It's been a while for updates, but there's alot going on for our REACH ministries. First off, as one who has carried the torch for this ministry for the past four years, I am grateful to announce I am graduating from Southwestern Seminary. This has brought many new changes. Second, God has been gracious by adding new faces, brothers, and friends that have carried the torch. I am bless to add Caleb Wallace to the team as he has taken up MHMR and continued the ministry there. Personally, I have phased out due to mounting obligations at a new church and new preaching opportunities as I preach abroad. Third, we have connected with Feed By Grace Ministry. Feed by Grace have been growing since 2004. Here are some of their own words:
Feed by Grace began as a ministry designed to install raised bed vegetable gardens that would grow food for the needy. In 2004, founder Neale Mansfield envisioned a park with gardens in the midst of the impoverished neighborhood of East Lancaster. In January 2005, the ministry began shifting its focus towards the homeless individuals who populate the neighborhood. Since that time, the ministry has been housed in a building that was once a local bar and has transformed the adjoining vacant lot into a beautiful community park for the homeless, offering a place of peace and a safe haven from the streets.
I have been so grateful to meet so many new friends that have shared my heart for the needy and the social outcast. Kelly, Neale, and Kathy have been such a great help by allowing us to serve alongside with them. Although we have done more than provide water, we will now have more opportunities to plant gardens, play ball, and serve food to them. This week, on October 13, we will do Fall Festival with them, connecting with well over 500+ needy people and families on Lancaster.
Recently, we have adopted a family, Maria Mindieta and her grandchildren to help. We have been supplying her needs such as water and food to sustain them. We are hoping that churches would rally more to help this family. She has lost her vehicle, she's under Medicaid and Medicare, and constantly needs provisions for her large sized family. Our desire is to connect them with a small group that would help nuture and reach them in the long term. There are still many unsaved souls in that family, so it's pertinent that we continue to minister to them both socially and with the gospel.
The streets are vastly different as Hemphill has many day laborers with a smaller homeless population. Continue praying as we discover new ways to help the homeless. Our strategy is to eventually phase in with a larger ministry that would put our resources to good use. DFWPD has also called upon us to help distribute backpacks and meals for poorer families.
A couple more things to think about:
1. We are looking to connect with a children hospital to provide ventriloquism as someone has stepped up to do that on a regular basis.
2. We are looking also looking forward to aiding on another Thanksgiving Outreach, as well as do a Christmas outing with Feed by Grace or DFWPD. Please keep this in your prayer as we pave the way to new ministries with new ideas.
Information about our OCTOBER 13 Outreach:
The gate opens at 8am and closes at 3pm. We are in charge of drinks. Please be prompt and ready to share the gospel and pray.
What to do: (From Kelley O'Conan)
"Customers" will come to the booth and order a drink. Your folks would dispense the drink and collect "Unity Park money" from the customer. (A homeless person is given only so much "money" so they are being thoughtful in what they "purchase" whereas the general public actually purchase the "Unity Park money" as a fundraiser). So, with that in ...mi...nd, I'd suggest making it as simple as possible.
We have a table you can use as a booth, along with maybe a few folding chairs in case your folks want to rest. Assuming you are bringing prepackaged drinks (cans of soda, bottles of water), the big push would be collecting enough ice chests and stocking them with the drinks and ice. You will want additional drinks to restock the ice chests - and you may need to make a run to get more ice midway through the day. The other option would be to make large quantities of ice tea or lemonade etc. in large-size thermoses and have your folks fill styrofoam cups with ice (from ice chests) and drink, topping it with a lid and straw. OR you could rent a refrigerated drink dispenser. Here is an example - not a recommendation - just to show you what I'm talking about: http://www.bigtenrentals.com/Concessions-Food-Coolers-Grills.html. It will probably depend largely on your budget and how much of what you can get donated.
As far as the quantity, I can only. Typically, there are 400-500 homeless at a Fall Festival and maybe another 100 volunteers. Many to most of these people will stay all day or be in and out all day, so I would estimate maybe 3 drinks per person. If we get a big general public turn out, I don't envision them staying all day - more like a family comes for a couple of hours - so maybe only 1 drink per person. But I'd be hard pressed to give you an anticipated total amount of drinks needed.
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