Hello to everyone,
This blog's alittle different than the ones you usually see from me. I am posting this one to help "The Refuge", a new missions' ministry that's right in the heart of S.E. Houston. Melanie has a heart to reach out to the poor & others who have some sort of bondage or need in their life. And she has several things she's trying to do to do her outreach which as you know requires time, volunteers, support from local churches, and donations. Her need is great & I want to let as many people know about this ministry whether you're in the Houston area, in another part of Texas, or living in another state. If you don't live in Houston, there are still ways that you can help. You can either make a donation (money or provide something for one of the missions' needs) or you could even plan a mission trip with your church to come out & help out for a week or two. I know she really believes in what she's doing & can use all the help she can get as she's reaching out to people in Pasadena/S.E. Houston area. If you feel led in someway to help, here's her e mail: daiglemd@hotmail.com. Below is a copy of her newsletter that I cut & pasted. It's a bit of a read but take time in reading it. You never know, God may use you to help this ministry in some way... Anyways, infor. is below...
Hello Refugees,
I will not do a update on things this week as I have an urgent need below, however, I do ask you to be praying for God's provision Funds are still greatly needed! I have $220.00 out of $1,000.00 needed by March 17th. God is doing a work in me thru this causing me to go deeper in my faith and to learn to do without some of the things I think I need now. He is also showing me to hold tight because he has an ARMY of people that are willing to help out with the needs I have and that he is never late but always on time...Amen!!
Urgent Baby Food Need - I am in urgent need of jars of baby food and baby oatmeal. There are a couple of women who are in desperate need for their babies. I have added this item to my list that is attached. One of the girls is a Muslim girl and I have been working to win her and her husband to Christ. I really have only had interaction with her so far and not him. She has been very hard to get to and I have been taking baby steps, watering here and there with the love of Christ and taking every opportunity to share about Christ. I have been providing her with some toiletries and food occasionally when I can afford to and asking her questions about her faith. She is very open to the conversation and is extremely smart and seems to relish the conversation. I prayed for her three times so far. She was pregnant and she let me pray for her during her pregnancy. The first time I prayed in Jesus name knowing she was Muslim. The second time I asked to pray for her and the baby, she said yes but asked me politely not to pray in the name of Jesus. I did as she asked but man was it hard. I just put "Father God" in where I wanted to say Jesus. Anyway, I believe since I honored her request it has opened a beautiful door to go deeper in our relationship. A week or so ago, in desperation, she came to The Refuge for prayer for her and her husband. She said that he had confessed to unfaithfulness and she was very distraught and did not know what to do. We talked for a while and I said that I really felt we needed to pray. I jokingly said "O.k. girl, I will try not to pray in the name of Jesus, but it is hard!" To my surprise she said "Dont worry about it, pray how you want". Wow! That was progress! Since then she has been calling me and donating some baby things to The Refuge and I am beginning to get a little more aggressive with her in making my case for Christ. As I said before, she is a very intelligent person and wants hard proof. Some people simply need to be built up in their faith before they can cross the line of faith. With these type of people it sometimes takes more than just praying and giving them a few scriptures. They need to be built up in their faith before they step over the line of faith. The Muslims (the true ones, not the radical extremists) are like the Orthodox Jews in which they believe in the same God we do, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They believe Christ was just another great Prophet but not the Son of God, the coming Messiah. Anyway, I asked her if she liked to read and she said yes and she has agreed to read a book called "A case for Christ" that I am going to get for her and then we are going to discuss it. This book gives some hard evidence that Christ is who he says he is. Be praying, because I am believing that her day of Salvation is near. If you can help with providing some baby food, I would be so much appreciative!!
NEED HELP IN CHILDRENS MINISTRY!!!
