IOWA-MISSOURI CONFERENCE
Gladstone Church Celebrates 50 Years of Ministry in Kansas City Tibebe Mengistu
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he Gladstone Church in Kansas City, Missouri, recently celebrated its 50th anniversary. Special guest speakers were Ron Clark, a former missionary to Rwanda who grew up attending the Gladstone Church; and Mike Ryan, a
Charter members Joy Doerffel, Mary Lou Basham and Retha McCarty reunite during Gladstone’s anniversary celebration.
Clark’s mother and present member of the Salem Church, provided special music. The Gladstone Church’s story began when members from several congregations in the Kansas City area recognized a need for a church in the northland area and came former general vice president together to make it happen. of the General Conference with Two charter members still ties to the Kansas City area and attend the Gladstone Church the Gladstone Church. Clark today: Joy Doerffel and Retha shared mission stories during McCarty. Doerffel has served Friday evening vespers and as church pianist since the Sabbath school, and Ryan spoke beginning and McCarty, who for the worship service. Charter hosted the first meetings in member Mary Lou Basham, her home before a location
was identified, served as treasurer for 37 years and continues to serve as assistant treasurer and author and editor for the Gladstone Greeter monthly newsletter. What began with 39 members has grown to over 100 and counting. The Gladstone Church is grateful to the Lord for His many blessings and is thankful to those who joined them for this memorable celebration. Maria Griffith is Sabbath school superintendent and assistant clerk for the Gladstone Church in Kansas City, Missouri.
Lebanon Church Adopts a Highway
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he Lebanon Church recently adopted a onemile stretch of Highway 32 in front of the church, committing to pick up trash along both sides of the road and ditches for at least the next three years. The Missouri Department of Transportation has placed signage on both east- and westbound lanes, indicating the Lebanon Adventist
Church is responsible for litter cleanup, and now members—donning bright orange vests, plastic gloves and beautiful smiles—can be seen by community residents and other passersby as they work to maintain God’s beautiful countryside along that stretch of the highway. Since 1987, Missouri’s Adopt-A-Highway program has involved volunteers across
the state working together to clean up Missouri. Currently, more than 5,300 groups and 50,000 volunteers in the program are focused on making Missouri’s roadsides cleaner and more attractive for residents and visitors. More than 6,400 miles of roadway have been adopted. MoDOT spends about $6 million annually to remove litter from more than 385,000
acres of right-of-way along 34,000 state highway miles. Adopters perform about $1 million a year in litter cleanup and beautification efforts. Every area kept free of litter by adopters allows MoDOT to devote resources to other much-needed tasks. Marcia Clark is communications secretary for the Lebanon Church.
Karen Gilman
Members of the Lebanon Church clean up litter along Highway 32 and pile it at the foot of the church’s AdoptA-Highway sign, where it will be picked up by the Missouri DOT. 18 OUTLOOKMAG.ORG NOV/DEC 2019
Learn about options for adopting a highway in your area by checking with your state’s department of transportation.
