Christian Family Day at Busch
June 27th
By Jim Day

    What does the smiling face of a child, a concert by NewSong, and a hotdog at a Cardinal baseball game have in common? Try the 19th Annual Christian Family Day (CFD) at Busch Stadium on June 27th!  “NewSong’s music is so inspiring and upbeat in its message.  They put on an awesome praise and worship concert”, said Judy Boen, Chairman & Founder of CFD.  “We’re very excited to once again have Evangelist Tony Nolan as our featured speaker. His story of abuse as a child and how God healed his heart through his faith in Jesus is incredible!” continued Boen.
    The event takes place behind the Cardinal’s dugout after the 12:10 p.m. inter-league game against the Minnesota Twins on June 27th. Cardinal and Twins players will share their Christian testimonies; and the Christian musical group NewSong will lead everyone in praise and worship. Aeneas Williams, former St. Louis Rams, and his wife Tracy will be this year’s Honorary Chairmen and KTRS AM 550’s McGraw Milhaven will serve as the day’s Master of Ceremonies for the post game event.
    Sean Glanvill, of Wildwood, Missouri is the 2009 Poster Child Christian Family Day.  Sean suffered a brain injury as the result of a car accident in May 2007.  He was given only a one-percent chance of survival.  Sean fought back and his family and friends never gave up hope, praying endlessly for his recovery.  His recovery is a true miracle and testimony of the power of God.  “The Glanvill’s are patients of mine” said, Dr. Christe Boen Mirikitani D.C., “I watched as tragedy struck this Godly family.  Their response to the accident and their faith in God really touched me.   I hope that I could trust God that way if something like that happened to me.”
    The theme for this years’ Christian Family Day is following the fact that the All-Star Game will be held in St. Louis this summer.  We as Christians are all ‘stars’ for Jesus and therefore our 2009 theme is “Shine For Jesus.”   Lisa Frank and Buz Phelan came up with the theme and Jason Mirikitani came up with the verse Philippians 2:15-16.  Buz Phelan, of Phelan Designs, pulled it all together with his design for the brochure and tee-shirts.  “We are so blessed to have such a creative committee.  I’m just in awe of their talent and how God continues to put our event together each year,” said Judy.

Go to Article

Focus Brings Wait No More to St. Louis

By Jim Day

     Joe, who is a fictional child but represents hundreds of children just like him, lives in his sixth home in three years.  He keeps a bag of his favorite things packed at all times.  At 9-years-old, Joe wakes up every morning not knowing if he’ll be moved that day to a new and strange environment.  Joe is in foster care.  His parents are addicted to drugs and not able to provide him a safe family home.  Their parental rights have been terminated, so that Joe will have a chance at a safe and happy life.  Joe spent the first years of his life left alone in a crib—dirty and hungry.  He grew unable to trust or connect with anyone around him.  He was on his own.  As he grew older, he was developmentally delayed and struggled in school.  No one seems to stay in his life for very long.  Joe thinks it is all his fault.  He is alone.  He is scared, and sometimes, he is really mad.  He has no permanent parents.  He doesn’t know what is going to happen to him.  Joe needs an adoptive family.
    More than 1,400 children and youth in Missouri’s foster care system are just like Joe.  Some are older, all have unique needs and challenges and all are currently waiting for adoptive families to call their own.  They are America’s modern day orphans.  The Bible says “religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)
    So, who will come for Joe and the others like him?  How long will they continue to wait?
    With 8,000 churches in Missouri, Focus on the Family believes Joe and those like him should wait no longer.  “God is a Father to the fatherless and He sets the lonely in families.” (Psalms 68)  Focus believes Christians have a scriptural mandate to care for children just like Joe, and they are taking action in states across the nation.

Go to Article