All posts tagged: hispanic

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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Arctic Food Allocation

February 7, 2014 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Food Pantry, Self-Sustained Food Pantriy

The extreme cold did not stop the leaders and volunteers to address hunger.

The extreme cold did not stop the pastors and volunteers to address hunger.

FHL is opening food pantries in the Arctic?

Yes, it seemed like we were in the Arctic yesterday. It was around 8 degrees when we unloaded the Litho Press 24-footer truck. Five food pantries received their allocation. They in turn will distribute the food at their own neighborhoods namely, West & East 38th St., East Indy, Hamilton County and Fort Wayne. Hundreds of individuals will receive grocery items in this cold weather.

I believe God had scheduled the food allocation during a single-digit day because one of the Pastors who has a warehouse offered FHL to use part of his warehouse for pantry purposes.

FHL food pantries are designed to be missional communities where everyone gets to play. It’s a place where people pitch in and help out for the common good of the neighborhoods. It does not matter if it’s cold or hot; the needs in our communities are not dictated by the weather but can be addressed by the collective effort of everyone.

Mission field in our own backyard…they exist in central Indiana. We believe that we can drastically lessen the number of hungry people if we come together with something to offer – time, talent, treasure and prayers.

FHL is looking to partner with farmers, livestock owners, landowners, realtors, businesses, church/ministries, government and school systems to identify underutilized resources. We can shift the hunger statistics together right here in our own backyard, not in the Arctic.

Please contact [email protected] for more information how to start a food pantry in your neighborhood.

Mercy Missionaries

January 28, 2014 Merlin Gonzales FHL Food Pantry, FHL Indiana

Jesus Christ of Nazareth reaching out to Peter

I love the sculpture on my desk. Jesus looks very calm and loving during a critical and emergency time in Peter’s life (Peter sinking fast in a turbulent lake). I’d like to send you this short message that I believe is critical. No, it’s not about the sub zero temperatures and snow. Although these are critical as well, there are looming disasters and crises that are so subtle that make us feel they are not emergencies. These are already taking a toll in our communities.

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend a 2.5 days Disaster and Crisis Relief training in Evansville, IN. Immediately after the training, I found out why I was supposed to be there. I felt God told me that we don’t need to wait for disasters and emergency to come (as we know it). In a sense, some of our neighborhoods are already in crisis and in emergency state. For example, hunger is on the rise. While you are reading this article, thousands of people in metro Indy will not have 3 square meals and many more are starving from spiritual food. Our communities are experiencing some of the greatest challenges in recent years.

At the training, I also heard the term “Mercy Missionaries.” They are ordinary people who have big hearts and faith that can move mountains. At FHL Food Pantries, our focus is the people, not the food. Ironically, more people are being fed, more volunteers are reaching out and relationships are established. Our mercy missionaries are encouraged to model the life of Jesus to reach out with our hearts and to bring the compassion of God. The Holy Spirit is raising up passionate missionaries for this critical hour.

Starting on February 25th, FHL will hold a Food Pantry Class. This one of a kind class consists of 3-session classroom teachings, 2 field trips and (if qualified) 6 months on-the-job training. Topics include developing missional communities, ministering to the poor (physically & spiritually) and how to become mercy missionaries.

For more information regarding the FHL Food Pantry Class and how to become Mercy Missionaries, visit www.fhlcommunity.org or 317-578-3370

Rediscovering Food Pantries

December 13, 2013 Merlin Gonzales FHL Food Pantry

Last night, Dec. 12, 2013 was the first informational meeting about the food pantry planting initiative in central Indiana.

Addressing hunger through grassroots movement.

Although it was a very cold night, it was attended by more than 30 people. The main topic of the night was about establishing self-sustained food pantries.

Based on recent statistics, the hungry in central Indiana is rising in number. Some say that 1 out of 6 is hungry or cannot afford nutritious meal. The hungry could be living next door. They may be wearing nicer clothes because the used to have good paying job but are now unemployed, under employed or on social security or disability.

