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Cover Article
How God Blesses and Blesses and Blesses!
I am writing 17 days before Christmas, and things are pretty
exciting around the Rescue Mission! People are coming in all through the day
bringing toys, clothes, school supplies, and (the always favorite) candy, to
share with the Mission residents and with 125 children. One lady and her sister
purchased 52 each of razors, bars of soap, deodorant, caps, sweat shirts, and
more items. These are to help fill the bags for the Mission residents on
Christmas Eve. All this makes for such a nice Christmas. But let me tell you
about a project that is several months now in the making.
Several months ago, perhaps in the Spring, we mentioned in
one of our publications the need for help with an air-conditioner that had just
gone out. The Lord allowed that publication to come into the hands of a friend
of ours who "happens" to be in the heating and air-conditioning business in my
home town of Suffolk. (You don’t really believe in "happenstance," do you?). He
contacted me to let me know about an organization that his business was
affiliated with that helped places like the Rescue Mission with just such needs.
His son entered the picture, coming over to evaluate our
needs and to make a recommendation to the group of HVAC providers. He discovered
that there is another, similar organization, closer to us, who do exactly the
same thing. My friend’s son made a trip to the Peninsula, where he made a
presentation on our behalf to the Peninsula group, and they then took the matter
under consideration. We were and are very grateful for this father and son
caring enough to get involved.
Some time went by, and, while we were at Camp Open Arms, a
call came in indicating that these companies were going to work together to
replace all three of our furnaces, two air conditioning systems, and even add a
third system to cool our dining hall and kitchen! There would be virtually no
cost to the Peninsula Rescue Mission! Two of the three furnaces are installed
and operational; the three air conditioning systems are being finished up, even
as I write!
Two Scripture promises rise to the surface during this
process. First, Jesus said in Matthew 6:8, "...your
Father knows what you need, before you ask Him."
God knew about this need even before the one unit went out. He knew that all
three furnaces were 25 years old and the air conditioners, around 20 years old.
He knew what potential problems the winter with its heating needs, as well as
another cooling season, would bring. And He had His people ready to deal with
the problem! Secondly, Paul wrote to the Ephesians (3:20), that God
"is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask
or think." We asked generally for help with one
small unit - God responded specifically with three furnaces and three
compressors and four air handlers!
Pictures here show some installation folks, the compressors,
two pretty terrific guys installing the chapel air handler, and a furnace
already keeping men warm at night! What a great God we serve, Who can
continually amaze us with his provision and care!
Superintendent's
Corner
What A Good Day
What a day it was! I had a message from the evening before to
call a man named “Dawson,” a former resident of the Mission. I called him before
chapel began, and we had a most pleasant conversation. He has gotten on his feet
and is doing well now. His study of the Bible led him to an encounter between
Jesus and a questioner that included something he couldn’t understand. He said,
“I know who I can call to get some help - the preacher from the Mission.” I was
delighted to hear from him, and quite pleased to help with his Bible question.
After chapel, as we were having breakfast, Tony shared with
me that he would soon be singing a solo at his church. I asked the title, and he
replied, “Now I belong to Jesus.” How I wished I were not already scheduled to
preach somewhere else that morning! I would love to hear that special in song!
The next blessing happened while I was visiting with a friend
who had brought quite a lot of food left over from a dinner his church had the
evening before. If it weren’t enough of a blessing to receive enough food to
feed several meals at the Mission, a second encounter with a former resident
added to my joy! I spied J.R. As he drove into the parking lot across the
street. He came right over to where we were visiting and greeted me. He looked
so different from the young man who spent many a night in the Mission years ago.
He indicated that he had a gift for our ministry, and I asked if he would take
it to the front desk where he could get a receipt. He did so and spoke once
again as he left. I bid him good day. When I got back into the office, five
crisp twenty-dollar bills were waiting with J.R.’s name on them. I was
overwhelmed! “This place did a lot for me, and I wanted to come back and help
some,” he had told the desk man.
Later in the afternoon, the last joy of the ministry day
happened when Ray burst into the office with a grin that was more laughter than
smile. He wanted to share good news about his job search, but I will let Alan
tell you the details of that story. I hope it blesses your heart like the event
blessed my own. I’d say that was pretty good day!
A Note From Alan
A Year of Firsts
As 2008 comes to an end, most us will mentally evaluate the
past year in some way, making note of changes to make for 2009. Many of us will
choose to slightly alter life patterns (perhaps to eat less, or exercise more,
or be more faithful in reading our Bibles). Many will choose to try new things
in the upcoming year. Whatever category you find yourself in, we will all
experience many things for the first time in our lives.
For many of the men who will find their way to the Mission in
2009, this will also be a year of firsts. They will find that for the first time
in their lives they are unable to provide for themselves the most essential
elements of life. They will not have a place to live, nor a job to provide money
for a place to live. For some, they will no longer be welcome at the homes of
their relatives due to their patterns of bad choices. All of their reserves and
options are gone. They will, for the first time in their lives, have to ask for
someone to provide for them those things they cannot provide for themselves.
They will sleep under blankets that they do not own. They will eat food that
they did not work to earn. Many of these men are starting over from scratch,
while other men their age are firmly established in their careers.
We at the Mission know very well how devastating this can be
to a man. It is extremely important for most men to successfully complete that
which they set out to do. Asking for help indicates failure and results in a
very broken man.
While at the Mission some of these men will begin to realize
that there are people who genuinely care about them. They will attend their
first chapel service in many years. While in that service they will hear,
perhaps for the first time, that there is a God Who loves them. They will hear
that there is One Who can wash away the sins of their past, and relieve them of
their burdensome guilt. They will hear, for the first time, that hope can be
found in living a life of obedience to God. They will learn that true joy can be
theirs. They will come to understand that this God wants to know them
personally...
...and some of these men, will, for the first time in their
lives, meet their Savior!! We look forward to being a part in helping introduce
men to Jesus!! Thank you for the part that you play in equipping us to carry on
this remarkable work. Happy New Year!!
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