The Assemblies of God Senior Adult Ministries department sponsored a Seniors Conference in Branson, Missouri September 8 -10, 2022. Several hundred attended, and some came in early in order to visit Maranatha Village and other Assemblies of God ministries in Springfield, Missouri.
Maranatha Village hosted a luncheon for several interested in senior living. It was a grand occasion!
New Truck! New Trailer! New Tractor! Truly God’s gift to Maranatha Village.
The new equipment will enable the maintenance crew to maintain a standard of excellence across Maranatha Village’s 100-acre campus. Thank God for His wonderful provision!
Fifteen Maranatha Village widowers, and men living alone, enjoyed a delicious barbeque. The group meets quarterly for fellowship and discussion of relevant issues. “Coping with Loneliness” was the topic this time shared by one of the widowers.
The group’s motto is, “Watching each other’s back.”
The Maranatha Village maintenance crew enjoy their lunch hour. They bring their lunches, and can walk across the street to the Long-Term-Care facility for free ice cream. The fellowship is good, and they return refreshed to their care of the facilities and grounds spread across 100 acres.
They enjoy one another and the opportunity of making senior living in the Springfield, Missouri area a blessing to over 400 residents. Great job gentlemen!
Josephine Dowell, R.N. with her late husband, Dr. J. Larry Dowell, M.D.—a specialist in family medicine, moved to Maranatha Village (MV) in 2013.
Josephine was the Director of Nursing at Springfield Hospital back in the 50s. She graduated from Southwest Missouri State University 70 years ago this year and was featured in an article in the MSU Southwest Standard “70 Years a Bear” in last fall’s Homecoming edition.
L. Jonathan Dowell, Ph.D., visiting from New Mexico, enjoys sharing his hobby of bird photography with his mother, Josephine. Some of Jonathan’s photos taken of birds in MV are featured below. His other bird photos can be viewed at http://www.instagram.com/SnowyEgretPhotography
Jonathan’s favorite photo from MV is this mated pair of Red-Bellied
Woodpeckers calling to one another at the top of a snag
just south of MV lake.
Northern Cardinal—a familiar species also in the Ozarks all year long.
One of a flock of 150 Cedar Waxwings in a single tree at the side of the road north of MV Community Center.
Since 2009 caring ladies have been honoring the widows of Maranatha Village with a Widows and Friends’ Tea. Four times a year they invite the widows to come together for a time of celebration. The events take place in February, May, September, and December.
The ladies sing songs together, hear inspirational speakers, and pray together, thanking God for His continuing love for them. The camaraderie of the group is heart-felt as the ladies find new friends with whom to share their lives.
Sheila Duncan is one happy and grateful Maranatha Village (MV) employee! Sheila has served for ten years cleaning houses, bringing sparkle and cheer into the homes of MV residents.
The MV Auxiliary, through the ministry of the MV Mall, invested $13,000 and presented Sheila with a new utility cart. Honored and equipped, now with a pleasant smile, Sheila rings the doorbell, announcing, “House cleaning!”
Ten Maranatha Village widowers and three men living alone, plus two guest widowers enjoyed a hearty breakfast on Saturday, January 22, 2022. Two of the widowers spoke: Sonne Hooper and Roger Perkin. The insights they shared were helpful and stimulated great table conversation. Truly, the Lord guided and lifted the spirits of men who have had to develop a new rhythm of life. The gathering was another example of Maranatha Village’s support for their residents.
CHARLES AND SANDY ASKEW lead PRAYER LINE, an intercessory prayer ministry addressing primarily the needs of Maranatha Village residents.
The compassion and breadth of PRAYER LINE are seen in the 2021 stats:
Distributed 56 prayer requests (24 for residents, 32 for non-residents), 35 death notices (26 of residents, 9 of non-residents) and 4 general service announcements for Maranatha Village residents.
The PRAYER LINE is made up of over 163 individuals, of which the majority were contacted by email. A few residents without an email address were contacted by telephone.
With 91 (56 + 35) prayer requests being distributed to over 163 individuals, there was a potential for nearly 15,000 prayers being offered for the residents, family and friends of Maranatha Village.
What else can we say but PRAISE THE LORD!
You may join this team of intercessors, and receive regular email prayer requests, by contacting Charles at brusselssprouts@att.net.
Chaplain Shawn and Ruthie Oberg, featuring the Maranatha Village Chapel Choir directed by Rebecca Middleton, presented an anointed presentation of Christmas music Sunday evening. The beautifully decorated Chapel, filled with the sound of beautiful harmony, lifted the spirits of MV residents and visitors in preparation for a week of Christmas Cheer—honoring the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
“Dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture” Psalm 37:3
Serving Seniors Since 1973
