December 31, 2006

There are so many praises as we end up 2006 and prepare to serve the Lord in 2007!

Before we discuss the past week, please remember that Church in the Woods designates the first 10 days of each year as a time of prayer and fasting. We encourage you to make this a time when you give up something -- food, a favorite habit, television -- and whenever a craving for it arises, pray to God for His guidance in the New Year. We see this as a giving of "first fruits" by consecrating the first 10 days of our year to God. Another suggestion for fasting is to designate the money saved to give to those in need.

Isaiah 58:7-8 discusses fasting for a purpose:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

In Luke 2:37-38, Anna becomes one of the first to see Jesus after many years waiting in the temple ... "and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

Fasting is also mentioned as an important part of commissioning missionaries.

"As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away." -- Acts 13:2-3

During the 10-day fast, there will be nightly prayer vigils at the home of Alice McGee to seek the Lord's guidance. All are welcome. For more information call 772-7050.

Back to a long blessed week with the Lord!

On Dec. 23rd, an area church and many volunteers delivered 225 bags to the homeless at Moore Square. The bags contained Recovery Bibles, socks, gloves, scarves and other essentials for the winter season. Another area church gave over 30 bags with gifts for children. During this outreach, one woman approached a missionary and said she had just started a fulltime job but hadn't received her first check. She wanted help getting a motel room for her family for two days. The missionary prayed with her. A few minutes later, a church agreed to pay for the motel room out of outreach funds. The woman was praising God the rest of the afternoon! Many people were blessed with the use of cell phones, calling loved ones they hadn't spoken with in many years. A pastor found material for his Sunday sermon as he spoke with a faith-filled homeless woman who constantly praised God for looking out for her every day. He said he was humbled to think that, with all he had, he didn't praise God as often as this woman.

An area family adopted a family of lambs in Fuquay. The lambs called missionaries thanking God for all the gifts given to themselves and their three boys. They rejoiced with how good God is!

On Christmas Eve, many lambs chose to stay with missionaries after one church service, have a holiday lunch, then go back to church for the 6 p.m. service! Missionaries handed out Bibles left over from the Moore Square outreach and still more food was donated to the ministry. Later, one lamb staying with missionaries opened up about his past. The Holy Spirit appeared to be softening him even more after a week of shopping for gifts for those people God has placed in his life. He was able to visit his girlfriend at the hospital on Christmas Day and appeared even calmer.

Perhaps Satan chose this "opportune time" to attack. On Tuesday, the lamb was picked up for work by two others and they decided not to go, even when their boss said they would still have jobs if they showed up late. With no job, he returned to the woods and wasn't seen for several days. He was seen this Sunday in a pensive mood, trying to get himself together, preparing for what he hopes will be his final court appearance this Wednesday. Please keep him in your prayers.

A missionary's son has a new job at a Jiffy Lube thanks to recommendations by two lambs who work there! One of the lambs also fixed the brakes on the young man's car.

At the regular Thursday night outreach, two lambs were driven by a member of a local motorcycle gang that does outreach through several churches. The driver was excited to learn about Church in the Woods and said his group and the churches might be interested in doing more. He was especially interested in intercessory prayer in dark areas of the city -- something he said his group is already doing.

During prayer on Thursday, missionaries could hardly get a word in as lambs gave praise reports, prayed aloud for each other, for their own needs and for the nation's leaders. One new lamb came with an electric guitar tied to his back. He was so blessed to play an acoustic guitar brought by a missionary and to share songs and chords. Another lamb apologetically returned a Bible he had received, saying, "I only read the King James version." The group began studying the Book of Acts but only got threw a few verses because so many lambs were contributing to the discussions of the pouring out of the Holy Spirit.

The lamb who fixed the car is doing very well. He continues to get side jobs in addition to working at Jiffy Lube and is regularly attending AA meetings. He is receiving help from a church support group and continues to work to repair family ties.

On Friday, with the New Year approaching, missionaries received word that someone donated $500 for new car batteries to be brought to homeless camps where they are used as generators to power lights, small TVs and other appliances. Please continue praying for batteries and other items for the Jan. 13th outreach. CitW is praying to be able to purchase up to 50 batteries at an estimated cost of $2,000. Others are offering camp heaters, camp stoves, and propane. Tarps are also needed. The January 13th mission trip to the woods of Wake County is departing at 11 AM. For more information contact Alice at 605-5400 or appraisalnet@nc.rr.com .

