Rutherford Weekly

Y O U R M E L I S S A & D O U G H E A D Q U A R T E R S 7 2 0 S C H U R C H S T , F O R E S T C I T Y ISSUE NO. 46 • November 19, ISSUE NO. 46 • November 19, 2020 • 2020 • RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 RutherfordWeekly.com • 828-248-1408 Our 28 th Year IN GOD WE TRUST! IN GOD WE TRUST! 6P LW K 7 UDG L QJ 3RV W STP 828-289-6699 WE BUY GOLD 131 West Main Street, Spindale Beside Barley's PAYING TOP DOLLAR BUYING & SELLING ANTIQUES,JEWELRY & MUCH MORE! When Matthew Short builds a muscle, his fi rst priority is to build the confi dence muscle. A recent gathering of his clients at his Oak Street, Forest City gym saw over 100 people witness and participate in what he called a "Strong Man, Strong Woman Competition." There was lots of clapping and cheering, especially when Kenny Rice, a 61-year-old strong man shouldered a frame that weighed 381 pounds and walked 20 feet across the gym fl oor. It was a little like taking a stroll with a woodstove or a piano on your back. "I want people to understand they are not pawns in the game of life," Short, the personal trainer and motivational speaker, said of his work at the gym. It is a mind and body program. Rice said of his work with Short, "I was one of his fi rst. I'm kinda shy, but not there. I'm totally comfortable. Everybody there feels like family." Short studied organization and public communications at Appalachian State, but added, "It's really motivational speaking." His journey to Oak Street began when he gained weight while in college. "I just didn't feel good. I was sluggish. I knew I had to get fi t to feel good," Short said. But that feeling good is as much about attitude as it is fi tness. His clients are working with him to live better lives all around. Matthew's Gym Clients Are No Pawns In Game Of Life Short On ConÐidence? No! Story by Pat Jobe Kenny Rice, 61, of Shiloh, picked up 381 pounds with this frame and walked it more than 20 feet. He says he was among the fi rst of Matthew Short's clients and feels like everybody at the gym is family. IT'S IT'S FREE! FREE! CALLING ALL SCHOLARS Rutherfordton's First United Methodist Church is launching a new scholarship fund. Several hundred dollars have been raised already. "Any time you can help somebody with an education it feels great," Anne Hardy, who is part of the group pushing the fund, said. With undergraduate degrees in both industrial engineering and business management from N.C. State, Hardy is passionate about the value of a good education. She works for the Appalachian Regional Commission at Isothermal Community College. The scholarship sponsors were inspired by their young adult class reading Kingdom Come, a book by Reggie McNeal, which advocates moving beyond the church walls to be in service to the community. The subtitle of the book is Why We Must Give Up Our Obsession with Fixing the Church-- and What We Should Do Instead. McNeal argues that the New Testament references to the word, "church," and there are only three, are not references to a building or an institution, but rather an assembly of people. An assembly of people to do what? Service is at the top of McNeal's list. McNeal says of the teachings of Jesus, "He calls us to meeting the needs of others and alleviating the suffering and pain that is naturally part of living in a broken world." Tami Myslinski, another member of the group supporting the scholarship, is a teacher at R.S. Central and therefore, "an advocate for education. We have young people in need, and we can help." She got her undergraduate degree from Appalachian State University and her masters from Gardner-Webb. She's been a member of the church for 19 years. Rev. In-Yong Lee is the minister of the church and supports the effort to create and fund the scholarship. Rev. Lee said, "I am very happy to see young Christians mobilize themselves to help the community, especially minority youth with their education. They know that they are called by God, by Christ, to love their neighbors and they are also aware that the minority students are disproportionately disadvantaged from enjoying the opportunities and resources that are available. These young people are acting to live their faith out." Story by Pat Jobe Methodists Launch Scholarship To Get Beyond Church Walls A recent Saturday saw more than 100 people gather at the Oak Street, Forest City Matthew's Gym to lift weights and cheer this crowd on. Donations to the fund may be mailed to First United Methodist Church, 264 North Main Street, Rutherfordton, 28139. When sending a check, please add "Diversity Scholarship" to the memo line.

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