Have you ever experienced a "wake-up" call? Most of us have. And Jonah did. "..You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to You.." (Jonah 2:6b-7a). "Malcolm" did, too. Malcolm is a young man who lives in the neighborhood near Forest Park Ministry Center. We met him nearly a year ago, shortly after being laid off from his job with Hyundai. He was trying to work wherever he could find a job, but finding one was difficult, and doubly so because he had also lost his car.
"Malcolm" accepted Christ one day last Spring during a visit to the center. He promised to follow through his confession of faith with making it public at a church and plugging into a body of believers for growth and accountability. But the unhealthy influences of friends and even some family tugged at him and pulled him back into harmful habits and away from his new found faith.
Two weeks ago, as we were closing the center at the end of a service day, Malcolm came running down the street with tears streaming down his face. He was crying for help. You see, a neighbor had stolen something of value to Malcolm. When he confronted the neighbor in order to get it back, the man pulled a gun on him and shot at him. He was running for his life! The police had come, but of course, the shooter was nowhere to be found, and Malcolm's fears were mounting. As we sat there, encouraging him to "breathe deep" in order to calm himself, we began to pray with him. And you could sense his spirit calm. After talking to God, we talked to Malcolm. A wake-up call - he acknowledged it. And grace that his life had been spared.
Would you pray for Malcolm? For him to have the steadfast courage to step away from bad influences and into God's grace; for protection and guidance and the realization that a life invested in Christ is the only "good life" that there is!
There are always so many needs. Your prayers are necessary and we thank you. Here is another opportunity to invest in the work of the center: With such a brutally hot summer, the utility bills have mounted. Can you imagine going without air or water in the heat that we have experienced? Just this week, two families have needed assistance because their water has been turned off - no water at a time like this?!? To make matters worse, one family has a newborn and the other a special needs child. Funds for utility assistance are precariously low. Would you consider a designated offering of $25, $50, or whatever God lays on your heart, specifically to help families in such dire need? These are not lazy people. They do not want to be in these situations. But job losses, illnesses, and other life circumstances are draining their finances, their strength, and their hope. Will you be a help? Just note on the
bottom left corner of your check "utility assistance" and mail it to Forest Park Ministry Center, 2026 East 4th Street, Montgomery, AL 36106. If God has moved you to do this, I thank you in advance. May He richly bless you!
Sharing an update from the center - in August, 116 guests were served at the center, for a total of 290 family members. Of those that visited, one gentleman was led to Christ by our missionary volunteer, Fred Fulton. Praise the Lord! Over 3,000 pounds of food were distributed to these families, and $800 worth of clothing gift certificates were given. We partnered with one of our churches to assist a family that lost everything in a house fire, and several families received direly needed baby supplies. The construction is moving along; the sheetrock is nearly finished, and the painting and other finsh work will be completed by mid September. God is so good.
I would be remiss if I did not thank all of the churches, the individuals, and even the businesses who contributed to the Tools for Schools effort this year. For the first time, we were committed to supply five junior high and high schools - a massive undertaking! But God was faithful through His people to supply at least three large cases full of paper, notebooks, pencils, pens, calculators, folders, binders, and so much more, to every school. And in addition, each school is receiving uniform shirts to keep in the office for students who are in need of them. Thank you to all who had a hand in this endeavor.
Volunteer readers and tutors are now beginning a new school year of ministry. Reading4Character has proven to be an effective investment in the lives of schoolchildren. Soon, after school tutoring will be available for the Mixtec children in the neighborhood who need an English speaking "listener" as they read. Eastern Hills is taking this on, but we welcome volunteers from all of our churches. Already, several from other churches have stepped forward. We need more! Would you pray about being a part of this opportunity to share God's love?
Your prayers, your gifts, your support are all so appreciated and so necessary to carry on Christ's Kingdom work. May you be blessed with God's grace.
Food Pantry Update
Celebrating the one year anniversary of our new client choice pantry called Harvest: A Galley of Grace
RALLY FOR THE GALLEY COMING AUGUST 8! ALL YOU BIKERS COME JOIN US!!!
