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Liberty Theatre, church plan donations to victims of Japanese earthquake, tsunami
Having watched the unfolding events in Japan on television, Liberty Theatre owner Jim Smith plans to make his own donations to relief efforts through the Red Cross.
The Crooner's Lounge, 115 S. Main, usually serves dinner before shows and will do so again before Saturday night's show "That's Entertainment," featuring Rudy C. Amato and J.R. Farley. The show is scheduled for 8 p.m. at the Liberty, 113 S. Main.
Smith said the gross from the dinner will go to the Red Cross to help victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami. A bucket will also be passed around and any contributions will be matched by the Crooner's Lounge and Liberty Theatre up to $2,500, Smith and Business Manager Jill Gray said.
Smith said he, his wife, Paulette, the Liberty Theatre and all of the staff wanted to do this.
"All you've got to do is sit and watch TV. The way they've conducted themselves, there's been no looting. ... I have the utmost respect for them," Smith said. "... I would like to think someone would do that for us."
The crisis on the island nation began March 11, and news accounts said Tuesday more than 10,000 are feared dead.
Dinner starts at 6 p.m. and is by reservation only in the Crooner's Lounge. Anything leftover from the buffet-style meal will be available during the show. The menu includes Petto Alla Salerno, boneless chicken, lightly breaded and sautéed in a white wine lemon butter sauce with melted provolone cheese, fresh broccoli and mushrooms. Also, sliced tenderloin au jus, rice pilaf, fresh green beans with slivered almonds, salad, bread and dessert. Cost is $25 per person and includes coffee and water.
Gray said Tuesday she had reservations for 35 people and the Crooner's Lounge can seat 60.
The entertainment Saturday features Amato, who does a "Vegas Style" show complete with live musicians, comedy, singing, impersonations, and "a few surprises along the way," according to his biography on his website. He pays tribute to like Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bobby Darrin, Louis Armstrong, Louis Prima, Tom Jones, Barry Manilow, Motown greats, and Elvis Presley.
Farley is conductor of the J.R. Farley Band, which he formed in 2000, and he performs with other groups as well. Also a conductor and arranger, his musical education began at age 6 as a piano student. He later studied voice, euphonium and percussion. He furthered his musical education at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W. Va., and Fairmont State College, in Fairmont, W. Va., earning a bachelor's degree in music education and performance, the biography on his website said.
Community Christian Church in Fort Scott is also encouraging their members to financially assist those affected by recent events in Japan. Over the next couple of weeks, they will be receiving funds that will go directly to the people in that area. The church is partnering with two organizations -- IDES (International Disaster Emergency Services) and MSGF (Mustard Seed Global Fellowship), a news release said.
CCC has partnered with IDES on other occasions when disasters have struck around the world. It helped with tsunami victims in India in 2004 and those affected by Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in Haiti. According to Pastor Kevin Moyers, IDES specializes in natural disaster relief and is a very reputable organization that helps people in the name of Jesus. More information can be found at www.ides.org.
MSGF can also be found on the web at www.msgf.com. This organization is seeking to plant Christ-centered churches in urban areas around the world. They primarily focus on those areas that have very little gospel influence, the release said.
Ryan Fletcher, who was a youth intern for CCC two summers ago has recently moved to Japan to try and help start a church, under the umbrella of MSGF. He is located south of the disaster area a few hundred miles. Fletcher recently wrote to the church:
"Currently a small team, consisting of two MSGF staff and one Japanese member of Mustard Seed Christian Church are in final preparations to leave Nagoya and travel to the disaster zone. They are heading to Sendai, Japan, with a small load of supplies. The group will spend two to three days meeting with other organizations that are doing relief work and find out ways we (MSGF and MSCC) can help with the earthquake/tsunami relief and also focus on serving refugees. They will be taking some food and supplies to pass out to those displaced by the tsunami. That said, this is primarily a survey trip to find out what the needs are and how we can help," he wrote.
"We would greatly appreciate your prayers in this endeavor. Please be praying for wisdom, safety and that God would place people and organizations in our path that we can partner with in the months to come. The next 72 hours are very critical as we determine what our role and response will be. Pray that we might learn how to best serve the people of Japan and share with them the love of Christ."
Moyers noted everyone has seen the scenes of the devastation on TV. "We pray for them, but we can do more than even that. We can give and get involved through these organizations that will be on the ground there helping share the love of Jesus," he said.
If anyone in the community would like to give through the church, they are welcome to do so. One-hundred percent of the gifts given will go to these organizations, Moyers said.
Checks can be made out to the church. In the memo line, write "Japan relief," the release said. Checks can be sent to the church at 1919 S. Horton, Fort Scott, Kan., 66701, or dropped off at the church office through the week.