We are going to start our Childrens Church over in the coffee house in a few weeks when I am thru with a class I am taking at my church on Sunday mornings. So far, I have myself and one other volunteer, Seans girlfriend Dena who are going to get this started. Dena feels led to a leadership role in this and
I personally dont feel led to lead the children, but I will help out until others come. I have so many other things I am having to focus on and trying to come up with and a childrens lesson is just beyond my realm of creativity. I also feel called to lead worship on the Sundays that I am there and that also requires preparation....so if you are out there and feel called to this for a minimum of one Sunday a month, please let me know. I do feel led to possibly lead the kids in some worship, that would be down my alley and I have some good kids worship C.d.s.
SPEAKING OF C.D.'s....
I am in urgent need of C.D. players and Christian C.D's. I am continually wanting to give people c.d's but they dont have players. If you have an old one or see one at a garage sale or something, please pick it up for me. I will even pay you for ones you find at a garage sale for cheap. MUSIC - also, praise and worship, hymns, contemporary, anything for adults and kids would be awesome!!
SOUP KITCHEN (Always the third Saturday of the month)
Our next Soup Kitchen will be Saturday, March 15th - Beginning at 4:00 p.m.
Soup Kitchen provision and preparation provided by Karen and David Ballard of Monument Baptist Church!! Praise God!! Evening Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. I am working to get music and possibly a band this time for the evening and some guest speakers! Soup Kitchen Volunteers for Saturday, April 19th is covered by Deer Park First Baptist Church...Hallelujah!!
REFUGE WEEKEND
We will meet for fellowship this weekend on Saturday, March 1st @ 7:00 p.m. Come Join us for a great time! Free Coffee, Cappuccinos, Hot Chocolate & Water. Please bring your own Soda Pop as I do no serve those anymore because it is too expensive for me to keep those around. We share testimony, scripture and pray for one another. Look for Musical Guests beginning in the next couple of weeks. I am still waiting for my boys baseball schedules before I can book as they sometimes have games on Friday nights and I will have to have The Refuge on Saturday nights.
CHAPEL SERVICE - SUNDAYS @ 10:00 a.m.
Led by Sean Graham - Feel free to join us sometimes and see and experience what God is doing. We are really desperate for those who can help with worship including guitar players, keys, or just tracks. No more than 15 minutes or so of worship is all that is needed.
12-STEP PROGRAM - NOW IN PROGRESS! Not to late to register!
Tuesdays @ 7:00 p.m. - Led by Sean Graham - The workbook participants will be doing is called "The Twelve Steps - A spiritual journey - A working guide to healing". Sean, who is also doing our chapel services is a former heroine addict and understands those struggling with addictions and other strongholds. He has also helped with other drug-rehab programs and will be absolutely perfect at ministering freedom to individuals going thru this journey to healing. Please pray for Sean. Sponsors are still needed for participants.
LADIES BIBLE STUDY - WEDNESDAYS @ 1:00 P.M.
Led By Melinda Johnson -- Melinda is very anointed and knowledgeable in ministering support, care, and healing to those who struggle with mental disorders including bi-polar, depression, anxiety, and anyone who needs a touch from God and wants to go deeper in relationship with Him. She herself has struggled with some of these things and has found healing thru Jesus Christ. She has so much compassion, understanding and wisdom for women and desires to see them set free so they can fulfill the destiny and plans God has for their lives. I'm so excited to welcome Melinda on board at The Refuge. She has been such a GREAT support for me personally thru her words of wisdom, not to mention her service to God!! Thank you Friend!!
BIBLE STUDY - THURSDAYS @ 7:00 P.M.
Led by Jeb Busic - "Its all about Jesus" - Jeb who is a member of the Christian Motorcycle Association and a passionate evangelist and follower of Jesus Christ is facilitating this study. Workbooks will be provided and participants should be committed to weekly study matl and return each week to discuss. Praise God! We had 5 people there on the first week!! Hallelujah!! Pray that God will send more! Jeb is a great minister and teacher of the Gospel and LOVES PEOPLE!!
MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT CLASS NEEDED!!
There are several couples here who have struggles in their marriage. I would love to see something available for them to help enrich their marriage and help them heal from hurts and wounds. If you are a married couple and feel that you can
minister to other married couples in this capacity, please let me know. I would prefer this not be a take home bible study because many of these are already doing bible study and some even doing the 12-Step program as well. I think getting maybe some DVDS on marriage with a discussion time afterwards and then prayer support at the end would be great!! MONDAY NIGHTS ARE CURRENTLY THE ONLY NIGHTS AVAILABLE. I am reserving Wednesday nights and Sunday nights for future chapel services and Friday and Saturdays are reserved for the coffee house and soup kitchens and other things.
FUNDING GOAL - TEN CHURCHES - $100.00 PER MONTH
O.k. I have decided to set some goals to move towards and I am asking for your assistance in your local church or even in your workplace. I got to thinking and talking to God and said "Wow, ya know what God? If 10 churches could raise a mere $100.00 a month for the Refuge, the rent would paid!!! Its seems so DO-ABLE when you put it in that perspective. Think about these ideas:
Some kind of drop box for coins and small bills to be collected in a designated area over a month period each month for The Refuge. I could provide a brochure and info to accompany the drop box.
If only 10 people at 10 churches committed to $10.00 a month offering to The Refuge...it would be done!! Wow! Or even better if 20 people from 10 churches committed only $5.00 per month it would be done! Do you see how easy it is if everyone would join together and help.
Please consider these ideas...these are easy ideas that dont require any real physical labor on anyones part. I would be so greatly appreciative!! Again, I would be more than happy to come and share my vision and bring pictures and brochures about The Refuge.
ITS DECORATING TIME!!! I LOVE IT!!
Thanks to all of you who are donating the lovely deco for The Refuge. I am so appreciative. God is so good! I received some BRAND NEW Home Interior items still in the box from a sweet woman named Michelle Adams. If you are interested in buying some Home Interior or would like to have a party, let me know and I will give you her contact info. I am still in need of things. Here is the list of things I still need: Do keep in mind that my primary colors are: Golden Yellow, Rusty Red Brick, Black and Mahogany. Other colors can be incorporated but these are my primary colors. Here is what I need:
Pictures, Plaques, Crosses, Wall Shelves and other wall decoration - I would like to have some things with spiritual messages or scriptures and lots of crosses! Some things can also be related to coffee, or just general things that are cute, pretty, inspirational or words of wisdom.
Furniture - Good Condition! - I am looking for a futon, preferably black mattress but will take anything or even a frame. I think they make covers you can buy if I need to change out the mattress fabric. Also, maybe a love seat or chair in some solid colors that would go good with the colors mentioned above. I will use pillows to blend the colors together and provide the "Pop" to the room once I get all donated things together. I do not need any coffee tables or lamps. I have that covered.
SPRING AND SUMMER MISSION PROJECTS
I think it would be great to put some focus on beautification projects around the ministry, not only for The Refuge but for the people that live in the apartments. I believe in Jesus Name that I will have more favor with the Landlord and the owner by doing this. They have already given me $60.00 off each unit shortly after I moved in because they are supportive of the work and the improvements we are making to the units. Praise God!! Lets keep going and who knows what could happen??? With God all things are possible...Amen!!! Here are some things that I would like to do in this area:
Do you know someone who owns a concrete company or wood company? The areas around the entrance to chapel and coffee house are a muddy mess when it rains. I am wanting to put a concrete slab around each unit and then add some wood rails to make a decking. This would allow for us to still meet outside when it rains and keep mud from being tracked into the coffee house and chapel. It would also allow us a clean and level service to put tables not only for the coffee house but for our soup kitchens. Not only that, it would also be an awesome place to fellowship outside and have the music and bands and would draw more attention. I would need all the matls provided including re-bar. Some of the men around the ministry said they would do the work and I have also had some other volunteers, including my husband to do the labor. If you know of someone who would be willing to donate these times and come and design a plan and estimate, please send them my way!!
