The Lord is so gracious and merciful.

Gospel Meditation - by Don Schwager: John 4:43-54

God's mercy connotes his generous love -- a love that bends down in response to our misery and wretchedness. Do you approach the Lord Jesus with the readiness to believe in his word and to do whatever he commands?
"Lord, your love never fails. Increase my faith and confidence in your saving word, make my hope in your promises strong and unwavering, and inflame my heart with consuming love for you and with kindness and mercy for my neighbor."

The Lord knows all things including the need for a side dish for the Saturday Moore Square outreach. The Brown Bag ministry brought over 15 gallons of potato soup, 10 for Saturday and 5 for Sunday. While the missionaries were catching-up, it became known of the need of toiletry bags for the Eliza Park Easter service. They were able to give away boxes of toiletries, razors, snack food, and socks to help with the Easter bags. The following morning 6 pounds of salad was donated for the Saturday Moore Square outreach.

A prayer warrior called this week with information of a warehouse in Cary for lease. Several Cary/Apex homeless ministries have been asking the Lord for a building with showers, a kitchen, and bedrooms. This building answers these prayer requests. Continue to pray for the Lord's provision of His perfect building so these four ministries to provide transitional housing for the homeless.

The couple who moved into a home have been once again blessed with the provision of furniture. There will be a "southern pounding" for those interested in donating a pound of this or a pound of that, Saturday, April 1 from 10 AM- 2 PM. Please contact Cindy at 387-0921 for directions.

Please continue to pray for the couple in search of a home. They have made some promising phone calls and plan to look at a home Friday walking distance from their jobs. Please pray for their wedding April 22.

There are several looking for places to live. With everyone's limited income, many are looking for roommates. Please pray asking the Lord to show each one His perfect place for them to call home.

This week has been a week of trials. Scriptures from Isaiah 40:28-31, Hebrews 12:2-4, and 2 Thessalonians 3:13 have given new strength with each trial.

There is arson among those in the SE Raleigh/Garner woods. Several camps have been burned over the last month. This week another camp was turned into ash. When confronting the suspected arson with the police present, the Lord's lamb was arrested for an outstanding failure to appear for trespassing charges, while the suspected arsonist was given a ride to the lost lamb's camp.

Please pray for the lamb in jail. The lamb is so filled with anger and frustration. May the Lord continue to protect those in woods. Missionaries are thanking God that only one person has been injured by these fires. Missionaries are thanking the Lord for the people who have donated tents and sleeping bags to assist those who have been victims of arson. Please also pray for the lost lamb who is the arsonist.

One of the Lord's lambs received notice to move from state property last week. He came home from work to find his camp and belongings removed. Another of the Lord's lambs blessed him with a tent and sleeping bag.

One of the Lord's lost lambs has agreed to be placed into a rehab treatment program. Praise God!

Please pray for the lamb suffering from complications of liver damage. His treatments are becoming more frequent.

Missionaries received a phone call today concerning one of the Lord's lambs caught pick-pocketing a purse. Please keep this lamb in your prayers as missionaries talk with this lamb. Missionaries do not want to bring someone to a place where a lost lamb will not be able to resist temptation or will bring harm to anyone. Please pray for repentance, discernment, and wisdom.

One of the Lord's lost lambs was stabbed in the face multiple times Friday. His attacker is in jail awaiting his hearing in April.

Several of the Lord's lambs have trespassing court dates in the month of April. Unless the charges are dismissed the "trespasser" must pay $110 - $150. Please keep these lambs in your prayers.

Another lost lamb goes to court in April for felony charges. Please keep this lamb in your prayers.

Earlier this week one of the Lord's lamb called wanting prayers for a tumor on her ovary found by doctors. Tonight she called to say it is just a cyst. God is good!. This couple is doing so well. They have fallen in love with the church they are attending several times a week.

Thank you, dear Father, for the many ways you have confirmed my faith in you. While I have gone through seasons of doubt and struggle, you have also blessed me with obvious answers to my prayers and your leading in my life has been clear. Bless me as I try to share this story with those who are closest to me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Thank you for allowing us to share how the Lord is working in so many lives.

