SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER
REVEREND FRANK RUFFATTO
Executive Director of Peace Officer Ministries
Rev. Ruffatto is coming to speak to the Riverbend Peacekeepers this coming Tuesday night. This is going to be a powerful night of God's Word shared by Rev. Ruffatto and an awesome night of fellowship.
Rev. Frank C. Ruffatto is a LCMS pastor and retired police detective. He joined Peace Officer Ministries, Inc. in 2008 after completing his academic work at the Concordia Seminary and beginning ministry at Point of Grace Lutheran Church in Cornelius, North Carolina. As a retired police detective, he shares the same passion to serve those who protect and serve us as he had for his prior police service. On January 1, 2010, Rev. Ruffatto was approved by the POM Board to serve as its new Executive Director.
Chaplain Ruffatto holds an A.A. in Liberal Arts from St. Leo College and a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies (Behavioral Science/Religion) from Concordia College, Bronxville, NY, and an M.Div. from Concordia Seminary. He is marrie and has three children. His wife, Terri, serves as Mission Support Coordinator for POM.
POM provides materials, consultation, spiritual care and training for officers, chaplains, agencies and churches nationally and internationally. POM produces a special law enforcement edition Bible with special cover and 96-page introduction by POM Founder, Chaplain Lee, and a book, "Backup on the Beat," also authored by Chaplain Lee. POM has ministered on-scene to both victims and emergency workers at major crises including the Focus on the Family hostage crisis, Columbine High School, the "Texas 7," Ground Zero, New Mexico, Southern California and Northern California wildfires, Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, the Florida tornados, the Virginia Tech shooting, and the Kirkwood (MO) city hall shooting, Alabama Shooting, Oakland Ambush, and American Samoa Tsumani Relief.
PeaceOfficerMinistries
* May
05/01 - Courageous Living Bible Study
- Police Wives Bible Study
05/08 - Courageous Family Night
05/15 - PeaceKeepers Bible Study
05/22 - Special Guest Speaker:
Rev. Frank Ruffatto
05/29 - Marriage Bible Study
* June
06/05 - PeaceKeepers Bible Study
- Police Wives Bible Study
06/12 - Marriage Bible Study
06/19 - PeaceKeepers Bible Study
06/26 - PeaceKeepers Bible Study
Fellowship of Christian Peace Officers
* To provide support and accountability to Christian officers in various agencies.
* To become more effective witnesses for Christ to those around us.
* To learn how to disciple and train others to carry out the Great Commission.
Fall 2011 FCPO Newsletter-CLICK HERE
www.fcpo.org
Covered Law Enforcement
Covered Law Enforcement serves two purposes: to promote solidarity among Christian law enforcement personnel and to create a unique way for witnessing of salvation through Jesus Christ.
The Riverbend PeaceKeeper's
(FCPO Chapter - 219)
Mission Statement
The PeaceKeeper's group mission is dedicated to uniting law enforcement officers around the Riverbend area to be passionate followers of Jesus Christ through helping them understand God's purpose for their lives.
Our Bible Study is based on Michael Dye's 'The PeaceKeeper's' A Bible Study for Law Enforcement Officers.
According to Romans 13
"So those who refuse to obey the law of the land are refusing to obey God, and punishment will follow. For the policeman does not frighten people who are doing right; but those doing evil will always fear them. So if you don't want to be afraid, keep the laws and you will get along well. The policeman is sent by God to help you. But if you are doing something wrong, of course you should be afraid, for he will have you punished. He is sent by God for that very purpose."
Romans 13:2-4 (The Living Bible)
- The Peace Officer's profession is ordained by God.
- The Peace Officer is sent by God.
- The Peace Officer is vested with God's authority.
There are but two persons who protect the sinful human race from destroying itself. One is God's Holy Spirit. The other is the Peace Officer. Without them, we would all perish at each others hands.......
The Police Wives Bible Study has made some changes!
The Police Wives will meet the FIRST TUESDAY OF EVERY MONTH beginning on May 1st. They will be meeting at Glazebrook Park in Godfrey, IL in the Pavilion next to the playground. This will allow you to bring your kids and let them play on the playground. The Pavilion is close to the playground, so you will be able to participate in the study while also being able to watch your kids.