Finally, on Sunday missionaries were blessed to see another lamb who had not been seen for several weeks. She is staying at another lamb's trailer and is planning on attending church next week. She is substance free and looks so healthy! An area pastor had an awesome message about putting our feet to our walk as Christians and reaching outside church walls to make a difference in the lives of those around us.

A lamb who's moped is in need of repair is asking for prayers for a bicycle. There is an area organization that repairs bicycles and donates them to those in need. Please pray the two can connect this week.

We are thanking the Lord for all of you, your prayers and Jesus in each of your hearts.

December 22, 2006

We are thanking the Lord for all of you and your prayers. There are many opportunities to serve the Lord’s least of these this Christmas weekend.

The Lord blessed those stuffing the Moore Square Christmas with His mighty abundance. Many hands make light work; 150 men’s bags and 75 women’s bags were stuffed with hats, scarves, gloves, socks, shirts, Recovery Bibles, Mary Kay products, and other toiletry items within an hour. The Lord not only provided for the bags but His abundance of Mary Kay products also provided for many military women in Iraq. In addition to these bags, another area church is stuffing bags for children. The Moore Square mission is at 12:30, Saturday.
The socks, hats, gloves, and scarves will be used on the next trip to the woods, January 13th at 11 AM. Contact Alice if you are interested in attending at appraisalnet@nc.rr.com. Please continue to pray for car batteries and metal luggage carts for this trip. The batteries are used as generators for those in the woods.

One of the Lord’s lambs now has a phone in his new apartment. He is thanking God for not having to keep so many quarters. A missionary took another box of donated items for his apartment this week. He loaded the missionary's car with Christmas gifts for his brother and sisters in Christ. God’s love is so powerful. He does not have transportation to attend church Christmas Eve morning. Please pray for a support circle for this lamb.

Missionaries are taking turns visiting one of the Lord’s lambs at work. He hasn’t been able to attend church in several months due to his work schedule. He hasn’t been in touch with them and they are becoming concerned. Missionaries were able to talk with his bosses asking that he have off at least one Sunday a month. He was also given one of the Recovery Bibles and “Jesus is the Reason” candle as a Christmas present. Please pray for a support circle for this lamb.

A missionary was able to pick-up a couple from the downtown area for the Thursday mission. With a traditional Christmas turkey dinner, each lamb received a New Large Print Bible, “Jesus is the Reason” candle, a gift bag with snacks, and a gift bag with a note, candy, and fresh fruit from an area church children’s Sunday school class. The lambs were able to open each Bible to read and discuss the Christmas story from Luke. All but a couple of lambs received acupuncture. As the needles were placed into each lamb’s ear, each lamb relaxed, even those with anxiety issues. Missionaries were able to witness a more youthful change in each face. One lamb came into the mission angry about news concerning her being spread throughout the camps. Within minutes she melted into the praise music, became calm and had acupuncture needles placed in her ears. She began singing and opening her Christmas gifts. Another lamb asked for a ride home. Usually he wants to be dropped off at the convenience store and then take a 15 minute walk through the woods to his camp. Last night he asked to be dropped off at his trail head. He didn’t want a beer for his walk home. God’s love is so transforming!

The Homeless Memorial Service at Bethel House of God was beautiful last night. We are thanking the Lord for not forgetting the forgotten.

Another lamb is going to court today for open container and trespassing tickets. He has been substance free for almost a month and working fulltime. Please keep him in your prayers today.
Another lamb was joined by his support circle this week to assist him with Christmas presents for his loved ones. The home group is studying the Purpose Driven Life. Keep this lamb in your prayers as he is working a fulltime job and getting involved with Christian friends.

Please continue to pray for the area church who is offering showers, a hot meal, laundry, and NOW PLYWOOD on Saturday afternoons. The Lord knows the bait needed to catch His fish. Praise God!

An area church is preparing to serve the Lord with a Christmas dinner Christmas Day for “the least of these”. The meal will be served at 12:30. Please contact Carlene at 779-3654, if you would like to join them.

Church in the Woods is offering a Christmas Eve service at the Wilmington St Men’s shelter at 7 PM. Over 200 gift bags have been made by the Brown Bag Ministry.

Church in the Woods is starting at least one mission at Dorothea Dix. The first mission will be Christmas evening at 7 PM. Call Alice is you are interested in attending at 772-7050. Gift bags are also being provided for this outreach.

Have a Blessed Christmas! God is so good!

