Apollo On My Mind (06/08/17)

PLANNING MEETING

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2017 AT 7:00 P.M.

APOLLO ASSEMBLY OF GOD

609 First St. Ext.

Apollo, PA  15613

(724) 478-4929

We will plan the order of service for the upcoming July 16, 2017 inter-church service at Owens Grove. I'm hoping to see a good number of churches represented at the planning meeting.

Apollo On My Mind (03/10/17)

Route 56,  just above Apollo, PA
Shot taken March 10, 2017 at 9:12 A.M.

Apollo is down the hill beyond the red State Farm sign.  Apollo is a quaint borough comprised of hard-working people.  However, it is drug-laden.  It is affected by a poverty mindset.  Full-time, good-paying jobs are scarce.  Hope is in short supply for too many.

Please pray for my quaint, sleepy town.

• Pray for good-paying, full-time jobs to come to Apollo.
• Pray for success of law enforcement personnel as they battle the drug problem.  (Apollo is in Armstrong County, which ranks number two in Pennsylvania for overdoses per capita.) 
• Pray that drug dealers get caught, that citizens become more confident and skilled in reporting drug deals, and that police are in the right place at the right time to discourage drug activity.
• Pray for deliverance from a poverty mindset.  (There is nothing wrong with not having a lot. That is different from a debilitating, down-spiraling mindset which sucks life and hope.)
• Pray for increased resources so churches can help with ever-growing requests for assistance.
• Pray for wholesome, family-friendly recreation and entertainment outlets in Apollo.  (Students need weekend and after-school opportunities that are low cost or now cost.)
• Pray that people come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Pray for genuine repentance, with its accompanying results.

Apollo On My Mind (12/01/16)

The Pittsburgh Zoo is coming to Apollo, PA on December 17, 2016.  The event begins at 1:00 P.M. at Apollo Assembly of God.   

There is no cost to attend, though donations are welcome.  Apollo Assembly of God looks forward to hosting this event, which is geared for K-8th Grade.

A representative from Apollo R.A.I.D. will be available to promote a simple anti-drug message for children.

Apollo On My Mind (11/17/16)

Apollo Assembly of God is pleased to partner with Apollo R.A.I.D. (website here) to bring you this event.  Please help us get out the word.  We're prepared to serve 250 meals.

Apollo On My Mind (08/11/16)

The bicentennial was a huge success.  You can view more pictures here.  (You might also want to go to www.apollo200.org. I'm not sure how long the site will be up.)

School begins August 23 for students.  View the rest of the school calendar here.

The first varsity football home game is slated for August 26 at 7:00 P.M.

August 31 is International Overdose Awareness Day (Get more information here.)  Sadly, drug abuse and overdose is also something that plagues our quaint Apollo.  I encourage all residents of Apollo to join R.A.I.D.  You can access their Facebook page here. (I recommend that readers outside the Apollo area join a local anti-drug organization where they live.)

Apollo On My Mind (08/04/16)

As part of the monthly R.A.I.D.¹ meetings, one of the segments is called “Fifteen Minutes of Learning.” At tonight's meeting held at Apollo Assembly of God Church in Apollo, PA, the Armstrong County Coroner was our guest.

Being careful not to divulge sensitive information, he mentioned one woman who had overdosed on heroin 27 times. I had to write that number down, as it was seemingly incredible and indescribably sad. She overdosed and was “brought back” using Naloxone (a.k.a. Narcan) each time. She died on the 28^th overdose. Naloxone couldn't save her that time, as she apparently had built up a resistance.

What a sad account! While it highlights the epidemic of drug abuse and the effectiveness of Naloxone, it also reminds us to appreciate this brief and fragile thing called life. The time to “get things right” is always now. “Later” is not guaranteed. If you or someone you know is battling drug or alcohol addiction, please talk with an addiction recovery specialist. Your life might depend on it!

There is another factor in this story, one that many would prefer I not mention. When that woman died, where did her soul go? Much tender patience went into helping her fight drug abuse. Did anyone tell her about Jesus? Did anyone share the plan of salvation with her?

When you die, where will your soul go? The Bible says that “it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment” (Hebrews 9:27). Invest in your soul this weekend. Go to church. Talk with the pastor about the Person and work of God's Son, Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can rescue you from spiritual death.

1Residents Against Illicit Drugs, Inc., Apollo, PA

Apollo On My Mind (07/21/16)

Many might never have the opportunity to visit quaint Apollo, PA.  Fear not!  We still want you to feel at home.  To get a pictorial overview,  click here.  (Since the website is for the bicentennial celebration, which ended July 10, I don't know how much longer the site will be active.)

Apollo On My Mind (07/14/16)

This should be quite the event. Don't miss it!

