NEW LIFE ZOA FREE PAPER 2.0
Volume3 Number 1
A Publication of New Life Evangelistic Center
A New Beginning
The unhoused who come to New Life Evangelistic Center are often broken, disillusioned, and desperate. They are homeless veterans, abused women and children, men who have lost all purpose for life. In this issue of the New Life Zoa Free Paper 2.0, you will meet hurting individuals, who have personally experienced the promise that God has given in Isaiah 43:19 when He says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing!”
The Homeless Women and Children also Need Your Help
No matter what you may be going through at this moment, dare to believe that God is doing something new in your life. This miracle is possible because of the Risen Christ. He will do far beyond what you can ask or think, if you will believe in Him and the love He has for you. After Richard completed his service in the US Army he found himself houseless in St. Louis County, living in his jeep. Now Richard has a new beginning at NLEC and is helping the homeless still living outside. Look inside and see those who are experiencing a New Beginning.
New Beginnings I came to New Life Evangelistic Center with my five-year-old daughter after a series of tragic events that ended with my car being stolen. I had nowhere to turn. I was referred to New Life Evangelistic Center by Alive (another shelter). I was welcomed at New Life with open arms, care, compassion and lots of support. My journey has not been easy, but with God by my side, I have been able to reflect on past decisions I made. I prayed about it, and felt that coming to New Life was a part of God’s plan and I should submit. When I first came to New Life I started off making sandwiches (sack lunches) and got to know the women who are also in the Safe House. Eventually, I moved over to preparing Cry Justice Now letters for inmates, which I loved. Then, I started keeping the NLEC TV App updated and creating and posting social media content. New Life Evangelistic Center is a safe haven for women and children to readjust how they live their lives. It is bringing Jesus into their lives. NLEC helps homeless women build their relationship with God allowing time for healing and for God to reveal what their next steps will be. There is no place like it in the Bi-State area. New Life is the bridge that brings God to the ones who have been forgotten and abandoned in society. I can attest that every dollar donated to New Life Evangelistic Center is being utilized to support and uplift the women in this program and all of the homeless people who are struggling on the streets. In real life, people’s lives are being changed due to the work of the New Life Safe Houses. They see and receive help from New Life on a daily basis. For the mass majority of homeless people living outside, when they see New Life or our partners and volunteers, they know that they are there to help and take action. Destiny D.
When I first became homeless, I had my father with me. We were both living on the street together. We were father and son, and also best friends. I love my father. We were homeless maybe two weeks before he had his heart attack. He went to a St. Louis hospital for heart surgery, then went to Cassville, Missouri, where he died, about three months later. I was living on the street all by myself, going from place to place, trying to stay out of the weather, trying to find warmth, food and friends. Then Pastor Mark from the NLEC Veterans Coming Home Center helped me out. Pastor Mark got me into this program for New Life Evangelistic Center and I was taken to New Bloomfield, Missouri.
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creWhile I was there, I fed cows, chickens and goats, cutting trees, fixing fences and having Bible Study every day. This ation; old things helped me get closer to Jesus, have passed away; I tell the homeless, if you want to get off the streets and do something with your life, enlist in this training program. It has behold, all things helped me reconnect with the Lord. Matthew have become new.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV) Page 2
Another New Beginning of Service to the Lord “I know God’s streams of Living Waters washed all my cancers away! I was diagnosed with Stage 2 breast cancer two years ago. I prayed and prayed to Our Lord! My doctors were just astonished when the results showed I was cancer free! I give all Glorty to Jesus!” Gloria
Losing a Leg Didn’t Knock Me Down
Recent infirmities which involved losing my left leg have set me back but it didn’t knock me down. I’ve continued to walk with Christ Jesus in a Christlike manner. Progression I would call it.
One must not look back on past mistakes in life, for I know my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has forgiven my sins. To walk and practice humility as a leader in this ministry is sometimes the hardest part. Training men here on the farm in Eco- Friendly practices, raising cattle, and completing basic chores many of which they have never had to do before.
Jeff Waggoner in his new house
“I was homeless until I accepted the invitation to join the NLEC Residential Training Program! Serving in Springfield at the New Life VCHC, I discovered the joy in serving my homeless brothers and sisters! I learned how to have empathy for those struggling with homelessness and hopelessness. I developed a closer walk with Jesus, through daily devotions, prayer and reading my Bible. Now I am addiction free and finally at peace with my Lord and Savior! Upon graduating from the program, God continued to bless me with a new job, a new truck, and a new house! Jesus blessed me because I put Him first in everything. I still volunteer at the New Life VCHC on my days off. I continue to have a servants heart. I thank the Lord God everyday for His Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me!” Jeff
New LIFE
New Life Evangelistic Center has truly given “NEW LIFE” to me and my son. I have grown as a person, a mom, a friend, and a believer in There are many challenges as a leader, but the Lord says in Christ, and for that I am bescripture that it won’t be easy down here. Joshua 1:9 says to be yond thankful. strong and courageous, knowing that God is with me wherever Every time I come in contact with my NLEC family I am I go and in whatever I do. I am praising God through worship and continuous prayer. Also, I look to the Proverbs for wisdom uplifted, encouraged, prayed for and truly loved. Thank you so much for loving me but also for loving my son as your own. I to walk in a Christlike way. am excited for more lessons, more tears and more love. I have helped many men, just as New Life Evangelistic has helped me. Christ said he came to serve, not to be served, and Thank you for being a part of my journey. I will cherish this time we have had together for a lifetime. that is the mindset that we must have as leaders here. I praise the name of Jesus Christ and thank Him for this ministry. K’Myah New Life has helped bring so many to the Lord. I pray that the K’Myah is now in her own apartment with a job. Lord will give me strength and wisdom to continue with this ministry serving Him. John Page 3
Homeless Veterans The NLEC Staff has a special place in its heart for our veterans. The motto at New Life is “they fought for us… let’s fight for them.” No matter how tough life gets for the unhoused veterans, they stand proud. They wear their hats with the symbols of the units they have served with. Many of them still wear their military jackets even if they are living on the streets. They are extremely proud of the medals they have earned.
It is cold outside and the wind is blowing and people could freeze to death if the needs of the homeless were not daily being met by the NLEC first responders.
They would never have turned their backs on our country. But in lots of situations, our country has turned its back on them. Everyday homeless veterans show up at our door. We welcome all of them. In 2026, we intend to continue to fight for them.
