After a phenomenal December of ministry, partnering with other ministry centers in town, January 2010 has already proven that God is in the life changing business. We need to all get on board with what He is doing!
Doors have opened in several churches, giving me the awesome opportunity to share about the way God is moving in Montgomery. On the very first Sunday in January, a Sunday School class at Heritage invited me to share with them how they could "plug into" the ministry on an ongoing basis. Armed with my "laundry list of opportunities", I listened to their chatter prior to the beginning of our time together. And as the time came for me to share, I was struck with this Truth - relationship, with the Lord, and through Him, with others, is what it is all about. You see, they had "adopted a family for Christmas", a generous and lovely gesture for any one, but in the process, found that they want to do more. They asked me if it would be "Okay" to provide for the family a food box each month, and to make at least one monthly visit to the family. What a phenomenal way to capture the spirit of the great commission - to foster a relationship with a family in need! My laundry list was totally unnecessary - this group of people had been sensitive to the Lord's moving, and they were ready to join Him in what He is doing. That, you see, is what community ministry, is all about.
Here's a vision for us all to pray about: what if, in every Christian church in Montgomery, multiple people or groups of people caught this same vision - Christians mentoring others, developing relationships in order to share Christ's love and hope with people who are living in such dire need? What an impact for Christ's Kingdom would be made!
Thank you: Heritage SS, Youth, and Heritage CDC; Eastern Hills Mentors;
Thorington Road Senior Adults; Prattville FBC Youth, for your interest in the work at Forest Park Ministry Center, for your hard work and generous spirits, and for the joy of working alongside you and other MBA churches who share the vision of leading Montgomerians to a life change through Christ.
Here are some of the statistics for January 2010:
127 guests visited the center; over 40% were new guests who had not sought help before.
2 families who experienced the loss of everything when their homes burned were helped with food, clothing, household supplies, and partnering with other ministries and church members, furniture and so much more!!
Over 3,000 pounds of food were distributed to hungry families.
Best of all, one more child of God added to His Kingdom - praise the Lord!!
Finally, do you love to go to yard sales? Would you like to be a "Yard Sale Ambassador" for the center? You would be equipped with receipts to give to those who will donate their left over clothing to the center. Just ask them if they will do so, return to their home at the end of the sale, give them the receipt for their tax records, and bring their clothing to the center on Monday. What an asset this would be to both the emergency clothing and to the Good Samaritan Clothing Ministry at the center!
God bless you all. Have a great 2010; I am excited to see what the Lord has in store!
Serving joyfully,
Donna McCullough, Director
Forest Park Ministry Center
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).
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
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
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
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
EXCITED ABOUT GOD MOVING IN MTGY!!!
As the autumn months progress with such a tapestry of color and beauty, I am reminded of how God continues to move through our lives. There is so much to be done - but our God is so BIG He can do all this and more than we can ever imagine or comprehend! So it is with great excitement and anticipation that I await His direction for ministry and join His movement -won't you join us? At Forest Park Ministry Center, we are continuing to share His love and grace to those in need - this past month, we distributed over a ton and a half of food, lot of baby supplies, two hundred gift certificates to shop for clothing, and most of all, ministered to over 130 families with the love of Christ, sharing His good news with them and praying with them! That is always a fulfilling privilege - to sit knee to knee with others in prayer together; I am always reminded of the sacrifice of Jesus that enables us to come into His presence in prayer.
As December approaches we are anticipating a very special opportunity to reach others in Christ's name. We still need volunteers for assisting parents who will be coming to shop for their children's Christmas. We have identified 120 families from the four ministries involved who will be coming to shop. This will be an incredible time to give them the dignity of shopping for their own children's gifts, for sharing Christ with them, and for experiencing the true spirit of Christmas - giving Christ's love. See the posting below for details of how you can be a part. God Bless you all!
As December approaches we are anticipating a very special opportunity to reach others in Christ's name. We still need volunteers for assisting parents who will be coming to shop for their children's Christmas. We have identified 120 families from the four ministries involved who will be coming to shop. This will be an incredible time to give them the dignity of shopping for their own children's gifts, for sharing Christ with them, and for experiencing the true spirit of Christmas - giving Christ's love. See the posting below for details of how you can be a part. God Bless you all!
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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