Merlin Gonzales

merlin

Merlin founded Faith Hope and Love Intl., which collaborates with churches crossing denominational lines. He has developed the concept of “Mission Trips in Your Own Backyard” to unify the Body of Christ by bringing the love of God into the community. Merlin’s messages and teachings are about raising up a generation passionate for God to build a legacy of transformation. He is an Advisory Council Member for the State of Indiana Office of the Faith-based and a co-host for Religion in the News. Merlin speaks at churches, businesses, government, educational institutions and faith based organizations to encourage people to live out their faith. He is a church consultant helping pastors reach out in their communities to raise and train leaders. Merlin and his wife Annie live in Noblesville, Ind.

Miracle on 34th St.

February 15, 2014 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, Self-Sustained Food Pantriy

The one stooping down and the one being prayed for accepted Jesus.

I just got back from mission field – West 34th St, Indianapolis, Indiana. FHL had started a food pantry at Monte de Sion Church on 3307 Lowry Rd. This pantry has been serving their neighborhoods for almost 2 years now. It has become a part of their community. They have served dozens of families and have touched hundreds of individuals along the way.

This morning (02/15/14) I visited this particular pantry. The clients started to come before the scheduled time, 10am. I led the prayer before the start of the pantry. I thanked the Lord for His provision and asked Him to fill the church with His presence.

At around 11am, 3 ladies who speak very little English came. They filled out the Registration Form and started to talk with the Pastor. Then, I was introduced by the Pastor to one of the ladies. She said that she was the one who was healed of her aching knee last month after Donna, FHL ministry leader prayed for her.

I saw the excitement in her whole being and asked her if she would like to receive more healing. I then proceeded to introduce her to the Lord Jesus Christ. She accepted the Lord in front of her friends. As I was observing what was going on, I asked her friend if she knew Jesus and she said No. After a brief conversation, she accepted the Lord as well.

While praying for her, the youngest of the three was being touched by the Lord also. I saw her eyelids started to twitch and saw tears started to flow through her cheeks. I asked her if God was speaking to her and she said Yes. She thought that she would go to heaven because she is a good person. I told her that there’s only One way to go to heaven – Jesus. She accepted the Lord as well!

At that time, the entire place was charged with faith and one of the volunteers came and asked for prayer for healing for her right arm and left toes due to diabetes. He faith rose up as she was witnessing the power of the Holy Spirit all over the place. We prayed for her as well and she said she felt a lot better!

The three ladies came for groceries but they received who they have been looking for – the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth who came in the flesh.

Matthew 10:7-8, “As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.”

We are witnessing that the harvest is coming. God had already prepared the hearts of the people to receive Him. We just need to be willing vessels for the Lord to pour out His love for His people.

I will write it again, “It’s not just about food, it’s about relationship with God and with others. If we keep the major thing the major thing, we will see more of the tangible manifestation of God in our midst. Three people were saved today not because of food but because of people who authentically care for them.

God bless you,

Merlin

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The final separation

February 12, 2014 Merlin Gonzales Latest News

“All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” – Matthew 25:32

This verse resonated when I recently read 2 articles about large organizations focused on boys and girls. The first one was about a teenager receiving the highest award for coming out of the closet and the later for voting on a person for a national award but is a pro choice.

Just today, a friend of mine said that he was surprised to find out that an executive of a nation wide organization that was founded as a Christian organization is not a Christian! In addition, this same person was transferred to another region as an executive of the same organization.

When the Kingdom of God reached its fullness here on earth, there will be final separation. There will be no more lukewarm, wishy-washy and gray line. He will part the goats from the sheep, the tares from the wheat and the passionates from the lukewarm.

“Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” – Matthew 7:22-23

If you like this article, please share. Feel free to make a Comment or suggestions. Let me know what topics you would like to read in the future. God bless you! Merlin

Introducing…(your organization)

February 10, 2014 Merlin Gonzales Latest News

Introducing your organization takes planning and follow ups. Many organizations, including ours are challenged to find workable process to expand its reach and its network.

I have taken the privilege to borrow some of the ideas from Raising More Money book by Terry Axelrod. This will be an introduction to a workable plan that’s proven effective by many organizations.

The Entrance door

This is designed to introduce people to your organization. It is a door opener for people who have not heard of your mission or just know a little about it. Your board members, current donors or your advocates are your main players to invite their business partners, families, friends, church members, or neighbors. If your organization does not have an office to bring several people to, you can hold this event at a restaurant or a nice conference room. It is ideal to provide drinks and small meal or snack.

