Ready to Read - June 28, 2009

The first Ready to Read was presented to the neighborhood at Forest Park Ministry Center on Sunday afternoon, June 28, 2009, thanks to the immense efforts of Heritage Baptist Church, Temple Mount Christian Center, and all of the volunteers from both churches and from Thorington Road Baptist Church, too. The skies cleared just in time for it to begin, and the rain began to pour just after it was completed. Now, does God have perfect timing or what? Children and their parents were treated to various readings, fun crafts, many resource materials, and a phenomenal dramatization of "The Tale of Three Trees". What a great way to share Jesus! A very special thank you to Jennifer Foster, children's minister at Heritage; Bruce and Edith McDonald, pastor and evangelist at Temple Mount, Carol Heier, drama director at Heritage; and all of you hard working volunteers. It was a great day, and God is so good. The slide show here shows you just a glimpse of the afternoon.

New Opportunities for Ministry at Forest Park

It's incredible that summer is almost here - can you believe it? It seems just yesterday that I began this marvelous journey of ministry to the precious souls who have such dire needs and seek help through Forest Park Ministry Center. I am so thankful to those prayer warriors and faithful Christians who had the heart and the foresight to establish this ministry center, and to all of you who continually support the ministry in so many ways including prayer support. Listed below you will see how God continues to work as we reach out to Montgomerians in need. I have also listed new opportunities for ministry this summer. Your prayers and your support will be much appreciated; we are leaning on God's provision for resources for these ministries. Update from Forest Park Ministry Center – May 2009 >96 families served, for a total of 251 family members served (a great number, considering that one holiday and one other closing due to family emergency occurred on days which would be service days otherwise). >3 new Christians – it is always such a glorious day when we have new sisters and brothers in Christ! >2,621+ pounds of food distributed to families in need. >We have had the opportunity to assist a precious woman who lost her home and her belongings in the May 7 flash flood. She had several feet of water in her home, and it ruined essentially everything. With the aftermath of the flood and the ongoing economic crisis, I feel that we will see more and more dire needs. This month alone, over 35% of the guests who visited Forest Park Ministry Center for assistance were seeking help for the very first time because of their economic woes. Please pray for all of those who have lost jobs, homes, and their way of life, and for the volunteers at Forest Park as we seek to reach out to these with God’s love and His provision. >Welcome to Jenna Brendle, ministry intern for Forest Park Ministry Center, Valley Park Ministry Center, and Community of Hope! >We look forward to “We Love Montgomery: Ready to Read”, an event cosponsored by Heritage Baptist Church, Temple Mount at Forest Park, and Forest Park Ministry Center, coming Sunday, June 28, at 3:00 in the afternoon; >And – Backyard Bible Club at Forest Park Ministry Center, July 24 – 31; >And – Transforming Your Community Conference, July 11, 2009. Make plans to attend; call the MBA for details.

Welcome, Jenna!

We are so blessed to have Jenna Brendle as an intern / summer missionary at Forest Park Ministry Center this summer! Jenna is a senior at Auburn University, majoring in Human Development and Family Studies, and is serving her internship through MBA Church and Community Ministries. She will assist Forest Park Ministry Center, Valley Park Ministry Center, and Community of Hope during service hours and also the many special events planned for the summer. Jenna is a member of Heritage Baptist Church and most recently completed a semester at the Focus Institute of Focus on the Family in Colorado Springs, CO. We welcome Jenna and are excited to see what God has in store for her, for the CCM ministries, and for the city of Montgomery this summer!