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"It's Always Been About the People:" Pastor and Wife Started Metro Church With Humble Hearts

2 years 10 months ago
EDWARDSVILLE - Pastor Paul and Melody Westbrook have become household names not only throughout Edwardsville/Glen Carbon but around the area with their dynamic ministry for the past 31 years. Paul and his wife moved here in 1991 from Oklahoma to start Metro Community Church in Edwardsville. When they started, they began their journey in a basement of a home. Pastor Paul has always been able to captivate people with his messages and the aura he exhibits. Quickly, Metro Church grew to where they had services at nearby Edwardsville schools - LeClaire School and ultimately, Lincoln Middle School and for several years that was their home. Pastor Paul said at the start, he led a group that contacted 20,000 people around the Edwardsville region to see if they had a church. He said they only really tried to move people toward his new church who didn’t have a place of worship. Their intent was not to take people from other churches but to bring new people to Christ. A total of 35 members,

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Pastor Paul and Wife, Melody, Say Goodbye To Their Church Family

2 years 10 months ago
SEE VIDEO: EDWARDSVILLE - For three-plus decades, Rev. Paul Westbrook has been the Senior Pastor at Metro Community Church in Edwardsville. In that time, he has touched thousands of lives. This past weekend at a Metro Community Church service, he announced with great emotion with his wife, Melody, that they will be leaving the congregation. Paul has accepted a position with the State Baptist Association and will be working all over Illinois to start new churches. “This is right up my alley,” he said of the new position. Paul and his wife, Melody, co-founded Metro Community Church in 1991. Melody has played a critical role in starting and leading women’s groups over the years. Paul and Melody have three sons - Caleb, Luke, and Joshua. “God is leading us into a new season, into a new chapter of our lives,” he told the congregation on Sunday. “One of my life's greatest honors and pleasures has been being a part of Metro for 31 years.; being

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With Truth Social Having Trouble Attracting Users, Will Trump/Nunes Realize That There’s More To Managing A Social Media Site Than Grievances?

2 years 10 months ago
It appears that Donald Trump’s social network, at least in its initial form, is following the pattern of many of Donald Trump’s other business ventures: lots of hype, but little in the way of an actual business. As Politico has detailed, even the MAGA world isn’t exactly rushing to make Truth Social the Trumpist paradise […]
Mike Masnick

Alcohol, Drugs, Battery Among Felony Charges

2 years 10 months ago
WOOD RIVER - Robert R. Kopp, 33, of the first block of Carroll Wood Drive, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. He allegedly possessed less than 15 grams of fentanyl on March 11. The charge was filed on March 14. Bail was set at $30,000. EAST ALTON - Neal L. Proffer, 31, of Hillsboro, was charged with forgery. He allegedly delivered a fake $50 to an employee of Jimmy John’s, 1203 E. Edwardsville Road. Bail was set at $15,000. The alleged crime was committed on Feb. 22. Proffer was charged on March 15. WOOD RIVER - Isaiah Thurmond, 25, of Granite City, was charged with criminal trespass to a residence, criminal damage to property, and obstruction of identification. He allegedly broke into a home in the 500 block of Colonial Drive while the resident was present. Thurmond is accused of damaging an exterior door frame. Because of the value of the damage, that charge is a misdemeanor. A charging document also claims he furnished false identification,

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