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On June 2, St. John’s awarded scholarships to 27 students totaling $26,700. The scholarships are the result of generous gifts from members who want to encourage and support students in their post-secondary education. The scholarships are part of the St. John’s Benevolent Foundation, a $9 million foundation started in 1974. Congratulations to the following recipients:…

By Susan Shinn Turner Christian Terry’s motive for writing a book was simple: He saw a problem and he wanted to fix it. The problem is homelessness, and he and his fiancé, Daysja Phillips, decided to write a book that would not only tell stories of unsheltered people, but would address the complicated nature of…

By Susan Shinn Turner The second phase of the Generation to Generation campaign has begun, titled G2G Phase 2. The G2G Steering Committee has been meeting once a month since February, says Mark Lewis, chair, while an executive committee has been at work since last spring. Members of the committee include: Amy Ritchie, Ben Goodman,…

By Diane Poole Did you know that St. John’s has a Comfort Foods Ministry? The church’s freezer is stocked with meals provided by Wednesday Night Meals and other volunteers, that can be given to those in need. What a treat! If a person you know is getting out of the hospital and not well enough…

By Susan Shinn Turner If you’re asking the question “What is the purpose of my charity?” then you’re asking the wrong question. Pastor Rhodes poses a different question: “How can I serve in a way that honors Jesus?” And if you look deeply into the life of Jesus, “you’ll discover that Jesus wasn’t a very…

By Susan Shinn Turner On Dec. 13, 2018, Ted Goins received an honorary doctorate degree from Lenoir-Rhyne University. Ted Goins is one of those people who seems to be everywhere — whether it’s at the Men’s Bible Study on Thursday morning at Trinity Oaks, at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the same location on…

By Susan Shinn Turner Feeling thankful? Then get on the Gratitude Train! In 1949, the people of France sent 49 railroad cars to the United States in appreciation for our country’s help during World War II. The cars were filled with French goods and handmade items. This February is the 70th anniversary of the arrival…

By Susan Shinn Turner Some 64 percent of Americans cannot cover a $1,000 emergency. Imagine if you did not have car payments. Imagine if your kids never knew debt. Imagine if you and your spouse did not fight about money. Debt is normal. Be weird! Dozens of St. John’s members have benefitted from Dave Ramsey’s…

By Susan Shinn Turner For years, the “Tellers Team” has been a key component of giving at St. John’s. “We used to count the money ourselves,” says a former church office worker who’s now a team member, “but we were robbed at gunpoint many years ago. And Pastor Carl Sachtleben thought it would be a…