What a great Saturday we had last week. We got to spend time with our new family from Lake Charles. A great group of young people from St Luke Simpson Methodist church in Lake Charles was concluding their time with us. They worked hard helping us on Thursday with our meal and other activities. Friday, they worked hard all day around the center. Mr Scott led them around to our outdoor friends homes and each stop was memorable. Great to watch the expressions on their faces as they got to experience life as they have seen it before.
When we got back to the center, Momma T and Ms Lisa were concluding their morning activities of U 2. The youth played jump rope and football with our kids. Ms Lisa reported a nice gathering of community had come by and spent time in the garden area. Gradually the community is feeling more comfortable exploring the garden.
Monday was a milestone for one of our family as Matt took William to his rehab home in Logansport. We got to visit with William a little Monday afternoon. He looked a 100% better than he did last Monday when we took him into the emergency room. William says this time he will make it work. Let's pray, Christ takes control of his heart and rids William of this addiction. Matt gave us Williams address where we can write notes to him. Please do so when you have a moment. We are Williams family and he will need all the support he can get. Matt shared this rule if we want to visit William at some point. William says that Sundays are visiting days. However, if someone wants to visit on another day, they can call Brother Wayne Jones at 318 518 3878 and get it cleared through him.
William Thomas
Freedom Mission
P.O. Box 1253
Logansport, LA 71049
Monday, as I was looking for something in our old emails, I came upon our discussions with the Methodist conference board and the community center. On Wednesday June 8, 2010, the motion for allowing the Board of Trustees to give the property of Faith United Methodist church to Common Ground was put before the Methodist Conference and after some discussions, was unanimously passed. Just two short years, has gone by and look what God has done. Amazing, what all of you have accomplished allowing the Spirit to work miracles through you. So excited to see what the future holds.
On Monday, Joey came up to me and said mr brian, I need to tell you a story! Joey had "that" look in his eye, of something special had happen! Joey had gone to a house on 69st to get a form signed for summer camp. As he walked up, there were two men standing outside talking. They recognized Joey as being from "that" church on Southern. They had been visited by Ms Dawn and Mr Matt several weeks ago, and had been invited to come for a visit on Thursdays. One of them had never been the other gentleman had not been there in many years. Both of them were full of joy as they shared with Joey how much they enjoyed their time with us this past Thursday. From the preaching, the singing, the meal, the groceries, the clothes. Both men commented on how many smiles they saw and how much those smiles made them feel. They had never experienced anything like that before from "church" people! Because all of you are allowing the Holy Spirit to flow through you, we are beginning to hear more stories like this! Very, very cool.
Tuesday evening was an exciting time for our mens Bible fellowship. At 7:45, I reminded Matt, its time to leave. We were talking so much, time had gotten away from us. Isn't that amazing. Men sharing their stories, talking about Christ, listening to each other, and not one of them said, its time to go!
Our electrician John Williams joined us Tuesday. He accused mr brian of trickery to get him there, but I denied it! I went into the kitchen where John is working every evening to help us get the kitchen up and running. I said to John, we have pizza in the chapel, would you like a piece? I said to John, I can bring you a piece if you like? Then before he could answer, I said, help me take some of these water bottles to the chapel and you can get your own pizza. Well the Holy Spirit wouldn't let John leave, so he spent the evening with us. God is good.
Also on Tuesday, Joey spent all day at the Bright House making it pretty for our new interns for the summer. With 4 young ladies moving in, we decided to let them have the front and middle bedrooms and Joey graciously moved into the back bedroom where Krysten stays. Krysten has moved out for the summer. The Lake Charles youth worked hard cleaning up the house, waxing the floors, it is beautiful. Go by the house and take a look, thank you Joey.
Wednesday began day one of the interns orientation. Thanks to the hard work of Krysten, Ms Lisa, Momma T and others, they have put together 4 days of work, play, getting to know each other, getting to know the center, and understanding our community in preparation of running summer camp. Hard for my little brain to comprehend all that is happening and what continues to happen. God is truly amazing.
mr brian was delayed by a delinquent delivery guy, but our meal went on Thursday went as planned anyway. It is a great feeling knowing God has brought people here who use their gifts to continue our ministries. This community has become larger than anyone person. Amen. As I drove up, what a blessing to see neighbors standing outside visiting together. Our community getting to know others. Kids playing basketball, running up and down the hall. People coming out of the center with grocery bags in hand, smiles on their faces. Thank you all for sharing your hearts.
Thursday evening Bible study was handled by Ms Beth as we read from James 2, talking about not judging others, loving our neighbors as ourselves. praise reports for the continued health improvement for Hat's husband Karl and Charley's clear test results.
Prayer for the beginning of summer camp. Joey has been busy getting forms signed from all the children. Camp will begin Monday, June 18th. Camp will run Monday through Thursday from 1 - 4, with some Thursday being field trip days. Pray for our new interns, to calm their anxieties, to guide them in their journeys, to see God in everything they do. We are blessed this year to have Brookwood youth come the first three days of camp and have vacation Bible school with us.
As I was typing the last of this note the electricity just went out. Thankfully the text was saved. Electricity is back on, but scared it will go off again, so I will end this note.
