Summer 2015: Exceeding more…..

Ephesians 3:20 – To Him who is able to do abundantly more than we can ask or think ……. To Him be glory!

It was a first.  Every Spring, as we approach those summer months when activity ramps up, we are excited about what God will do.  For years, Forest Park Ministry has been blessed to have one or more summer missionary interns to help.  In addition to increased numbers of families needing food assistance (children are out of school without the breakfasts and lunches provided there), there is a need to provide positive and Christ-centered activity for children, especially those in at-risk situations.  Our summer missionary interns have always been instrumental in facilitating these activities, including a weekly kids club or sports camp activity and at least one Backyard Bible Club experience.

            We approached Summer 2015 with the same expectation.  Requests made, word spread, some possibilities but nothing panned out.  For the first time in at least 7 years, we approached summer with no summer intern.  It was tempting to panic. 

            But God is Sovereign; and He has the better plan.  This summer, we have had the most opportunities to either plug into or fully participate in EIGHT churches’ VBS or Backyard Bible Clubs.  Capitol Heights youth led a Sports and Bible camp at Pine Oaks and Sherwood Apartments, Anelda Cook of Heritage spearheaded a Journey Off the Map Backyard Bible Club conducted by Mission Serve youth and leaders from Houston; I was privileged to be a daily part of the VBS at both Mt. Zion Baptist and Heritage Baptist; Eastmont Baptist invited me to speak about the ministry and brought food collected to the center later that week; Eastern Hills collected food for the center and brought it to us; Child Evangelism Fellowship conducted a 5-Day Club in the Forest Park neighborhood, and Heritage Baptist just completed the last Journey Off the Map Backyard Bible Club in the Forest Park Neighborhood, culminating in the largest participation that we have ever had with our Mixtecan neighborhood children.  Add that to what the Mixteco Task Force is doing to forge relationships with our Mixtec families.  I NEVER could have imagined or planned that without a summer intern, but GOD did the planning, and HE provided the groups and individuals to staff each effort.  To God be the glory!

            In addition to a deeper trust in God’s Providence, He has shown me this summer new areas of ministry needed.  Here is an example of the kinds of needs we see:

            “He is at a crossroads in life.  As a young teenager, he is a member of a hardworking and strong family, a middle child of many sons.  His male role models are tough, strong, and fervent believers in the machismo of the men in their indigenous culture.  He has lived in the United States all of his life, but his parents are still deeply entrenched in the ways of his people.

            "He wants to be a man.  He has learned throughout several years of neighborhood Bible clubs that Jesus is the Son of God, He is the way to Heaven, and if we ask Him in our heart and trust in Him, He will save us from Hell and lead us in life.  He has done this, even “rededicated” himself to Christ, but somehow he is drawn back into the tough guy, defiant ways of the street."

            I feel so compelled to reach out to him, and I (and others from the center) do, but he needs a godly man to walk alongside him and disciple him.  And even as I believe that to be a great need, even more I see that if his father and uncle were befriended, led to Christ and discipled, the harvest in this young man’s life would be all the greater.  The tug between street savvy and humbly walking with Christ is difficult for anyone finding their identity in this day and time, but the Way is so much clearer if Christian values and humility are modeled by those we love the most.

            So back to what our friends on the Mixteco Task Force are doing.  Would you make a matter of prayer the outreach to the Mixtecan community?  We are meeting on Monday evenings, twice most months, to assist with practical matters, to build relationships, and foster trust among friends.  It is our heartfelt desire to lead those who do not know Christ to know Him fully, and to one day be able to help them plant a church in their heart language.  God has shown us already this summer that even though we may not see a way, He can make that way clear.   We are leaning on Almighty God in His perfect timing to do just that.

Mixteco National Summit Invitation

Since 2008, the Montgomery Baptist Association and the Mixteco Missions Task Force have been working with churches and individuals who are ministering to this people group here in the Greater Montgomery area. There are over 1000 individuals that we know of that reside in the Montgomery area. That does not include Elmore, Autauga, Bullock and Pike County where we know there are more. The world has come to Montgomery.

