Monday, August 17, 2009

August 17, 2009

The Lord has been doing some amazing things in and through the Church in the Woods ministry in recent weeks -- so many things that we've fallen behind in writing about them.

One woman who had been hospitalized after being beaten by her husband surrendered herself to entering a Christ-centered rehabilitation in Florida. She has been transformed by the experience and the overflow is transforming her husband and her family. This woman is hoping to run a similar center for people in need here when she is fully recovered. Her husband is working, has been sober for more than 100 days, is attending substance-abuse meetings and is in a zero-tolerance halfway house. We are praying they will be reunited with their children under God's amazing grace, but please pray for the man's mother, who is dying. One of their sons has been calling missionaries for support and consolation as God moves in his life as well.

In the past few months, more people have begun working with the homeless, with shut-ins, and in gang neighborhoods. God has moved in other ways as well, sending several people to hospitals and even to jail to begin His mighty work in their lives. One former homeless man called to say he has remarried and is substance free.

As prayers and ministry have increased, so have the miracles. A woman who has been homeless for more than 15 years just reported going more than two weeks without drinking -- a miracle to all her friends in the woods and one that is making many of them rethink their own issues. Part of the transformation has been a reunion with her brother, who is showing her love and acceptance after 14 years without contact.

One homeless man is preparing to go through alcohol treatment and may go to the Florida treatment center as well. Another woman went several days without drinking and began ministering to others -- setting up donations of ice and finding large waterproof tarps. Several are considering taking classes at Wake Tech to get some job skills. Yet another man who had been in jail is working and saving money before going home.

Several homeless men have begun meeting missionaries on the railroad tracks on Sunday for impromptu "church" services, where missionaries have been provided who speak Spanish! These men are praying to God to help them make a difference in the world for the next generation, partly because they were blessed to have children among those ministering to them in the woods.

In addition to increasing numbers of volunteers, contributions are soaring. A local church wants to donate $500 to CITW, with three-fifth designated for the Apex mission. A local caterer heard about the ministry and offered up some leftover food -- 150 fresh eggs, 4.4 pounds of Swiss cheese, a case of broccoli and a case of lettuce. As a result, more than a dozen families received quiches or eggs and produce. A few days later, the caterer donated 20 pounds of shrimp and other food and hopes to be able to prepare entire meals for the outreach in coming months. Now she says she may just order extra food for her business every week to be given away.

A local church wants to plant a fall garden for a needy community in Apex and has donated backpacks to the children in need in the Apex missions.

Some donations come from unexpected directions. A man who had been blessed with food at a "fire pit" gathering downtown wants to detail a missionary's car for free in thanks. A woman who met Apex missionaries has admitted to being an alcoholic and wants to spend more time with the missionaries because she sees the light of Jesus through them. She wants to donate pasta salad to others.

Please pray for a man who was in a car accident. He broke his hand and has a blood clot in his leg. He is in rehabilitation now. We also need prayer for a woman who has a blocked artery, for three people with diabetes and high blood pressure and for a woman with swollen feet.

We thank God for His glorious work among us and for all of you who support His work in prayer.

June 14, 2009

The Lord is such an amazing, loving God!

His healing hand has been all over the Apex Mission.
Violet asked missionaries to lay hands and pray for her granddaughter (age 2)
for her heart condition. At her doctor’s appointment, the procedure he was
planning to schedule has now been postponed. The doctor wants to recheck her in
6 months. Thank You Jesus!!!
Thomas had prostate cancer many years ago and it had been in remission until 3
months ago. The doctor wanted to recheck him in 3 months and then begin
treatments. Thomas asked missionaries to lay hands on him and pray. He again
asked the day prior to his colonoscopy. He came back from his colonoscopy with
his first clean procedure in years. Thank You Jesus. He had gone to his
urologist this week for is PSA results. The test results were so low, the doctor
repeated the test and again they were within the normal range. The doctor told
Thomas he didn't know how to explain it. Thomas responded "those little white
girls who love Jesus so much, laid hands on me and prayed. You could just feel
the healing power of Jesus flowing through my body." God is so faithful and
good!
Ms. Emma has back pain and asked for missionaries to lay hands on her and pray.
She told them that she could feel the power of Jesus grabbing the pain, and
taking it away! We praise You Lord Jesus for Your healing touch.

The Lord is also the ultimate provider for hundreds of people in Western Wake
County. Missionaries are now serving areas not only in Apex, Cary and SE
Raleigh, but in Fuquay and Holly Springs. The Lord has such a heart for the
poor, orphans, foreigners, elderly and widows. Thank You Lord for touching the
hearts of area grocery stores - Food Lion's, Harris Teeter's, Whole Food's, and
Lowes Foods, area churches - too many to list, individuals - too many to list,
other ministries - such as Brown Bag and Helping Hands of Apex, and area
restaurants - Catering By Design and Carrabba's, for modern day gleaning. Lord
you know the needs and You provide abundantly!!! We thank You and praise You
Lord Jesus!
Because of these donations the Western Wake side of the CitW ministry is
virtually cost free for His missionaries. Isn't it just like Jesus, who so
freely gives? Thank You Jesus for Your abundant grace, mercy, and love.

Three years ago, an Indian woman working at a Food Lion asked for prayer that
she get a job at a bank to help feed her family. The next week she got the job
and was praising God. Last week she was laid off from that job after three years
working in it and saw the same missionary at the same Food Lion. His company (a
credit union) is hiring and he is getting her an application to work there.
Isn’t God amazing putting people together?

A woman who has been living homeless for 17 years was blessed last month when
her brother found her and they saw each other for the first time in many years.
Now she is proudly displaying pictures of him, his wife and the niece she
didn’t know she had (now graduating from high school). And her brother is
coming back for another visit next week.

When a homeless Hispanic man was having seizures and fell down, breaking his arm
in two places, another homeless man was there to carry him away from the road
then to call 911 and missionaries to let them know he was on his way to the
hospital. At first, it was believed this man also might have lung cancer. But
after many prayers the lung spot proved to be an old injury. Doctors have told
the man to stop drinking and smoking, and he says he is trying hard to cut down.

The family of another man is coming for a visit from Pennsylvania. It will be
the first time is over 15 years since he has seen his early twenty year old
daughters. He is afraid they will try to get him to return there to take care of
his ailing father. But he is such a great caretaker, this would be a wonderful
way for God to bring about healing and reconciliation to the entire family. We
are praying that happens.