Back in Father's Arms

~ Scott City pastors return to Father's Arms Fellowship after a year of school in Oklahoma.

For Ken and Nancy Strong, it never felt so good to be back in Father's Arms.

The Scott City couple returned this week to the church they founded 12 years ago after a year at The School of Pastoral Ministry in Tulsa, Okla.

On Sunday, the couple will return to the pulpit at Father's Arms Fellowship, where interim pastors Webster and Opal Eaker have served since last June.

During their year in Tulsa, the Strongs attended pastoral ministry classes, ministered in nursing homes and interviewed pastors in 18 churches in various denominations about successful ministry.

Ken Strong finished his third year at the school and Nancy Strong finished her first year, both with 4.0 grade point averages. Their 19-year-old son, Daniel, is attending the Rhema School of Worship Music Program and plans to graduate in 2008.

"We got phenominal experience during this," Ken Strong said.

Strong said he learned of trends taking place in many churches, including a more casual atmosphere and outreach for youth using electronic equipment such as video games and projection screens.

Youths and children are at least one area on which the Strongs plan to focus with their return to Scott City.

"The youth of this community are really drifting," said Strong.

The Strongs started Father's Arms in 1994 in a garage on Lincoln Street in Scott City. Fifteen people attended the first service.

In 1997, the church relocated to 1400 Main St., which was then a crafter's mall. Two years later, a 3,000-square-foot addition was constructed as a youth and children's center with video games, pool tables and a "puppet city" for children's church.

By the time the church celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2004, attendance had grown to about 100 people.

On Sunday, Father's Arms will celebrate the return of the Strongs and show appreciation for the interim pastors with a potluck meal following the service. For more information, call the church at 264-4233.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extnesion 128