Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Today, we found out that a family in one of the apartment complexes tragically lost their two boys to a drowning at a pool. One of our churches, who has been reaching out there stepped up to help the family. They have established a fund to help with funeral costs. This church has been investing in the lives of families in this complex and although these kids had only been a time or two, this church stepped right up and reached out. Pray for Pastor Mike and others at Ridgecrest Baptist Church as they minister to this family.

Ridgecrest Baptist Church has set up fund to help the family with funeral costs.


Checks need to be made to: Ridgecrest Baptist Church for Garcia Boys Fund. Mail checks to: 5260 Vaughn Road Montgomery, AL 36117 
Call the church for more information if you need it. 334-277-0011


Friday, April 13, 2012

Reaching the Nations in Montgomery

Those of us who have grown up in church have been taught about “foreign missions” and “going” and “praying for our missionaries…over there.” Well times have changed, and instead of always going, we have the opportunity right here to “do foreign missions.” You don’t need a passport to reach people in Montgomery; you just need a servant’s heart and a willing spirit! It is no accident that God has brought people from over 50 countries to the Greater Montgomery area. He wants us to be that helper He talks about in scripture. “When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong." Leviticus 19:33

We are very blessed to have an “unreached people group” here in Montgomery. They are the Mixteco Indians from Mexico who speak a different language other than Spanish; it is an oral language called Mixteco. They have different cultural ways, but like us, they love their families and are hard workers. They are here because someone told them there was a better life. My ancestor, Walsingham Chilson, came here about 1650 to escape religious oppression. He brought his family here to begin a new life. It was rough. He had to labor and do everything he could to provide for his family. He also wanted a more excellent life than what they had in England. The same is true today. Montgomery has become the host to this people group, the Mixteco’s. So, not only as citizens of this great country, but more importantly, citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are to reach out and minister to this group as well as others who have come here for a “better life”. Why don’t we show them the TRUE better life, which is life in Christ? Will you be a part of that? Scripture says: “Treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you and you shall love him as yourself.” Leviticus 19:34

Anna stepped out of her comfort zone of dependence on a husband who was abusing and isolating her and turned him in. She now has to restart her life. A church in the area is reaching out to her through worship, loving on her and her kids and teaching her English. She needs English to be able to survive and is learning to navigate this city. A simple act of teaching someone how to speak the local language can have a huge effect on their future.

There are churches here that are already reaching out to this people group, but we would like YOU to join us! We have a Mixteco Task Force among our churches and ministries. Ridgecrest, Eastern Hills, Yarbrough Street, Community of Hope and Forest Park Ministry are all represented on this task force and reaching this people group, but we need more who will take an interest. YOUR church can participate in many ways to reach this people group. We will be exploring ways to connect with their families in their homeland and develop an Acts 1:8 strategy for reaching this people group.


Contact Lisa Rose for more information on what you or your church would want to do to "join God in what He is doing" in Montgomery.
Lisa Rose lrose@mgmbaptist.org or 334-271-6794

MBA Ministry Directors

Adoption and Foster Care Ministry

Lisa Rose

334-271-6794

lrose@mgbaptists.org


Conversational English School

Director, Susan West

334-312-7057

montgomeryceschool@yahoo.com

Family Resource and Counseling Ministry

Director, Dr. Kline Johnson

334-271-6241

counseling@mgmbaptist.org

Forest Park Ministry Center

Director, Donna McCollough

334-529-5726

forestparkministry@gmail.com

www.forestparkministry.blogspot.com

Montgomery Mixtec Ministry

Lisa Rose

334-27106794

lrose@mgmbaptists.org


Samaritan Inn Ministries

Director, Debbie Jones

334-462-7108

samaritaninn14@gmail.com

Books MBA/CCM Recommends

Ten Ways You Can Serve Greater Montgomery

1. Connect with one of the 6 Cooperative Ministries listed on this blog.

2. Do a neighborhood survey and find out what your community wants and needs.

3. Tithe 1/10 of your garden and give to a family in need.

4. Read to a child at one of the public schools in your area. The administration would love to have you serve.


5. Start an Fellowship of Christian Athletes club at a local jr high or high school.

6. Take gift bags to new neighbors around your home or church with information about the church/community.

7. Adopt a school and be a prayer partner with them.


8. Call Alabama Post/Pre Adoption Connections(APAC-334-409-9477) in Montgomery and find out how you can support adoptive families.

9. Offer to host an ESL or Conversational English class in your church. Someone can come and train your church to teach ESL too.

10. Gather in good condition clothing and take to the centers. Ask Forest Park about their "Good Samaritan Clothing Ministry".