Thank you, MBA Churches and ALL Others!!!

Wow, did God orchestrate a beautiful "symphony" of cooperation, enabling His Spirit to work through volunteers and guests at the first annual Ministry Centers Toy Sale this month! With the guests who shopped the sale and the families who were served afterward, at least 150 families were helped with Christmas gifts for their children. Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiastic support and generous hearts! Here are some great things that happened:

Parents who came to the sale were moved to tears to be able to shop themselves for their children's gifts at prices that were so nominal. All expressed appreciation for the opportunity. Many also were determined to give back to the ministry, so when their total purchase was, say $6.00, but they had budgeted $10, they gave the ten, asking that it be used to bless someone else. Now that is a special bonus - to give others the dignity of giving back. I personally was moved to tears myself over that. And rest assured, the money that was given goes directly back into the benevolence fund for the ministry to assist families.

One mother had been struggling with a job and school, having lost her more stable job due to the economy. She had returned to school with financial aid in order to learn a new skill for a better job. But then she lost her job again, this time due to scheduling conflicts between school, work, and children. So a volunteer prayed with her on Saturday that God, who sees her need already, would show her an opportunity for a job - she was needing one so badly! And the very next day, a job offer came literally to her door, not only a better job than she had before, but working around her school hours and in the field that she is training. What a tangible evidence of God's providence!

Back at the center, one of our volunteers was talking with and praying with a young man about his unemployment. They prayed for God to open a door of opportunity - he wanted to work so badly - and before he left the center, he made a phone call to a business where he had applied; he was told to report the next morning to the job site! Talk about immediate answers to prayer!

It is sheer joy to be able to participate in God's work through Forest Park Ministry Center. Yes, there are days when we weep, and there are days when we rejoice, but always God is sovereign and in control. Here are statistics that may interest you for the year 2009: over 1,500 guests visited the center(representing over 6,180 familiy members), nearly 36% of whom had not visited before. This points to the severity of the economy this past year and how it has touched the lives of those who had not experienced poverty before. During 2009, 36 people were led to Christ during their visit to the ministry center; food for life, not just for the tummy! And over 38,870 pounds of food were distributed in addition to fifty complete Thanksgiving meals and over 200 sack lunches during the summer. In addition, Reading4Character is ongoing in three Montgomery Title I schools, the apartment ministry is on board to begin in 2010 (we still need volunteers!!!!), and ministry to the Mixteco population in Montgomery is growing both at Forest Park Ministry Center and in several MBA churches and other ministries. God is soooo good.

I pray that each one who reads this will experience God's presence, His peace, and His power this Christmas and always.

Love in Him who is able to do exceedingly more than we can ask or imagine,
Donna McCullough, Director
Forest Park Ministry Center