Polk County Community Connections is introducing a new holiday to the community. Parental Resilience Day will be held annually on January 28 in order to recognize the importance of strengthening families and promoting resources for parents and children. more

See what’s going on in Polk County! Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. Some events may require registration or admission fees; please contact the organization for more details. more

The parents of Bart Millard were divorced when he was three years old. His mother did not want him. So Millard went to live with his father. He was abusive to him through much of his childhood. As a child, he feared his father would get upset about something and take it out on him. more

The annual Night to Shine event will take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 10 at the Open Hearts United Methodist Church. more

Rondo Baptist Church will host a free chili and soup supper from 5 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29. Followed by the Fifth Sunday Singing with Red Letter Edition Gospel Group, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. more

Southwest Baptist University and Next Level Solutions are partnering to help address the shortage of technical workers in the Ozarks by offering technical classes at a reduced rate. The partnership decreases the cost of computer science courses at SBU’s new dual-credit program, SBU Academy.  more

Many people don’t often complain about a mild winter weather that ranges in the 50s and 60s, but as the daytime wanes, a chilly air begins to take hold and the unsheltered individuals of the community are forced to find a place to escape the bitter cold of the night. more

The loss of a loved one can have powerful effects on each of us. Berean Baptist Church will begin offering GriefShare groups, caring small groups that provide support, encouragement, and help. Meetings will be held Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., starting on Tues., Jan. 10. more

See what’s going on in Polk County! Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. Some events may require registration or admission fees; please contact the organization for more details. more

As I write, pastors and others are laboring over a final, meaningful message for Christmas. That is as it should be. Those who are called should do their best to communicate the birth and meaning of the Savior; but words printed on paper struggle to communicate the ecstasy of the event. That is better done by poets and hymn writers. Hence, I am reprinting a Christmas message I first penned twenty years ago. God bless you, and Merry Christmas! more

Christmas Eve Services more

See what’s going on in Polk County! Mark your calendars for these upcoming events. Some events may require registration or admission fees; please contact the organization for more details. more