In spite of the obstacles, New Life Evangelistic Center is not giving up. Like the early Christians, who were persecuted for their faith, the staff at NLEC are now more resolved than ever before to do the work of our Lord Jesus Christ for NLEC will not be defeated. New Life’s vision for 2026 is one where no one will have to sleep outside any longer. It involves seeing that the utilities of the poor and homeless will no longer be shut off. This vision includes meeting four major needs in 2026.
Homeless Women with Children The first program is the women’s Safe Houses. New Life has found that it is impossible for us to turn away a single mother with children either by day or night. There is nothing more heart wrenching than to see a mother with children who has nowhere to go. To see a mother crying and begging for help so her children won’t suffer is something one never forgets. Lots of the women have been physically, mentally, and sexually abused and have no where to turn. In 2026 with your help, New Life will be here for these tortured souls providing not only shelter, but additional opportunities for these women and their children to get apartments of their own.
On the Job Training Programs It is exciting to watch each person develop and grow as they work in the New Life Residential Training Program. Growth in this area calls for an increase in monthly support gifts to cover the various needs of more full-time residents in the New Life training programs. Your support in 2026 will make it possible for our trainees to build additional homes for new trainees at the care center in New Bloomfield, Missouri. The homeless are learning social media skills and they are learning to use their other talents that God has given them in St. Louis. Your gift makes it possible for hundreds to be directly helped daily, at the NLEC Veteran’s Coming Home Center in Springfield. Page 4
Emergency Food and Warm Clothing As ironic as it may seem, there are thousands of starving men, women, and children living in the richest county in the world. Every day, New Life feeds all who are hungry. You should see the smiles that come on the faces of the homeless and hungry when a bag of food and water is placed in their hands. In 2026, it will mean so much to these suffering homeless people to have warm clothes, blankets, a week in a motel, and assistance toward getting an apartment of their own.
Jessica, a member of the Residential Leadership Training Program, came to New Life after moving from place to place seeking to find fulfillment and hope for her future.
That’s why we are praying that you will get involved and become a supporter of New Life Evangelistic Center and the work that God is doing to help the homeless!
“Being at New Life is like coming home. I have found not only purpose, but a family and community to serve God in.” Growth in this area calls for an increase in monthly support gifts to cover the various needs of more full-time residents in the New Life Training Programs.
If YOU would like to join the NLEC Shameika is learning new skills and has found a new sense of purpose and family through the New Life Program for herself and her two youngest boys! “I am grateful for the opportunity to grow closer to God through the NLEC Residential Leadership Training Program.”
Residential Leadership Training Program
call (314) 421-3020.
ARE YOU... Alone, Depressed, Addicted, Stressed, Cheated, Experiencing Conflict or Tempation, Considering Suicide, Curious?
NEEDING... Hope, Peace, Joy, Confort, Purpose, Forgiveness, God?
READ ON...
Some of the men in the NLEC Residential Leadership Training Program who work to spread the love of Jesus through daily outreach, and more!
There is HOPE Christ is Risen! Page 5
Compassion in Motion: Your Monthly Gift Becomes a Lifeline of Hope
For nearly half a century, New Life Evangelistic Center has stood as a refuge for those who have nowhere else to turn. Through every season of hardship—freezing winters, scorching summers, economic downturns, and the countless personal crises that leave individuals homeless and afraid—NLEC has remained committed to compassionate outreach and intentional discipleship. As we look toward the future, the work before us is both urgent and filled with hope. Every day, our teams encounter men, women, and children who are fighting to survive. Every day, we meet people who are hungry not only for food and shelter but for dignity, stability, and a new beginning. And every day, we see that the Lord continues to open doors for NLEC to expand its impact through street outreach, Safe Houses, and our residential training programs. To sustain and grow these ministries, we must strengthen the financial foundation that supports them. That is why our Monthly Giving Clubs have become one of the most vital and effective ways for partners to ensure ongoing care for the people we serve. Monthly giving is not merely a convenience—it is a lifeline. It is a way for compassionate individuals and families to become part of a steady, reliable network of support that allows NLEC to respond immediately when needs arise. When someone joins one of our clubs, they are doing more than giving. They are stepping into a long-term partnership that fuels transformation. Your monthly gift—whether $24 or $500—makes it possible for us to be present on the streets every day, to maintain safe homes for women and children, to disciple men rebuilding their lives, and to offer crisis assistance when it is needed most. Monthly support gives stability to ministries that require daily engagement. It reduces financial uncertainty. It allows us to plan wisely and steward resources with greater confidence. Just as decades ago faithful partners rallied around NLEC to break cycles of homelessness, today’s Monthly Giving Clubs invite a new generation of supporters to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with us. They offer a clear pathway for anyone—individuals, families, churches, and community groups—to play a meaningful role in reshaping lives.
Each club level highlights specific, tangible ways monthly gifts meet real needs. These categories were purposefully designed to reflect the full spectrum of NLEC’s work, from immediate care to long-term recovery. They demonstrate how compassion becomes action, and how even simple generosity can make a profound difference in someone’s life. Below is a bold, easy-to-understand breakdown of our Monthly Giving Clubs:
NLEC Monthly Giving Clubs $24/month — 24/7 Care Club Impact: Provides hygiene kits, lunch bags, or a sleeping bag. Partners in this club join us in offering daily, hands-on care to those living on the streets. $50/month — Christ’s Care in Action Club Impact: Funds backpacks, tents, tarps, or survival kits. Partners provide life-saving support to men and women weathering the harsh realities of homelessness. $100/month — Sow Love, Reap Joy Club Impact: Offers train tickets home, emergency utility assistance, or a motel room for a couple in crisis. Partners help stabilize individuals and families on the brink, giving them a chance to reset and recover. $250/month — Stewards of Grace Club Impact: Supports relational discipleship for men in our residential training program. Partners help provide housing, job training, and spiritual support that lead to genuine transformation. continued on page 5 Page 6
$500/month — Cornerstone Partner Club Impact: Underwrites in-depth recovery and discipleship for formerly homeless women and their children. Partners become essential allies in rebuilding the lives of women overcoming trauma, mental illness, and disability. Each club level plays a powerful role in NLEC’s mission. Together, they create a framework of care that spans the entire journey from crisis to restoration. One level is not more important than another. The beauty of these clubs is that there is a place for everyone. Every household can find an entry point that aligns with their personal budget and sense of calling.
