3R Tutoring End of Year slide show

One of the obstacles to overcoming poverty is education and opportunity. The 3R’S Tutoring program is an opportunity to reinforce education essentials in reading, writing and mathematics. 3R’s Tutoring will also assist children in grades 1-12 in homework, college preparation and exposure to other educational opportunities.

The video you will see was put together by the tutors that made 3R Tutoring possible for the 2010.  We are looking forward to having more volunteers and students involved in the tutoring program for the 2010-2011 school year.  Thank you again to all who made this year possible!  Enjoy the video slide.

3R Tutoring Overview from CITY OF HOPE OUTREACH on Vimeo.

Ministry Monday

This is Ministry Monday! I like these little catchy phrases. My goal is to share a portion of my heart and give updates on what is happening in ministry with "The Church in Oakwood" and "The City of Hope Outreach".

I will begin with this scripture.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD. Hebrews 12:1-2

Yesterday was a day of endurance. For those of you who don't know we gather for worship outside under the sun and trees in the center of a run down trailer park. Most of the time it is a blast! However, we had experienced snow and below freezing temperature. So the gathering was at best going to be very cold! The sun came out and shined just bright enough to melt the snow on the trees ever so slightly. Slowly and continually melted snow dripped on many heads throughout our gathering time. This to some degree was funny but not 100%. Much of the reason we gather in this location is to build community, love the outcast and be a visible picture of the body of Christ (rich, middle, poor, black, brown, yellow, white, college education, no diploma etc.). The weather was bad and as a result only one of the regular people aside from my family was there. I thought for a minute why are we here? We could have meet inside my house or someone else's for that matter. And then it hit me. Christ is asking me to "run with endurance the race that is set before me, looking to Jesus". Now there were plenty of people there, however only one who was living in the community.

Then I remembered the witness. There was young man taking out his trash. He happens to deal in creative finances if you know what that means. Anyway, he watched us set up chairs, in prep for fellowship and worship. One of the other residents was blasting his music right were we meet. He came to me and said I will turn it down in a few minutes so as not to disturb the church meeting. Side note this was a man who yelled that he couldn’t stand me and did not want his wife to be brainwashed!

All of that opened one more memory...Gary! He said, "I don't understand why you guys just keep coming back? There is nothing and nobody here, except a bunch of drunks, hoes and dealers! Why do you come?” If I were to see only my comfort many of these people would never understand the love of Christ! We keep coming because Christ kept coming to us! He still does! If I were to stop going before God said, I would never understand how to partake in this joy that is spoken of in Hebrews. So, I seek to endure what is hard and unexplainable for the human heart that in looking to Jesus I may be like my Father.

Be encouraged in your walk with the Lord. Run your race with endurance looking to Christ and receive His Joy!

UPDATES:

Community Assessments

We will be going house to house beginning February 2-5 @ 1p-5p taking a survey of residents and needs (physical, emotional, & spiritual)

Valentine Boxes

This Saturday February 6th @ 1p we are helping the children of Marguerite Vann Elementary School put together valentine's boxes for school!

King's Club

Begins February 13th @ 1pm (will continue every other week). King's Club is a one hour Saturday activity for the children. It will help us to establish and develop relationships with the children and their families in Oakwood. If you would like to help with any of the activities listed above please see the website and sign up.

Not So Extreme Home Make Over

February 20th in Oakwood at 9am. We are helping a family be reunited with their granddaughter by bringing their home up to code. The City of Hope Outreach and Chi Alpha partner again to display the Love of Jesus Christ!

If you would like to get involved with any of these activities click on the title and it will direct you to the website and you can sign up.

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY!

EZEKIEL 34:11-24
The Lord GOD Will Seek Them Out
11"For thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. 12As a shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. 13And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land. And I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, by the ravines, and in all the inhabited places of the country. 14 I will feed them with good pasture, and on the mountain heights of Israel shall be their grazing land. There they shall lie down in good grazing land, and on rich pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. 16 I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice.
17"As for you, my flock, thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and male goats. 18Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture, that you must tread down with your feet the rest of your pasture; and to drink of clear water, that you must muddy the rest of the water with your feet? 19And must my sheep eat what you have trodden with your feet, and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20"Therefore, thus says the Lord GOD to them: Behold, I, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21Because you push with side and shoulder, and thrust at all the weak with your horns, till you have scattered them abroad, 22I will rescue my flock; they shall no longer be a prey. And I will judge between sheep and sheep. 23And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. 24And I, the LORD, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the LORD; I have spoken.

This text gives me great joy and Hope for today and eternity!

Growth!

I was reminded by a brother in Christ (Matthew Schnarr from Mission Year in Atlanta)that growth doesn't only take place above the surface. Here is a quote from Matt's newletter. "I get discouraged when I feel like I am not growing. ...growth doesn't always occur above ground; growth isn't always seen right away. The experiences and hardships that come this year allow my roots to grow deep."

As believers we tend to measure growth by what we see above the surface. However, in that process we neglect to see how much transformation and growth is taking place beneath the surface.

When you plant a seed in the ground it actually grows beneath the surface before it sprouts above the ground.

I have felt much like Matt, however I now realize that is because of the growth beneath the surface. God is establishing me in many areas so that when the winds and the storms come I will be deeply rooted in Him.

I encourage you to seek the Lord for deep roots, not just a pretty flower.

Urban Missionaries

"There's a dude on the corner thats out there smoking weed,that need to hear the TRUTH because the TRUTH will set him free. There's a baby in the building that don't got no food, cause her mama on the block trying to get it from them dudes. Aint nothing wrong with you going over seas, but there is people on your same street that need to be free, if you want to do a mission you aint gotta look far, there some people need to hear the TRUTH in ya back yard.....at the bus stop, girls are the beauty shop,dudes at the barber shop, the people at the car wash, the dude sitting next to you at the coffee shop, we suppose to hit the hood until it look like God's block...." -Thisl Urban Missionaries

I read this from Nicole's blog Rebuild the City, and it hit me. This is my heart. I can't explain why it is that many are so driven to foreign mission and forsake the urban mission two miles down the road. I am specifically speaking to the residents in the city where I live. I am sure this message goes beyond that of Conway Arkansas, but none the less this is where I am.

I have often wondered Lord why this place? Then I see the needs of those hurting around me and think oh it is because of these. These that have been ignored in many circles. We have been pioneers in this town and for that I am thankful. Yet my heart desperately longs for a family that God would call to this urban mission in Conway Arkansas. However until such time I will take great heart and joy from the individuals the Lord has and is bringing our way. In addition to that I will receive encouragement from all the other urban missionaries around the U.S. that have blogs I can find! Thanks again Nicole I found a host of wonderful urban missionaries that Lord has used to encourage me.

School Supply Daze!

It seems like school was just out yesterday. The City of Hope is planning a school supply drive for children who will be in grades K-4 that live in the Oakwood Village trailer community and attend Marguerite Vann Elementary.

This year we are hoping to supply every child in Oakwood with everything they need for their back to school backpacks. We are using the school supply list from Marguerite Vann Elementary School (also available at Wal-Mart off Dave Ward Drive). We have attached the list for your information. The cost to build a complete school list with backpack is approximately $35.00. You must indicate on the backpack what grade level the items are for. You may drop the backpack(s) off at our home or bring them with you to help distribute as noted below. It is important that we are made aware of your intentions that every child from Oakwood be covered with the supplies they will need.

If you can help with any of these supplies and/or distributing these supplies please contact Nicolle Fletcher at 501-499-1043 or by email thecityofhope@gmail.com. We will be distributing the supplies at Marguerite Vann Elementary School on the first day of school which is Wednesday August 19, 2009. Please give us a hand in assisting children back to school with items they need to enhance their learning experience and most importantly display the love of Christ to them and their families.