December 9, 2006 Camp trip posts

It's was my pleasure. Thank you for coordinating this. I don't have an elaborate story; just an observation. Our first stop blew just about every stereotype I had contrived in my head. We approached this lamb living in a combination cardboard/pallet slat hut with plastic sheeting. 30 cats scampered around the site. This guy of short stature emerges after a few calls, greets us like we were carolers in the neighborhood and sets about telling us the reasons he's there while proclaiming the Gospel. Some of his ideas might have been picked from my own idle contemplations during long hours in the car on business; others were a bit 'out there'. Nevertheless, we offered our bounty which he politely declined except some fresh fruit and water after some persuading. He said 'I don't need anything, I'm good but those fellas living over in the building are bad off'. Here was a guy living on the absolute margins accepting (actually embracing) his lot but showing concern for others he considered less fortunate. It floored me. And it made me feel truly guilty for having uttered some nonsense about having little going for me earlier in the week. I needed that. It made me realize I've got everything going for me I now realize, I just don't take adequate time to fully appreciate it. If this lamb can, surely I can find the time to thank Him and spending a little more time in Ecclesiastes 5 figuring out what I should be focusing on.
Mark

December 11, 2006

We are thanking God for all of your prayers and help. It has been another great week for this ministry.

Two of the lambs who have been working steadily and staying off drugs and alcohol had setbacks, but both have returned to jobs and attending AA meetings. Praise God for showing them their old ways are not what they used to be. They are both staying with missionaries as they work out their next steps. Please continue to keep them in prayer as each learns God's way of coping instead of worldly ways.

After a very long wait, another lamb is in his new apartment! He is so proud of this, his first real home in 29 years. People have graciously donated so many things that it was nearly furnished the first day. He is praising God for how good things are going and for all the friends he has. Several missionaries helped him decorate his apartment for Christmas! Please continue to keep him in prayer. He has celebrated 7 months of being substance free, but now has a great deal of free time.

A donor asked CITW whether they might be able to use some Bibles. A missionary quickly agreed they would be a blessing, thinking maybe 10 or 20 would be donated. Imagine the surprise when 230 large-print RECOVERY New Testaments, 40 complete large-print recovery Bibles and 12 Life Application Bibles in Spanish were ordered and most delivered to a missionary's door THE NEXT DAY. The recovery Bibles are designed specifically for people with substance abuse issues. God is so awesome!

Thursday night, a missionary provided free acupuncture to lambs to help rid them of addictions. Acupuncture is being used in cities around the US to rid addiction. Everyone consented to the treatments, which seemed to have an immediate calming effect on them. We can't wait to hear progress reports from the combination of acupuncture and prayer!

Donations of winter items are soaring, with churches, businesses and individuals bringing in blankets, coats, gloves, socks and many other needed things. Several area churches are joining together collecting items to make bags for His lambs at the December 23rd Moore Square's outreach. The sorting date is December 19th for anyone who wants to help. An area man continues to donate scented candles -- the latest batch may bless the elderly at a rest home where one of our former lambs is working. And the Pilot Club in Cary is interested in providing clothing and food to battered women.

Missionaries received baby food, diapers and clothing from an area thrift shop. The items were given to Faith Based Support Circles. The Faith Based Provider was able to give the items away within hours, with still a demand. Missionaries were looking in their son's car to find two more boxes. God is so good!

An area missionary has contacting a Kentucky town where the faith community transformed drug neighborhoods with the message: "Get Saved or Get Busted." You can read about the miraculous work of the Lord here: http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/61364.aspx. Missionaries hope to start a similar program in the Cary/Apex area.

A relatively new missionary who was interested in doing something once a month is finding the more you do for the Lord, the more you want to do. This missionary has provided transportation, hand and foot warmers, beverages and fellowship many times already.

On Saturday, about 30 people from area churches revisited 15 camps with blankets, coats, water, fresh fruit and other items to make the cold winter nights a little more tolerable. There was enough fruit left over to share it with more lambs on Sunday. The next trip to the camps will be January 13th. More information will be coming.

An area high school fund raiser had a surplus of 65 dozen doughnuts. The doughnuts were given to the Sunday Moore Square outreach as well as some of the area lambs.

A Triangle job agency has work in Research Triangle and two or three lambs in Raleigh are willing to pay $5 each per day for help getting to and from the jobs. Work is available through Dec. 22 and runs from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you feel called to provide transportation, please contact Alice at 772-7050.

An area chiropractic office completed its winter clothing drive last week. Not only did CitW receive winter clothing and blankets but a cash donation. God is the mighty provider.

The managers of the Southern Pines Teen Challenge spoke at an area church. The couple was at one time homeless in LA and now running the program. It is for recovering addicts with no age limit.

