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| Flood Bakersfield Ministries, Inc. Newsletter |
January 2010 |
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Building relationships, flooding Bakersfield with the love of Christ! |
4th Annual Christmas Celebration Reaches Over 600!
This year, Flood's Christmas celebration was held downtown at First Presbyterian Church on December 19th. The campus looked beautiful, with candlelit centerpieces and red tablecloths on the tables! There were more than 600 people inside the service, worshiping with the Riverlakes Worship Team and hearing the word of God from Les Poehner. During the service, all of the kids performed Jingle Bells and Happy Birthday to Jesus on stage! It was such a wonderful blessing for all who heard. After the service, along with the delicious meal of ham, potatoes, and green beans, we also had Christmas gifts for each guest. Personal shoppers assisted each guest in picking their present. There were 127 sleeping bags, hundreds of hand-knit scarves, toys and a blanket or coat for each child, flannel shirts, gloves, hats, jackets, undergarments and more! Many expressed how much these gifts meant to them. Flood would like to thank First Presbyterian Church for letting us use their campus and their donation of so many beautiful scarves, hats, and gloves. It allowed for such an amazing night! We would also like to thank Riverlakes Community Church for providing the meal, Norris Middle School for donating so many great toys, and everyone who volunteered to make the evening so memorable!
  
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Give a Day, Get a Disney Day  Flood is participating in Walt Disney's Give a Day, Get a Disney Day program. Disney has decided to inspire one million people to volunteer in their community with the reward of a ticket to the Disneyland theme park. As part of the program, you can volunteer on one of our designated Saturday work days or provide clerical support in the Flood office for a 9 a.m.-2 p.m. shift on weekdays. The three designated work days will be on January 30th, February 27th, and March 27th. "Clean-Up Oildale Project", the first qualifying work day, will be on Saturday, January 30th from 8am to 1pm. Flood will partner with Church Without Walls to clean up the neighborhood from Roberts Lane to Beardsley Ave. Volunteers must pre-register at www.disney-parks.com. Once in the website, click on Get A Day Give a Day. Then search for Flood Bakersfield Ministries. Flood volunteers will be going to Disneyland on April 17th as a group. However, volunteering with us does not require you to go to Disneyland on that day. Please consider helping your community through Flood as part of this great program! For any questions, please contact Lisa Shelley at 32-FLOOD. There is also lots a great information and answered questions on the Disney website. | |
2009 in Review
Summary
18,438 meals
10,728 food packs
3,909 transported
3,320 individuals
January
-Our first annual Christmas tree lot fundraiser raises over $20,000 for groceries!
-Living Grace church plant team begins volunteering at Saturday Night Outreach.
February
-First Presbyterian Church joins meal serving team.
-San Joaquin Community Hospital gave 61 flu shots at Flood!
-Marylee Shrider wrote an article in the Bakersfield Californian about Flood!
-Flood's Blood drive at Houchin Blood Bank!
March
-Adopt a Family emergency assistance program is introduced!
April
-Flood
begins its partnership with the Bakersfield Police Department through
Flood Graffiti Wash.
-St. John's Lutheran School collects over 2,000 hygiene and food items!
May
-3rd Annual Stockdale Christian School Service Day at Flood!
June
-Local Vacation Bible Schools collect peanut butter, hygiene products, and money for Flood!
July
-Riverlakes Community Church officially becomes a partnering church at Flood
-Party in the Park touches 1,526 lives!
August
-Flood hires an Outreach Coordinator, Lisa Shelley!
September
-Flood partners with Bakersfield Homeless Center and Greater Bakersfield
Legal Assistance to assist with administering federal Homelessness Prevention Funds.
-Flood begins partnering with Garden Pathways to train Mentors and Mentees.
October
- Flood Graffiti Wash announces a 76% decrease in tags since June!
November
-Share Life Campaign begins.
-2nd annual Christmas Tree Lot Fundraiser begins!
-Members of four local churches walk out barefoot to provide over 1,000 brand new pairs of shoes to those in need!
December
-Christmas Celebration at First Presbyterian Church!
-Lois Henry writes a great article about Flood in the Bakersfield Californian!
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Christmas Tree Lot a Success!
The 2nd Annual Christmas tree lot is complete! Thank you to all the volunteers, meal providers and tree purchasers!
KAXL selected a family in need to bless with a beautiful fresh tree. KAXL 88.3 once again did a fabulous job promoting the tree lot. We are so grateful for their on-going support.
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If you missed Lois Henry's article in the Bakersfield Californian about Flood this month click here to read.
For more of Denise and Taylor's story watch this video created for Missions Sunday at the Bridge Bible Church.
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Eddie McLaughlin Shares His Testimony
Flood included testimonies at the Saturday Night Outreach in November and December. One of the most memorable was Eddie McLaughlin. Eddie came all the way from Arizona to share his testimony and awe-inspiring story. Eddie killed another and was sentenced to death. After 3 years on death row, his case was overturned and he had the opportunity to be free. Eddie had accepted Christ on death row and instead of going free, he went to the judge admitting his crime. Eddie shared how it was the first time he had taken responsibility for his actions and, although it came with heavy consequences, it was the right thing. Eddie then went to prison for twenty-two more years. During this time, he ministered to others in jail and grew closer to the Lord. He has now served his time and even has a wife, a son, and a baby on the way. We were so blessed at Flood by Eddie's amazing testimony! His life truly exemplifies the transforming power of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Flood is updating pictures and posts regularly on Facebook. Become a fan today.
Flood Facebook Page
A Facebook post from after the Christmas Celebration: "I am one of the people who was blessed by attending
tonight's service. I have found myself on the needy end of life due to health issues (terminal
cancer & the following heart dx due to the anti-cancer treatments) that
have left my body unable to provide.
I am on SSI, which has helped me to pay my bills, but $700/mo can leave you w/o
money for the basics in life--like food.
I was blessed by Flood Ministries with a wonderful holiday service, a
scrumptious meal and dessert, and a box of food and a prayer. I really felt the genuine compassion from the volunteers. My hand was shaken, I
was wished well, I was even patted on the back a few times. The human
interaction meant the world to me. Flood Ministries moved to my neighborhood a few
years ago and has really made a positive impact with all you are doing to make
this world and our neighborhood a better place. I just thought I'd drop by and
tell you guys that you're succeeding in your efforts. I thank you each and
every one from the bottom of my heart."
~Tom Richardson
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2010 at a glance...
1/14- Church Coordinator Meeting
1/30- "Clean Up Oildale Project"
2/27- Disney Work Day
3/11-Volunteer Training
3/27-Disney Work Day
4/17- Flood Disneyland with Love
5/13-Church Coordinator Meeting
June-Party in the Park
7/8-Volunteer Training
9/9-Church Coordinator Meeting
10/2-Barefoot Sunday
10/30 Shoe Distribution
11/11-Volunteer Training
12/18 Christmas Celebration
We look forward to serving with you!
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Everyone at Flood Bakersfield Ministries Inc, would like to express our thanks and deep appreciation to all those who support us prayerfully, financially and by giving of their time. This ministry could not exist without your support. If you would like more information please check out our website at
www.floodbako.com where secure on-line giving is available or contact us at our office (661) 32-FLOOD.
Donations can be mailed to: Flood Bakersfield Ministries, Inc.
1201 24th St. B110-229
Bakersfield CA 93301
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