The Morning Thing is focusing on local ministries this week. WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with two representatives from a NEW ministry – Fostering Family Ministries.
Sherry Bouquet, Executive Director of Fostering Family Ministries shared the story of how God led her to start this ministry. She talks about their mission, how churches can get involved and her goals for 2021. Sherry also shared some eye-opening stats about the foster care crisis happening in Knox County. Click HERE to hear their conversation.
McKenzie Doup, Regional Coordinator of Fostering Family Ministries shared how God opened the door for her to serve the ministry. She shares how this ministry helps families take the steps to become foster parents. She also talks about the role a church can take on as a support team for foster families. Click HERE to hear their conversation.
For more details on how to get involved, follow the Fostering Family Ministries online:
The Morning Thing is focusing on local ministries this week. WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Roger Tickle, President for the Knox Network of Christian Ministries. Roger talked about the ministry’s mission, their history and how KNCM is connecting churches and other ministries in our community. Click HERE to hear their conversation.
WNZR’s Marcy Rinehart talked with Dr. Henry Spaulding, MVNU’s President. Click HERE to hear their conversation.
Dr. Spaulding shared updates on numerous topics including:
MVNU’s proactive approach with COVID-19 testing
Changes in the 2021 calendar
MVNU’s attendance policy for athletic events
Plans for MVNU’s 2021 Graduation
MVNU’s involvement in the Gateway Project. MVNU along with Mount Vernon City Schools and the City of Mount Vernon received the Investor in the Future Award at this year’s Knox County Chamber of Commerce Awards Ceremony for the Gateway Project.
The next construction phase and timeline for the soccer/lacrosse stadium
Summer construction plans for dormitories on campus
WNZR talked with Mount Vernon Mayor, Matt Starr for our January Spotlight on Mount Vernon. We covered multiple topics this month including how to stay connected to all that is happening in our City.
Topics included:
The City’s problems with wastewater and the need for a rate increase
News from the Mount Vernon City Council meeting on 1/25 including the plan for adjusting wastewater rates
Zoning changes related to accessory structures in the city
Staffing changes with the Mount Vernon Police Department
Construction and infrastructure projects
The Columbia Gas project of replacing gas lines in the city
The City’s new plan on how to face winter weather including the addition of a new dump truck
Latest projects of the Mount Vernon City Street Department
Opportunities for community members to share their opinions
The Mayor’s plan to use volunteers on the City’s boards and commissions
Update on the recent webinar titled “Who Is My Neighbor”
WNZR’s Wesley Boston talked with Diana Wetzel, Executive Director for Knox Starting Point. They talked about the importance of Sanctity of Human Life Month. Diana shared how Starting Point is recognizing and celebrating this special month. She also shared about their new virtual healing journey for those suffering from reproductive loss.
Click HERE to hear their conversation. Click HERE to start your virtual healing journey.
Think you’re pregnant? Facing a difficult decision? Text or Call 740-393-0370
Starting Point is a safe, non-judgmental place to receive accurate information, prenatal services, licensed counseling, and material resources for needs related to sexuality, unexpected pregnancy, family life and reproductive loss. All services and materials are free to you!
This week for our Friday Favorites, we hosted a full show of favorite Christmas songs.
In our Christmas Music Survey, participants were asked to share their favorite Christmas Song and why it was so meaningful to them. On Friday, we shared 3 full hours of incredible songs and stories. Check out the list below of the stories of how these powerful songs are having an impact on many lives.
Marcy Rinehart shared her favorite Christmas Song – “Labor of Love” by Jill Phillips and Andrew Petersen. Click HERE to hear why this song is important to Marcy.
Hunter Sutyak shared his favorite Christmas Song – “How Many Kings” by Downhere. Click HERE to hear why this song is important to Hunter.
Darcy Blankenhorn’s meaningful Christmas song: Silent Night. My grandfather, who was a 1st generation American, sang it to me in German. The year was ~ 1956 or 57 and my grandparents lived in an upstairs apartment , which was very small and sparsely furnished but he had a rocking chair which he sat in the tiny “sitting room” and he rocked me and sang that song to me in German…precious memory.
Karen Bush’s meaningful Christmas song: My Mom’s favorite was Brenda Lee’s Rocking around the Christmas tree. I can still here her singing it every time I hear it.