Moving Forward in Ministry in 2011
"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 12:28).
Friday, September 3, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Summer Harvest!!
“O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; for You have worked wonders, plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness…You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat..” (Isaiah 25:1,4).
The Mission Serve team found it both amusing and awesome that over two years ago, we had purchased a building permit for the addition to Forest Park Ministry Center. A little presumptuous on my part, some would say, but really, believing that God would provide – and in His good timing, He did! How like God to have the room so near completion – just a little more interior work and we will be able to move our Conversational English classes in there, as well as use it for donation intake. This will make the flow of traffic and the privacy needed when interviewing and sharing Christ with guests work so much more favorably! A huge thank you to Mission Serve, to Heritage Mission Montgomery, and to all the donors and helpers who gave selflessly to see the project through! There is still a little more interior work to do; if you or your group feels led, please contact me ASAP; it would be an awesome thing to have the sheetrock completed and ready for paint when the next group is slated to come in September!
Just the other day, we received a call from a former guest of the center. She wanted prayer for her and her family, and she was serious about it! Earlier in the year, she had visited the center for food assistance and shared her frustration over so many years of seeking Section 8 assistance (it is an arduous process). We prayed with her about this, about God’s provision for her and her family in His timing. That very day as she returned home, she found a letter in her mailbox announcing that she had been approved! Now, several months later, she was facing some new challenges and wanted prayer again.
Don’t get me wrong – it was and still is a privilege to pray with our guests. And when God chooses to reveal His hand at that time, it is an awesome experience, and one to celebrate. We did just that! But I could not let the opportunity to pass in this teachable moment. This precious woman needed the comfort of corporate prayer, but she also needed the reassurance that God hears her prayer; she, as a child of God, has a direct path in prayer to Almighty God, a path made clear because of the blood of Christ that cleanses her sins and makes it possible to enter God’s presence in prayer. As I prayed with her and encouraged her to pray to God herself, just like she was talking to a dear friend – because He is her dearest friend, I was reminded of the responsibility that we have to disciple those that He puts in our path for encouragement.
Then just the other day, another guest came for financial assistance. As we discussed together her situation, made arrangements to resolve her current dilemma, and prayed, again thanking God for His provision, she blessed me! It was a joy to receive the blessing from this dear sister in Christ who even through her own struggles, sees God’s hand, receives the grace of God’s provision and blessing, and chooses to bless others through prayer, too.
The ministry to Mixtec families is growing as well. Eastern Hills youth did a phenomenal job in July to reach the children in our neighborhood; the transformation from unruly and uncooperative to listening, participating, cooperating, and enjoying each other was truly magical ---- no, it was all God! Now, Eastern Hills volunteers, along with volunteers from other churches, are in the process of planning after – school reading and tutoring for Mixtec children, and Mixtec parents are still learning English in the ongoing Conversational English classes designed specifically for them. A tremendous thank you to the team led by Oscar Gonzales from Cuernavaca, MX, who made such inroads into building relationships with these families!
All of this, and we saw families for food and clothing assistance, too. In spite of being closed for half of the month for construction, eighty-two families were provided much needed food supplies, with over a ton of food distributed in just two weeks. Throughout the entire month, the Backyard Bible Club (Summer Stories continued from June) and the English classes continued, and though it was very chaotic, everyone was so accommodating and patient to work together!
I think that everyone that works at the center and the guests alike would agree that this summer has been full of evidence of God’s goodness and grace. May He continue to work in and through each of us, reaching others in His name, sharing His Hope, literally being His hands and feet reaching out to a lost world.
Check out the photos to the right of the work at the center!
