We deliberated for weeks to determine a suitable compassion ministry project. Historically, Women In The Word ABF class has volunteered with Urban Camp, so we knew we wanted to serve Teens and kids but were not certain how, since Urban camp was several months away. Through the list of Sugar Creek compassion ministries, we encountered the apartment ministry and knew this was the right place to serve.
Working with Carole Cox, the apartment ministry champion, we were matched with the right apartment complex – The Park at Fort Bend. We also determined a “welcome spring block party” open to families and children was the best ministry opportunity. This ensured that every member of the ABF class was able to volunteer, using whatever gifts, resources, and time available. This also aligned with the apartment ministry goal which includes hosting community-building activities and events, engaging residents by meeting needs and building relationships, and sharing the love of Christ and the truth of Scripture in every way possible.
The welcome spring block party will take place rain or shine March 20th and sure enough the heaven’s opened with a down pour. The rain enabled members of the ABF class a very unique opportunity; knocking door to door we reminded residents at the apartment complex that the block party was moved indoors and invited them to join us. One resident said “I cannot believe you came to my home to invite me out to the event”. It was a blessing we had planned indoor space at the start. This became the primary space for the event.
16 members of the ABF class, many with their family members and friends volunteered their time and resources in addition to the SEED money. There was an art pavilion, a tattoo station, several games including: bowling, cake walk, ring toss, fish pond and music. The activity coordinator of the apartment complex stated: “we always receive gifts, but for the people to come and spend time, this is different.”
As an ABF class we want Love to be our greatest goal. The Love challenge series remains a timely reminder.
Wow! What a great way to meet more people in the community and share God’s love at the same time. We had our Egg Hunt on the 27th. The turnout was excellent. When we arrived at the park we found that a wonderful Indian Family was hosting a Birthday party at the same location. We invited them to participate in all of the events. I know that their kids had one of the best birthday parties ever. One of the little girls was so fascinated by the egg races. She said “why do you run with eggs on spoons?” It was just too funny, my mom said to her” because it is fun!”
On the day we went to pass out the fliers, we had some left over and went to the marble slab in the Fountains. We saw some families walk in and I invited them to the event. One of the families came to the event (nice woman came with her two sons). They had a great time and she repeatedly thanked us for having the event and inviting her. She was very interested in our Church and I hope to see her soon at service. Just yesterday I was in our local Wal-Mart and saw two people who knew about the hunt or came to the hunt and we had a quick conversation and hugged it was truly a kingdom moment. Knowing that great community can really come from this event is just an awesome testament of our Lord Jesus Christ. I believe He was honored and glorified in this event and I know that Sugar Creek will be blessed with new families. This would not have ever happened without out all of the help from the “It takes Three” ABF class. The class all came together and worked hard to make this all happen. I can honestly say that I had no idea how many details were involved in making something like this happen. We had dedicated and motivated helpers to get all of the details worked out and taken care of. Thanks to Sugar Creek and to our ABF class for making this all possible. Most of all Praise God for hearing our prayers and giving us great weather and an awesome turn out.
Thanks,
Go Champion!
Our ABF class hosted a community Easter egg hunt last weekend in response to the church’s “Love Challenge.” I think what I’ll remember most about that fun day is that even though the goal of the event was for us to love on the families in that community, I ended up RECEIVING just as much love as I was GIVING. It was a powerful reminder that love really is a natural response to love. When people feel loved, they naturally want to give that love back in return. There’s a reason why Christ commanded Christians to love others – He knows how it works! I can’t wait for our class to begin planning our next “Love Challenge!”
For years my wife has challenged my patience because of her hoarding tendencies. On Monday evening I noticed her piles of “stuff” had grown considerably. As I was impatiently moving to the next to discuss the issue with her – again, I recalled the “Patience message” from the Love Challenge series. I stopped in my tracks because I realized my next action was not going to reflect patience or love. Instead of my usual confrontation, I stopped and prayed. In prayer, I asked God to guide me to do his will in all that I do and to show more love and patience to my wife. It was amazing how my blood pressure and rapid heart beat became calm. I did not discuss the growing piles if stuff with her because of the spirit filed peace gained from obedience to God.
Our ABF class will be doing Mission projects in the Life Care and Home Ministry. We will be using our “seed money” to help purchase eggs and candy for an Easter Egg hunt for foster families and helping in the event as well. We will also be participating a Home Repair day event on April 10th in Kendleton. We are looking forward to making a difference in the lives we will be impacting and interacting with throughout these events.
I want to first thank Pastor Hartman and church staff for orchestrating and supporting such a convicting and needed message series. By reading the stories posted, I believe that God’s word is penetrating the hearts of His people and this church.
God is teaching me to appreciate and recognize the small loving touches He sends my way everyday: a smile from a stranger, a kind word from a friend, a beautiful sunset, a single breath. Recently, my friend had a baby. I wanted to send a gift so I called the hospital gift shop. The staff spent 30 minutes assisting me in designing the perfect gift basket. They lovingly wrote the words I wanted to say in a card and hand delivered the gift to my friend. As soon as I put down the phone, God whispered “See how much I love you! These were the people I picked to help you show love to one of my children.” I wrote a thank you note to the staff, recognizing the fact that they truly showed God’s love to me that day. It’s the little things that make life special!