To enroll, simply visit the link below and choose the level that aligns with your heart and resources: [Insert Your CTA Link Here] Thank you for your compassion. Thank you for your partnership. And thank you for helping ensure that NLEC continues to be a place of refuge, discipleship, and new beginnings for countless individuals in the days ahead. Mail in the coupon below to enroll today: PO Box 473, Saint Louis, MO 63166. YES, I want to become a member and help New Life Evangelistic Center provide for the needs of the poor and homeless with my monthly gift of:
Monthly giving also strengthens the relationship between NLEC and its supporters. People long to know that their generosity matters—that it is shaping lives, supporting ministry, and _____ $24/month - 24/7 Care Club making a real impact in our community. Through these clubs, donors receive ongoing communication, invitations, and mean- _____ $50/month - Christ’s Care in Action Club ingful connection to the work they help make possible. _____ $100/month - Sow Love, Reap Joy Club
_____ $250/month - Stewards of Grace Club There is a deeper truth reflected in the rhythm of monthly giving. Throughout Scripture, transformation often begins with _____ $500/month - Cornerstone Partner Club small, faithful steps. Love expressed consistently becomes a powerful force. Hope applied daily changes the course of a Please charge my gift to (type of account): life. These clubs embody that principle. They allow ordinary people to participate in extraordinary work through steady, ___ Checking Account ___ Savings Account heartfelt generosity. ___ Credit/Debit Card This is why we are inviting you to prayerfully consider joining one of our Monthly Giving Clubs today. If you have ever wondered how to make a lasting impact for individuals experiencing homelessness… If you have ever desired to support discipleship in a more meaningful and ongoing way… If you believe in the mission of NLEC and want to help ensure its strength for years to come… Then we warmly invite you to join the club that best fits your personal budget. Your monthly gift is more than a donation. It is a declaration that no one in our community should face crisis alone. It is a lifeline extended to someone who feels forgotten. It is an act of compassion that continues long after the moment you commit to it. By joining a Monthly Giving Club, you become part of a larger movement of hope—one that meets people where they are, walks with them through their struggles, and celebrates their victories with joy and gratitude.
Monthly Withdrawal Date: ___ 5th or ___25th Name: __________________________________________ Address: ________________________________________ City: ________________________ State: _____ Zip: ____ Credit Card #: ____________________________________ Expiration Date: ________________ CVV: _____________ Financial Institutions Name: ________________________________________________ Account Number: _________________________________ Routing Number: _________________________________ Financial Institution’s Address: ______________________ ________________________________________________ (Please provide a voided check or Savings deposit slip) Signature: ________________________________________ (Required) I authorize New Life Evangelistic Center and the financial insitution named below to charge my account each month for the amount shown above. This authority will reamin in effect until I give written notice to cancel it. I understand all charges to this agreement take four weeks to be processed. A record of each charge will be included in my relular bank statement.
All contributions are tax-deductible. 100% of all contributions are received by New Life Evangelistic Center, Inc. Page 7
The Homeless are finding New Beginnings in New Bloomfield New Life Evangelistic Center provides teh men who are homeless opportunities to receive shelter and training in New Bloomfield, Missouri. In New Bloomfield the men start each day with Bible reading and prayer to help them get on the right path with God. Then the men learn to work together in many areas. New Bloomfield is also the location for the Here’s Help Radio Network. The station broadcasts into New Bloomfield KNLG (90.3 FM) feeds KNLH (87.5 FM) in Cedar Hill, MO and KNLN (90.9) FM) in Vienna, MO as well as KNLP (89.7) in Potosi, MO and KMRF (1510 AM) in Marshfield, MO. At the New Bloomfield training center, the homeless men have an opportunity to make a new start in life.
9810 State Road AE New Bloomfield, MO
God is Faithful
My husband Michael Speaks who was the supervisor of the NLEC residential training program in New Bloomfield died from Covid in 2022. It was very hard losing him, especially for Benjamin our son. I thank God for how New Life Evangelistic Center helped us continue in our faith. It was hard for me having to take on the role of both parents, but I thank Jesus for all Michael instilled in Benjamin, who is now in college. “I became homeless due to “I came to Missouri after Sometimes it comes back to me, all of the memories of all family abuse from siblings being homeless when I aged the things Mike had shared with Benjamin when it comes and health issues that made out of a group home and to making positive decisions. A huge weight lifted off my me run away from home. started using drugs. I used shoulders when Benjamin decided to go forward and make I’ve been on the streets to “stay” in a cardboard smart choices. I have continued to work at NLEC in the since July of 2017 and am box until the Springfield office at the front desk at New Life. I see that I am apprenow 25 years old. I was policemen came and made ciated and valued in teh ministry. My desire is to continue addicted to meth for about 3 us move. I would stay anyto serve my Lord. years before I became clean where where no one would and found Christ. bother me. God has blessed me, and I’ve learned so much as I get I came to New Bloomfield to work on the farm. God chose me to be here. I just want to praise God that He’s an awesome God who creates New Beginnings!” Jesse
Now, I am trying to better my life and grow closer to the Lord and become a leader of men.” Dakota
words of encouragement and help from the men here in New Bloomfield. They give me respect and help. Now I also learning radio through the Here’s Help Network. I thank Jesus for the power of His name and His love shown to my son and myself by the Lord. I look forward to seeing all the beautiful things that will come as we continue to trust in Him completely. For I know God is faithful. Alexius Page 8
More About New Beginnings in New Bloomfield, Missouri
The purpose of all of the work is to help the men become accustomed to working 8 hours a day and to work with others. This will help them so that when the leave the RLTP, they will be able to get and keep a job, and get their life back on track, with God guiding them.
Most of the Leadership Training Program members tried life without God and truly messed it all up. Now, Letting God guide their steps throughout the day helps them learn to have a This is just one of the places that New Life Evangelistic Center deeper faith in God in everything they say and do! utilizes to provide shelter and training to men who are homeless.
Each day begins with Bible reading and Prayer to get started on the right path with God. Then the men learn how to work together in many areas.
“I became homeless when I got divorced, came to Springfield, MO. Didn’t have no place to go, no family, always looking for food and a place to lay my head. I was homeless for about 10 years.
There is New Life Charolais Farms here, one of the first tasks each day is to feed and water the cattle. Then after Bible reading and prayer, we go to our assigned jobs for the day.
Someone said something about the New Life Veterans Coming Home Center. I volunteered to help cook. I stayed in the kitchen for about a month and a half when Pastor Mark asked me if I wanted to get off the streets and he enrolled me into the New Life Evangelistic Center Residential Leadership Training Program.
In addition to Charolais Farms, Missouri Renewable Energy is headquartered here. Projects such as the Dome Home, Solar Energy, Earth Home, and more, provide opportunities for training.
After getting into the Leadership Program I have been able to get closer to the Lord. Now I have a home, food in my belly and Christian people to be around. I’ve been in the program for almost a year now and I am thankful for the opportunity to know Jesus even better and to meet good people.
