Only 6 days to go for the class on the Kingdom. Many people think that the time is ripe for a class like this…living out our faith as a lifestyle rather than an event or program. A Study on Living in God’s Dominion… for more info about the class. There’s an attachment on my enews that you won’t want to miss. Currently, the class is Free onsite and online but you need to RSVP by 1/18.
I hope that you will be blessed with the stories below.
We have been busy these past few days with our regular Kindness Days and Food pantries. On October 8, we helped a person in need of yard clean up, household chores, built a chicken coop and light construction. Thanks to Southport Presbyterian Church for sending 17 Youth and 2 adults to bless an individual who is in need of assistance. After the outreach, we found out that this person has been praying for help.
Our Pantry of Faith was on Oct. 13th at Iglesia Wesleyana Monte de Sion. This church has been praying for ways to serve the community and God has been using FHL to plant a self-sustained pantry since April 2012. They now serve between 40-50 families and have 20+ regular volunteers. 
There are many ways we can communicate with God and one of them is through prayers.
Just this past weekend, FHL partnered with Northview Church in Carmel, IN to mobilize more than 200 volunteers for their “Good Neighbor Weekend.” We brought a few groups to our Heal the Land Project. Before we gave instructions for the neighborhood clean up, I shared with the group that cleaning the streets is only secondary to their collective presence and prayers in the area. Since we have God in our hearts, we can also release His Presence wherever we are. I encouraged them to do prayer walk as well. We prayed together before we started the clean up.
This particular outreach site is in a tough neighborhood with prostitution and drug problems. It seems like the majority of the residents (and/or the residents near the area) do not care for their surrounding since they have chronic problem of trashing the alleys and the vacant and abandoned lots. We have been bringing volunteers in this same area for almost two years on a regular basis but with some progress. However, we believe that God wants to heal this land.
After a few hours of clean up we gathered together for testimonials and debriefing. One of the testimonials was about a couple that badly needs assistance in clearing and cleaning their backyard. The lady of the house is 81 years old. Their backyard was full of overgrown weeds and all kinds of trash. After one of the volunteers prayed for them, I had the opportunity to interview the man of the house. He shared that he was fasting and praying that God would send help to assist in cleaning their yard. He almost broke down when one of the groups showed up in his backyard that afternoon. His prayers reached God and He got his answer immediately.
We ended the outreach with debriefing and prayer. As our Project Manager , Bill was leading the prayer in front of about 70 volunteers on the side of a street, I noticed a woman walking in front of me. She looked depressed and she looked surprised that a bunch of people in her neighborhood is praying together on the street. I continued to pray and forgot about the woman. Soon, all the volunteers left. As I was gathering our tools, I saw the same woman being prayed for by Bill & Donna. She came back and spilled her heart to them. God convicted her to come back to us instead to pursuing her plan to shoplift. She had a black eye and backache because her boyfriend beat her and left her. She did not have anyone in her life because her children were taken away from her a number of years ago while she was in jail. She was going to help herself at one of the grocery stores to clean her apartment because she will be kicked out in the streets in the next few days. She will go to court the following week because of her habitual shoplifting. Bill & Donna led her to the Lord. I asked her if I can pray for healing of her black eye. She hesitantly agreed and within a minute of prayer she said that her eye was not hurting anymore. Bill & Donna ended up providing her assistance for her clothes, supplies and food.
Daniel 9:23, “As soon as you began to pray, a word went out, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed.” God had heard the prayers of the church who wanted assistance in starting a food pantry, a person in need of assistance for yard work and household chores, a couple that needed help in their backyard, a woman in desperation and for our group to be a part of what He is doing in a neighborhood.
Be encouraged that your prayers are heard in heaven. God wants to provide the best for His children and He wants to answer your prayers.
During FHL Week, office paperwork and reporting continue. My first stop for the day is at FHL office to catch up on US mail, voice mails and balance checkbook. I met with our Bookkeeper regarding accounting and paying bills. Of course, we also deposited several checks donated by our donors and partners.
