Saturday we loaded up at church around 11am then headed down to the town of Iola, Kansas. 
We supplied the audio and video elements for this event so we had quite a bit we were lugging with us.
If you ever pass through Iola, be sure to look up Pastor David Shelby of Harvest Baptist Church. He's got a huge heart for this rural community...especially for the youngens. David has also been deputized to help out with their big fair every year, so he can maybe give you a police escort...of course he only has one bullet for his gun he keeps in his pocket. Everything you've ever thought small town life was like is only half true in Iola. When you drive into the main square, it eerily feels like your driving through the town in Back to the Future. "Hello McFly!"
Dave is trying to kick start a ministry there on Saturday nights in hopes of uniting some local churches and reaching out to the youth/college age kids around town. He's calling it "Mars Hill"...and he told me he beat Rob Bell to that title many moons ago...he just didn't market it as well as the Reverend Bell.
The event Saturday night was held in the old Iola Cinema which was donated recently. We took a tour and found old movie reels in the back. To our surprise we found out the last business that was there basically ran porn movies. What an awesome thing to see how this old building was now being used as a house of worship instead of a house of porn. We had a good turnout at around 100 - 130 people or so. Some folks came off the street from the square when they heard the music playing. 
Thanks people of Iola for hosting us! And to the lady in the neckbrace that came to the front to dance...YOU WERE AWESOME!!! Please take a moment and lift up David Shelby and his family in prayer.
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