The Mission Serve team found it both amusing and awesome that over two years ago, we had purchased a building permit for the addition to Forest Park Ministry Center. A little presumptuous on my part, some would say, but really, believing that God would provide – and in His good timing, He did! How like God to have the room so near completion – just a little more interior work and we will be able to move our Conversational English classes in there, as well as use it for donation intake. This will make the flow of traffic and the privacy needed when interviewing and sharing Christ with guests work so much more favorably! A huge thank you to Mission Serve, to Heritage Mission Montgomery, and to all the donors and helpers who gave selflessly to see the project through! There is still a little more interior work to do; if you or your group feels led, please contact me ASAP; it would be an awesome thing to have the sheetrock completed and ready for paint when the next group is slated to come in September!
Just the other day, we received a call from a former guest of the center. She wanted prayer for her and her family, and she was serious about it! Earlier in the year, she had visited the center for food assistance and shared her frustration over so many years of seeking Section 8 assistance (it is an arduous process). We prayed with her about this, about God’s provision for her and her family in His timing. That very day as she returned home, she found a letter in her mailbox announcing that she had been approved! Now, several months later, she was facing some new challenges and wanted prayer again.
Don’t get me wrong – it was and still is a privilege to pray with our guests. And when God chooses to reveal His hand at that time, it is an awesome experience, and one to celebrate. We did just that! But I could not let the opportunity to pass in this teachable moment. This precious woman needed the comfort of corporate prayer, but she also needed the reassurance that God hears her prayer; she, as a child of God, has a direct path in prayer to Almighty God, a path made clear because of the blood of Christ that cleanses her sins and makes it possible to enter God’s presence in prayer. As I prayed with her and encouraged her to pray to God herself, just like she was talking to a dear friend – because He is her dearest friend, I was reminded of the responsibility that we have to disciple those that He puts in our path for encouragement.
Then just the other day, another guest came for financial assistance. As we discussed together her situation, made arrangements to resolve her current dilemma, and prayed, again thanking God for His provision, she blessed me! It was a joy to receive the blessing from this dear sister in Christ who even through her own struggles, sees God’s hand, receives the grace of God’s provision and blessing, and chooses to bless others through prayer, too.
The ministry to Mixtec families is growing as well. Eastern Hills youth did a phenomenal job in July to reach the children in our neighborhood; the transformation from unruly and uncooperative to listening, participating, cooperating, and enjoying each other was truly magical ---- no, it was all God! Now, Eastern Hills volunteers, along with volunteers from other churches, are in the process of planning after – school reading and tutoring for Mixtec children, and Mixtec parents are still learning English in the ongoing Conversational English classes designed specifically for them. A tremendous thank you to the team led by Oscar Gonzales from Cuernavaca, MX, who made such inroads into building relationships with these families!
All of this, and we saw families for food and clothing assistance, too. In spite of being closed for half of the month for construction, eighty-two families were provided much needed food supplies, with over a ton of food distributed in just two weeks. Throughout the entire month, the Backyard Bible Club (Summer Stories continued from June) and the English classes continued, and though it was very chaotic, everyone was so accommodating and patient to work together!
I think that everyone that works at the center and the guests alike would agree that this summer has been full of evidence of God’s goodness and grace. May He continue to work in and through each of us, reaching others in His name, sharing His Hope, literally being His hands and feet reaching out to a lost world.
Check out the photos to the right of the work at the center!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Busy and Fulfilling - What a Summer!
“Now glory be to God! By His mighty power at work within us, He is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.” Ephesians 3:20
Summer is here – and busier than ever! I’ll describe in a moment the incredible things happening already, but first please allow me to once again share with you an enormous need coming in the next few weeks. A small group of volunteer missionaries is coming from Reye de Reyes Iglesia de Baptista (King of Kings Baptist Church), Cuernavaca, Moreles, Mexico, led by Oscar Gonzales, a Campus Crusade for Christ missionary in Mexico. They will be in Montgomery to assist four MBA churches and two MBA community ministries, including Forest Park Ministry Center and Community of Hope, as we seek to discover ways to reach the Hispanics in our community, and specifically the Mixtecan population. Through the gracious provision of Ridgecrest, Heritage, and other churches, housing and transportation are being provided while here. These team members have worked hard in their own country to raise funds to travel here. We need to provide food for them while they are here. We are planning to provide initial groceries for them in the house where they are staying, and then allow them to purchase food, gasoline, or essentials as they need them. In order to do so, we need either GIFT CARDS (Walmart, Target, Winn Dixie, or Visa Gift cards) or CASH. Connie Pouncey has offered to help coordinate the initial grocery purchase, so you can forward gifts to her, or you can bring them to Donna at Forest Park Ministry Center or to the MBA office on Perry Hill Road. PLEASE help us with this incredible opportunity to bless missionaries coming here to assist us!
