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FHL Week 2012: Day 6

July 28, 2012 Merlin Gonzales FHL Indiana, FHL Week

St. Paul United Methodist at Martindale-Brightwood was my first stop. The Pastor of the church just started 2 weeks ago and he was very happy to host the day. Several churches and ministries were present such as Impact Movement, Habitat for Humanity and Youth/Children Ministries.

I had a chance to call back our Pendleton/Anderson Area Coordinator, Facundo Cortez. He reported that there was shooting in Pendleton that involved an Anderson and Pendleton Policemen. It was a tragic event that took 2 lives and a K9 police dog. The “Honoring Hometown Heroes” today at 11am, Saturday, July 28th is expected to draw more media because of the incident.

I have been following the progress of “There’s Hope” project and they are coming along very well with the installation of siding on the garage. It’s humbling to see that I am a part of a task that could change the perspectives of a family through the practical expression of God’s love for them.

My next stop was at the Storehouse Ministries where they already constructed several movable shelving for future growth. You can hear the live conversation with Paula, this ministry’s leader.

On my way to the Living Water Project in Franklin, the much needed rain poured down. It has been so hot and dry in Central Indiana that the down pour was appreciated by everyone. At this homeless ministry, I was given a tour of the progress of the project. They have already installed the cabinets that were donated to them late last week.

I received a report from our West side Area that the Firemen Outreach went well. They gave them gifts and thanked them for their services. Lastly, our Martinsville area had their evangelistic concert, Ignite and reached the local neighborhoods for Christ.

This has been an eventful day! What we do matters and can impact people’s lives.

FHL Week 2012: Day 5

July 27, 2012 Merlin Gonzales FHL Indiana, FHL Week

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,

FHL Week 2012: Day 4

July 26, 2012 Merlin Gonzales FHL Indiana, FHL Week

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.

The Power of Unity: Day 2 of FHL Week 2012

July 24, 2012 Merlin Gonzales FHL Week

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.

The Kingdom of God in our cities

July 23, 2012 Merlin Gonzales FHL Indiana, FHL Week

It was a cool cloudy Sunday morning. Normally, I would be in a church service inside a cool building either listening to a sermon or giving one. Today, my wife and I drove to the Monument Circle for the 8th Annual FHL Week Prayer Celebration.

We started at 1:30p with our first multi-church-bilingual service at the Circle. My message was about the Kingdom of God in our cities. Here’s an excerpt from my message:

Jesus said in Mark 1:15, “The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” – NIV

The good news that God’s Kingdom is at hand! Jesus prayed, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

What would your neighborhood look like if you could say, “The Kingdom of God is here.”

Is the atmosphere of heaven spreading in our neighborhoods and your places of work? Jesus is no longer on earth but He commanded each and every one of us to represent Him and to co-labor with Him to expand His Kingdom. He wants us to…

Proclamation of the Kingdom

To share the Good News that whoever repent and turn around from their sins and accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior will inherit the Kingdom. Jesus sent His early disciples to proclaim the Kingdom of God. He wants us to proclaim the Kingdom wherever we go.

Luke 9:1-2, “When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ²and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.”

Jesus has given us power and authority to continue His work here on earth starting in our own Jerusalem – Indianapolis, Anderson, Pendleton, Greenwood and Martinsville. Are you using the power and authority that God has given you?

John 17:20-23, “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, ²¹that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one — ²³I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

Demonstration

Today is the start of FHL Week. We come together in unity to be the tangible expression of God’s love to the nations. Through projects and services, many people get connected and are introduced to our Lord Jesus Christ. Our message is still the same – it’s all about our relationship with God and with others. Good works are noble but they will not bring people to heaven; only by turning from our sins and by accepting Jesus as our Savior – proclamation.

However, our good works are fruits of our faith in Him as we co-labor with God in expanding the Kingdom of God here on earth.

Proclamation alone is not enough; Jesus called us to also demonstrate the Kingdom through our works. Ephesians 4:12-13, “to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is at hand. This coming week, hundreds of people will unite to make everyone aware that the Kingdom of God is already present in our neighborhoods through acts of kindness, mercy, prayers and through sharing the Good News.

Application

When we meditate on the goodness of God, we will experience His goodness. The more we focus on Him, the more others see Him in us. We are being transformed to His likeness. In the Book of Exodus, Moses ask to see the face of God. He waited on Him without any distractions. When Moses went down from the mountain, his face was transformed because God met Him at the mountain.”

In order for us to transform our neighborhoods, we need to be transformed and have higher awareness of His Presence in our lives and in our neighborhoods.

Proverbs 23:7a, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” -NKJV.

Awareness directs our action and our collective action changes our culture. Therefore, the prayer, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” begin with our awareness and faith backed up by our actions. You and I are Ambassadors from Heaven and we represent the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That’s why the verse…

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

As we end this service, I will pray that God will grant all of us grace to be aware of the power and authority that Jesus promised to all of us. We know that His Presence is here right now.

There’s power in the Name of Jesus!

Isaiah 60:1, “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

It’s your time to rise; you are a part of the army that is rising up! This generation is called to proclaim and demonstrate the Kingdom of God in our cities. You are called and commissioned to expand the Kingdom of God in your neighborhoods, cities, and to the ends of the world.