Backyard Missions

An unusual day

November 15, 2021 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, blog, FHL Food Pantry

I still remember when the government first announced the severity of the spread of the pandemic.

A historical event

March 13, 2020, was the date that many of us will remember. It was the day when President Trump declared a nationwide emergency due to COVID-19. As I was trying to keep up with the news on Thursday, March 19th, I watched a TV broadcast about a priest who was doing a drive-by confession.

“He might do it”

The next day March 20, 2020, I stopped by my church to visit my wife; she works there. The streets were clear of traffic for a Friday morning. In the church building, there were only a few people around. “The pandemic is real”, I told myself as I was phasing back and forth on a church hallway. As my pastor was passing by, I told him how innovative was the priest who came up with a drive-by confession. He smiled as he said (because he said I might do it) that a vacant Starbucks building at an intersection close to the church could a great drive-thru prayer. However, even before he finished his sentence, I thought came to mind that it would be a great drive-thru food pantry.

A burning building

The thought of a drive-thru food pantry stayed with me for the next 2 hours until I decided to drive by the building to check it out. I have been to that same building several times when it was open. It had been vacated and empty for about 2 years. I remembered when they closed it, the leader of the missional food pantry at my church came to me and asked for my advice if he should ask the manager to donate the coffee tables and chairs. He found out that they were giving it away since they want to have new coffee shop furniture at their new location – no more than 100 feet away from that building! But that day was different. I had a feeling of certainty. I parked my car in front of the building.

It seemed to me that the building was burning… in my heart.

I saw a sign in the front of the building that it was for lease and the number to call. Without any hesitancy, I called the number. A leasing agent answered me. I told him that I would like to turn the building into a drive-thru food pantry since many people have been laid off and it would be a strategic location since it is one of the busiest intersections in that part of town.

He said that he will speak with the Starbucks contact and will get back to me. I thought he was just trying to get me off the phone. I said to myself, “That was the end of my vision”, and I did not expect any callback.

The bush was not burning!

By around 4 pm, my phone rang! The leasing agent said he has someone in line to speak with me. I had mixed emotions at that point… “Was my idea a flop or is it from God?” As I was being introduced to an executive from Starbucks in Seattle, Washington, my head was computing data at the speed of light!

After a brief introduction of all the parties involved, I share my vision with the Starbucks executive, “We are not asking for money”, I said. I shared my vision that it would be a great community service if his company would allow us to use the vacant building as a drive-thru food pantry. “It would be a great help to the residents of the community where they’re doing business”, I added.

To my surprise, the executive said that he will speak with their legal department for consideration.

Lord, what have I got myself into

June 17, 2015 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, blog

Last Saturday, June 13th, 2015 I woke up around 7:30am and remembered that I was to help my daughter move out from her apartment. I rushed to get ready because I wanted to finish her move before the expected rain around 3pm.

Expecting that I would be doing some physical work during a 90-degree weather day, I ate a good healthy breakfast. With a tank full of gas, I proceeded to drive my F150 from Noblesville to Greenwood.

I needed to catch up with my devotional, so I plugged in my iPhone to my truck’s radio to listen to my audio Bible while driving. My attention was focused on the verses of 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles as I was exiting from the freeway, trying to absorb whatever I could while driving safely to my destination.

While looping through the exit and listening intently to the verses, I saw a woman walking on the side of the road with her hand waving to catch a ride. I have never stopped to pick up riders before, but before I knew it I suddenly found myself pulling over to give her a ride. She opened the truck door and flicked her cigarette butt before hopping in my truck.

Since it was my first time to pick up a rider, I was very cautious in her every move. I noticed that she immediately put her purse on the floor, placed a large black-covered book on the seat and realized it was a Bible. She proceeded to buckle the seat belt. I turned off my audiobook. After a few seconds, I asked her what happened to her vehicle. She said that she does not have a vehicle and she walks everywhere.

I asked her where she’s going and she told me that she needs to go to a place which is about 5 miles away from where I picked her up. “I have not slept for a few days“, she said, “so I am going to that place to sleep“. I told her that I will not be able to bring her there since it is out of my way and I have to be somewhere immediately. She said that it would just take me 2 minutes to bring her to her destination. I complied silently.

Suddenly, she told me that she was raped just a few days ago. “I asked the guy to pay me $25 for sex since most of them do not want to pay more than $25 but this guy just does not want to pay me; so he raped me“, she said. I thought to myself “Lord, what have I got myself into” and prayed as soon as she finished her sentence.

Stay tuned for the next segment of the story…

God bless,

Merlin

Beyond the busyness

November 29, 2014 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, blog

After Thanksgiving, things seem to accelerate in our lives. From work, to home and to the marketplace, most of us are rushing to get things done. Let’s slow down for a few minutes; hope the stories below would bless you.

Remember the church I wrote about in September? They were at a crossroads of selling the property or giving it back to the bank? The new congregation moved in a few weeks ago and they had their first service last night. Together with the reduced monthly payment, increase giving and rent from the new congregation, they are able to implement simple plans that are workable and effective.

This all happened because God had already put things in place. We were able to plug in with His divine plan and watched how things unfold before our eyes. We are truly God’s co-laborers and ambassadors 2 Cor. 5:20, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

Today, Nov. 29, 2014, I visited my office to meet someone who is interested in buying one of my vehicles (2000 Nissan Maxima). After meeting him, the mailman came. In the mailbox, is a small white envelope. I opened the envelope and was surprised to see what’s in it. A check for an entire year pledge to the ministry! This donor made a pledge in Nov. 2013 to contribute on a monthly basis. However, after the first month, we were not able to process the monthly donation. He also had a hand-written note saying that he would like to continue to give on a monthly basis.

In April, 2012 we had a donor who pledged to give to the ministry. However, we did not receive any since then. Just 2 weeks ago, we received a check from her! With the check was a copy of the pledge card that she filled out in 2012.

Three days ago, a donor stopped by our office. He was so excited to hand us a Christmas gift! He was so stirred that he cannot wait till Christmas to give his gift to us! It was a baking pie plate with “Faith Hope and Love” printed on it!

I don’t know about you but I have been guilty of unfulfilled promises. I thought that my pledge for an organization would not make a difference – WRONG! God is making His appeal to us to let your Yes be yes and your No be no. My hats off to the 3 people who honored their words beyond the busyness of the season and, during the busiest shopping month of the year!

I pray that during this season, we become more in tuned with the Kingdom reality rather than the world as we know it.

God bless,

Merlin

Co-create with God

September 24, 2014 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, blog

Last week, I shared with you a few amazing stories that I have witnessed in the past several weeks. It is fascinating to see when you become more aware of the supernatural, the greater reality that is beyond our physical senses. You and I are a part of the divine plan. But most of the time, we are not connected in the spiritual dimension. Generally, we are disconnected and thereby miss some pretty astounding events that can directly affect our worldview of reality and can change the course of lives of others and the history of a community.

If the greater reality is beyond our natural senses, how can we tune in with what’s going on in the spiritual realm? The answer is to train ourselves to be more conscious about the correlation between the natural and the supernatural, the physical and the spiritual. How do we do this?

We will start with a simple step and example based on a phenomenal story that just happened yesterday. I wrote from my previous Blog that another opportunity had landed on my lap. My organization has the opportunity to acquire a property worth more than half a million dollars with no cash involved on our part. As a Consultant, I come across some pretty interesting situations, this is one of them.

God has bigger plan

A Pastor and his wife came to my office several weeks ago asking to help them decide about the future of their church. The church building sits on a 7-acre land. It has 2 houses, a youth building that is not being used currently, a playground, a community center, a detached garage and a large pond. Back in the 80’s, the church had more 400 attendees. Throughout the years, and with many reasons, the church continuously dwindled down in number. Currently, it has less than 20 attendees. Needless to say, they cannot continue to pay the bills including the mortgage.

Simultaneously, I am helping a Hispanic church to find a site for their food pantry. I just trained them to start their own pantry and this is the last piece to get them started. I introduced them to the Pastor that I am consulting with. They visited the place and fell in love with it. The Hispanic Pastor gathered her leaders and we had a meeting. They asked for my advice and guided them in the decision-making process. They decided to rent a portion of the church!

Suddenly, I found myself in the middle of 2 churches who needed my advice. This put me in an awkward position so after prayers and several conversations with my wife and friends, I decided not to have an interest in the property.

We had a few meetings with the Pastor who owns the church, we prayed together and discussed the best option for them. We looked at the sources of their income and the list of expenses. They agreed to follow the plans and strategy that I presented to them. I showed them that they can actually keep the property even with just one renter. Yesterday (Sept. 23, 2014), I also negotiated with their mortgage company to skip the Principal payment for 12 months until they get back on the black. In addition, I also negotiated to spread out the payment for the last 2 unpaid monthly mortgage bills.

Through prayers (spiritual) and through meetings and evaluations (physical), we have solved the potential loss of a beautiful property. Both churches will be working to maximize their impact in the community and to utilize the property in greater way. This is an example of becoming more aware of our spiritual surrounding. It is through our communion with the Lord that we can hear more of His voice. We will develop our spiritual senses as we tune in with the greater reality.

There are more to the story but I would like for you to share yours. Do not think that your story is not worth sharing. God does not look from man’s perspective. Remember when Jesus fed the 5,000 through the little boy who had 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish? His disciples did not think that the food they will eat later would come from a child with only a handful of food! God is not bound by our reality, He is beyond time and space, He is infinite, He is the God of all creation.

This is the opportunity that lie in front of us – we can co-labor and co-create with God. Be aware of your spiritual space, tune in to the supernatural and see more of heaven here on earth. I am looking forward to hearing from you!

God bless,

Merlin

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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