Church in the Woods

Christmas Trees 2009

2009-12-21T15:42:00.004-05:00

Seven area companies sponsored decorated trees at Jordan Oaks this year. Jordan Oaks in turn donated decorated Christmas trees to families in need this year!!!We thank YOU JESUS!!!!

August 17, 2009

2009-08-17T13:17:00.000-04:00

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

2009-08-17T13:13:00.001-04:00

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 doctorâ€™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.
Isnâ€™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
didnâ€™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.

March 7, 09

2009-03-13T15:29:00.009-04:00

The Lord has been providing so many field workers/harvesters these last few months - those joining us on Wednesday, Saturdays, and Sundays and those starting new missions Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. As the Lord has called forth the hearts, hands, and feet of Jesus, He has also provided the needed manna! What a blessing!!! God is so good!
This past week a youth mission group from Wilmington, NC had their plans changed due to making up snow days. They contacted us to see if they could join us on Saturday morning to make and hand out lunches to those in need. One of the photos is the majority of the group in front of their bus. Imagine this bus traveling through these neighborhoods!!! What a message to the people, God’s presence is HUGE and VISIBLE! The second is of the group making lunches.
There were so many God-incidents. One being the group was going to Jordan Oaks Retirement Center afterwards. Jordan Oaks provides over 200 cookies each week for the Brown Bag lunches and one of our Saturday missionaries works there. Another the weather was picture perfect!!!
The youth made over 200 bag lunches for the Apex missions and assisted with the additional 1500 (yes, really a total of 1700+ bags) lunches being prepared that day. Then the youth boarded the bus, traveled to the mission neighborhoods, and went door to door bringing a lunch and the love of Jesus to so many people.
We thank You Jesus for Leah Bowman telling the WPB group about us!!! We had a blast!
We are thanking the Lord for all of you; your hearts, hands, and feet (and vehicles); and your prayers.
sending love and prayers
the boyces

December 17, 2008

2008-12-17T07:16:00.000-05:00

The Lord has sent workers to His mission fields in Cary, Apex, Holly Springs, along 401 in Raleigh, and a new mission on Lenoir St. The Lord has also blessed these workers with provisions of food, both physical and spiritual. What an opportunity to bring His love, living water, manna, and His living word to so many! Toys have been donated for so many families as well as clothing for the monthly “Gratis “ sale. We thank You Lord, Jehovah-Jireh -- the Lord our Provider.

On Saturday, the Lord provided a truck load of donated food, as well as boxes of food for single moms, close to 100 bag just in Apex and another 250 in Cary given away, all in the name of Jesus. Missionaries had the opportunity to pray with families in need of healing and lambs were blessed with the answer to prayers for food.

Coats and blankets were taken to many a few weeks ago in the Cary, Apex, and Holly Springs missions. Gifts for 20 children were donated, allowing a former homeless lamb to join with purchasing some of these gifts. What a blessing for her! Another family in Christ donated gently used and cleaned toys to be given to the children in need for Christmas and the “3 Kings Day’ celebration. Brothers and sisters in Christ have organized neighborhood collections for winter clothing. Churches have organized food drives to restock the food pantry. Gifts for the homeless have been donated, so many can experience the love of Jesus Christmas Day! Donated food from an area caterer and church allows meals to be taken to those in need, many recovering from surgery or the birth of children, and for the tutoring program that has started again on Saturday mornings. While at a luncheon for leaders who serve in the community, water and snacks was offered from the Red Cross and has been donated to be used by the Brown Bag ministry who donates 800 plus lunch bags each week to so many missionaries, equipping so many with the opportunity to bring the love of Christ door to door, building relationships with each person. These relationships allow the person to experience Jesus’ love.

The Body of Christ is such a blessing! The need has increased, but God is faithful and His provisions have also increased. We serve such an awesome God! Thank You Jesus!

What a blessing to be the hearts, hands and feet of Jesus with so many of you!

May all of you have a blessed Christmas!

Sending love and prayers,
The boyce’s

October 26, 2008

2008-10-26T10:17:00.002-04:00

We are thanking the Lord for your prayers. We would like to update you with answered prayers as well as new prayer requests.

Praises:
· The lamb with lung cancer now has oxygen and doing much better.
· The lamb who was paralyzed and returned to Mexico a year ago, is standing unassisted and able to take a few steps with assistance. God is a God of miracles!
· A lamb, who died last year, ashes were scatter this month where the people who loved him can think of him as they overlook the bay.
· A beautiful memorial service was held yesterday for a lamb who died two weeks ago.
· Thank You Jesus for the food you provided this month to feed so many people and families in need.
· Fiesta Day praises: The coat give away went smooth. We had 60 people more or less come to get winter clothes, the majority left grateful. Few kids and grown-ups didn't find what they needed (sizes) that was disappointing to us, but we did our best. We had the mariachi come to sing and he also ministered the word of God. The crowd being mostly non-believers found themselves at odds but little by little they welcomed his message. We prayed the prayer of salvation and most in attendance repeated it with us. God is so good!
· We are thanking the Lord for all the items donated this month. They included food, clothing, blankets, and paper products.

Prayer requests:
· A year ago a man had a stroke leaving him partially blind. He had corrective surgery this week. He is recovering nicely and moving to St. Louis to be closer to his sister. Please keep his recovery and move in prayer.
· A newborn baby was diagnosed this week with Sickle Cell Anemia-hemoglobin C disease. Please keep this family in prayer as they struggle with his diagnosis.
· Keep in prayer a lamb who was severely beaten this week.
· A lamb is asking for prayer as he decides which rehab program to enter. Pray he selects the one the Lord has in mind for him.
· The family, whose mother and fetal sister went to meet Jesus, have arrived safely home from Mexico. Please keep them in pray as they continue with life without their mother, wife, sibling, and friend.
· Continue to keep our son in your prayers. He is improving, less than a dozen episodes of apnea and cyanosis a day compared to 5 an hour. The doctors have no idea why he is having episodes of apnea and cyanosis.
· January 6th there will be a “3 Kings Day” party in Cary for the children at the Apex and Cary missions. Please keep these children in prayer as gifts are collected. A list will be available soon for anyone wanting to purchase gifts for these children.

2008-09-30T21:42:00.004-04:00

An area denomination held a women’s retreat in Apex with 200-300 women. The women were asked to bring items for the Cary and Apex missions and tutoring programs. We have attached photos of the generosity of these women. We are in AWE and thanking Jesus for His mighty abundance!

The snacks donations are so overwhelming that the chewy granola bars, peanut butter crackers, and raisins have been shared with the Brown Bag ministry. Brown Bag, we thank Jesus for you. You prepare over 500 bagged lunches each week!
Another ministry needed snacks for a conference this weekend! Thank You Jesus for Your mighty abundance!
The remaining items with be used with the tutoring program or bagged as groceries for so many families in need! Talk about Manna from Heaven.

As for the photo of clothing, over 100 coats were collected, along with hats, scarves, gloves, men’s, women’s and children clothing. An area church has donated their building to host “Fiesta Day 2” on October 11 from 11-1. The clothing will be given away there. The Brown Bag ministry will be supplying the bagged lunches and a local caterer the soup. A mariachi band will be performing, as well as, people giving their testimonies. Contact Carola for more information at 372-9750 or if you would like to volunteer. Please pray that the Lord provide bowls, spoons and napkins.

another lamb met Jesus last week

2008-09-29T07:37:00.001-04:00

Please keep Diane in your prayers for the loss of her husband. She had quit her job to become his full-time caretaker over 6 months ago. Pray that she continue knowing her true Provider, true Comforter, true Friend. Pray she, in God’s perfect time, is able to regain employment.
Her husband Steve has been sick for quite some time. He passed away a couple of days ago. We are thanking Jesus, Steve had accepted Jesus as his Savoir early when the mission began in April of 2007.
Interestingly, they live a few homes away from Maria’s family.

September 22, 2008

2008-09-21T13:28:00.001-04:00

Please keep Bob in your prayers. He is taking an oral chemo to extend his life. 31% of the people who take this drug, live a year. 24% who don’t take it, live a year with this type of lung cancer. After a quick walk into the grocery store and the Dollar General, Bob was winded. His case manager has called in to have someone who deals with people with cancer to come and spend time with him, help with things around the house, and possibly errands. It may possibly be someone from hospice.

God is so gracious, the day after Maria and baby Rosa died another women in the second Apex mission gave birth to baby Ryan. we were able to hold him yesterday and get some photos. Ryan’s mother also had gestational diabetes and blood pressure issues. We ask the Lord, how he chooses who to take and who to leave. His response was “Maria was ready and other isn’t,” so pray that she will be when her time comes.

Please continue to keep Maria’s family in prayer with their losses and travels.

Maria's family update

2008-09-19T06:35:00.002-04:00

From my understanding, Maria woke Thursday unable to see. After resting, she felt fine. The family had dinner. She, later that evening, went into convulsions. EMS was called, she coded at the house and was revived. She coded again on the way and couldn’t be revived. Baby Rosa was dead on arrival as well.
It was beautiful to see the neighborhood come together as the news trickled from home to home. God is so good, bringing such compassion and love.
The family has no money for this unexpected crisis. The most inexpensive way for her to be buried is to have a funeral home send Maria and the baby to Mexico. The cost, including burial in Mexico and airline tickets for Juan, Jesus, and Juan, is about $7000. Please pray that the Lord provides without additional hardship on the family.

Prayers for Maria and her family

2008-09-19T06:35:00.001-04:00

I sent the email below last month, but today I ask that you pray for Maria’s family again.

Maria joined Jesus last night.
She had blood pressure issues and asthma so severe last night, she was taken to Cary Wake Med, and didn’t survive the night. Her son, Jesus, (age 10) called me this morning to tell me the news, bless his heart, not something a 10 year old should have to do.
Keep her husband, Juan, sons, Jesus and Juan, and her father (Papa) in your prayers.
We can thank Jesus that Maria knew Him and at Fiesta Day, August 16th, she asked that her unborn daughter know Him as well. We don’t’ know if her unborn daughter, Rosa, was delivered or not. She was due in October. We thank Jesus that her sister-in-law, Christina, lives across the street.
We thank Jesus that Maria’s grandfather is in safe housing in Durham.

We thank Jesus that He, in His perfect timing, brought a Hispanic Church to serve Him in the mission this summer. Carola and Gilbert, what a blessing you and your church have been! We thank Jesus that the children have been involved with the Backyard Bible Club for over a year. Talli thank you for listening to Jesus and starting it at the mission, and Stacy, Tiffany, and team for continuing it. God is so good!

What a foundation Jesus has laid here with brothers and sisters in Christ to support this family and neighborhood! God is so faithful!

As we find out anything, we will let you know of any needs, other than prayers.

August 22, 2008

2008-08-22T20:46:00.000-04:00

God is so cool!
Tonight the Lord provided a feast for ~ 40 children and parents who were unable to attend Fiesta Day. The children received school supplies, painted sun catchers, had a time of fellowship and played hard on the playground.
The Lord has placed on Carola’s heart a meal and a tutoring ministry for the children in 4 of the Cary/Apex missions. Tutoring begins September 4th. A nearby church has been gracious enough to open their doors. Jesus has provided the food for this program. It will be Thursday evenings 5:30-7:30 PM including donated pizza and dried fruit. Thank You Jesus for Your mighty provisions!
She is praying for tutors. Many of the children are Hispanic. It is a great service project for those in Key Club, boy scouts, girl scouts... For more information Carola’s phone number is 372-9750.

The Lord's harvest

2008-08-16T06:21:00.000-04:00

Then He said to His disciples, "The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest." Matthew 9:37-38

Four years ago the Lord told us, the Boyce’s, to till the ground and sow His seed. As the years have passed, the body of Christ and the Holy Spirit have watered the seedlings, then maturing plants. In many tilled and sown fields, the Lord has faithfully sent out “workers” into His harvest. The harvesters are from different denominations and non-denominations – the true body of Christ!

With the Garner homeless mission, 20 months ago a church came for the great harvest. Now there are four churches tending the lambs, discipling them, bringing them into closer fellowship with Jesus and just loving then in ways that only Jesus can love them.
In Cary, six months ago a church came along to harvest the Lord’s precious fruit. Now they are discipling them and again bringing the unconditional love of Jesus there.

The prayer request today is for four “ripe” Cary and Apex missions. Today, August 16th, a Cary church is hosting “Fiesta Day”. Brothers and sisters in Christ from several churches (the Body of Christ) will be there to bring in the harvest for Jesus. Pray that the Lord’s harvest is bountiful!
The reaper is already receiving pay and gathering fruit for eternal life, so the sower and reaper can rejoice together. For in this case the saying is true: 'One sows and another reaps. ' I sent you to reap what you didn't labor for; others have labored, and you have benefited from their labor." John 4:36-38
Thank You Jesus! We are truly blessed to rejoice together!

lambs in need of prayer

2008-08-02T07:11:00.001-04:00

A of the family from one of the Hispanic Apex missions is in need of prayer. Maria’s grandfather has Alzheimer’s. They moved him from Miami a couple of weeks ago. Her father has had to quit his job to watch his father. They had to call the police Monday because he was lost overnight. He was found safely but they ask for prayers for a facility to take him. He does have Medi (care or card, not sure which or both), but his cards were stolen in Miami. They are trying to reinstate his cards as well as apply in NC.
Maria has had to quit her job due to a high risk pregnancy, gestational diabetes, asthma, and high blood pressure, with possible preeclampsia.
They are under quite a bit of stress and are asking for prayer.
We thank Jesus this family accepted Jesus a year ago, so they know “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world —John 16:33”, sometimes it is hard to believe it though.

Bob Harris called from Wake Med this morning. He has been seen by one of his UNC doctors, who just so happened to be at Wake Med. God is good!
His cancer has spread to his right lung. He has fluid around his left lung. The lung has collapsed. They are draining the fluid with a syringe. If that doesn’t work, he might be transferred to UNC where they will insert a drain tube.
He will meet with his oncologist to restart chemo, at an unknown date.

Mary Jo's mom died the 30th.
Mary Jo is doing well, sorrowful that she was not able to get to Chicago in time for one more good-bye, but knowing that was by God's design. She is asking for prayers specifically during the Wake hours. Please keep her and the family in prayer especially during those hours. Please pass this message on to those in your ministry, for we know the power of prayer.
In Loving Memory of: Margaret Zielazinski April 4, 1927 – July 30, 2008

In lieu of flowers, a donation to the Brown Bag Ministry would be most appreciated. Please make checks payable to “Brown Bag Ministry” and send to Mary Jo at the address below.
407 Grassy Point Road, Apex, NC 27502
The Brown Bag Ministry is a nonprofit organization that feeds the poor and homeless of Wake County, NC. To provide simple bag meals and basic necessities to those in need, homeless or otherwise. To establish hope through the human touch and joyful charity. Our organization currently makes 500 brown bag lunches every week that are distributed in Wake County, NC. In working with other churches in the area, we prepare and serve a hot meal for them twice a month. http://www.saintandrew.org/html/org_brown_bag_ministry.html
God Bless, and thank you in advance for your prayers for Mary Jo, and the Zielazinski family. Beth

Fiesta Day - collecting school supplies

2008-07-25T06:39:00.000-04:00

Fiesta Day is for the children in the Hispanic Apex mission, as well as the other Hispanic “least of these” neighborhoods in the Cary/Apex area served, grades k-8th. A huge undertaking for such a small church! But we serve a HUGE GOD with a HUGE BODY of BELIEVERS! THANK YOU JESUS!

Carol and Gilbert serves Jesus through the Apex Hispanic gang neighborhood (same location as the Backyard Bible Club, as well as, the same location as the Manna From Heaven food drop from Christmas - 85+ homes) AND other “least of these” Hispanic neighborhoods in the area. They are also pastors of the small church organizing Fiesta Day. They have been a HUGE GIFT FROM JESUS for us!

Fiesta Day also includes a clothing drive and crafts. Please add prayers for funding of the crafts and people who would love to serve Jesus that day.

Carol and Gilbert are designing a flyer and once received, it will be forward with all the information.

The address for Fiesta Days August 16th from 11-1.
The address is 3725 Kildaire Farms Rd, near the Ten Ten intersection.
Carol and Gilbert’s number is 372-9750
Carol’s email is revcpagan@earthlink.net

What a blessing to be able to go online to read the supply lists!
Here is a link for the children elementary age.
Link to Middle Creek Elementary Supply Lists:
http://www.middlecreekelementaryschool.us/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=8&MMN_position=42:42
Here is a link for West Lake Middle
http://westlakems.nextnethosting.net/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=38&MMN_position=66:20

An article in My NC e-magazine

2008-07-12T06:44:00.002-04:00

The article link is below
http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/community/story/4277/
church_in_the_woods_serves_ as_ministry_for_the_lost

Luke 10 in action in Wake County

2008-07-12T06:43:00.002-04:00

Mission teams have been praying for churches close to any mission site to minister to the least of these near their churches. The Lord is faithful! Read how the Lord has answered these prayers. We praise You, Lord, for the growth of Your kingdom!

Two weeks ago an Hispanic pastor and wife called to accompany the Saturday Hispanic mission. Their church is ~ a mile, as a crow flies, from the mission site. They asked to take over the Tuesday bounty and start a new mission. Today they have taken over the Hispanic Saturday ministry, as well as, starting a new one on Saturdays. With a call to the Brown Bag ministry, the bagged lunches were increased, just for Apex missions, from 40 to 115 each week. Thank You Lord for Your mighty provisions! Now the original Saturday mission team has the time and resources to go into a new area this morning. Keep both teams in prayer this morning as His kingdom is taken into new areas.
The fruits of this new Jesus team’s labor can already be seen. On the 1st the team took food to the new Tuesday mission site. They were able to pray with people and invite them to church. One of the families brought another family on Sunday, the 6th. While at church a family, not in a relationship with Jesus, asked for food and a job. The response was let's pray about this. On Tuesday the 8th , the food donations were so bountiful the team took food to the family telling them that Jesus heard their prayers. They, then, wanted prayer for a job. The next morning they called the mission team, the husband had a job. Pray as this family desires and develops a closer to Jesus through fellowship, asked and answered prayers, and discipleship.

The Lord has also answered those prayers through two churches in Garner. One church has been offering showers, clothing, laundry, medical missions, and fellowship on Saturdays for quite some time. The number attending each week has grown to between 20 and 30 lambs. Now several of the lambs are asking for rides and attending the church Sunday morning. They have developed such strong relationships with these lambs, they are visiting and sending cards to them in the hospitals and treatment centers. We are thanking Jesus for the one lamb in treatment now who calls daily in tears because of these cards and letters of encouragement! He knows he is loved. An Hispanic church is reaching out to the Hispanic population and offering them rides to their 3 services a week. We are thanking Jesus for His laborers!

What a blessing to witness Luke 10 in action in so many places! God is good!

How God uses the Body of Christ is so amazing!

2008-07-12T06:43:00.001-04:00

How God uses the Body of Christ is so amazing!

One lamb has touched many hearts over the last year as he has tried to be released from substance abuse. So many have lifted him in prayer!

This weekend, a grown daughter he hadn’t seen in 15 years called him "Daddy" and asked him to get help and then come see her.

He called a missionary to receive reassurance and prayer. That missionary called others who live near him and they sent someone to pray with him in person while others made encouraging phone calls.

This morning the lamb is at a treatment center, lonely and afraid but determined and relying on Christ. Thank You Jesus!

Please lift him up in prayer as he goes through detox. The next few days could be life or death.

The next prayer request is for clothing. He needs size 40 shorts/jeans, XL t-shirts, boxers, socks, and size 12 shoes. Mike will be collecting it. He can be reached at 363-7044.

Most important is constant prayer that he lean on Jesus for direction instead of himself and follow the treatment protocol through Jesus’ strength, not his own.

Finally, please pray that he does see his daughters when this is over and that it is a time of healing, forgiveness and repentance.

We are thanking the Lord for the way so many have pulled together through the Body of Christ and how God honors those prayers.

Mission Need

2008-07-12T06:42:00.000-04:00

Greetings in Christ from a new member!I work with H.O.P.E. Ministry at Garner UMC. We started this ministry about 18 months ago, with only two of our homeless friends attending. Now it has grown to an average of 20-25 each and every Saturday afternoon. We go out with our church van and pick up the homeless from three different locations around the Garner/South Raleigh area and bring them back to the church where they can take hot showers, get clean clothing and have a hot nourishing meal, along with fellowship and friendship from the people who are hosting their visit.Here's the problem: our church is so busy that it is getting harder and harder to guarantee that the van will be available every Saturday, because of Boy Scout trips, youth mission trips and youth activities. We do have a bus, but a VERY limited number of drivers with a CDL. We have additional men who are working on getting a CDL, but that's months away.We are in desperate need of another 15-passenger van. Please help us pray about this need and if ANYONE knows of someone who would be willing to donate such a vehicle, please contact Garner UMC at 772-2042.Thanks and blessings on each of you!

June 15, 2008

2008-06-15T09:22:00.003-04:00

What a blessing to witness the expansion of God’s kingdom! Each of these prayer requests demonstrates how Jesus is touching His lambs. Jesus’ light is being seen through those who spread the Gospel not just with words but with their behavior and actions. The lambs want some of Jesus but aren’t sure they can leave the old life. Each one is crying out, He hears their cries but they feel their faith is so weak. They need you to intercede for them and continue to be the Light of the World, in Jesus’ mighty name.

Garner
-This is the second time in 2 weeks a lamb has been admitted to the hospital. She wants to change her life and her body wants her life changed. Pray she will allow Jesus in and desire only Him
-A lamb talked with his family (mother, father, sisters, and DAUGHTERS) He wants to get treatment. Pray that this lamb calls upon Jesus for his strength.
-A lamb found out his cancer has grown. He goes back to UNC this week for a recheck.
-A lamb left a treatment center and called a missionary asking for a ride to return the next day. We ask that Jesus become a piece of him through these rides and visits. We pray that he desires Jesus in his life.
-Lambs have had their home condemned. Pray that as they grow closer to Jesus their lives will desire the new wine over the old.

Apex
-The gang graffiti has increased, so has the activity. Pray that Jesus’ presence is felt by all and the enemy runs.
-Someone fired several gun rounds, no one is saying whether anyone was shot.
-There is an increase in police activity, lambs are worried about deportation of parents with children being left behind again.
-A lamb has a high risk pregnancy. She knows Jesus and is asking for prayers for her baby girl that lives within her.
-A lamb is in the last stages of cirrhosis, although he has been substance free for over a year. He can no longer be left alone, so wife has had to quit her job. They asked for prayers for financial assistance. We ask that this couple come to know Jesus and know He is their provider and healer.

Cary
-pray for the couple who is beginning their walk with Jesus. Pray that they grow in Jesus each day and are discipled

Roxboro
-pray for the couple who has been reunited with their family, as they walk closer with Jesus each day. Pray that brothers and sisters in Christ disciple them in His ways

Durham
-Thank Jesus for the lamb who is walking with Jesus and being discipled. He is asking for prayer to grow God’s kingdom in Durham.

Greensboro
-A lamb left a treatment program a couple of weeks ago and has returned to Cary. Keep him in your prayers as he searches for the ultimate program, a life with Christ

Lyburn, WV
- a lamb's brother has colon cancer. She is asking for prayers for his healing.
-a lamb is dealing with diabetes

God is so good, a missionary has a business trip in Fremont, CA. He is praying he will be able to see the family of one of the Lord’s lambs.
Thank Jesus for the abundance of clothing, toys, bedding, and food that was received and given away this week. He is the mighty provider!
sending love and prayers,
Al and Cindy

May 22, 2008

2008-05-22T06:59:00.000-04:00

While serving during the Wednesday Apex mission, missionaries were given three prayer requests.
The store deli worker, where we receive food donations, is asking for prayer for her 4 month old grandson. He is severely anemic and being tested for a blood abnormality. Thank Jesus for His healing hands as you pray for William.
One of the parents at the mission is asking for prayer for her grandfather. He fell and broke his hip. While on pain medication he experienced psychotic episodes. The psychotic medications he has been given has increased these episodes to the point he is now in a psych. hospital. They are trying to alter/adjust the medications. Thank Jesus for His healing as you pray for Robert.
A lamb has been diagnosed with a rare blood cancer. Thank the Lord for His mighty provision and healing as you pray for Howard.
The gang graffiti has increased at this mission, along with an increase of police activity. Please continue to thank the Lord for His strong presence and protection and His love is strong.
Please keep a youth, who is assisting with the Wednesday mission, in your prayers. He is learning about the power of prayer and amazed each week how the Lord is answering. It is a reminder of Luke 10:9.
Praise God, a missionary is finally taking a Spanish class!

One lamb has quit his job and returned to the woods from the Sunday Garner mission. The temptation through old friends is great. Mark 9:42
Another lamb has taken a fulltime job. Thank the Lord as His provisions are used to glorify Him as you pray for this lamb. This lamb isn’t too sure about God. You know how to pray.
Another lamb was hospitalized with pancreatitis. This is often last stages of alcoholism. Thank Jesus that she knows Him and that she desires to grow closer to Christ.
Thank the Lord for the completion of a lamb’s 6th week in Malachi house in Greensboro.Thank the Lord for the lamb who is at Potter’s Wheel.
A lamb has completed his lung cancer treatment and waiting to hear the results of the treatments. Thank Jesus for His mighty healing.

Pray the alcoholics, drug users, drug dealers, gang members, and prostitutes in the area see the Light of Jesus, desire to have Him in their lives, and grow to know and love Him.

February 10, 2008

2008-02-10T21:13:00.000-05:00

Praises:
In Luke 10, the Disciples of Christ are asked to enter a home and say Peace to this home. If peace is received, it is a good place to stay. In the Apex mission a house of peace was found going door-to-door with bagged lunches and asking for prayer needs. One family had a prayer need answered and were told that God’s kingdom is here. The family asked to assist with the Wednesday ministry, praying over the Lord’s bounty each week, bringing His provisions to each home, and praying with the families in need. The family then decided to open their home for the children’s church. In the Hispanic community, a children’s church also included at least his/her mother. Every Sunday evening now “church” comes to the front porch of this family of peace. Tonight the neighborhood’s power was out. Instead of cancelling, the cars were turned into the yard facing the porch, so the car headlights could be used as lights, and the fellowship could continue. Praise God, soon the disciples of Christ will be able to move to a new area and find another family of peace to grow God’s kingdom.

The Lord opened the door to a new area tonight. Prior to the “children’s church” a young boy was attacked by a dog. His mother came to pick him up and took him to urgent care. When they returned for his bicycle, it wouldn’t fit in their car. A missionary offered to take the bike and follow them home. Their home was in a rival neighborhood. The missionary was able to pray with the family for the boy’s healings, invite them to the “children’s church”, possibly opening a door to another home of peace. Thank you Jesus!

A former lamb has moved into a transitional home in Durham. The Lord has placed on his heart to feed the poor in Durham. A Cary caterer is donating food each week for him to feed physically and spiritually the neighboring prostitutes, homeless, and drug addicts. Thank You Jesus! He wants to name this new mission after his daughter.

Thank You Jesus for the missionary who did the Cary mission. He is stepping down and another missionary has stepped up, but changing the mission location to another Apex area.

Prayer requests:
Keep the lamb in your prayer going through chemotherapy for lung cancer.