Momma T shared a passage from the book Irresistible Revolution, where Shane was quoting from Dorothy Day on the beginnings of the Catholic worker movements, Ms Day said "we were just there talking and it happened. We were just sitting there talking and people moved in. We were just sitting there talking and the lines began to form. It all happened while we sat there talking and it is still going on".
For some of us to experience what God is doing in this community is overwhelming, to see it from the beginning where there were a few and now there are many is more than words can explain. I keep going back to what we read many months ago, if it is of God, then it will happen, if is of man it will not. Common Ground Community is of God not of man. Amen and Amen!
Have a great week. Come by the center for a visit and meet our new friends. Amen again!
Monday, as I was looking for something in our old emails, I came upon our discussions with the Methodist conference board and the community center. On Wednesday June 8, 2010, the motion for allowing the Board of Trustees to give the property of Faith United Methodist church to Common Ground was put before the Methodist Conference and after some discussions, was unanimously passed. Just two short years, has gone by and look what God has done. Amazing, what all of you have accomplished allowing the Spirit to work miracles through you. So excited to see what the future holds.
On Monday, Joey came up to me and said mr brian, I need to tell you a story! Joey had "that" look in his eye, of something special had happen! Joey had gone to a house on 69st to get a form signed for summer camp. As he walked up, there were two men standing outside talking. They recognized Joey as being from "that" church on Southern. They had been visited by Ms Dawn and Mr Matt several weeks ago, and had been invited to come for a visit on Thursdays. One of them had never been the other gentleman had not been there in many years. Both of them were full of joy as they shared with Joey how much they enjoyed their time with us this past Thursday. From the preaching, the singing, the meal, the groceries, the clothes. Both men commented on how many smiles they saw and how much those smiles made them feel. They had never experienced anything like that before from "church" people! Because all of you are allowing the Holy Spirit to flow through you, we are beginning to hear more stories like this! Very, very cool.
Tuesday evening was an exciting time for our mens Bible fellowship. At 7:45, I reminded Matt, its time to leave. We were talking so much, time had gotten away from us. Isn't that amazing. Men sharing their stories, talking about Christ, listening to each other, and not one of them said, its time to go!
Our electrician John Williams joined us Tuesday. He accused mr brian of trickery to get him there, but I denied it! I went into the kitchen where John is working every evening to help us get the kitchen up and running. I said to John, we have pizza in the chapel, would you like a piece? I said to John, I can bring you a piece if you like? Then before he could answer, I said, help me take some of these water bottles to the chapel and you can get your own pizza. Well the Holy Spirit wouldn't let John leave, so he spent the evening with us. God is good.
Also on Tuesday, Joey spent all day at the Bright House making it pretty for our new interns for the summer. With 4 young ladies moving in, we decided to let them have the front and middle bedrooms and Joey graciously moved into the back bedroom where Krysten stays. Krysten has moved out for the summer. The Lake Charles youth worked hard cleaning up the house, waxing the floors, it is beautiful. Go by the house and take a look, thank you Joey.
Wednesday began day one of the interns orientation. Thanks to the hard work of Krysten, Ms Lisa, Momma T and others, they have put together 4 days of work, play, getting to know each other, getting to know the center, and understanding our community in preparation of running summer camp. Hard for my little brain to comprehend all that is happening and what continues to happen. God is truly amazing.
mr brian was delayed by a delinquent delivery guy, but our meal went on Thursday went as planned anyway. It is a great feeling knowing God has brought people here who use their gifts to continue our ministries. This community has become larger than anyone person. Amen. As I drove up, what a blessing to see neighbors standing outside visiting together. Our community getting to know others. Kids playing basketball, running up and down the hall. People coming out of the center with grocery bags in hand, smiles on their faces. Thank you all for sharing your hearts.
Thursday evening Bible study was handled by Ms Beth as we read from James 2, talking about not judging others, loving our neighbors as ourselves. praise reports for the continued health improvement for Hat's husband Karl and Charley's clear test results.
Prayer for the beginning of summer camp. Joey has been busy getting forms signed from all the children. Camp will begin Monday, June 18th. Camp will run Monday through Thursday from 1 - 4, with some Thursday being field trip days. Pray for our new interns, to calm their anxieties, to guide them in their journeys, to see God in everything they do. We are blessed this year to have Brookwood youth come the first three days of camp and have vacation Bible school with us.
As I was typing the last of this note the electricity just went out. Thankfully the text was saved. Electricity is back on, but scared it will go off again, so I will end this note.
Momma T shared a passage from the book Irresistible Revolution, where Shane was quoting from Dorothy Day on the beginnings of the Catholic worker movements, Ms Day said "we were just there talking and it happened. We were just sitting there talking and people moved in. We were just sitting there talking and the lines began to form. It all happened while we sat there talking and it is still going on".
For some of us to experience what God is doing in this community is overwhelming, to see it from the beginning where there were a few and now there are many is more than words can explain. I keep going back to what we read many months ago, if it is of God, then it will happen, if is of man it will not. Common Ground Community is of God not of man. Amen and Amen!
Have a great week. Come by the center for a visit and meet our new friends. Amen again!
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