Special Speakers Shari Braendel and Ted Cunningham to Address Men-Only and Women-Only Crowds
By: Turner Brock

Shari Braendel, author of Good Girls Don’t Have to Dress Bad, will speak to women only at College of the Ozarks on September 5, 2012, at 6 p.m. in the Youngman Agricultural Center.

That same evening, at 7 p.m., Ted Cunningham, the founding pastor of Woodland Hills Family Church in Branson, will speak to a men-only audience in the Jones Auditorium.

Braendel has become one of the nation’s preeminent speakers for fashion and beauty for Christian women. She will discuss fashion “DOs,” and explain why it is important to dress the for body you have and not the one displayed on the cover of the latest fashion magazine.

Cunningham is the author of Young and In Love: Challenging the Unnecessary Delay of Marriage. He also co-authored four books with Dr. Gary Smalley including, The Language of Sex, From Anger to Intimacy, Great Parents, Lousy Lovers and As Long as We Both Shall Live.

Both convocations are free and open to the public. However, students receive priority seating; remaining seats will be available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis.

For more information, please contact the Dean of Students office at 417-690-2224.

Garon Brett Returns From Two Year Mission In Bogota, Colombia
Branson entertainer returns from two year LDS mission

On Thursday, August 30th, 2012 Branson, Missouri entertainer Garon Brett of The Bretts Show will return home from Bogota, Colombia where he has been serving a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for two years. “We have missed him a lot.” says Tom Brett, father of the family, “But we have been extremely blessed by his serving a mission. So much that I’m a little nervous to have him come back,” jokes Tom.
Missions are anything but rosy though. “We have definitely worried about him being down there. Colombia isn’t known for being a safe place. Garon has been robbed twice that we know of, but happily hasn’t been hurt. Apparently, that is a normal part of life.” These two years have not only been challenging for Garon, but for the whole family as they have had to learn to adapt and fill in. “Without having Garon we’ve definitely been pushed to become better performers individually,” says Tom. The improvement has certainly been noted, as currently, The Bretts Show has been nominated as Branson’s Best Show by BransonShowAwards.com the last two years, a first ever for The Bretts!
Tom, Andrea, and Brydon will be leaving on the 23rd, and will fly down to Bogota to pick Garon up. They’re spending a day with Garon in his missionary duties. Then he will be released from his duties, and the four of them will travel around Colombia as Garon takes them on a tour of his missionary experience. The Bretts will perform twice while in Colombia – once in the city of Bogota, and another in Ibague. They return on August 30th.
Garon will be back in the show permanently within a few weeks of returning. His being back with The Bretts will add many elements to their already powerful show. For example, Garon is a phenomenal songwriter (NSAI Co-Grand Champion Song Writer 2011), he adds to the youth factor in the show, he adds another set of hands off stage and in the office, his mission has added maturity and experience that will be helpful in the show, and lastly Brydon and Garon have long been planning some new and exciting things that they will be releasing in the near future. In addition to working in The Bretts Show, Garon plans to continue pursuing a degree in Music Media.

More info about The Bretts visit: www.brettfamily.com or www.youtube.com/TheBrettFamily
Information Contact: Joshua Hall 417-336-4222 ext. 3059 or [email protected]

Branson Country USA with Special Guest Tonya & Tammy – The Stutterettes, Kari Garrison – August 24, 2012

Branson Country USA is co-hosted by Grand Country nuts, Jamie Haage, as Jim Dandy, and Mike Patrick! With a rotating roster of talent, the show features special guest stars from the rich Branson entertainment industry. From celebrities such as Mickey Gilley and Roy Clark to the up-and-coming stars of tomorrow, the weekly line-up is always a hit!

Audiences also enjoy the incredible voices of Jackie Brown, Melody Hart and the power harmonies of New South, both weekly regulars on the show. The entire show is backed by the dynamic Grand Band.

Recorded LIVE on Friday night at 10:30 PM
This show is broadcast on radio stations around the country.
Airing Saturday nights at 7:00 PM on KRZK – 106.3 in Branson, MO.
And Sunday nights at 9:00 PM. on KHOZ – 102.9 in Harrison, AR.

You can also listen via the internet. www.bransoncountryusa.net
Show airs at 7:00 PM (cst.) – Every Saturday Night

Grand Country Music Hall
1945 W. 76 Country Blvd.
Branson, MO 65616
417-335-2484 – Reservations
417-336-5829 – Fax

College of the Ozarks Students Shop for Deals to Give Needy Children Basic School Supplies and Necessities
By: Linda LeNeve

There are tens of millions of children in developing countries who have never attended school. While a number of factors contribute to a lack of education among children in developing nations, one key component is access to basic school supplies.

However, this back-to-school season, C of O students are looking beyond their own school supply lists and making a difference in the lives of needy kids overseas. By maximizing back-to-school sales, they are stocking up on items for Operation Christmas Child, a year-round project of international Christian relief and evangelism organization Samaritan’s Purse, headed by Franklin Graham. Participants fill shoe boxes with school materials, toys, necessity items, and letters of encouragement for children in poverty around the world.

This shoe box packing effort, requiring months of organization and preparation, is expected to bless over 9 million children this year suffering the effects of natural disaster, disease, war, terrorism, famine and poverty.

In 2012 Operation Christmas Child anticipates reaching a milestone—collecting and delivering shoe boxes to more than 100 million children since the project began in 1993. Through the power of a simple gift and the message of hope through Jesus Christ, children learn they are loved and not forgotten. For many of these children, the shoe box will be the first gift they have ever received.

Individuals interested in taking part in the Operation Christmas Child ministry this year can get involved by doing these things:
• PREPARE – Help enlist families, churches, scout troops, community groups and businesses to take advantage of back-to-school sales by collecting school supplies for shoe box gifts.
• PACK – Fill shoe boxes with school supplies, toys, necessity items and a letter of encouragement and drop off the gift boxes at College of the Ozarks during National Collection Week November 12-19.

For further information and brochures, contact Linda LeNeve, Relay Coordinator at 417- 690-3449.