You can subscribe to churchinthewoods-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive all the missionaries' praise reports or read them on the “least of these” blog. The site is http://least-of-these.blogspot.com/ .

The soul that walks in love neither tires others nor grows tired. - St. John of the Cross

Gods Affirmation of Inclusiveness

Many of you may know one of the reasons some of the missionaries became involved with Church in the Woods stemmed from a passion for inclusiveness in the body of Christ.

Recently, a missionary has been participating with a group whose ambition is to transform the City of Raleigh -- and ultimately the State of North Carolina -- with the love of Jesus. One of the presentations this group prepared has a great Christian roadmap of how this transformation may be accomplished. At a central point in all of it -- right after WHERE TO BEGIN -- was this slide:




















It goes on to say that inclusiveness is the gateway to expanding the Church's reach from the congregation, to the family, to the community and, ultimately, to the world.

Missionaries shared stories with this group about God moving among the homeless. They saw these stories as Godly affirmation that their constant prayers are having an impact. They are seeing similar miracles in workplaces, in schools, in churches as God breaks down walls and barriers that have kept His children isolated.

Please keep this group in your prayers. Visit their website at www.transformnc.com for more information and to see the entire Powerpoint slide show.

March 24, 2006

We are thanking the Lord for you, your prayers and your generous hearts.

Monday afternoon, a missionary thought she heard the Lord suggest that she watch Oprah. She shook her head “knowing” that couldn’t be the Lord. Tuesday a faithful prayer warrior contacted the missionary telling her about the Monday Oprah show, titled, “Oprah Special Report: Inside the Lives of America's Poor”. Here is the web site:
http://www.oprah.com/tows/pastshows/200510/tows_past_20051012.jhtml

Tuesday in spite of the rain two of the Lord’s lambs moved into their new home, by the way, the rain stopped while loading and unloading furniture. The outpouring of love and donations is miraculous. In one day the couple has received - 4 plates, 4 sets of knives, forks, spoons, steak knives, pots, pans, bed and frame, bed spread and shams (pillows inside), 2 sets of sheets, mattress pad, blankets, comforter, 2 pillows, washer and dryer, 2-living room type chairs green, 1- 21” TV and corner table, a rug, a coffee table, kitchen table and 4 chairs, complete with placemats, towels, seat cushions and a table decoration. One of the lambs was so touched by Jesus’ love, he prayed aloud. Seven missionaries/prayer warriors were able to pray with the couple, blessing their home. One of the missionary’s sons said, “Now he has a home, so he can be head of the house.” The Lord is also providing outdoor furniture loveseat glider w/ cushions, table and 2 chairs, side table. planter (will fill w/flowers).
A prayer warrior suggested a "Southern Pounding" for these lambs. Many didn’t know what it is. April 1st between 10 and 2 Church in the Woods is asking those feeling called to bring a “pound” of something, whether it is food, silverware, towels, cleaners... Please contact Cindy Boyce for a list of needed items. Her phone number is 387-0921 and email cboyce@nc.rr.com . Anyone called to write them congratulatory notes may also contact Cindy for their address. These lambs want to be married, but are worried about taking the time from work to get their marriage license and blood work. Please pray for the Lord to open their eyes to how the Lord will prioritize each one’s day finding the time. Please continue to thank Jesus for their Christian landlords, for their concern and willingness to mentor this couple.

We are thanking the Lord for your prayers for the lamb who moved to WV. Her test results were great, no signs of tumors or any other abnormality.

Two of the Lord’s lambs joined an area church women’s night out Wednesday. One of the lambs announced she is pregnant, due early November. She and her husband were baptized Sunday wanting to bring their child into a Christian home. Please keep them lifted in prayer as they search for a home and jobs. Pray for her health and the health of their child. This is her first child. She is epileptic and over 40.

