redeem me from
the oppression of men, that I may obey your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant and
teach me your decrees. Streams of tears flow from
my eyes for your law is not obeyed. Psalm 119:129136 (NIV)
Ask yourself, friends:
Is Gods Word wonderful to me?
Do I desire to obey it or is it simply good reading?
Have I really dug deep into it to experience the
unfolding of His Word?
Am I hungry for the Word of God?
Have I allowed His Word to guide my life?

Do I have a teachable spirit?

Im sure you and I can come up with more questions as we read and ask God the Holy Spirit to open
our hearts to His Word. Enjoy, my friends, and grab
another cup of Joe.
But before you go about your routine for the day
look back at that last verse; Im sure there are

INTERNATIONAL PRAISE & WORSHIP TEAM

The International Choir was formed in 2010 to
encourage international participation in church services through praise and worship with an international perspective. This enhances shared cultures and solidifies diversity yet unity in the body of Christ. It's a
great opportunity to serve and share in the Joy of fellowship.
Since it's inception, the International Choir has
been blessed with Christians from various countries
across 4 continents coming together, worshipping
and praising the Lord in different languages. From
Brazil, China, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Botswana, India,
(International continued on page 5)

UNSHAKEABLE TRUTH WORLDVIEW CONFERENCE

The Unshakeable Truth Worldview Conference
will be held Saturday, October
15 and Sunday, October 16 at
the Cowan Civic Center in Lebanon, Missouri. World-class
Christian leaders and scholars
will be speaking about major
biblical and cultural issues including creation, Christian political involvement, Islam, religious liberty, sexual ethics, and much more. Come be equipped and build on
the Unshakeable Foundation of Gods Word.
Featured speakers include Dr. Terry Mortenson of
Answers in Genesis, John Ashcroft, Former Attorney
General of the United States, Richard Land, President

of Southern Evangelical Seminary, Jay Ashcroft, Christian Statesman and Candidate for Missouri Secretary
of State, and more.
Go to hbclebanon.com/
unshakeable-truth for the conference schedule, admission price (very reasonable) and speakers bios.
Heritage Baptist Church and Hillcrest Baptist Church
of Lebanon are partnering with Bott Radio Network to
host the event.
Beverly Flori

MEXICO MISSIONS TRIP 2017

Our missions committee is excited to be planning another mission

trip to the Yucatan Peninsula in March 2017!
We will again be working with Cruz Velazquez,
with whom we have
worked on several other Mexico trips in the
past. Cruz is now in
charge of all missions work with indigenous peoples for Mexico.
In the Yucatan we will be working
with the Mayan people, who are warm, giving, and

CHILDRENS CHRISTMAS
MUSICAL PRACTICE
Through energetic songs and a fun-filled story,
Meet Me at the Manger creatively communicates
how the gifts of the wise men are relevant today. The
children discover that God's desire is for us to have a
heart of gold, give prayer and praise to God like
sweet incense and what it means to lay down their
wants, choosing instead to live for Jesus.
Practice is every Sunday at 4:00 in the Upper
Room.
Brian Feller

committed to Christ. We plan to go to the city of Texak in the Yucatan state of Mexico. Currently the
church there is meeting in a storage area of a parishioners home (pictured here). They have purchased
land, and we will construct a building for them. Additionally, we plan to hold a Bible School for the local
children.
The committee would appreciate your
prayers for the trip details, and would also
like each of you to consider partnering with
us. Pray that the Lord would lead people to
join us on this trip, and that He would lead
people to support this trip financially. It costs
$10,000-15,000 to build a church in Mexico, and we
will need to raise some of the building funds to go.
We will also have individuals who need sponsoring. If
you feel led to support this trip, please label your gift
Mexico 2017. The trip dates are March 24 through
April 1, 2017, and the cost per person is $550. To
reserve your spot on the trip, please fill out the sign
up form on the church website. If you have any questions, please contact Kathi Garner or Sam Parker.
Kathi Garner

MISSIONARIES NICKY &

JANIE RIDER TO SPEAK
Nicky and Janie Rider will be with us October 12.
We have worked with him on several occasions on
missions trips into Mexico. The Riders are currently
itinerating but plan to continue hosting construction
teams in Chihuahua, Mexico. During their third term
as AGWM missionaries, they also hope to host teams
in the Cancun area. Some of the teams bring other
ministries with themsuch as medical, evangelism,
childrens and womens, etc. They will be building
sanctuaries, educational facilities, and a childrens
feeding center. Another possible project next term
will be the development of camp facilities for the
Southern Chihuahua District. Nicky and Janie will continue with repairs on existing orphanages and Tarahumara dormitories.

UPCOMING MISSIONS CONVENTION

AND FREE STEAK DINNER
Our annual missions convention and steakwagon
dinner is Sunday, October 23 at 6 PM . This will be a
great opportunity to hear from missionaries and also
to be reminded of the importance of missions.
God, in His Word, commands His people to do
numerous things. We should love to do these things
in response to His love for us, and we should also
love to do these things to display our obedience to
Him. One of these commands is that we are to take
the good news of Christ to every place possible, even

THE JESUS GIFT

Gods Word tells us that Every good and perfect
gift is from above, coming down from the Father of
Heavenly Lights and that Gods greatest gift is
when He gave us eternal life through the death and
resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. And this, quite
simply, is Christmas - the most extraordinary act of
giving the world will ever know. How can we ever
thank God for the gift of His only Son? What can we
possibly give Him in return? The classic song, The
Jesus Gift, asks these questions shall we give Him
jewels, emeralds, diamonds, gold? No, there is only
one thing our heavenly Father wants from us He
wants our heart. This Christmas, may each of us give
God this giftthe gift of our heart.
You will enjoy favorite Christmas carols such as
Joy to the World, and classic songs such as My
Soul Magnifies the Lord, Light of the Stable,
Pretty Little Baby Child, and The Jesus Gift.
Please invite your extended family, your friends,
your neighbors, and others from the community to
hear The Jesus Gift at our Living Christmas Tree this
year. Performances are December 9 at 7:00 PM, 10
and 11 at 6:00 PM.

