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!

Celebrating New Life in April

Have you been observing the new growth on trees and plants? It is a tender, pale green, and it reminds me of how precious and tender each new life in Christ is to Him. This month, another sister prayed to receive Christ and has been connected with a church for discipleship. Two others prayed to recommit their lives to Christ and were referred to churches as well. Please pray for the ministry at Forest Park, that we will always be faithful to share the gospel with the lost and hurting as we minister to their dire physical needs. Here are April statistics: 119 families served, for a 2009 YTD total of 489 families. This represents 299 people in these families, for a 2009 YTD total of 1,127. 3,254 pounds of food distributed, for a 2009 YTD total of nearly 6 tons of food. Don't forget that if you plant a garden, you have a unique way to minister by tithing the produce from your garden to the ministry centers. Monday is the day at Forest Park Ministry Center when we will receive fresh produce. A very special and powerful day on April 25: over 20 summer missionaries, all college students who have committed themselves and their summers to serve the Lord all over the world, converged upon Forest Park Ministry Center during their time of training and orientation held here in Montgomery. They canvassed neighborhoods, they prayerwalked, and they prayed specifically for the ministry events that will be happening this summer at the center. Would you pray, too, that these new areas of ministry will bear fruit for the Kingdom?