Do you know a Landscaping Service or Company who could provide Matls? I would like to put in some very inexpensive shrubs around The Refuge and also make it a long term mission project to put it in the the other tenants around The Refuge. If you know of someone who could donate these matls like shrubs and top soil, please send them my way. Myself and some of the women around here can do all the labor.
Do you like to paint? I am wanting to paint the exterior on both units of The Refuge and make painting The Refuge and the other units a long term mission project. Some of the ladies around The Refuge are really wanting to paint the inside of their units to beautify their apartments as well. If you feel led to provide the paint for this and help the ladies with this this would be an awesome way to help out. Even if you only provide the paint and matls this would be awesome!! I believe my church youth group is suppose to paint the exterior of The Refuge this summer so I need to check to confirm that with them again.
Deep Freeze - I am still in need of a medium to large sized deep freeze in fair to good condition to put frozen foods.
Other Needs Are Attached To this email in both works and word format.
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OTHER AREAS OF MINISTRY THAT ARE NEEDED
12-Step Programs Sponsors - to be sponsors, mentors, prayer partners for those going thru recovery. Must have at least one year in recovery if you are a recovered addict and be available to talk and meet with person you are sponsoring when needed.
Family Support Group Leaders - Support group for family members of those going thru recovery.
Christian Licensed Drug Therapy Counselors - For individual counseling and support groups.
Christian Licensed Domestic Violence-Anger Management Counselors - For individual counseling and support groups.
Children’s Ministry - a huge need. Had 20 kids for our Christmas party we had. Wanting to do VBS this summer. Also, someone to have a Sunday School while we are having Chapel on Sundays for the adults.
Prayer and Deliverance Ministries - Persons trained in deliverance and can take people thru deliverance on site.
Social Services/Benevolence Director - this person would help people find different kinds of assistance in our areas such as food banks, financial assistance, health and dental care, clothing, and other contacts and forms for various things like food stamps, gold card, etc.
Food Bank Coordinator - we will have a food bank as well, but will be small and only have specific food items along with personal hygiene, paper and cleaning products, health items and other items that food stamps will not cover.
Soup Kitchen - volunteers to serve and also help provide the groceries for the soups and other food items we will serve to feed the hungry. A church or ministry could also volunteer their time and resources occasionally as a ministry outreach. We will have our first soup kitchen on 1/26/08.
Photographer/Videographer/Webmaster/Media - Praise God! I have someone who said they will help me with my web. Praise God! I now have a young lady taking photos when I need her to. Continue to need someone to do video and media. I am wanting to create DVD's and other media resources to give to churches.
Director of Fund-raising - A person who is creative and innovative at raising funds and organizing fundraising events and projects.
Special Projects/Handyman - A person who can be in charge of beautification projects in and around the ministry site and also help with handyman needs. My husband currently does this but I need add’l help when he is working. Praise God! My church youth group is going to do some beautification at The Refuge this spring as their mission project!! Hallelujah!!
This is what the Lord says: "In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, 'Come out,' and to those in darkness, 'Be free!' "They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. They will neither hunger nor thirst, nor will the desert heat or the sun beat upon them. He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water. (Isaiah 49:8-10)
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. (Isaiah 61:1-3) (The Apartment is called Shady Oaks)
Prayer Needs: (I will now keep the names anonymous for privacy)
Please pray for "V" - She has left her husband and taken with her, her two small babies because of his unfaithfulfness. I'm not sure where she went but I am praying that she will come back.
ALL OF THOSE ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND ALCOHOL - There are so many. Please pray for God to deliver them and that God will use The Refuge and those called to help them find deliverance and healing in their lives thru Christ our King!!
God Bless!
In His Spirit,
Melanie
THE REFUGE 106 N. Johnson #1 Pasadena, Texas (Please do not send mail here: Send to:
2005 Deervalley, Deer Park, Texas 77536
"It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain". (Isaiah 4:6)
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