The process of remodeling and installing solar power so that the sun will provide lights and power into our Earth Home is one of the projects the men will learn. Repairs are also being made to the Dome Home which already has solar power.
I am trying to get my life straightened out, so I can be on my own and with the Lord. I thank the Lord for the New Life Evangelistic Center along with Rev. Larry Rice, Pastor Mark. I am thankful that the Lord guided me in the right direction. Tony Page 9
New Life Evangelistic Center’s
Veterans Coming Home Center in Springfield, Missouri
In 2008 the NLEC Veterans Coming Home Center was opened, offering help and hope to the most vulnerable in Springfield, MO. This essential Day Center has provided refuge to thousands of homeless individuals during the past 18 years. The 806 N. Jefferson Center offers showers, a free store, computer access, lockers, mail services, meals, and more. On any given day, NLEC serves between 175 to 250 people during the cold winter months. This Day Center is an anchor in the Springfield community, offering the support and care the homeless and hurting need. If you want to help serve at the Veterans Coming Home Center please call (417) 866-3363.
a place of refuge a place to rest a place to eat a place to sleep
Going to jail was probably the best thing that happened to me. In jail, I remained sober - no drinking, no drugging. Trhough sobriety, the heavy fog from all my years of drug abuse began to dissolve. I could finally see clearly the enormous damage I had done to others and myself! Upon release from jail, I was baptized. I felt the Spirit of the Living God wash over me! My life is now totally different! I have been made whole and new! I have His Peace and His Love in my heart! When trouble comes, instead of running to get high, I run to Jesus! My new relationship with Jesus has broken my chains of addiction and homelessness, as I move in 2 weeks to my own place! Glory to God! Jay
I ruined my life through drinking alcohol. I lost my job. My sister packed up my things and just dropped me off at the New Life VCHC. She abandoned me, leaving me homeless! I’ve been sober now for months and looking for a job and housing. Having stability returned into my life, as I walk closer to the Lord, is my plan to jump start my life. Josh
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God’s Love Flowing Through the New Life Veterans Coming Home Center is Providing the Homeless a New Beginning The New Life’s Veterans Coming Home Center has a vision for 2026. We want to see men and women who journey with us in our ministry grow in wisdom and knowledge of God’s will for their lives, receiving the power to carry that out. What makes the VCHC ministry unique is that we measure success in transformed lives! That’s not just in housing, recovery, and connection to available services. It’s measured in relationships for Jesus. The Spirit of God is moving on the homeless to make new decisions with their lives. And we’re seeing people come to grown in their relationships with the Lord through service in the NLEC Residential Leadership Training Program.
I am 63 years old and living homeless in Springfield is extremely difficult. I have slept with the cold concrete as my mattress. If it wasn’t for the hospitality from the New Life VCHC, I don’t know where I would be! In the new year, I am praying to find my own apartment! I know my God has kept me all these long years and He has not abandoned me now! Barnett
Through Our Risen Savior and the love from the New Life VCHC, Father God has transformed my life! I was a bitter and angry man! I was selfish and full of sin. He has set me free from my prisons of sin and addiction! The Lord has restored my life with a new job and a roof over my head! Through my complete surrender, He has made me new! I was a proud veteran in the US Marines, now I am a proud soldier of His Cross! Curtis
The New Life Veterans Coming Home Center needs work done on the furnace and needs renovated outer front doors that will keep in the heat and lock adequately. We’re needing to rip up our badly torn carpet and replace it with a new floor covering. In addition to these needs there is the operating expenses, like electric bills, vehicle maintenance, etc. Since 2008 God has been faithful, and we believe He will continue to lead us and provide for us in keeping with his Word. You can be a part of the work that God is doing at the New Life Veterans Coming Home Center by sending in your gift to 806 N. Jefferson in Springfield, MO or call us at (417) 8663363.
I became homeless when my family betrayed me. I need special shoes because my feet swell up really bad. I am so grateful for New Life VCHC! They saw my special need and bought me a pair of shoes! They also show that they care by providing me with good food and clean clothes! I feel truly blessed! Tammy
I cannot return to my apartment due to all the domestic violence and abuse! I never imagined at the age of 68 that I would be sleeping on the streets - homeless! I know the only way forward is through surrendering my life to Jesus! Only He can jump start my life and restore my peace and sanity! It is good to know the New Life VCHC is always open to help me! Karen
I was a union paid roofer. I got really ill from bad kidneys. I spent 6 months in rehab and when I was finally able to walk - I had lost everything! My apartment, and my job. I am still physically impaired. Now I am sleeping in tents. My winter coat and gloves were stolen! I am blessed through the New Life VCHC to get another warm coat and gloves! Please pray for me to get my health and life restored to end my homelessness. Joe
I became homeless after my Mom and then my Husband passed away. I am blessed to be able to come to the New Life VCHC! My prayer is to be able to move into my own home in this new year! It does not matter what season it is, I know God is always working for our good! Sandy
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Chris Aaron and Larry Rice Receiving Food at New Life’s Veterans Coming Home Center in SPringfield, Missouri
2428 Woodson Rd, Overland, MO
Chris Rice playing guitar for Eclipse Party in 2017
806 N Jefferson Ave, Springfield, MO
Praying together at the VCHC in Springfield, MO Street Outreach in St. Louis, Missouri
NLEC marches to Jefferson City Life Skills Classes at 1411 Locust
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First Board of NLEC - 1972
2107 Park Avenue
Larry Teaching
1411 Locust Street
NLEC Channel 24 Recording
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New Life Evangelistic Center
Arrival in 1972 - Revival in 2026 How does Revival Come About in 2026?
There is a quiet ache many feel but struggle to name. We see it in our communities, in our churches, and often in our own hearts. Systems strain, families fracture, neighborhoods decay, and trust erodes. Even amid innovation and progress, something essential seems worn thin. The question beneath the surface is not merely how to fix what is broken, but whether anything truly new can emerge from what feels so old and tired. The Christian faith answers that question with a decisive yes. At the end of Scripture, God declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” That promise is not escapism, nor is it naïve optimism. It is a gospel-rooted declaration that renewal is possible because God Himself acts to restore what sin has corrupted. This is the heartbeat of revival—not emotional excess or temporary enthusiasm, but spiritual renewal that begins with God, transforms people, and overflows into communities.
What Revival Truly Is
Revival, biblically understood, is not something we manufacture. It is not the product of better branding, stronger programming, or louder voices. Scripture consistently presents revival as a gracious work of God: hearts awakened, consciences stirred, and lives reordered toward truth. At its core, revival begins with honesty—an acknowledgment that something is wrong within us, not merely around us. The Bible names that problem plainly as sin: a condition that distorts our loves, damages our relationships, and alienates us from God. Left unaddressed, sin does not merely stagnate; it spreads.
news to be received. Forgiveness, reconciliation with God, and new life are offered freely—not earned, not deserved, but given by grace through faith. Revival, then, is the rediscovery of this gospel—not as a concept, but as a living reality that reshapes how we think, live, and love.
From Renewed Hearts to Renewed Communities
Revival does not stop at the church doors. When the gospel takes root in individuals, it begins to reshape entire communities. In Mid-America, this truth is not theoretical. Every day, we witness lives moving from chaos toward stability, from despair toward hope. Men and women burdened by addiction, homelessness, or isolation do not merely need resources; they need renewal. And when the gospel is lived out with consistency and compassion, we see real change—not overnight, not perfectly, but genuinely. One story stands out. A woman arrived at one of our centers carrying little more than exhaustion and fear. Her trust had been broken repeatedly—by people, by institutions, by her own choices. Over time, through patient care, accountability, and consistent exposure to Scripture, something began to shift. The change was not dramatic at first. It was quiet: a willingness to listen, then to pray, then to hope again. Continued on page 15
Yet revival does not end with diagnosis. It moves toward hope. God promises new hearts, new desires, and new obedience— not through self-improvement, but through transformation. This renewal is deeply personal, yet never private. When hearts change, lives change. When lives change, families change. When families change, neighborhoods and cities feel the impact.
The Gospel at the Center
Any true conversation about revival must be anchored in the gospel itself. The Christian message begins with the reality that God is holy and we are not. We fall short not only in behavior, but in nature. However, God did not respond to our brokenness with distance. He responded with mercy. In Jesus Christ, God entered human history, lived a sinless life, and willingly bore the weight of human sin through His death on the cross. His resurrection is the declaration that sin and death do not have the final word. This gospel is not merely information to be affirmed, but good
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NLEC - Arrival in 1972 to Revival in 2026 Continued from page 14
Eventually, that inward renewal began to express itself outwardly—healthier relationships, steadier work, and a restored sense of dignity. This is what “making all things new” looks like on the ground.
Revival in the Church Today
The Church in America does not lack activity, but it often lacks depth. Revival calls us back to first things: humility, repentance, prayer, and obedience. It challenges both complacency and despair. Revival is not nostalgia for a past era, nor is it withdrawal from present realities. It is the Church remembering who she is and why she exists. It is believers taking responsibility for their own spiritual condition before critiquing the culture around them. It is a renewed commitment to live out the gospel not only in words, but in costly love. Importantly, revival is not driven by fear, but by hope. The same God who brings dead hearts to life is still at work. He has not abandoned His people, nor has He surrendered our cities to decay. Renewal often begins quietly, in prayer closets, kitchen tables, and ordinary acts of obedience. But over time, those small seeds bear visible fruit.
A Call to Prayer and Obedience
The promise that God is making all things new is not an excuse for passivity. Scripture consistently ties renewal to prayer and repentance. We are invited—indeed commanded—to seek the Lord while He may be found, to turn from sin, and to walk in newness of life. For some, that may begin with personal faith—trusting in Christ for the first time. For others, it may mean returning to practices long neglected: prayer, Scripture, reconciliation, or service. Revival is not about perfection, but direction. It is a re-orientation of the heart toward God and His purposes. As we pray for revival in 2026 and renewal in our communities, we do so with confidence—not in ourselves, but in the God who keeps His promises. He is not finished with His people. He is not finished with our nation. And He is still in the business of making all things new. CA Rice
New Life Evangelistic Center is working to give individuals the opportunity in fulfilling our Lord’s command in Matthew 25:37-39 when He said for us to clothe the naked, feed the poor and minister to the incarcerated. At NLEC you can reach out in the name of Jesus to the hungry, the homeless, the incarcerated, the poor, the hurting and needy children and the elderly. You can do this through the Residential Leadership Training Program, through Volunteering, through Partnering with New Life Evangelistic Center financially, and through Praying for NLEC Staff, and for the homeless! For further information on how you can become a part of the New Life Evangelistic Center Community, please write to: New Life Evangelistic Center PO Box 473 St. Louis, MO 63166 or go online to: www.nlecstl.org Page 15
Looking Forward to New Beginnings We at NLEC are looking forward to what God has planned in the coming year. We are a faith-based ministry, and that means we continue to operate because we believe that God is always on time and that he knows our needs and gives us the privilege of asking. He keeps us on our knees before him. Lately God has us trusting him as a cash-strapped ministry. But we have staff who have seen God come through for us in the last fifty-four years, as we needed it. Our ministry’s verse: 2 Cor. 5:17 says, “For if anyone be in Christ, they are a new creation, the old has passed away the new has come!” We are all looking forward to how God will transform us into His own son’s image. We don’t have to live on an emotional roller coaster ride when it comes to finances. We simply have to learn to trust Him. Perhaps you have heard that we are coveting your prayers as we look to build a new shelter in St. Louis, Missouri. And maybe you’re wondering just what sort of work goes into planning such a shelter. In this article I will elucidate eight points that are key to the way we run a ministry to the homeless and poor here in the Midwest. The first one is keeping in step with the Holy Spirit’s leading and timing. We seek to move under God’s direction with the means he gives to do the work. Jesus said to count the cost in Luke 14:28-30. “Which of you wishing to construct a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if there is enough for its completion? Otherwise, after laying the foundation and finding himself unable to finish the work the onlookers should laugh at him and say, “This one began to build but did not have the resources to finish.” In verse 33 Jesus tells us what he’s getting at: “In the same way, every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple.” As a ministry we look at the future very aware of our present. And we ask God, “Lord, how are you going to do this? You’ve put in on our hearts to expand in this way, but we just don’t see how you’re going to do it. Please take us by the hand and lead us by your Spirit.” We have to renounce all that we have if we are going to be a faith-based ministry. The problem with money is that it represents the ability to do something on our own. And we are tempted to trust in money rather than Jesus. There is a temptation to want to just get from God and do for Him. When in reality it all belongs to God! So, we accept every gift as though from the hand of God because it is His work. This keeps us on our knees. Financing is an important part of any ministry, but when we allow the bottom line to influence everything we do a few things can happen: 1) we can become so fearful to make a move without the money now that we don’t want to take any big steps at all, or 2) we get our eyes off our Savior and onto the money. To fall into either of these traps can easily cause us to walk in fear rather than faith. Even so it is important to have a team of people who understand financing and the ins and outs of caring for the ministry in this way. Bills need to be paid, and an overall vision of the ministry has to be maintained. Staff: without proper staffing we can’t accomplish our goals
for the work. NLEC is a different kind of work because we try to keep the needs of the homeless front and center, especially in staffing. Many of our staff include members who were previously homeless and graduated from our residential leadership training program. They have a burden for the work because they have a burden for the people who are still out there. At the present time NLEC has about 60 people in our residential leadership training program. That’s 60 people who are housed, living in community, daily reading the Scriptures and applying them directly to the work they do for those in need. Together with our salaried employees, we keep the vision alive and look forward to all God is going to do every day. In-kind donations are those material goods like sandwiches, clothing items, furniture, laundry soap, hygiene kits, backpacks, sleeping bags, and vehicles that help the ministry to directly do the work. These items are carefully accounted for and dispersed to the homeless and poor or used directly in the work. Volunteers make up a big part of our work. We wouldn’t be able to have our Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations and other events without them. They are an encouragement to us that what God is doing is so much bigger than just us. Together we are building a community that involves the man or woman in the pew, the men and women in the street, and those people who may be unacquainted or affiliated with either.
Waterhill Church in Springfield, MO serving at the New Life Veterans Coming Home Center Community living is that part of NLEC that keeps us on our knees before God. In my experience community has less to do with the big visionaries or the big helpers and much more to do with the greatness of our Hope in Jesus Christ. In community we try to share our time, talents, faith, and unique aspects as children of God with all the others God has put us with. We are broken people being used by a powerful God. Our struggles with the reality of the death of loved ones in our lives, with our sense of privation, with our fears---all of these we Page 16
take to God in prayer alone and together. It is the hot house of community, living so close together, that produces the most beautiful flowers for God’s glory.
The Source of True Empowerment
Our vision for Fund Raising brings together the gifts of our The resurrection of Jesus Christ was more than just a hisdonors and the needs before us. We offer the opportunity for torical event to be celebrated once a year with lilies and donors to partner with us in the work and experience the joy of lavender. Rather, it was the beginning of a whole new sharing our lives with those in need.
meaning for the word empowerment.
Before we lay the foundation for our new shelter, which New Life calls the Residential Center for the Unhoused, we need a foundation of prayer. Prayer is the fuel which carries us forward and gives us the daily strength we need to do this awesome work. This is a day of trouble when so many are becoming homeless. In Psalm 50 God says, “Call upon me in the day of trouble. I will hear you and I will deliver you.” Please pray for this Residential Center for the Unhoused. The architectual plans have been completed.
The Word of God tells us that those who embrace the Lordship of the Risen Christ have an unfathomable source of power dwelling inside them. Those who have cast aside the deadness and futility of their lives apart from God, in exchange for a resurrection to a new life in Christ, can discover what might be called, “The Ephesians Formula for Empowerment:”
1) “And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of As New Life team members go before the St. Louis County His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in Council please pray a site will be made available to NLEC. the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him This brings us to the physical building, the residential center at His own right hand in the heavenly places” (Ephesians for the unhoused. God has laid on our hearts a vision to actual1:19,20). ly build a place that could shelter 100 men, women and children. As I said before, we are in a unique place because we are already using our existing facilities to house around 60 men and women throughout Missouri.
2)”Even when we were dead [slain] by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ. [He gave us the very NLEC never stopped doing the work God called us to do, even life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He when our occupancy permit for 1411 Locust Street was taken quickened Him.] (for) it is by grace that you are saved” away in 2017. Won’t you join us in providing this Residential (Ephesians 2:5). Center for the Unhoused?
As we look into the coming year we have tremendous Hope. We are looking at New Beginnings in the making. God continues to open our eyes to the wonders in His Creation. He has given us a heart for those who bear the image of God, his precious unhoused children. We live in a society that makes it harder to do good. Yes, it’s not easy in these troubled times. Our society has turned again to a war on the impoverished from the war on poverty. Law enforcement is being used against the homeless in new ways, but we still have hope for the future.
3) “May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]” (Ephesians 3:16). 4) “In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him; draw your strength from Him] that strength which His [boundless] might provide” (Ephesians 6:10).
Just as God took the broken, lifeless body of Jesus andSomeone needs to offer sanctuary to the homeless, and we be- -with awesome power--raised Him to life again, He can lieve God is calling New Life Evangelistic Center to do it. The take the broken, shattered pieces of your life...and the lives Residential Center for the Unhoused is only Phase I of a larger of those you love...and transform them into radiant, fully vision for a Community of Refuge for the homeless. This com- alive reflections of His love to a hurting world. In Him is munity of refuge will take the unhoused from where they are our true source of empowerment! at through all the steps necessary for the transition of being set free from the cycle of homelessness. If you would like to be a part of this historical new beginning of a great work of God, please call (314) 421-3020 or visit NLEC at 2428 Woodson Road in Overland.
(All scriptures were taken from the Amplified Bible.) by Penny Rice 1950-2007
Chris L. Rice, OFS Page 17
Do You Really Want to Be New?
For we are not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by His renewal of our minds, hearts, bodies and souls! (Roman 12:2)
All around this world, humans long for change, we long for something, anything “new”! Responding to our insatiable hungers demanding newness, the world offers us many options for change with new things constantly bombarding us.
We achieve this transformation through diligent prayer, studying His word, by surrendering our lives, and allowing God to change us into the image of Christ!
For instance—New weight loss drugs and injections; a new car; a new job; a new drug; a new hairstyle; a new face; a new workout; With each of these new things comes the promises to give us new power, prestige, money and position.
Start here! Start now by allowing His Holy Spirit to pour out streams of Living Waters unto our dry, parched lives and souls! (Isaiah 41:18-19) Real newness, real change, real transformation begins with God!
But despite all of man’s new innovations, products and gimmicks—why do we feel more isolated? Why so anxious, more stressed and more depressed? Why is there more distrust, divisions, hatred and violence?
Mark Glenn Matthew Carter
Do you really want to be new?
I believe it is because all of man’s changes, all of his newness-- is superficial. Man’s promises of newness are always temporary and fleeting—waiting upon the next new viral fashions, trends and ideas. Our world’s changes to newness sells us illusions that it can offer more than it can possibly ever deliver. Furthermore, I also believe the world’s answers to newness fails to really satisfy the changes we are looking for, because we seek change and newness in everything and anything—but God! When God promises He shall transform us into “New Creations” in 2 Corinthians 5:17, it is based on His power which is not temporary, not fleeting. Our world changes us on the surface. God changes us deeply, from the inside out! Please note, God does NOT suggest we need an “upgrade”, a “renovation” or “reinvention” for His change! God says He will transform us into His Son’s image. We cannot achieve this real transformation through our own efforts! God’s changes in us to newness will not appeal to our comforts. In truth, His transformational power, turning us into new creations, can often be uncomfortable and difficult. For He demands us to deny our wants and desires! He demands us to surrender our lives unto Him! He demands obedience to His will and way! His invitation to change us into His newness runs deep into our souls and is based on His unwavering, rock solid, never changing—Word! “His Word guides us when we are lost, strengthen us when we are weary, challenges us when we are compromising and encourages us when we are overwhelmed.” (YouVersion). Be on alert and extremely captious not to be lured with the world’s hollow advertisements for change! Don’t purchase their superficial and temporary newness hypes! Page18
The Cry for Justice Behind Prison Walls How we need to pray that the Christian community will be awakened to the need of justice at this hour! Medicaid cuts on top of ever increasing utility costs, those without adequate legal assistance locked up in growing numbers, the on-going destruction of affordable housing, the misuse of eminent domain where rich developers take the homes of the poor and struggling middle class – the list of injustices go on and on. “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” (Eph. 5:14) How we need Jesus to not only give us light in the ever increasing darkness of injustice, but also wisdom on how to deal with it. “And will not God bring about JUSTICE for His chosen ones, who cry out to Him day and night? Will He keep putting them off? “(Luke 18:7) As we encounter injustice, we must never forget the importance of earnest prayer. Never underestimate the power of crying out to God day and night concerning the injustice you are aware of. I can’t help but recall the miracle resulting from the Missouri inmates who were being abused in Texas some years back. After they cried out to the Lord, a video was miraculously released showing this abuse, and before long the Missouri inmates were returned to Missouri. As we pray, we must believe God and know that He cares about the issue of justice. As Psalms 140:12, in the Amplified Bible states, “I know and rest in confidence upon it that the Lord will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will secure JUSTICE for the poor and needy.” When we pray we must also seek God as to what He wants us to do to address these issues of injustice.
Woe is Me! “I am 75 years old and need the assistance of a wheelchair. I also have some chronic care ailments. (I’ve been incarcerated 20 years).” “Larry, you did inquire how does a prisoner cope. Alas, woe is me. (I am laughing!). I have found coveting less of the material world is helpful. A few friends, shelter, and an income. Ideally, a tiny home, a visiting living assistant and the renewable Social Security Disability Benefits. I feel like a burden, and that weighs heavily on me. I mean, how could I possibly make recompense for any assistance. Pride is one of my sins and I have difficulty being humble.” Robert Cummings #9974
Change In My heart With the days going by, and not a cloud in the sky. I can’t help but wonder, when will I finally die? As I sit around, trying to make it through each new day. Wondering when the good Lord will take me away. For my loyalty has been tested but my heart has stayed true. He came into my life and all at once I became new. With no more crimes to commit and no more hate in my heart. Where else could I have gotten a clear fresh start? I’ve lived my life freely ever since I was born but my life needed change before I could ever leave this earth. So that I may find peace with my family and friends before me and praise the Lord my Savior and forever celebrate His glory. Jason W. Holstein 33468988 Mount Olive Correctional Complex, WV Page 19
Compassionate Hospitality
Compassionate hospitality is a God given opportunity provided to each and every human being who has been created in the image of God. The story of Abraham and Sarah’s struggles in the midst of their homelessness is repeated daily. So many who are now hurting and homeless try to survive in a country that has made homelessness a crime if they sleep in the parks after 10:00 p.m., try to use the bathroom outdoors, or catch a metro without a ticket. For many the golden rule is, the one who has the gold makes the rules.
Mary spoke of this in her magnificent in Luke 1:52, 53 when she declared, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty.”
4. Peace – also referred to as shalom This refers to a life of fullness and fellowship with God. Jesus, through His life, death and resurrection has made this possible. In Luke 4:18, 19 Jesus declares His mission of bringing peace to those who are hungry, hurting or homeless by quoting IsaAbraham and Sarah’s story is the story of the sojourner and the iah 61:1, 2, “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has immigrant. They were strangers in a strange land without pro- anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me tection, connections or rights to carry on their business without to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for harassment. Today things aren’t so different for the American the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the homeless or the undocumented immigrants. Whether it’s the Lord’s favor.” Then He went on to say in verse 21, “Today this laws of local municipalities designed to make almost everyscripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” thing the homeless do to survive illegal, or the laws of states like Arizona which allow race and language to be the reason Jesus called all sinners to repent which means the rich are to for police to check people’s identity papers. serve the poor, the strong are to be advocates for the weak, and the righteous are to live in such a way that their good works We claim to be a nation that cares yet ignore passages like glorify God. Our obligation to the homeless and hurting is inExodus 23:9 when it comes to the homeless and the immidisputable. As believers in the power of Christ, we must work grants. “You shall not oppress a stranger, you know the heart to minimize the injustice in the world. We must strive to feed of a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” We the hungry and clothe and house the poor. We must share the are called to be a people where hospitality reigns supreme as necessary skills that will not give them a handout but a hand we see the stranger as a pilgrim who may be homeless but not up. After all, living is giving and we are called to be alive, not hopeless. just survive. When one studies scriptures he or she will see four areas of Jesus was the incarnation of God’s heartfelt love for the poor, Biblical teaching that reveal God’s compassionate hospitality homeless and oppressed. As followers of Jesus Christ, we for the poor, oppressed and homeless. can do no less. We must daily pray for those in need as we let God’s love and power flow through us in compassionate hos1. Deliverance pitality. Each day He gives us so many opportunities to do just At critical moments in human history, the creator of Heaven that. As we walk in the spirit and love of God may we recogand Earth is revealed as the Great Deliverer. At decisive monize these opportunities and allow His love to flow through us. ments of need God takes sides and “does not ignore the cry of Larry Rice the afflicted” (Psalms 9:12). When the oppressed immigrant, homeless and hurting, cries out to God, He hears, sees and delivers His compassionate hospitality through those who truly Laying a Foundation for Prayer love Him. 2. Justice A second Biblical mandate is God’s concern for social justice. During a time of political security and economic prosperity, God sent Amos to the northern Kingdom of Israel to condemn those who “oppress the poor and crush the needy” (Amos 4:1). He said, “Let justice run down as waters, and righteous as a mighty stream” (Amos 5:24). In Isaiah 1:17 believers are told to “seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the cause of the widow.” 3. Equity A third strand of Biblical teaching is that God desires equitable distribution of material resources. In this time of extreme capitalism as the rich are getting richer and the poor, poorer we must realize that God delights in exalting the humble and casting down the rich and proud.
Please pray for the New Life Residential Center for the Unhoused. New Life Evangelistic Center now has the architectural plans for this center that will house upwards to 100 men, women, and children. Before a foundation of stone can be laid for this residential center a foudnation of prayer must be laid. Prayer is the source of a new beginning. In Isaiah 58:9 we are told “then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say, “Here am I” (Isaiah 58:9).
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I Had No Purpose in Life
YOU can make a BIG Difference for GOOD in the lives of the hurting and homeless when you partner with NLEC! You can share your gift online at: www.nlecstl.org or call (314) 421-3020 or mail to: New Life Evangelisticc Center PO Box 437 St. Louis, MO 63166 Your tax-deductible gift goews a long way at the New Life Evangelistic Center. Thousands of people have been fed, sheltered, and provided food, water, and other emergency assistance by New Life Evangelistic Center because of caring people like YOU! NLEC Gave me HOPE! I became homeless when my health issues worsened to the point I couldnn’’t work. As a result total despair overwhelmed me. It was NLEC that found me and gave me hope and a place of refuge. New Life Renewed my faiith in Jesus Christ. Now I am able to help those less forunate than me as I am filled with the Holy Spirit. Thomas is now directing the NLEC New Life For New Treasures Thrift Store in Overland. Please visit this store at 2509 Woodson Road Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday between the hours of 9 am and 3 pm. Not only will you receive great bargains, but your purchase will help New Life’s work among the homeless.
Before I came to NLEC I had lost my mom almost 6 years ago. My mom was my biggest supporter, then I became homeless which made me feel lost and worthless. I had no purpose in life, I was the person to help family and friends and sometimes put others needs before my own. Through the struggle I knew Cchrist but sometimes questioned if He was real and how powerful He was. There were many struggles. I knew God was real because I should have died, but Jesus spared me. Being spared, I was able to have two beautiful children and grandkids, so I am truly thankful for that. Even though I grew up in a church environment, some things I never understood, or knew. So being at NLEC gives me the opportunity to learn and love Christ more. This has helped me overcome my struggles and to build my strength with God. I feel this transtion through NLEC is the best decision I have made in a long time. I am finding a new beginning and a new life. Marsha
A New
Beginning I was working two jobs when my Mom passed away. I kept making house payments on the house, and for the car my Mom owned, but when the bank/mortgage company found out she had passed, they sold the house and took back the car. While I was working and paying the house and car payments, my car was stolen out of the driveway. The day I had to be out of the house, I ended up in the hospital with an infection in my leg. It was a bone infection that caused me to be in the hospital for two months! When it came time for me to be released from the hospital, they gave me a list of resources. New Life Evangelistic Center was on the list of resources and I called their number. I came the next day from the hospital and joined the Residential Leadership Training Program. Now, I have started working again and moved out into my own place. I praise God for NLEC and everything they helped me accomplish while I was there. Taylor Page 21
The Love of God in ACTION is Providing New Beginnings for people in INDIA!
NLEC in India regularly conducts food programs to the deeply suffering lepers. In our state there are more than 10,000 lepers who are living with deep ulcer wounds, loss of limbs, etc. Out of this big figure, NLEC is helping 150 lepers with food twice a week, weekly medical help, mainly with anti-leprosy medicine, change of medical bandages to their deep wounds. NLEC has been serving the lepers since 1986. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is reaching these lepers on a regular basis. We have constructed small sheds for shelter and also conduct weekly worship. Pastor Paparao Kakinada, India
New Life Evangelistic Center is helping the poor and homeless with the Word of God and also with food material like rice, onions, dall, soap, potatoes etc. The poor people are more and more desperate as they are unable to have food daily. At this time, NLEC is reaching such communities and helping them with the word of God as well as with food materials. New Life is caring for the children. Many children are just living in the streets without any hope. If there is no child today, there is no world tomorrow. So New life is taking care of the children and giving them food, medical aid, free education, etc. Thanks to New Life. You can make a difference in the lives of these poor lepers and children!
Please send your tax-deductible gift today to: NLEC, PO Box 473, St. Louis, MO 63166 marked “India”.
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Grasshoppers and the Power of Prayer
In the summer of 1874, grasshoppers or “Rocky Mountain Locusts” blanketed the western part of Missouri. Historians reported that crops were devastated as farmers hopelessly tried to fight this plague. In 1875 the grasshoppers returned in even greater numbers, causing almost total destruction to all crops and plant life throughout western Missouri. “The Centennial History of Missouri” by Walter B. Stevens records that: farmers fought the grasshoppers by digging miles of trenches around the fields. They made great fires, hoping the drifting heat and smoke would save the young crops. Such efforts appeared futile. Swarms of grasshoppers reported up to 300 miles long and 10 miles wide covered the land, putting out the sun itself. Bushes, trees and other vegetation were stripped as the grasshoppers passed over. The rails of the railroad tracks would become so slick by being covered by the insects that the trains would have to be stopped to allow the crews to clean the tracks before they would proceed. As the plague of grasshoppers ravaged the State of Missouri, Governor Charles Henry knew something had to be done. As Missouri’s 22nd governor, he not only inherited a plague of grasshoppers, upon his inauguration, but also a state burdened with millions of dollars of debt. Governor Hardin turned to God in prayer. In a special proclamation, he challenged the citizens of Missouri to do the same. The proclamation reads as follows: Wherefore be it known, that the 3rd day of June, proximo, is hereby set apart as a day of fasting and prayer. That Almighty God may be invoked to remove from our midst these impending calamities...People and all officers of the state are hereby requested to desist during that day from their usual employment and assemble at their places of worship for humble and devout prayer, and to otherwise observe the day as one for fasting and prayer. On June 3, 1875, people from throughout the state went to their churches to join Governor Hardin and members of the state legislature in prayer.
Rocky Mountain Locusts
While Rocky Mountain Locusts were not large (measuring around .8 of an inch to 1.4 inches). The ferocious appetite of these grasshoppers is what made the 12.5 trillion group of them so devastating in 1974-75.
History records that in a few days a strong wind swept in from the east, combined with heavy rain. By June 15, the plague which had devastated the State of Missouri was gone. Page 23
Have You Found the NLEC Website?
For easy access to the NLEC website, SCAN THIS CODE:
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