Laurie Garcia’s meaningful Christmas song: Silent Night. My grandmother (on my mom’s side) would always sing it in German at Christmas. Her grandparents came from Germany. It brings back wonderful memories for me. I sang it at church once for a Christmas special they did.
Jane Mikulec’s meaningful Christmas song: My daughters and I enjoy singing to Christmas songs while driving in the car when shopping together after Thanksgiving. We enjoy all of them but especially enjoy those sung by Amy Grant.
Tracy Chaney’s meaningful Christmas song: The Christmas Shoes! I didn’t have very nice Christmas’s growing up. I remember one Christmas we didn’t get any presents. Usually we had an Aunt that seemed to always come over every Christmas and bring us something! I love giving gifts now because I know how it felt not to have anything at Christmas. This song touches my heart!
Karen Batten’s meaningful Christmas song: Gene Autry “Rudolph” We had an album by Gene that dad would play when we were growing up.
Candace Gillespie’s meaningful Christmas song: Walking in a Winter Wonderland. My children would sing walking my winter underwear, and just laugh and laugh . Now their in their mid 30s and my grandchildren sing it.
Teresa Smith’s meaningful Christmas song: I just love the Older Christmas Songs Religious and Nonreligious it reminds me of my childhood a happier more peaceful time.
Lydia King’s meaningful Christmas song: Micah #5. It is such a fun energetic song!
Becky Davis’ meaningful Christmas song: Mary Did You Know holds very special meaning to my family. It was my Dad’s favorite Christmas song, and we lost him to cancer a couple weeks before Christmas last year. A close friend of our family always sings it for their church at Christmas time, and she came to sing it for Dad at his home a few days before he passed. It was a very special moment.
Lee Bjornsen’s meaningful Christmas song: I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day by Casting Crowns. There is just something so moving between the arrangement and the words of hope in Christ that speak to me especially in such uncertain and troubling world events.
Heather Lanzer’s meaningful Christmas song: O Holy Night-every time I hear that song I think of my grandma, that was her favorite song and it makes me smile to think of her. She made Christmas special for our family and there were many special memories made there.
Nancy Sponseller’s meaningful Christmas song: Amy Grant’s Christmas songs always bring back childhood memories. We had the cassette tape and would play it while decorating the tree or on our way to Christmas Eve service at church.
Kristin Kanagy’s meaningful Christmas song: Joy to the world. because my daughter’s name is joy.
Luke Mickley’s meaningful Christmas song: My favorite is Jingle Bell Rock off of my favorite Christmas movie Home Alone.
Elizabeth Barrett’s meaningful song: O Holy Night – the lyrics are so powerful and really capture the miracle of a Christmas and the hope and peace we can all have because of it. As a musician, it is also my favorite song to sing.
Cheryl Benson’s meaningful Christmas song: I really enjoy “O Come all Ye Faithful.” While singing it one year, I started thinking of it as an invitation & response. The invitation to Come is offered verse by verse to the angels, the shepherds, everyone. Their excited response is, “Let us adore Him!” Then that group passes the invitation on to the next group to whom the invitation is extended. It’s a reminder to me to be excited about the marvel of Christ with us and also to enthusiastically extend the invitation to others.
Krista Castro’s meaningful Christmas song: Mary did you know. I remember is being one of my moms favorite songs. And she passed away 13 years ago but when I hear that song I always think of her.
Alan Hamman’s meaningful Christmas song: All of the instrumentals used in the Charlie Brown Christmas special. Every year we would watch Charlie Brown, for Thanksgiving, and Christmas. The greatest holiday specials out there.
Daniel Skrzypchak’s meaningful Christmas song: White Christmas by Bing Crosby because the movie White Christmas was my grandma’s favorite so every December my family would go to a sing-along showing of White Christmas at the Music Box Theater in Chicago with my grandma. She passed away 9 years ago but we have still gone every year and in the recent few years we have gone on Christmas Eve. The song reminds me of her.
Alyssa Sidle’s meaningful Christmas song: Greatest Story Ever Told – 4Him. My Dad used to play it during Christmas and has become a family favorite to listen to during the holiday season. It really hits on how important and amazing the Christmas story is. Christ, the savior, is born and that’s a big deal! It really is the greatest story ever told.
Catherine Haws’ meaningful Christmas song: My favorite Christmas song is “I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas”. I would act out the song as a kid, draw pictures of it, and whenever it comes on, I crank it to sing loudly along.
