All posts tagged: religion

Micro Gathering

February 10, 2014 Merlin Gonzales blog

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.

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

I am thankful for you!

November 28, 2013 Merlin Gonzales Message

Family vacation

Happy Thanksgiving from Biloxi, Ms.

First, I want to thank you for your unfailing prayers and support. The FHL Breakfast Fundraising was a success. With God’s grace, you made it happen!

After more than 5 years, I am also thankful for my family vacation. God has shown my family and I things that we have not noticed in our lives while being with each other for almost 2 weeks together! We are learning a lot about and from each other. Nothing more exciting than loving and being loved by your family.

This Thanksgiving, please slow down and put a set of eyes as you spend time with your loved ones. You just might see the obvious things that are just behind the facade of our paradigm.

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.