June 2011

CONNECT with people

SERVE needs

GROW spiritually

LEAD others

"If we want to make people glad in God, our lives must look as if God, not possessions, is our joy.  Our lives must look as if we use our possessions to make people glad in God-especially the most needy." - John Piper

"Oh, how many lives are wasted by people who believe that the Christian life means simple avoiding badness and providing for the family." - John Piper

On Tuesday, Amy and I thought about how we could help those in Joplin that had been devastated by an F5 tornado.  As ideas ran through our minds we kept landing on the thing that Jesus Was Homeless does best, and that's feed & love on people.  So, with just a few days of preparation Amy began making some phone calls to see if we could raise volunteers, supplies and financial resources to go to Joplin over the Memorial Day weekend and serve.  We really didn't have a plan as it was still very chaotic in Joplin and finding where we could fit in and serve was challenging to say the least.  As many have now experienced and heard, the pictures do not do the devastation justice, but once we arrived we found a location and set up to begin cooking.  Several team members then began taking food to those volunteers and victims working out in the field.  Over the course of 2 days we served close to 2000 meals and experienced some awesome "God" moments that were both humbling and rewarding.  Many times we never know if we make much of an impact but with social media these days sometimes we are blessed to find out that we do.  Here are some of the comments that were left on our Facebook page after the Joplin trip.

Nann Hudson Flowers

It is amazing how a simple cheeseburger from "Jesus Was Homeless" can humble and lift a person up at the same time. My family was helping sift through the rubble this week and JWH drove by. We had some of the best burgers we ever tasted and I was able to share the love of Jesus and his CHURCH with my family. Thanks so, so much, and keep it coming. Your neighbors are in desperate need. - May 30

Tara Saucier

Thank you guys for everything you did for my family in Joplin this weekend. You were such a blessing. They would have not have been able to salvage as much. - May 31

Anita Roach Johnson

Thank you to all the volunteers from "Jesus Was Homeless" for helping my sister Nancy Cornish & her family sift through the remains of their home in Joplin & for being there to help residents heal. You are a blessing. THANK YOU!!! - May 31

Sandra Roach Carbone 

Thank you guys for being there and helping people heal from this disaster. Thank you for helping my sister Nancy Cornish and her family. All the pictures were touching, especially the picture of my sister's apartment and your volunteers carrying out her washer, it made me cry. My deepest gratitude to all of you and God bless your work. - June 1

YELLOW BIKE

COMMUNITY EVENT

Please be our guest and help us show that we care for those struggling, broken, hurting and hungry people that live and work amongst us in our Branson community as we host our 2nd "Love Your Neighbors" BBQ of the year.  People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Bring a dessert item if you would like and share in this free and fun event celebrating the true spirit of "community" with your neighbors.  Break down the walls that society has built and experience life with someone that lives on the margins.  There will be food and games for the kids as we cook-out.  This will be a great opportunity to build relationships with someone new and get to know your neighbor.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED