Anyone Need Any Bread??!!!??

I really feel like this right about now:

Luke 6:38  Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Colossians 2:6-7 ⁶ So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.

So Dean gets a call today from the bread guy....you remember the one who told us he wouldn't be able to give us bread anymore....lol. 

After I obsessively went through and "organized" all of the bread by type and taken an inventory - I'm thankful to report that we have 20 racks of bread, 10 racks of hamburger buns, and 13 racks of hot dog buns.  Now a rack will hold between 6 to 9 packs of bread - just depending on the type.

Wow wow wow.....He really knows how to provide in abundance!

I have a feeling that we'll be giving out bread to folks in Granville and Durham Counties all weekend :)

I know that I will take some to Hoover Road Apartments tomorrow - as they are a weekly recipient.

I just made a drop off at Urban Ministries of Durham earlier this week - but they are a homeless shelter that feeds people hot meals daily and they also have a food pantry.  I'm sure they would gladly welcome another batch of bread.

Dean just went out to Twin Circles Mobile Home Park tonight and gave out some bread - so we will probably visit another trailer park and/or apartment complex in the area - along with visiting the senior citizen apartment complex again.

Please lift us up in prayer in this endeavor....that we will listen to what the Lord has to say....that we will continue to ask Him where He wants this bread delivered....but most importantly that we don't just see this as "bread delivery" but that we use these deliveries as opportunities to share the Gospel.  We would really love more opportunities to have in-depth, one-on-one conversations about Jesus!!

Loving Radically Through Christ,

Melissa

Week In Review

Just wanted to keep you guys updated on the things we've been up to over the last week or so.....

Last Wednesday we went out to Twin Circles Mobile Home Park in Butner.  Dean and Alex went door to door handing out milk in the pouring rain.  I chauffered and sat in the car just smiling....it warmed my heart to see them not minding a bit if they got soaked.  While we were riding through the park, we asked Alex why we came here and handed out bread and milk, and he said "Because that's what God made us to do."  Simple enough....so very true :)

Thursday we had in home Bible Study with a newbie and some familiar faces.  I taught on Community and what it means and how it's described as taking effect in our lives once we truly understand the Gospel.

Friday night we went to Prayer Meeting at Bethel Christian Center....and man that was good :)  We just have an awesome time of prayer and fellowship with the Lord and other brothers and sisters in Christ.  This is my second time now going to this monthly prayer meeting at Bethel, and I can honestly say that my prayer life has already dramatically improved.  I love how I can go in and have a whole undevoted hour of prayer with worship music playing in the background.  No one else around me is worried about what I'm wearing, what I'm praying about, if I'm crying or singing or walking around or dancing.  Everyone is having their own hour of prayer time with the Lord and it's just wonderful!  We all gather together after the hour and fellowship with a time of communion and then get together and eat dinner.  I'm already looking forward to next month! 

Saturday was the Pride Parade.  You can read Dean's previous posts on that for more information.  It was truly an awesome experience for me as well.  That one event of radical obedience to the Lord has alread begun working on Dean and I.  I overcame fear ONLY by the Spirit's help and learned to keep my eyes on the prize, HIM, during times of persecution.  We LOVE everyone out there and just want them to realize the truth of God's Word.....

Sunday we headed out to Oxford to see what apartment complexes we could find.  I had a list of 5 or 6 different places in Oxford - but the one that we actually ended up staying at the most, we just happened to stumble upon while we were driving around.  We were able to meet some new folks - hand out some bread and sweets - and explain to these people who we were and why we do what we do.  We told them that we would be seeing more of them very soon :)  (As a matter of fact, Dean is planning to go back out to the area tonight while I take Courtney to her first volleyball game of the season.)  We are already thinking along the lines of doing an outreach event in this area, so go ahead and let us know if you'd be interested in coming and sharing the Gospel with us!

Also on Sunday we had more bread and some milk - so we went out to Morning Glory Apartments in Butner.  This is a senior citizen only apartment complex - and we absolutely love going out there.  Alex and Courtney really enjoy being able to go door-to-door and ringing doorbells and knocking.  And the folks there are always happy to see the kids.  The people there are so very nice to us and are always very thankful and like to chat with us.  I told Ms. Ruby Brown that we would pray for her - so please join me in that.  She had a large skin cancer area removed from her arm and skin was grafted from her leg onto the arm.  She said that she is sure that all of the cancer has been removed and that she will be fine now.  But I assured her that I would pray for her and would be happy to do it!

Last night we headed back out to Twin Circles Mobile Home Park.  We took the usual bread and also made a special treat for our friends.....strawberry shortcakes!  We already had the cakes - so I loaded up on Cool Whip and fresh strawberries.  Courtney, Dean and I sliced the strawberries and I made a homemade syrup out of them.  We took that out and set up a table and just had a great time of fellowship with our friends.

If you remember from a previous post, we had been invited over to a family's house for dinner - and we went and it was amazing.  Well, we are going to have them over to our house next week and my husband is going to cook us an amazing, homemade, southern meal :)  Yes - you read it right - my husband is going to cook it.  He is an absolutely amazing cook.  I think he gets it from his mama :)

Stay tuned for upcoming posts and events!  We would love to have you get involved with us!

I will probably need some help in the next week or so getting some clothes organized.  We have been receiving a lot of donations and we love it!  But I'm an organization freak sometimes - so I want to have everything put together by size and gender so it's easier for people to sort through and find what they need.  If you have clothing donations of gently used clothes - we would love to use them for families in need.

Also if you would like to donate Bibles or Gospel Tracts - please let me know!  We really go through these things!  You probably are all well aware of the fact that gas is a major expense for us - so we would really appreciate gas card donations.  Even if it's only $5 a week it would help us out tremendously!

Thank you as always :)  We love you guys!

Loving Radically Through Christ,

Melissa

Flyers for Pride

These are the flyers that we intended to hand out at the Pride Parade on Saturday.  Only a couple were handed out - and then it was balled up and thrown back at us.

We intentionally did not put our ideas on this paper - only Scriptures.

We were and are not spreading a message of hate....we are spreading the message of true love.....true life.....that can only be found in Jesus Christ.

“I LOVE YOU…I DIED FOR YOU…PLEASE HEAR ME OUT!!!” – JESUS CHRIST

Romans 3:23 …for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…

Romans 1:19-32 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other. And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved. Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy. They know God’s justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

Romans 8:5-8 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God's laws, and it never will. That's why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don't fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.

Galatians 5:19-21 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Ephesians 5:3-7 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey Him. Don't participate in the things these people do.

Hebrews 13:4 Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.

Jude 1:7 And don't forget Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring towns, which were filled with immorality and every kind of sexual perversion. Those cities were destroyed by fire and serve as a warning of the eternal fire of God's judgment.

2Peter 2:6 Later, God condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and turned them into heaps of ashes. He made them an example of what will happen to ungodly people.

Leviticus 18:22 "Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman.  It is a detestable sin.

Leviticus 20:13 "If a man practices homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman, both men have committed a detestable act. They must both be put to death, for they are guilty of a capital offense.

2Corinthians 5:18-20 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

“How can I be reconciled to God?”

John 3:16-21 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

Romans 5:6-11 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.  For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Luke 5:32 “I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Matthew 3:2 “Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is hear.”

Matthew 3:8 Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.

Matthew 22:36-38 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”  Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

The Pride of Life

For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. - 1 John 2:16

We arrived at the Gay Pride Parade and I was ready to go. Dressed in my Jesus robe with wig and a crown of thorns on my head. Melissa and I began taking down the cross that was strapped to the rack of my jeep and I began walking towards the parade area carrying my cross on my back. People were already making comments and starring at us. One lady came out of the BP gas station and took one look at us and said to her group of friends, "You see that's what I'm talking about right there." Not sure what she meant by that but I can put two and two together. We came to the corner where the parade session would be streaming by and where other fellow christians were displaying signs with scriptures on them. It was an overcast day, the sun peaking through the clouds every now and then. Then you could hear thunder in the distance, but not from the rain-filled clouds above, but from the storm of motorcycles that led the Gay Pride Parade. As they drew closer to where we had gathered with signs and crosses declaring the Gospel of Jesus, they took great pride in revving their engines in a show of protest toward us. With every roar of their engines it was as though demons were squealing in laughter declaring their victory over humanity. One by one they pranced and paraded their sin down the streets of the city. Men dressed in drag and women exposing themselves with nothing more than their nipples covered. As they came by on their rainbow colored floats they hurled laughter at us, shouting "Jesus loves me baby....F*@k you!"  I couldn't help feeling an overwhelming sadness for them as tears begin to well up in my eyes. Suddenly a man came up to me and asked me why we were there spreading hate. I explained to him that we were not there to spread hatred but to declare the truth of God's Word.....the truth that homosexuality, according to God's word, is an abomination. He then said, "That's not my interpretation of the word, God loves everyone!" I agreed, "Yes He does love everyone and that's why He died for everyone, but we must repent of our sins and surrender our lives to Him."  He then said, "Didn't Jesus forgive the man that was on the cross beside him?" I said "Yes He did but the man had to first acknowledge that he was a sinner and recognize that Jesus was his only way to salvation." The man kept bringing out different things and kept trying to convert me to agree with him. Finally he said, "What can we agree on here?" I said, " The only thing I think we can agree on is that one day we will all stand before God and He will have the last say." He said he agreed with that and that was the end of the conversation. By this time the parade was coming to an end but the floats were still circling back around the block. I decided I would walk down 9th Street right in the middle of all the people in my Jesus outfit while yielding the cross on my shoulder. Then suddenly the sky gave way to a heavy rain, water begin to drip off of my hair and nose. Puddles of water begin to form on the street. As I walked through the puddles of water I could hear them shout, " Look Jesus is walking on water!" Then all the people would roar with laughter. Another man came up to me and poured water on my feet and said, " Jesus I'm washing your feet." At that moment I imagined in my mind how it must have been when Jesus walked towards Calvary and how the people mocked him and laughed at him and cursed his holy name. I could almost feel the weight of their stares and constant abuse upon me. As I looked intently into peoples eye's through the pouring rain I could see conviction in some peoples eyes and utter hate in others. But it wasn't me they were persecuting, it was Jesus. The One that said if they hated me they will hate you also. I realized how utterly powerless the church of America has become and how we sit back in our comfortable churches and allow sins like these to parade in the streets of our cities, blaspheming the name of God and exposing their bodies in front of innocent children. How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ( Romans 10: 14 ) We are the preachers in this scripture. It is a tragedy that we can only get 10 Christians to come out and stand for JESUS while thousands can come and unite and stand for a sinful abomination unto God Almighty! I hope that I have challenged some of you to step out of your comfort zone. If you will just step out in faith and do what is possible then God will stand in and do what is impossible.

LIVING RADICAL FOR JESUS   

                                                           

Dean

Back To Fishing

*This was not written by me - but is a repost from Proverbs 31 Ministries....but I thought it was too good not to share and feel like someone reading our blog may need this today.*

"’I'm going out to fish,’ Simon Peter told them, and they said, ‘We’ll go with you.’ So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing." John 21:3 (NIV)

Have you ever found yourself in a place where all your hopes and dreams have fallen apart? What did you do?

Jesus’ disciple Peter had betrayed his Lord, and watched Him die. Now Jesus was gone. So what did he do? In John 21, we see Peter going back to what he was doing before he met Him. I sometimes wonder what he must’ve been thinking as he sat aboard the fishing boat and scanned the horizon.

Did he wonder if it was all just a dream? Did he worry about the future? He had been at a spiritual pinnacle—walking with Jesus, hearing from Jesus, planning for a future that included Jesus. But in the blink of an eye, he and his comrades were back to their old pursuits as though nothing had happened at all.

God was still at work, but during this time He let Peter and the other disciples go back to fishing. He let them have those days of wondering and worrying. He allowed them to scan the horizon looking for Him—and find nothing. For a time He allowed them to feel alone and even forsaken.

When we feel that way, we tend to go back to what we knew before. We might go back to old habits or old friends who weren’t necessarily the best for us. We might go back to old pursuits or old crutches that once propped us up. We might be like Peter and find ourselves sitting in a place we never thought we’d see again.

And yet, this time, something is different. This time there is that glimmer of hope that—while we might have gone back—we don’t have to stay back.

I love that this story ends with Jesus on the beach waiting for Peter and his friends to stop fishing and come to Him. And, when Peter saw Jesus, he jumped out of the boat to get to Him.

Perhaps you’ve walked away from your own dreams and returned to what is familiar. Maybe disappointment or failure has left you wondering where God is. I hope you will cling to this story today. I hope that as you scan your horizon, you will see God waiting for you to return to Him. And when you do, you will run towards Him as fast as you can.

He may have let you go through an alone time. He may have allowed you to wonder if He was still there.

But in that time, I pray that the flicker of hope did not die out for you. You may have gone back to "fishing," but He doesn’t want you to stay there. He’s got so much more for you to do. He is still at work. His plans involve going forward, not going back.