Keep the lamb in your prayers going through treatment of an unidentified “infection” on his forehead.

Keep two lambs in your prayers who want to come off of substances.

Keep a missionary in prayers who in going through trying times

Keep lambs in prayers who are living off the streets, but are having a difficult time with finances due to old debt and low paying jobs. Pray they keep their eyes focused on Jesus and His provisions.

A lamb was checking a criminal check to find he had a warrant for violation of parole. He is asking for prayer as he turns himself in to the magistrate in the morning.

An area congregation, men, women, and youth, has offered CitW, year long assistance in the Apex area with a large project, rebuilding a home, adopting a neighborhood.... Pray for discernment for the Lord’s perfect project for them to undertake.

Look Where others have chosen to start missions...

2008-01-24T14:49:00.000-05:00

2008-01-05T07:03:00.000-05:00

God and His perfect timing was so evident this week! We PRAISE YOU LORD!

Prayer and Praise!

The Wilmington Shelter

Missionaries were so blessed to minister again at the Wilmington Street Shelter on Christmas Eve. The message to the homeless men was so much more than just the birth of Jesus. It was about how the entire Old Testament prepared the way for His divine coming and how solid is the evidence of Christ’s love for us all.

Missionaries walked among the lambs, offering cheerful conversation and prayer. Many of the more than 100 there received communion and more than a dozen came to the front of the Christmas tree, knelt and received prayer for their continued walk with the Lord! Praise God!

There were more than enough boxes of toiletries, gloves, scarves and hats for each lamb to have one. We are thanking every individual who donated items or their time to bring the love of Jesus there!

Cary and Apex

Missionaries brought food to the Brown Bag ministry Saturday from an area Food Lion and then pick up the Brown Bags lunches. A missionary from Western Wake Crisis Center was there wanting to know of neighborhoods to take food on the weekends. His sister in Christ knows of many so the decision is tough. He was also looking for other volunteers. They prayed. When the missionaries were delivering prayer, brown bag lunches, and words of encouragement, a woman in a car told her friend that she wished she could give food away to others in the name of Jesus. She was told of the morning prayer, the need, and given the missionary’s phone number. She called yesterday wanting to donate her time for the Lord at least twice a month. WE THANK YOU JESUS for hearing our cries and answering them from the least likely places!!!
Several weeks ago during the brown bag delivery a lamb family’s bread winner was arrested and deported. The woman of the home has been gone ever since. With God’s perfect timing she and her three young children arrived at there home while missionaries were delivering the bagged lunches. They came home to a trailer without water, heat or groceries. Family members wired her money to turn on the water and heat; missionaries were able to give her a couple of bags of groceries, as well as the bagged lunches.
Wednesday when missionaries were picking up food at an area Food Lion, She happened to be there. She was able to tell the missionary her testimony of how the Lord has provided for her during all this time. She was grateful to receive more groceries for her family. A mission asked neighbors to check on her. The neighbor jumped in her car to lent a hand of assistance. What a community this neighborhood has become!
This same woman who ran to assist her neighbor is meeting with missionaries this weekend to discuss being the “lighthouse” in the neighborhood! Thank You Jesus for YOUR EVER BRIGHT LIGHT in the darkness!
Also on Wednesday the sheriff was driving through. The missionary waved, the lambs asked why I would wave. She told her that there wasn’t anything to fear, because she believed in Jesus and His mighty protection. The lamb is pondering this idea.
An area youth group held a “Sock-Hop” during Christmas break. The youths were to donate a pair of socks as an entrance donation. They collected over 250 pairs of socks. Some have been given to those at the showers in Garner, others at Moore Square. Praise God for the hearts of the children!
Wow - our "Sock Hop" was more successful that I had anticipated. We collected 258 pairs of socks from the 14-18 years old youth from our area congregations. JD
A Cary missionary received a letter from a former Cary lamb. He is attending a Bible study, has joined a discipleship group, reading his Bible, and attending Chapel. He would like letters of encouragement. He attended an area Apex church for over a year prior to being incarcerated. His address is
Jason Johnson#0595883
Greene Correctional Institution
PO Box 39
Maury, NC 28554
A missionary from the Backyard Bible Club has collected clothes and toys to be given away this weekend at the Apex mission. Thank You Jesus for the beautiful weather forecast for Saturday!
The Lord is moving in the lamb’s heart with the now normal PAP. She is taking t he first ten days of January for a Daniel Fast. She felt the Lord asking her to change her ways. She wants to continue with the Christian Women’s Book Club, as well as a mentoring group. Please keep her in your prayers as she continues her steps in faith! Thank You Jesus!
The Lord is also answering prayers for the lamb whose apartment burned down. He still has a job and has found a place to stay. PRAISE GOD! Members of his support circle have donated groceries, helped purchase gas to get to work and purchased Christmas gifts for his daughter. THANK YOU JESUS!
A White Flag shelter is being offered at Hope Community again this winter. Thank You Jesus! If anyone would like to volunteer at the shelter or supply meals please contact Stephanie Narron at 274-8120. They need two men to spend the night each night the temperature dips to 32 or below.
A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.
Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .

Garner
A missionary went with the lamb to UNC for his appointment this week. The doctors are amazed. The lamb’s lung cancer is aggressive, but has only metastasized to neighboring tissue, lymph node and pleural lining, and only where the tumor touches. Because the doctors are so amazed they are ordering another PET scan. If these results also show that it is only in one area, then he begins weekly chemotherapy. After 5 weeks of chemotherapy he will begin a daily treatment of radiation for 7 weeks. He will need assistance with transportation to Chapel Hill. If the Lord is touching your heart to serve in this way, please contact Cindy Boyce at cboyce@nc.rr.com.
Several lambs remembered a missionary on his birthday, even though it is New Year’s Eve and they would have other things to do! Some gave him presents and others called from as far away as Florida.
A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is
Jaime Hernandez Sanchez
Manatee County Jail
Palmetto, FL 34221
His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is
Public Defender Office
Attn. Peter Coen
Case # 1994CF2938 920
Manatee Ave W
Bardenton, FL 34205
Please pray that lambs’ hearts are opened to seeing God’s hand in everything and feeling the love of Jesus poured into each one. Pray they know they are adopted children of Christ.

Missionary Testimony
Never having been to Moore Square one does not really know what to expect, but that truly goes for any ministry. Until you jump in and get your feet, wet one cannot know. One this particular occasion I was to meet up with a woman named Barbara. Talking to her on the phone, I assumed her a small but commanding figure, but I had no idea what she looked like or where in Moore Square she might be. Following a Google map, I arrived on the side by City Market to see a hundred or more people gathered around a large pickup truck and I figured this must be the place. I walked over to the people at the pickup asking for Barbara, and a woman crying stated that she was Barbara. I identified myself, stated that I was there to help. She through her tears thanked me and told me that she had to leave as the person that was to carve the turkeys had had a heart attack and the ambulance was taking them to the hospital. As I looked around, I saw people going through boxes and boxes of clothing that they had just unloaded and other carrying off turkeys. As I backed up my truck and opened the tailgate nearly everyone standing close enclosed the truck (a bit over whelming I must say). The cases of gifts were gone in moments, but people keep asking me for large plastic bags as I had truly missed the Christmas gift that they had really wanted. When they realized that the truck was now empty the crowd dispersed, and I was left sitting on the tailgate wondering at what had just happened and what was I to do next. The missionary was gone, the food was gone, and the gifts were gone. So I walked around the grounds for a bit picking up trash just to sift through the events in my mind as all of this had occurred in twenty minutes. I saw nothing else going on (though to be honest my eyesight is poor at best) so I left. Later I contacted my missionary friend to find out how the person who went to the hospital was only to find out that the Barbara that I meet was not the Barbara that I was to meet at all and no one knows who went to the hospital or who even the Barbara I meet was. My missionary friend assures me that GOD had me exactly were I was need, though I felt as if I had let the Barbara down that I was to meet. Nevertheless, after praying I knew that my missionary friend was correct GOD makes no mistakes!

Your brother always,
BY

Now read how the Lord provided assistance for the other Barbara:
We went to Moore Square and helped served Christmas with that woman and there were over 150 (I think that's how many plates she counted) people that showed up to eat. When I arrived with Derek and the girls, the woman told me that she was waiting for a family of four to help her serve. I told her that I guess that must be us! We did not tell anyone we were going and no other family ever showed up, so God definitely placed us there for a reason. We were able to talk to many of the men and women after the meal and spent a lot of time just talking and hanging around the park with them. It was truly a blessing to be there. PB

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundramat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church, the Apex Stake, individuals, the Dorcus shop of Cary, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

The first ten days of the years, missionaries spend in prayer and fasting. Prayer meetings will be held at Alice and Roger McGee’s home. Contact the McGee’s as for the times, 772-7050.

Words of Encouragement
Christ blesses us with faith, a faith that allows us to hope in the Resurrection. While living this hope we struggle to live as He did, bringing the world closer to His vision of the Kingdom.I pray daily for the work you do, in thanksgiving for the love you shared with Chris, and that others will be touched by the heart of Christ through you.Blessings,MBJ

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T07:57:00.000-05:00

What a blessing to see the body of Christ GROWING HIS KINGDOM through all of you and your prayers! We PRAISE YOU LORD!

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex

Christmas Day a Clayton missionary plans to feed those at Moore Square. She has been feeding at Moore Square each Sunday, as well as Christmas, for over 3 years. Brothers and Sisters in Christ have asked for opportunities to serve Christmas Day and are blessing those with food - hams and turkeys, drinks, sweets… The Body of Christ is amazing! Thank YOU Jesus!
The Brown Bag ministry is providing blankets and scarves for the Christmas Eve service at the Wilmington Street Shelter, as well as gift bags. The ministry was short 23 blankets, but the Lord provided them from an area storage unit.
While shopping this week, missionaries met a brother in Christ who wants to consider making a large pot of soup and serving those in need a hot meal until the pot is emptied. Please pray for the Lord’s leading of a location.
Christmas Eve missionaries are out of town an unable to pick-up donated food. A missionary who serves at the Healing Place is able to pick-up the food and bring it to those in need at the Healing Place. What a blessing to see the Body of Christ!
“Manna From Heaven” We are thanking Jesus for your hands, feet, pocketbooks, cars, and willing hearts. The Lord truly multiplied the bags. In the lobby there were about 60 bags. The bags began to multiple. Every home (84 of them) was given a bag. Each bag not only contained groceries but a “Love Letter from the Father” in English or Spanish. People also were able to hand out Bibles. We Praise You Jesus!
The bags continued to multiply. A team took the abundance to another neighborhood and gave away ~ 18 bags; a family took 3 bags to “families in need” in Holly Springs. There were still ~ 10 extra bags. These went to other homes on Stephenson Road. The best calculation is ~ 115 bags. Go GOD!
All the drivers were incredible. What a blessing to see families going door-to-door bringing the love of Jesus to each home!
It was true a gift!
The Lord is answering your prayers. A lamb’s biopsy was normal as was a second PAP. THANK YOU JESUS!
The Lord is also answering prayers for the lamb whose apartment burned down. He still has a job and has found a place to stay. PRAISE GOD! Members of his support circle have donated groceries, helped purchase gas to get to work and purchased Christmas gifts for his daughter. THANK YOU JESUS!
A White Flag shelter is being offered at Hope Community again this winter. Thank You Jesus! If anyone would like to volunteer at the shelter or supply meals please contact Stephanie Narron at 274-8120. They need two men to spend the night each night the temperature dips to 32 or below.
The Lord has utilized the donated non-perishable food with many families in need.
The Backyard Bible Club’s Christmas party was a huge blessing. Every child received an abundance of gifts, even children who have never attended. THANK YOU JESUS for being a God of provision.
A family who accepted Jesus in August wants to continue the Backyard Bible Club in her home until the spring. Please pray for her as she opens her home to all the children of the neighborhood. Thank You Jesus for bring Your Church to their hearts and home!
Keep a missionary’s sister-in-law in prayer. Here is the prayer request.
She had a mole removed last week that was cancerous and is waiting to hear back on blood work. I would like to agree that any pathology that might be in her blood or any other part of her body for that matter would be destroyed in the strong name of Jesus. She is not a believer but what an awesome opportunity for her to see a community of faith that loved her enough to pray for her and a God that loved her enough to heal her. Faith begins when we know the will of God.
A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .

Garner
What a trying week for God’s lamb. He has been in and out of the ER three times since his biopsy. His appointment at UNC has been postponed until the 31st. At this appointment the doctors will do a stress test and plan for surgery to remove at least a portion of his lung. His tumor has grown according to the latest MRI.
Another lamb has left Garner. He has taken a job in FL. Thank you Jesus for the provision of bus tickets to a better life. He called the morning he left asking for prayer and was surprised when a missionary met him at the bus station to pray for him and his safe travel. He called missionaries when he arrived to his destination. Please keep him in your prayers that he uses this time to grow closer to Jesus, realizing that ALL things come from the Lord.
A lamb who was in Garner for many years turned up this week in a phone call from Maryland, where he has found a place to stay. He cooks and cleans for a doctor who provides his food and lodging. He said he has been off drugs and alcohol for a couple of months. Praise God!
Another lamb has found housing this week. He is staying with a friend. Praise God!
Lambs received their glasses this week. They are so excited to SEE, may they see Him more clearly as well. Three other lambs have gone for eye exams. PRAISE GOD!
The Lord provided more Christmas packages this Sunday. He has provided gifts every Sunday of Advent. This week the lambs received candy canes, toothbrushes, and chocolate cigarettes, from one addiction to another. J
A family from an Apex church joined missionaries Sunday as bags were delivered. What a blessing to find out they teach Spanish at NC State! Thank You Jesus!
A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is
Jaime Hernandez Sanchez
Manatee County Jail
Palmetto, FL 34221His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is Public Defender OfficeAttn. Peter Coen
Case # 1994CF2938 920 Manatee Ave WBardenton, FL 34205
Please pray that lambs’ hearts are opened to seeing God’s hand in everything and feeling the love of Jesus poured into each one. Pray they know they are adopted children of Christ.

Missionary Testimony
God continues to multiply efforts to bring His lambs out of the woods. The Church in the Woods was again able to draw from some money donated by a family that was reunited with a lost lamb a couple of years ago.

The latest lamb had been coming to church regularly and, even as he sometimes grumbled about the message, God was tugging on his heart. When an opportunity came up for a job in Florida, he asked a missionary to check it out for him, “Make sure it is legit.”

The missionary reminded the lamb that he had talked about going to his land in Arkansas, but never did. He had talked about going to relatives in Connecticut, but never did. “Sometimes you have to step out in faith.”

After bus tickets had been purchased, the lamb called to say goodbye and confessed he might have “cold feet.” Missionaries jokingly suggested he wear warm socks and boots.
At one point, he told the missionaries, “I know you bought me that bus ticket.” He seemed very touched by that and would not hear anything to the contrary. When the missionary said, “We’ll never for get you,” he replied, “Believe me, I’ll never forget you either.”

Later, a missionary met him at the bus station for a final goodbye and the lamb was fighting back tears as he spoke with hope about the future.

The lamb called missionaries on their cellphone the next day to say he had arrived in Florida, had a job and a room.

Praise God!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church, the Apex Stake, individuals, the Dorcus shop of Cary, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
There will be a Christmas Outreach, Christmas Eve at the Wilmington St Shelter from 7-9 PM. Volunteers are needed to pray with people and hand out Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts have been donated by area churches.
Christmas Day at Moore Square missionaries will be serving the homeless at noon. For those who would like to serve please contact Barbara Tart at 803-6720

December 14, 2007

2007-12-15T03:17:00.000-05:00

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness. Prayer and Praise!

Cary and Apex

The Lord is answering your prayers. The lamb with the abnormal PAP has her biopsy on Monday. She has been seeking Christian women fellowship through a Christian book club and mentoring groups. THANK YOU JESUS!
The Lord is also answering prayers for the lamb whose apartment burned down. He still has a job and a temporary place to stay. PRAISE GOD! Those in his support circle have suggested that he allow someone to manage his money. His sponsor suggested it again this week and he has consented. THANK YOU JESUS!
A White Flag shelter is being offered at Hope Community again this winter. Thank You Jesus! If anyone would like to volunteer at the shelter or supply meals please contact Stephanie Narron at 274-8120. They need two men to spend the night each night the temperature dips to 32 or below.
Praise God for the 10 donated pairs of glasses and eye exams. When others heard that glasses were donated and the ophthalmologist was donating her time, a church donated “goodies bags” containing items like sleeping bags and an area grocery store donated breakfast. One of the lambs left, she told everyone how she felt like a princess. Another lamb needs glasses prior to getting his driver’s license. THANK YOU JESUS for blessing these lambs. An area church is considering donating 5 pairs of glasses a quarter. Praise the Lord!!!
Praise God for the cases of canned goods donated by an area church. Missionaries were blessed with a luncheon and a viewing of over 300 crèches from all over the world. What an awe-filled experience to see the birth of Christ from so many cultures’ eyes!
The Backyard Bible Club in Apex is hosting a Christmas party Sunday the 16th. They are collecting gifts for the children. Please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com for more information.
Someone has donated a car to an area church after learning some missionaries had given one away. . Please pray the Lord will find the perfect match for this transportation!
An Apex lamb is asking for prayer. Her aunt and uncle were in a car accident. Her aunt is hospitalized with a ruptured bladder. The uncle is in need of prayer as well. He relies on his wife, as she is the anchor of the home.
Another Apex lamb’s car isn’t working. She asked to have missionaries pray over it yesterday.
A food drive is being conducted for one of the Apex missions December 16th. Pray that 85 bags of groceries are provided, one for each home.
A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .

Garner and Raleigh
A lamb with lung cancer has had another CT scan this week to recheck metastasizing possibilities, although the initial scans and results were normal other than the left lung. He is scheduled to an out-patient procedure to biopsy the bones in the chest cavity on Friday the 14th.
The lamb who left for Idaho asked for prayers that he would be substance free when he arrived at his brothers. Several days after he left, missionaries received a called from Fort Collins Hospital, one of the stops on the bus route to Idaho. Hearts broke, with all other hospital calls, lambs were on life support ad needed permission to turn the life support off. This call was an answer to prayer. He was suffering from withdrawals and hospitalized. They needed to contact someone for a baseline of “normalcy”. Praise God. He had stopped using substances when he left Raleigh. A week later he arrived at his brother’s SUBSTANCE FREE! We serve an AWESOME God!
A lamb attended a middle school missionary’s school concerts. What a blessing to hear the young woman sing and an even greater blessing to see the two hug after the concert! It is amazing to see what a little love can do!
The Lord touched someone’s heart to donate gift bags containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lip balm, and candy for the Sunday AM mission, packaged in Christmas bags.
What a special treat to remind God’s lambs that they are remembered and loved!
Please keep in pray the lamb who received her first paycheck. She didn’t use the money to glorify the Lord.
A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is Jaime Hernandez Sanchez Manatee County Jail Palmetto, FL 34221His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is Public Defender OfficeAttn. Peter Coen Case # 1994CF2938 920 Manatee Ave WBardenton, FL 34205
Please pray that lambs’ hearts are opened to seeing God’s hand in everything and feeling the love of Jesus poured into each one. Pray they know they are adopted children of Christ.

Missionary Testimony

Have you ever wondered whether the Lord really equips people these days? Wondered about God’s sense of humor? Missionaries attended a seminar about :”Growing God’s Kingdom” The speaker has been growing God’s Kingdom in the Middle East with the Muslim community. He made incredible points concerning bridging differences. He also discussed the Muslim concept of Christians. Were you aware that most Christians are not highly regarded in other cultures due to what is seen on TV? Other cultures consider Western Christians to be materialistic, fornicators, idolaters… It was a very uncomplimentary list. He suggested that when asked tell people that you are a follower of Jesus because they know Jesus from the Koran. He reminded the group of cultural differences, food restrictions… In all it was an informative meeting that this missionary wasn’t sure she needed because where she was serving was a Hispanic neighborhood, probably not many Muslims, if any right? The next day as she was serving in the Hispanic neighborhood, taking bagged lunches, (thank you Brown Bag ministry) and offering prayer, she was greeted by a non-Hispanic, perhaps a Middle Eastern. Wide eyed, she asked if they would like free lunches and prayer. He asked “why?” Her response was because “God loves you.” “Oh so you are one of those Christians” Oh my goodness, the meeting from the evening before, the words spoken, His MIGHTY equipping and what a sense of humor the Lord has. It was such a reminder that nothing spoken to grow His mighty Kingdom is ever wasted. Thank You Jesus!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances

· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account. · Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church, the Apex Stake, individuals, the Dorcus shop of Cary, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.

· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
There will be a Christmas Outreach, Christmas Eve at the Wilmington St Shelter from 7-9 PM. Volunteers are needed to pray with people and hand out Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts have been donated by area churches.
The Guild Ministry is collecting gloves, hats, scarves, sleeping bags, warm socks, toiletries, and blankets for the service on the 16th at 10 AM. The Guild ministry is located at 911 N West St in Raleigh.

November 26, 2007

2007-12-15T03:16:00.001-05:00

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness.

Missionary dilemma
God’s Word tells His Body of believers to help “those in need,” take care of the widows and orphans, those without homes, and the poor. Many believers do not only give their treasures, but give their time and talents. The question is how does one remind the Western World of the poor among us without exploiting the poor?

This week Rebecca was in the News and Observer (which can be read at http://www.newsobserver.com/news/crime_safety/story/786686.html) At the time the article was written, she felt telling people what had happened to her and her “neighbors” was the right thing to do, but when the article appeared in the paper she had second thoughts. She now has a job and her employer didn’t know she was homeless. She had to explain her situation to her employer and her employer had decisions to make, will this jeopardize the success of the business or not; will the customers understand and accept her? Rebecca was blessed and her employer understands, but not all employers do.

Thanksgiving evening the media was at the Garner Thanksgiving feast. Many of those who would normally attend came to the church and left, even before entering upon seeing the media there taking photos and asking questions. Many have jobs, some don’t want their families to know how they are living or what has become of them, many are illegal, others are wanted by the police, and still others just don’t want their privacy invaded. So how is the Western world told of the poor’s plight?

In the Bible people’s lives are discussed after their lives have been changed by Christ, their testimonies given. We see this also to be the case with people of today. Once Jesus has come into our lives we don’t mind giving our testimonies, but not usually while still living in our old lives. So again, how is the Western world to be reminded that “the poor will always be among us?”

Perhaps the best way is through one-on-one contact. Not only is personal contact the most powerful way to minister to the poor, it is the most powerful way to bring others to the realization that they are surrounded by people in need. Those who minister to the poor should not only consider bringing others with them to hear the stories and expand in Christ’s love. We also need to realize that there may be many unknown observers to those acts of kindness.

A trucker once approached a missionary in a parking lot after watching, unannounced, the feeding of the homeless there and a Bible study week after week. He handed the missionary a handful of one-dollar bills, saying he had been touched by the plight of these lambs, but was hesitant to give them cash. He added, “I know what you will do with it.”

A recent song by Caedmon’s Call casts light on our dilemma as we try to minister to the poor and become caught up in publicity and numbers.

“Faces turn to numbers. Numbers fall like manna from the sky.
“Why, oh why, oh Father why?”

The song goes on to say:“We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps them standing
“He doesn’t need us, but he lets us put our hands in
“So we can see …. His love is bigger than you and me.”

The poor will always be among us because those who are not poor in material things are often poor in spirit. Both are refreshed from Living Water when they fellowship together.

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex

A Cary lamb received the results if her PAP (the first in many years). The results were abnormal suggesting cervical cancer. She is asking for prayer. She has a job she loves and a beautiful home, a beautiful grandson and isn’t ready to die. She does know Jesus but hasn’t put on the new clothes of Christ.
Thank You Jesus for Your Body of Believers! A lamb’s apartment burned down this week. We praise You Jesus that no one was injured. The outpouring of replacement items has been an overwhelming blessing, so many including the fire department have given this lamb gift cards. He feels the love of Jesus being poured into his life. Thank You Jesus for the couple who have been taking the time to assist with clothing, gift cards, the option of a place to stay, and the search for an apartment. Thank you for his temporary housing. Please pray that an affordable apartment is found in the Cary/Western Raleigh area close to his place of employment.
Macedonia Baptist church cleaned out their refrigerator to get ready for not serving the week of Thanksgiving. They donated a car filled will fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, even non perishable goods. As the missionary was taking the food to those in need, she past a lamb “flying a sign” stating “HUNGRY”. What a blessing to be able to open the trunk and say take anything you want! The gentlemen’s eyes lit up, “Really, how much? Do you have a bag?” Thank You Jesus for the opportunity to be able to pull to the side of the road and witness to those passing by that our Father is the MIGHTY PROVIDER! May You always be glorified!
A White Flag shelter is being offered at Hope Community again this winter. Thank You Jesus!
Thank You Jesus for the couple who took in a lamb needing a place to stay. Pray that the Lord will provide an affordable apartment as this is only temporary.
Thank You Jesus for another former lamb couple who have taken in a lamb. His camp was taken down yesterday with great joy and his belongings moved into a home with running water and heat. Thank You Jesus for Your overwhelming love, compassion, and mercy. He starts a job this morning.
Thank you Jesus for the provisions for the lamb who contacted missionaries from Easter Seals looking for household items. Items still needed are a dresser, a TV stand, a queen size bed frame (he already has a mattress, box spring, sheets and comforter), and two kitchen chairs or barstools. If you have any of these items to donate please contact Jeanne at Jeanne.shankle@nc.eastersealsucp.com or 986-2885.
A food drive through Hope Chapel is being conducted for one of the Apex missions
December 16th. Pray that 85 bags of groceries are provided, one for each family.
A Monday Cary missionary has asked for prayers for a lamb with multiple health issues.
Due to liver complications her doctors have given her a few months to live. She prayed with the missionary today and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Halleluiah!!!! The two also prayed for physical healing. He is asking that the Thursday missionary also pray with her this week and weeks to come. Praise the Lord, Jesus is discipling she and her husband through this missionary with prayer, books and tapes concerning Christianity. The missionary is asking for prayer for her walk with Christ, her new love for the Lord and His Word, and healing of her mind as well as her body.
A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
Creech Chiropractic is conducting a non-perishable food drive during November. Thank You Jesus!
The Backyard Bible Club is every Sunday afternoon. This is for the children. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .
Three coats were donated to a local church on Sunday. All three were in the hands of grateful lambs by Sunday afternoon. God is so faithful to pass on blessings!