Here is an opportunity for part-time work for someone who has a heart for the homeless:

The Carying Place, a Cary-based non-profit agency serving homeless families seeks an effective part-time Program Assistant. The successful candidate is a superb organizer, a self-starter with a take charge approach, and works effectively with small groups of staff and volunteers. With understanding and sensitivity, he/she will respond appropriately to candidate families and major financial donors alike. A high comfort level with common computer software and file structures is required. Primary responsibilities include office management, program support, property oversight, and volunteer coordination.

If you possess empathy for the plight of homeless families and a desire to help them transition to a life of self-sufficiency, send cover letter and resume to: The Carying Place, Inc., Attn: HR Chair, P.O. Box 622, Cary, NC 27512 or info@thecaryingplace.org The full job description will be available on The Carying Place Website: www.thecaryingplace.org in a day or two.
A memorial service is being planned in memory of homeless men and women who have died. It is scheduled for the Bethel House of God off Sunnybrook Rd. in Raleigh on Dec. 21st at 7 p.m. For more information contact Paige Rainey at 856-2536.

We serve an awesome God!

December 1, 2006

With so many of the Lord’s blessings coming this week, all may not be remembered.

One of the Lord’s newly employed lambs needed size 12 shoes. We prayed for athletic shoes last week. Missionaries received 2 pairs of new shoes, size 12 – athletic and everyday shoes. God is the Lord of plenty!

The Lord knew that one of His lambs has a dog with food allergies. The dog is on a lamb and rice dog diet. With the shoes was a box of Lamb and Rice dog biscuits. A sister in Christ gave her some lotion, reminding her how worthy she is to our precious Jesus. What a blessing to know the Lord remembers every detail in our lives.

Thirty to forty brothers and sisters in Christ brought the love, warmth, and light of Jesus to the Lord’s lambs in the woods of Wake County on November 18th. Another team is planning to go December 9th. In addition to bringing Jesus’ love and warmth, they plan to bring His fruit. They are asking for fresh fruit donations. The teams are leaving from Worship Facility Magazine at 11:30. The address is 1616 Evan Road, Cary. It is at the corner of Evans and Cary Parkway. If you have any questions or donations, please contact Stephanie at snarron@worshipfacilities.com.

While brothers and sisters in Christ meet these lambs, please ask about sources of heat. An Apex church would like to start and fund a kerosene/propane account in the Cary/Apex area. Names and locations are needed for this account. The Cary/Apex kerosene contact is Alice at appraisalnet@nc.rr.com . Also please let the lambs know of the Cary church offering free laundry services, showers, and a hot meal. This church is on the TTA and Cary Tran bus lines. The laundry/shower contact is Stephanie at snarron@worshipfacilities.com .

Missionaries from Church in the Woods have been praying for support circles, especially for those who have accepted Jesus as Savior and been baptized. Monday evening missionaries received a call from a homegroup wanting to become a support circle. Training is being offered to become part of a support circle December 9th from 9 AM to 1 PM at the Men’s Healing Place, 1251 Goode St, Raleigh. This is close to the Raleigh Farmers Market. You can contact Roberta Macauley at Roberta.macauley@raldioc.org or 790-8533 ext. 32.

A missionary has contacted the Cary Golden Corral and been given permission to bring two bus loads of lambs from Moore Square December 9th. What a blessing for these lambs! The Lord is blessing this mission field with several meals during the lunchtime hour. This gift helps these lambs make it through the weekend without food for the soup kitchens that are closed all weekend. These extra “lunches” become dinners and breakfasts when so many would be without a meals over the weekend. God is the provider of every detail! Thank you Jesus!

Two area church youth groups are making gifts for those at Moore Square. One church wants to make gifts for the children there. The second has made scarves and is collecting socks and chapstick to be put into gift bags.

The blind lamb and her boyfriend in a wheelchair have been blessed with a place at a rooming house this week. God is so good!

A lamb contacted missionaries concerned that he may have cancer. After his visit to the clinic, he was thanking the Lord for having issues that could be easily corrected with medication.

Please keep an area urgent care doctor in your prayers. He is considering offering his clinics, paying for bus insurance, and providing a dentist for many of the Lord’s lambs.

Missionaries listened to sermon on “Connecting” Sunday. They asked the Lord so many questions: “Are lambs connecting with Jesus?”, “Are the seeds He has asked to be sown producing fruit?”, “Are they being sown in fertile ground?”… The Lord answered with a lamb selecting a tag from an Angel Tree. This lamb has spent all week trying to find a “sold-out doll”. Please pray that the 2-year old isn’t disappointed when she receives a different doll.

