July 10, 2018 Meeting Highlights
THE NIGHT IN REVIEW
More than 120 guests packed the hearth room of Colonial Church for the July partner meeting. With plenty to celebrate- the 5th anniversary of being in ministry together, the change of name announcement, and the amazing ministries we serve, the room was buzzing.
Heart Ministry provide smoked chicken and steak in a true labor of love, dishing out more than 100 plates in less than 30 minutes! Thank you Heart! Partners and Ministries leaders also dined to the delightful singing and acoustic guitar of Ms. Sally Cranham. Thank you Sally!
GUEST SPEAKERS
JAY BENNETT and WARD BREHM talked leverage and amplification for God’s Kingdom. “Everything Jesus did was amplified!” said Brehm. “When we trust and collaborate with others we allow huge synergies to be released.”
Bennett encouraged partners and ministry leaders to remember our “two-fold journey: the Kingdom within us and among us.” Together they shared stories of tremendous faith and community that comes from recognizing and leveraging our gifts for not just personal impact, but collaborative impact as well.
Jay shared with us the verse:
Saul of Tarsus to Paul the Apostle (Galatians 2:20)
I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.
And then shared with us, his version of Saul of Tarsus to Paul the Apostle (Galatians 2:20)
I have been (partially) crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live (some of the time) but Christ lives in me (when I let Him). The life I live in the body I live by faith (which is real but sputters) in the Son of God who loves me (despite myself) and gave Himself for me (because He understands the need).
FLASHBACK & SPOTLIGHT MINISTRY
In response to feedback of partners wanting updates on the ministries we serve, we invited back Heart Ministry and Whispers of Hope to share an update and the results were amazing.
The Quincy House joined us for a spotlight story, highlighting the way God is at work in this wonderful ministry for youth. And, three of our Board members presented on the name change to Amplify Mission Network as our final spotlight presentation of the evening.
FLASHBACK: Tony Caterina (HEART MINISTRY)
When he first presented in 2017, Caterina shared his goal is to “out give God.” From humble beginnings to 400 volunteers, Caterina is certainly a testament to abundant giving. In the last year, Heart Ministry sent 26 truckloads of food and supplies to places in need of support following natural disasters, including FL and Texas. In addition to helping nationally, Tony shared Heart’s expanding local efforts to include opening their warehouse once a month as a storefront for people in need. “God is just multiplying our efforts in a major way,” said Tony. “And its just really cool to not only help people in need, but see people(volunteers) finding their sweet spot in helping others.”
SPOTLIGHT: Tami Moberg (THE QUNICY HOUSE)
Regularly serving 30 at-risk teens, Tami Moberg shared the truths she is learning as an emerging ministry.
#1 We Are Just Part of the Story- Moberg shared the story of her family and their son Will. She shared that she knows she can’t fix the past for many of the kids that have come into her life as much as she once wished she could. She described how freeing it is when we trust God is putting us in one another’s life to just be part of the story. “That” said Moberg “Is exactly why we need organizations like this, people like you, to be a part of the story.”
#2 We May Not See the Fruition of Our Labors- Moberg shared her personal and deep desire to see “projects” finished and cautioned us that we are all a work in progress. She shared a story about a young man who may be on a destructive path and that while she can’t keep him from it, she can remind him of the alternatives that are out there when you know you are beloved, welcomed child of God.
#3 God’s God This- Like many emerging ministries, Moberg find’s comfort knowing the God’s divine plan is at work, even when things look messy. She shared the story of their new home for the Quincy House, after being “homeless” for nearly a year and how her prayer was answered by one woman who Moberg hadn’t talked to in nearly 8-months. Moberg had been steadfast in prayer regarding what was next and at the same time the woman listened to a nudge to call Moberg. One week later the Quincy House had a new home. #Godstuff
Watch a video on The Quincy House
FLASHBACK: Tammy Flizen (WHISPERS OF HOPE)
Tammy Flizen returned to our partner meeting to share an update on Whispers of Hope. Flizen talked about the pillars of their ministry to love the women with broken hearts and God’s Divine Plan at every turn. From taking prom pictures together of their kids to now co-leading a ministry, Whispers of Hope has nearly doubled number of contacts and calls for help they have received in the last year. Flizen and co-leader Connie Olson shake their head at how many times God’s plan has been revealed on this journey. She shared the story of securing a bank loan with very little collateral to purchase the land. She talked of gentle souls along the way and the legacy of God’s plan for that property as a Christian gathering place, which precedes the opening of Whispers of Hope by more than 8 decades.
Watch Whispers of Hope Partner video with Amplify Mission Network.