Haiti Vineyard Response

Vineyard Response to Haiti.

This is what we have decided to do at this time. As the recovery process goes on we will up date our response to the greatest need.

"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion...  Zechariah 9: 8-10

 

How can our church respond?
At present, we have been told that for now Haiti is not a place for non-professional staff. Please leave your relief efforts to the disaster relief agencies unless you have the special skills and training that are needed. They will let us know when teams for recovery will be needed. For now please partner with the organizations already in the country.
 

The greatest needs of Haiti to date are:
1. Cash is the most urgent need at present
We are partnering with other churches in the Dayton area to send a cash gift
-- Together we are going to send relief to the people we know in Haiti
-- January 23 & 24 we will take up a special offering during all our services
-- This is a time to let people experience the kindness of God

2. Gather supplies (New and sealed)
Over the next few weeks we will gather items to send to Haiti via shipping container. Collect items listed below, pack them in large Rubbermaid containers with lids with lists of supplies within and attached to the container attached.
-- Diapers -- Toilet paper -- Baby formula
-- New Blankets -- Personal hygiene -- Medical supplies, bandages
-- Clothes pins -- Rope -- Boxed cereals
-- Powered milk -- Zip lock bags -- Plastic sheeting
-- Dishes -- Forks, spoons, knives -- Cooking pans
-- Duct tape -- Socks -- Underwear
-- Flip fops -- Batteries -- Flashlights
-- Sowing items & Fabric

3. Pray
God hears good people when they pray
-- For Pastors, Missionaries, First responders
-- For the hurting and lost
-- People to find their families and loved ones
-- For those who are grieving
-- For those sick, injured
-- For Godʼs peace to rest on the nation 

-- For an open door of ministry and for the gospel to be presented clearly

“He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act
justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8-9

Martin Luther King Junior Marching on!

This years march will be interesting. Obama is now in the White House and MLK dream has been realized to a point.

Many people have found their way out of poverty, or have never been in poverty and are seeking to make a difference in their world.

This year while wrapping presents at the mall I had some great conversations with several young people who were on their way. Several High School honor society students helped us wrap presents. They were very sharp and know where they were heading. One young man who popped in to have his present wrapped is studying Political Science and Philosophy at Wright State. These young people give me hope for their generation.

Yes, 'some would say' there is more liberty now than then. Yes, there are barriers that have broken down. However, All Men Created Equal has still not been realized in full in the USA. Still there is prejudice, and there is a prison of poverty. One of my friends' son stated. "I'm a prisoner in my own home." The reason, they live on Main St. in a bad side of town. It's not safe.

Do Something!
We are attempting to make a difference. We serve the less served. We are there. We are not, just speaking about change, nor waiting for change but we are attempting to help people discover change through Jesus Christ and through meaningful practical service. We serve, we love, we care, we share. 

Each year we serve the marchers at Courthouse Square serving hot coffee and hot Chocolate for free.

It's a small way to say, we support the process of freedom.

When: Monday 18th
Where: Meet at the Vineyard 10am or there Courthouse Square 11am.

for further reading see Dave Workman Blog The Blind Side

2010 Regret Not!

Is it 2010 or 2000 10? It's another year. Usually I say what I'm going to be, or do this coming year. Every year there are surprises, curve balls, challenges, disappointments, encouraging events, people touched (some grateful some not), family issues (some that are good some that are not), work issues (some that are good, some that are not). It's my lot every year.

One verse does ring in my heart.

"When the son of man returns will he find faith upon the earth?" It's not the explosive gift of faith, or the dynamic healing faith, in context it's enduring(bearing up courageously) kind of faith.

I ask, "Will He will find faith in this earth?"...My earth. The kind of faith that He is looking for is the persevering type of faith. The kind of faith that simply continues.


I will be 2 years short of 60 this month, so for me, this is another year to seek to end well.

2010 I'll be venturing into the unknown, I don't know what the year will bring, but do know I want to live a life that has no regrets. So every morning I'll look in the mirror and say, "Today is a day to live with no regrets."

Hopefully, I'll have the wisdom and the guts to walk this out.

I know this will be risky and probably sometimes painful but at this stage of the game it's a must. No more woulda, coulda, or shoulda... It's do.

“Do or do not... there is no try.” yoda

No more being a Jerk

My friend David K. posted a good blog on his pastoralponderings. see side bar. He writes about real life as a pastor. He is honest. A straight shooter. In my view he does a lot of things right and is a great leader of leaders. He is consistent. He understands he is the responsible one who can create a positive environment with his staff. He prasies people openly, and corrects in private, He is consistent emotionally.

Yet, in this post he is honest, at times he exudes the attitude of a Jerk... as I do. I argee with him... this year I hope to be kinder, less jerky, yet speak the truth in love.

                                Here is his post in full

2010 Resolution- No More 'Mr. Jerk'

 Yesterday at 1:29pm

This is my last blog for 2009. I have been distracted and not as faithful in updating my blog. Hopefully, I will do better in 2010. This blog today is about a resolution that I have already made for 2010!

One of the many things that one encounters in ministry are those that make personal insults towards you or your family. I am talking about people that take cheap shots, make hurtful comments, demean, belittle, chastise, and say and do other caustic things directed at you.

I call them Jerks! Dictionary definition- ‘an annoyingly stupid or foolish person; an unlikable person; especially: one who is cruel, rude, or small-minded.’

There are other ways to describe them as you will see from the next paragraph. But, I prefer to be civil in this blog and ‘jerk’ will suffice. Of course, we all can put names to the word ‘jerk.’