Dear Lord, I have felt alone and forgotten. I have wondered if any of my spiritual experiences were real. I’ve gone back to what’s familiar because it was all I knew to do. But I know You don’t want to leave me there. I want to see You when I scan the horizon. And when I do, help me to have the courage to run toward You as fast as I can. I trust that You still have a plan for me. And that plan involves going forward, not going back. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

This Week's Happenings

If you'd like to get involved with us this week I think we'll be doing the following - so please join us!

(All of this is subject to change as the Spirit leads however)

Tuesday - Twin Circles Mobile Home Park - food distribution and continuing fellowship and ministry - taking fruit/veggie and clothes donations now!

Thursday - Bible study at our house - will be teaching on the importance of reaching out to the community

Another night possibly in Oxford.  I am in the process of getting information from the Section 8 Housing office on the currently participating Section 8 communities in the area.  When I find this out, we'll schedule to go out and take some introductory peace offerings and introduce ourselves.

I will update if things change - so keep posted :)

Blessed Tree

What would you think of me if you heard me say "You know what I want to be?  I wanna be a Blessed Tree!"

Ummmm - really Melissa?  Out of all the things in the world, you want to be a tree? 

No - not just any old tree - a Blessed Tree!  The Very One that's spoken of in Psalm 1.

As I picked up the Bible this weekend to read, I randomly opened to Psalm 1.  I have probably read it 4 or 5 times now over the past few days - and each time I am left with an absolutely beautiful picture.  It's relaxing, calming, aspiring, almost magical....and I don't know why.

But that's just how things of God are - right?  Safe, loving, relaxing, calming, and on and on.  This Blessed Tree is just that also.  I envision an enormous tree - full of color and leaves - sun shining all around it - planted right beside a gently rolling brook or river.  It gives refuge and shade, shelter and a home.  It's beautiful and perfectly green.  Looking at the scenery just makes someone happy. 

How can I become that tree though?  Psalm 1 gives the description of the Blessed Tree and also the answer of how to become it.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinner
or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!
They are like chaff that the wind blows away.
Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Dear Lord - I want my delight to come from you....from your law.  From your love.  Let your Spirit within me always remind me to meditate on your law day and night.  When I remember you and delight in your law, I will be that Blessed Tree that's planted by your ever flowing stream of life.  Through delighting in your law I will be able to yield my fruit in season....the fruit of your Spirit.  My leaf will not wither and whatever I do will prosper.  Prospering not in a worldy sense, but in a perfect sense that is part of your will.  I may not attain the riches of this old world, but I have the promise of Psalm 1:6 that you will watch over me....always.

Help me Lord to be that Blessed Tree and to help plant seeds that will sprout other Blessed Trees around me.

Loving Radically Through Christ,

Melissa

We're All Smiles Tonight

We tried to go out and visit with our folks last night but it started raining on us when we got out to set up.  So we went back out tonight and we were truly blessed.  We gave out bread, snacks and muffins, jello, milk and clothes.  Everyone was very thankful.

We met a few new folks and were able to explain to them why we were out there - serving them through Jesus' name.

We get a lot of questions at times asking what church we are from, or as with tonight, what are our church service times, but each time we tell them that we are not directly affiliated with a specific church....we are in Jesus' church - the body of Christ - and we are coming out to show that we love them because God loves them.

I, of course, gave some local church references that we are connected with - some that we know will be open and loving and working in their lives.

I also gave out our phone numbers tonight to a few familiar kids and told them that if they ever needed us for anything to please call us.  One boy asked me if this was really our phone number....lol.

I think the most joy came to us tonight when a familiar hispanic family invited us over for dinner in their home.  We told them that we would love to come and join them.  So we will go next week and have authentic mexican dishes with this family.  They seemed very excited and I know that we are.  So please be praying that we will be able to have a time of fellowship with this family and be able to talk to them more about Jesus.

On another good note - Angela Battle prayed for another milk hook up for us - and guess what?  We got it :)  So if you have a prayer request - let me give you Angela's number.  She obviously has a direct line to God.  (Just kidding guys....)  We are very thankful for all of you that were praying for that door to open up - all of those prayers that were said that we didn't even know about.

We are going to venture out of the Butner/Stem area soon and scope out some 'rougher' areas of Oxford next.  We will continue to minister to and disciple the friends and family that we have already made - but we be on the lookout for some different areas.  So be praying that the Spirit will give us discernment for where we need to go - and that we'll know if our message will be welcomed and received in the area.  And if not...we'll know and we need to shake the dust off our feet and move along to the next area.

