Rain!

     Do you remember the old children's rhyme: its raining, its pouring, the old man is snoring?  Well, praise God, it IS raining tonight, it IS pouring - and many parts of our parched area have seen it.  I cannot think of better weather to snore away - and sleep like a baby while listening to it!  Thank you, God, for refreshment!
     Refreshment comes in many forms.  At the ministry center, it is refreshing to see volunteers welcoming new faces to partner in the work there.  This summer, Charlotte and Jordan have been warmly welcomed by volunteers and guests alike, and they in turn have taken a young woman under their wings who as a new Christian has a strong desire to minister to others in similar circumstances as she has found herself.  It is a beautiful picture of God's growing kingdom to watch these young women sharing Christ's passion for others, transcending barriers of culture, economics, race, and even life stages.
     Recently, a young mother-to-be visited the center and was welcomed and encouraged by E.  When her baby was born, J. visited her and gave her a beautiful layette from the center's Layette Ministry.  When her husband was laid off from his job and the rent was behind, E. sought assistance from her church and Ladies' Prayer Group.  This week, the unemployment and other stresses proved too much for the husband, and he left this dear lady and their baby.  E. was there to pray with and encourage her at a time of crisis in her life, and we have been able to follow up with information about counseling services available through the center.  What a tremendous example of God using many hands, many hearts, to minister to one of His children!
     The counseling services that are now available through Forest Park Ministry Center mark one additional step taken as we seek to help people who need to be directed toward God's purpose and plan for their lives to desire His will and guidance.  In addition, there are many outreach opportunities, including literacy for children and for Mixtec moms, sports for boys at Southlawn Commons, and the M&M's Bible Cafe that continues every Tuesday.  In June, over 140 families were reached through the food pantry which distributed nearly 4,000 pounds of food and around fifty volunteers plugged into the various ministries and outreach opportunities.  Thanks to all who invested self, time, talent, finances, and other goods.  May you each know the assurance of God's love and plan for your life, too.  It is a joy to partner with you to reach our community for Christ.
                                                                                             Donna

Growing the Kingdom

This weekend we will welcome former members of Forest Park Baptist Church as they hold a reunion on the grounds adjacent to Forest Park Ministry Center.  We are so grateful for the foresight of this body of Christ to provide the facility for the ministry center, to help support the ministries there through the years, and most recently, to fund with the proceeds from the sale of their church building so many much needed improvements to the ministry center building.  We hope that, as they tour the center on Saturday, each person will be assured that their investment in the center is indeed an eternal investment in missions that will grow God’s Kingdom.

            Speaking of growing God’s Kingdom, it was a joy and privilege to witness the dedication of a precious toddler by his mother as he was presented to the church on Mother’s Day, just two weeks after she professed her faith in Christ and was baptized before that same body.  As she continues to be mentored through ministries at the center and discipled through Bible study in her church, I marvel at her spiritual growth.

            This summer, two young college women with a passion for the Lord and for missions have joined us as Summer Missionaries.  Charlotte Walker from Autauga County, a student at Mississippi College in Clinton, MS, and Jordan Holley from Montgomery, a student at AUM, will be assisting both at Forest Park Ministry Center and at Community of Hope with child care, children’s Bible study and literacy events,  sports outreach events and Backyard Bible Clubs.  They have a very full summer ahead, and are pumped about it!  Several churches have asked them to share on Wednesday nights with their youth about missions opportunities at Forest Park, but there are a couple of Wednesdays still available.  If you would like them to share with a group at your church, please call us at the center 269-5726 on Monday or Wednesday morning (they will be “out and about” doing ministry otherwise!) so that we can schedule it.

            Please continue to pray for the guests who visit the ministry center.  As the summer progresses, numbers of guests increase, and especially while children are out of school and reduced / free lunches not available, food shortage is even more dire than at other times.   In May, we saw over 130 families, helping about 350 family members, distributing nearly two tons of food.  The M&M’s Bible Café, a Bible study for young moms and mentors, continues each week and many more literacy, sports, and outreach events have been planned and are being implemented for the summer.  Stay tuned for details about the summer, and for details about a Fall Open House so that everyone can see the growth and progress happening here!  

God is So Good!

     April was a month of rejoicing and a month of introspection.  At a time when we were placing special emphasis on the celebration of our Savior’s resurrection, God provided both bounties of blessings and grave reminders of the depravity and need of the human condition. 

     A 50% increase over the previous month in the number of families served through food, clothing, and /or financial assistance has been a sobering reminder that, in Jesus’ words, “The poor will always be among us.”  We are exhorted over and over in scripture to be aware of the needs of others and willing to clothe, feed, and encourage in Christ.  April was a powerful illustration of such need.  If you are spring cleaning, please remember Forest Park Ministry Center to donate clothing – any sizes, styles, or season.  Also, we are always in need of food; as the months progress and summer nears, families who depend on free or reduced breakfast and lunch for their children’s nutrition will be all the more in need of food.  Historically, numbers of families increase greatly during the summer and fall.  We are in special need of canned meals (pastas, soups, stews), varied vegetables, canned meats.  Don’t forget – if you are a gardener, you can tithe your produce!

     In addition to celebrating Christ’s resurrection, we celebrate this month because of God’s provision in numerous areas.  Food drives have kept us supplied with food, Heritage hosted a beautiful Layette Baby Shower, following a winter Layette Baby Shower that Thorington Road had hosted.  Rise Up 2012 (did you see it on YouTube?) resulted in 600 pairs of new shoes donated to 11 ministries locally and throughout the state and abroad.  Forest Park was the blessed recipient of several dozen pair, and already there are those with no car who walk everywhere, those who needed shoes for school and work, reaping the benefit of such generosity.

     And the week following Resurrection Sunday, one of our moms being mentored first through the Layette Ministry and now through M&M Bible Café each week prayed to receive Christ.  She was baptized last week, has already attended a class for parents desiring to raise their children in the Lord, and plans to dedicate her one year old son along with other parents on Mother’s Day.  Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!

     This summer, in addition to the food and clothing ministry and classes which meet at the center, there will be a number of children’s opportunities.  We are blessed to have two student missionaries joining us for the summer.  Jordan Holley of Montgomery, an active member of the Baptist Campus Ministry at AUM, and Charlotte Walker from Boone’s Chapel, a student majoring in social work at Mississippi College, will be planning and implementing a number of opportunities including Bible studies, literacy, and sports camps, and will be contacting youth groups in MBA churches to recruit teams to assist each week.  Please pray for these young women as they give of themselves and their talents this summer to community missions and ministry.

                                                                                   Blessings along the way,

                                                                                   Donna McCullough, Director

                                                                                   Forest Park Ministry Center