While I was at the office, there were several youth and adults from Anderson who helped out in a Southside project including helping at Midwest Food Bank. At the end of their day in Indy, they had de-briefing. Here’s what a Youth Leader has to say about their experience yesterday and today: Sarah wrote, “Sometimes you get to see the fruit of your labor before your eyes, and other times, you don’t know what God is doing, but when you look into a little childs eyes and tell them just how beautiful they are and that Jesus made them special, and you see them look deep into your soul with a plea for you to keep talking to them in the truth of Gods love, you cant help but to know that every moment we breath is a moment Gods love can be poured into someones life. You know at that moment that the seeds you planted took root and the fruit will follow.”
Next, I visited Storehouse Ministries who are continuing their clean ups in preparation for tomorrow’s shelving constructions. My last stop was to visit the There’s Hope project. They are coming along well with the flooring of 3 rooms, organizing the garage and started the painting of the outside of the house.
My day ended at the FHL office and later at my house to finish this Blog. Each day is different and brings blessings in unique way. God bless,
What an amazing day! I had the opportunity to visit a few sites today:
My first stop was at Martindale-Brightwood Area. Their main project today was Job Fair. I met several local leaders and a national leader, Phil Tom. He is the National Director for Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, US Dept. of Labor. The fair held at IPS School 51 and was attended by numerous people-employers, potential candidates and job resources such as assistance in writing resumes. This was our first Job Fair project and it was a great success of connections and relationships.
My next stop was at the trailer home remodeling. I was surprised to see that the piles of brushes and over grown weeds and small trees were cleared by noon. One of our Partners, Global Constructors brought his back hoe and bobcat to clear the 1-acre yard. Thanks, Kent!
The last stop was to pick up 11 volunteers from The Poster-Display who signed up to volunteer for the Cloverleaf Apartment outreach. The management of the Cloverleaf Apartment complex decided to coincide their Residents’ Appreciation Day with FHL Week. The event included food, live Christian Music, kid’s games and many more. They estimated that about 400-500 adults and children were feed in 2.5 hours. We would to extend our sincere appreciation to David, Toni and their team.
This is now the mid point of FHL Week. So much has been done and many people accepted Jesus in their and still more days to go. Tomorrow is another day of great expectations! Tune in for more of the FHL Week stories of hope, compassion, encouragement and love.
FHL Week 2012
Although It was hard to get up this morning after a long and hot day yesterday, I got up with great expectations. Something about FHL Week that charge up the environment with positive and encouraging consciousness.
My wife Annie and I visited the Martindale-Brightwood area with mostly new FHL Week Partners. The morning started with worship and devotion at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church. We were joined by the youth and their chaperones from Ohio and Illinois through our partnership with Week of Hope, Their projects were to refurbish the host church and cleaning up the surrounding neighborhood.
Here are the interviews at Martindale-Brightwood area: Part 1 and Part 2
Our next stop was in front of the Indianapolis Main Library to give away cold bottled water to the pedestrians and passers by. We found ourselves busy giving away cold water since many homeless go in the Library to cool down during a near 100 degree weather.
Our last stop was at a Nursing Home for Ice Cream Social in the West side of Indy. I met resident who just had her 100th birthday. It was a great outreach for the youth and for the older volunteers during the heat of the day.
On the way back home, I received amazing news from a few FHL areas: Pastor Tad of the Anderson/Pendelton area had a backpack outreach yesterday. They gave away 70 backpacks and 50 people accepted Jesus in their heart. Several pictures were sent to me by Shannon Suttles, our Area Coordinator in Martinsville during their 3 on 3 basketball tournament. it’s a way for them to bring the neighborhood youth. 20 kids ended up accepting the Lord!
Tonight, I spoke with Angie White, a recipient of services “There’s Hope” project. She reported that a large dumpster was delivered this morning, volunteers worked on clearing tree branches at the front entrance of her driveway and Mr. Quick provided and installed 3 ceiling fans.
What a great day! Indeed, the Kingdom of God is at hand.