FRIENDS IN CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
OUR PASTOR
Rev. Emil L. Woerner is the pastor at Friends in Christ. He has been serving FIC since July 2009. FIC also happened to be his first church to serve as a pastor after graduating from
Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana with a Masters of Divinity degree.
Prior to seminary, he had an 18 year career as an engineer working for International Paper Company in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He has a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee.
Pastor Woerner loves to hunt and fish, and loves all sports, and is an avid runner (even marathons).
He has two children - a son, Emil Jr., and a daughter, Addie. He is happy to be fulfilling God's calling in his life!
OUR CHURCH
Our mission is to: Proclaim the crucified and risen Christ, Reach out to everyone with God's love, Grow in faith, and build new and deeper friendships.
Church Council:
President – Dr. Larry Smith
President-Elect – Jon Pingel
Secretary – Marty Smith
Treasurer – Glenn Jostad
Head Elder – Dan Hill
Stewardship Chair – Ric Roll
Properties Chair – Jeff Hamm
Youth & Education Chair – Leigh Jordan
OUR MISSIONS
The Kids Closet: Friends in Christ partners with the Bryant Rotary Club to operate the Kids Closet, a non-profit organization which is located on the Friends in Christ campus, and serves the needs of local children with free clothing, shoes, coats and hygiene items. It is by referral only. The Kids Closet serves over 500 children per year. Friends in Christ regularly collects clothing items to stock the Kids Closet, and many of our members volunteer to work and help organize it.
Saline Memorial Hospice: Friends in Christ provides meals regularly on a monthly basis for Hospice families. In addition, Friends in Christ provides volunteer workers, and other periodic contributions, such as decorating rooms for Christmas, blessing bags at Christmas (by the Ladies Candlelight
Christmas dinner), and quilts and blankets.
Nursing Home & Assisted Living: Friends in Christ conducts regular worship services at Fox Ridge in Bryant every Sunday at 2:30 p.m., in addition to pastoral care for residents as needed, and other special acts of love such as cards and gifts to residents, and quilts and blankets. Friends in Christ also conducts a Sunday worship service at Mt. Carmel in Benton on the first Sunday of each month.
Toy Troopers: Friends in Christ the host site of Toy Troopers on the Saturday before Christmas each year. In addition to hosting, we help collect toys and help with distribution.
Oktoberfest: Friends in Christ hosts an annual Oktoberfest on the first Saturday in October, consisting of a German meal, live polka music, outdoor games, hayride, and a dessert sale. Admission is free, and we only ask for clothing donations for the Kids Closet.
YOUTH
Friends in Christ hosts Sunday School for all ages each Sunday at 9:30 a.m. In addition, we have First Wednesday Youth Night on the first Wednesday of each month, beginning at 5:30 p.m. We have food, play games or watch a movie, and have a devotion. We also have a great Vacation Bible School each summer, which usually runs for four nights in June. Every three years, we send a group of children (14+ years of age) to the LCMS National Youth Gathering, a five day event where 30,000 kids from all over the world gather for fellowship, worship, games, and study. Our youth also participate in charitable and service activities.
BIBLE STUDY & FELLOWSHIP
Men’s Steak Night meets on the fourth Monday each month at 6:30 p.m. We enjoy a nice steak meal (free will offering), fellowship and Bible study.
Ladies Steak Night meets on the second Monday of each month. We enjoy a meal – steak or chicken, (and sometimes a surprise!), as well as great fellowship and Bible Study.
Men’s Breakfast & Bible Study meets on the third Saturday of each month, alternating host sites between Friends in Christ (odd months) and Zion Lutheran – Avilla (even months), and meets at 8:00
a.m. We have breakfast and fellowship, then Bible Study.
Other: Friends in Christ offers other special periodic Bible studies for new members, or evangelism, or upon request.