Another lamb who has moved to Indiana called. He is asking for prayer for his aunt. She is in ICU suffering from pneumonia and congestive heart failure. While catching-up, he told the missionary what he was doing while looking for employment. He is going to the area food bank and making box meals for those who are turned into the streets each evening. His town has a day shelter for 400 but can only house 50 each evening. He is part of the ECHO coalition bringing blankets and winter clothing to those on the streets each weekend. He wants to show others the love of Jesus he witnessed in Wake County, NC. God is so good!

Three of the Lord’s lambs attended an area church’s men’s Bible study this week. All have asked Jesus into their lives, two have been baptized. The third is visiting with missionaries as he saves money and finds a place to stay. Pray for an opening in a nearby transitional home. One of the lambs is looking for employment opportunities. A brother in Christ contacted him with work next week. God is the Lord of provision.

One of the Lord’s lambs is FINALLY moving into his apartment, Monday at 2 o’clock. Please pray that everything is up to code and there are no other mishaps to prevent this move.

Three of the Lord’s lambs received their first paychecks this week. Two of them are asking missionaries to save some of their money for them, giving them a weekly allowance of their choosing.

A missionary had emergency surgery on his foot yesterday, so the missionaries were not able to go to the mission last night. He has a staph infection, so please keep him in your prayers. His wife let him and son in care of two lambs, while she took a third lamb back to his motel. They stopped to pick up a cane, tried to get his check cashed, and looked for the “sold-out” angel tree doll. While she was shopping for the doll, he was trying to cash his check. She came out of the store to see the lamb in handcuffs. He arrived at her car to find it locked and then turn to see a similar woman with a similar shirt in a similar car next to her car. He opened the passenger door and started talking to her, realizing it wasn’t her. He apologized and left the car. A gentleman in the parking lot called the police. When the missionary explained, to no avail, she took her package to her car and met the gentleman who called the police. He told her how the lamb cuffed was trying to break into her car. She explained otherwise. He went to the police and explained. While one of the three police officers went into the store, she had the opportunity to talk with the officers about other homeless in the area, camp locations, and the love of Jesus. After the officer talked with the woman in the store the lamb was released. He went back to his room.

The book, Out of the Wild: Becoming Men on a Mission From God by Matt Lobel has been published. One of the four men profiled in this book is a missionary from Church in the Woods. This is a wonderful book for a men’s study group. It has discussion questions for each chapter, a list of online resources, and principles to follow if you want to walk closer to the Lord. For more information the website is http://www.outofthewild.com/ .

The latest edition of The RevWriter Newsletter, an online publication for ministers, includes a devotional by a CITW missionary about the blessings of working with the homeless. You can subscribe at http://www.revwriter.com/

Harvest Evangelism, the parent of a Raleigh-based group that is praying for a statewide revival, will be coming to Raleigh’s RBC Center for a huge conference June 22-24. We have seen God making way for huge changes as the Holy Spirit sweeps over Raleigh. Please prayerfully consider attending this conference. It is FREE!
http://www.harvest.org/crusades/2007/raleigh/index.php/123.html

Please keep an area Garner church in your prayers as they begin the weekly Saturday mission of transporting the Lord’s lambs for the opportunity of showers, a hot meal and a Bible study.

We are thanking the Lord for your serving hearts and your prayers

The Problem of Pain by David Jeremiah’s Today’s Turning Point
I love the Lord, because He has heard my voice and my supplications.Psalm 116:1
Dave Dravecky, the major league baseball pitcher who lost his throwing arm to cancer, has a reflective perspective on suffering: "In America, Christians pray for the burden of suffering to be lifted from their backs. In the rest of the world, Christians pray for stronger backs so they can bear their suffering. It's why we look away from the bag lady on the street and to the displays in the store windows. Why we prefer going to the movies instead of to hospitals and nursing homes."
Dravecky, who went on to found a ministry that reaches out to those suffering from illnesses and other circumstances, has taken a unique view on the "problem of pain." While pain itself is a problem, the bigger problem is how we respond to pain. Will we view it as a reason to be angry at God or an opportunity to reach out to Him for His help, comfort, wisdom, and direction? Just as reaching an unmarked crossroads presents a problem which way do we turn? so unexplained pain presents a problem: Which way will I turn in response?
You can solve pain's biggest problem by turning to God. Then you'll be in a place to hear from Him about where you should turn from there.
God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain. C. S. Lewis