Kingdom City
Kingdom of God, also called Kingdom Of Heaven, in Christianity, the spiritual realm over which God reigns as king, or the fulfillment on Earth of God’s will. The phrase occurs frequently in the New Testament, primarily used by Christ in the first three Gospels. It is generally considered to be the central theme of Jesus’s teaching, but widely differing views have been held about Jesus’s teaching on the Kingdom of God and its relation to the developed view of the church. (Encyclopedia Britannica)
Kingdom City, Missouri, is a real town, population 128 (within the official limits), comprised of 49 households and 34 families, according to the 2010 census. Only 25% of the households have children, and fewer than 30 children under the age of 18 live there. The village is 93.0% White, 6.3% African American, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race are 0.8% of the population. While the media income is low, poverty is not widespread.
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Despite the connection between the town's religious conservatism and its name, "Kingdom City" derives from a nickname given to the area by slave-owners, who considered it a haven in the run-up and aftermath of the Civil War.
According to the Kingdom City town website: There are several reasons why travelers stop in Kingdom City, Missouri. It is a great place to live and a great place to stop if you're passing through. Kingdom City has an abundance of fuel stations, travel centers, dog park, motels/hotels, nostalgic stores, bank, US Post Office, North Callaway High School, car wash, truck wash, huge carpet/flooring warehouse store, numerous fast food and sit down restaurants. Kingdom City is also home to the Firefighters Memorial of Missouri located on Dunn Drive.
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City Hall also provides this list of local restaurants:
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Arby's
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Baskin Robbins
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Burger King
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Dairy Queen
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Denny's
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Dunkin Donuts (in the gas station)
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Iron Buckshot Saloon
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Skillet
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McDonald's
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Subway
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Taco Bell
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Burger King
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Employers include local government, a truck wash, real estate, motels, a post office, a bank, school teachers and administration, emergency services, various insurance agencies, a discount flooring store, and Ozarkland.
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Click here to view a website like one Miriam and Daniel could have perused to find a rental property.
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Churches
There are three churches within Kingdom City proper and dozens more within 20 miles of the town. Within city limits are Richland Baptist Church, Yahweh's Assembly in Yahshua, and The Lighthouse Church, an evangelical ministry.
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At the Lighthouse, which would be the nearest approximation of Luke Overbey's church, "we are striving to meet the needs of people. We want to introduce them to Jesus Christ and disciple them to Christian maturity. We desire to send disciples out to serve. And we want to provide a place where we may all come together to worship in the power of the Holy Spirit."
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The Lighthouse's mission is to:
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Meet the needs of people
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Introduce them to Christ
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Disciple them to Christian maturity
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Send them out to serve
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Provide a place where we may all come together to worship in the power of the Holy Spirit
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[The bringing of people to Christ is the primary goal of American evangelicalism.]
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In addition to weekly worship (sermons here), regular events at the Lighthouse include Men's Bible Study, Women's Bible Study, College Bible Study, Battle Brothers (for those in recovery from chemical addiction) and Battle Sisters. Lighthouse also offers a 180 Youth Group, ReFit Faith & Fitness Workout, and Mom Stop, a social and support group for mothers.
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The lead pastor has a very active blog.
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The nearest synagogue is 30 miles west in Columbia (home of the University of Missouri), where religious diversity is great, as one would expect of a college town.
exterior of The Lighthouse Church
event at the Lighthouse, services take place from the stage at right
interior during a potluck
Views of Kingdom City
aerial view of the town
heading into town from the south
central town
central town, location of Nostalgiaville,
now closed
heading north out of town