Garner
A lamb has his lung biopsy tomorrow, the 27th, at UNC. His appointment with his surgeon concerning his options is the 4th. Please keep him in your prayers.
So many of these lambs have accepted Jesus, but not “put on the New Clothes of Christ”.
Praise the Lord for the lamb who has been released from jail, not just the prison of Wake County but the chains of bondage has been released. His brother in PA has been praying with missionaries asking this lamb to take on the New Clothes of Christ as he did in July, and become active with a community of fellow believers. He has. A Hispanic church pastor has been walking to his home each week for months and he has accepted the offer to regularly attend his church.
A lamb is asking for prayers as he has suffered possible police brutality approximately a year ago. He at that time was “under the influence” and served his sentence as well as healed broken bones and surgery. He doesn’t understand the outstanding charges and is asking for divine intervention.
The change in the above lamb has created an atmosphere in his “neighborhood”. Two “neighbors attended church this week for the first time in months. Thank You Jesus that Your love is infectious!
Thank you Jesus for a lamb who has been substance free for several months. She begins a job this week. Keep her in your prayers for Godly money management. Please also pray that she is able to save money and move into an apartment for Christmas!
A lamb is moving to Idaho to live with his brother and family tomorrow. Keep him in your prayers as he makes all 6 bus transfers during his 3 day trip. Thank You Jesus for the family who donated money for this situation a few months ago to pay for the transportation and the church that is holding the money!
A lamb who hasn’t been able to find work in the past two weeks hooked up with a recovering lamb Sunday and was told he could have a job doing construction if he gets an ID. (He has a birth certificate, but no North Carolina ID).
Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to stay clean and sober while still in the woods.
A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is
Jaime Hernandez Sanchez
Manatee County Jail
Palmetto, FL 34221His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is Public Defender OfficeAttn. Peter Coen
Case # 1994CF2938 920 Manatee Ave WBardenton, FL 34205

Missionary Testimony
What a blessing to knock on doors to offer the physical, bagged lunches, and the spiritual, prayer, this week! Missionaries were able to see how the Lord has changed lives and homes in these 7 months. Missionaries are greeted with smiles instead of fear, with hugs and welcomed into His homes instead of standing outside doors. Families are being reunited and welcomed into The Father’s family, the Family of Christ.
A new family moved into the area with 4 boys. They had heard that the “iglesia” comes each Sunday and asked if the missionaries were the “iglesia”. They were told that they too were part of “iglesia”, the Body of Christ in community, if they believed Jesus was their Savior. The boys shouted a mighty “yes!” Thank You Jesus for the opportunity to plant Your seed!
With a knock on another door, a young child opened the door shouting “Mama, la iglesia!” The Missionary was welcomed into their beautiful home. The family was making tamales, welcoming her in to share a meal. They discussed (Thank YOU Jesus the children are the translators) how blessed they have been since Jesus is in their hearts. Not many families feel this way just getting over the MUMPS! Thank You Jesus for not only praising hearts but hearts that are so willing to speak of Your Glory!
Another home had once felt cold and lonely as the occupants were going through a divorce. What a change this week when a missionary was greeted by a warm living room full of smiling, laughing children of the reunited family. The father was happily cooking in the kitchen, shouting greetings to the missionary and the children clustered around and grabbed lunch bags. There were so many children, the missionary brought three more bags. When the children grabbed them, he said, “No fighting over the bags.” A little girl laughed and began handing out the contents of one bag to her brothers and sisters.
Two men were working on a car in the neighborhood when a missionary offered them two lunch bags. “How much,” asked one man, his shoulders slouched. “Free! Gratis!” laughed the missionary.
Both men began laughing as well. “Free is good!” one said. “Gracias!” said the other, already opening the bottled water and drinking it down.
What a great thing God is doing with just a few small lunch bags and willing hearts to show others that be best thing in life, Jesus Christ, is “gratis!”

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

· CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
December 8th

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 4 PM and 5 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church , individuals, the Dorcus shop of Cary, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

November 14, 2007

2007-11-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness.

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex

One lamb has been cigarette free for two months and is now asking to be lifted in prayer to be alcohol free. We thank you Jesus!
A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
Area Apex churches are hosting a cookout for one of the Apex Missions November 24th at 3:30. Hot dogs have been provided by Hope Chapel and an individual has provided the baked beans. Members from the Prince of Peace will be cooking. For more information contact Cuba at 387-7480.
Thank you Lord for the job for one lamb as he gave into temptation and lost his previous job.
Thank you Lord for your mighty provisions of food and toiletries. Several lambs have been able to pick-up needed items.
Thank you Jesus for the provisions for the lamb who contacted missionaries from Easter Seals looking for household items. Items still needed are a dresser, a TV stand, a queen size bed frame (he already has a mattress, box spring, sheets and comforter), and two kitchen chairs or barstools. If you have any of these items to donate please contact Jeanne at Jeanne.shankle@nc.eastersealsucp.com or 986-2885.
Sunday as the children finished the Backyard Bible club and joined missionaries for pizza, the children told them that Sundays were the only day they could play together because their parents were afraid to allow the children to play outside. The parents felt the children were safe. The mothers nodded in agreement. Thank You Jesus for allowing these parents to see the hedge of protection you place around the Backyard Bible Club.
A food drive through Hope Chapel is being conducted for one of the Apex missions December 16th. Pray that 85 bags of groceries are provided, one for each family.
Monday Cary missionary has asked for prayers for a lamb with multiple health issues. Due to liver complications her doctors have given her a few months to live. She prayed with the missionary today and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Halleluiah!!!! The two also prayed for physical healing. He is asking that the Thursday missionary also pray with her this week and weeks to come. Praise the Lord, Jesus is discipling she and her husband through this missionary with prayer, books and tapes concerning Christianity. The missionary is asking for prayer for her walk with Christ, her new love for the Lord and His Word, and healing of her mind as well as her body.
Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
Creech Chiropractic is conducting a non-perishable food drive during November. Thank You Jesus!
The Backyard Bible Club is every Sunday afternoon. This is for the children. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .

Garner
Thanksgiving dinner will be held at the Ernest Myatt Presbyterian church on 401, Thanksgiving evening at 5 PM. Contact Alice at 772-7050, if you are interested in attending or bringing part of the dinner.
Pray for a lamb in jail. Missionaries aren’t able to contact him because they don’t know the alias he is using.
Thank you Jesus for a lamb who has been substance free for several months. She begins a job this week. Keep her in your prayers for Godly money management. Please also pray that she is able to save money and move into an apartment for Christmas!
A lamb has completed treatment at a substance abuse center. Please keep him lifted in prayer as he has temporary housing but needs an apartment. Pray he will make Godly choices. Pray that he attends a Christian substance abuse program such as Celebrate Recovery.
A lamb has been in contact with his brother in Idaho. His brother has asked the lamb to move to Idaho and live with his brother’s family. Praise God that a family donated money for this situation a few months ago to pay for the transportation!
A former lamb had surgery three weeks ago to correct a prior injury. While running test for the surgery, spots were detected on his lungs. He had a PET scan this week. Praise God only one lung was confirmed to have cancer and there were no other signs of cancer. The second lung did have spots but they didn’t show signs of cancer. The lungs will be scoped and biopsied prior to Thanksgiving. He will then talk with his surgeon about possibilities.
A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is
Jaime Hernandez Sanchez
Manatee County Jail
Palmetto, FL 34221His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is Public Defender OfficeAttn. Peter Coen
Case # 1994CF2938 920 Manatee Ave WBardenton, FL 34205
Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to stay clean and sober while still in the woods.

Missionary Testimonials
A woman in Maine wrote this week asking for advice in helping the homeless in Boston – about two hours from her home. Missionaries agreed to provide assistance and also asked whether there might be homeless communities closer to home where her family could serve.

Three lambs are about to become roommates and, we pray, accountability partners as they work to stay off substances. Please pray that each will feel responsible to provide an example to the others and that they will learn to lift up Jesus instead of a bottle whenever they are in need.

There is a large support circle developing around this household as well. The landlord is from a Bible study two of the lambs have attended. Friends and mentors from church are also working with them. God has such a way of working through community and relationships!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
A missionary spoke to an area high school Civics class and Social Diversity class about the homeless population in Wake County. The students wanted to know how they can serve as an individual and as a group. Some students even asked if he/she could come and meet some of the lambs.
Article from Today’s Christian Woman “What I’m Learning About… Loving the Least of These” by Camerin Courtney http://www.christianitytoday.com/tcw/2007/sepoct/8.72.html
CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
December 8th

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 4 PM and 5 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
A Garner church contacted missionaries wanting to donate items for the Sunday Moore Square mission. Praise God!
An Apex church called missionaries wanting their youth to make scarves and collect Chapstick and socks for the December 22nd Moore Square.
Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church , individuals, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.
We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

October 22, 2007

2007-10-22T19:15:00.000-04:00

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness.

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex
• A Monday Cary missionary has asked for prayers for a lamb with multiple health issues. Due to liver complications her doctors have given her a few months to live. She prayed with the missionary today and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Halleluiah!!!!
The two also prayed for physical healing. He is asking that the Thursday missionary also pray with her this week and weeks to come. Praise the Lord, Jesus is discipling she and her husband through this missionary with prayer, books and tapes concerning Christianity. The missionary is asking for prayer for her walk with Christ, her new love for the Lord and His Word, and healing of her mind as well as her body.
• Please keep a lamb’s mother in your prayers. She has been hospitalized and may be dying.
• The Four Square Denomination District Women’s Retreat collected excess hotel toiletries for the Christmas Moore Square Outreach. Thank You Lord for Your mighty provisions.
• Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.
Shirley Companion Ministry
PO Box 1468
Fuquay, NC 27526
210-3096
• Creech Chiropractic is conducting a winter clothing/blanket drive for Church in the Woods during October and a non-perishable food drive during November. Thank You Jesus!
• The Backyard Bible Club is every Sunday afternoon. This is for the children. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
• Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com.

Garner
• Evailo’s memorial service will be Saturday, October 27th at the Garner Methodist Church at 3:30 PM on Methodist Dr.
• A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. If it is the Lord’s will, he will find transportation to return Raleigh
• A lamb was hired by Wades Shows and had moved with the company to Orlando, FL. He wants to get his life together and he is finding it difficult to do in the woods of Raleigh. He is bringing his Bible and devotional book. The Bible was given to him by Evailo, the man who died last week.
• A Hispanic lamb who moved to Pennsylvania is so on fire for Jesus now that he is attending church almost every day. He is writing to his old friends in the Garner woods to try to make sure they are saved and surrender their lives and addictions to Jesus.
Please pray that his continued letters make a difference and that, if God wills, he visits here to make the love of Jesus known to all.
• Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to stay clean and sober while still in the woods.

Missionary Testimonials
Evailo won't be there Saturday, cause he finally has a home;
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance, to bid adios, good-bye, shalom.

To some he was just a homeless person, struck down by a car;
When I look at the picture of this man, I just see a shining star.

His disposition never fit his circumstances, he never seemed distressed;
Always so very gracious for HOPE, but it's me that has been blessed.

He was always smiling and praising God and speaking of Jesus as Lord,
He was my Christian Brother, our lives so very different, but in accord.

I pray today for his family, may God prepare the hearts in Belize.
Of those that have fond memories, of a man, the least of these.

I know we touched the mortal life of Evailo Torres, our friend.
My Spirit knows he was born again and I will see him once again.

Another saint has gone to Heaven, he has knocked upon the door;
Our Lord will take good care of Evailo, he will need and want no more.

Blessings,
Len

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
➢ Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.
The dates are as following for 2007:
• November 3rd
• December 1st
➢ The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 4 PM and 5 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.
The dates are as following for 2007:
• December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church , individuals, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

Evailo

2007-10-18T13:46:00.000-04:00

Evailo won't be there Saturday, cause he finally has a home;
I'm sorry I didn't have a chance, to bid adios, good-bye, shalom.

To some he was just a homeless person, struck down by a car;
When I look at the picture of this man, I just see a shining star.

His disposition never fit his circumstances, he never seemed distressed;
Always so very gracious for HOPE, but it's me that has been blessed.

He was always smiling and praising God and speaking of Jesus as Lord,
He was my Christian Brother, our lives so very different, but in accord.

I pray today for his family, may God prepare the hearts in Belize.
Of those that have fond memories, of a man, the least of these.

I know we touched the mortal life of Evailo Torres, our friend.
My Spirit knows he was born again and I will see him once again.

Another saint has gone to Heaven, he has knocked upon the door;
Our Lord will take good care of Evailo, he will need and want no more.

Blessings, Len

2007-10-17T19:33:00.001-04:00

One of the Lord’s lambs was hit by a car. He will probably not make it through the night. Praise the Lord, Evelio does know Jesus as his Savior and will be going to his eternal home. Please pray that his family can be contact in Belize. Pray for his family, preparing their hearts for this news. May God’s glory been seen through this.

Here is an article in the N&O http://www.newsobserver.com/news/growth/traffic/story/740106.html

October 15,2007

2007-10-15T12:50:00.000-04:00

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness.

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex
• A special delivery of surplus produce was donated Saturday to the Sunday afternoon Apex mission.
• Please keep a lamb’s mother in your prayers. She has been hospitalized and may be dying.
• Pizzas were delivered Tuesday afternoon to one of the new Cary missions. Praise God!
• The Kroger is already donating food to another organization, so the food distribution is not needed at this time.
• One of the Hispanic women is teaching a missionary Spanish little by little during the Wednesday mission. Thank you Jesus!!!
• The food donated was given to a family in need in Holly Springs as well as to the new Sunday morning mission
• Several of the lambs in the Sunday afternoon mission have been evicted. Please pray for their future housing, may the Lord place them where each will see His glory.
• Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.
Shirley Companion Ministry
PO Box 1468
Fuquay, NC 27526
210-3096
• Creech Chiropractic is conducting a winter clothing/blanket drive for Church in the Woods during October and a non-perishable food drive during November. Thank You Jesus!
• Hope Chapel is donating adults Bibles in English and Spanish for the Cary/Apex missions, as well as, children’s Bible’s for the Backyard Bible Club. Thank You Jesus for bringing the Word of God to His lambs.
• The Backyard Bible Club is every Sunday afternoon. This is for the children. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
• Please pray for a missionary’s mother who has squamous skin cancer.
• Please pray for a Backyard Bible Club’s eye sight. Her glaucoma is accelerating.
• Please pray for the caterer who donates much food. His still doesn’t have answers to his health issues.
• Please keep the Brown Bag ministry director in your prayers.
• Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com.

Garner
• A Tribute to Otto is in the October 3, 2007 Independent Weekly. It can be viewed online as well at http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A161453
• Please keep a missionary/former lamb in your prayers. He received a chest x-ray where a spot on his lung was seen. It will take approximately two weeks for the complete results. He is also going in for testing due to his digestive issues on the 16th.
• Please keep a missionary in prayer for her gall stones. She has also been diagnosed with Celiac Spruce. She is going for testing of her pancreas this week as well.
• Please pray for two missionaries/lambs who fell back into substance abuse this week. Pray that God helps them learn they can do all things through Him and not to rely on their own strength.
• Please keep a lamb in prayer who may be moving temporarily to Asheboro for work. We pray that if this is God’s will it will help the lamb make new friends and break away from old habits.
• Please pray for a lamb who has been returned to Dorothea Dix after being unable to curb life-threatening alcohol abuse.
• Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to stay clean and sober while still in the woods.
• A missionary who has serve Jesus through CitW and his “Biker” church many times is in a Chapel Hill hospital after severe injuries from a motorcycle accident. Please continue to keep him and his wife in your prayers.
• A Hispanic lamb is in jail in Wake County not knowing whether he will be returned to Florida for some old charges or whether he will be released. If you feel called, please send them to:
Public Safety Center
Jamie Hernandez Sanchez
P.O. Box 2419
Raleigh, NC 27602
• Continue to keep a Sunday Garner missionary’s family in your prayers. His father is not improving.

Missionary Testimonials

Two lambs who attended church this week were touched by the message that EVERYONE can be a pastor to someone. Missionaries prayed with them about their own troubles – drugs, alcohol, living on the streets – then suggested that they could pray with others when they got back to the woods. One lamb said, “You know, that’s something I really needed to hear. I need to get up off my rear end and DO something for the Lord.”

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

-- Project Connect is in need of Volunteers October 25th from 10 Am to 4 PM at Moore Square. This includes services for the homeless for medical, eye, and dental needs; clothing; blankets; food; transportation information; and a PRAYER TENT!!!! Praise God! Contact Alice McGee at churchinthewoods@earthlink.net if you are interested.

-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
➢ Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.
The dates are as following for 2007:
• November 3rd
• December 1st

➢ The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 4 PM and 5 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.
The dates are as following for 2007:
• December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church , individuals, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

2007-10-05T10:17:00.000-04:00

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex
• The children arrived in Mexico safely this week. Thank you for your prayers.
• The paperwork has been submitted for missionaries to pick-up food from an area Kroger. Praise the Lord for Him providing enough missionaries to pick-up and deliver the food 5 days a week prior to the store’s approval. Missionaries still are needed to pick-up and deliver the food on Thursdays and Fridays.
• One of the Hispanic women is teaching a missionary Spanish little by little during the Wednesday mission. Thank you Jesus!!!
• The lambs who received the M25 cards were thanking the Lord for His mighty provision through Hope Community. They couldn’t believe the large quantity of food they received. Praise you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions!
• Calvary Chapel’s homeschool group conducted a food drive this week. The afternoon the food arrived was similar to the movie Field of Dreams. No sooner was the food delivered, the lambs came. A lamb moved into an Oxford house and need groceries; another needed a toothbrush and toothpaste; missionaries were able to make “friendship bags” containing sterno, canned food with pop tops, plastic utensils, fruit cups, crackers and V8 with much of the food; and there is still food overflowing for the next person in need. Praise you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions and prefect timing!
• Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.
Shirley Companion Ministry
PO Box 1468
Fuquay, NC 27526
210-3096
• Creech Chiropractic is conducting a winter clothing/blanket drive for Church in the Woods during October and a non-perishable food drive during November. Thank You Jesus!
• The Backyard Bible Club is every Sunday afternoon. This is for the children. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
• Please pray for a missionary’s mother who has squamous skin cancer.
• Please pray for a Backyard Bible Club’s eye sight. Her glaucoma is accelerating.
• Please pray for the caterer who donates much food. His still doesn’t have answers to his health issues.
• Please keep the Brown Bag ministry director in your prayers.
• Praise You Lord for a missionary/former lamb who has been instrumental with assisting several lambs with employment opportunities, temporary shelter, and transportation to substance abuse meetings. Thank You Jesus!
• An Apex/Cary Missionary has been asked to speak at Fuquay High School. Please keep her in your prayers as to what the Lord wants her to say and may her words Glory You, sweet Jesus!
• Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions.

Garner
• Please keep a missionary/former lamb in your prayers. He received a chest x-ray where a spot on his lung was seen. He goes in for a CT scan Monday for further investigation. He is also going in for testing due to his digestive issues on the 16th.
• Please keep a missionary in prayer for her gall stones. She has also been diagnosed with Celiac Spruce.
• Please pray for two missionaries/lambs who fell back into substance abuse this week. Pray that God helps them learn they can do all things through Him and not to rely on their own strength.
• Please keep a lamb in prayer who is under attack through his dog and girlfriend. Pray that he come to know that Jesus has trampled the serpent. Pray that he will dig deeper into the Word instead of old coping skills.
• Please pray for a lamb who has been released from Dorothea Dix nearly a year after suffering brain aneurisms from excessive substance abuse. She was placed in an Oxford House and has already gone out drinking two nights and has been hospitalized. Please pray that she see there is no future in returning to her old friends and her old ways – that the future lies in Jesus.
• A lamb was told that if she continued to abuse substances she would be in an assisted living home before she reached the age of 50. This news has frightened her enough that she has been substance free for four weeks now. We Praise You Jesus!
• A missionary who has serve Jesus through CitW and his “Biker” church many times is in a Chapel Hill hospital after severe injuries from a motorcycle accident. Please continue to keep him and his wife in your prayers.
• A Hispanic lamb is in jail in Wake County not knowing whether he will be returned to Florida for some old charges or whether he will be released. If you feel called, please send them to:
Public Safety Center
Jamie Hernandez Sanchez
P.O. Box 2419
Raleigh, NC 27602
• Continue to keep a Sunday Garner missionary’s family in your prayers. His father is not improving.

Missionary Testimonials

A missionary who sometimes writes about Church in the Woods in online articles received an email this week from a woman in Fuquay-Varina who wants to start a similar outreach there. She is gathering information and hopes to get a couple more people from her church to visit with missionaries at CitW. Ultimately she hopes the entire church will get behind efforts to help the poor. Praise God!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

-- Project Connect is in need of Volunteers October 25th from 10 Am to 4 PM at Moore Square. This includes services for the homeless for medical, eye, and dental needs; clothing; blankets; food; transportation information; and a PRAYER TENT!!!! Praise God! Contact Alice McGee at churchinthewoods@earthlink.net if you are interested.

-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
➢ Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.
The dates are as following for 2007:
• October 6th
• November 3rd
• December 1st

➢ The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.
The dates are as following for 2007:
• October 7th
• November 4th
• December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church , individuals, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

September 28, 2007

2007-09-28T10:29:00.000-04:00

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness.

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex

Please pray for the next 4 days: Sunday immigration came to the Apex mission and deported 17 people including a 68 year old grandmother and the mother of a 2 and ½ week old infant. Nine children, ages 14 years old to 2 weeks, were left without parents due to their US citizenship. The Body of Christ joined together raising funds to drive the children to Mexico to be reunited with their families. The Body of Christ also gathered car items for the children’s 30-plus hour car ride to Brownsville, TX, including food, drinks, books, car seats, and comforting stuffed animals. The parents were taken by authorities at night leaving the children with neighbors. The Lord gave missionaries flashlights a few months ago that were hidden by other donated material. As the garage has been emptied little by little each week, the flashlights were found. Asking the Lord for a use for these flashlights, the coordinator told the missionaries the children could use a flashlight for the car ride to ease their fears. And the Lord with His perfect timing provided. These children leave tonight around 5 PM. Please pray for the next 4 days for their safety, the driver’s sanity, and families ready to welcome these children home. They should be back in Mexico Monday or Tuesday.
Please join us in Praising the Lord for the additional missionaries He has brought for His Harvest
A neighbor is planning to put up posters in the neighbor to further advertise the Backyard Bible Club. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
Praise You Jesus for Your mighty provisions! Members at Hope Community Church gave the Apex mission vouchers for the M25 food drop this week. People with the vouchers are able to receive a large box of groceries on Saturday.
Praise God for His perfect timing and the obedience of His harvesters. Five out of 7 days per week have been claimed for picking up from the newest store this week. Please pray that the store will not only donate items from the bakery but also from their deli.
At one of the Cary missions a woman has serious health challenges. She has a blood clot in her lung. Please pray for her recovery and healing. She and her husband also need better jobs.
A skilled craftsman’s is asking for prayer for a job. He too is from one of the Cary missions.
As missionary prayed about where to deliver pizzas this week. The Lord led them to the Cary Habitat for Humanity area. A man wanted prayer for the healing of his heart from the passing of his auntie. A grandmother wanted prayer as she and her husband are caregivers for their paraplegic son and grandchildren. She also has arthritis and cares for her son’s trach and other medical needs. Please for her son’s healing and strength. A woman wanted prayer for her children, some who have walked away from the Lord and chosen a path of substance abuse. Pray for a woman who has lived on the street her entire life and seen much loss of life. Pray for her loneliness. Pray for a woman whose mother recently died and has turned to substances instead of Jesus. A woman when asked for her prayer requested wanted to pray for children in America. She lives near a school and was reminded to be the Light of Jesus to the children at that school. She told missionaries she would also witness to her friend that Jesus is her mighty provider. He blessed her with a pizza. Praise God!
A Cary missionary’s aunt passed away yesterday. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as she travels to Durham to be with her family.
Please pray for a missionary’s mother whose melanoma has returned.
Please pray for a Backyard Bible Club’s eye sight. Her glaucoma is accelerating.
Please pray for the caterer who donates much food. His still doesn’t have answers to his health issues.
Please keep the Brown Bag ministry director in your prayers. She is suffering from possible kidney stones. She undergoes further testing Tuesday.
The Restoring Hope Ministry is asking for prayer. The ministry has been serving Jesus through a homeless couple. A builder in the church has become interested in the couple. He is prayerfully considering donating a home in North Raleigh to the Restoring Hope ministry to be used as transitional housing for the Lord’s lambs.
Please keep in prayer the new Apex and Cary missions.

Garner
Please keep a missionary in prayer as she has further testing for her gall stones today.
A lamb was told that if she continued to abuse substances she would be in an assisted living home before she reached the age of 50. This news has frightened her enough that she has been substance free for three weeks. We Praise You Jesus!
A couple that has moved into an apartment is becoming increasingly self-reliant. The man is working regularly for the first time in many years. Where once he would always ask someone else to provide transportation, now he says, “We will just take the bus.”
A missionary who helped this couple many times is in a Chapel Hill hospital after severe injuries from a motorcycle accident. Please keep him and his wife in your prayers.
Continue to keep a Sunday Garner missionary’s family in your prayers. His father is not improving.
Thank you Jesus for answering so many prayers and finding shelter for the woman who had been thrown out of her apartment with a 3-month-old baby. Thank you for providing someone to guide her through the turmoil and for even having him pray for her!
A Hispanic lamb is in jail in Wake County not knowing whether he will be returned to Florida for some old charges or whether he will be released. If you feel called, please send them to:
Public Safety Center
Jamie Hernandez Sanchez
P.O. Box 2419
Raleigh, NC 27602

Missionary Testimonials

A missionary was asked this week whether God prefers that our work for His lost be public or private. The missionary received the answer when he offered lunch to a homeless man and was at first turned down.

Ten minutes later, the lamb approached the missionary inside a fast-food restaurant (just as he had gotten to the front of a long line).and said in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the dining area, “I must have been crazy. Of COURSE you can buy me lunch.”

This lamb also “accidentally” asked the wrong man (dressed like the missionary) to buy him lunch, much to his consternation. And as the two were eating, a teen-ager approached the lamb and admonished him for not showing up when his mom had offered to take him to a drug rehab facility. The missionary suggested a different facility that allows medication during withdrawal.

Then, as the missionary was leaving, he found a New Testament in his car and decided to give it to the lamb. When he re-entered the restaurant, the lamb was gone. But a man in the back corner waved to the missionary, pointed and said, “He’s in the bathroom.”

God had made everyone in that restaurant aware of the mercies being shown this lamb – and answered the missionary’s question about whether those mercies should be public!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

-- Project Connect is in need of Volunteers October 25th from 10 Am to 4 PM at Moore Square. This includes services for the homeless for medical, eye, and dental needs; clothing; blankets; food; transportation information; and a PRAYER TENT!!!! Praise God! Contact Alice McGee at churchinthewoods@earthlink.net if you are interested.