YOUR STEPS ARE ORDERED BY GOD

Friday night Phil and I were going on a date to see a movie. This was a time we were both looking forward to. It was "our time", and we both needed it. Let's set the stage. Phil came home from work hung with the kids for a while. While playing with the kids he asked me which movie theatre were we going to? I wasn't very sure, so he asked me to look it up. While he was in the shower I told him I remember which theater, because I saw it earlier that day. So we travelled to movie theater that I remembered seeing the sign at. Okay it was the wrong one. There are only two theaters in Conway so it wasn't a big deal to go to the next one.

Remember how I said your steps are ordered. Well, as we were on our way to the other theater we saw a man walking. This man looked just like a man who lived in the trailer park about a year ago. His name is Rusty and he was married to a woman named Julie. They had a child while living in the trailer park, we had a showering of gifts for the baby. This couple was one of the first we actually invested in at Oakwood. To give a little more history, I would often go to their home and help with the baby and Phil would spend lots of time with Rusty. Then one day they just moved out of the state. They had talked about it but did not give notice or anything. We were surprised and of course sad because we did not feel the work was complete. Now you are up to speed.

We see this guy who looks just like Rusty. Phil looks at me and says do you want me to call him and see? I said yes. Then Phil cautions me, if I call him we need to commit to whatever happens after that. Reminding me of the fact that we are on a date and I can't complain if we move in a totally different direction. I thought for a second and I was really happy to see if this was him and meet his need. Phil yells out from the car. He responds. It was Rusty! So we turn around and pick him up. He looks us over and calls Phil's name. He then gets in the car. He was on his way to his mother's house. He had just arrived in Conway about 10 minutes ago. He had been travelling for two weeks from Louisiana (by bus, foot, and car etc..). So I began to ask him about his life and where is Julie. He then proceeds to tell us they are divorced. She tried to microwave the baby!?!?! He tried to kill her?!?!?! They lost custody of the baby girl and she is with a good family in Arizona. He goes on to tell us how the Lord has been good to him even though he did not deserve it at all. He told us the God finally delivered him from drugs and alcohol. Now I want you to clearly understand these were the words coming from his mouth...not us! There was a look of sheer horror on my face mixed with an odd delight. God was working in his life amidst ALL KINDS OF CRAZY!

We then arrive at his mother's trailer. Yes I said trailer! We found a whole new trailer park that we had not even known existed. Rusty explained that this park is full of displaced Katrina victims. This park is different in some ways from Oakwood in that there are tons more people. It seemed like every trailer had two or three cars in front and families living in groups. Rusty's mother had three young boys in her trailer. After we dropped Rusty off and exchanged phone numbers, we took a trip around the park. Many of the people were living in campers, trailers, or whatever. It was certainly the Lord who lead us in this direction. Rusty was excited to reconnect and we are too.

So we were able to take care of Rusty, locate more "souls" to hear the gospel of Christ, and get to the movies on time. All in all we had a wonderful time!

Again our steps are ordered by GOD! This is the second person the Lord has brought back that we may continue to serve. I am very excited about what the Lord is doing and going to complete.

WALKING THROUGH OPEN DOORS AND THANKFUL FOR THE CLOSED DOOR!

Hey all! Last night we had dinner with Mr. Hustler, his momma boo, and his two children. It was a wonderful time. We listened and learned. We taught and educated! We encouraged in Christ and opened our home. The kids all played together very well. I was concerned about the dinner (as shallow as that seems). This a family who normally eats soul food. I don't cook soul food very often. My plan was for my mother to cook it but she was unavailable. So we had normal Fletcher food which they all enjoyed. The silly things we get stuck on?

We talked a lot about the depth of hurt each one has felt and is presently feeling. Boy oh, boy was it deep. Would you pray for salvation and deliverance for this family. That God would radically transform their lives into His image! Mr. Hustler is very intelligent and would be a mighty warrior for the Kingdom of Christ! Again please pray.


Also the other family that actually asked for us to counsel them. Has moved away! I talked to them on Friday of last week and they had moved out of the park to some city far away. I am happy to report they received what they were really looking for. I pray that the Lord would bring another to proclaim the good news of Christ to them right where they are.

