All, Ø We had over 40 volunteers Monday afternoon and served 215 families! Incredible what the Lord is doing! Please be in prayer about us receiving our 501.c.3 tax exempt recognition. We have had our application in for a year now and still have not received confirmation from the IRS. We have checked and are in the pipeline for approval. In the meantime, we cannot utilize the resources of 2nd Harvest and their low-cost food items. Please be in prayer that we will have the resources to fund our pantry as we wait on this approval. Ø Tuesday night we had almost 40 attend the meeting at the pantry to have a follow-up discussion concerning the drug issues in our community. The following were highlights of the discussion: · We agreed that prayer is the overwhelming priority as we move forward. Pray for guidance, conviction and discernment to know the Lord’s will. · We discussed how a long-term care structure is by far the most successful method of treatment. · We also discussed how Celebrate Recovery is a great complement as a maintenance program for a long-term plan. · 80% of prisoners who do Celebrate Recovery do not go back to prison. · It was discussed how the Life Changers in Pigeon Forge sow the seed and then hold them accountable. Some will fall by the wayside, just as Jesus describes in the Bible. · The court system encourages treatment. · We could also help them get their GEDs, learn life skills, balance a checkbook. · In-patient treatment is usually done in a community other than where they live. · Celebrate Recovery is an ongoing program that could use our help. Just being there, love on people, child care for the participants – all these are needs. They meet every Thursday night at 6:15. · Need prayer teams – formal or informal. · People expressed the need to have a list of current programs and facilities that offer help in case we are asked. We will be getting that to you. · Pray for manpower for Life Changers. · Focus on our kids. The general consensus was that we needed to continue to pursue the concept of a facility that could house addicted individuals who showed the desire to be free from their bondage. We still do not know exactly what that will look like. In the meantime, we agreed that existing programs in the community needed to be supported with our time and resources. Celebrate Recovery is the most obvious. We also chose to schedule a time for the viewing of an inspirational movie that documents the miracles that happened in Manchester, Kentucky when the community decided that enough was enough. It would be great to see the Body of Christ assembled together in one place to focus on this important issue, by seeing how prayer and following the Lord’s will can truly change a community. As soon as we get a firm time and location, we will let you know. As always – continue to pray! Allen McClary
Posted on: Mon, 30 Sep 2013 19:04:43 +0000
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