-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

CITW Video Now Directly Viewable

2007-09-26T15:19:00.000-04:00

Independent Weekly 9/25/07

2007-09-25T19:24:00.000-04:00

By PATRICK O'NEILL In late July, Otto Mintz, sick with congestive heart failure, left his homeless encampment behind the Garner K-Mart for the last time, and took the CAT bus to Wake Med. On Aug. 1, Otto died. Although many of the homeless die alone, and without mention on the obituary page, such was not the case for Otto, a guitar playing man with a ready smile who made lots of friends during his years living in the woods near one of Garner's busiest shopping districts. Cindy and Al Boyce, who are part of the Church in the Woods ministry, which Otto sometimes attended, made sure Otto's obituary and picture were published in the News &Observer. Along with Church in the Woods founder, Alice McGee, and others, a memorial service was planned for Otto at the Ernest T. Myatt Presbyterian Church. "They need to know that homeless people are loved too," Cindy Boyce said. At the Aug. 23 service, which would have been Otto's 57th birthday, an eclectic group of people began to arrive. Those who knew Otto as the guy who held a sign at the corner of Old Stage and Fayetteville roads, volunteers with the homeless, and the homeless themselves, many of whom also lived in the woods in tents and makeshift hovels, filed into the church. This would prove to be no ordinary church service in memory of a man who was twice hospitalized after being hit by cars. McGee said people "truly grow" when they get to know those who are different from themselves. "They have lived things that we haven't lived." David Roberts, a man who brings food, sleeping bags and other essentials to those living in the woods, read his remarks. While preparing his comments, Roberts said Jesus "imaged Otto's joyous face from heaven above into my mind's eye. Then I cried tears of joy. Then Otto spoke to me and said, 'I love you.' And still crying I responded, 'I love you too Otto.' Now isn't it fulfilling to know that Otto is enjoying heaven's peace and heaven's bliss? ... I must say Otto was a kind and generous man." In the rear of the church, a man said, "God Bless Otto. God Bless Otto. God Bless Otto." Several times during the service, Otto's friend from the woods, Melanie Lewallen, was moved to stand up and pray or shout words of praise about Otto. "My dog Delilah - she will chew anybody up, she don't care - she was born on Otto's bed," Lewallen yelled. "Now I've had her seven years. Hallelujah." Mike Montague, another person who ministers to the folks in the encampment, said he considered Otto a friend. "Just meet Otto one time and you knew he was a kind person; he had a good soul; he had a good heart. You could just tell. I'm going to miss him." Following the service, the mourners enjoyed a meal of fish, potatoes, other vegetables, bread and pie. Otto Mintz is survived by a son, Jeffrey Mintz; brothers Tim and Dennis Mintz and sisters, Sharon Mintz and Karen Ramsey. He was buried beside his parents in Port Huron, MI.

2007-09-23T07:27:00.000-04:00

Thank You Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank You also for Your faithfulness.

Prayer and Praise!
Apex and Cary

Missionaries went house to house bringing prayer, the Love of Christ and bagged lunches. This week one missionary was so exhausted; she had asked the Lord to give her strength. The strength she received came from the families at the mission. One family told her that they didn’t need a bag this week. They had returned to church for the first time in many years! Thank you Jesus!!! Another man rededicated his life to Christ, attended church with his estranged wife and children. Praise you Jesus! A third family told missionaries they were able to see Jesus as the missionaries served their paralyzed brother. Their mother was angry with God for allowing her son to be hit by a car. She has come back to Jesus inviting her son to join her on Christ’s path. Part of this path included going home to Mexico. After much prayer, she and her son decided to accept the insurance settlement and go home to be near more extended family. It is easier for her to transport her son. She has more family to stay with him if she needs to go to the store. She also has others to stay with him when she is tired. Please keep them in your prayers as her son needs much medical attention. Pray for their continued walk with Christ. Praise God for 6 people asking Jesus back into their lives!!!! Please pray for all these people as they confess, repent, put on the new clothes of Jesus, and grow in Christ.
So many children attended the Backyard Bible Club this week. They enjoy Bible stories, crafts, pizza and donuts. What a blessing to witness! For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
The veterinarian attended the mission this week and was called home. She will attend another week to give more information concerning neutering pets.
Praise God for another opportunity for God’s children to be fed, both physically and Spiritually. Missionaries met with a church homegroup this week. Disciples are eager to serve Jesus possibly through CitW. One is checking where she works about receiving food from her grocery store. Another would like to add a mission in either Cary or Apex on a Monday and/or Tuesday. Please pray for the Lord to indicate where He would like a new mission to begin. Thank Jesus for His harvest hands.
Please keep the Brown Bag ministry director in your prayers. She is suffering from possible kidney stones.
The Restoring Hope Ministry is asking for prayer. The ministry has been serving Jesus through a homeless couple. A builder in the church has become interested in the couple. He is prayerfully considering donating a home in North Raleigh to the Restoring Hope ministry to be used as transitional housing for the Lord’s lambs.
Please keep in pray the new Apex mission.
Thank you for your prayers for the Cary/Apex missionary. She had a small intestine biopsy revealing she is positive for Celiac Spruce. With proper dietary adjustments her ferrintin anemia should be corrected within weeks. Praise God!
The Downtown friends and Bread of Life ministries rejoiced in their praise report that many received Christ’s Salvation September 15th at Moore Square during the Hot Dog wagon feeding. Thank you Jesus!

Garner
A lamb’s dog died recently when it was hit by a car. Please keep him in prayer as he lost his other dog only a few months ago.
Praise God that some of the Lord’s lambs are attending a Hispanic church regularly. One lamb who doesn’t speak much Spanish said, “I don’t understand much, but I can feel the Spirit there.”
Please keep a lamb in prayer who has lost his job and is back on the streets.
Praise God that a lamb is stepping up to help a woman and her 3-month-old child find a place after being thrown out by her husband. He is gathering phone numbers of resources where the woman might be placed and will let her stay at his camp until something is found. He is very frustrated at how slowly the system works even in an emergency such as this, so keep him and the woman and child in your prayers.
Another lamb who has been meeting weekly with a missionary is frustrated at his own attempts to help a woman with three children. One obstacle is the woman has only limited phone service and cannot be easily contacted. She suffered injuries in a car accident and has been unable to work. The family may lose their apartment before she receives money from an insurance settlement. Please keep them in prayer.
A Hispanic lamb is in jail in Wake County not knowing whether he will be returned to Florida for some old charges or whether he will be released. He would love to receive letters or cards of encouragement. If you feel called, please send them to:
Public Safety Center
Jamie Hernandez Sanchez
P.O. Box 2419
Raleigh, NC 27602
Continue to keep a Sunday Garner missionary’s family in your prayers. His father is not improving.

Missionary Testimonials

A lamb who has been working a construction job has been struggling with his old addictions. Not long ago, he almost quit the job after getting drunk, using drugs and losing his company cell phone.

Praise God his employer, with prayerful counseling from a missionary, took the man back and offered him a raise, showing the grace of God when things seemed hopeless.

Now this employer is traveling in Europe and has given this lamb even more responsibility to manage jobs while he is away.

Please pray these continued blessings open this lamb’s heart to God’s love and help him to turn completely to the Lord as the source of all his needs.

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

-- CitW is being recognized by ATC and Southlight along with many other faith-based organizations that serve those with addictions September 27th.

-- Project Connect is in need of Volunteers October 25th from 10 Am to 4 PM at Moore Square. This includes services for the homeless for medical, eye, and dental needs; clothing; blankets; food; transportation information; and a PRAYER TENT!!!! Praise God! Contact Alice McGee at churchinthewoods@earthlink.net if you are interested.

-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

2007-09-13T09:33:00.000-04:00

There are so many things to thank Jesus for this week!

Prayer and Praise!
Apex

The children were so blessed by the Backyard Bible Club returning this week. Crafts were provided for the children as well as Bible teaching. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
The lamb who is paralyzed is in need of a Wound VAC. It is an expensive piece of equipment. If anyone knows where one can be borrowed please contact Dr. Hartye at jhartye@whsi.org .
The wheelchair ramp construction team is planning to construct the ramp September 22nd. Ray Jackson is the contact person at 524-3533. Praise God!
The veterinarian was able to give rabies vaccinations Sunday at a discounted price. Thank you Jesus for her donation of time and vaccinations. She is returning this week with information concerning neutering pets and general pet health. The veterinary team was blessed to have one of the neighborhood children serve as a translator for the mission. The Lord walks before us and is so faithful!
In the Sunday prayer circle one lamb asked for prayer for her father on his deathbed due to complications of diabetes. The father and family were lifted in prayer. Wednesday, missionaries were told the father is doing so well; he is to be released from the hospital this week. God is so good. Thank you Jesus for being the ultimate healer!
One of the lambs used CitW missionaries as a reference to receive assistance from Western Wake Crisis center. Thank you Jesus for Your mighty Body of Christ!
We are thanking the Lord for His mighty provisions of missionaries this week through the Body of Christ! Several want to serve with the Backyard Bible Club, others want to serve with the adults going door-to-door, some want to prayer with individuals, and even others want to serve through a pet ministry.
An area chiropractic office contact missionaries this week wanting to know how to serve Jesus through CitW. They plan to conduct two drives; one for winter clothing and blankets for the homeless in Wake County in October and a second for non-perishable food drive for the low income areas in Cary and Apex in November.
A new humanitarian aide mission is being started in Apex on Thursdays and possibly Saturdays. We are thanking the Lord for the missionary from the Brown Bag ministry who has started this.
We are thanking the Lord for the area church that is organizing a non-perishable food drive with their homeschool co-op this month.
We are thanking the Lord for the event who donated the food to feed the Apex mission and the Garner Sunday mission.

Cary

The new mission in Cary was served with humanitarian aide twice this week. The Lord has provided clothing and food for several in a low income area. We are thanking the Lord for the former lambs who are now serving Jesus knowing Jesus provided for them so faithfully.
We are thanking the Lord for the Brown Bag missionary who has stepped forward to serve so many of those in Cary on Thursdays.
We are thanking the Lord for His abundance of food. An area caterer provides the meal the 4th Saturday of each month for 200 people at Moore Square. His business has been slow during the summer. An area event provided several trays of fried chicken which have been frozen and given to him to offset the cost of the meal this month. The Lord goes before each of us.
Keep a Cary/Apex missionary in your prayers as she is undergoing testing for a cause to severe anemia.

-- Please continue to pray for the department manager who has gone to bring Jesus to his muslim family in Europe and northern Africa. Please continue to pray Exodus 23:20-22 as he visits friends and family.

-- As the school year ramps up volunteers are needed to pick-up donated food and Wednesdays around 2 from an area caterer. Please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com if this is something the Lord has asked you to do.

Garner

Please keep a Garner missionary in your prayers as she has undergone outpatient surgery discovering a gastric ulcer, gall bladder stones, kidney/bladder infection, and possible celiac disease.
Several of the Garner lambs have called the Garner missionary to let her know they are praying and concerned.
A Garner church is beginning a low income mission. Please keep them in your prayers as they reach out to the community. Please ask that the Lord provide any needed translators and allow the lambs to see the trust and love of Jesus through each of these missionaries.
We are thanking the Lord for golf tournament leftovers that were donated and delivered to a Garner missionary who feeds the Sunday Moore Square mission.
Continue to keep a Sunday Garner missionary’s family in your prayers. His father is not improving.
With the sun going down earlier and earlier, the Thursday Bible study raced through Acts 13. One of the youngest missionaries did most of the reading. Everyone marveled at how Paul was able to summarize the Old Testament in just a few paragraphs and how Jesus fulfilled God’s entire plan for Jews and Gentiles.
Please continue to pray for the three lambs who have been trying to work and live together, that they may weather temptations to return to old activities and addictions.
A missionary has been meeting a couple of times a month with a man he met at alcohol rehab. This man once was heavily involved in Christian outreach at a local university, but now is mainly concerned with being just responsible enough to continue drinking and partying without losing his job. This lamb recently asked the missionary to find help for a woman he knows who has four children and is facing eviction from their apartment. Please pray that a support circle is created for them and that the lamb begins to see that helping others may be more fulfilling than feeding his own addictions.

Missionary Testimonials

A missionary was on the way to work last week and prayed during the commute: “God, please use me today to bless someone.”

In less than a minute, the missionary saw a man with a gasoline can walking along a busy highway. He picked up the man, drove him to a gas station and back to his car, telling him how this was an answer to his prayer to God.

The man, from Korea, listened attentively, then confessed that he had been very angry with God for not finding him a job when he and his family needed money.

He told the missionary, “Thank you for reminding me that God is not here to serve us. We are here to serve God.”

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

-- CitW is being recognized by ATC and Southlight along with many other organizations that serve those with addictions.

-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!
--- We thank the Lord for those who are donating the funds and time to build the wheelchair ramp.

September 3, 2007

2007-09-03T19:23:00.000-04:00

There are so many things to thank Jesus for this week!

Prayer and Praise!
Apex

So many children came this week. They were blessed with prayer and a hot meal.
The number of adults attending the prayer session increased this week. They are more trusting.
The wheelchair ramp is in need of carpenters. Please contact Ray at 524-3533 if you would like to serve the Lord in this manner.
The Lord provided more clothing and linens this week
One of the Brown Bag ministry missionaries served this week with the Wednesday mission. Praise the Lord!
Saturday the missionary who usually picks up the food was on vacation. The food was picked-up and donated to the Brown Bag ministry. The ministry needed extra sandwiches and desserts. They were also serving the hot meal for Moore Square and needed more salad. The Lord provided all of it. Thank you Jesus!
The Brown Bag ministry also provides 60 bags for the Apex mission. A missionary’s exterminator company held its annual golf tournament and promised to bring the leftover sandwiches. There were 60! God is so amazing with every detail!
Next week a veterinarian is hosting a rabies clinic. Praise the Lord for His mighty provisions.

Cary

Praise the Lord for the Monday Cary Missionary’s father-in-law. What a testimony of answered prayer!
My father in law’s surgery could not have gone better. Actually they released him early because he has 0 post op pain which according to the doctor he is the only orthopedic surgery patient they have EVER worked on that had no pain. The doctors and nurses are completely baffled !!!
Also this is a great witness to my mother in law who is asking questions about what we believe as she thinks it's a miracle. Thanks so much for your prayers as I fully believe that this would not have happened if people did not step up and simply take the Lord at his word!!!
A missionary’s mother breezed through her radiation treatment this week and her sister’s CT scan was perfect. God is so faithful!
A new mission has started for children in Cary. The lambs who have moved into an apartment complex have started feeding and clothing the children in the area with donated items. One family has not had power in over a month. The Lord has provided candles for them to have light and food. Praise God! What a witness of how Jesus has changed lives!
Thank you Jesus for the Brown Bag missionary who answered the Lord’s calling to serve the Thursday Cary mission.
This morning four missionaries were able to serve the Cary mission. The Lord provided an abundance of food, physically and spiritually. Thank you Jesus!
-- Please continue to pray for the department manager who has gone to bring Jesus to his Muslim family in Europe and northern Africa. As a missionary was praying for him the Lord took her to Exodus 23:20-22.

-- -- As the school year ramps up volunteers are needed to pick-up donated food and Wednesdays and Fridays afternoons around 2 from an area caterer. Please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com if this is something the Lord has asked you to do.

Garner
Please keep in your prayers one of the Sunday morning missionaries and his family. His father suffers from Alzheimer’s. The family was called to the hospital due to the father having seizures. He has gone downhill quickly.
The lamb in WV is recovering nicely from his surgery last week. The Lord is so faithful!
One lamb was released from prison this week. She called missionaries asking that they give her the same type of assistance as they had others. She was told she needed a relationship with Jesus and He is the provider. She is praying she has a job so she doesn’t have so much free time. Please also pray that she allows someone to assist her with financial planning, so the money is used in a manner that glorifies Jesus!
Please keep one lamb in your prayers as he is looking for an apartment. It isn’t possible for a felon to find an apartment, but Lord makes all things possible.
As the days grow shorter please pray for a building to host the Garner Thursday night mission. In three weeks the Thursday evening mission will begin in darkness. Some missionaries have considered moving it to earlier in the day.
After three and a half years, the Lord has asked the Boyce family to step away from the Thursday mission but continue with the Sunday Garner mission. Cindy will continue writing notes of encouragement and scripture. The missionary teams will continue to provide transportation to church and serving a hot lunch afterwards. This will be their last Thursday. During Al’s lunch hour, he plans to take a few to lunch each week and host a Bible study at the nearby Wendy’s.
Please keep these lambs in your prayers. Their concerns are whether they are being abandoned by someone again. They were reassured that they are always welcome to come to church each week, but please keep them in your prayers.
There is a pet ministry for the homeless of Wake County. If someone would like to make donations to offset the cost of veterinarian bills, donations can be sent to Shirley at PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526 or you can donate pet food and call her at 210-3096.

-- Please keep a homeless family in your prayers as they find jobs and an apartment so they can enroll their children in school.
-- Another Garner lamb is working and has moved into a camper on the property where he works. He has given his campsite to another lamb to use.

Missionary Testimonials

As missionaries were picking up food from a grocery store, a man stopped, stared, started walking again then came back to ask questions.

He was amazed to see missionaries bagging groceries individually with notes to each lamb. He said he sometimes feels led to make sandwiches and deliver them to homeless men and women he sees.

“I thought THAT was a lot of work,” he said. “But you put me to shame.”

The man assumed that the missionaries must be pastors or leaders of a local church and was even more amazed when he was told, “We are just worker bees for Jesus.”

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The medical mission team has a glucometer. The brand is the TheraSense "FreeStyle". The mission team needs strips, lancets and lancet pen. If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!
-- A Raleigh company is offering free computer training starting in September.
FREE COMPUTER TRAININGOPEN TO THE PUBLIC OF THE TRIANGLE AND SURROUNDING AREASBy IFCTCC

Volunteers @ Wade Edwards Learning Lab (WELL) in Raleigh

Fall Session is approximately 9 weeks (No Winter Session), (Spring Session To Be Announced), (no Summer Session)

Tuesday Sep 11 - Nov 6

Wednesday Sep 12 - Nov 7

Thursday Sep 13 - Nov 8

Tues 6PM-8PM (WORD-BASIC WORD PROCESSING OR WEB DESIGN-BASIC WEBSITE CREATION

Wed 6PM-7PM WINDOWS-BASIC BASIC COMPUTER INTRO and/or

Wed 7PM-8PM POWERPOINT-BASIC PRESENTATIONSOR

Wed 6PM-8PM EXCEL-BASIC SPREADSHEETS

Thurs 6PM-8PM ACCESS-BASIC DATABASES(Prerequisite note: for Access, you must have previously completed Excel)

(Optional Self Practice Times Sunday-Friday 5PM-10PM)

You may take any classes that you can fit into the above schedule.The International Free Computer Training and Charitable Center (IFCTCC)Our non-profit mission is to train and educate those interestedin enhancing computer skills and job marketability!

Please self-register as soon as possible by email (if possible) or (if no email: by phone)Please include your first name, last name, email, evening phone number, and classes desired.

Joe Mabiala email: jmabiala2001@yahoo.comor

Jim Russell email: russelljrr@aol.comor (if no email) please leave a phone message at 919-550-1773

All Classes: Please attend our brief optional Orientation on Monday, September 10, 2007 (anytime 6pm-8pm)

Volunteer Teachers are provided by IFCTCCClassrooms and support staff provided by the non-profit Wade Edwards Foundation at theWade Edwards Learning Lab (WELL)

714 Saint Mary's StreetRaleigh, NC 27605 (Near the Intersection of Peace Street) (Across from Broughton High School)

From Hillsborough Street or Peace StreetFrom East Heading West: Turn Right (North) onto Saint Mary's Street

From West heading East: Turn Left (North) onto Saint Mary's Street

From Glenwood Avenue or Wade AvenueFrom East Heading West: Turn Left (South) onto Saint Mary's Street

From West heading East: Turn Right (South) onto Saint Mary's Street

August 28, 2007

2007-08-28T09:48:00.000-04:00

There are so many things to thank Jesus for this week!

Prayer and Praise!
Apex
-- The families and children were surprised to see the “church” come in spite of the rain. The Backyard Bible Club continued this week with a Bible story and craft. Thank You Jesus!
-- The Lord heard the prayer request for a donut cushion. A donor called with a list of donations. She asked if someone needed queen size sheets. The Lord had answered a prayer because a missionary just moved into a furnished apartment Tuesday with a queen bed and no sheets. She then asked was there anything else needed. The missionary asked for a donut cushion. The response was “We have one!” The family in need of the donut cushion thanked Jesus for answering prayers.
-- A list of needed wheelchair ramp supplies has been given. A date is to be set in September. Several of the neighbors have also offered to help. Thank you Jesus for the building of Your Body!
-- The Lord provisions baited the hooks for fish to jump in His line this week. He used clothing, linens, and a medical screening to draw more people to the prayer circle. The Lord is providing a Rabies vaccination day for His bait in a couple of weeks.
-- As the Lord opens the doors with His bait, more and more lambs are asking for prayers and are open to discussion about our Savoir.
-- Two missionaries from the Brown Bag Ministry joined the mission team Sunday. One loved being a part of the Books of Acts going door to door with the Love of Jesus. She would also like to assist with the Cary mission and the Wednesday Apex mission. The Lord is the provider of the Harvesters.

Cary
-- Please keep the Monday Cary Missionary’s father-in-law in prayer. Here is his prayer request:
I was hoping you could all pray for my father in law. He went into get some tests last week on his spine because he was walking funny. What they found was cervical spine arthritis that was so bad it is running the risk of severing his spinal cord so they scheduled him for emergency surgery this Wednesday. I believe it IS God’s will for him to have a full recovery, so if you can agree with me for that I would greatly appreciate all of your prayers.
-- A missionary’s mother has started radiation treatment for thyroid cancer. Her sister has had breast cancer and is having a CT scan suspecting bone cancer. Please keep these families in your prayers.
-- One of the missionaries has been searching for a job. She has moved into an apartment complex and opened their doors to the children in the area. A sister in Christ was telling someone the Lord has His hand in her “work” with the neighbors and she probably won’t get a job until school starts back. Saturday she received her first interview. As talking with the store owner, she was informed that he works with a fellow CitW missionary.
-- Thank You Jesus for your transformations. One of the now Cary lambs has been off the streets for two years and working full-time with benefits (PRAISE GOD!). She attended the Garner Memorial Thursday evening. People didn’t recognize her, she looks so good!
-- A Western Raleigh/Cary church’s home/small group has purchased a home to be donated to one of their church ministry’s. Their homeless ministry is an option. Please pray for the Lord to make the decision clear to the home/small group which ministry needs it most. There are so many in need.
-- Please continue to pray for the department manager who has gone to bring Jesus to his muslim family in Europe and northern Africa. Please continue to pray Exodus 23:20-22 as he visits friends and family.
-- As the school year ramps up volunteers are needed to pick-up donated food and Wednesdays and Fridays afternoons around 2 from an area caterer. Please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com if this is something the Lord has asked you to do.

Garner
-- Students from the Wake tech dental hygienist clinic are attending this week’s Thursday evening Bible study with the schedule book. Thank You Jesus for answering prayers for dental care!
-- A former Garner lamb moved to WV 18 months ago. He has had another heart attack and had surgery yesterday. Please keep him and his family in your prayers.
-- Please keep a homeless family in your prayers as they find jobs and an apartment, so they can enroll their children in school.
-- Thank You Jesus for the medical mission Saturday. Many needed referrals were made to the Horizon Clinic.
-- Another Garner lamb is working and may be able to move into a camper on the property where he works.
-- Please pray for a missionary who is going to see a neurologist for back issues this week.

Over 50 people attended Otto’s memorial
http://www.newsobserver.com/news/sheehan/2007/story/679759.html

The memorial included time for many of Otto’s friends to tell stories about how he had been a good friend and how his light had shined for them. One woman who attends the church where the memorial was held said afterward that she had never attended such a beautiful memorial and that she would never be able to look at the homeless the same after seeing such a compassionate and caring service.

At the end, each person was given a white helium balloon to pray over, then they were all released in front of the church. What an amazing sight as they slowly rose toward the cross atop the church, then accelerated into the heavens, buoyed on winds like the Holy Spirit.

The memorial sparked several comments from people:

· As I was praying for Otto's memorial service this evening, I was again praising God for orchestrating events & timing so that his life will be celebrated on his birthday, which seems the perfect time to be praising God for Otto's new birth into the kingdom of Christ for all eternity. Just as he was born into this world fresh, new, bathed in innocence and health, so he has been reborn into the same new, freshness with his glorified body also bathed in perfect health with all purity and innocence restored in the very presence of his Savior. Since we met that morning of his passing into the hands of Jesus, I have been so often reminded of his conscious and sober choice to make that transition alone, as he had the nurses promise to only call you after he had passed---that choice is so totally reassuring that Otto had total confidence in his relationship with Christ & complete faith in the authenticity of it. As I read Psalm 31:14-15, with Otto's photo beside me, I KNEW these words reflected his strong faith at that time, "But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, 'You are my God.' My times are in Your hand." So, precious little Thorn, I pray that God has now given you total peace & reassurance that your lamb was, in fact, not alone in the early hours of that morning of August 1st. And what a gift it has been for you to be able to honor him with this service and with the notice in the paper, showing the community that Otto and all his fellow homeless brothers & sisters matter and have dignity in life and in death. I am praying that many are blessed by tonight's service, not the least of them being Otto's friends.

· I wanted to let you know that Otto's guitar was lovingly packed up with some other small items (new strings, a few parts, cleaner), and along with a short note was shipped out this past Monday morning with the guitar shop's freight. It should arrive in MI sometime between today and Friday. It was a blessing to Terry who works at the shop to look at Otto's guitar, to see its condition and hear about our hope that it be restored by his son and to hear about Otto's restoration, too - that he was able to finish well and feel ready and welcomed home...

Here is a letter one of the missionaries wrote to his brother, who had worked on the same aircraft carrier as Otto.

Kent,This is to let you know that a friend of ours from the homeless outreach that Ian and I were attached to has died. His name was Otto, and I'm letting you know because he had a tenuous connection to you - he was once an electrician on the Kitty Hawk. I had hoped he would get to meet you some time and talk about it. He was interested to hear that you were on the same ship, though separated by decades. I think he was proud of his time in the Navy, and that's worth remembering.Otto was one of the first people we got to know in the Church in the Woods ministry. He was in his 60's, as far as we could tell. He was skinny and wiry, had few teeth (possibly from a drug addiction years ago, maybe from bad dental care), and had foot sores that ran to the bone that he could never shake. Despite that and the pain it must have caused him, he walked everywhere, usually miles a day, and would walk half a mile from his camp to come to our dinner and bible study. In the beginning, he came drunk, but was so embarrassed at having done so would sometimes skip a meeting if he wasn't sober, out of respect and out of a fear that he had offended us. He also smoked, but wouldn't do it at the meetings because he knew it bothered people. There was a time when he was hooked on crack, along with a few of his close friends. We didn't see him for long periods during that time, but people went to visit him in his camp, and he eventually broke the habit. He was an infrequent member of the group by the time Ian and I had to stop going, and we saw him less and less often.Otto said that he didn't come for the food. He was very clear that he came for the company of other Christians (our people in particular, I think), and being a Christian in a homeless camp was often alienating. He had plenty of food. Even so, he loved fish, and he enjoyed it immensely every time we served it, and Cindy got it for him whenever she could. Otto could play the guitar reasonably well, and sang. We couldn't get him to do either very often. He enjoyed the bible study, and seemed to have a good background in scripture from childhood. During the reading (he could read, unlike some others) he would often get fired up and expound on the text, adding his own wisdom, usually on topic and sometimes not. We had a particular affection for Otto, and he took to Ian. He seldom saw children, and he liked talking to Ian, almost always adding in admonishments never to get involved with drugs or alcohol. Of the bunch, Otto was one of the easiest to talk to. He was sometimes withdrawn, but his nature was friendly and laid back, so he was easily drawn out. He had problems, some serious, didn't take himself too seriously, and he saw the humor in most things. It made spending time with him a real joy. I'm not sure what finally killed him. Life expectancy is short for people who live out in the elements like he did, and he had been out in the woods for a long time. Drugs and alcohol weakened him, too. He had been sick and had missed a doctor's appointment recently. Beyond that, I don't really know anything. His memorial service is tomorrow night, and Ian and I are going. Like I said, the connection is minor, but I wanted you to know about him. I think you would have liked Otto. I wish you could have met him. –
-- A lamb who has been sober for many months has gotten a power-washing job and is hoping to hear from WalMart soon about another job.
-- Another lamb is starting construction work late this week as he tries to get enough money to go home to Arkansas.

