Great and busy weekend...Friday was another great day in our HOPE Outreach Ministry Center. Many people came to find disaster relief supplies, food and clothing. What a joy to be able to touch the physical needs of people but then have the freedom in our church foyer, or even parking lot, to share with them about a HOPE found only in Jesus and then take the time to pray with them. So much ministry occurred from our flooded out facility over on 10th and Iowa Streets. Praise God for all of our willing volunteers who served and shared a living HOPE!
Saturday we decided to continue the HOPE Outreach Ministry Center...at first we only thought to open this ministry outreach on Monday through Friday. However, I felt that many people probably worked during those times that we conducted the relief center so I sought to staff it once again. Sandy was our office volunteer on Friday and went to work making calls to find willing workers. Sandy is such an energetic volunteer that is a great encourager. She was able to staff the hours on Saturday so away we went. Another plus was the full article in the paper when I was interviewed on Tuesday about our church flood situation and what we were doing in the midst of it. And, we finally made it to the front page at the bottom where our church was listed for opening up our doors to the flood victims in our community (...though it took several calls to the newspaper office to stress our case!).
All in all a great week of outreach ministry in the middle of the flood disaster zone...awesome! My receiving minister (Rand) had sent me a spreadsheet of all the people that have signed in so far (but not everyone has done so). All total with those who have signed in we have reached 114 family units. Isn't that amazing! God initiated this ministry...and we obeyed. God provided the goods...and we gave them away. God called the volunteers...and they ministered faithfully in Jesus name.
Because of our obedience and surrender 5 people have received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Now that demands a shout out! Praise God! Everything is worth it when we understand we are touching lives with God's love, and we are seeing God transform hearts through the power of His son, Jesus Christ. Don't forget the good seed that has been sown into the soil of the lives of men and women, boys and girls. Watch God bring many of them to a personal relationship with Christ as well! You got to believe my friend. We call it...expectantly enlarging the harvest! Lord, protect those who have been born again and bring them into fellowship with a strong bible believing full gospel ministry center!
Now a word about some attacks the enemy has waged against us. Our group of students was coming home from a great week of youth camp when the church van broke down just south of Indy. I received a call from my youth pastor regarding the transmission fluid spraying everywhere. Not a good sign...even for a guy with no mechanical sense like me. Immediately I called the troops in to help form a caravan to pick up our kids and bring them home. Special thanks to Ted & Tess, and Betsy who joined me in rushing up to meet them at the Wal Mart Super Center.
Monty and Susan shared a horror story from their return trip to Columbus with the big RV rig from down south. Monty was driving when all of a sudden...(well, let me let you hear it from Susan's own blog):
"We had only been on the road for about 100 miles, clear and sunshine and hot day when all of a sudden, at 65 miles per hour one of the tires on the rig blew! And I mean blew! Not just one of those air "leaving" type of flat -- it blew so hard that it blew off a side piece of the rig, the underneath insulation and sheeting and left absolutely nothing of tread! We have no idea what happened and most likely never will. We did get pulled off the side of the interstate and eased up to the next exit where we could pull to the side. Monty got the extra jack out and started changing to the spare when a very nice gentleman came along side and offered his help. We didn't need much physical help but he was such amazing verbal support that we knew he was heaven sent. He even made sure he prayed for us before he left!!"
Tell me the enemy's just a little ticked off with the spiritual victories that we've won these past several weeks. The Lord trumps anything that the devil tries to throw in our way. He will use it for His good...to advance the kingdom of God...to spread HOPE...to show love...and to win souls!
I love it when Monty said he just laughed at what happened with the blown tire. He said, "Devil, is that all you've got!!" Now that's my kind of faith-filled partner and focused team member. Devil, is that all you've got...you big sissy!
- You took a swipe at our church and missed...but you did take out the steeple. (Thanks Lord for providing us with a brand new, better looking steeple that is right now being built for us in Kentucky - plus the insurance will cover most of it too!)
- You took a swing at our church and flooded us out...but you did manage to put every building under water. (Thanks Lord for using this tragedy to unite our church with force to reach hundreds of families through our own parking lot and church foyer ministries! Lives are being transformed. PTL!)
- You took a shot at our church van and sent it to the shop...that's OK, it's an old clunker anyway. (Lord, I'm believing you to provide us with a much newer and cleaner church van or mini-bus to use in ministry for reaching our community from the corner of 10th and Iowa Streets!) Someone reading this could be God's connection piece to our van miracle opportunity. Call me (812) 376-7833!!
- You took a hit at my new disaster relief ministry leaders and blew out their tire...and you did cause some damage to the body and fender too. (Thanks Lord for protecting them, keeping them safe and sending someone to pray with them! Lord, take care of this need and give them such a blessing that they cannot contain it!)
It was a delight to have David and Amy, our brand new missionaries heading to India, with us today. They surprised us with their attendance and encouragement. Plus we had many new faces in the congregation today. Lord, continue to help us reach out and touch more people through this wilderness journey we are traveling on. Make this a growth spurt for our church, both spiritually as well as physically!
Tonight I took Jordon with me to the church. Had to empty the 3 dehumidifiers in the basement. They are working hard to draw out all that moisture locked up in those block walls. Plus did some other work tasks as well. Guess what I discovered on our church steps under the canopy? Boxes of food, boxes of clothes and boxes of JUNK! Lord thanks for these needed supplies for our food pantry ministry, but please keep all the junk away. We want to provide a blessing to our guests, not greet them with worn out junk and smelly household items!!
If you are able to help us with stocking our HOPE Outreach Ministry Center you can bring to us the following items tomorrow...
- Canned goods (carrots, beans, soups, stews, etc.)
- Non-perishable food items (cereal, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, crackers, etc.)
- Cleaning supplies (Windex, cleaning solutions, paper towels, brooms, mops)
- Baby products (diapers, baby food, etc.)
Don't forget to leave us an encouraging comment for my church on this post! Your words will lift and inspire us to keep traveling on this journey of faith.
Don't forget to contribute to our FLOOD FUND either through our online giving site (www.columbusfirstassembly.org) or via snail mail (CFA, 2100 Tenth Street, Columbus, IN 47201).
Thanks for following us in this marathon of faith, hope and love! WE WILL SUCCEED AND WIN.
Love to all.
4 comments:
Hey Pastor, just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking about you and praying for you. I know this time isn't easy, but just know that I've got your back and I'm willing to help.
Bethany
Ditto what Bethany said :)
-Allison
Hello Pastor,
This is a fellow teenager who went with the group to camp and i just wanted to let you know that we have been praying for you and we know that you will get through this situation. After this there will be nothing you cant handle with God's help.
Love,
Member of the Refuge
Pastor, I received a note that Barb Cummings from the Love Chapel, said that they have an over abundance of baby food, diapers, etc. So if anyone comes in to the Hope Outreach looking for those items, please send them to the Love Chapel. Much love and prayers. Shawn
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