For example, if you have a friend who owns a restaurant or a building, ask him/her to consider sponsoring the informational meeting. It is important to let the guests know that this is an introductory session about the organization and they will not be asked for donation but they will receive a follow up call to see if they have an interest to find out more.

Conversion Session

After the introductory session, follow ups are very important. This should be done within 5 days of the first session. The board members or the advocates are the best persons to follow up since they already have relationships with their guests.

Two ways to use this session:

Ask for financial donations or find out how the guests want to get involved
Ask them to be Table Captains for your future fundraiser event.

Table Captains basically those who buy-in to the mission of your organization and are willing to invite people who may be interested in the organization.

I will be writing more about who is an ideal Table Captain soon.

PS. If you have comment or suggestions, please feel free to post below or email [email protected] Please Share this link on your social media if you think this is helpful. Let me know if you want other topics for my next blog.

Merlin Gonzales

Micro Gathering

February 10, 2014 Merlin Gonzales blog

Micro Gatherings are multiplying in central Indiana

In John 6, many supernatural events were told. Thousands of people followed Him to see more about Him. They were rejoicing about the miracles, they were fed, and they want to know more about Jesus. That night, Jesus walked on water. Later, the disciples went in a boat to go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.

As soon as they found Jesus, they asked Him how He got there since there was only one boat available the night before. However, Jesus did not answer their question but told them: Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” – John 6:26 NIV

Jesus taught them that He is the bread that came down from heaven. He told they must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Jesus was telling the people to hunger and thirst for Christ. We must be set apart for Him and, He is all we need. Then the thousands left Him except the twelve.

Jesus knew that the multitude did not understand His message and His teachings even though they had been following Him. This is a very similar approach at Faith Community Church in Winston-Salem, NC.

In other words, smaller and intimate gathering that Jesus modeled is still true in our days. Not only we can be more personal but we can also disciple more people such as what the early disciples did. Another example was the early church in the Book of Acts. The early Christians gather together in smaller groups to worship and pray to share what God had done through them.

Micro gathering come in different forms such as home groups, house churches, para-churches and other small Christian gatherings.

The ministry that the Lord had founded through me is Faith Hope and Love. This organization is incubating smaller food pantries that are intimate and personal. These pantries are focused on people rather than food. It values relationship over physical resources. The end result is more people are being discipled, sharing of the Gospel is a regular part of conversations and the community is being engaged to participate. It’s a practical application of the Bible.

I am seeing that in the next several years, there will be more micro gatherings since people want to be personal and want to know more of each other. I believe that people want to get involved but they are not properly invited or are not given opportunity that they feel to be involved with.

Check out www.fhlcommunity.org to find out about the micro gatherings that are being created through planting smaller and relationship-based food pantries.

Arctic Food Allocation

February 7, 2014 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Food Pantry, Self-Sustained Food Pantriy

The extreme cold did not stop the leaders and volunteers to address hunger.

The extreme cold did not stop the pastors and volunteers to address hunger.

FHL is opening food pantries in the Arctic?

Yes, it seemed like we were in the Arctic yesterday. It was around 8 degrees when we unloaded the Litho Press 24-footer truck. Five food pantries received their allocation. They in turn will distribute the food at their own neighborhoods namely, West & East 38th St., East Indy, Hamilton County and Fort Wayne. Hundreds of individuals will receive grocery items in this cold weather.

I believe God had scheduled the food allocation during a single-digit day because one of the Pastors who has a warehouse offered FHL to use part of his warehouse for pantry purposes.

FHL food pantries are designed to be missional communities where everyone gets to play. It’s a place where people pitch in and help out for the common good of the neighborhoods. It does not matter if it’s cold or hot; the needs in our communities are not dictated by the weather but can be addressed by the collective effort of everyone.

Mission field in our own backyard…they exist in central Indiana. We believe that we can drastically lessen the number of hungry people if we come together with something to offer – time, talent, treasure and prayers.

FHL is looking to partner with farmers, livestock owners, landowners, realtors, businesses, church/ministries, government and school systems to identify underutilized resources. We can shift the hunger statistics together right here in our own backyard, not in the Arctic.

Please contact [email protected] for more information how to start a food pantry in your neighborhood.