Missionary Testimonials

The CitW volunteer appreciation dinner was wonderful. So many people shared testimonies about how working with God’s lambs has transformed their lives and drawn them closer to God even as it showed Christ’s love to others.

One man shared about his own battle with substance abuse and how God redeemed him and led him into an outreach where he can give back to others. He has been so blessed to be able to share the ministry with his two sons.

God continues to multiply the hands, the food and the available resources to meet the needs of those He places in our paths!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

-- -- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.

Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!
-- Thank you Jesus for the caterer who donated the food for the volunteer appreciation dinner

August 21, 2007

2007-08-21T06:40:00.000-04:00

There are so many things to thank Jesus for this week!

Prayer and Praise!
The Lord has started a new mission on Sunday evenings. The leftover bag lunches from the Brown Bag Ministry are being taken to the Wilmington St shelter for those who didn’t make the lottery and are sleeping outside on pieces of cardboard. The two missionaries are bringing the physical but leaving the men with the Spiritual nourishment each week. If the Lord is asking you to serve with this team contact Susan at 787-3434.

Apex
-- Please pray for the addition of this medical mission. People are needed to join this new medical mission team Sunday the 26th in Apex. If the Lord is asking you to attend, please contact Susan at 787-3434. Glucometer strips are needed for the TheraSense "FreeStyle" glucometer.
-- Sunday was to be the last week of the Backyard Bible Club; however the Lord didn’t see it this way. A group of missionaries decided to continue the children’s Backyard Bible club. The Lord also brought two new missionaries and one speaks Spanish. Praise the Lord! The children attending are growing each week and so are the numbers of adults. With the growing number of adults an Adult Bible study will begin after Labor Day as well!!! Spanish Bibles are needed; maybe even a few bilingual Bibles. “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.”
-- Praise the Lord for the builder who came Sunday to take measurements for the wheelchair ramp needed for the home with the son who is paralyzed. He will give a list of needed supplies and a date in September will be set to build this ramp. As a community let us demonstrate the love of Jesus to those in need. A donut cushion is still needed. The Lord heard your prayers and walked through the hoops of receiving Home Health care in a couple of days for this family. The man will receive nursing care as well as physical therapy. In the near future a plastic surgeon will be needed to close the open wound on his hip. Pray the assessment is soon.
-- The lamb who had a stroke several months ago joined the group at the mailboxes this week for fellowship and a meal. Thank You Jesus for Your love and open arms reaching out to this community.
-- Please continue to pray for the family who needs to update their green card. Paperwork needed to be completed, fees paid and a lawyer is needed. The family has only two weeks to get everything together.
-- One of the missionaries is looking for a job, a lamb told her of an opening where she works. Please pray for this opportunity.
-- Praise the Lord, families would rather prayer than the bag lunches. Continue to pray as the Lord uses the physical as His bait on His Spiritual Hook.
-- There is a Pastor’s meeting Wednesday for Apex/Cary. Contact Alice at 772-7050, if you are interested in attending.

Cary
-- Cary missionaries’ neighbor has been looking for a job. While at church they were told of a construction company needing a framer. Framing is his skill. He began work Monday. Praise God!!!!
-- As the school year ramps up volunteers are needed to pick-up donated food and Wednesdays and Fridays afternoons around 2 from an area caterer. Please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com if this is something the Lord has asked you to do.
-- Thank You Jesus for the sisters in Christ who have offered to assist with the distribution of the physical manna for the Cary and Apex weekday missions.
-- Thank You Jesus for a former Cary lamb for finding him an apartment in the Apex area and bringing a friend to become a missionary at the Apex mission. Thank You Jesus for making another disciple.
-- Missionaries have been asking the Lord to stop the process of a former lamb to receive her driver’s license until she stops drinking. She has gone to classes, paid fees, and gone to court. The judge suspended her license for another 2 years because the judge felt she might still be drinking. Thank You Jesus!!!
-- A missionary were running errands with her son and said that looks like this lamb. Her son said it can’t be he looks too nice. They stopped the car and talked. Thank You Jesus for Your transforming power
-- Former lambs and present missionaries have their children visiting again this week. One of their children wants to move to lives with his parents. Please pray that if this is God’s will, the transition go smoothly.
-- Please continue to pray for the department manager who has gone to bring Jesus to his muslim family in Europe and northern Africa. As a missionary was praying for him the Lord took her to Exodus 23:20-22.
-- There is a Pastor’s meeting Wednesday for Apex/Cary. Contact Alice at 772-7050, if you are interested in attending.

Garner
-- A lamb who used to live close to the lamb who died this month has returned to the area with his family. He is no longer drinking or doing drugs, has a camper and is looking for work and a permanent home. He introduced his wife and two children to the group Thursday night and later shared his testimony about how his life is finally turning around, he is learning to pray more and to leave his life in God's hands.
-- A Garner lamb has completed 30 days with 30 AA meetings as part of living in an Oxford House. He is continuing to work daily, has paid off his credit card debt and is saving his money. He also continues to try to help those who remain in the woods, sometimes in small ways. On Thursday, a very drunk Hispanic man was standing near the group as they were about to pray. The lamb from the Oxford House gently led him into the circle, gave him a chair, showed him how to hold hands with those on his right and left, constantly reassuring him with words and gestures. He later made the man a plate of food and encouraged him to eat.
-- A new volunteer told the group Thursday that God had told her to go "behind Wendys" to do His will. She said the Lord also recently helped her to understand the plight of the homeless when her air conditioning went out during 100+ degree weather and she and her son didn't have money for repairs or for food. She has offered to help as a "prayer warrior" for all the needs. She also said her son has the gift of prophecy and told her that Church in the Woods will soon have a building. Praise God.
-- One of the lambs who usually steers clear of the Bible study had a strange request of a missionary: "Will you guys be there for my funeral when I die?" Of course, the answer was "Yes," but please keep this lamb in your prayers as he says he sometimes thinks he would be better off "ending it all" than putting up with life's turmoil.
-- The lamb who was stabbed several times is doing very well. He looked so good on Thursday and is off alcohol. Please pray for his continuing recovery, for work and a place to stay.
-- One lamb was in such a good mood. She gave a missionary a worship CD and a license plate that said GOD IS AWESOME.
-- At a church Bible study this week, the group was discussing how we use words, based on Matthew 12:34-37:You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." A lamb who has been attending for many weeks said he is learning how important it is to use words to build people up, not tear them down. He said he knows in his spirit when he has hurt someone now and realizes he is grieving God when that happens.
-- A missionary was getting his car fixed at a shop. The first time he went to drop it off, nobody was there to write up the ticket, so he came back later and found a mechanic who had just started working there. The mechanic noticed the "Greg Laurie" sticker on the missionary's car (for an evangelist who came to Raleigh) and confided that he was trying to find a religion that "makes sense and isn't a bunch of hypocrites." The mechanic then said that last Christmas, instead of the usual present-giving and commercialized holiday, he and his 9-year-old daughter bought presents and food for some homeless families and spent Christmas Eve WITH them. He said he was so blessed by that! So the missionary handed him a card for Church in the Woods and said, "That is what we do, and that is what Jesus told us to do. Please come join us some time."
Later, as the man was paying for the repairs, the mechanic's boss said the new man was working out well, but seems to have some personal issues he needs to work out. Please pray that this connection helps bless all involved. Isn't it amazing how God puts people together!
-- Please pray as the church that has been providing showers on Saturdays is trying to decide whether to continue after some disturbance that have occurred in recent weeks.
-- Please pray for the lamb who is in jail for assaulting several people, including stabbing one lamb who was hospitalized.
-- A lamb who has been sober for over a year has gotten a power-washing job and is hoping to hear from WalMart soon about another job.
-- Another lamb is starting construction work late this week as he tries to get enough money to go home to Arkansas.
-- Thank you Jesus for the missionary who volunteered to fry 20 pounds of fish for the memorial service!!! His memorial will be Thursday, Aug 23rd at Ernest Myatt Presbyterian Church, 4926 Fayetteville Rd beginning at 7 PM.
-- Please contact Anne at 461- 9737 if the Lord is asking you to serve with the Garner medical mission team Saturday the 25th.

Missionary Testimonials
Missionaries were bringing the love of Christ to families in Apex Wednesday. The family who was receiving the manna asked how they could repay a missionary. He was a landscaper and wanted to landscape her yard for free as repayment. She smiled and asked if there was another he would return the gifts. He told her sure. She asked the family to start attending church. He asked for directions to her church. She told him her church didn’t have a Hispanic service and gave him a list of churches that do in the area. He began to cry, translating for his mother and she began to cry. They told her that first the neighborhood thought these missionaries were immigration, then they knew there was a catch because nothing was free, but not suggesting her own church there was no catch.
She explained to the family that Jesus loved them and wanted them to have a relationship with the entire family. This is the catch, read your Bible, pray, join a Christian fellowship family, and spread the love of Christ to everyone.
On Sunday the missionary spoke with the man who is having truck problems. When asked if they could pray for his truck, he said that God doesn’t want you to pray for material things. As a community of brother and sisters in Christ pray that this family sees the Lord’s hand with everything in their lives including the transmission of their truck. The truck will not go in reverse. What a reminder that the Lord doesn’t wants us to go backwards either. Jesus wants us to walk forward with Him hand in hand!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
-- CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The medical mission team has a glucometer. The brand is the TheraSense "FreeStyle". The mission team needs strips, lancets and lancet pen. If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
-- Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
August 25th
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st

-- The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
August 26th
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

-- The Cary/Apex area pastors are invited to attend a Pastor’s meeting for Church in the Woods at the White Oak Baptist Church in Apex beginning at 11 AM Wednesday the 22nd . Please contact Alice McGee, 772-7050, if you are interested in attending.
-- Here is a very innovative approach to alleviate some of the homelessness social dilemma.
http://www.eyeweekly.com/eye/issue/issue_07.08.04/city/homelessness.php
This might have been the program in Boston I had read about
http://www.hearth-home.org/news/pr/programs_aid_homeless.html
This one is a very cool idea to raise money easily even a nickel even a nickel at a time
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/03/05/daily3.html

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
-- Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
-- Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
-- We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!
-- Thank you Jesus for the caterer who is donating the food for the volunteer appreciation dinner

August 12, 2007

2007-08-15T10:16:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry. There are so many prayer requests and praise reports!!! God is good all the time!

Prayer and Praise!
Apex

Thank you Jesus for the three children/preteens who accepted Jesus Sunday through the Backyard Bible club. Each child was given prayer journal and a cross. A youth Spanish Bible would be another gift to give, please pray and see if this is something one would like to donate. There are photos from one BBC in July on the blog http://least-of-these.blogspot.com/
The Lord heard your prayers! There were so many adult leaders Sunday, thank you Jesus! Please pray for more children missionaries. A missionary has volunteered to lead the August 19th Backyard Bible Club. Please pray for someone to continue it for the weeks following. The families are getting more receptive each week to hear about Jesus.
Thank You Jesus for the doctor, nurse, and translator who visited the paralyzed lamb today. He is still in need of a donut cushion and volunteer registered nurses for home care. He is also in need of a plastic surgeon. Please contact Anne Willet at willskai@bellsouth.net .
Praise God for the church that has volunteered to build this family a wheel chair ramp. Someone also offered to donate a toilet chair and tub transfer seat. God is so amazing!
Thank you for your prayers for the lamb with the slow healing foot. He is doing better each week. Please continue to pray for the Lord’s complete healing, physically and spiritually.
Thank you Jesus for the translator. He was such a gift today through prayer. As the missionary team met a rival gang in the neighborhood, he took the young men’s hands asked them to circle up and pray. The boys were obedient. The each received their physical manna (bagged lunches) and their spiritual manna (prayers). Please ask the Lord to bring His light to these 5 young men, soften their hearts, and come to Jesus.
The Wednesday outreach was such a blessing two of the homes were so excited to receive phone numbers with assistance they took off from their hourly jobs to be their. One was so blessed (that missionaries followed through) she took the missionaries to other homes to spread the Lord’s bounty.
The lamb who had the stroke accepted a bagged lunch today, pray next week he accepts Jesus.
Thank you Jesus for the mighty provision of food, physical and Spiritual. There was so much physical food the leftovers can be used for the Tuesday mission. As for the Spiritual, Spanish Bibles are needed, as are people to pray with lambs.
The first medical mission is August 26th. Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434. Glucometer strips are needed as well as medical volunteers.
Humanitarian aid is being brought to the Apex mission Sunday and Wednesdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Cary

When missionaries left a low rent efficiency complex, taking another missionary, a new lamb was found. He was lying on an abandoned porch, escaping the heat. It was interesting that the temperature was into the 100’s but the porch, surrounded by trees, was almost cool with a gentle breeze. This new lamb has the opportunity to go to a nearby church for showers. A missionary is taking him to SMILES Tuesday for the removal of an abscessed tooth. Keep the lamb in your prayers for pain and healing.
One of the lambs is doing so well, he asked for a bank account this week and assistance with money management. Praise the Lord!!!
Friends of the deceased lamb are extremely upset. The woman also lost another friend from the retirement home where she works. Please keep her in your prayers, as she learns to lean on Jesus instead of going to old coping skills.
A couple had their children visiting last week and was so sad to see them leave. The Lord and His perfect timing, the day the children left the mother was taken to a Womenade event and blessed by the fellowship and testimonies. She was encouraged to move forward in Christ and not back to old coping mechanisms. Please continue to pray for full-time employment for both. He has a couple of employers who hire him a few days a week.
Please keep a lamb in your prayers as he feels satan tapping him on his shoulder inviting him back to his old life. Pray that he makes Christian fellowship a priority this week.
A department manager from a local donating store was Muslim. A team of people have been praying for him to see Jesus as the only way for quite sometime. Yesterday he introduced a missionary to the new manager because he was going home for a month. In the conversation he told her that he was going to Europe and Northern Africa to see family. She asked if it was for the Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca. He said he was no longer Muslim, he had married a few month prior and wants to bring Jesus to his family prior to Ramadan and wants them to meet his new bride. Please pray for the Lord’s protection for this couple, safe travel, and the Lord to make a path for him and his bride to bring others to Christ.
Humanitarian aid is being brought to an area of poverty in Cary Mondays and Thursdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Garner

Please pray for a lamb who is facing assault charges in a fight with another lamb. Both were charged, but the first lamb says she was defending herself and has gotten affidavits from witnesses to help her case.
Please pray for many of the Garner lambs who are drinking liquor lately instead of beer. Some are becoming dangerously intoxicated and could be hurt.
Praise the Lord a second hairstylist will begin haircuts August 18th. The two hairstylists would like to prayerfully work together or perhaps alternating months.
A couple has moved into an apartment near N.C. State and the man has been offered part-time work. Please pray that he find transportation to work and that he begins to appreciate having something constructive to do.
A lamb recently released from jail needs prayer as he is going back to old friends and addictions. Please pray that he find healthy replacements for the demons he is trying to escape.
A lamb’s camp was burned down this week. A Garner youth pastor and family has invited him to stay with them for a few days.
Please keep one lamb in your prayers as she is slandering a missionary from the showers. Pray for the missionary as well.
Praise God for the continued progress by a lamb who has moved into a halfway house. He continues to work every day, attends AA meetings regularly and is helping other lambs find work!
Please pray for a Hispanic lamb who is in the hospital with stab wounds from an attack by another lamb. Also please pray for the angry lamb who is in jail for assault.
Please pray for a lamb who is trying to get his life together after nine years in prison. He has begun working and hopes to have an apartment soon, but his heart yearns to rebuild his relationship with his daughter.
Please keep the Garner camps in your prayers. Several camps have been burned down, some even while people were sleeping in them. Please pray for protection around the victims and the fire department is able to catch the firebug before she harms someone.
The Thursday night Bible study was cancelled last week due to a virus sweeping through missionaries’ home. Thank you Jesus so many lambs have cell phones. A missionary called to ask why no one was there. Once told, he took the handful of lambs, who hadn’t been told, to Wendy’s for dinner. Thank you Jesus!
The Lord answered your prayers this week. The lamb received his paperwork for his Arkansas property this week. Please pray he feels comfortable with opening himself up to a total reliance on Jesus.
The next Medical mission is August 25th from 3:00-4:30. Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.
One of the Garner lambs died August 1st. His memorial will be Thursday, Aug 23rd at Ernest Myatt Presbyterian Church, 4926 Fayetteville Rd beginning at 7 PM.

General

Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
The Lord’s hand is being seen in all things such as prayers for finding items, court dates and relationships with others and Christ. Please continue the prayers that each lamb relies on Jesus for all things.
Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
A family has donated funds for lambs to travel home. The family was so blessed to spend time with their loved one before his passing, they want to bless other families in a similar fashion. Thank you Jesus!
Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
Please keep a missionary family in your prayers this week as their twins leave for college Saturday. Please pray for this transitional time in the family’s life.
Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians’ time.

Missionary Testimonials
In just a few short hours, the Lord can do so much! On Sunday, a missionary delivering food to camps found a dozen dogs on the loose – including one that is usually very aggressive. At the same time, police were surrounding the missionary’s car, which held two lambs waiting to go to church. Ten minutes later, the missionary was back in his car. The police were satisfied with his explanations and two dogs, including the scary one, were sitting IN the car licking his hands!
The missionary received a guitar from a lamb who had been holding it since its owner died this month. Musicians at an Apex church volunteered to have the guitar repaired before sending it to the lamb’s family. Another man at church offered jobs to four lambs, and, when that fell through, said he would keep them in mind in the future.

During lunch, missionaries heard that a lamb had been stabbed and was in the hospital. One missionary went to the hospital, dropping off the lambs from lunch on the way. He ran into a lamb who had been good friends with the lamb who died and was able to personally invite him to a memorial service Aug. 23.

At the hospital, two of the injured lambs friends were there giving him support. The missionary was able to pray with all three, then provide a ride back for one and update others in Garner on the lamb’s condition.

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances

Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
The Lord has provided so many towels. Missionaries had no idea why. They contacted two groups and both were so blessed by the abundance of towels. The Lord and His perfect timing.
Someone has offered free video services. Please pray for how these services will be best used to glorify the Lord!
We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The medical mission team has a glucometer. The brand is the TheraSense "FreeStyle". The mission team needs strips, lancets and lancet pen. If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
August 25th
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st
The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
August 26th
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd
The Backyard Bible Club will be conducted on Sundays only from 5:00 PM- 6:30 PM through August 19th with set-up beginning at 4:30. The address is Thriftwood Dr, Apex (under the trees). Blankets will be needed to serve as classrooms, as well as craft items, and serving hands and hearts. If the Lord is nudging you to serve these children, please contact Talli Sailer at 325-2669 or babybell@scahome.net.
Please pray for the prayer team as they walk Peach Rd, Martin St, and Bragg St Monday the 13th beginning at 5:30.
The Cary/Apex area pastors are invited to attend a Pastor’s meeting for Church in the Woods at the White Oak Baptist Church in Apex beginning at 11 AM. Please contact Alice McGee, 772-7050, if you are interested in attending.

More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the least of these, whether homeless, poverty stricken, prostitutes, drug dealers, or gang members, and so many blessings are being shared!

Apex Backyard Bible Club photos Summer 07

2007-08-06T15:32:00.000-04:00

August 6, 2007

2007-08-06T07:33:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry. There are so many prayer requests and praise reports!!! God is good all the time!

Prayer and Praise!
Apex

Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week
The lamb who is paralyzed has some immediate needs. He is asking for prayer for the Lord’s provision of the following items: - 0.9% Sodium Chloride irrigation- Gauze- donut cushion (he has bed sores)- Dermal wound cleaner - Duoderm Control Gel Formula Dressing.
His mother is asking for prayer for a home doctor visit. It is difficult to move the lamb from their home. The medical mission nurse who has been making home visits in on a mission trip in South America. Please keep this family and their needs in your prayers.
Thank you Jesus for you loving and healing hands. This lamb’s lonely heart has already received His healing. Praise God, he would like to attend church. The lamb recovering from surgery has seen the infectious disease doctor. He sees the surgeon Friday for his MRI results. Please keep him in your prayers for the Lord’s healing.
Thank you Jesus for the children. Again they run to the cars yelling "the church is here, the church is here." About twenty children came to the Backyard Bible Club. The leaders needed to leave at 5:30 due to another commitment. The group was able to hear a reading from the Bible and make crafts. The children brought the crafts to the adult area for a meal, ice cream cake, and to tell about the Bible. Please pray for more children missionaries. Beginning August 19th there will be no leaders.
After a moving sermon a brother in Christ told CitW missionaries he wanted to serve in this area. He speaks fluent Spanish. Praise the Lord!!!! The Lord used him to break the language barrier and doors were opened. The missionaries were invited into home to discuss problems, Jesus, and the difference betweens Christian beliefs. This new CitW missionary would like to begin a Hispanic Adult Bible club. Thank you Jesus!
A lamb had been praying for someone who spoke Spanish to attend the "Church" today because she had received a letter from immigrations. What a gift to see the Body of Christ at work, one missionary with needed information and the other with the needed language. Please keep her and her family in your prayers as she begins this legal process with immigration. She needs to bring a lawyer with her to Charlotte. Please pray for a lawyer to step forward for her as well.
While missionaries were out of town, their neighbor and sons went on the Wednesday mission. It was such a blessing for that these young men had been in the community for several weeks because the families are beginning to trust them. We thank you Jesus for Your love and compassion!
One lamb who had several strokes a few months back told missionaries he has been healed (no more walker, no more cane) and was able to return to work. He no longer needed to talk food from us and his prayers had been answered. The longer he talked the more he realized he still needed Jesus. He thanked the Lord for His mighty healing and His mighty provisions.
The first medical mission is August 26th. Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.
Humanitarian aid is being brought to the Apex mission Sunday and Wednesdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Cary

The Lord is moving mightily on the streets of Cary. The number of Cary homeless has decreased. Most now have employment, with this employment comes a sense of worth. With this worth comes a seeking of Jesus.
One lamb has been at an Oxford in Garner and has almost completed his 30/30. The house has approved that attending church and Bible studies can count as a meeting. Thank you Jesus!!!!
Another lamb is working and sober. He has had a haircut and feels good about himself. He is ready to come back to church. Praise the Lord!
A lamb is in jail. Please pray for his family, wife and three children. Thank you Jesus, this will be used for Your Kingdom.
The lamb couple who moved into the Cary apartment was blessed to have two of their three children this week. Praise the Lord! The children and wife attended the Apex mission Sunday serving at the adult table while other missionaries went door to door. Their landlord is able to ask the husband to do "handyman" work around the complex to lower each month’s rent payment. Praise the Lord! The wife is talking with the manager at the Family Christian Bookstore on Friday. Please keep her in your prayers as she interviews for this job. Please keep the husband in prayer as he would like a study, 8-5 job. Another prayer request is for apartment needs. They are asking for a toaster, end tables, lamps, a coffee table, a coffee maker, a vacuum cleaner, curtains, candles, a toilet bowl brush, Clorox, Windex, Thank You cards, a dust pan, 2 extension cords, a mop and bucket, clothes hangers, and SOS pads. If you feel the Lord asking you to donate any of these items please contact Susan Vaughan at 803-4122.
A lamb who has been living in a transitional home is looking for an apartment in the Cary area. Please keep him in prayer as the Lord provides him housing.
Humanitarian aid is being brought to an area of poverty in Cary Mondays and Thursdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Garner

One of the Garner lambs died August 1st. He took the bus to the hospital the week before and asked the nurses to contact missionaries once he had passed. He told the nurse to tell them he was a t peace with the Lord and sober. Praise the Lord!!! His brother has come to take his body to MI where he will be laid to rest beside his parents. His memorial will be Thursday, Aug 23rd at Ernest Myatt Presbyterian Church, 4926 Fayetteville Rd beginning at 7 PM. Donations for helium balloons has already been made. The donor requested a prayer be released with each. His obituary was in the August 5th paper. He was loved by so many. It can be viewed online at
http://www.legacy.com/newsobserver/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=92087942
Missionaries came home from vacation to find several lambs in the hospital: one for such a severe case of conjunctivitis he was hospitalized for three days; another with the third degree burns is now infected; and the third with stomach issues, he was x-rayed and waiting to hear from the surgeon. Please keep these lambs in your prayers for the Lord’s mighty healing.
The Garner laundry facility has asked the lambs to only use the facility during non-peak times. Praise the Lord they are still able to use the facility!
The Lord has heard your prayers for a hair stylist. One has moved from Chicago and will begin donating her time monthly at the Saturday showers beginning in September. Thank you Jesus!
Thank you Jesus, the lamb couple has found an apartment! The Lord heard your prayers!
Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to get back to his land in Arkansas. Please pray he feels comfortable with opening himself up to a total reliance on Jesus.
The next Medical mission is August 25th from 3:00-4:30. Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.
The lamb in jail was released this week. Please pray that he listens to the Lord voice and not the voice of his past.

General

Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
The Lord’s hand is being seen in all things such as prayers for finding items, court dates and relationships with others and Christ. Please continue the prayers that each lamb relies on Jesus for all things.
Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians’ time.

Missionary Testimonials
Today I delivered my brother’s bike to a man struggling with sobriety, and in need of a "ride". He was extremely grateful for the gift, and then I remembered how much that bike helped my brother. He used it to go places, as well as keeping in shape. It also allowed him to get out in the world and see some of his dreams up close and personal. I also remember when he bought it, I thought why does he need a bike when he can barely walk. Good thing I'm not running the universe, because I didn't see that the bike was a symbol of hope for my brother, and I hope that it has the same effect on this man, who got the bike. I told him my brother's story in hopes that the bike will remind him that it is possible to achieve your dreams if we work for them. With the bike in good hands, all of my brother's worldly possessions have been donated/sold, and I hope that in some way we can pay forward the gifts that my brother received.
B.

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances

Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The medical mission team has a glucometer. The brand is the TheraSense "FreeStyle". The mission team needs strips, lancets and lancet pen. If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737. The dates are as following for 2007:
August 25th
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st
The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
August 26th
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd
"Homeless Singers on The Road to Success" is concerning men from the Wilmington St. shelter. It can be read at http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=triangle&id=5530076
The Backyard Bible Club will be conducted on Sundays only from 5:00 PM- 6:30 PM through August 19th with set-up beginning at 4:30. The address is Thriftwood Dr, Apex (under the trees). Blankets will be needed to serve as classrooms, as well as craft items, and serving hands and hearts. If the Lord is nudging you to serve these children, please contact Talli Sailer at 325-2669 or babybell@scahome.net.
Same Kind of Different as Me is a book worth reading. For more information the website is http://www.samekindofdifferentasme.com/ The Urban Ministry will host a conference with Ron and Denver, Charlotte, NC November 13-15

photojournalism story

2007-07-29T23:01:00.000-04:00

The photojournalism pieces have been uploaded. Praise God!
The website is
www.carolinaphotojournalism.org/ontheline/

The first story “To Hell with Society” is about one of the Vietnam Vets lambs we know and love. The second one “Ministry for the Lost” is from Church in the Woods Garner missions and fishing trips. There are many other stories from RTP.

