Easterfest Grows in Fourth Year
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Topeka EDITION includes Lawrence, Manhattan, Emporia & Holton FREE! NE! The Area’s Most Complete Event Guide TAKE O SEE PAGE 16 RANDY STONEHILL AT TBC Page 13 CELEBRATING FAITH, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY IN NORTHEAST KANSAS March 2017 facebook/metrovoicenews Celebrating 10 years! VISIT US AT or metrovoicenews.com VOLUME 11 • NUMBER 7 TO ADVERTISE, CONTRIBUTE, SUBSCRIBE OR RECEIVE BULK COPIES, CALL 785-235-3340 OR EMAIL [email protected] NEW RESIDENT church guide You House of the Lord Church visited See inside back cover! me in EasterFest Fpaith grroupis psartnoering n with grows in states to help make released convicts productive citizens fourth year by Dwight Widaman Jesus’ words in Matthew 25:36 are among the most quot - ed from the New Testament: “I was in prison and you visit - ed me.” However, although prison ministries in Kansas and Missouri have had increasing access to prisoners for decades, their presence in publicly funded prisons faces opposition. Detractors have cited the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment as requiring separation of church and state. Even so, the vital role of such Preparations are well under way for organizations has become increas - “As you the third annual EasterFest - the ingly prominent in the criminal Topeka Easter Parade & Family Fun justice system over the last half- did it to one of the Fair, and organizers say requests for century. The number one rea - least of these my participation and information are son? Results. coming in at a much faster pace than Faith-based organizations brothers, you did last year. They say the interest in being have many advantages in mobiliz - it to me.” involved in the parade has increased, ing volunteers to serve in prisons. and over 80 vendor booths are Their methods and messaging often also have planned. Several thousand people are superior impact on prisoners over comparative secular pro - expected to make their way to Garfield Please see PRISON page 3 Park the day of the event, as dozens of n churches, businesses and non-profit groups take part in the parade and fun fair. Still, small voice brings miraculous results for KS accident victim The expansion this year to Garfield “I felt like the Holy Spirit way. The impact caused the biker to lose training, was unsure of how to perform Park in North Topeka, with the parade told me that I needed to control, putting the bike into a slide, and CPR, his wife and young son were in the taking place on North Kansas Avenue, throwing the man from his seat and car with him, and it appeared someone allows for increased space for more do something” rolling him down the road like a rag doll. was already calling for help. vendors - both in the park and inside by Dan Van Veen As Geoff McLarty drove up moments It was decision time . it would be the Garfield Shelterhouse and Gym - as later, the man was lying on his back, easy to simply keep on going. well as more convenient setup for It was Saturday, Sept. 17, and it was motionless. The skin of his bare head “But I felt like the Holy Spirit told me entertainment and food trucks on site. surreal — like driving by a movie set or had been ripped open, blood soaking that I needed to do something, even Bubble soccer was a big hit last year, re-enactment. A motorcyclist, who was the pavement where he had come to rest. though I didn’t know what I could do,” adn new activities planned for this year not wearing a helmet, had apparently McLarty, 31, the creative arts pastor at McLarty says. include mobile laser tag and an archery clipped the back of a trailer being towed Evangel Assembly of God in Wichita for Surprising his wife, Kylie, — and Geoff with wife Kylie by a pickup truck on a two-lane high - the last four years, has no formal medical n Please see EASTER page 3 n Please see ACCIDENT page 15 2 • March 2017 _______________________ MetroVoiceNews.com __________________________ Facebook/MetroVoiceNews _________________________ Topeka Metro Voice “You Have Always Been There For Me” Rescue Mission Needs List - 2017 What Love Looks Like, From Heaven to the Streets Food Items: • Pull Ups (Sizes 3T, 4T and 5T) • Gallon Cans of Vegetables & Fruits • Baby Wipes • Coffee • Razors (Men’s & Women’s) • Granulated Sugar • Deodorant (Men’s & Women’s) • Mustard & Ketchup • Sack Lunch Items (i.e. Pudding Clothing: Cups, Fruit Cups, Granola Bars, etc.) • Men’s Winter Coats (Sizes Med. & Up) • Men’s Pants & Jeans (All Sizes – Supply Items: Especially 30 – 40) • Purex Crystals • Men’s Underwear (Sizes 30 to 38) • Arm & Hammer Washing Soda • Men’s & Women’s Shoes (All Sizes) • 20 Mule Team Borax • Plus Size Clothing (Men & Women) • Fels Neptha Laundry Soap • Women’s Underwear (Sizes 5 – 