to the ends of the earth. Theres a reason its called

the Great Commission! First Assembly of God is committed to personally partnering with dozens of missionaries who are doing just that. Missionaries who
serve God in dozens of countries, far from home. Missionaries who are committed to reaching the unreachable and loving the unlovable. We hope you will plan
to attend our Missions Convention. Thats really just a
big-sounding name. Let me word it to you this
way. We hope you will plan to come hear missionaries personally testify to what God is doing around the
world. We hope you can come as we are reminded
that God uses His bride, the church, to directly impact
His Kingdom and to see lost souls saved. There is no
cost to come, although we do take an offering for the
missionaries who are coming. You will also be
blessed by the men whose mission is the Steakwagon. They will provide a wonderful meal (yes, steak!)
and side items as well.
If you are interested in helping to set up for the
missions convention, please call the church office to
sign up. Several of our missions team will be on a
missions trip and wont be available to help set up.
Sam Parker
(International continued from page 3)

South Korea and USA, we worship together bound by

our shared salvation experience through God's grace.
Every person whose heart is open to the Lord and
shares our Christian faith is welcome to be part of this
team.
If you are interested in becoming part of this
diverse group, please let Shelly Fouke, Brenda Asher
or Evelyn know, or contact the church at office@rollafirstassembly.org. You are always welcome!
Evelyn Aboagye MD FAAP MPH

ASSISTING INDIVIDUALS IN CRISIS & GROUP CRISIS INTERVENTION TRAINING

I believe that as a church we have a great opportunity
to stand in the gap between the crises of our day and the
truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. As we stand in that
gap we become a sign post for those who need someone
to point them toward healing and ultimately toward the
hope that comes from knowing Jesus Christ.
Training provides us with the knowledge we need to
go into a critical situation and bring healing. This training
will take place here at First Assembly. The instruction will
be brought from 461, a ministry of the Assembly of God
Chaplaincy Program, and will highlight key elements to
combine the knowledge of how to help a person or group
in crisis, with the hope of Jesus Christ.
After completion of the training you will have an opportunity to become a part of a healing community that is
ready to respond. This training enables you to help those
in crisis and it will help you personally.
This 3-day course combines ALL of the content of International Critical Incident Stress Foundation with Assisting Individuals in Crisis & Group Crisis Intervention courses.
This is a specialized acute emergency intervention
which requires specialized training, and is sometimes
called emotional first aid. It is designed to present the
core elements of a comprehensive, systematic and multicomponent crisis intervention curriculum, and prepare participants to understand a wide range of crisis intervention
services for both the individual and for groups.
This course is designed for anyone in the fields of
Business & Industry Crisis Intervention, Disaster Response,
Education, Emergency Services, Employee Assistance,
Healthcare, Homeland Security, Mental Health, Military,
Spiritual Care, and Traumatic Stress, but is not limited to
these. With this training, anyone can become a part of a
healing community who is willing and trained to respond
to crisis.
Some of the Program Highlights
Psychological crisis and psychological crisis intervention
Resistance, resiliency, recovery continuum
Critical incident stress management
Basic crisis communication techniques
Common psychological and behavioral crisis reactions
Suicide intervention

Large group crisis interventions

Small group crisis interventions
Adverse outcome associated with crisis intervention

Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)

Completion of Individual Crisis Intervention and Peer
Support & Group Crisis Intervention and receipt of a
certificate indicating full attendance (27 Contact Hours)
qualifies as two CORE classes in ICISFs Certificate of Specialized Training Program.
The cost of this course is 130.00 per person. The
church will cover of the cost for those who attend Rolla
First Assembly of God, given to the first fifteen who register.
Carol Hudler
For more information contact Carol Hudler 573-4652733.
(Asher continued from page 1)

side. After I graduated I immediately got an offer to work

for Capital Quarries. I trusted the Lord that it was His plan
and I took the job. I now see that there are people here in
Missouri and who I work with every day that need Jesus
just as much as anyone. My heart still goes out for those
little ones in Mexico. It was truly precious to be part of
their lives.
My wife and I have grown a lot in our walk with
Christ and we have grown closer together with our brothers and sisters that we go with on these trips. I would
greatly encourage anyone to join in a mission trip of any
sort. If you go into it with a good heart and a pure desire to
serve, then the Lord will surely bless you greatly.
Taylor Asher

OUR PASTORS

Jason Gibson
Youth Pastor

pastorjason@rollafirstassembly.org

Sam Parker

After School &

Missions Director
kcatsc@rollafirstassembly.org

Brian Feller

Childrens Pastor
pastorbrian@rollafirstassembly.org

Ray Cook

Associate Pastor
fireguy@rollafirstassembly.org

Chuck Whitmire
Lead Pastor

pastor_chuck@rollafirstassembly.org

ADDITIONAL STAFF MEMBERS

Karen Turner, Administrative Assistant office@rolla-firstassembly.org
Mark Berry, Facility Manager office@rolla-firstassembly.org
Abby Swearingen, Media Assistant media@rolla-firstassembly.org
Sandy Schmid, Business Administrator, sandy@rolla-firstassembly.org

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

1608 N Oak St
Rolla MO 65401-2342

MEXICO MISSION TRIP

Coming next March

DOES MY VOTE MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

Worldview FAQs

CRISIS INTERVENTION
Training next month

UNSHAKEABLE TRUTH

Worldview Conference coming to Lebanon