Praise Report for July 23

2007-07-23T08:21:00.000-04:00

July 23, 2007
We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· Backyard Bible club is under way. The children’s outreach is conducted on Sundays only from 4:30 PM- 7 PM through August 19th. The address is Thriftwood Dr, Apex (under the trees). Blankets will be needed to serve as classrooms, as well as craft items, and serving hands and hearts. If the Lord is nudging you to serve these children, please contact Talli Sailer at 325-2669 or babybell@scahome.net.

· CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The medical mission team has a glucometer. The brand is the TheraSense "FreeStyle". The mission team needs strips, lancets and lancet pen. If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan

.Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 5PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.
The dates are as following for 2007:
July 28th
August 25th
October 6th
November 3rd
December 1st

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.
The dates are as following for 2007:
August 26th
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

Prayer and Praise!

Apex
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week
· The Backyard Bible Club has begun. We are praying for more lambs to attend and to help serve this community.

Cary
· A lamb who has been looking for a place at an Oxford House has finally gotten in. He has also completed a week of very hard work in the heat and has continued to meet the requirement of attending a substance abuse meeting every day for a month. We are thanking God for His mighty hand in helping find work for this lamb and another and for keeping them on course. Another praise is both lambs are seeking help with managing their money so they can continue to build up lives that glorify God.
· Please continue to pray for a couple that recently moved into an apartment. They have received a paycheck and have put money away for rent. Please pray that the Lord helps them find strength to continue working and saving and resist any urges to return to old habits.

Garner
· A couple is continuing to look for ways to stay together and get housing. They may be moving to Mississippi to be with family if the family can help with transportation.
· Please keep a lamb in prayer as she awaits a decision on where she will be living after many months of hospitalization.
· The lamb who suffered third-degree burns on his foot is back in the woods and reunited with his dog. Both appear to be doing well, but please pray this lamb can resist alcohol.
· Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to get back to his land in Arkansas. At church this week, the message was about giving your life to Christ and about avoiding drunkenness. This lamb admitted he felt it was directed at him.
· Please continue to pray for a lamb who is struggling with liver problems from drinking.
· Please continue to pray for a location for the Garner Thursday mission to meet out of the weather, maybe a church on South Saunders St, 401 or Wilmington St will open their doors one night a week. The Lord with His perfect timing find a perfect place.
· Prayers for a hair stylist at the Garner showers were answered. A lamb says the woman apologized for not bringing all of her clippers and promised to be prepared to do more styling next time.

General
· Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians’ time.

Missionary Testimonials
A missionary who brought a lamb to alcohol treatment several weeks ago was blessed to get to know several other recovering addicts while waiting there. One young man, after a long conversation, said he would like the missionary to be his “counselor” where previous psychologists and doctors have failed. The missionary said he would only be able to help the man find Christ, the ULTIMATE counselor, and offered to give the man a card so he could be contacted later.

The man was taken to another facility before contact information could be exchanged. But, as God would have it, the missionary ran into the man at a fast-food drive-through last week. They have established communication and are looking for a time to meet and discuss what this man wants to do with his life. Please pray that God is glorified in this process.

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the least of these, whether homeless, poverty stricken, prostitutes, drug dealers, or gang members, and so many blessings are being shared!

July 13, 2007

2007-07-18T09:17:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· Backyard Bible club hosts it’s “Kick-Off” Sunday the 15th with set up at 4:30. The Backyard Bible Club will be conducted on Sundays only from 4:30 PM- 7 PM through August 19th. The address is Thriftwood Dr, Apex (under the trees). Blankets will be needed to serve as classrooms, as well as craft items, and serving hands and hearts. If the Lord is nudging you to serve these children, please contact Talli Sailer at 325-2669 or babybell@scahome.net.
· CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The medical mission team has a glucometer. The brand is the TheraSense "FreeStyle". The mission team needs strips, lancets and lancet pen. If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.

Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 5PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
July 28th

August 25th
October 6th

November 3rd
December 1st

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 5 PM and 7 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
August 26th
October 7th
November 4th
December 2nd

· Josh Hamilton, from the Cincinnati Reds, has an awesome story of recovery from drug addiction. It can be read at http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2926447
· An interesting news story concerning volunteerism can be read at http://www.wral.com/news/national_world/national/story/1568679/

Prayer and Praise!
Apex
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week
· The lamb recovering from surgery now has an infection and is returning to the hospital today (Friday). Please keep him in your prayers for the Lord’s healing.
· What a gift to have the children run to the tables yelling “the church is here the church is here!”
· After handing out flyers for the Backyard Bible club, teenage boys came to the grassy area to play soccer near the meal and prayer tables. The teenage girls ride their bicycles around the grassy area each week. What a blessing to be “checked out”!
· Missionaries’ neighbor’s sons went on the Wednesday mission. Such bold young men (ages 11 and 13). The young men went from home to home, knocking on doors, making attempts with their “pequeño” Spanish, asking the moms if they wanted food and prayer. The women came to the doors, surprised and frightened to see young men approaching their homes. The missionary standing at the car yelling “Hola” and waving and “enorme” smiles would emerge. The Lord is placing His trust in the neighborhood! We thank you Jesus for Your love and compassion!
· Humanitarian aid is being brought to the Apex mission Sunday and Wednesdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Cary
· A man from a Men’s Bible study group has been working with the Cary lamb trying to find transitional housing. The summer is usually a great time to find housing due to not as many people searching for help from addictions. This summer there are as many as 8 people interviewing for one opening at transitional homes in the RTP area. This lamb has remained substance free for over a week back on the streets. Praise God! Please continue to pray that he relies on the Lord for his strength and not himself.
· Praise the Lord, several of the lambs have jobs! Please keep them in your prayers as they try to walk out of a pit of murk and mire on their own strength. But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; Isaiah 40:31a
· Praise the Lord, former lambs are opening their home to a lamb who is working in Cary!
· A lamb has been substance free for over a year. He has returned to the streets and can’t be found. Please keep him, his wife and three children in your prayers. The lambs at the motel are responding with God bless you and receptive to prayer.
· The new missionary family was so blessed to bring the love of Christ to the Cary missions Monday. The family loves serving their Lord, Jesus. They had such a blessed time they plan to take the Wednesday/Thursday missions while another missionary is on vacation the week of the 23rd. Keep them in your prayers as they grow in their walks with Jesus.
· A Garner couple has moved into their apartment in the Cary area. The wife has had two job interviews and received one of the jobs, Praise the Lord. However she would love a job at the Family Christian Bookstore. Please keep her in your prayers as she interviews for this job. Another prayer request are for apartment needs. They are asking for a toaster, end tables, lamps, a coffee table, a coffee maker, a vacuum cleaner, curtains, candles, a toilet bowl brush, Clorox, Windex, Thank You cards, a dust pan, 2 extension cords, a mop and bucket, clothes hangers, and SOS pads. If you feel the Lord asking you to donate any of these items please contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921.
· Humanitarian aid is being brought to an area of poverty in Cary Mondays and Thursdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Garner
· A couple has been given an apartment. The government found the man was still married. While receiving his divorce, he will move into an Oxford house and she will be moving into her apartment. After his divorce is final they can be married and move into her apartment.
· Please keep a lamb in prayer as she moves to the transitional home in Carrboro Monday.
· The Lord heard your prayers. The lamb who went to the hospital last week has been substance free for a week. She has remained to herself this week.
· Several missionaries took a lamb out for lunch for her birthday this week. What a blessing to witness her joy, acceptance and love. She is no longer using the wrist brace and using her arm. Praise God!
· Please pray for a Garner lamb who is moving back in with her mother. She is continuing to struggle with addictions that are keeping her from being with her son.
· This was a busy court week for many lambs. All the lambs were given continuances. A few lambs stayed with missionaries to have a good meal, shower, and to go to court substance free the following morning.
· Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to get back to his land in Arkansas. He joined missionaries for church on Sunday again and attended a Men’s Bible study group. Please pray he feels comfortable with opening himself up to a total reliance on Jesus.
· Please continue to pray for a lamb who is struggling with liver problems from drinking.
· The lamb is recovering from his third degree burns and a systemic infection. He has moved in with missionaries and is bored. He is still tired, especially when he has been on his feet too long. He has been given crossword puzzle and word searches this week and was taken to the library. He will continue to stay in missionaries’ home while they are on vacation. He would love company during the week of July 23rd. His brother in PA calls him daily and may plan a visit during that time. Please continue to keep him in prayer for healing and the peace of the Lord.
· An area veterinarian plans to host a vaccination clinic and neutering clinic in August for the pets of the Lord’s least-of-these.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved. He has been transferred to a jail in Goldsboro.
· The Lord’s timing is so perfect. The Thursday mission is meeting in the parking lot in the lambs’ social area. The mission attendance has increased tremendously, as has the respect of no substance use in the mission area. Please continue to pray for a location for the Garner Thursday mission to meet out of the weather, maybe a church on South Saunders St, 401 or Wilmington St will open their doors one night a week. The Lord with His perfect timing find a perfect place.
· Thank you Jesus for the caterer who wants to serve July 26th for the Thursday mission.
· Praise God for a location to meet for the monthly medical missions!
· Please pray for a hair stylist to serve the Lord one Saturday a month at the Garner showers. A missionary’s friend is moving from Chicago this month and is prayerfully considering cutting hair once a month. Thank you Jesus!

General
· Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Please pray for missionaries’ cars. The Sunday Moore Square missionary’s car has been without a car all week. The Apex, Cary, Garner missionary couple are both having car problems with both possibly going in the shop today.
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians’ time.
· The editor of a Christian magazine recently contacted a missionary who had written for the publication in the past. She said the theme for the next issue is “Restoration” and the Lord told her the cover story should come from Church in the Woods. A story and pictures have been sent for the next issue of “Looking Up Magazine.” (http://www.lookingupmagazine.com/)

Missionary Testimonials
The two lambs who moved into an apartment this week brought together so many blessings from so many places. The man has been working with someone from a men’s Bible study. Another member of that group helped the couple by providing an apartment and letting them do painting and other repairs to help pay for it. Other missionaries have been helping the couple with transportation and money management. A church may be helping them pay the deposit on their utilities.

Now the Lord’s blessings on these lambs are overflowing to others. They volunteer with Church in the Woods outreaches. They have opened their apartment to another lamb and are helping him find work. Praise God for the way He multiplies blessings!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the least of these, whether homeless, poverty stricken, prostitutes, drug dealers, or gang members, and so many blessings are being shared!

2007-07-06T13:22:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the least of these, whether homeless, poverty stricken, prostitutes, drug dealers, or gang members, and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
• At the Apex mission beginning July 22nd missionaries are beginning a Backyard Bible study on Sundays with set-up at 4:30. The address is Thriftwood Dr, Apex (under the trees). Blankets will be needed to serve as classrooms, as well as craft items, and serving hands and hearts. If the Lord is nudging you to serve these children, please contact Talli Sailer at 325-2669 or babybell@scahome.net.
• CitW Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church July 28th from 3-5 PM. If you are interested in serving, please contact Anne Willet at 461-9737

Prayer and Praise!
Apex
• Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week
• At the Sunday mission, missionaries wave down cars as they enter the neighborhood or check their mail. Most cars now wave as they pass. Some are even stopping each week. Many children are now coming. This week a man stopped his car and asked for prayer. He started with he wanted to give God glory and praise, they he confused is sins, repented and recommitted his life to Christ. Thank you Jesus!
• The lamb who is recovering from surgery is doing well. Please continue to keep him in your prayers. This week he donated a spiral ham to be cooked for the July 8th mission.
• Former Garner lambs brought two of their children to the Sunday mission. What a blessing to witness the Lord’s discipling! The mother and children went door to door giving families bagged lunches and offering prayer. On Wednesday the third son came as they offered food and prayer. God is so good!
• A Garner missionary asked for prayer two years ago. She has a heart for the children. Missionaries have been praying that the Lord would open a place for her to serve children. She went to the Apex mission one day and was greeted by the children. She began praying “is this the place Lord?” That was three weeks ago. Since that day another couple has volunteered to serve with her family and an Apex church has donated their leftover crafts from their VBS. On Wednesday a single mother asked if the mission could offer some type of children’s program. She wants to help with it. Another church is also interested with helping. Thank you Jesus for the little children! Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
• Humanitarian aid is being brought to the Apex mission Sunday and Wednesdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Cary
• A Cary lamb has been blessed this week to have transportation to a possible housing solution. He didn’t get in, but God is creating more relationships to help him stay on his walk with Jesus. This lamb was released from alcohol treatment yesterday and the devil put him through trials. One of the lambs at the Garner mission began blasting him with venomous words and he laughed and waved her off. In the old wineskin he would have retaliated with venomous words of his own. He didn’t get into the transitional home in Chapel Hill, the only one he wanted to apply for and is back on the streets. Please pray he finds a job on a bus-line.
• He was released yesterday and the devil put him through trials. One of the Garner lambs at the Garner mission began blasting him with venomous words and he laughed and waved her off. In the old wineskin he would have retaliated with venomous words of his own. He didn’t get into the transitional home in Chapel Hill, the only one he wanted to apply for and is back on the streets. The job needs to be on a bus-line.
• Praise the Lord, several of the lambs have jobs! Please keep them in your prayers as they try to walk out of a pit of murk and mire on their own strength. But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; Isaiah 40:31a
• A lamb has been substance free for over a year. He moved in with his wife and children two months ago. He became lost and was found after several days. One of the Garner, then Cary lambs was called asking if he knew where he could be. The lamb was able to find him and talk with him. The lost lamb has returned home to his wife, children and job and is back into an NA program. He is praising the Lord. It was the longest he has ever been substance free. His goal now is at least until his children are grown. He is asking for prayer that with Jesus he can do this. Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! Psalm 105:4
• The lambs at the motel are responding with God bless you and receptive to prayer.
• The Monday missionary is vacationing next week and needed someone to take the Monday humanitarian aid/prayer mission. Another missionary’s neighbor who has been going on the Wednesday and Thursday humanitarian aid/prayer mission has agreed to serve Monday with his three sons. Please keep them in your prayers as this is their first solo.
• Humanitarian aid is being brought to an area of poverty in Cary Mondays and Thursdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Garner
• A couple has been given an apartment. The government found the man was still married. While receiving his divorce, he will move into an Oxford house and she will be moving into her apartment. After his divorce is final they can be married and move into her apartment.
• The three lambs who attended the Greg Laurie conference have been blessed this week. The couple had their children for a week, spending time in different missionaries’ homes. The husband has been attending a Men’s Bible Study group in Holly Springs for months. One of the men in the group has given them one of his apartments to rent. The now landlord is allowing them to paint the apartment in exchange for almost a complete month’s rent and is willing to work on the deposit. It is the nicest place they have ever lived. The landlord is praying about starting a business with these lambs. Praise God! Please keep the wife in prayer as she seeks employment. The brother-in-law begins a job in Danville, VA July 16th. Praise God for His almighty provisions! The brother-in-law asked missionaries if they had been praying for him. He has tried to drink a beer since he accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. Each attempt he has become violently sick. Praise the Lord for His new wineskin!
• Please keep a lamb in prayer as she moves to the transitional home in Carrboro that was a better fit.
• Please pray for God to touch a lamb who is so enslaved by substances that she started using drugs and alcohol the same day she was released from the hospital after a heart attack. The CitW director prayed with her. She returned to the group with the mission witnessing “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it swept and put in order. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first.” Luke 11:24-26. Her persecution made missionaries rejoice with “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Matthew 5:11. This lamb was taken back to the hospital by force and released from the ER this morning. Please pray that the Holy Spirit fills her each time she asks for prayer and isn’t left void.
• Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). Several have prayed for the Lord’s miraculous healing. She is no longer using the wrist brace. Praise God!
• Please pray for a Garner lamb who is moving back in with her mother. She is continuing to struggle with addictions that are keeping her from being with her son.
• Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to get back to his land in Arkansas. He joined missionaries for church on Sunday. Please pray he feels comfortable with opening himself up to a total reliance on Jesus.
• Please continue to pray for a lamb who is struggling with liver problems from drinking.
• Thank the Lord He has answered your prayers. Eunice has been found safe!
• Luis is recovering from his third degree burns and a systemic infection. The systemic infection has heightened the risk of amputation. His case manager has required that he live in a dwelling with running water and electricity for 6 months to a year. He has agreed to live with missionaries for the first month. Please continue to keep him in prayer for healing and the peace of the Lord.
• An area veterinarian plans to host a vaccination clinic and neutering clinic in August for the pets of the Lord’s least-of-these.
• Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved. He has been transferred to a jail in Goldsboro.
• The Lord’s timing is so perfect. The Thursday mission is meeting in the parking lot in the lambs’ social area. The mission attendance has increased tremendously, as has the respect of no substance use in the mission area. Please continue to pray for a location for the Garner Thursday mission to meet out of the weather, maybe a church on South Saunders St, 401 or Wilmington St will open their doors one night a week. The Lord with His perfect timing find a perfect place.
• Thank you Jesus for the caterer who wants to serve July 26th for the Thursday mission.
• Praise God for a location to meet for the monthly medical missions!
• Please pray for a hair stylist to serve the Lord one Saturday a month at the Garner showers. A missionary’s friend is moving from Chicago this month and is prayerfully considering cutting hair once a month. Thank you Jesus!

General
• Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
• Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
• Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
• Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
• Please pray for missionaries’ cars. The Sunday Moore Square missionary’s car has been without a car all week. The Apex, Cary, Garner missionary couple are both having car problems with both possibly going in the shop today.
• Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians’ time.

Missionary Testimonials
God continues to work through an Apex men’s Bible study, building relationships and strengthening faith. Several homeless men have visited the study. Some have received transportation, Bibles, prayer and friends willing to listen to them. Others have been blessed with jobs and even an apartment. So many are learning what it means to serve and love unconditionally – and to see God work miracles!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
• Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
• Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
• We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

June 29, 2007

2007-06-29T09:56:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the least of these, whether homeless, poverty stricken, prostitutes, drug dealers, or gang members, and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· CitW Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church July 28th from 3-5 PM. If you are interested in serving, please contact Anne Willet at 461-9737
· Church in the Park in Boston http://www.citizenlink.org/CLNews/A000004069.cfm

Prayer and Praise!
Apex
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week
· Many of the single moms were blessed with food this week.
· Missionaries’ neighbor’s 13 year old son, wants to spend a few hours a week, delivering food with Missionaries this summer in Cary and Apex. This child of the Lord has talked so much of the blessings to his family, the family wants to deliver humanitarian aid while missionaries are out of town in July.
· Keep one lamb in your prayers as he recovers from surgery.
· Humanitarian aid is being brought to the Apex mission Sunday and Wednesdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.
· Thank you Jesus for an area Apex church. The pastor at White Oak Baptist Church wants to organize a meeting with other Apex pastors to meet and discuss how to serve the Lord’s “least-of-these” in the area.
· An area church would like for their youth to serve at the Apex mission on Sundays. Praise God! Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Cary
· Please keep a lamb in prayer as he continues with substance abuse treatment. It is more challenging to live in his old destructive wineskin than the new wineskin of Christ. He was visited by former lambs (missionaries in training) and a missionary on Saturday and Sunday. One couple brought him a Bible from the Greg Laurie conference, the other cigarettes and a little spending money. Pray for job in the Durham Chapel Hill area upon his release July 5th. He is being transferred to a transitional home there. The job needs to be on a bus-line.
· Several of the Hispanic lambs moved to SC this week. Please keep them in prayer as they chose their path.
· Humanitarian aid is being brought to an area of poverty in Cary Mondays and Thursdays, along with prayer. Please pray that these lambs will see and feel the love of Jesus. This may be the only church they attend.

Garner
· Three lambs attended the Greg Laurie conference Friday evening. Praise God! All three went to the floor -- two to rededicate their lives and the third to ask Jesus to be his Savior. PRAISE GOD!!!!
· Please keep a lamb in prayer at a transitional home in Carrboro. She enjoyed the transitional home this week and has begun working. She is looking at a nearby home that may be a better “fit” for her.
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). Several have prayed for the Lord’s miraculous healing. She is no longer using the wrist brace. Praise God!
· A lamb who attended “church” Thursday also attended an area church Sunday. She asked for a Bible and then asked for a Hispanic Bible for her boyfriend. As God would have it a missionary picked one up at the Greg Laurie conference. Praise God for his Almighty Provisions
· Missionaries were at the movies in Garner this week meeting for lunch and saw a lamb who had returned to the area. She joined them for prayer and a meal. She shared her photographs of her son. She is such a proud mother. Thursday, she returned to “church” asking for assistance to go to treatment. She has three kittens she would like placed. Please pray for her new wineskin in Christ.
· Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to get back to his land in Arkansas. Missionaries prayed with him Thursday after he shared how he learned so much about the Bible from a pastor in Arkansas. The prayer was that he would get home, find work and become a deacon in that church! He said, “That’s a bit of a stretch, isn’t it?” But missionaries replied, “No, that’s faith!”
· Please continue to pray for a lamb who is struggling with liver problems from drinking.
· Please pray for God to touch a lamb who is so enslaved by substances that she started using drugs and alcohol the same day she was released from the hospital after a heart attack.
· Please pray for a new lamb named Joe who came Thursday in an incoherent state, speaking neither English nor Spanish, giggling at times and appearing almost as one possessed.
· A lamb asked for prayer last night to stop drinking. He is frightened by possible deportation. He has lived in the US since 1976. The murder of the Fuquay woman has the police combing the area and questioning many to the homeless who live nearby.
· An area veterinarian plans to host a vaccination clinic in August for the pets of the Lord’s least-of-these.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved. He has been transferred to a jail in Goldsboro.
· The Lord’s timing is so perfect. The Thursday mission is meeting in the parking lot in the lambs’ social area. The mission attendance has increased tremendously, as has the respect of no substance use in the mission area. Please continue to pray for a location for the Garner Thursday mission to meet out of the weather, maybe a church on South Saunders St, 401 or Wilmington St will open their doors one night a week. The Lord with His perfect timing find a perfect place.
· Thank you Jesus for the caterer who wants to serve July 26th for the Thursday mission.
· Praise God for a location to meet for the monthly medical missions!
· Please pray for a hair stylist to serve the Lord one Saturday a month at the Garner showers.

General
· Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians’ time.

Missionary Testimonials
A lamb who “happened” to be visiting his brother and sister-in-law at the time of the Greg Laurie evangelism conference is feeling the power of his rebirth this week!
He had not attended church for five years and confessed his marriage to a believing wife was destroyed by his unbelief.
When he gave his life to Jesus, he wanted to call family members and tell them, but he was too choked with emotion to speak. Now this lamb and his brother and sister-in-law, who rededicated their lives to Jesus at the conference, are losing their desire for drugs and alcohol. Instead, they are developing a passion for the Bible!
Our new brother in Christ went to church Sunday and was one of the first to eagerly volunteer to read from Acts 10 during the Thursday mission.

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· A family contacted missionaries with hot dogs. They asked if they should purchase buns. The buns were delivered the next day. Praise God! Missionaries asked the Lord for baked beans. When an area church donates food, it is on Wednesday evenings. The appointed calling time past. The Lord must be providing another way. An hour later the church called with baked bean. God is so faithful!
· The hot dogs and beans will be used for the Apex mission because an area cater donated Salmon Florentine, grilled vegetables, and rice for Thursday’s mission. Thank you Jesus for such an eloquent feast.
· Thank you Jesus for the chiropractor who hosted a first aid donation drive. The items, including bug spray, chap stick, and calamine lotion, were picked up this week and many already distributed.
· Thank you Jesus for the church that collected bottled water, socks, and V8 at a dinner. The bottle water was in such abundance that many cases are being used by the Brown Bag ministry who provided brown bag lunches for Church in the Woods missions.
· An area grocery donated 5 pounds of sliced deli meat which is also being given to the Brown Bag ministry.
· The Sunday Moore Square missionary who prepares the meal (for 150 people) was blessed with chicken and pasta from an area cater.
· An acupuncturist’s client donated a ham. Another client would like to help with meals. Praise God for his mighty provision.
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

June 22, 2007

2007-06-22T14:19:00.000-04:00

June 16, 2007

2007-06-16T23:01:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the least of these, whether homeless, poverty stricken, prostitutes, drug dealers, or gang members, and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com.
· The Downtown Friends/Bread of Life ministry collected 54 names of at least 300 people who were served hot dogs prayed for salvation on June 2nd!!! Praise God!!
· CitW Volunteer Information Meeting concerning the ministry Church in the Woods, has been scheduled. This meeting will be held on June 25th at 7:00 pm. The location is 4701 Forestdale Rd. Raleigh, NC 27603, Alice McGee's home.
· Forming Faith Community Support Circles to Address Homelessness in Wake County. Date: Saturday, June 16, 2007, 9:00 am - 12:00 noon, First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. Please submit your registration information by June 11th to Roberta Macauley at Roberta.macauley@raldioc.org or 790-8533 ext. 32.
· New York Times article: Off the Street and in an Apartment, but Unable to Escape Homelessness http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/11/nyregion/11cave.html?_r=2&th&emc=th&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
· Harvest 07 Coming to Triangle/Raleigh-Durham Area - A group of 175 churches in the Triangle area has invited evangelist Greg Laurie and the Harvest team to Raleigh for Harvest 07, June 22-24 at the RBC Center. Harvest Crusades events present the Good News of Jesus Christ in a uniquely modern way featuring Greg Laurie's relevant Bible teaching and contemporary Christian music. http://www.harvest.org/crusades/2007/raleigh/

“Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost”
Scripture: Luke 15:3-7 (alternate reading: Matthew 5:27-32)
3 So he told them this parable: 4 "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, `Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.' 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Meditation: Jesus’ heart of love and compassion is most clearly revealed in the way he sought out sinners and outcasts of society. No one was excluded from his gracious presence unless they chose to stay away out of jealousy or mistrust. The scribes and Pharisees took great offense at Jesus because he freely associated with sinners and treated them graciously. The Pharisees had strict regulations about how they were to keep away from sinners, lest they incur defilement. They were not to entrust money to them or have any business dealings with them, nor trust them with a secret, nor entrust orphans to their care, nor accompany them on a journey, nor give their daughter in marriage to any of their sons, nor invite them as guests or be their guests. They were shocked with the way in which Jesus freely received sinners and ate with them.
God does not rejoice in the loss of anyone, but desires that all be saved and restored to fellowship with him. That is why the whole community of heaven rejoices when one sinner is found and restored to fellowship with God. Seekers of the lost are much needed today.

Prayer and Praise!
Apex
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week
· The Lord is so gracious. He brought three lambs to the Apex mission. What a gift to witness lambs ministering to lambs. The three walked away feeling blessed.
· Produce picked up at a local grocer was in abundance today. The extra produce was given to those at the Apex mission. The missionaries took the food to two homes to be dispersed throughout the neighborhood. At one of the homes the single mother has the chickenpox and is unable to work. Please pray for the family’s finances, a quick recovery, and patience for her two young sons.
· A missionary was blessed to meet the man who received the wheelchair this week. Food was delivered to their home and he was strapped into the wheelchair with an ace bandage. Tears came to his eyes when this mother explained who the missionary was. The language barrier wasn’t a barrier at all. All he could say was gracias Dios! Thank you Lord for Your provisions and the tearing down the walls of fear and distrust.

