Please be sure to see the YouTube video that my friends from Attica put together. It was posted earlier this morning. Shows some pictures of our church - foyer being used as a disaster relief ministry center called HOPE Outreach Center - plus our sanctuary being used as a supplies center. We can't worship here because of THE FLOOD OF '08 but that will not stop us from touching the hurting with the love of Jesus in the open spaces that we do have.
Got to church a little later than normal, but then checked in on our ministry center. It was great to see Sonda and Mary Ann busy at work organizing more of the clothes donations that have been dropped off. Again, we have had the privilege of blessing many lives through the HOPE relief station in our wounded facility. So many, many people are sharing their stories of how the flood has impacted their lives. Very difficult to digest and comprehend. But each one leaves a little lighter because of the prayers prayed and the supplies received.
I asked my custodian to purchase two dehumidifiers for our moisture intensified basement. It is clear and somewhat clean, but the humidity has gotten really bad. Helped her to unbox these units and placed them in separate locations in our basement. Attempted to hook these units, plus a large fan, into one extension cord that ran all the way into the new sanctuary space. You've got to remember that we have no electricity in 2/3 of our facilities. Makes it pretty difficult to operate our "command center" with no electric in that part of the building. So there is a string of cords that run out of our makeshift office into the new wing as well.
Gotta tell you...I was getting pretty frustrated trying to juggle all the cords, units, outlets, etc. without constantly tripping the circuit breaker. I must have reset it about 25 times or more. Kept trying different outlets. Kept trying to lighten the load by removing some lights, or fans, or other electric drawing units. Still tripped the breaker...
Tony came to the rescue. He brought his dehumidifier from home and set it up in the basement beside the other two new units. Told him my dilemma. Gotta hand it to my man Tony. He got another long cord and somehow got everything to work and not trip the breaker. What a relief! Thanks Tony...you 'da electric man!
Good to see Robert from our church willing to serve wherever needed. Found a good job for him in the basement. Not sure if he liked that one, but he was happy to serve wherever needed. This is what I love about how God has transformed our people. No longer takers, but now givers. Awesome!
Received two bid letters from area general contractors. Should be getting two more tomorrow. Will review these and present to our leadership team soon.
Allison was able to recreate a bulletin insert along with our regular prayer focus list for Sunday's service. Not quite back up to normal, but we're making every effort to show our church that we are going to make it just fine in this journey of faith. Don't forget...patience is the key word!!
Took my family out to eat tonight. They missed me on what should have been my regular day off. But they understand the toll that this disaster has placed upon their father and they have been forgiving.
Don't forget to do three things...
- Pray....
- Give... www.columbusfirstassembly.org (click online giving button and make a donation to our flood fund)
- Go... help us out in our HOPE Outreach Center while we have this window of time to be a special blessing to so many people. Don't forget we need food donations to keep touching lives every day.
1 comment:
Pastor A.,
Your friends here at Wellington Village A/G - Little Rock are praying for you and your church family in all that you are going through and for all that you are doing for your community. May God use what satan has meant to destroy to bring glory to His Matchless Name. I could not think of anyone else I would rather have heading up that kind of outreach.
Serving Him by Serving You,
Joe J.
Post a Comment