| Flood Bakersfield Ministries, Inc. Newsletter |
June 2010 | |
Building relationships, flooding Bakersfield with the love of Jesus! |
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Students Serve Community!
SCS students decorate and pack grocery packs for distribution.
 | Eston Bible College students relax after a night of helping in Flood's kid's program.  |  SCS students hit the streets to distribute water bottles, invite to Flood and pray with downtown motel residents.
Faith in Action brings a group of students to serve at Flood.  | In May, Flood was excited to host three great groups of students. First, a group from Eston College located in Saskatchewan, Canada came for their summer missions trip. These students spent 10 days in Bakersfield working for various agencies associated with homelessness and getting to know many in Bakersfield that have deep physical and emotional needs. They sorted, cleaned, packed, played, lead worship, served, built and much more. One of the students sent Flood a note after arriving back in Canada
"I think it would be a great experience to come for more than a couple
weeks and just serve wherever I can! I am truly hoping that this is
what the Lord has for me, because I miss Bakersfield and it's people
very much. I remember seeing on the last day of our itinerary that you
had wrote for our last day that we would "go home with love for the
people of Bakersfield in our hearts"-but I didn't anticipate that it
would happen to this degree!!!"
Then on May 20, junior high students from Stockdale Christian School painted over graffiti, read in local kindergarten classrooms, cleaned up neighborhoods and collected and packed hygiene kits. Prior to coming to Flood, SCS had collected 1600 hygiene items. We are so grateful for this annual event that allows Flood to continue blessing people without the means to buy shampoo or soap.
Finally, students from Faith in Action came to help pack groceries and assemble hygiene items. It is a privilege to see so many students enjoy serving and come so prepared to give of themselves and their time. |
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BAPTISMS
Becoming part of a local church is a next step for many regular Flood attendees as they begin to take steps forward developing a support network and growing in their walk with Jesus. Pictured above are Raymond Carreon, Roxanne de la Rosa and Tom Sprain, all of whom regularly attend the Bridge Bible Church and recently took the step to be baptized. Nicole WIlllis, not pictured, also was baptized last month at Valley Baptist Church. Nicole, Ray, Tom, and Roxanne all have mentors and are celebrating one or two years of being clean and sober. Spend a few minutes with any of these individuals and you will truly be amazed by the testimony of God's intervention in their lives.
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Flood will not be at the Garden in June!
Party in the Park will begin on June 5 and continue on June 12, 19 and 26.
As we did last year, we will take the Saturday Night Outreach outdoors for one month to reach those who may not feel comfortable coming to a church building. All times are unchanged: volunteer training will begin at 4:00pm and the music starts at 4:30pm. The location is Weill park which is located just north of Golden State on Q St. These nights require a lot of extra heavy labor as we set up a tent, stage, backdrop and kids area. If you can help us move all of the required items to the park this month, beginning at 2:30pm weekly, we would be so grateful! Please call Kim at the office at 32-FLOOD or e-mail kim@floodbako.com. Thank you!
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Our family was introduced to Flood Bakersfield Ministries in April 2009 when our church participated in the Saturday night outreach program. We were touched by the ministry of Flood, so we started to attend the Saturday night services more regularly.
In November of 2009 we learned about Flood's Adopt-a-Family program, and we sensed that this was something God wanted us to do. After praying about the decision and getting some additional details on the program, we decided to get involved. We met our family for the first time later that month and began to build a relationship with them. In December we attended a Christmas program together and exchanged presents. Over the past several months, we have continued to meet with our new friends on a regular basis as we share our lives with them.
Before we met our friends for the first time, we were somewhat apprehensive. We didn't know what to expect from them, or what they were expecting from us. But after our first meeting, our concerns were put to rest. God has blessed us in this relationship, and we are glad to be a part of the Adopt-a-Family program. ~ Joel White Laurelglen Bible Chuch
If your family or small group would like to share life with a family going through tough times, please call Flood and speak with Kim 32-FLOOD or e-mail kim@floodbako.com. You won't regret it! |
Business Corner
Flood's Board of DIrectors would like to thank Brynn Powers, Shawnette Gauer and Denise Brock for serving faithfully on the Board these past two years. Brynn and Denise's terms expired in May and Shawnette will be moving to Orange County this summer. All three of these individuals have donated countless hours to the ministry and we are truly grateful for their service.
The Board of Directors unanimously approved Flood participating as a sub-grantee of the County of Kern to assist Bakersfield Homeless Center in administering funds to rapidly re-house homeless families and individuals. The length of the grant is 24 months and will fund rental assistance and security deposits for eligible households, and will also fund the employment of Dyann Barrientos. Dyann comes on board June 1 as a Housing Placement Specialist.
Flood began dispersing assistance into the community through the City of Bakersfield's Homelessness Prevention grant on January 1, 2010. As of May 31, Flood has prevented 50 households from becoming homeless. It is such a privilege to come along side these families who have lost their jobs, had a health crisis or other circumstance that has affected their ability to sustain housing. Through the Saturday Night Outreach, Flood has placed 18 indiviudals and families into housing in 2010. This includes referrals, references, security deposits and other forms of assistance in addition to encouragement for regular Flood attendees that are moving forward. Director, Kim Albers was nominated in the individual-humanitarian category of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Beautiful Bakersfield Awards to be held Saturday, June 5 at the Doubletree Hotel. Ms. Albers is also being recognized as a "Women with a Heart for Bakersfield" at the Garden Pathways High Tea on June 9th at Seven Oaks Country Club.
Flood is updating pictures and posts regularly on Facebook. Become a fan today.
Flood Facebook Page |
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Save the Date
July 31, 2010
Tom Sprain and Roxanne de la Rosa will exchange wedding vows at Flood with pastor Eric Simpson. If you have been part of their journey, or just wish to celebrate with them all that God has done, please join us at Flood on Saturday, July 31 beginning at 4:30pm.
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| Will you commit to a dollar a day to assist the most impoverished in our community? Did you receive this card in the mail? We invite you to join Club 365 by donating $7.00 weekly, $30.00 monthly or $365.00 annually to Flood!
Donations are to be mailed to: Flood Bakersfield Ministries, Inc. 1201 24th St. B110-229 Bakersfield CA 93301 Thank you for your consideration! |
The three women pictured in the center-- Caty, Diane and Shonna-- completed 32 hours of life skills/mentee training in May. They are pictured with Garden Pathways staff members Holly Graham and Tami Lopez. Shonna shared the joy of actually finishing something that she started and stated that it had been quite a while since she could say that. Diane felt that it exposed many areas of hurt from the past that she is now ready to start addressing and Caty was very excited about what she was learning. Mentee training consists of topics such as self-esteem, boundaries, family dynamics, parenting, anger management, and much more. Flood has several mentees that have completed training that are waiting for mentors.
Mentor Orientation
Friday, June 18
12:00pm-1:00pm
at The Garden 900 22nd Street
Please consider attending this no obilgation mentor orientation to learn more about beginning a one on one relationship with a Flood guest already on their journey of life transformation. Garden Pathways also has 1 day Core Mentor Training being offered on Saturday, June 12 from 8:30am-2:00pm. RSVP to Lisa at 32-FLOOD or e-mail lisashelley@floodbako.com |
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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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