Missionaries have used this one auto repair shop for over 10 years and suggested it to the lambs receiving their car. When taking with the owner, missionaries were told how the Lord touched his heart through servicing this car. He is taking a class titled “40 Days of Community” during lent. He discussed his walk with the Lord, learning to serve within his church community and growing to serve outside the church. He felt the Lord telling him to not charge labor for the repairs and will not charge labor for further repairs the car needs. Talk about explaining the Lord’s territory!!!

Two area churches donated food this week feeding the Thursday night, Friday night and Sunday outreach.

The former owners of the Suburban Lodge contacted a missionary wanting to donate to the Church in the Woods ministry.

The Lord is consistently growing the numbers of the Thursday night outreach as the land where the Lord’s lambs live is decreasing in area. The increase of the Thursday outreach in turn grows the Sunday church outreach. The Lord knew when He placed on missionaries’ hearts that the SE Raleigh/Garner lambs needed the extra time for planting His Word and spreading His love. What a blessing to see the fruits of His harvest! The Bible study and discussion group remained large after dinner. Both groups read Matthew 27, “The Death of Jesus”, “Jesus’ Burial” and “the Guards at the Tomb”. Many had read these accounts before but didn’t remember “The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” and “He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.” These encouraged reading of the same scriptures from the other 3 Gospels. Matthew is the only who cites these occurrences. It led to a blessed discussion of the resurrection.

The Lord is asking two lambs to be married April 22nd They are planning their wedding, trying on wedding dresses from missionaries and praying for food and decorations. Anyone feeling called to assist with the wedding preparations please contact Cindy. Her phone number is 387-0921 and email cboyce@nc.rr.com .

The Lord has placed on so many hearts the need to join society again having a job and a roof over his/her head. Please pray for homes for these lambs. There are now four couples (one with 3 children and another expecting) and two single men asking for these prayers. One couple is looking in Fuquay, the single men are looking in the Cary/Apex area.

One of the Lord’s lambs called praising the Lord. He was charged with trespassing last month when caught sleeping under a bridge on a rainy night. He had tried the shelter, but his lottery number wasn’t selected. The fees and fines were to be $110 or time in jail. The Lord dismissed the charges, also dismissing payment. God is good!

Two lambs need your prayer. She fell into a fire cutting open her face and burning her leg. She sought medical attention and medication to reduce the effects of detoxification. Both plan to “detox” on the medication in the woods. Please keep them in your prayers. This is can be deadly even under medical supervision. Both attended the outreach last night and God willing want to attend church Sunday.

The director of Church in the Woods needs your prayers. The town of Garner has given the missionaries a citation for operating a “group home” without a license. Missionaries are grateful for His opportunity to “work out the kinks” in the legal system before asking others to become host homes as part of the 10-year plan to end homelessness.

Thank you for allowing us to share how the Lord is working in so many lives.

You can subscribe to churchinthewoods-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive all the missionaries' praise reports.

March 21, 2006

We are thanking God for your prayers; the miracles of the Lord have been too many to wait until Friday.

The Lord asked five of Jesus’ lambs from Church in the Woods Thursday/Sunday outreaches to be baptized Sunday. Each one was able to tell the congregation why he/she wanted to be baptized. Seven adult CitW missionaries from the area church, the director of Church in the Woods, other CitW lambs, and the congregation were blessed to witness the Lord’s harvest. God is so good!

"And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life, that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. For in this the saying is true: ‘One sows and another reaps.’ I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you have entered into their labors.” John 4:36-38 (NKJV)

So many were blessed Sunday when they were able to meet two lambs’ children for the first time. The three boys were able to celebrate one’s birthday with his parents for a weekend visit. The family was able to attend church and the Sunday outreach. God is so amazing. Keep this family in your prayers. The Lord’s lambs want to be married April 22, 2006. They are both working, and searching for the Lord’s place for them as a family to live. Also pray they will again have custody of their sons.

One of the Lord’s lambs through prayer and the Lord’s guidance was able to begin receiving his disability checks again. Continue to pray he will make wise choices when the checks begin arriving this week. He has asked for prayer in finding a place off the streets finding a new Christian filled area, surrounded by Christian friends, especially those from his church in Apex. He is meeting with a missionary today.

Friday, a lamb had asked we pray for His apartment the Lord already set aside for them. The Lord gave them a house a quarter of a mile from the missionary family where they have been living. The Christian couple who own the home have asked if the couple would mind “looking in” on the elderly women who lives next door. The Lord knows His lamb’s passion for the elderly. The Christian couple prayed over it Thursday evening giving them the lease Friday evening. The Lord’s lambs are able to move in this week. The Lord has blessed them with furniture from the Christian landlords and fellow Christians from the church they attend, including a washer and dryer. They have also asked to be married April 1, 2006. Praise God! They will received their donated car today. Please continue to pray for them as substance temptation may be a problem. In the transition home the Lord has provided, substances have not be allowed. When the move in pictures will be posted.

Some of the lambs have already started moving to new areas from the Garner/SE Raleigh area. One moved to Asheville last week. Please keep him in your prayers. His mother and sister live close to Raleigh and he is very close to both.

The Lord’s lamb in CA went with his sister to his doctor appointment this week. The Lord provided them with a blessed experience.

Please pray for one of the Lord’s lambs who is looking for a room with a Christian housemate. At present he is living in the Men’s Shelter and feels he needs to move into a Christian environment closer to his job in Cary. Please keep this lamb in your prayers as he appears in court Thursday for sleeping under a bridge charges.

The lambs who moved to WV are praising the Lord brothers will be reunited next month. They have not seen each other in 7 years. Please pray for her as she is receiving test results today concerning her continual heavy bleeding.

Friday morning a prayer request went out asking for a bicycles ministry for the homeless. By lunch the Lord had answered the prayer through a prayer warrior and the local paper. This email was received and forwarded.

“When I read the update from Church in the Woods looking for bikes I thought of this article in today's N&O (http://www.newsobserver.com/1076/story/418768.html). It is about a volunteer group that repairs bikes and gives them to people that need them. There is a contact email address of 1304bikes@gmail.com. It could be a wonderful match between the bike volunteers and the homeless that need them.”

The missionary responded, “Thank you SO much for getting word out about my efforts to find bikes for the homeless people that my church serves weekly. I can't believe how fast God works sometimes! I got the idea yesterday morning of starting a bike ministry, and I will be emailing that volunteer group to try to see how they can help. I will keep you posted!”

Another email was received Friday, “I was telling our home group about the CitW ministry to the homeless. Is there anything we can do for that ministry as a group? We are working through the 40 days of Community (Rick Warren) and our church has asked that each group do some kind of outreach or ministry as a small group.” Please pray for the home group as each one takes another leap in faith serving the Lord’s “least of these."

As an aside, a missionary went to a Shelia Walsh conference in Pittsboro. The issue of Children Soldiers was discussed. Please read the World Vision article (http://www.worldvision.org), pray over it and do as the Lord directs each of your hearts.

Northern Uganda Child Soldiers: Due to the ongoing war in northern Uganda, children are kidnapped to be soldiers and sex slaves, 1.6 million Ugandans have been forced from their homes, and more than 50,000 children are forced to walk miles from home at night, alone, to seek safety in towns. Please contact your representative and senators. Ask them to help end this crisis!

Thank you for allowing us to share how the Lord is working in so many lives.

You can subscribe to churchinthewoods-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to receive all the missionaries' praise reports or read them on the “least of these” blog site.

Church in the Woods Video

We are grateful to Hope Chapel for making this video possible. It captures so much of the mission of Church in the Woods:

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22church+in+the+woods%22&btnG=Search+Video

More Praises for March 17, 2006

Sunday the Lord moved rapidly through an area church. Two of the Lord's lambs asked Jesus to be his/her savoir. One said, "I'm saved, but not Holy. I want to be Holy." Three lambs signed-up to be baptized Sunday, the 19th.

