Kindness Weekends

Faith Hope and Love Mother’s Day Celebration 2009

May 18, 2009 Merlin Gonzales Kindness Weekends

By Merlin Gonzales, President, Faith Hope and Love (FHL International, Inc.)

Faith Hope and Love (FHL) joined the Mother’s Day Celebration presented by La Voz de Indiana on Saturday, May 9th. The celebration included FHL Mob MomDayFace ile Food Pantry, which provided groceries to more than 1000 people. It was truly a collaborative pantry, including many volunteers from different cultures of the world, such as Hispanics, Asians and Europeans. The FHL Mobile Food Pantry is a monthly service that is held at different parts of the city to reach out those who cannot travel far and to encourage the active participation of local communities. The food pantry is joined by churches, businesses, government and education institutions in serving the least, the lost and the last. You are encouraged to serve with FHL by volunteering or by sponsoring families. Your contribution of $15 will feed a family of 5 for a day.

Earlier the same day, as part of the Mother’s Day celebration, Faith Hope and Love provided free oil changes at four Indianapolis locations: Post Road Christian Church on the east side, Chapel Rock Christian Church on the west, and Hubler Express Collision in the North and South locations. More than 100 single moms received free oil changes. Through this community outreach, many volunteers were thankful that their passion was used to serve others. FHL is now looking for volunteers who like to do routine maintenance and minor repair on vehicles. FHL is expanding its car ministry to 4 locations in Indianapolis.

In addition to food pantry and oil changes, the FHL Street Evangelism team shared the Gospel in the 10th Street/Rural MomDayLine area. As a result, an individual at a bus stop accepted the Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. The individuals involved in this team have been preaching the gospel in the local area for more than 2 years now.

Faith Hope and Love partnered with the Pacer Entertainment–Indiana Fever WNBA to provided indoor entertainment to the disadvantaged families and their friends. FHL is asking the community to sponsor children for the game at Conseco Fieldhouse on June 27th 7pm. A ticket is $14, which includes entrance to the game, vouchers for a free hotdog, a bag of chips, a drink and a t-shirt. Contact FHL at 317-578-3370 for information in sponsoring the disadvantaged.

Starting out the Season ‘Merry’ With An FHL Kindness Weekend This Saturday, Nov. 22 At Merry’s Bakery

November 21, 2008 Merlin Gonzales Kindness Weekends

Faith, Hope and Love, International, Inc. will be hosting another Kindness Weekend this Saturday, November 22, 2008 at Merry’s Bakery, (317 624-9057) located at 456 N. Holmes Ave, Indianapolis, IN. GoogleMaps: Merry’s Bakery Directions

Volunteers are asked to come at 1:oopm to help set-up and stay till 5pm. Food will be given away from 3pm until supplies last.

FHL International, Inc. prays thanksgiving to our Lord for His provision and wishes to extend our warm thanks to Merry’s Bakery for providing us the warmth of the restaurant on such a cold day. Because of their hospitality and generosity there will be plenty of time to talk and share our love for them and of the Christ and the Good News with many of our neighbors who need nourishing spiritual encouragement.

If you want to volunteer and be spiritually refreshed while refreshing others, please contact Merlin Gonzales at (317) 578-3370 or email us at [email protected]

Bring your hearts and your hands to reach out in love to our neighbors. And if you are unable to come, we welcome your prayers for us! And your prayers for our city, its citizens and their needs.

Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?
When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Matthew 25:37:40

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]

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.