All posts tagged: religion

5 things schools don’t (normally) tell you about starting a non-profit

Till the land, plant the seeds and take care of it regualrly.

Till the land, plant the seeds and take care of it regularly.

Starting a new ministry or a charitable non-profit organization is very rewarding and yet very challenging.

You may be one of many people who can relate to this. First, a person or a group of passionate people comes up with an idea to solve a problem or to address an issue or to help those in need. Then, this person or this group of people started talking to others about their passion and start working on it. They are so enthusiastic that they were able to bring a few more people onboard.

Is this sound familiar? Your passion is contagious! You are helping a lot of people and are being recognized by the community.

I was there in the late 2004. I thought why not find a solution to the ever growing division in the churches. I thought I would be a conduit to the unity in the Body of Christ. Although I was not thinking of starting an organization, I found myself starting a non-profit organization through the encouragement of peers and those who benefit from the cause.

So, I was put in a strange place where I have not been before. I have never been a board member in the past and now, I have to put a board together, create By Laws, Statement of Faith and file Articles of Incorporation. However, I was convinced that my idea was exceptional. I continued to plow the ground. Then, reality hit and I found myself driving a vehicle with no instruction or manual how to sustain it and to keep my dream alive.

Things I learned that were not (normally) taught schools and universities:

  1. It is not too hard to do a one time event but extremely hard to sustain it. Many people can do a large event just one time. The challenge is how can you sustain and get it going? For example, many non profits start food pantry but after a few months, it fizzle out.
  2. Having a non-profit requires money (unless you have millionaire parents or have lots of money in the bank); it’s not easy to raise funding. Doing good is commendable but sustaining it is very difficult without funds in the bank. My first big outreach resulted in a deficit of $400 and I have to pay it myself.
  3. Founders of organizations sometime find themselves lonely and alone. After a big outreach and the accolade, then the hard work of clean up, follow and reporting come. At times, the leader is left with tons of work to do all the stuff by himself/herself.
  4. After giving all you got, the founder often gets all the criticism and accused of bad management and leadership. As a leader, you need to have broad shoulders, willing to tolerate small things and brush off the negative comments.
  5. One of the things to tolerate are those people whom you helped and you felt you delivered more than what was promised. However, those whom you helped talk bad about you because they expected a lot more than what they asked for. What do you do with this situation? Don’t get stuck on a pity party, move on.

There many more things that are not talked about in the non-profit world but are very real once you are in the arena of charitable organizations. Once you weather all of these, you may be able to create a legacy that will continue on long after you’re gone. It’s like a garden, you cultivate the soil, plant the seeds and take of the plants on a regular basis. So after all the hard work and endurance, you may find yourself sitting at a beach looking at the horizon asking God what else you can do in the future.

 

Merlin Gonzales is an Author, a Church/Ministry consultant, a teacher, a preacher and conference speaker who developed the concept of “Mission Trip in Your Own Backyard” and “Incubating Self-Sustained Food Pantries.” Contact him at [email protected] for assessment of your ministry.

 

 

Merlin Gonzales5 things schools don’t (normally) tell you about starting a non-profit
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Miracle on 34th St.

The one stooping down and the one being prayed for accepted Jesus.

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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Merlin GonzalesMiracle on 34th St.
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Micro Gathering

Micro Gatherings are multiplying in central Indiana

Micro Gatherings are multiplying in central Indiana

In John 6, many supernatural events were told. Thousands of people followed Him to see more about Him. They were rejoicing about the miracles, they were fed, and they  want to know more about Jesus. That night, Jesus walked on water. Later, the disciples went in a boat to go to the other side of  the Sea of Galilee.

As soon as they found Jesus, they asked Him how He got there since there was only one boat available the night before. However, Jesus did not answer their question but told them: Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.”  – John 6:26 NIV

Jesus taught them that He is the bread that came down from heaven. He told they must eat His flesh and drink His blood. Jesus was telling the people to hunger and thirst for Christ. We must be set apart for Him and, He is all we need. Then the thousands left Him except the twelve.

Jesus knew that the multitude did not understand His message and His teachings even though they had been following Him. This is a very similar approach at Faith Community Church in Winston-Salem, NC.

In other words, smaller and intimate gathering that Jesus modeled is still true in our days. Not only we can be more personal but we can also disciple more people such as what the early disciples did. Another example was the early church in the Book of Acts. The early Christians gather together in smaller groups to worship and pray to share what God had done through them.

Micro gathering come in different forms such as home groups, house churches, para-churches and other small Christian gatherings.

The ministry that the Lord had founded through me is Faith Hope and Love. This organization is incubating smaller food pantries that are intimate and personal. These pantries are focused on people rather than food. It values relationship over physical resources. The end result is more people are being discipled, sharing of the Gospel is a regular part of conversations and the community is being engaged to participate. It’s a practical application of the Bible.

I am seeing that in the next several years, there will be more micro gatherings since people want to be personal and want to know more of each other. I believe that people want to get involved but they are not properly invited or are not given opportunity that they feel to be involved with.

Check out www.fhlcommunity.org to find out about the micro gatherings that are being created through planting smaller and relationship-based food pantries.

Merlin GonzalesMicro Gathering
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Mercy Missionaries

Jesus of Nazareth reaching out to Peter

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

Merlin GonzalesMercy Missionaries
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Rediscovering Food Pantries

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

Addressing hunger through grassroots movement.

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

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

Merlin GonzalesRediscovering Food Pantries
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