Have you ever felt like your head was spinning? After months, even years, of praying, hoping, and planning, God in His perfect timing has brought forth some incredible volunteer missionaries to share HIM through highly anticipated opportunities now in full swing! It’s so incredible, yet why am I surprised? The Word tells me exactly what He is capable of, and my mind will not be able to wrap around it all!
MissionServe arrives next week, and the construction will be underway. Please pray for each of these precious souls who offer their time, talents, energy, and even their hard earned finances and off-time to help us improve the facility here at Forest Park Ministry Center!
Cooking and nutrition classes are going great, and we are receiving glowing reports from Southlawn Commons. Each week at the Molina Center in the middle of Southlawn Commons Apartment Homes, Ashley Loomis and her volunteers are meeting with 11 – 15 children (and even had a mom join them last week), and learning together about healthy food choices, economical ways to shop for and prepare food, and safe and easy ways for children to prepare food. Thank you, Ashley, for stepping out into the community with your love for sharing Christ in such a practical and loving way!
Summer Stories from the Porch also has many participants among the children in the neighborhood surrounding Forest Park. Each week, children hear stories that illustrate strong Biblical truths, and have fun activities that support the truths illustrated. Thank you, Victoria, Andrea, Nathaniel, Norma Jo, Hope, Jennifer, and David, for your excellent leadership in June. We look forward to sharing with everyone about July’s activities, as Eastern Hills youth lead. We are also sad to say “Aloha” to the Roberts family who helped so much each summer, including this summer. They are moving to Hawaii where their dad will be stationed, so we had an “Aloha” party for them as a part of our last June Summer Stories. We pray God’s blessings on them wherever they are serving!
In June, we saw 115 families representing nearly 300 people in need of food, clothing, and / or financial assistance, gave nearly 1 1/2 tons of food, $800.00 in clothing gift certificates, and numerous referrals for everything from specialized clothing needs, other financial needs, to medical and prescription needs. “Vera” was such a mom in need; her son is disabled and had just been released from the hospital into her care. However, his disability income had not begun, and he had no insurance for prescriptions. She was desperate to get a prescription from his doctor filled because of his intense pain. Recently, we were given a new resource for discount prescription meds (God’s perfect timing), and what was going to cost her over $100 (that she did not have) only cost $15.00. What a blessing, and what praises she voiced to the Lord!
When we reopen on July 19, we will be seeing more and more people who need encouragement, clothing, food and finances, and most importantly, the Hope of Christ! Join us in praying diligently that the love of Christ is what each person sees and experiences as he or she visits this center.
Joyfully serving,
Donna McCullough, Director
Forest Park Ministry Center
Summer is here – and busier than ever! I’ll describe in a moment the incredible things happening already, but first please allow me to once again share with you an enormous need coming in the next few weeks. A small group of volunteer missionaries is coming from Reye de Reyes Iglesia de Baptista (King of Kings Baptist Church), Cuernavaca, Moreles, Mexico, led by Oscar Gonzales, a Campus Crusade for Christ missionary in Mexico. They will be in Montgomery to assist four MBA churches and two MBA community ministries, including Forest Park Ministry Center and Community of Hope, as we seek to discover ways to reach the Hispanics in our community, and specifically the Mixtecan population. Through the gracious provision of Ridgecrest, Heritage, and other churches, housing and transportation are being provided while here. These team members have worked hard in their own country to raise funds to travel here. We need to provide food for them while they are here. We are planning to provide initial groceries for them in the house where they are staying, and then allow them to purchase food, gasoline, or essentials as they need them. In order to do so, we need either GIFT CARDS (Walmart, Target, Winn Dixie, or Visa Gift cards) or CASH. Connie Pouncey has offered to help coordinate the initial grocery purchase, so you can forward gifts to her, or you can bring them to Donna at Forest Park Ministry Center or to the MBA office on Perry Hill Road. PLEASE help us with this incredible opportunity to bless missionaries coming here to assist us!
