E-Vangel Newsletter
February 25, 2013
Pastorgraphs: “Care Fair 2013”
When God’s
Spirit leads us to do something, He also provides the means to get the job
done. What astonishes me is how quickly and clearly God makes the connection
between the need and the solution to the need.
One month ago I shared with you that God impressed upon me the need to pull together a
database of outreach ministries and services being offered in Mid-City San
Diego by churches and charities.
Why such a
database? Church A has a hot meal ministry on Monday night, Church B has
a clothing ministry that specializes in children’s shoes for fast growing feet,
and Charity C has a temporary shelter program. All three agencies are within an
eight block radius of each other, but all are totally uninformed of the
ministry or service offered by the others. Multiply this a hundredfold over
Mid-City San Diego, and two things become very clear:
- There exists a vast number of resources for the poor and those in need.
- We miss many opportunities to minister to the poor and needy simply because we are unaware of what our neighbors are doing.
No single
church or charity can do it all. But wouldn’t it be great if there was an
online database listing the resources being offered? Wouldn’t we all do a
better job, and more real ministry get done?
Friday, Ken
Nielsen (who is helping me with the Mid-City Ministries) let me know of “CareFair San Diego” being held the next day, a wonderful event sponsored by Lake
Murray Community Church in La Mesa. This was too good an opportunity to miss.
More than two dozen charities and ministries were present seeking volunteers
and ways to coordinate efforts. The participants included the Salvation Army,
FeedingAmerica, Goodwill, San Diego Rescue Mission, and Red Cross to name a
few. It was like fishing in a goldfish bowl. Here in one place were the very
agencies I hoped to connect with over the next months, maybe even a year. But
in one day, I was able to share the vision of compiling all the services each
agency offers so we may reduce duplication of efforts and better point people
in need to the resources. Every agency I spoke with was excited and agreed such
a database would help us all. I now have about 30 business cards from some
outstanding charities, large and small. I will follow up with each in the
immediate future.
Kudos to
Lake Murray Community Church for sponsoring this event. Lake Murray proves one
church can make a huge difference! Next year Christ Ministry Center will be
participating.
Participating Agencies
A final
illustration – Pastor Donald Owens and I met for breakfast last Monday. Exodus
Church worships in the Christ Ministry Center sanctuary each Sunday morning.
Exodus has offices and designated space for their ministries. As I shared the
vision of what we are now calling the “Fount of Blessings” database, Pastor
Owens said, “You know we operate a food pantry in Room 204”. I was humbled and
embarrassed. My office is Room 104. Forget the problem of not knowing what the
church eight blocks away is doing…I was unaware that a food ministry was
operating eight feet above my head!
We can do
better than this. We must do better than this. I hope more churches are as
willing to share information of the things they are doing so that we may get on
with helping those in need.
Half-Day Integrity Seminar
If you
would like to participate in our first “Half-Day” Integrity Seminar
scheduled for this Saturday, March 2, 9:00-11:55 AM Pacific Time, please
let me know. For those outside the San Diego area, the Half-Day Integrity
Seminar will be available live via GoToWebinar. Anyone who missed one or more
sessions of the recent Integrity Academy is welcome to come for the single
session missed, and receive a Certificate of Attendance.
The
schedule for the Half-Day Integrity Seminar (Saturday March 2) is:
Session
One: Ethics 9:00 AM (Pacific Time)
Session
Two: Virtues 9:45 AM
Session
Three: Character 10:30 AM
Session
Four: Integrity 11:15 AM
Those who
attend all four sessions are eligible to take the optional Certificate Exam.
Pastor Bill
From the
Quote Garden:
“The way a team plays as a whole
determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in
the world, but if they don't play together, the club won't be worth a dime.”
~ Babe Ruth ~
Christ United Methodist Ministry
Center
“Christ
in the Heart of San Diego”
3295
Meade Avenue - San Diego, CA 92116 - (619) 284-9205
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