September 15 Update
September 13, 2004
It’s hard to express the joy we feel regarding this season of harvest. We’ve been in Montrose for six years. We’ve labored and persevered and sought the Lord – and for a long time it seemed that this was all for nought. But, God is good and his mercy endures forever. This is a season of harvest. Thanks to the many of you who responded to the material needs for the expansion of Alpha House and for opening a home to unwed “street kid” mothers. We still have a few needs – see below. God continues to open doors of opportunity for us!
We signed the lease on the house for unwed mothers. We are celebrating God’s provision of a match for the grant from The Mustard Seed Founation. This gives the ministry a good basis from which to launch. We will still need to raise and additional $12,000 to fully fund the ministry for the first year. Please pray for these provisions. Also, pray for Loren, Tanya, and one-year-old Aiden Gardner. They will serve as house parents and are in the process of preparing to move. Finally, pray for the girls who will be coming. Ask the Father to give them teachable spirits and a willingness to work.
We still need a number of things for this house. Here’s the list.
· One toddler bed and one crib with sheets
· Pack and play plus sheets, monitors
· Bottles and sippy cups, bibs, baby utensils,
baby blankets
· Swing, rocking chairs/gliders
· Car seats {nothing older then two years due to
recalls}
· Large, soft area rugs for hardwood floors in the
four bedrooms
· Highchairs and booster seats
· Four single beds (mattress and frames)
· Four chest of drawers
Pray for a job for Jessica. We believe someone who sees this web page has an entry level job that will allow Jessica to prove herself. She and her son Christopher are living with Jim and Betty Herrington. They will be the first folks to move into the new Castle Court ministry house in October. Jessica is working two part-time minimum wage jobs. She has a great work ethic. She types 60 wpm and has a basic knowledge of the MicroSoft word products. Thanks to several people who provided work clothes for Jessica.
Alpha House – Unit 2 is virtually furnished and on Friday, September 17, we have a group of men from RSET coming to apply for residency. Thanks to those who helped furnish these houses. We still need four chest of drawers. If you can donate one or would help us purchase one, call 281-451-0335. Please pray for us on Friday, September 17. RSET (Recovery Services of East Texas) is a place where drug and alcohol offenders with no aggravated circumstances attached to their arrest can be sentenced. This is instead of going to prision. At the end of the time at RSET (usually 9-12 months) they are eligible for parole to a facility like Alpha House. This is the first time for RSET to offer Alpha House as a place of parole. A group from RSET will visit our facility on September 17.
Please continue to pray for Josh and Aimee Wood as they provide leadership for this ministry. As this ministry expands, they are also adjusting to a brand new baby – Shuan Renee. Pray for wisdom and discipline as they balance work, ministry, and family.
Here are some other ongoing prayer concerns and their updates:
We have a goal of enlisting 100 intercessors outside of Harbor to pray for our ministry. We believe this is a spiritual battle. We currently have 16 people interceding on a regular basis. Pray for God to burden the hearts of men and women with a calling to prayer.
We must raise $60,000 in outside support. From within Harbor, we are doing well at meeting the budget goal we set for ourselves. But, this ministry requires more financial resources than are in our Body. In the first two months of our fund-raising effort, we have had commitments of $28,900 for outside sources. Give thanks for this generosity and pray for the additional provision.
Pray for mentors and co-laborers. Stephanie is an elementary music school teacher who has attended Habor for nearly a year. She teaches in another school district in the city but has moved into Montrose and is looking for a job in one of the Montrose area schools. Pray for God to continue to provide workers. The fields are white unto harvest.
Your prayers, encouragement and financial support make a huge difference as we seek to stay the course in this mission field. Visit our website from time to time for additional updates, and if you have questions, call our Pastor, Jim Herrington at 281-451-0335.