And what is worse, are those times when I have been a ‘jerk!’ Yes, I confess that there have been times when I have been a ‘class A jerk!’ I plan to change that in 2010.

As I was studying and meditating on this issue; I came across a book by Robert Sutton entitled, The No ******* Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn’t. (Yes, it really does say that in the title; I edited it here for the sensitive and in an effort not to offend). It’s called the definitive guide to understanding, counteracting, and not becoming an ******. Obviously the workplace is a prime place for this type of person. But, it is not exclusive to it as we all have seen our fair share in the church and among its leadership.

Sutton has a dirty-dozen list of everyday ‘jerk’ actions:
1. Personal insults
2. Invading one’s personal territory
3. Uninvited personal contact
4. Threats and intimidation, both verbal and non-verbal
5. Sarcastic jokes and teasing used as insult delivery systems
6. Withering email flames
7. Status slaps intended to humiliate their victims
8. Public shaming or status degradation rituals
9. Rude interruptions
10. Two-faced attacks
11. Dirty looks
12. Treating people as if they are invisible

I am sure that you can identify with some of these or maybe all of them. We all have seen them and experienced them.

In his book, Sutton tells you how to avoid a jerk and how not to become one yourself. On his blog he tells of a church Sunday class that even used his book! That’s bold!!!!

Obviously, the Bible tells us how to live with and respond to jerks. “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;…” Matt 5:44 KJV (there are many other references in the Bible).

I heard Loren Cunningham, founder of YWAM, answer a question last night about all the criticism and attempted character assassinations directed at him over his lifetime, ‘How did he survive and stay full of joy?’ He said he forgave them all. Therein lays the key on how to deal with jerks! Don’t respond to them, forgive them!

If I have been a ‘jerk’ to you, please forgive me and pray that I will, by God’s grace, change and refrain from being one in the future.

Does anyone want to join me in the pursuit of this New Year’s Resolution?

David I join... 

whirl wind... season

Wow! I survived... 

Wrap it up was a success at Fairfield Commons Mall hundreds of people came to wrap presents, talk to people and to share their faith in a practical way. 

One lady came in and wanted to talk to me... the boss... as we talked she mentioned that she was raised a Catholic and wanted to reconnect to her faith. She went to her priest and asked how she could become reconnected. He mentioned he'd check with her 5th grade teacher and find out how she had been living the Christian life. In other words, no chance. 

I too have Catholic roots having been in boarding school for 3 years. I was able to share some of my journey toward faith and was able to explain that Jesus is our High Priest and that we can go directly through Him to reach out to God the Father, and that He has secured eternal salvation for those who chose to believe by faith through His grace. (see Hebrews 8 - 10)

It was a great talk... the purpose of Wrap it up? to create God space where people can be impacted by His generosity in a practical way.

Sara Jolie

My cousin sent this message to me today and I thought I'd share. "your church saved me today. i had to go out and get Jenny's present for Jay since he had no clue what to get her. anyway we ran out of wrapping paper yesterday and i was not really looking forward to buying a whole role for one gift. Then i saw your church ...wrapping gifts for free!! i was so excited. Please let them know i appreciated it very much, as i'm sure many others do too." 

Christmas Dreams

This years event was the largest and best attended over 1400 people came to be served and 400 amazing volunteers showed up to help Make Christmas Dreams Come True. I was amazed by the energy and commitment from so many. One lady and her kids purchased 100 presents and we more than met the goal of 900 presents for the kids. I'm always thankful and grateful for the generosity of so many.

 

developing relationships thru serving Christmas time.

2008 promo below great feel good promo

Christmas Dreams link here

Baptism Vineyard Style

Interesting weekend this past weekend. Several Staff knew in their knower that this Baptism weekend was going to be big! So we prepared by purchascing new towels, a lot of new towels. Only 9 people were scheduled to be Baptized. Scott spoke about Baptism, as did Caleb in the teen junior high area.


Around 70 people responded to the message and were baptized in what they wore on the weekend. We used all the towels.


Here are a few highlights:


Katrina ...I was sitting and watching all the people getting babtized at the Vineyard this morning when my oldest daught approaches me and says "Mom, I want to be babtized and give my life to Christ." At this point my youngest daughter says "Me too!" Both my daughters were baptized this morning...Taylor and I both cried ...tears of joy for queit a while...God is Sooooooo Great!!!!!


Anna I was the first person to be baptized at the first service. When Scott Sliver called me up by name, I had a moment of hesitation knowing that I was making a big decision... and being the only one who said I was going to be baptized today. But when I returned from changing, I saw a line of people being baptized and I saw one ...of my friend's brother in his nice Sunday clothes in line. The things that made my day were I got baptized and I feel great but also seeing my friend's brother in line. By the way, congrats to everybody else who got baptized today! :D


Ron Congratulations to those who were baptized last night and this morning. Holy Spirit is awesome. I love the way He moves in hearts. Street clothes baptism. Woot!


Christa am so thankful for my savior and his amazing love. I will never forget this day when my son had the courage to be baptized. Thank you Vineyard for making this day possible!


Kristi I was SO SO moved by today's service, and the baptisms. I am waiting until my husband returns from Iraq to get baptized, as I know that he wants to be baptized also. I never even THOUGHT about doing it together until I witnessed couples doing it today. We were talking about renewing our vows..but what about getting baptized TOGETHER and renewing our marriage with the cleansing of CHRIST instead??

Here are the notes...