|
Greetings!
September? Really? When did that happen?! Although not many of us are out shopping for school supplies (unless you're filling shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child), there is still something fresh and new about September. Just as God has promised, the weather starts getting cooler and the trees (if you live in the north!) begin to hint at oranges and reds. Pumpkins and mums start to show up at the roadside stands and soon we'll all be drinking warm cider and hot chocolate. But before we get too nostalgic about Fall colors and cozy sweaters (oh, and maybe the end of the baseball season and the start of the football season!), there's something else about September that needs your attention -
The Board Meeting in Lindale, TX, Sept. 23,24,&26!!
We're looking forward to a productive 2-3 days, filled with a spirit of unity and productivity. We covet your prayers as we welcome our two new members, Mal Wall and Jennie Rasmussen, review the past year and look to the Lord for guidance for the year ahead.
Stephanie Conrad,
for the Board of Trustees
SOWER Ministry
stephanie@rvthereyet.org
|
|
|
Gillette Escapade Rally
In an effort to "get the word out" about our SOWER ministry, Don and Priscilla Schager (#2961) along with Bob and Karen Lovell (#2183) manned a booth at the Gillette, WY Escapees' Rally. They had the opportunity to share our ministry with many of the attendees and six couples signed up for applications. For many more it was a seed planting opportunity. We all want to say a big thank-you to these hardworking SOWERS who were so willing to be our (your!) representatives at a rally of 1200 attendees! Thanks, guys! Great job!
Do you ever have an opportunity to share the SOWER Ministry with others at your church or RV clubs? The office has a great supply of brochures and can even supply (if scheduled) the banner you see in the picture! The very best advertisement for SOWERs is YOU - so don't be shy about spreading the word!
|
|
A response to the "Toilet Dilemma"
Dear Rosie, (and any other SOWER lady who has found "housekeeping" (i.e. toilet cleaning) on the job list!)
I know many SOWERS have heard my toilet cleaning story. Before we retired I had a house with three bathrooms. When we began full timing I was happy to have only one bathroom in the 5th wheel. God decided to fix me good because the first job I had with SOWERS was to clean the men's and women's rest rooms in the dining hall at Ferndale Camp. I'd never cleaned a urinal in my life. I also had to Gel Gloss all the showers. The Lord knew I needed that humbling experience. I think having a sense of humor about these kinds of jobs helps.
My attitude has changed because now I'm cleaning toilets for the Lord. What if I knew Jesus was coming to the camp and using the facilities I'd just cleaned? Would I clean them with a different spirit? He really does show up in the bodies of the believing guests. I want them to find clean facilities as a witness for Christ and hopefully they'll want to come back to the camp again. And that especially goes for those who need to find the Lord.
Pat Smith #770
|
|
|
|
Behind the scenes.......
Several SOWERs this summer have asked me just how a Project becomes a Project. Here's a brief summary of the process -
Just like when a couple requests to become a SOWER and fills out the required paperwork, etc., a Christian ministry that would like SOWER assistance follows certain procedures. First of all, they must meet certain criteria. They must be a non-profit (501c3) Christian ministry that is needy, and whether they are a rescue mission, Christian school or college, camp or conference center, or group home, they must be governed by traditional, evangelical, Biblical principles and have a purpose to openly proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Whether they contact the office or get the information off of the SOWER webpage, they receive an application packet that includes a detailed application form along with more information about our guidelines and RV parking requirements. Once they have filled out the application, it goes to the SOWER Vice President, who reviews the application, talks in depth with the applicant, and arranges for a site visit by the Area Rep. After all the data is received and reviewed by the project committee, a decision is made. (Right now we're not taking on any "northern" projects unless a SOWER sponsors it since we sadly have many northern projects that are not getting any SOWER activity as it is.) Once the project is on the "role", they are contacted every year by the Area Rep and are required to send in an "Annual Update" form in order for them to be listed in the Sowergram. We've added several new projects recently - Check them out! East and West, North and South, and even one in Canada!
MB-490- Turtle Mountain Bible Camp, Boissevain, Manitoba
AZ- 491 - Phoenix Christian Unified Schools, Phoenix, AZ
TN-492 - Send the Light Distribution, Elizabethton, TN
WI-493 - Timber-Lee Christian Center, East Troy, WI
CA-494 - San Marcos Christian Camp - Santa Barbara, CA
SD-495 - Sunshine Bible Academy - Miller, SD
AZ-496 - Sunshine Acres Children's Home - Mesa, AZ
MI-497 - Timber Wolf Lake Young Life Camp - Lake City, MI
NC-498 - Billy Graham Training Center - Ashville, NC
|
WE NEED YOUR HELP!!
Do you have a "God Story" to share? Have you been changed as a result of working at a project? Do you know about a special need at a project that doesn't get much help? We're looking for ideas and articles and volunteers to help put it together.
Send in your comments and stories and suggestions!
We're listening!
|
|
Quick Links -
To send in a prayer request or praise item-
To contact the office -
903-882-8070
|
|
|
|
Winter Reunions
Help Wanted!
Coordinators are still needed for the Florida and Texas Reunions. There is lots of information available for getting them up and running - we just need some warm and willing bodies to get the job done! Unfortunately, without coordinators, the reunions will not be happening. Whether they last one, two or three days, our area reunions have always been a great venue to reconnect with SOWER friends and learn about what's happening in the ministry. Contact the office if you'd like to help!
|
Attention
Good Sam Members
Are you a member of the Good Sam RV Club? Our very own John and Joyce Williams (#1742) have been nominated for the Good Sam Club RV-er of the YEAR Award! They've been nominated because of the amount of volunteering they have done over the last 15 years of RV'ing - over 40,000 hours with a variety of agencies and ministries including SOWERS! They are one of only FIVE finalists for this national award, and are honored to be able to give God the glory through this recognition. If you are a Good Sam Club member, check out all of five of the nominees HERE. You are welcome to vote for them every day (yes, one vote a day is allowed!) from now until October 31, 2011. Congrats, John and Joyce for receiving this honor!
|
|
REMINDER
2012 Registration Forms (aka Skill Sheets)
are due in the office by
OCTOBER 3rd!
Have you sent yours in yet?
|
|
The September Sowergram is on-line in its entirety. Check out the project reports and messages from your Board members.
There are still openings at many of our "Sun Belt" projects. And remember - the project listings are updated WEEKLY so you can always be up-to-date with project openings!
|
|
is now available on
DVD at no cost!
to request your copy to share the ministry with your friends, family, small group and church. As a bonus, the Group Leader training is also included on the DVD! |
|
If you'd like to contact all the Board of Trustee members at once -
Send an email addressed to the SOWER office with " For the Trustees" in the subject line. Presto - the office staff will immediatly get it on its way to the entire Board.
Of course, you are welcome to contact any member of the Board indivudually by phone or email using the information in the roster.
|
|
SOWER Blog Roll
See what other SOWERS are doing around the country!
On a Wing and a Prayer - Don & Jenny Rasmussen
Bob and Billie on the Road - Bob & Billie Wakeman
RV There Yet -
Gary & Stephanie Conrad
Follow the Sun
John & Mary Flynn
Do YOU have a Blog you'd like to share? Send me the link, and we'll add it to the "Blog Roll".
|
|
So......
Did you get those Skill Sheets back to the office yet?
|
|
