Just between you and I, I really had no idea how Connections would ever launch. Yes, God has patiently groomed a Pastor and his family, raised men and women to stand by his side, created relationships within the homeless community and the community at large, raised support within the church, and overcome every obstacle, but a homeless church born during a recession?
God continues to amaze me. There is nothing too hard for Him. Wednesday, during a seemingly unimportant lunch of leftovers with our Boys and Girls club hosts, God placed two more pieces of the puzzle. By the end of the lunch we had a temporary location for our church and outreach center which will be co-located at the Boys and Girls Club during non-club hours. We also gained our future location in the abandon theater behind their existing building.
This victory did not come from my clever planning or networking skills. It came because God is faithful. For months, I have been scanning real estate listings, talking with property owners, reaching out to friends of friends with money and influence, introducing myself to city and county leaders. The mountain of impossibilities seemed to loom larger with every dead-end. It is easy to become discouraged when you are expecting a miracle and instead you are greeted by fear, distrust, discrimination and skepticism. However, it makes the victory all the more sweeter when God's love floods the room from a completely unexpected source.
Theresa, the President of the Boys and Girls Club, is not giving out of her abundant resources. She was hired to make tough financial decisions and stabilize a struggling agency. They have been forced to close several clubs in our area and let go staff. Where others refused to give out of their abundance, Theresa shares out of compassion for our community.
There will be many more challenges ahead. Today we celebrate God's faithfulness and provision in difficult times. Years from now when we are ministering to hundreds or thousands, may we remember this week and how God launched Connections.
Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
God continues to amaze me. There is nothing too hard for Him. Wednesday, during a seemingly unimportant lunch of leftovers with our Boys and Girls club hosts, God placed two more pieces of the puzzle. By the end of the lunch we had a temporary location for our church and outreach center which will be co-located at the Boys and Girls Club during non-club hours. We also gained our future location in the abandon theater behind their existing building.
This victory did not come from my clever planning or networking skills. It came because God is faithful. For months, I have been scanning real estate listings, talking with property owners, reaching out to friends of friends with money and influence, introducing myself to city and county leaders. The mountain of impossibilities seemed to loom larger with every dead-end. It is easy to become discouraged when you are expecting a miracle and instead you are greeted by fear, distrust, discrimination and skepticism. However, it makes the victory all the more sweeter when God's love floods the room from a completely unexpected source.
Theresa, the President of the Boys and Girls Club, is not giving out of her abundant resources. She was hired to make tough financial decisions and stabilize a struggling agency. They have been forced to close several clubs in our area and let go staff. Where others refused to give out of their abundance, Theresa shares out of compassion for our community.
There will be many more challenges ahead. Today we celebrate God's faithfulness and provision in difficult times. Years from now when we are ministering to hundreds or thousands, may we remember this week and how God launched Connections.
Jeremiah 32:17 (NIV)
17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.
Romans 8:31 (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Luke 21:1–4 (NIV)
As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
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