9) • Trash Bags (Tall Kitchen & 30 • Children’s Clothing & Shoes (2T & Up) Gallon) • Blankets Furniture (in good condition) • Storage Bags (Quart & Gallon) • Furniture – i.e. Couches, Recliners, Love- that first community meal at the to pick up her mattress and move to the by Barry Feaker • Sheet Sets (Full, Queen & King seats, Dressers, Tables, Mattresses, etc. Avondale East Elementary School build - other side of the house to try to sleep a lit - sizes) • Large & small appliances – i.e. The night of the neighborhood ing we now refer to as the NET Center. tle bit as she cries herself to sleep. “No,” • Bath Towels Washers, Dryers, Ranges, Christmas dinner a woman, appearing to Thirty people from the neighborhood she assured me, “You won’t stay!” wear the hardships of life, approached the attended that first meal four years ago I was determined at that moment; we • Diapers (Sizes 4, 5&6) Refrigerators & Microwaves uniformed police officer and exchanged a with the Mission’s NET Reach division, must stay and not be one more disap - few words. One of the things I heard her our homeless prevention initia - Morgan Bracken, a seven-year veteran of process. say to him was, “Thank you… you have tive. There was little conversa - the Topeka Police Department. He was In a way, Officer Bracken’s approach always been there for me.” tion. Mistrust was in the air. attending this event in full uniform as I with this woman might be compared to a The Hi-Crest gymnasium was filled Who were these outsiders? Why witnessed many children coming up to similar approach that God takes with us with an overflow crowd that evening were they really here? Was this him, curious, but beginning to under - when the Bible says: “While we were still comprised of men, women, children and just another bunch of “do-good - stand that the men and women in blue sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). families from one of our cities most eco - ers” who would leave us once could truly be their friends, and a growing The Just (Jesus) for the unjust (me) (1 nomically and socially challenged neigh - they learned of how difficult it is awareness that people like Officer Peter 3:18). The woman I saw that night borhoods. For decades, these individuals here? Bracken were actually friendly, engaging may have made many mistakes in her life. and families have struggled with the dev - and safe. She may have broken the law numerous astating effects of economic, physical, I remember earlier on, one times. She may have been arrested and social and spiritual poverty. For some this dear lady who had lived in Hi- Officer Bracken and I had just been jailed more than once by Officer Bracken. means no heat in the winter, nor cooling Crest for many years coming up visiting about the numerous challenges However, despite her failures, he saw in the summer. It means water turned off, to me with a bit of a grin on her people face in our community and someone of value. And the woman saw sewer lines collapsed, rain coming face saying, “You won’t stay. around the nation. We were marveling someone who must really care, someone through the roof, mold in the walls, and Others like you have tried this about the peace and joy that filled the she could trust, someone who, in spite of insects and rats coming in as uninvited before and they left. You all will gymnasium that night. I was explaining her failures, believed in her value in life. tenets. For many years, this has been sim - be gone in a year.” She went on to to him about the various initiatives for Whether it’s in a shelter for homeless ply a forgotten neighborhood of broken tell me how in order to sleep at both adults and children that helped to people, a long food line for the hungry, on windows, tattered hearts and shattered night she has to move from one bring this night of joy and peace about. the streets, under bridges, abandoned lives. However, on this night, two weeks side of the house to the other, That was when a woman, appearing to be homes, a challenged neighborhood, before Christmas, you would have picking up her mattress to avoid hardened by the challenges that a life of reaching those who have been trapped in thought you were at an enormous family the possible bullets that might poverty can produce, asked to speak with sexual slavery, and even a place called a reunion. Nearly 350 neighbors and enter through a window or a him. I could not hear all of their conver - Palace for little homeless children – gen - friends gathered with singing, laughing, wall. She told me that she had sation but, as she was leaving, I did hear uine transformation begins with loving hugging and enjoying a marvelous two little dogs and when they go her say, “Thank you… you have always our neighbor, just like we love ourselves Christmas meal with gifts for all.