Background info in a nutshell: I have a long history of sexual, physical, mental, and drug abuse in my family. I was neglected and unprotected my entire life as a child for the most part. My mother chose her husband, my stepfather, over me knowing that he and others sexually abuse me. My dad on the other hand was is still addicted to crack-cocaine. I had a long history of self destructive behaviors because I blamed everything and everyone for not LOVING me enough! As many girls today, I ran everywhere looking for someone-something to LOVE me.
Jumping to the middle: God sent a husband who loves me as Christ loves the church. I am a homeschooling mom with children sent from heaven. I am so happy that God has turned my ashes into beauty. I am seeking my licensure as a marriage and family therapist as well as writing my first books incest, rape victims.
Current Day: My husband and I really stand alone as far as my family is truly concerned. However, I have not spoken to my mother in about 2 ½ years ago until last week. I apologized for not honoring her as Christ calls us to do-I didn’t think she deserved it. I didn’t want to give it to her since she hurt me so. After hearing Pastor Hartman’s sermon on Love is patient and the love challenge God started a work it me. now for sure I was a rebellious stone and didn’t want to participate and openly stated it to me husband. I told him I have loved my whole life and I think I love too much so I wasn’t willing to give my heart out to anyone anymore, including my family. God didn’t give up on me though-he burdened my heart with contacting my mother and telling her I forgive her. I couldn’t believe that I could be a stumbling block to my mother after all she had done and allowed to be done to me.
Another long story short: I opened my heart to Christ and did as he called me to. My mother was pouncing on me verbally ready to attack me when we met last Thursday. She was saying such hateful things and telling me that what happened to me was my fault although my sexual abuse began from the time I was 5 years old until a teenager. I have had those words in my mind my entire life. I so wanted to strangle her and scream at her in anguish, but God’s word was written in my heart-I simply bowed my head to her and cried outwardly and prayed silently to God that I die to self like Paul-that I be a walking corpse; That I possess the beatitudes of forbearance, gentleness, meekness, and PATIENCE with her. I had to be patient and know that any person who has Christ would not say such things to me. I had compassion for her when I didn’t think I could. So I prayed that God would forgive her as she was talking to me for she knew not what she was saying for she was without Christ. I allowed her to say everything and remembered God’s word says “a soft answer quiets a quarrel.” It was so painful to say the least.
Another long, long story short: My new goal was to love on her in Christ as He has done me. I told her that I loved her unconditionally; I wasn’t angry with her; I am not depressed; I was happy that God has chosen my life for me; that I was thankful that God thought enough about me to allow me to have all the experiences in my childhood; he is my Healer and my Clinger; I hold nothing against her; she owes me nothing and I ask nothing of her.
THE BEST PART: she apologized to me for everything. I am 36 years old and never in my life has my mother apologized with her head hanging down remorsefully, let alone an apology at all. She had told me from the time I could remember that I was a mistake. I eagerly told her that I accepted her apology. She then went on to say that I feel so guilty about everything with you. I could have, maybe should have stomped on her feelings with what the flesh said to do. But, God’s sovereignty overruled-I offered her salvation instead. I introduced her to Christ’s love and explained the rationale on why He died for our sins-that believing in Him is Freeing! She totally received it from me-I then sent her a prayer introducing overcoming guilt in Christ. Now this is the same lady who had persecuted me from the time she saw me and then two hours later this same woman apologized and softened her heart towards me. She was a different lady to be sure! She called me Saturday and told me she loved me!
God is so POWERFUL! I just wanted to thank Pastor Hartman for being a man of God and listening to the Spirit! I just wanted to send him some confirmation since sometimes only the negatives are heard-I wanted to bless him with God’s powerful works! Thank You!
Yes – I know, cliche’ to use a movie title but Anger Management’s what we all need from time to time. The thing is, the Holy Spirit really helps with this – the Bible says we can do nothing on our own, but the holy Spirit helps us in our weakness… Thankful for that.
Our future son-in-law was relating some stories to us about how he was raised around folks that had significant anger issues and that it really affected his life. But he continued to say that by God’s grace the cycle does not continue with him; and it is evident by the fruit in his life. God can and will help us to be at peace, if we just surrender and let him.
In general, I’m a pretty calm person. At least until I go home and have to “deal” with my teenager. Yes, I’m the adult and should be able to control my attitude and emotions, but sometimes I fail when I lose my temper and only add fuel to the fire. Proverbs 15:1 says “A soft answer turns away wrath, but grievous words stir up anger.” Now, when I stop and remember to reply with a “soft answer”, I get a totally different reaction and a nicer reply from my teenager. Love truly is peaceful.
” I used to pray that God give me patience however, these days I pray that I be taught patience!” With (5) kids (4) living at home, the oldest a teenager (15) that is always right and know’s everything, LIFE is definately CHALLENGING. The more I pray, the more I listen, the more I’m taught. Not only through scripture, but through actions, through the pator’s (Mark Hartman) teachings. There are many days that I have to just seek “GOD” and walk away. I am also really bad about asking for something to be done and if it’s not being done timely, I then loose all patience. Therefore this CHALLENGE is teaching me through scripture that I have to wait and that is the hardest answer for me. However, I will continue to challenge myself through the HELP of prayers and the teachings.