Seasons of Ministry

         As fall is upon us and I feel the bright fall sun and the cool air, I can't help but feel God's goodness in how he sustains us through seasons of life.  In our case at the ministry center, it is as if there are also seasons of ministry.  Times when one area blossoms and grows, needing nurture and care, then as that ministry is in place, another area requires more attention and nurture.  We continue to ask for your prayerful support as our ministry to young moms and young families in the neighborhood deepens, relationships are forming, and mentoring is happening.  Pray for open hearts and minds for all involved.
        For over a year, "Juanita" has been coming with her children to the center on Thursday mornings to learn English.  Oddly, one of the first things she learned was to identify and say names of fast foods, and before too long, she had a job at one of the fast food restaurants!  This quiet, unassuming, precious mom had a challenge, though.  Because she did not know English and was furthermore illiterate even in her own native tongue, she could not prepare her preschooler for Kindergarten.  "Oliver" was 5, and still did not know his alphabet, sounds, or anything basic that is needed for today's kindergarteners.  So while Carol was teaching his mom and the other ladies on Thursdays, Sherry began working intensively with him, and then with his younger siblings to prep him for school.  At first, Oliver resisted.  He did not want to go to school.  But they persevered, and when school began in August, Oliver was ready.  On the first day of school, he walked into his classroom, found his cubby already labeled with his name, then sat at his own space at the table to commence working.  Recently, he shared his progress report with me - all E'S (EXCELLENT)! Thanks to volunteer missionaries who took an interest in this one boy's life.
        Today, my heart is a little heavy.  Oliver and his family have left Montgomery, and he, his young siblings, and their mom are traveling alone all the way to Mexico to join his dad who lives there.  Personally, I am concerned for safety in their travel, and for the extreme adjustments that these children will need to make.  Please pray for such families in our city who are leaving and do not really know what awaits them.
         September has been another busy month - at least 357 family members represented by 131 guests, 1.5 tons of food distributed, the M&M's Bible Cafe is meeting on Tuesdays, and the new MOMs class is meeting on Thursday afternoons.  We appreciate your prayers and your faithful support!  God bless your journey.
In Him,
Donna McCullough, Director
Forest Park Ministry Center

Sharing Hope In the Midst of Despair

       Praise the Lord for ministries in our city who have common goals - enlarging Christ's kingdom!  This month, we learned that a young woman who accepted Christ when His love and plan of salvation was shared with her at the center proclaimed it publicly and was baptized at Church at the Barrel, the church started in West Montgomery by the McFarlands and UrbanTREC Ministry.  God is so good!
       161 families served, for a total of 376 family members.  That's a whole lot of people coming through the doors at the little blue house.  A lot of food distributed - nearly 2 tons.  But most of all - a lot of opportunities to share the love and hope that comes only from a relationship with Jesus Christ. 
       August was one of the busiest months this year.  As families prepared to send their children back to school, they were inundated with expenses - school supplies, uniforms, high utility bills from an oppressively hot summer - and more need for food, since local schools started later in August than usual, meaning those free or reduced healthy lunches available at school were NOT available, meaning that the family food budget was taxed even more.  Thanks to all of the churches and friends who donated food, school supplies, finances for assistance, clothes, and so much more!  At a time when our food supply has been as low as ever, many stepped up to the plate and helped with an extra gift.  We enter the fall months with people returning to
their work and school routines, and pray with confidence, knowing that God will continue to provide through His people!
       "Callie" called the center in distress recently.  As we spoke on the phone, she expressed her despair and asked if she could just come in to the center to talk.  When she came in, she proceeded to describe what was going on in her life - events that, each one desperate in its own right, but accumulated, would drive many people to the brink of desperation and perhaps even suicide.  Gratefully, we were able to refer her to a licensed counselor.  In addition, she was assisted with food, eventually was helped with utility assistance, and encouraged to put together a resume to give to a prospective employer.  Likewise, "Lem" was in a desperate situation, had been unemployed for nearly a year.  Timely assistance, encouraging words, prayerful support, and Lem saw things in a whole new light.  Today, he is employed, catching up, and praising God for bringing him through the storm.
       Each one of these, and so many more, are examples of how sharing Christ's hope and love help people in crisis to reframe their experience.  Hopelessness becomes hope, helplessness becomes strength, because "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me".  Please pray for the guests who visit Forest Park Ministry Center, that in the midst of life's storms, they will experience, above all, the presence of Almighty God at work in their lives.  Pray for the new moms who are beginning the New Moms' class this month on Thursday afternoons, and pray for the moms who graduated from the previous class as they and other mentoring women study the Bible together during M&M's Bible Cafe each Tuesday. Pray too, for the Mixtec families in our neighborhood and throughout our city, as we continue to reach out to them in the midst of a time of uncertainty and fear for many of them.  As always, we thank you for your faithful support and pray God's blessings on your journey with Him.

Looking Ahead: M&M's Bible Cafe

     Wow - even though we were closed for construction and maintenance for nearly half of July, we still saw almost as many guests at the center as we do in normal months.  It just shows you how much need there is, and especially during the summer when children (who are often fed their only healthy meals through the free or reduced cost breakfasts and lunches at school) are home all the time.  In addition to the food assistance, our summer missionaries, Allison and Victoria, did a great job planning, recruiting volunteers, and implementing all kinds of activities from Bible studies and corresponding movie times for children, assisting with reading programs, sports and devotionals at targeted at-risk apartment complexes, and forging friendships with moms and their children.
     One of the most exciting things to happen this summer is the extension of the original Layette Ministry.  A booklet has been written and is being used during the Layette visit that encourages the moms to think deeply about life goals and life style choices.  As a result, the first Moms class met beginning in May, and concluded at the end of July.  The next class begins in September.
     Those moms who have completed the initial class are wanting more - thus the inaugural session of M&M's Bible Study Cafe.  Each Tuesday, beginning in September, these moms will meet at Forest Park Ministry Center with Christian women who have a desire to be an example and a friend - a mentor - to them.  We will begin with "Life After Birth", a Bible study written expressly for teen moms and those who are mentoring them.  In this study, Biblical truth is taught in a way that is relevant and lovingly forthright for the new moms.  We ask for your prayers for both the mentors and for the moms as they seek to know Christ in a more intimate way, and in doing so, become the young women, mothers, and role models that God intends them to be.