Apollo On My Mind (07/07/16)

Just a reminder to check regularly the Facebook page of Apollo R.A.I.D.  You can access the page here.  You will find good information, updates and resources.

Speaking of information, remember that the next meeting of Apollo R.A.I.D. will be Thursday, July 14 at 7:00 P.M. at Apollo Assembly of God Church.    The group gathers in the meeting hall.  Please use the ramp entrance in the back.  Guests are welcome to audit a meeting to see what we do.

Happy Birthday to Apollo, PA.  The big 2-0-0.  Events are listed at www.apollo200.org. Though all are welcome, church-goers will especially enjoy tonight's concert (by Risen To Serve) at 7:00 in Owens Grove.  Of course, don't forget the two-hour parade on Saturday.

Saturday, July 23, at 9:00 A.M., parishioners from Apollo Assembly of God will be walking the streets, praying over the neighborhoods.  If you have something specific you would like them to pray about, please call the office at 724-478-4929.

Apollo On My Mind (06/30/16)

Photo Credit: www.apollo200.org

Ten days of celebration begin July 1.  To keep up with all the events, go to the website or visit the Facebook page. Happy Birthday, Apollo!

Apollo On My Mind (06/23/16)

Below is a copy of an e-mail received from Apollo R.A.I.D.  We want you to know what's going on. I encourage you to utilize this service.

Safe Medication Disposal Now Available To Apollo Residents Old medications are dangerous when left laying around the house.  But, they should never be thrown out with the trash or flushed down the toilet. There is now a better solution!  This Medication Disposal box is now located in the hallway at the Apollo Borough Offices! Anyone is welcome to stop by to deposit unwanted medications of any type during normal business hours.  M-F 8:30 am to 3:30 pm.

Apollo On My Mind (05/05/16)

We're glad to offer our meeting hall to accommodate this cause.  The church and secular organizations might go about things differently, but we're after the same thing here -- those who need help can get it.

Apollo On My Mind (04/21/16)

What?  A chili cook-off in Apollo?  Count me in!  You can find all the details here. This is a put-it-on-your-calendar-right-now event.

Apollo On My Mind (03/17/16)

Photo:  Apollo Ridge Education Foundation Webpage

This is a free, quality event.  Check it out here and then put it on your calendar.  (I'm particularly curious about the 'Hungry Hungry Hippos Human Edition' event.)

Apollo On My Mind (03/10/16)

The Belvedere Hotel, Oklahoma, PA
Photo Credit:  http://tinyurl.com/jyxxqla

Check out the Apollo Area Historical Society here.  You will find interesting articles on the Belvedere Hotel and the St. Patrick's Day Flood, March 17, 1936.

Apollo On My Mind (03/03/16)

I'm encouraging my church's outreach committee to get involved with this.  Why should the church be absent when there is a call to serve?  This is a good way to get to know people and to build some bridges.

Apollo On My Mind (02/18/16)

You are welcome to join us at Apollo Assembly of God.

Child care will be provided Easter Sunday.

Apollo On My Mind (02/04/16)

The borough might be small, but there is a lot of activity happening.  To keep up with things, visit these sites.

• Apollo Area Business Association
• Apollo Area Events Committee
• Apollo Borough
• Apollo Bicentennial Celebration
• Residents Against Illicit Drugs
• Apollo Area Historical Society

Apollo On My Mind (1/28/16)

Kiski River, Railroad & Road to E. Vandergrift, PA
Taken 12.25.15 from Orr Ave. in the
Borough of Okalahoma, PA

That's the Kiskiminetas River you see in the right half of the picture.

That road (on the left next to the railroad tracks) gets traveled regularly.  It is the main road into the community of East Vandergrift.

Those railroad tracks get used regularly.  Many times daily trains whistle as they get ready to cross Route 66 on the Westmoreland County side of the Leonard C. Miller Memorial Bridge.  That bridge gets traveled regularly.

As it is anywhere else, much of life in Apollo and the surrounding communities is routine, regular. Unfortunately that regularity includes irregular church attendance.  People are quick to remind me that they are affiliated with such-and-such a church, but then tell me they attend hardly at all.  I hear this regularly.

Please pray for Apollo.  It is a community that desperately needs a stirring by God's Spirit.  Religion is big here, and there are some noble things being attempted.  If people aren't being converted to Christ, however, I'm not satisfied.  In 2016 it is my prayer that I will regularly hear of people surrendering to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Apollo On My Mind (1/14/16)

Apollo, PA.  Taken 12.25.15 at 3:00 P.M.
from Orr Ave. in Oklahoma, PA

This is part of the little borough of Apollo.  There are over 1700 people who live here.  Most of them either don't know Jesus or, if they have a church, might not have an accurate understanding of salvation.  Please join Apollo Assembly of God on Wednesdays in January, as we fast and pray for revival in Apollo.