You know...kinda like the disciples in Luke 9.....

¹ When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, ² and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. ³ He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. ⁴ Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. ⁵ If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” ⁶ So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.

We want to share the gospel to everyone - but above all we want to be exactly where God wants us.  The will of God is the most safe, most beneficial, most conducive, most loving, most glorious place to ever be - and that's where we wanna go!

Loving Radically Through Christ,

Melissa

It's Been A While!

Wow - how have we not posted on here since August 18th??  I am so sorry for those of you that look for our updates regularly.

We've had some changes since the 18th....and been doing the regular work too :)

God has truly blessed us with what we need, and when something changes, we just continue to trust Him.  In the past few weeks we lost a huge bread/snack pickup that really helped us to supply the families that we minister to.

We also lost our weekly milk hook up.  Drivers change routes and home offices decide that they want to begin inventorying every item that is not sold.

But we continue to trust!  We still have one bread pick up and one snacks pick up - but both are sporadic.  We will continue to graciously accept those items as blessings from above and use them to minister to the local families.

At any time if you are feeling led to give, but would like to give something tangible, we would love to accept fresh fruit and vegetable donations or cartons of eggs!!!  The families in Twin Circles Mobile Home Park love it when we are able to bless them with those items.

Onto to other things.....Dean has been researching his CrossWalk idea.  It seems that if we decide to do this as planned - we would be considered a parade.  Two or more folks getting together and walking down the road is a parade.  And that requires the "ok" from the town and the local police - and also "event insurance".  Who woulda thought???  Red tape is glorious - isn't it?

So we'll be saving up for this "event insurance" and will keep you guys posted on the CrossWalk.  We definitely still want to do it and feel it will really have an impact.

On August 21st we teamed up with Working Faith Ministries in Butner and took about 40 brand new bookbags with school supplies out to Twin Circles Mobile Home Park.  We were able to team up with fellow family members and help out some local kids heading back to school.  (I have pictures and will post later.)  We were truly blessed by that experience and hope that we were able to continue to show the love of Jesus.

The following Tuesday we went back out to the area and set up tables with bread and tortillas and snacks and also some fresh watermelon.  We had a grand time just fellowshipping with the folks over some fresh cut watermelon.  It was really a hit and people were coming out and hanging out with us.  We also played a little soccer with the kids and I was able to do some "Jesus Worksheets" with some of the older kids.  Thanks to Gloria and her kids for coming and helping out too.  They are really a blessing to us and are always willing to help out whenever possible! 

Last Friday we visited with a family in Durham that we had met a few weeks before.  Frances, the mother, had saw me driving around Durham one day and saw the magnet with phone number on my car, and it prompted her to call us to see what we were all about.  We were able to take some food to Frances and her kids and also talk with them for over an hour just about life in general, our ministry, and our sweet Jesus.  This past Friday was our second visit with them.  We just went over to hang out and see how they were doing.  We talked some more and shared our faith some more.  We plan on going back soon possibly for a movie night and Bible study. 

Frances is a single mom of two teenagers.  The family has some Christian basis - but has also encountered a lot of misery in life - and is just hurting and needs some direction.  So we are trying our best to point them in the direction and get them on the path to a true, intimate relationship with Jesus.  Please join us in prayer for this family.  I have really taken a liking to the teenage daughter.  She is 15 and just starting high school.  I have been able to talk with her pretty deeply about issues that plague the teenage girls in this society - and she seems to really understand and want a better way in life!  She is very smart and loves to learn and it is very encouraging!  Sometimes people just need someone to come alongside them and reinforce the love of Jesus for them....reinforce their importance in the eyes of God....and offer them friendship and a shoulder.

I believe that we are going to have a spur of the moment Bible study tonight at our home :)  We haven't done one in our home in a while because we've been going out into the community on Tuesday nights.  But I have been craving some serious group study - so when I suggested it, my dear hubby said that would be great - and then asked me what I was teaching on.....lol.  So I've been seriously praying that the Spirit would reveal to me what I need to talk about tonight.  I have no doubt He'll come through :)  So if you wanna head out to our house tonight - please do!!! 

Send us an email, facebook message us, call us on our cell.....whatever works for us :)

Loving Radically Through Christ,

Melissa