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.

FHL Call Out: Volunteers Needed To Shelter the Homeless + Update

November 9, 2008 Merlin Gonzales Projects

*The following is an Update to the original message below:

God bless y’all!
Last Monday, I went to meet Mr. Ed Figueroa at Lowe’s in Franklin, IN. We purchased several building materials, paint and an electrical box for his house. This is the same house that housed more 500+ homeless in the past few years. Attached is the picture of the bare kitchen floor that needed attention.

It is not too late to bless the homeless through fixing the things that need attention in the house. Ed said that he already fixed the gutters, insulation and I believe some of the roofing issues. We still need an Electrician, handyman and a carpenter and any volunteer to help in the house. My assessment is that we still need ceiling materials, flooring for the kitchen, carpet for the basement, tiles for the bathroom and paint for the rest of the house.

The weather is still nice and we would like to finish this in 2 weeks before it gets cold.

If you are looking for an opportunity to have an immediate impact in the homeless population, please consider donating your time, materials and/finances through:
Faith, Hope and Love International, Inc. (FHL)
Rivers of Living Water
8383 Craig St. Ste 335
Indianapolis, IN 46250
317-372-0371 [email protected]

Please pray for the Figueroa’s who are in the frontline and are continually pouring out themselves in helping those in need. FHL is posting $500 donation towards helping the homeless through the Rivers of Living Water. 100% of your donations will go to this effort. FHL is a non-profit organization and your donation is tax-deductible. Please feel free to forward this email to those who might be able to help the Rivers of Living Water.

God bless,

Merlin Gonzales
President/CEO
FHL

*The following is the original request:

Hello,

I pray that this message finds you well.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an opportunity to visit one of the organizations in Metro Indy whose main purpose is to help and/or house the homeless. The Rivers of Living Water in Franklin, IN had house 500+ homeless people in the last 5 years. They use their own resources including their house to help those in need.

Because of their radical generosity (Ed & Jena Figueroa), their house is now in need of upgrade and some minor repairs. The rain in the Spring caused flooding and some water damage on the ceiling of the basement (see attached). The kitchen needs floor and the inside of the house needs painting. The house was built in the 60’s and I found out that the electrical box is still the original box which had caused a few problems in the past.

There are a few more maintenance that need attention but below is the immediate needs:

· Fuse Box (Needs licensed Electrician)

· 200 sq ft. flooring (preferably tiles)

· 200 sq ft ceiling

· Paint and paint supplies

· Handyman to help in flooring, painting and minor repairs

If you are looking for an opportunity to have an immediate impact in the homeless population, please consider donating your time, materials and/finances through:

Faith, Hope and Love International, Inc. (FHL) Rivers of Living Water 8383 Craig St. Ste 335 Indianapolis, IN 46250 317-372-0371 [email protected]

When I visited Ed & Jena and heard from them the stories of hope, I was humbled and speechless to actually be in a place that housed 500+ homeless people. Please pray for the Figueroa’s who are in the frontline and are continually pouring out themselves in helping those in need. FHL is posting $500 donation towards helping the homeless through the Rivers of Living Water. 100% of your donations will go to this effort. FHL is a non-profit organization and your donation is tax-deductible. If you are available to volunteer, please respond to this email how you could help. We need painters, carpenters, handyman, plumber and electrician. Please feel free to forward this email to those who might be able to help the Rivers of Living Water.

Sincerely,

Merlin Gonzales
President/CEO
FHL

FHL Update: Kindness Weekend – Faith Is Renewed, Hope Is Nurtured, and Love Is In Action In Our City!

October 29, 2008 Merlin Gonzales Kindness Weekends

With a heart filled with faith, hope, and love, mountains can be moved and work made light. The Lord’s workers proved the truth of that by offering themselves throughout a very busy weekend for FHL International on several projects.

Kindness Weekend for October 18th and 19th began with prayer outside the new FHL International corporate offices located in Castleton! There were over 30 volunteers working in four shifts from Northview Christian Life who worked not only on the FHL office, but the entire complex. They picked up trash, raked leaves, cleaned windows and worked on the inside of the new FHL corporate offices. The Northview Christian Life volunteers also completed several other projects throughout Indianapolis, all under the direction and coordination of FHL International.

Over 80 volunteers from Northview cleaned up 6 blocks of the 25th and Dearborn neighborhood and several volunteers through BRAG cleaned up the Binford and 71st neighborhood.