Cary
· A lamb was taken to the hospital one night this week. The police called missionaries to meet him at the hospital. The lamb was released from the hospital with minor injuries.
· A Cary lamb finally agreed to enter alcohol treatment. Praise God! He has been suffering from numerous physical ailments compounded by excessive drinking and legal issues. He and a missionary were both blessed to spend several hours at the treatment center being processed, as God brought several other addicts there to share stories and discuss God’s plans for their lives. One man initially identified himself as “God” and said, “You may worship me.” But he was tremendously blessed when a missionary gave him a wrist band from the upcoming Harvest ’07 event in Raleigh. The band has written on it: “Making God Known.” He was told when he visits Dorothea Dix hospital that it is his mission now to share the love of Jesus with others, and he readily accepted!
· A lamb who was released from ATC last week found his employer has held his position at work. Thank You Jesus! The lambs also met a former lamb at church to learn they were in neighboring transitional homes. They were able to give each support and encouragement. What a small world!

Garner
· Please keep a lamb in Garner in your prayers as he saves money to move back to land he has in Arkansas. He entrusted his land documents with a missionary this week to see whether the 10 timbered acres might be worth enough to sell so the lamb could put some kind of housing on part of it. This lamb also was sharing with missionary identical visions about how the old song “Stairway to Heaven” contains so many veiled references to Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). The doctor has given missionaries the protocol for her wrist surgery. Please pray she will now take the necessary steps for surgery. She has asked for prayer from narcotic addiction. She has been taking too many pain pills for her wrist.
· Please pray for a Garner lamb who was in the hospital with sclerosis and other alcohol-related issues. Please pray also for a lamb who continues to create turmoil by gossiping and spreading vicious rumors about others – even as she praises Christ as her Savior.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved. He is due to be released soon.
· A lamb couple are trying to work more hours, pay off debts, save money, and find housing. The company the husband is working with has been blessed with more business than they can handle in his normal workweek. Thank you Jesus! Please keep these lambs in your prayers.
· This same lamb couple invited a lamb to stay in their hotel room, so he could shower, eat, and remain substance free for a few days. Praise God for the lambs ministering to lambs.
· Please pray for a place for the Garner Thursday mission to meet out of the weather, maybe a church on South Saunders St, 401 or Wilmington St will open their doors one night a week, especially when the days become shorter in the fall. The Lord knows the perfect meeting location.
· Please pray for a hair stylist to serve the Lord one Saturday a month at the Garner showers.

General
· Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Please keep the director of CitW, Alice McGee, in your prayers as she is in Africa for a mission trip, returning this weekend.
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians’ time.

Missionary Testimonials
God continues to provide food in miraculous ways and quantities! A missionary on Sunday met friends at one store and was able to tell them about what is being done with food that would otherwise be thrown away. The missionary then went home to find brown bag lunches being delivered for a ministry, visited camps, brought people to church and arrived EARLY – God’s timing again!
At church, the missionary met a woman who had a dream telling her to serve the homeless on a regular basis. Another woman said she wants to give vaccinations to the homeless’ pets for $1. She will also spay and neuter cats. Praise God!!!!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
· Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!
· Praise God for a local veterinarian who provided neutering and vaccinations for a lamb’s dog.
· Praise God for the food donated by the family of an area graduate. The chicken, baked beans, potato salad, and salads.
· The Lord provided hamburgers, hot dogs, and baked beans today. Missionaries called the missionary who feeds the Sunday Moore Square mission. She didn’t have food for tomorrow. She received ~150 hamburgers, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese. As the missionary was leaving her home the Brown Bag ministry brought over 100 loaves of sandwich bread. Half of the bread was also given to her. Praise God for His mighty Provisions!!!!

The Apex, Cary and Garner missions

2007-06-11T07:20:00.000-04:00

Church in the Woods mission

Apex - serving gang members, substance abusers and drug dealers

Wednesday 1PM-2PM
pick-up food for humanitarian aid and prayer to those at the Apex mission
Sunday 5PM -7PM
meals (hot and bagged lunches), fellowship and prayer, medical missions

Cary - serving the homeless, prostitutes, substance abusers, and drug dealers

Monday noon-1PM
pick-up food for humanitarian aid and prayer to the homeless and those at the prostitute hotel
Thursday noon -1PM
pick-up food for humanitarian aid and prayer to the homeless and those at the prostitute hotel
Sunday 9:30-3 PM
humanitarian aid , pick-up those who want to go to church, lunch, fellowship and prayer
As needed
rides to appointments, court, jobs, Bible studies; finding resources and services; housing; bus tickets to see family; hospital visits; staying for court hearing; visits in jail/prison; banking; support circles; (showers, laundry in missionaries' homes)

Garner - serving homeless, substance abusers, prostitutes, and drug deals

Thursday 6:30 PM-9PM
Bible study, discipleship, meal, fellowship and prayer
Saturday 3PM - 5PM
showers, fellowship, prayer, and medical mission hosted - served by the Garner Methodist Church
Sunday 8:45AM - 3PM
food pick-up, delivering food to camps, picking-up for church, serving lunch, fellowship, prayer, and returning to camps
As needed
rides to appointments, court, jobs, Bible studies; finding resources and services; housing; bus tickets to see family; hospital visits; staying for court hearing; visits in jail/prison; banking; support circles; laundry and kerosene accounts

2007-06-08T09:58:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the least of these, whether homeless, poverty stricken, prostitutes, drug dealers, or gang members, and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com.
· Forming Faith Community Support Circles to Address Homelessness in Wake County. You are invited to participate in a community wide information session that will provide you information about how to form new Support Circles. Presenters will include providers from various homeless service agencies skilled in working with families who are homeless. The date is Saturday, June 16, 2007 from 9:00 am - 12:00 noon at First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603. For additional questions about the session, please contact Roberta Macauley at Roberta.macauley@raldioc.org <mailto:Roberta.macauley@raldioc.org> or 790-8533 ext. 32. Please submit your registration information by June 11th
· Harvest 07 Coming to Triangle/Raleigh-Durham Area - A group of 175 churches in the Triangle area has invited evangelist Greg Laurie and the Harvest team to Raleigh for Harvest 07, June 22-24 at the RBC Center. Harvest Crusades events present the Good News of Jesus Christ in a uniquely modern way featuring Greg Laurie's relevant Bible teaching and contemporary Christian music. http://www.harvest.org/crusades/2007/raleigh/

Prayer and Praise!
Apex
· The Lord equipped the mission with 97 brown bags lunches with an additional 20 sandwiches to be given away Sunday evening from the Brown Bag ministry, enabling missionaries to deliver bag lunches in the rain. About half of the people in the trailer park were able to receive a gift from Jesus! What a blessing to be able to drive from home to home offering the physical to open the door for His spiritual manna!
· Two of the former Garner lambs came with missionaries to deliver the bagged lunches. What a blessing to watch how being the Lord’s hands can change one’s life!
· What a gift to witness the family’s face when a wheelchair was taken from a car trunk and delivered to their home Sunday evening. The family was reminded to thank Jesus for being the provider of all things.
· Pray for a lamb whose friend is going through a challenge with his health, family, and income. May the prayers for this friend bring the lamb to the Lord? This lamb is also now asking for prayers wanting to know more about Jesus. Thank you Lord!!!!
· Please keep a lamb in your prayers as she is “figuring out religion”. She came to the mission encouraging neighbors to come as well.
· Please keep a lamb in prayer for restoration of his family.
· The Lord provided a trunk load of food Wednesday to be given away in the Apex mission. The language is no a barrier as smiles of appreciation with the words “Gracias Jesús”
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week.
Cary
· Please keep a lamb in prayer as he was paid yesterday. Have the Lord touch his mind more than his addiction.
· Please keep a lamb in prayer as his time at the Wake County Alcohol Treatment Center nears an end.
· Please keep a lamb in your prayers as he has returned home to Richmond. He was given the book, A Purpose Driven Life.
· We are thanking the Lord for your prayers as the married couple has been substance free for over a month. They are living in a motel and looking for an apartment in Cary as well as jobs. The husband is working about halftime with a Heat and Air company and wanting more work. The wife has applied for waitress jobs but would love to work in an office.
· Missionaries were able to have lambs take showers on Sunday after church.
· Please thank Jesus for His Almighty faithful provisions.
· Please keep the missionaries in prayer as they deliver physical and spiritual manna 3 times a week. Thank you Jesus for Your mighty hands in this world!
Garner
· Sunday a lamb met missionaries to show where his new camp is located and to see the lamb who is suffering from pancreatitis. The camp is beautiful! Hugs received with smiles of joy filled the morning! Please keep both lambs in your prayers.
· Please keep in your prayers a lamb who told missionaries he has been given 60 days to live due to liver issues.
· On Thursday, the Bible study moved back into the other side of the parking lot, near the lambs “watering hole” or “family room”. The lambs were surprised and relieved to see missionaries setting up tables and chairs in their “space”. Beer or Cerveza wasn’t allowed within the circle of chairs or at the food table. Thank you Jesus for their respect. A cell phone drug deal was underway during the prayer circle time and the phone was taken away being returned outside the circle after the prayer time was over. All phone calls were asked to be taken away from the area, in reverence of “iglesia”. This, too, was respected by the lambs. Praise God! What a blessing to witness the hunger for His Word and with reverence by so many!
· The Lord provided a bounty for dinner. Missionaries were shocked when they went to the grocer’s deli to pick up food to also be given a case of Hispanic soda. What a gift! Another group donated refried beans, black beans, Mexican rice, and corn with tortillas. What a feast for the large group!
· The group took turns reading Acts 9 in Spanish and then English section by section with discussion between each section. One of the lambs served as translator between both groups. One of the lambs was trying to explain how he had felt persecuted today. His persecution took him to alcohol instead of to being closer to Christ. Others discussed hearing the voice of the Lord but the voice of cerveza was louder. Please pray that the Lord’s voice is the loudest voice in our lives.
· A lamb is going through a program provided by the department of correction and taking computer classes at Wake Tech. Praise God!!!!
· The lamb who felt persecuted began to verbally strike out last night. Several of the other lambs went to “put him in his place”, the old way with fists and bats. Before anyone touched the lamb, everyone was called back to the circle to continue the study of Acts 9. Several lambs lost the desire to continue with God’s Word but were encouraged to return to the circle. They read through verse 31. God and His perfect timing!!!! “Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria enjoyed a time of peace. It was strengthened; and encouraged by the Holy Spirit; it grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord.” This scripture became the scripture for the evening.
· The Lord is such a Lord of provision. An area church donated the money for a bus ticket. The following day the family in CA whose brother just went to see the Lord, contacted missionaries also wanting to help this lamb go home to be with his family. They know what it meant to them to have their brother home. He owns some land in Arkansas and hopes to get away from the temptations of homeless living in Garner. This lamb has such a wide knowledge of the Bible and read most of the English version of the study last night.
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). The doctor has given missionaries the protocol for her wrist surgery. Please pray she will now take the necessary steps for surgery. She has asked for prayer from narcotic addiction. She has been taking too many pain pills for her wrist.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved.
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions three times per week.
· Please pray for a place for the Garner Thursday mission to meet out of the weather, maybe a church on South Saunders St, 401 or Wilmington St will open their doors one night a week, especially when the days become shorter in the fall. The Lord knows the perfect meeting location.
· Please pray for a hair stylist to serve the Lord one Saturday a month at the Garner showers.
General
· Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Please keep the director of CitW, Alice McGee, in your prayers as she is in Africa for a mission trip, May 24th returning June 17th.
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians time.

Missionary Testimonials
· What a gift the Lord gave when He gave the family the wheelchair this week! The Hispanic community is so frightened by people they don’t’ know, expecting them to harm them with threats of exportation or harm. To witness trust being built through His love is a blessing. The language barrier didn’t stop the gratitude, smiles and hugs as they spoke to their loved one and pushed the wheelchair into the trailer. The family came back outside to thank the missionaries and God for this gift! This was the first time missionaries witnessed the family pointing to Heaven with words of appreciation with no fear on their faces. Praise You Jesus!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week. This week someone having a yard sale wants to donate their leftovers.
· Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

June 1 2007

2007-06-01T11:07:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the homeless and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com.
· Forming Faith Community Support Circles? You are invited to participate in a community wide information session that will provide you information about how to form new Support Circles. Presenters will include providers from various homeless service agencies skilled in working with families who are homeless. It is being held June 16th from 9 AM – noon at First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 (Continental breakfast will be provided). For additional questions about the session, please contact Roberta Macauley at Roberta.macauley@raldioc.org or 790-8533 ext. 32. Please submit your registration information by June 11th.
· Join the word in preparing for the GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER! We have begun 10 days of constant prayer: May 17 – 26, following the pattern of Christ’s followers before the first Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, Christians in almost every country will assemble to pray. Then we will seek 90 days of blessing: May 28 - August 25. As in the first Pentecost, transformed Christians transform their communities as they offer themselves to God as instruments through which their prayers can be answered. For more information including a guide to praying, visit www.globaldayofprayer.com

Prayer and Praise!
· The last day of the Global day of prayer the Lord’s blessing began to pour upon CitW. Storage was found for all the items stored in WLFJ, Hope Chapel is paying for half of a storage unit, a missionary had empty space in a couple of outbuildings, the freezers and refrigerator were placed in missionaries homes, garages, and porches. No sooner were freezers plugged in, the Lord was filling them with food donated leftover from a Latino festival and catered weddings. The Brown Bag ministry donated 40 bag lunches for the Apex mission and 80 pounds of bananas. While picking up the food from the Brown Bag ministry, a man approached a missionary giving her his card. He helps those in need write resumes and teaches them to interview for jobs. Thank you Lord for being the ultimate provider.
· With the Lord’s perfect timing, a couple of the bagged lunches arrived as lambs who were assisting with the move came to missionaries’ home without having eaten that day. God is so awesome!
· Please keep the director of CitW, Alice McGee, in your prayers as she is in Africa for a mission trip, May 24th returning June 17th.

Apex
· Some of the missionaries walked the neighborhood, while others manned the table under the trees. Those walking the neighborhood knocked on doors bringing them a bagged lunch, an invitation to the mission, and the offer of prayer. Some took the lunches and smiled with the invitation, but no one refused prayer.
· The meal provided from the cater was sole with a shrimp stuffing in a cream sauce. The pasta was also in a cream sauce with roasted peppers and mushrooms. Salad and bread was provided with bananas and fresh fruit. The Lord provided a feast for Pentecost. So many of the lambs asked how much it cost and couldn’t believe it was free.
· Please keep one lamb in your prayers. He is a new Christian and asked for prayers for discipleship. He wants to follow Jesus but it is difficult to change old ways and put on His new wineskin.
· The lamb who had back surgery was walking around Sunday. The doctors couldn’t believe how well he is doing after only one week. He asked missionaries what the “catch” was with the free food. He was told it is freely given to be freely given away. Did you have to start attending the CitW church? He was surprised to find that the missionaries all attended different churches, but were all brothers and sisters of the Body of Christ.
· We are thanking the Lord for your prayers for the diabetic lamb. He made chicken salad for the lambs of his community Sunday. His health is improving each week and his spirits are high. He feels closer to the Lord than he has in years. Praise God!
· Please keep a family from the mission in your prayers. The sole bread winner just came home from the hospital. The family asked for a wheelchair and one has been donated to be delivered Sunday. Praise God! We serve such an awesome God!
· Pray for a lamb whose friend is going through a challenge with his health, family, and income. May the prayers for this friend bring the lamb to the Lord.
· Please keep a lamb in your prayers as she is “figuring out religion”. She came to the mission encouraging neighbors to come as well.
· Please keep a lamb in prayer for restoration of his family.
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week.

Cary
· We are thanking the Lord for your prayers. Three of the Cary lambs are working this week. Two attended a men’s Bible Study.
· Please keep a lamb in prayer. He called missionaries asking for help this week. He is in the Wake County Alcohol Treatment Center. Praise God!!!!
· Please keep a lamb in your prayers. He attempted suicide this week. A missionary went to visit him and shared a past of her testimony not knowing he had a similar experience as a child. Thank you for the Holy Spirit’s prompting and obedience of the missionary. The Lord has also provided him a bus ticket to go home to Richmond today. Thank you Jesus!!!
· Please pray for two married lambs who are facing many crises: loss of one’s job, possible jail time, disruptive and dysfunctional family members, and continuing struggles with substance addictions. They need God’s covering and leading to choose His new wineskin. The Lord has given these lambs committed mentors this week. Pray for the mentors as they lean on the Lord for wisdom, understanding, strength, and guidance. These lambs have moved from their apartment, receiving their deposit back and a letter of reference for their next apartment. Praise God!!!
· We are thanking the Lord for your prayers. An area store is donating food the day the caterer is unable to supply food. Please keep the lambs in your prayers who have been fed, physically and spiritually, on this day, especially one elderly lamb. Please thank Jesus for His Almighty faithful provisions.
· Please keep the missionaries in prayer as they deliver physical and spiritual manna 4 times a week. Thank you Jesus for Your mighty hands in this world!

Garner
· On Thursday, the Bible study moved back into the parking lot. A cater prepared food this week. She set the table with a tablecloth and provisions to keep the food hot. She plans to prepare food the last Thursday of each month. Thank you Jesus!!! She also has many paper products to donate from her restaurant business which recently closed. Please keep her in your prayers as she now serves God’s kingdom with her culinary gifts.
· We are thanking the Lord for the faithfulness of the mobile medical team. They attended with few lambs wanting medical attention.
· Missionaries had asked the Lord for a lamb’s brother’s phone number. The brother called this week wanting to get in touch with his brother to bring him home for Father’s Day. His father is elderly and he wanted the family together before any more time passes. The brother was given the missionaries’ number two years ago. Praise God for answered prayers.
· With the leaving of this lamb to WI, another lamb is left alone. Within the past few months, his brother moved to PA, one of his two dogs was stolen and now his best friend is going home, although only for a few weeks. Please keep him in your prayers that he turn to Jesus instead of other coping mechanisms.
· One of the first lambs who came to the Garner mission three years ago visited last night. What a blessing to see him and catch-up. He is looking after another lamb who is suffering from pancreatitis. Please keep both lambs in your prayers.
· What a blessing to have so many lambs assist with the move of the CitW items in storage! We are thanking Jesus for their assistance. Many of these lambs also assist with the move the married couple this week. God is the provider of so many hearts and hands.
· Please keep another lamb in prayer as he tries to get money to go back to his home in Arkansas. He needs about $160. He owns some land there and hopes to get away from the temptations of homeless living in Garner. This lamb has such a wide knowledge of the Bible and did all of the reading Thursday night, plus quoted other scriptures to back up Acts 8.
· Please pray for another lamb who is looking for work in the Garner area. She is taking the summer off from nursing classes at Wake Tech and would like to save some money for the fall.
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). The doctor has given missionaries the protocol for her wrist surgery. Please pray she will now take the necessary steps for surgery. Also pray for the Ultimate Physician to heal her wrist. Several people have laid hands on it for healing.
· Thank you God for answering prayers and removing much of the anger and dissention that was present the previous week.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved.
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions three times per week.
· Please pray for a place for the Garner Thursday mission to meet out of the weather, maybe a church on South Saunders St, 401 or Wilmington St will open their doors one night a week. The Lord knows the perfect meeting location.
· Please pray for a hair stylist to serve the Lord one Saturday a month at the Garner showers.

General
· Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians time.

Missionary Testimonials
· The Lord is continuing to work through relationships! A couple who adopted a lamb couple has found that with him working for their business, they have more work than ever before. The lamb is constantly pressing for more opportunities and is making his sponsor think twice about his own commitments and priorities.

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places, and toiletries donated this week.
· Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
· Thank You Jesus for the nurses who donated their time the last night and for Dr. Hartye.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

May 26, 2007

2007-05-26T08:25:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the homeless and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com or Terry Nanney at 880-7645.
· Medical mobile mission, May 31st, 2007 in the parking lot at With Love From Jesus from 6:30 until. The team is always in need of doctors, dentists and hygienists. There is an attending physician with the needed liability insurance. Please contact Kim Ashby at bashby@mindspring.com for more information.
· Forming Faith Community Support Circles? You are invited to participate in a community wide information session that will provide you information about how to form new Support Circles. Presenters will include providers from various homeless service agencies skilled in working with families who are homeless. It is being held June 16th from 9 AM – noon at First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 (Continental breakfast will be provided). For additional questions about the session, please contact Roberta Macauley at Roberta.macauley@raldioc.org or 790-8533 ext. 32. Please submit your registration information by June 11th.
· Join the word in preparing for the GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER! We have begun 10 days of constant prayer: May 17 – 26, following the pattern of Christ’s followers before the first Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, Christians in almost every country will assemble to pray. Then we will seek 90 days of blessing: May 28 - August 25. As in the first Pentecost, transformed Christians transform their communities as they offer themselves to God as instruments through which their prayers can be answered. For more information including a guide to praying, visit www.globaldayofprayer.com

Prayer and Praise!
· This week, a marketplace minister with the Harvest Evangelism group in Raleigh agreed to help find a new place for With Love From Jesus and Church in the Woods. Please pray that the Lord blesses these efforts and puts these ministries where they can do the most for His glory!
· With Love From Jesus has been asked to move by May 31st. Please keep them in your prayers has the Lord provides His way to keep the Resource Center open. Please pray for the other ministries that have stored so much in the WLFJ Resource Center and held so many outreaches. Church in the Woods is one of those ministries. The Lord and His perfect timing has provided a storage unit in Apex for a portion of the Lord’s bounty, but prayer is needed for a refrigerator and a freezer, preferably in the South Raleigh/Garner area. CitW is thanking the Lord already for the housing of two freezers. CitW is also asking for prayer for the Garner mission as the mission needs a building to host the outreach, especially the monthly medical mission.
· Please keep the director of CitW, Alice McGee, in your prayers as she is in Africa for a mission trip, May 24th returning June 17th.

Apex
· The Hispanic Lamb from Garner reluctantly came to the Apex mission. He gave his conditions prior to riding to Apex, one being he could only stay an hour. He went with missionaries home to home inviting lambs to the dinner and mini sermon, at first only translating. By the second street he was walking to homes and initiating prayer. Three hours later the Lord’s new missionary was taken back to his camp. God is so good!
· Thank You Jesus for the food He provided for all the missions. The food for the Apex mission was divine. Missionaries pick up food several times a week from various stores and caterers. Friday, a missionary asked a caterer to pray for meat for the mission. He usually has enough leftovers to feed so many and this day he didn’t. Saturday an entire (never opened) Deli turkey breast was donated. We are thanking Jesus for being the Almighty Provider and the caterer for his prayers.
· Please keep a family from the mission in your prayers. The sole bread winner just came home from the hospital. The family asked for a wheelchair and food this week. Wednesday the Lord provided food for the family. The smiles on their faces when several bags of groceries were delivered were amazing. We serve such an awesome God!
· Pray for a woman and her husband who broke his back. He is the worldly provider for this family.
· Pray for a lamb whose friend is going through a challenge with his health, family, and income. May the prayers for this friend bring the lamb to the Lord.
· Please keep a lamb in your prayers as she is “figuring out religion”. She came to the mission encouraging neighbors to come as well.
· Missionaries were blessed Sunday to meet the one of the first drummers from the “Castaways” at the mission.
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions twice a week.
· Please keep the lamb in your prayers who was arrested for stealing from Apex homes. Thank the Lord for opening the eyes of the neighborhood that many of His “least of theses” do live in Apex.

Cary
· Please continue to keep this lamb in your prayers as he is starting a new job this week. He and two other Cary lambs (all three with jobs) are looking for housing in Cary/Western Raleigh that allows a dog, at the moment they are staying in a weekly efficiency. This lamb continues to give guidance to other Cary lost lambs on how to best survive, where to find food, shelter... without stealing, begging... and bringing them to church. Please keep him lifted in prayer as he continues to see Jesus by loving others in need.
· Please keep a lamb in prayer. He called missionaries asking for help this week. He is in the Wake County Alcohol Treatment Center. Praise God!!!!
· Please keep a lamb in prayer as he is looking for housing. He, too, has a job in Cary.
· Please pray for two married lambs who are facing many crises: eviction from their apartment, loss of one’s job, possible jail time, disruptive and dysfunctional family members, and continuing struggles with substance addictions. They need God’s covering and leading to choose new paths and stick to them. The Lord has given these lambs committed mentors this week. Pray for the mentors as they lean on the Lord for wisdom, understanding, strength, and guidance.
· As one food supplier drops for the summer, so does the feeding of one day per week. Please keep the lambs in your prayers who have been fed, physically and spiritually, on this day, especially one elderly lamb. Please thank Jesus for His Almighty faithful provisions.
· Please keep the missionaries in prayer as they deliver physical and spiritual manna 4 times a week. Thank you Jesus for Your mighty hands in this world!

Garner
· On Thursday, the Bible study moved back into the parking lot, where more than a dozen lambs enjoyed fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans and salad. Please pray for one lamb who came drunk yet was loudly proclaiming Jesus as her Lord and asking for strength to get her life together. Also, please pray for a lamb who says he won't be coming back to the Bible study because he is upset with those who come to it drunk and on other substances.
· A lamb who has received his one-year of sobriety chip from AA was showing it off Thursday. He is so proud of this achievement -- the first time he has gone a year since he has been drinking. Praise God! A new lamb came, saying he had heard he might be able to get a bicycle. There were no bikes available, but please pray there will be one for him soon.
· Another lamb who has been a regular for a long time stopped by to say his camp was bulldozed last week. He lost his tent, sleeping bag and several bicycles he was repairing. He is hoping to begin receiving disability payments soon for a shoulder injury, rather than going through surgery (which he can't afford) so he can work. He was such a blessing to missionaries when he said, "I just love coming here! I feel so relaxed and happy here with you guys!"
· Please pray for another lamb who is looking for work in the Garner area. She is taking the summer off from nursing classes at Wake Tech and would like to save some money for the fall.
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). The doctor has given missionaries the protocol for her wrist surgery. Please pray she will now take the necessary steps for surgery. Also pray for the Ultimate Physician to heal her wrist. Several people have laid hands on it for healing.
· We had many missionaries showing up to help Thursday with the director of CITW out of the country. One missionary from a local church had been away for over a year and came back to see her old friends, who were so blessed to see her!
· Another prayer request is for God to dispel a spirit of grumbling, gossip and mean-spirited talk that is going through some of the lambs these days. Also please pray that they avoid the temptation to increase substance abuse as summer arrives -- something that has been a pattern in the past.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved.
· Thank you Jesus for Your Almighty provisions three times per week.
· Please pray for a hair stylist to serve the Lord one Saturday a month at the Garner showers.

General
· Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians time.

Missionary Testimonials
· A family has taken a lamb couple under their wings with employment and an occasional place to sleep while working. The couple has been engaged with Bible studies through this family, transportation, meals, a Christian home life, prayers, mentoring discussions, Christian direction, and the Hope and Love that can only come from the Lord. We are thanking Jesus for Pam and Derek shining His Light!

