Maine Aglow offers weekend of uplifting events
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRSEQUE ISLE — Maine Aglow President Chris Poitras and the Maine board of Aglow are inviting the public to the first Gloryfest meeting to be held at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6.
Poitras
“Times for the event will be 6:30 p.m. on Friday, and 12:30 and 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. There will be a buffet luncheon at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, at a cost of $15,” said Poitras.
Prior registration is needed for the buffet; call Judy at 325-4636 or Chris at 472-0481 to make the necessary arrangements. The event itself is free to the public.
“All meetings except the buffet are at no cost and open to everyone. This year we felt the Lord direct us to change things and bring the meetings right here in Aroostook County — a first,” said Poitras.
Aglow International is an interdenominational organization of Christian men and women. According to Poitras, it is one of the largest Christian associations in the world, with more than 200,000 members meeting together each month through local Aglow groups in 171 nations.
Photos courtesy of Angel Mur
ROSE AND JOHN DURAN will be the featured speakers at Maine Aglow’s meeting at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center, slated from April 5-6.
MARK MURCHISON, of Woodland, will be performing at Maine Aglow’s event April 5-6 at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center.
TONY AND JARED CASEY, of Oakfield, are scheduled to perform during a two-day event hosted by Maine Aglow April 5-6 in Presque Isle.
“More than 21,000 Aglow leaders worldwide minister in their communities. An estimated 17 million people each year are ministered to through over 1,250 community, neighborhood and workplace groups in the U.S., as well as 3,101 local groups internationally,” said Poitras, noting this organization began in 1967 and impacts communities worldwide.
This year Tony and Jared Casey will be ministering in worship on Friday evening. They are from Oakfield and were formerly part of the singing group Covenant Sons.
“In addition, Mark Murchison — a local singer/songwriter — will be leading the music part of the service Saturday afternoon. He has recorded two albums titled ‘He’ll Be Your Closest Friend’ and ‘Where There Never Comes A Night.’ You can listen to Mark on youtube.com,” said Poitras.
Murchison and his wife, Harriet, reside in Woodland with their daughter, Kayla.
In addition, Saturday afternoon John and Rose Duran, from Windham, will be the guest speakers.
“John will share his journey from his early days of baseball, basketball, football and finding his identity in them. In high school, John became an excitement addict — that led him into trouble,” said Poitras.
“We did it all from stealing cars, breaking into houses, vandalism, arson and alcohol became a major force in my life during that time,” said John Duran.
“For a kid raised in a good home, with loving parents — a faithful church-going family and belief in God — although I thought he seemed far away — I was headed in the wrong direction,” continued John.
John graduated from Maine Maritime Academy and married Rose in 1996.
Rose Duran’s childhood was full of pain, rejection, abandonment and survival. Poitras said emotional, verbal and physical abuse were all things Rose would need to overcome in her life.
“She was a foster child off and on until the age of 14. It was at this age Rose met the man she would eventually marry and divorce,” said Poitras.
Rose will speak about her first two failed marriages, her arrest for seven felonies and the loss of her son, Jimmy, from a car accident when he was 3 years of age.
“Together John and Rose will share their journey of unraveling the pain, dealing with the blame and shame to a life of fulfillment as Christians and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ,” said Poitras.
Overnight accommodations at the Presque Isle Inn & Convention Center are available, call 764-3321.
For more information, call Poitras at 472-0481.