Would you like to be a part of sharing Christ with them?
Come to this first annual Mixteco National Summit and learn about the culture and ways that are relevant to them as you share Christ with them. 

It is being sponsored by the Montgomery Baptist Association, the Montgomery Mixteco Missions Task Force and the SBC International Mission Board. ALL Christian churches are invited. 

We need to know ASAP to be able to provide meals for everyone. It will be Thursday night, January 15-Saturday afternoon, January 17th. Call Lisa Rose at 334-271-6794 or email for more details and a schedule at lrose@mgmbaptist.org

                             NEED TO HEAR from you by Friday, January 9th.
             Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/556666804438788/

New Life.... New Changes

“April showers bring May flowers.”  New life.  Reminds me of the genius of our creator.  In recent months, I’ve been studying a good bit about God’s purpose for His creation.  Rick Warren (Purpose – Driven Life) wrote extensively about our purpose for being – to bring glory to God.  What, exactly does that look like?  And when doing ministry among those in need, how is He most glorified?

Examine the 6^th day of creation.  God said, “Let us create man in our own image..”.  That one statement defines a very unique identity for humans.  We, unlike other aspects of creation, are made soulful beings with the ability to have emotions, reasoning, and decision-making.  As scripture reminds us, we are a little lower than the angels but have dominion over all other aspects of creation.  That alone tells us that we are special.  Yet, even while we have chosen sin, Christ died for us.  Our identity as God’s creation and even more as redeemed by Christ’s blood is extraordinary!

Furthermore, by making us soulful beings with the ability and freedom to make choices, we are created to be in community with God.  He did not create us in His image just to exist; He wants constant communication with us!

Then God said that it was not good for man to be alone.  So woman was created to be in community with man, and they were told to populate the earth.  We humans were created to live in community with each other.

Finally, God told the humans to have dominion over the earth, over the creatures of the sea, the animals, and all that grows, and to cultivate and care for creation.  He gave us the responsibility to be stewards of His creation, our environment and our work world.

So these areas: 1. Our own sense of who we are; 2. Our relationship with the Lord; 3. Our relationship with others; and 4. Our stewardship of the world around us; are all ideally meant to operate at an optimal level.  In the Garden of Eden, that was so.  But we chose to sin.  So we live in a fallen world where each of these areas is out of kilter in some fashion.  A parent cannot provide for his family, so his sense of self is diminished.  He asks for assistance, and though he is grateful for help, he feels worse that he has been dependent on someone else.  A sense of dependency makes assuming responsibilities even more challenging.

How this applies to ministry – at Forest Park Ministry Center, we have for several years sought to increase the level of hospitality and decrease the barriers that would demean others.  From the “shop for your own” concept utilizing gift certificates for clothing, to the annual MBA Ministry Center Christmas Toy Sale, families have the opportunity to experience joy and well-being by taking responsibility for making their own choices for their family.

This summer, guests visiting the ministry center for food assistance will begin to experience yet another opportunity to assume responsibility.  Whereas in the past, food was prebagged and ready for distribution, now each guest will be joined by a shopping buddy who will introduce them to our new Client Choice Pantry.  Guests will shop the pantry for the food that they desire for their families; they will take only what they can and will use.  This will result not only in less waste, but in improved stewardship of our funds as we procure only the food that will be used by our guests – because now we will be able to see what is preferred!  Just as importantly, relationship building will happen, because shopping buddies and shoppers will be able to talk about various ideas of food preparation and specific nutritional needs of a guest’s family.  We are currently training volunteers for the reorganization, and look forward to fully implementing this new model in August.

Please prayerfully consider how you might help during this transition.  The food pantry will need to remain consistently stocked.  Volunteers will have new responsibilities and will need to be faithfully consistent.  You may not be able to work each week, but would you be willing to be trained as a backup for our hardworking volunteers?

In September, the inaugural Rally for the Galley will be held to benefit Forest Park Ministry Center.   Fundraising and food-raising will be the focus, and we look forward to motorcyclists all over the area joining us for a day of fun as we stock the pantry to benefit the thousands of families in need in our area.  Watch for details coming soon!