Hello everybody! I pray this email finds you all incredibly blessed! I can just about assure you, in comparison to the families I'm about to talk to you about, YOU ARE! God has presented us with an incredible opportunity to share His love in a very practical way!" The recipients of this love will be... 14 families totaling 19 adults and 59 children!

Let me tell you a little about them...

A 73 and 69 year old thought they were through raising children. Unfortunately their daughter became addicted to drugs and abandoned a 12, 8, and 9 year old with their grandparents.  Now theses grandparents tend a home of 5 on much less than a $1,000 per month.

A 55 year old had a steady job, and lived a comfortable life, till recently her daughter died. This tragedy left her with a 16, 9, and 8 year old. After readjusting her lifestyle tending to kids and some emergency phone calls requiring the grandmother to go to the kids school, she was soon let go from her job. Now, after being evicted from two homes she is tending her grandchildren in a new home, she just came out of a shelter.

An 80 year old also thought she was out of the child raising scene. Her daughter too became addicted to drugs and dumped an 8, 7, and 3 month old baby, with her mom to raise. Now the grandmother raises a family of 6 on much less than a $1,000 per month.

Another 55 year old has a similar story, except her daughter was abusing a 9, 7, and 6 year old. The authorities had the grandmother take the children and now she is raising a family of 4 on less than $500 per month.

A mom and her children, 15, 11, 10, 5, and 3, just came up through a shelter program.  The mom now has a job working with autistic men and women. A month ago they got there own home, a rented 3 bedroom 2 bath apartment. Just yesterday, Sunday, they were able to stop sleeping on the floor, when we got them some beds. This family of 6 thanks God to be alive and makes due onless than $500 per month.

9 other families with similar stories!

*Working on a vision that began just this past Saturday, many of us are putting together a Christmas Celebration for these 14 families. It will be this Friday, December 20th at 6:30 pm at Park Place Baptist Church (1610 W Lakeview). Park Place has opened up the doors of their fellowship hall for us to celebrate the grace, mercy, and love of God through the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ! The night will consist of eating a ham dinner, hearing or seeing the "real Christmas story", singing carols, passing out one gift per child, and fellowshipping/playing with the children. We will also send each family home with a food/essentials basket!

How can you help...1)pray for these families...2)purchase and wrap a $10-$15 gift for one of these 59 children (reply to this email or call me at 572-3373 for a child's name, age, and sex)...3)help decorate the fellowship hall...4)volunteer to cook one of the courses (ham, green beans, sweet potatoes)...5)volunteer to cook a desert dish (we will need deserts for 100 people)...6)volunteer to bring drinks for 100 people...7)volunteer to drive a church van to pickup families without transportation...8)donate toward the approx. $240 cost of the food...9)help make phone calls to the families to remind them of the celebration...10)donate food/essential (sanitary items) items to be put in the basket...11)help with the nights program/festivities (any ideas would be appreciated)...12)be at Park Place with a friendly smile and a compassionate/servant heart (we want to wait on these families hand and foot, to be an imitator of Christ!).

I realize this is a last minute plea for help (the total vision of this event is really just confirmed today), please participate in what ever way the Spirit prompts. In however you are able, from prayer to cooking hams, you are appreciated! Please reply to this email, or better yet, call me at 572-3373 to volunteer today! Be blessed!

HIS,

Mark

UPDATE!!!

Faithful is HE who calls you, and HE also will bring it to pass. 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Hello all! I sit amazed at God's faithfulness! Praise God for a vision that began growing 72 hours ago! A need was identified and a vision was put together. As of last night, "A Christmas Celebration for Others" consisted of nothing but needs, 63 gifts and a budget that would of turned my lights off! Tonight, we lack nothing! God has blessed us with every child but 5 being sponsored for the purchase of a gift as well as individuals stepping up to donate the food (individual) and/or the cost of it, as well as the drinks (individual through Waterfront Rescue Mission) and/or the cost of them! We also received a commitment from FBCP and Samaritan Hands to put together a box for every family to take home Friday evening! HE is so faithful!

Just a few things...

1) The summaries of the families you received in the email last night were extremely true, however I have had second thoughts on publishing the exact names. These families are very sensitive and have been through a lot.  Please be conscience of who sees the stories. Please share, but maybe take out first names and just call by last. My fear... a) a child at the party sees the sheet and realizes the reason he/she lives with their grandparents is because their mom is addicted to drugs...b) the media gets a hold of it.
2) Please continue to pray for this event. I know God has plans for Friday night beyond our wildest imagination.
3) Please prepare desserts, make donations, and/or sponsor these last 5 children! We do have money in the budget to purchase these gifts (a couple of individuals have unselfishly shared in some generous monetary contributions). However, it is our prayer that any excess money, after any needs (food/drinks/desserts) for the night are purchased, as well assurance that there will be a gift per child, we will use the excess money (every dime) to fill the family boxes full! It is our prayer that we will be able to provide 30-60 days worth of groceries and sanitary items (many of these families do not even have toilet tissue and body soap). We would also like to be able to provide them with necessary items to prepare an incredible Christmas Day meal!
4) The focus...Some of you are unable to financially help with this project.  Please do not feel bad. It takes all kinds of contributions to make a project like this a success. As we are reminded...(in Luke 10) Martha was running around trying to accomplish everything, Mary was sitting at the feet of Christ! These children, on average, belong to families of 5-8 with only one adult, usually a mom or grandmother. It would be impossible for a parent/grandparent to show very much undivided attention to these kids. If we can count on 24 (have 12 signed up already), just to come serve and play with these kids and actually listen to them! What a blessing it would be to them and there families! Let's "wash their feet" as Christ did, providing them with a first class evening! (will try to get VIB=Very Important Bikers/BAD=Born Again Disciples to do the foot washing! j/k!). 

Your generosity has defined compassion and for me personally, your support shows true friendship! You are truly appreciated! Be blessed.

HIS,