All posts tagged: human-rights

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

History of FHL Food Pantry

March 2, 2014 Merlin Gonzales FHL Food Pantry, FHL Mobile Food Pantry

The early years of FHL Food Pantries

In the fall of 2006, Merlin Gonzales and a few volunteers agreed to do the first FHL Mobile Food Pantry. FHL partnered with a Hispanic business that allowed us to give the food in the grocery store. One of our partners owned one of the Latino newspapers in town and she did a half-page ad at no cost to us.

The pantry attracted almost 100 families. The first pantry had less than 10 volunteers but was able to give a lot of grocery items from a food bank and other sources. For the next 2 years, FHL food pantries were held in churches, schools and parking lots. FHL did not have problems in attracting recipients because of the follow up system.

After 2 years, FHL introduced prayers at pantries. The recipients seem open and soon it became a regular part of each pantry. Through the process of partnering with different organizations at different locations, FHL developed procedures overtime. The leaders learned how to interact with different denominations, ethnic groups and traditions. The Lord walked the organization through many on-the-job training that were vital to the development creative evangelism. The leaders learned more how to interact with the different segments of our society.

However, setting up and tearing down of food pantry sites at different location became a hindrance to serve more people and to share the Gospel. The idea of starting a food pantry at churches and other sites became obvious. FHL would be able to serve more people and would be able to share its experience with others.

The informal training and partnership emerged. Horizon Christian Fellowship Central was the first food pantry that FHL helped start. It is now a vital part of the Fountain Square neighborhood in Indianapolis.

Through prayers and hard work, God had birth the FHL Food Pantry Incubation. It is now that mission of FHL to incubate food pantries in central Indiana.

The FHL Food Pantry School became a work in progress document. In the class, you will learn that practical and spiritual application of the Bible. You will see that your friends and/or congregation can be a part of the tapestry of a food pantry. Young and old, rich and poor has a place in a food pantry such as the Outreach Team, Prayer Team and Community Relations Team.

An idea of feeding the hungry and reaching out to those in need had evolved to be a powerful tool to engage the community in sharing the love of God. The end result is that the hungry are fed, the Gospel is being shared and more people are becoming Christ-like in their communities. The food pantries are becoming missional communities.

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.

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

Hunger and Crime in Our Midst

October 4, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Backyard Missions, FHL Food Pantry, FHL Indiana, Self-Sustained Food Pantriy

An example of a Missional Community

I came to the US in 1984 to work for a cruise ship based in Miami. After a year, I moved to Indianapolis with a huge dream and a pocket with just a few dollars in it. I thought I can have anything I want if I just work hard, after all, I will be a citizen in the Land of Opportunity. After 3 years, I found myself working 3 jobs and hardly sleeps. In less than 12 years, I found myself broke and depressed.

Many of us have big dreams but then, life happens. When you walk in the streets of a super power country – the United States, you will meet the new poor and a multitude of hungry people, both physically and spiritually hungry.

According to the latest US Census Bureau, the number of children living in poverty in Marion County is up 81% since 2000. This means an estimated 62,287 children under the age of 18 are living in poverty, that’s 1 out of 4 children in the county . Two of Indianapolis neighborhoods are listed in the top 25 Most Dangerous neighborhoods in the US. Yes, poverty and crime are closer than you think. You don’t need to cross the oceans to be in a mission field. They’re here!

What if we start looking together for resources right here in our own backyard. What if we can connect those in need and those who have more than enough? What if our food pantries become a place where food comes second only to relationships?

In less than 3 years, Faith Hope and Love helped start and incubate 14 food pantries. The idea for these pantries are to be self-sustained in 6 months. This means that each of them should have developed a strong community that watch after each other’s back. They should have developed relationships in and around their neighborhoods so they will have a volunteer base willing to help at least once a month, build connections and active support from different organizations such as businesses, churches and other non-profits and, they have engaged their neighborhoods so they can reach out to those in need and receive assistance from those who have more than enough.

This will be the focus of FHL in the coming years, to build missional communities that work together not only to address physical hunger but also the spiritual hunger. We believe in the grassroots movement instead of the top down approach. We believe that missional communities are possible if we embrace relationship over programs. We believe that the answer to hunger and crime is not food and guns, but relationships.

In authentic relationships, you find acceptance, you will find people that work with their hearts, not with their hands and you will see a community similar to that of the Book of Acts. That’s why the volunteers at FHL are very excited to share with you the energized mission at the breakfast at Maggiano’s on 11/6 7:30a. You will find more info Here.

Authentic relationships with God and with others (The Greatest Commandment) will solve the hunger and the crime in our midst.