 Unique mission trip opportunity in the Ozark hills! Bridge of Faith Community Church recently hosted a now bi-annual, “Gonna Be” tour. This near three-hour event includes small seminars about the history and rich heritage of the lake town, Rockaway Beach, and its surrounding areas. In addition to the mini talks, it also includes appetizers on the deck of the White River Coffee Company, a bus tour through the Ozark hills in the Rockaway area, insights to the needs of people living in this historic region, and much more. An autumn tour will be scheduled, and churches and potential investing partners (individuals or businesses) are invited to inquire about attending the free tour to discover a unique, sobering, authentic mission field right in the midst of the Ozarks! What You Can Expect Starting off early evening, appetizers and cool drinks are offered while a small talk is given from a lady who was born on the Bridge of Faith Village property! She actually lived in the house that is now the Paxton Home, and later lived in the BoF Thrift Store! Attendees can get a glimpse into the fun, prosperous past of Rockaway Beach and Lake Taneycomo, and then discover later how the area began to take a downturn for the worse. Over the next decades, addiction, lack of opportunity, and hopelessness would consume many in this area. As Bridge of Faith entered the scene in the early 2000's, a lot of work would need to be done to rebuild the area physically and spiritually. One brick at a time, and one person at a time, much progress has been made; but, much more progress is still left to go. The next phase of the tour includes a sightseeing tour on a bus where attendees will be able to catch a first-hand look into the reality of the current living situations for many in these Ozark hills. For hundreds, life is grim; and, for some, running water and electricity are a goal. Most are searching for opportunity. The tour will continue with another small talk from a lady who has a history steeped in Rockaway Beach who helped to ensure that Rockaway Beach would always have a Bible-teaching church in the small town. This is followed by an earnest discussion hosted by the Bridge of Faith pastor, Jonathan McGuire. Tours are given of the greenhouse, The Village property, which is in a stage of rebuilding, and more. Testimonials, stories of local needs and victories are shared, and the tour ends the night with a dinner and invitation to invest and partner with Bridge of Faith to transform generations that transform communities here in the Ozarks. More than Anticipated At the recent Gonna Be Tour, we heard the following comments: "This feels like a mission trip!" "I never knew all this information...so rich in history!" "I saw a property that would make a great business." "This is far more interesting than I imagined; I am eager to learn more and do more." "We're looking forward to getting involved." If your church or business is interested in domestic missions, Rockaway Beach is planted right in the middle of the heartland. It is rich with Ozark Mountain history, and has a unique small-town lake heritage. Once, the premiere place to vacation in the Midwest, Rockaway Beach, MO is now struggling to get back on its feet, and we invite you to be a part of this hope-filled endeavor through partnerships, or through scheduling a mission trip to work alongside church members to rebuild the area physically and spiritually, through practical care, building endeavors, and through hands-on ministry. The Gonna Be Tour is a fundraising tour to help the church continue to make restoration advances; and, we greatly desire to develop long-term collaborative relationships with other churches and businesses within and outside the Ozarks. Schedule to join a tour: The fall date for the Gonna Be Tour is TBA. To get put on the invitation list or to inquire about the tour, please email info@bridgeoffaithcc.com with "Gonna Be" as the subject line.  
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