At the Sunday luncheon outreach missionaries were told eviction deadlines were approaching. One area's deadline is March 31st. The area these lambs were planning to move was given an eviction date by the local police of May 1st. With now three evictions, most of the SE Raleigh/Garner group will be relocated. The Lord has blessed some with homes - whether it is moving back to family or into apartments. Others are moving to the eastern part of the state or the mountains, Cary (with the new bus system) or Fuquay (with still wooded areas). Missionaries were told that Asheville has a wonderful homeless program.

One of the Lord's lambs was called Sunday while the group was still near the phone. He asked each person he spoke with to stop drinking. when he gave each one his testimony of living and dying.

While his sister-in-law talked with a missionary, she asked about a National Registry for families searching for homeless loved ones. After checking with other missionaries in NY working with the homeless, it was found there is no such registry. Most are interested in supporting the homeless. None have been found to support the families who are missing his/her loved ones or even how to help one find a loved one. The closest is The National Coalition for the Homeless at http://www.nationalhomeless.org . Missionaries have contacted the group and are waiting for a response.

One of the Lord's lambs has a group of men from an area church praying for him and offering to help him receive the benefits due the lamb. The Lord is answering their prayers. The lamb is now again receiving his disability check, including his back payments. The Lamb has asked for prayers as he receives his lump sum of 10 months back disability., that he find an apartment and that he stay away from temptation and keep walking with the Lord.

Another lamb received a car this week. The car is in need of repairs prior to driving. Please pray when she goes to reinstate her license. She is also looking for the apartment the Lord already set aside for her. She has until the 31st to find one.

Missionaries attended a local high school to talk with students about serving the "untouchables" of today in our own community. The discussion was made personal when students were asked to identify homeless people. The students were given cards with names and a "bingo" type card with traits, such as age, education level, family life, what he/she is doing and has done demonstrating what the missionary is able to see through the love of Jesus. The list the missionary read was what the world sees when the one looks at an "untouchable" of his/her neighborhood. The readings were very different, as you can imagine. Another personal touch was when the student wanted to see the map where the homeless live in Wake county. Every student had homeless living within minutes of his/her home. A student approached the missionaries asking how she can serve the homeless of her community after school. She then followed-up with a email, " I'm interested in volunteering for your group on week days after school and possibly Saturdays (it depends on my work schedule)... I'm essentially looking for a non-profit job while I'm in Boston, and am particularly interested in homelessness prevention and aid." God is so good, calling the heart of someone young. Praise God!

A fellow missionary was called this week. The lamb Jesus has asked this couple to "adopt" was being beaten. He was hiding and crying out to the Lord through his sister and brother in Christ. The missionaries called on their way to pick him up praying for a hedge of protection. They were told to have faith and know the Lord will protect them. The missionary praying also prayed for them to know the Lord went ahead of them. When they arrived, they came to the scene with the police already there. They were able to relocate the lamb to a safer environment now in Cary. Please pray for this lamb as he is asking for the Lord to help him change his sinful ways. We are thanking the Lord for these fellow missionaries daily walk with Jesus and daily commitment to disciple the Lord's lost. It is challenging for local missionaries to work a full-time secular job and to be a full-time missionary. So many think of missionaries as those only traveling afar, instead of anyone "sent to spread the Christian faith among members of a community".

A missionary is on a freecycle loop, always in search of camping equipment and other items the homeless can use. A fellow missionary requested bicycles for Jesus' homeless her church serves. Her small church serves "two mornings a week (Monday and Thursday from 6-8am) we have breakfast, coffee and lunch food available for low-income and homeless men and women. Our building is next door to Labor Ready, which finds daily and temporary work for these people, and they are up at 5am to come there to find a job for a day. Just today, two men told me how much they walk to find work, and could use a bike." We are thanking the Lord for how so many of Jesus' children serve His kingdom daily.

Our House is a movie with Doris Roberts about homelessness. It airs March 25, 2006 at 9 PM.