We know that there are underutilized resources around us. Surrounding us are vacant lots that are yet to be cultivated. There are available space at churches, schools and community centers that could be food pantry sites.

Jesus said that relationship is the key to Kingdom living (Matt. 22:37). I think the major cause of hunger in the US is not food alone, but relationship also. A family next door maybe suffering from hunger but the neighbors may not know about it. Most of the time, we do not really know our neighbors. The busyness of our lives have contributed to the issue of relationship. The Internet had our world connected but it created a huge void in personal relationship. Our relationship with God and others can change our world and can solve the hunger problems in our neighborhoods.

How can we solve the hunger problem while building our relationships with one another?

Acts 6 – identify the needs and resources
Mark 16 – share the Gospel
Matthew 28 – discipleship or training

We have responsibility to our neighbors and to God’s creation. The plan of the FHL Food Pantry planting movement is to mobilize neighborhoods to look after each other through a simple, yet relational food pantry. We create opportunities to:

gather resources
influence others with Christian principles
serving while learning how to be missional community

The harvest is plentiful!

One of FHL Food Pantries near downtown Indy

In the context of a food pantry, we can address people’s physical and spiritual hunger and, disciple more people in practical ways. God had provided a powerful way to create opportunities to expand the Kingdom of God.

Whether you are called to bag groceries, pass out flyers to invite those in need of food, put food collection boxes in businesses, call people to follow up or to pray for them, there are tremendous opportunities waiting for almost anyone who want to make a difference in other’s lives.

I would like to hear from you what you think of the concept of the food pantry planting movement, specially those who have attended the breakfast in Nov. and the informational meeting last night. I am looking forward to see more food pantries become missional communities where food comes second only to relationship.

God bless you,

Merlin

NOW, NOW, NOW

October 11, 2013 Merlin Gonzales KIOM, Message, Ministry, Testimony

On early Sunday morning 10/6, I was awaken by a short but vivid dream. I was looking at a piece of white bond paper. On the top of it (the Title) was written 2 words.

(I can’t remember the first word) but the second word is NOW.

There were 2 subtitles, each with a descriptive paragraph. Both of the subtitles were a single word that has NOW in the middle of it. They look like this:

____NOW____

I didn’t remember the exact words but here’s the example – ackNOWledge.

So, my dream contained 3 NOW words and all capitalized. I’m not a dream interpreter but when a same thing appeared 3 times, it means it’s happening now!

For those of you who are parents, you can appreciate this – parents want to speak to their children all the time. However, when children grow up, they are normally too busy to talk or to listen to their parents. As adults, we have crammed so much in our 24-day. Many times, we miss some intimate and sacred moments with God.

Biblically, God speaks to us in many ways, one way is through dreams. I believe that God is reminding us that the Kingdom of God is in our midst (Luke 17:21) – NOW. Where ever you are, if you are a Christian, the Kingdom is within you…NOW.

Similar to the 2 words that encapsulated the word NOW, our lives could be busy or we are just not paying attention to what God is saying to us. If you look closely in life circumstances, within a seemingly chaotic event, God is there with you. You might be traveling, doing business transaction, happy or sad…God is saying to us, “look again!”

Apply this principle with your family and friends who are in a difficult situation. Encourage them; you can actually speak life in their lives that can change their perspectives and give them hope. A simple word change a person’s eternal destiny.

Last Sunday, at a church, I shared my dream with 3 people whom I thought would be receptive to the word NOW. Although each of them are in different stage of their lives, I saw immediate change in their posture and demeanor. They were very thankful and it gave them courage and confidence that God is always there for them.

If we ackNOWledge God, we will experience more of His Kingdom manifesting in our lives. Even if you think NOWay or you are sNOWed under. He is there with you. Look again!

I know, there’s more to the dream, so I encourage you to give me feedback or let me know what you think. God bless you! Believe me He is with you right NOW.