Fishing Trip!
· The next fishing trip is June 9th. Please contact Terry Nanney at 880-7645 and Stephanie Narron at 274-8021 for more information.

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, blankets, candles, and toiletries donated this week.
· Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
· Thank You Jesus for the nurses who donated their time the last Thursday evening and for Dr. Hartye.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

May 18, 2007

2007-05-18T10:00:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the homeless and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
• A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com or Cuba Suarez at 387-7480.
• Medical mobile mission, May 31st, 2007 at With Love From Jesus from 6:30 until. The team is always in need of doctors, dentists and hygienists. There is an attending physician with the needed liability insurance. Please contact Kim Ashby at bashby@mindspring.com for more information.
• Volunteer meeting April 21st at 7 PM at With Love From Jesus. Please contact Terri LaClaire for more information at terrilaclaire@hotmail.com .
• Forming Faith Community Support Circles? You are invited to participate in a community wide information session that will provide you information about how to form new Support Circles. Presenters will include providers from various homeless service agencies skilled in working with families who are homeless. It is being held June 16th from 9 AM – noon at First Baptist Church, 99 N. Salisbury Street, Raleigh, NC 27603(Continental breakfast will be provided). For additional questions about the session, please contact Roberta Macauley at Roberta.macauley@raldioc.org or 790-8533 ext. 32. Please submit your registration information by June 11th.
• Join the word in preparing for the GLOBAL DAY OF PRAYER! We have begun 10 days of constant prayer: May 17 – 26, following the pattern of Christ’s followers before the first Pentecost. On Pentecost Sunday, Christians in almost every country will assemble to pray. Then we will seek 90 days of blessing: May 28 - August 25. As in the first Pentecost, transformed Christians transform their communities as they offer themselves to God as instruments through which their prayers can be answered. For more information including a guide to praying, visit www.globaldayofprayer.com

Prayer and Praise!
• Thank You Jesus for the sermon last night on sin with the opportunity to repent and ask Jesus to remove the sin and ask the Holy Spirit to fill us. The Thursday night mission was blessed with two additional church groups attending, one Hispanic and Grace Fellowship from North Raleigh. Grace Fellowship wants to provide a meal, as well as discipleship monthly while the Hispanic church wants to assist with the Hispanic population. Praise You Jesus for the workers You are sending to Your vineyards!!!
• A Spanish-language CD had the lambs clapping and singing at the Thursday night outreach. Two lambs who are moving into a motel, pooling their money from jobs, were blessed with clothing and toiletries. Many continue to work on giving their addictions up to God.
• Please keep the director of CitW in your prayers as she leaves for a mission trip to Africa May 24th returning June 17th.
• One of the Hispanic lambs has been asked to assist with the Apex mission. Praise the Lord he said “YES!”
• Again the Lord has answered prayers concerning one of the Apex lambs. The doctor’s have put this minor surgery on hold. A missionary nurse checked his foot Sunday to find the sore is more like a bunion. Thank You Jesus for Your healing and grace.
• Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). The doctor has given missionaries the protocol for her wrist surgery. Please pray she will now take the necessary steps for surgery. Also pray for the Ultimate Physician to heal her wrist. Several people have laid hands on it for healing.
• Praise God after many mammogram shots and an ultra sound, al scans were clean. The surgeon doesn’t feel she needs to return until she is 40.
• Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved.
• Please pray for a lamb who has visited the ER several times this week with chest pains and radiating pains down both arms. The CT scan showed a possible problem with his heart, but further testing showed no problems. The pain has not lessened.
• Thank you Jesus that when the lambs walk away from You, the time in the pit is shorter and shorter. Thank you for reminding us that we all walk away from You, may our time in darkness also be shorter. May each of us have such a desire that we only want to walk in Your Light and Love.
• Praise God the lambs who were being evicted have found a new place to live.
• One of the Lord’s Cary lambs is moving into a motel with a Hispanic friend. They found an inexpensive place that includes a refrigerator and microwave. The landlord has already told them to avoid drinking and loud parties! This lamb has been attending a weekly men’s Bible Study. The Lord has given him a purpose and he loves walking in Jesus’ light and love. He has been such a blessing to so many. He is dumpster diving, while substance free (praise you Jesus), and donating found items to those in need. He is also repairing the broken items found and then donating. He is giving guidance other Cary lost lambs on how to best survive, where to find food, shelter... without stealing, begging... Please keep him lifted in prayer as he continues to see Jesus by loving others in need.
• Please keep lambs in prayer as they are asked to make decisions of walking away from their addictions and walking toward Jesus.
• Please pray for two married lambs who are facing many crises: Possible eviction from their apartment, possible loss of jobs, possible jail time, disruptive and dysfunctional family members, medical issues and continuing struggles with drugs. They need God’s covering and leading to choose new paths and stick to them.
• Praise God all the puppies have been neutered and are in a foster home.
• Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
• Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
• Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
• Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians time.

Missionary Testimonials
• Several Raleigh pastors who are involved in transforming Raleigh for Jesus (see www.transformationnc.com for details) held a commissioning ceremony for marketplace ministers on Wednesday. Among those attending and receiving the blessing to spread the Gospel wherever they go were two lambs and several members of a men’s Bible study who intended to be there only to “support” one of their own. After hearing how Jesus ordained ALL believers to help make disciples of all nations, they decided to be commissioned as well. Interestingly, the commissioning occurred at 8 p.m. EST, perfectly coinciding with the start of the 10-day ramp up for the Global Day of Prayer. God’s perfect timing!

Fishing Trip!
• The next fishing trip is June 9th. The contacts will be Terry Nanney at 880-7645 and Stephanie Narron at 274-8021. Congratulations Stephanie and Kevin on the birth of Steven!!!!
• Praise the Lord for the Tidy Whitey fishing trip. An area women’s group donated much of the underwear, socks, and t-shirts. The lambs were so appreciative as the Hope Chapel youth group came to give the love of Jesus through basic necessities.

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
• Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
• Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, women’s Kairos, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, blankets, candles, and toiletries donated this week.
• Thank you for the North Raleigh neighborhood women’s group who has collected money and purchased underwear and socks. They will be distributed tomorrow. Praise God!
• Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
• Thank You Jesus for the nurses who donated their time the last Thursday evening and for Dr. Hartye.
• We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

May 11, 2007

2007-05-11T08:06:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the homeless and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com or Cuba Suarez at 387-7480.
· Medical mobile mission, May 31st, 2007 at With Love From Jesus from 6:30 until. The team is always in need of doctors, dentists and hygienists. There is an attending physician with the needed liability insurance. Please contact Kim Ashby at bashby@mindspring.com for more information.
· Volunteer meeting April 21st at 7 PM at With love From Jesus. Please contact Terri LaClaire for more information at terrilaclaire@hotmail.com .

Prayer and Praise!
· Please pray for one of the Apex lambs as he talks with a doctor today concerning surgery on his foot. The foot no longer needs to be amputated, but may need a place that isn’t healing removed. He again walked out to meet missionaries Sunday and helped jump start a car for a missionary Sunday. Thank You Jesus for Your healing and grace.
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). The doctor began the paperwork for the needed surgery April 4th and still hasn’t heard. Please pray that she continues with the peace that passes all understanding and patience as only the Jesus can bring. Also pray for the Ultimate Physician to heal her wrist. Several people have laid hands on it for healing.
· A 7th grader has been serving Jesus in the Garner mission field on Sunday’s. Her love for the Lord’s lambs has touched one lamb’s heart enough that she attended her Middle School choir performance this week. What a gift to see the 7th grader’s smile when she saw the lamb in the audience. She introduced her to her friends and family with such love and pride. The lamb was so blessed to be included in Christ’s family. Thank you Jesus for another opportunity to witness the love of Christ coming full circle.
· A lamb is living in a transitional home in North Raleigh picked up his 30 day tag this week. His first 30 day tag EVER! Thank you Jesus! He has been offered a transfer closer to his transitional home. Please pray for him to allow God to make the decision and the lamb to be obedient to God’s will. Please continue to pray that he leans on the Lord instead of the coping skills he learn in his past.
· The lamb went to see a surgeon two weeks ago. Due to paperwork delays the mammogram has been postponed to this week. Please keep her in your prayers. The mammogram is Monday and the appointment with the surgeon is Wednesday. She was also given a prayer cloth. Her husband went to a men’s Bible study asking for prayers.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved.
· A lamb celebrated his 1 year substance free anniversary this week. His sponsor is having surgery Friday. Thank you Jesus that he was surrounded by substance free loved ones to celebrate. He is having a tough time finding part-time work due to his past experiences. Please keep his future job in prayer. He needs a job a few hours a week. He is a hard worker.
· Thank you for your prayers for Chris and his family. Chris went to meet his Father Friday afternoon.
· Thank you Jesus that when the lambs walk away from You, the time in the pit is shorter and shorter. Thank you for reminding us that we all walk away from You, may our time in darkness also be shorter. May each of us have such a desire that we only want to walk in Your Light and Love.
· Praise God the home that is being condemned eviction has been extended another three months. The date has been moved to the end of July.
· One of the Lord’s Cary lambs has been attending a weekly men’s Bible Study. The Lord has given him a purpose and he loves walking in Jesus’ light and love. He has been such a blessing to so many. He is dumpster diving, while substance free (praise you Jesus), and donating found the items to those in need. He is also repairing the broken items found and then donating. He is giving guidance other Cary lost lambs on how to best survive, where to find food, shelter... without stealing, begging... Please keep him lifted in prayer as he continues to see Jesus by loving others in need.
· The Faith Based Support Circle coordinator called missionaries and lambs this week. She is working out the details for these three lambs to receive support circles in the Cary area. Money is being appropriated for Wake County beginning July 1st. Please pray that services and case mangers are found quickly to work with him. Please pray for the Lord to work out a system that meets everyone’s criteria. The lamb couple has part of a support circle but is looking for a few more people. Please ask the Lord for willing hearts to step forward to assist the couple with the time to disciple His lambs. Thank you Jesus!
· A lamb who loves animals received a dog that gave birth to a litter of puppies. The four beagle mix puppies will be available in two weeks. The puppies will be neutered next week prior to being given away.
· Several months ago a church offered $500 worth of food to be donated to CitW. At the same time a storage unit was offered in the Cary/Apex area. Both have come into fruition this week. A key will be given to missionaries in the next couple of weeks and with God’s PERFECT TIMING the food will be delivered. Thank You Lord for the scheduling Angels You provide!!!
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians time.

Missionary Testimonials
· The fruit of the Spirit consist of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith and temperance. As missionaries we are able to witness the changes in so many lambs’ lives. A few lambs make the dramatic changes like Saul, but most of the others are gradual, they begin to stop one sin and then another. We were listening to Jonathon Aikins a speaker from Prison Fellowship. He discussed how while in prison as Jesus took over residents’ lives the transformation was different with each person. We see huge changes as well, just cursing less, more apologizing, less substance use, unbelievable compassion toward others, generosity and goodness, patience, and an abundance of love for others. Please continue to pray for the fruit of the Spirit for each one of us.
· A new missionary took a lamb to ATC to pick up a prescription. While at the Cary pharmacy the two saw their landlord, different apartments. The missionary was planning to pay for the prescription, but the landlord talked with the pharmacist prior to the pick-up and paid for it. What a blessing to have such generous hearts in the Body of Christ!

Fishing Trip!
· The May 12th fishing trip is “Tidy Whitey”. CitW will be collecting new underwear, white socks, and t-shirts. The group will be meeting at 10 AM at Hope Community in the parking lot close to the sanctuary on Buck Jones Road. Alice Ligon is the contact, appraisalnet@nc.rr.com . Apex’s Hope Chapel’s youth group is part of this fishing trip team. Thank you Jesus for Your Body!!!!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, women’s Kairos, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, blankets, candles, and toiletries donated this week.
· Thank you for the North Raleigh neighborhood women’s group who has collected money and purchased underwear and socks. They will be distributed tomorrow. Praise God!
· Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
· Thank You Jesus for the nurses who donated their time the last Thursday evening and for Dr. Hartye.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!
· Thank you Jesus for all of you who keep this ministry covered in prayer. Here is a devotional from this week:
History of Answered Prayer with David Jeremiah
I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ . . . to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me. Romans 15:30 (NIV)
To be a missionary in today's world, one has to separate himself from the I-want-it-now culture we live in. Results on the mission field can be slow going, so it's not uncommon for missionaries to retire having seen but a handful of conversions during their entire career. This fact is enough to discourage many people from ever becoming full-time missionaries; but for those who have heard their Divine calling to missions, nothing—not even the lack of apparent progress or the constant persecution—can keep them from fulfilling their task.
One reason they are able to push on is that they have Christian brothers and sisters faithfully supporting them through prayer. Fellow believers, we should never underestimate the power of our words offered up to God on behalf of the brave souls on the mission field. God hears those words and grants His workers the ability to remain encouraged and faithful to the cause.
Prayer for our missionaries is tantamount to the work itself for, as the American missionary Samuel Zwemer once said, "The history of missions is the history of answered prayer."
Remember us in your prayers that we grow not weary in well doing.David Livingstone
· From Around God's Network: From Church In The Woods - Raleigh, NC http://www.openheaven.com/forums/forum_posts.asp?TID=15882&PN=1&TPN=1

Chris has gone to be with His Heavenly Father

2007-05-05T06:42:00.000-04:00

Our friend Chris, a prodigal son who returned to a loving welcome from his family seventeen months ago, returned to his Heavenly Father yesterday, still surrounded by his loved ones.

We were able to talk with his brother and sister moments before Chris died. He was not in any pain. Praise God!

Chris’ story is such a divine blessing. His family in California contacted us two and a half years ago “on a lark,” curious to see if we might know Chris through our homeless ministry. As God would have it, we had learned quite a bit about him through the homeless showers and friends of ours who were also from California.

We had been corresponding with Chris’ family for 6 months when Chris fell and shattered his knee. While in rehab, he was encouraged to call his family. The dialog with his family increased. We asked him to read Romans chapter 8:28-39.

Chris gave up his beer and considered going home for a visit over Christmas break -- a little Chris for Christmas. Another friend, Bob, gave Chris his AA chip for his train ride to California. So many things went wrong on the train that Chris went into a bar and ordered a beer. He was putting his hand in his pocket to pay for it and pulled out Bob’s AA chip. He put the beer back. Praise God!

For months prior to his fall, we had been reading Chris the story of the prodigal son. For months Chris refused to imagine that anyone could forgive him after 23 years. He was told, over and over again “just wait until you get home and see your family.”

What a welcome home he received! Praise God! He was met at the train station by his family and was able to see his ailing father. He was able to see every member of his family, even his brother from France during his time in CA. Shortly after arriving, he called to tell us that he now believed the story of the prodigal son.

His plan was to go home for two weeks and return to the woods. With the welcome he received he decided to stay with his family, especially near his parents as his father only had a short time to live.

Chris was blessed to spend 9 months with his father before he died in September. Prior to Chris’ dad dying, Bill told Chris how much he loved him and how proud he was of him. He also thanked Chris for coming home. Chris was given a living testimony of Romans 8:28 and would profess it. We thank you Lord for your glory!

Two years ago, doctors said Chris would only live a few months. But God graced him with more time. Chris has gone around the Bay Area telling people about the hazards of alcohol. He has even called back to Raleigh to the Sunday mission to tell his old friends of the dangers of drinking.

We are so blessed to be part of Chris’ life and the life of his family. We are thankful that Chris’ family is part of our family as well. We are so thankful that the loving arms of Jesus can stretch across a nation. We thank the Lord for allowing us to witness His mighty miracles through healing of bodies and souls, building of relationships, and His unconditional love. We thank you Lord for allowing us to be part of the Chris’ family.

sending love and prayers,

The Bowman/Boyce family

May 4, 2007

2007-05-04T08:42:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the homeless and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com or Cuba Suarez at 387-7480.
· Medical mobile mission, May 2007 at With Love From Jesus from 6:30 until. The team is always in need of doctors, dentists and hygienists. There is an attending physician with the needed liability insurance. Contact Alice McGee at 772-7050, if you are interested in serving.
· Just a click and they donate feminine supplies to local homeless shelters http://www.tampontification.com/donate.php

Prayer and Praise!
· This week Alice gave a sermon on the trinity. It raised questions concerning each other’s beliefs. By the end of the evening a firmer foundation was laid.
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). The doctor began the paperwork for the needed surgery April 4th and still hasn’t heard. Please pray that she continues with the peace that passes all understanding and patience as only the lord can bring.
· A lamb is living in a transitional home in North Raleigh after meeting with his parole officer. He had his substance assessment and by the grace of God he is only to take classes instead of being enrolled into a treatment center. He picks up his 30 day tag this week. Please continue to pray that he leans on the Lord instead of the coping skills he learn in his past.
· The lamb went to see a surgeon this week. She now has two lumps and is scheduled for a mammogram next week. The diagnostic lab has called wanting to put it off a couple of weeks. Please pray that the diagnostic lab will keep her mammogram appointment Tuesday. Also with the Lord’s perfect timing, she was able to attend a women’s Beth Moore Bible study, and receive pray from her sisters in Christ.
· Please pray for a lamb who is in jail. He is having a difficult time. He has written to missionaries. Please ask that the Lord speak with Him and remind him that he is loved.
· A lamb will be celebrating his 1 year substance free anniversary this week. He is sponsor is at the beach and has become his best friend. Pray that he is surrounded by friends as he welcomes in this milestone.
· Please pray for Chris. He has been with his family in CA for 17 months and substance free for 18 months. He was given 6 months to live almost 2 years ago. His health has much improved, but he now has infection that may take his life. We are thanking the Lord for the time he has had with his family. We are thanking the Lord that he was able to see and spend time with his father before his passing. Please ask the Lord to be with him and his family.
· We continue to thank the Lord for the lamb who is substance free. She has asked to begin attending church on Sunday’s. Praise God!
· Praise God the home that is being condemned eviction has been extended another three months. The date has been moved to the end of July.
· Missionaries met with someone from the “ending homelessness team” this week. Money is being appropriated for Wake County beginning July 1st. They are looking to team with CitW to assist with helping some of the Cary, Fuquay, Garner lambs into housing, jobs, and faith based support circles. There is a support circle through a Cary church who is being contacted concerning one lamb working in Cary. Please pray that services and case mangers are found quickly to work with him. Most lambs through the ending homelessness program have been through a treatment/assessment program for several months prior to having a job. Please pray for the Lord to work out a system that meets everyone’s criteria. Another couple has part of a support circle but is looking for a few more people. They, too, may qualify, again they are working. Please ask the Lord for wiling hearts to step forward to assist the couple with the time to disciple His lambs.
· A lamb who loves animals received a dog that gave birth to a litter of puppies. Puppies will be available in 2-3 weeks. The puppies will be neutered prior to being given away.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians time.

Missionary Testimonials
· A missionary has been blessed as she has made contact with a lamb’s family. She as asked the lamb’s son to send photographs of the lamb’s grandbaby to give her a photo album of the grandchild she has never seen. This same lamb has become so comfortable and trusting of this missionary that she is ready for a haircut and doctor’s visits. Thank you Jesus for Terry’s persistence and love.
· What a greeting received Sunday evening when missionaries arrived at the Thriftwood mission. The children ran up almost knocking missionaries to the ground with hugs. The children have been spreading the news of the “church” that loves us. The lamb whose leg was to be amputated walked out to meet missionaries again this week. Praise God for His mighty healing powers and love. The Lord knows exactly what is needed. As missionaries went door to door, they met a young woman with a new baby girl. CitW had received baby girl items just for her. God is so good!

Fishing Trip!
· The May 12th fishing trip is “Tidy Whitey”. CitW will be collecting new underwear, white socks, and t-shirts. The group will be meeting at 10 AM at Hope Community in the parking lot close to the sanctuary on Buck Jones Road. Alice Ligon is the contact, appraisalnet@nc.rr.com .

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church. Today the youth director asked missionaries how the youth could serve. Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, women’s Kairos, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, blankets, candles, and toiletries donated this week.
· Thank you for the North Raleigh neighborhood women’s group who has collected money and purchased underwear and socks.
· Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
· Thank You Jesus for the nurses who donated their time Thursday evening and for Dr. Hartye.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles.
· Thank you Jesus for all of you who keep this ministry covered in prayer.

April 15, 2007

2007-04-15T21:10:00.000-04:00

We are thanking you for your prayers and support as the Lord continues to provide abundantly for this ministry! More and more people are being drawn into communion with one another through the homeless and so many blessings are being shared!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
· A new mission has begun every Sunday from 4:30-7 PM, parking at 5017 Thriftwood Dr., Apex. For more information contact Cindy Boyce at 387-0921, cboyce@nc.rr.com or Cuba Suarez at 387-7480.
· Medical mobile mission, Thursday, April 26, 2007 at With Love From Jesus from 6:30 until. The team is always in need of doctors, dentists and hygienists. There is an attending physician with the needed liability insurance. Contact Alice McGee at 772-7050, if you are interested in serving.
· Just a click and they donate feminine supplies to local homeless shelters http://www.tampontification.com/donate.php

Prayer and Praise!
· What a turnout Thursday night! More than 20 Lambs were treated to the movie “The Gospel According to John” two weeks ago. This week, a big turnout discussed Acts 6 and the way believers, filled with the Holy Spirit, were able to see that widows were cared for properly – something the Jews in Greece had been unable to do. There was more discussion about those who told lies about Stephen in an effort to stifle the faith-filled testimony that threatened their comfortable ideas.
· Praise God for a lamb who is becoming more comfortable with one of the missionaries. This missionary is visiting her in her camp, bringing God’s word and humanitarian aide a couple of times a week. Please keep her in your prayers. Thank You Jesus!
· The Apex mission started last week with praise music, prayer walking, humanitarian aide, prayers and crosses for each lamb. Praise God for the missionaries and the love of Jesus!
· Please continue to pray for the lamb with the broken wrist (since December). At her follow-up appointment she is receiving her referral for surgery. Thank you Jesus for the new missionaries (one visiting from Florida) who took her to her doctor’s appointment.
· Thank you Jesus for the CAP Chaplain and friend from Florida who served the CitW ministry the week of Easter. They were able to pray with lambs for healing. They were able to deliver humanitarian aide and the love of Jesus!
· Pray for a lamb who is trying to be substance free and keep his job.
· Please continue to pray for a lamb who needs to see a doctor. She has found a lump in her breast. She also has had many abnormal PAP’s but hasn’t seen a doctor for any follow-ups. She has a family history of breast cancer and ovarian cancer. She has made her appointment to receive a referral.
· The first day of the Apex mission missionaries prayed with a man with diabetes. He had one toe amputated and was preparing to have the opposite leg amputated below the knee. When missionaries returned this week, this lamb without hesitation wanted prayer this week. His praise of the week was HE NO LONGER NEEDS SURGERY!!!! Praise God!
· At the first Apex mission, a young girl asked for new shoes in the prayer circle. The shoes she had were too small and had her big toes sticking out of the top. Missionaries also prayed for new shoes. A missionary received two pairs of shoes for this little lamb this week. When she was given the shoes today, she told her parents and brother, “I prayed for these and Jesus gave them to me!” Praise God!
· Continue to pray for the new mission in Apex. The lambs were surprised to meet people of their word, returning again this week. The lambs are still leery of the missionaries in the area. The children are so welcoming!
· Pray for a lamb who is pregnant and thrown out of the room she was renting.
· Continue to pray for a lamb who battles crack addiction every time he receives a paycheck. God blessed him with probation for his most recent drug charge, but he has betrayed so many friends and supporters. Pray for God’s powerful healing touch on him, even if brothers and sisters in Christ Hand this man over to satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. - 1 Corinthians. 5:5
· Praise God for helping one lamb avoid jail even as his uncle was arrested for violating parole. The uncle is now on probation again, but both he and his nephew have been an answer to prayer for a man who needs their help in his business.
· Praise God for the four Cary lambs attending a church for two weeks in a row!
· Thank you for your prayers that a lamb has been able to use the Lord’s check for things that glorify him. Please keep a lamb in prayer. She has been substance free and has a job. She is asking for prayer when she receives the Lord’s paycheck, she uses it to glorify Him and not return to her old habits.
· Please pray for a lamb couple whose home is being condemned. The date has been moved to the end of April.
· A lamb who loves animals received a dog that gave birth to a litter of puppies. Puppies will be available in 3-4 weeks. The puppies will be neutered prior to being given away. Please pray for this lamb as two of the puppies died last week.
· Praise you Lord for the young lambs who are getting married, bringing unity and stability to their family and children.
· Thank you Jesus for the lambs who have committed to pray for a team of missionaries as they go into Women’s Prison for 4 days this week. And thank you Jesus for the lambs who signed the AGAPE poster for this weekend. Please pray for 100% of the prison residents to come to accept Jesus as their Savior and for the guards and staff as well. Pray for continual discipleship for these residents after the 4-day weekend is complete.
· Thank you Jesus for a lamb who is continuing to be substance free and involved with a support group through AA.
· A former lamb has been depressed and considered drinking again after 18 months of sobriety. Missionary not knowing had sent him an Easter card. What perfect timing! The lamb called to talk with the missionary and thank her for reminding him of Jesus’ love.
· Please continue to pray for support circles as these lambs readjust to society and are welcomed into the Body of Christ.
· Praise God for the existing support circle as the Body of Christ encircles a lamb with the love of Jesus!
· Thank you Lord for being scheduler of all Christians time.
· Please pray for a lamb who went to the hospital for abdominal pain, which may be associated with heavy drinking.
· Please pray for a lamb who was close to getting out of the woods but became frustrated with the system, bought drugs and is now in jail awaiting a court hearing April 24th.

Missionary Testimonials
· Missionaries were blessed this weekend with cookies! A missionary needs cookies for a prison ministry. The church in Garner that hosts the showers made cookies for the meal Saturday evening and had leftovers. The cookies weren’t the type needed but a dialogue began, the women of the church plan to bake some of the needed cookies for the prison. Praise God!!!!
· A new lamb has been befriended by a missionary. This week she was able to take a shower for the first time in quite a while and wash her laundry. After she was “squeaky clean” and her laundry clean, she initiated a hug! Praise God!!!!

Fishing Trip!
· Missionaries from Hope Community Church purchased new bicycles for the Lord’s lambs, others donated working used bicycles. All were blessed. It was so amazing to see the lambs speeding back and forth in an abandoned parking lot, laughing like little children! One lamb had just applied for a job four miles from his camp and had told his boss he couldn’t walk there. Now he just needs a backpack for his clothes! Praise God!
· The May 12th fishing trip is “Tidy Whitey”. CitW will be collecting new underwear, white socks, and t-shirts. Alice Ligon is the contact, appraisalnet@nc.rr.com .

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner church. Today the youth director asked missionaries how the youth could serve. Thank You Jesus for serving hearts!
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area grocery stores, churches, individuals, and caterers! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, blankets, and toiletries donated this week.
· Thank you for the North Raleigh neighborhood women’s group who has collected money and purchased underwear and socks.
· Thank You Jesus for the acupuncturist who donates her time.
· Thank You Jesus for the nurses who donated their time Thursday evening and for Dr. Hartye.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles.
· Thank you Jesus for all of you who keep this ministry covered in prayer.
· Thank you Jesus for HMI feeding the lambs who attend church April 22nd