The First Requirement of Ministry - TGIF Today God Is First, by Os Hillman The priests are in mourning, those who minister before the Lord. - Joel 1:9. The first requirement for being used by God in the life of others is to mourn on their behalf. We must identify with their pain and suffering. Each of us must be broken for others first.In order to be fully used by God in the workplace, we need to understand what breaks God's heart. When we understand what breaks God's heart, we are able to mourn on behalf of a grieving person, or a nation we are called to serve. What breaks God's heart? When we begin to answer this question, we begin the first step to becoming instruments of change for those things that are important to God. Perhaps it is an overemphasis in our own talent and abilities, or lack of complete trust in Jesus. Perhaps it is the lack of respect for human life that leads to the killing of innocent babies. Perhaps it is the deceit and pride that often rule the workplace of commerce. Or perhaps it is the strife and divisions among His own Body that grieve Him most. When we begin to mourn over our own sins in these areas, God begins to use us as instruments of righteousness to affect these things. It was only when God let me see my own sins in the workplace and how they broke His heart that I began to be an instrument for His purposes.Today, ask God to show you what things in your world are breaking His heart. Then see how He might want you to be the priest to affect for Him. The first step is identification with what breaks God's heart.

Thank you for allowing us to share how the Lord is working in so many lives.

March 17, 2006 Praise Reports

We are thanking the Lord for your willing hearts and compassion as we continue to see God working miracles among His lambs!

This week, the Lord blessed us once more with plentiful food -- four entire pizzas from a birthday party as well as food from two churches.

Someone from a missionary's church ran into one of God's lambs asking for money. He told this lamb he knew someone who could help -- and she immediately named two of the missionaries. The man said, "I'm sure they have given you wise counsel that you aren't following." She replied, "Yes, they told me I should leave my boyfriend because he beats me and I am still with him."

Please pray that encounters like this -- set up by God -- help make the right choices easier.
A missionary was deciding whether to pick up food at one church late in the day -- or whether to put it off until the next day. As he prayed, a homeless man stopped in front of his car at an intersection and asked for money. The missionary said he wasn't sure it was wise to give the man money, but offered to buy him dinner at McDonalds. When he asked the man where he wanted to be dropped off, it was halfway to the church with the food -- so God answered that prayer as well.

When the missionary arrived at the church, he was able to meet the new pastor there for the first time. This pastor was so enthusiastic about helping Church in the Woods. He asked many questions, got out a map to see where camps and ministries are located. When he asked how his church could help more than just giving food, he was told, "We are always looking for willing hearts to share the love of Jesus." He said he would urge members of his congregation to get involved.

Later in the week, a missionary was blessed to attend a prayer meeting with others who are praying to bring a groundswell of God's love and prosivion to Raleigh and surrounding areas. These prayer warriors are asking God to break down artificial barriers around churches, congregations, races, social status and economics to bring the Holy Spirit into schools, into the workplace and into everyone's hearts. They are seeing miraculous evidence of God's hand -- public schools allowing Christians to give presentations, YMCAs opening their doors to prayer meetings, Bible studies being sponsored in area businesses! Praise the Lord! Please pray that this group catches Holy fire and draws into it pastors, lay people and anyone else on God's heart!
As soon as this missionary returned from the prayer meeting, he was greeted at his own workplace by a woman who had clothing for God's lambs. She also has a shed full of furniture she would like to donate as people move into housing.

Thursday night, one of God's lost lambs returned to the Bible study. She had been in the hospital for two days, had been drinking and had been fighting with another lamb who is trying so hard to stay on his own path with the Lord. Both were touched by Matthew 27 (the story of events leading to the crucifixion) -- at how Jesus would not answer charges against Him, at how Judas chose to kill himself when he should have know that Jesus would have forgiven him even for his treachery.

Please pray that this woman, who says she loves Jesus, will let Him take over her life. The man has been praying for God to give him the gift of patience. He wondered aloud why this woman continues to pester him. One missionary said, "God wants you to earn His gift."