FHL was also blessed by our Lord with the means to provide frozen food to Living Water Ministries. Edward Figueroa and his wife, Gena, have literally, over the past 5-6 years, provided shelter in their own home to over 500 homeless people!

Many people were blessed this weekend by the loving hands of their neighbors. As, Merlin Gonzales, Founder of FHL International, Inc. said: “Truly, faith is renewed, hope is nurtured and love is in action in our city!”. Praise the Lord!

If you want to become a Faith, Hope, and Love volunteer and work on a ‘mission trip in your own backyard’, please contact [email protected] or call 317-372-0371. For more information about FHL International, Inc., please enjoy viewing our FHL International, Inc. Video Splashcast Channel. The activities of FHL, 24/7 on demand.

[splashcast c KKKS4767BC]

Please Note: FHL Mobile Food Pantry at Save The Youth Center on October 25!

October 20, 2008 Merlin Gonzales Mobile Food Pantry

Please Note: that the date for the Mobile Food Pantry has changed from Nov 1st. It has been moved up to this SATURDAY, OCT. 25, 2008. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. FHL International, Inc. endeavors to meet the needs of those in need where they are and this sometimes causes plans to be changed. (Prov. 19:21) We thank God for you and for your willingness to be flexible and stand in readiness to help. – FHL, International, Inc., Merlin Gonzales, Founder and CEO.

Please mark your FHL calendars for October 25th, 2008. The Mobile Food Pantry will be located at the Save the Youth Center on Saturday to serve those in need in the area. If you need help, please come by. If you would like to help us and your neighbors by volunteering, please contact us by phone at (317)923-5642 or email us at: [email protected] or visit our website @ http://fhlinternational.org Thank you and God bless you

Time: Saturday, Oct 25, 2008
Location: 1704 Trumbal St. , Indianapolis IN, 46218
Contact: (317) 923-5642

Simple ABC’s of Ministry

October 18, 2008 Merlin Gonzales Ministry

Identify needs and identify resources. From the very start of the ministry that God had me started, the ministry had been focused on 2 items: Needs and Resources. So I contacted several pastors and community leaders and asked them to meet together to identify those 2 items in our community. We came up with less than a dozen projects, mobilized 7 churches and inspired 200+ volunteers to serve unconditionally. What turned out to be just a one-time ‘local mission’ became an international ministry within 3 years. The concept (which is not new) is now adopted as far as Cartagena, Colombia.

Join in with what God is doing (and with others who has the heart to transform our community). Two quick stories….

Southport Presbyterian Church (SPC) was looking for additional projects for their youth. I hooked them up with Jerome Jorman to paint his newly purchased house to be used as ‘Group Home’ and with David Woodrupp to paint a house of an elderly near the urban area. The result: 2 houses were painted and several changed lives.

Northview Christian Life Church in Carmel was looking for additional projects to mobilize their congregation (see www.nvcl.org for more info on Life on Loan). I contacted the city of Indianapolis Neighborhood Liaison Office and shared with them the opportunity. They came up with projects, hooked them up with Northview. On the 18th & 19th, dozens of volunteers will be helping our city unconditionally.

Identification, connection and mobilization. Identify the needs and resources and connecting them through mobilization of the community. Simple ABC’s of Ministry…

FHL Update: New Prayer Groups, ESL Classes, and Kindness Weekends

October 18, 2008 Merlin Gonzales Kindness Weekends, Prayer Groups, Projects

A few weeks ago, during the Transform Indiana meeting, FHL shared an idea of forming and empowering prayer groups in Indianapolis. If we could agree to pray together and ask the Holy Spirit to speak to our hearts, Christians in Indy would be more open to work together. After only 2 meetings, several prayer facilitators agreed to work together to provide 24/7 prayer groups around the city. We feel that there will be more exciting news to come about this development . If you are interested in getting involved with this group, please contact [email protected]

Several months ago, Merlin Gonzales, FHL CEO, was approached by 21-year old volunteer of FHL International, Inc. regarding leading an English as Second Language (ESL) Class . He asked her to wait until the FHL Week (and the many FHL-related projects) were over. So she approached him again a few weeks later. After many prayers and much planning, the first ESL Class was launched on Thursday, Oct. 16th with 20 students.

The FHL Kindness Weekend in Castleton will be held on Saturday & Sunday, Oct. 18 & 19. There will be dozens of volunteers from various organizations who will be serving the community unconditionally. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact [email protected]

Faith, Hope, and Love, International, Inc. is dedicated to transforming our city, one neighborhood at a time.