Scott Bowling, a judge on the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas, will be speaking today  at 6 p.m. at the Ironton First Nazarene located at 2318 South 4th Street.

“Scott is a man of faith who has found strength, even as the ALS he was diagnosed with three years ago progresses through his body,” Rob Hale, the church’s pastor, said.

Bowling will soon be confined to a wheelchair. Hale related how Bowling, when he learned of his diagnosis, said, “Bible passages that were hidden inside of him jumped off the pages. The deeper I got into it, the more hopeful and helpful it became.”

Six years ago, Bowling and his family started making a difference in the world through a non-profit organization called Jeremiah 38 Ministries.

The group coordinates short-term medical mission trips to poor regions in South America. It also oversees mentoring programs and local activities for youth. He will be sharing details of the four trips planned for 2016, which include medical mission trips planned for Peru at the end of May and Ecuador at the end of July.

Another trip is planned to Honduras, and a Bible study tour to Israel is planned at the end of November.

Bowling will also have copies of his book, “Does God Want Me Dead?” on hand for the event.

Most proceeds will benefit Jeremiah 38 Ministries, but a portion will be donated to the ALS Association of Central and Southern Ohio.

Hale is opening the church, located at 2318 S. Fourth Street, for the community event and invites everyone to come and hear Bowling’s testimony.