Have you ever felt like your head was spinning? After months, even years, of praying, hoping, and planning, God in His perfect timing has brought forth some incredible volunteer missionaries to share HIM through highly anticipated opportunities now in full swing! It’s so incredible, yet why am I surprised? The Word tells me exactly what He is capable of, and my mind will not be able to wrap around it all!
MissionServe arrives next week, and the construction will be underway. Please pray for each of these precious souls who offer their time, talents, energy, and even their hard earned finances and off-time to help us improve the facility here at Forest Park Ministry Center!
Cooking and nutrition classes are going great, and we are receiving glowing reports from Southlawn Commons. Each week at the Molina Center in the middle of Southlawn Commons Apartment Homes, Ashley Loomis and her volunteers are meeting with 11 – 15 children (and even had a mom join them last week), and learning together about healthy food choices, economical ways to shop for and prepare food, and safe and easy ways for children to prepare food. Thank you, Ashley, for stepping out into the community with your love for sharing Christ in such a practical and loving way!
Summer Stories from the Porch also has many participants among the children in the neighborhood surrounding Forest Park. Each week, children hear stories that illustrate strong Biblical truths, and have fun activities that support the truths illustrated. Thank you, Victoria, Andrea, Nathaniel, Norma Jo, Hope, Jennifer, and David, for your excellent leadership in June. We look forward to sharing with everyone about July’s activities, as Eastern Hills youth lead. We are also sad to say “Aloha” to the Roberts family who helped so much each summer, including this summer. They are moving to Hawaii where their dad will be stationed, so we had an “Aloha” party for them as a part of our last June Summer Stories. We pray God’s blessings on them wherever they are serving!
In June, we saw 115 families representing nearly 300 people in need of food, clothing, and / or financial assistance, gave nearly 1 1/2 tons of food, $800.00 in clothing gift certificates, and numerous referrals for everything from specialized clothing needs, other financial needs, to medical and prescription needs. “Vera” was such a mom in need; her son is disabled and had just been released from the hospital into her care. However, his disability income had not begun, and he had no insurance for prescriptions. She was desperate to get a prescription from his doctor filled because of his intense pain. Recently, we were given a new resource for discount prescription meds (God’s perfect timing), and what was going to cost her over $100 (that she did not have) only cost $15.00. What a blessing, and what praises she voiced to the Lord!
When we reopen on July 19, we will be seeing more and more people who need encouragement, clothing, food and finances, and most importantly, the Hope of Christ! Join us in praying diligently that the love of Christ is what each person sees and experiences as he or she visits this center.
Joyfully serving,
Donna McCullough, Director
Forest Park Ministry Center
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Ways You Can Partner with Forest Park Ministry Center
* Have a food drive in your church
(get list from Donna)There is a dire shortage!
* Hold a Baby Shower for new moms who come to
the center; we need supplies for 12 layettes by October!
* Be a prayer partner and pray for our guests needs
* Need larger sized mens and womens clothing
must be in very good condition
*Hold a Paper supplies shower for the center
*Need a data entry volunteer once a week
*Need a small desk for the receptionist in the waiting area
(get list from Donna)There is a dire shortage!
* Hold a Baby Shower for new moms who come to
the center; we need supplies for 12 layettes by October!
* Be a prayer partner and pray for our guests needs
* Need larger sized mens and womens clothing
must be in very good condition
*Hold a Paper supplies shower for the center
*Need a data entry volunteer once a week
*Need a small desk for the receptionist in the waiting area