The Police Wives will meet from 6:00PM to 7:00PM and will be starting on a study on the book FOR WOMEN ONLY by Shuanti Feldhahn. Amy Splittorff will have study questions to go along with the lesson, all you will need is your Bible. These dates have also been added to our Upcoming Events page. You can contact Amy Splittorff at splittorff@att.net if you have any questions. You can also find Amy on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/faerygirl75
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Conn. Officer Critically Injured Chasing Suspect
May 17--STAMFORD -- A Stamford patrol officer was critically injured while chasing a robbery suspect over a bridge abutment by I-95 early Thursday, police said.
Thousands of Nurses Join Chicago, NATO Summit Protestors
Thousands of nurses and other protesters planned to rally at a downtown Chicago plaza Friday ahead of a two-day NATO summit and as a prelude to a much larger demonstration expected this weekend.
Man gets 40 years in Alton killing
EDWARDSVILLE - An Alton man who blames alcohol for his behavior was sentenced Wednesday by Chief 3rd Circuit Judge Ann Callis to 40 years in prison for the fatal beating and strangling of a longtime friend and another seven years for robbing the victim.
Military stunt prompts police showdown
ALTON - Heavily armed police responded Wednesday to a wooded area at the city's northeast edge to flush out military camouflaged men armed with what looked to be assault rifles."
Our Next Marriage Study is this COMING TUESDAY so mark your calendars!
"Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh". Genesis 2:24
CLICK HERE to get printable Marriage Flyer with study dates
Married to an officer for 23 years, Kristi understands first hand the stresses of law enforcement life, and has a heart for reaching out to hurting families; women in particular.
With over eleven years of experience in local and state-wide ministry, Kristi has learned valuable lessons to share with her audience.
Well let us pray for you and lift up your needs to our Heavenly Father. Just fill out the form below and submit your prayer request.
"You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it!"
John 14:13-14
Understanding Grace
By Michael Youssef, Ph.D.
God is love and His love for us is unconditional. Though we do not deserve it, God freely gives His grace to us.
However, many times when we need God the most, we end up feeling as though we are least accepted by Him. Nothing could be further from the truth! Even when we fall flat on our faces due to sin, God does not turn His back on us. In fact, He does just the opposite—He opens His arms to us and beckons us to repent and to come to Him.
We need to understand a principle concerning grace: it is not currency we carry around in our pockets, spending it at will whenever we sin. The grace of God is precious. It is impossible to earn God’s grace. As fallen humans, we certainly do not deserve His mercy, yet He opens the windows of heaven and pours His grace on us. Christ did not die on the cross so that we can take sin lightly and flaunt our freedoms without consequence. He also did not die in order to give us a constricting and rigid life. Either extreme is a limited version of the Christian faith.
We must balance both legalism and grace. When we fully understand the cost of our sin, we choose not to take God's grace for granted. When we fully understand Jesus' sacrifice and love, we begin to cherish our relationship with Him above all else. When we love God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind, we will hate sin and crave a closer relationship with Him.
As we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we begin to understand that He truly cares about our lives. We learn that He wants to build intimate relationships with us. Instead of living in terror of Him, we are given an opportunity to be children of the King of kings. Suddenly, we begin to understand He wants us in his throne room, where grace showers all who enter into His presence.
As we grow in intimacy with God, we discern His voice and we obey the Lord—regardless of the circumstance. We know and believe that God is able to handle any obstacle that enters our path. We simply obey and watch as His grace unfolds before our very eyes. In fact, Christ’s life is a perfect model of what it means to have intimacy with God.
Throughout every trial and tribulation, throughout every victory and valley, Jesus was in perfect communion with God. He listened for the voice of His Father and responded appropriately—even if the answer meant He must wait.
In the moments we must wait, God’s grace sustains us. Waiting on God can be difficult. In our anxiousness to see Him move, we have a tendency to try and prod God along. We want to see His glory here and now. Yet, God is at work preparing the people and circumstances we will encounter along the way. His grace sustains us as we wait and it prepares the way.
MATT REDMAN - 10,000 REASONS