Blessings!

MEDICAL OUTREACH THIS SATURDAY!

NEWSLETTER CONT

BCM had its first session of POETHEOLOGY during the month of February. Believers gathered at the Faulkner County Library and were treated to poetry, dance and painting by believers living in Conway. Poetheology is a ministry dedicated to presenting redeemable images of the literary, performance and creative arts to the city of Conway, Arkansas. It is our hope, that believers in Jesus Christ will have the opportunity to express the glory of God through their gifts and at the same time interact with others in the context of the art culture. In each of the successive newsletters, we will profile believers who have a gift in relations to the arts. Our hope is that as you would hear the hearts of these people that we all would enjoy Christ more in how He uses men and women through the arts to declare His name. If you are interested in participating or serving please contact us.

The “City of Hope” is the best way in which to describe the ministry that occurs on a weekly basis in Oakwood. The community of Oakwood is located in the older section of Conway, Arkansas literally on the other side of the tracks. Here at the City of Hope we seek to not only bring the Gospel of Christ in word and deed but also equip believers to minister to the least of our city. We have partnered with two college ministries CHI ALPHA and Elevation, as well as Conway Celebration Church, affectionately called the Barn. Working alongside these believers has not only strengthened our relationship with believers throughout our city but provides the people of Oakwood with Christian examples in their lives. So what happens in Oakwood? On Sundays we gather to preach the Word of God, sing songs, pray and love on the people of the community. The first Sunday of each month is dedicated to meeting the people of Oakwood in their homes, praying with them and building
relationships. Tuesdays, Nicolle and older women meet with women in the community for prayer, Bible Study and fellowship. Finally, we have started to meet with the kids on the first Saturday of each month to play games and look for mentoring opportunities. Lord willing this summer the City of Hope will begin a tutoring program for kids in grades K-12 and also start a mentoring program for young adults and married couples. All of these are meant to be avenues to share the Gospel and have a sustainable presence of Christ in the community.

Wives In Touch is a ministry developed out of the need for women to earnestly seek God on behalf of their husband. As a believing wife and mother heavily involved in ministry, I found myself doing “drive by” prayers for my husband. The term “drive by prayer” is simply what it sounds like. The prayer that takes place while washing dishes, “Lord, bless my husband at work” the end. That is a drive by prayer. I realized that as women we are willing to pray for everyone and everything all the while failing to pray earnestly for our husbands. If the husband is sick or something is wrong then prayer is easy because we need God to do something, NOW! Wives In Touch is about women in touch with the need to seek Christ for their husbands walk with Christ, daily strength, encouragement, leadership, parenting, and marriage. We want to be proactive, laying our husbands at the feet of Christ. We meet in homes once per week and pray for one hour. In our prayer time we focus on one attribute of God, define it and read scriptures in accordance. We use the four steps of prayer method. The first being Praise, we praise God for who He is. The specific attribute helps define our time of praise. The next is Confession. This time can be silent or open. Then we honor the Lord with Thanksgiving. We remember the prayers answer and that builds our faith in the True and Living God. We know that He hears and He answer the cry of our heart. And finally we make request or supplication unto the Lord. The four steps are Praise, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. It is a wonderful and sweet time of prayer. For the wife, submission does not come easy. I have learned and understand that sacrificial servant leadership does not come easy to our husbands either. So as help meets created by God, we need help our husbands in prayer.

Berean Christian Ministry is dedicated to equipping and edifying believers and evangelizing those within the urban areas of the city in order that many would see the glory of God in Jesus Christ. It is our endeavor that God’s name be known to all as we proclaim the risen Savior and serve all He brings in our lives.

UPCOMING EVENTS:
Saturday March 7, 2009 Poetheology at the Faulkner County Library, 6:30 pm
Saturday March 21, 2009 Medical Outreach in Oakwood, 11:00 am
Sunday April 12, 2009 Spring BBQ Outreach in Oakwood, 1:00pm