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Discipleship in Mission
 Welcome to our SEND Newsletter for the month of November! As a leader of SEND North America, I am overjoyed to share that our SEND Unit - Ekklesia - is just an incredible group of young adults! We are off to a fantastic start of our discipleship and missionary training process and have just lived a jam-packed month of teaching, worship, mission, and prayer. Every month in SEND we go on what is called a Mission Excursion Weekend. We immerse ourselves in a specific and intentional area of focus in ministry and mission. For this month we headed to the state up north (Michigan) and lived and did life with the homeless in one of the best rescue missions in the United States. The Holland Rescue Mission offers relief for immediate needs, as well as long-term rehabilitation and discipleship programs that deal with the root causes of homelessness.
 For this life-changing weekend we went on two incredible tours of the women's/family center and the men's center. In the afternoon we served in the recycling center in helping put together supplies for the Thanksgiving day banquet in which over 1,000 families are served. After dinner we were then in lock down, and just did life with all of the amazing folks who are turning their lives around. We did relationship building, played games, watched football, watched a movie, and spent time observing the ministry and staff. After staying in the mission, you will never look at the homeless the same. Hearing the stories and real-life tragedies that folks tell us really stick with you. The Rescue Mission is so Christ-centered that it is beyond powerful in seeing people radically changing and transforming before your very eyes. Seeing how self-sufficient the mission is with their recycling center and thrift stores is nothing but inspiring. We had many divine moments and one huge take away during our debrief we would like to share.  When you see a "homeless" person standing with part of a cardboard box which says, "Homeless. Disabled. In need of help and food", what do you do? All of us as Christians feel compassion and want to help. What is the first thing we do? Look for spare change or pull out money. After you give them money, the following uneasy thought then always comes to mind, "I hope they don't use that for alcohol or drugs." What we learned from the mission is what we want to share with you. Please, be beyond careful with those that are truly homeless and those who are a panhandler. The following statistics and statements are truly mind boggling and incredibly insightful: - Panhandling is not the same as homelessness. Not all homeless panhandle, and not all panhandlers are actually homeless.
- Panhandlers can make upwards of $80-$100K a year. The median household income in the U.S. is about $50,500.
- For a panhandler, $300 or more a day, untaxed, would not be unusual.
- It is estimated that 80 - 90% of the money given goes to support illicit lifestyle choices.
- "Many times, people give to panhandlers out of an effort to pacify guilt without considering whether the gift is truly helpful to the panhandler. Though we would never fault a person who felt a calling to give, it's important to realize that sometimes a desire to give is more a selfish one than a selfless one."
So, what can we do to really help the homeless? Know the missions and organizations in your community that you can share with someone looking for help. Never give cash. Speak with respect. Be educated and offer resources they can use. Share God's love. Pray for them or give them a Bible. Point them towards true help like the Holland Rescue Mission. Support these incredible missions. Serve, volunteer, and get other caring individuals, businesses, to help the less fortunate.
Matthew 25:35-40 New International Version (NIV)
35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
37 "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'
I can rest easier knowing what I learned and how we are growing by serving in a mission. I also look at this verse above with better understanding and not guilt.
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A Time of Thanksgiving
This last Sunday we, as a unit, headed to church, Destiny Family of Faith, the home of our training center. When we arrived we did not worship in the traditional sense. We did not have our Bibles; we did not sing. We did not listen to a sermon.  What did we do? We served. We helped serve with this incredible church body in giving out over 100 Thanksgiving dinners to those in need in our community. The church was totally transformed into a make-shift food pantry - ready for pickups and delivery! Each family got a laundry basket filled with a turkey or ham, a can of green beans, peas and corn, a jar of peanut butter, a jar of jelly, a can of fruit salad, applesauce, a box of cereal, a box of mac and cheese, a stick butter, a tube of biscuits, a whole pumpkin pie, cool whip, gravy packet, a box of stuffing, a loaf of bread, a bag of potatoes, a dozen eggs, a gallon of milk, and an aluminum turkey cooking pan! WHEW! WOW! Getting hungry?
 We helped stock these baskets and when the time came, we, as a unit got in the van and made deliveries to folks in need who could not pick up their basket. We served folks from all walks of life. A couple of widows, families, a man with cancer. We served over 10 baskets out in the world. Every house we went to invited us inside. We asked every family or person for prayer requests and EVERYONE let us pray for them. Our learning lesson: Never be afraid to ask if you can pray for someone. 99% of the time they will say yes! We thank Destiny Family of Faith and Pastor Mike Albaugh for giving us the opportunity to serve. We thank all of the folks involved. When driving home later that afternoon I was overwhelmed with emotion and one thought. "What if every church did this?" What if every church would take a Sunday and close their doors and be the hands and feet of the Lord out in the world? We at SEND wish you a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!
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For more information, SEND your young adults to....
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Calendar of Events
December 2013
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- SEND Training Days: 12./3/5/10/12/17/19
- SEND Worship: 12./8/15
- SEND Mission Excursion Weekend: 12.14/15
- SEND CHRISTmas/New Year Break: 12.20-1/6
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SEND Fun Fact
What Is 3rd Thursday?
Every third Thursday of the month, the SEND Unit 13-14 will be out in the world having fun and fellowship. We invite you to join us. Do you know someone who needs to have fun and needs to smile? Join us in 2014! Locations will be announced in Kendallville and Fort Wayne!
The last two months our host was Jeremiah's Brewed Awakenings! A great coffee shop. A place that not only has great coffee but great character. "The Punkin Pie Latte is the BOMB!" If you are in the city of Auburn, check them out @ 111 West 9th Street. For our music entertainment we had SEND Grad Tim Kruse! Former SEND grad Elizabeth Church stopped by and had fun with us as well!
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Support Missionaries!
Please support missionaries! For 2013-14, I am raising my own support. If you have a heart for the future of the church, and if you can bless and support my family please send in your year-end tax deductible gift to:
Church Doctor Ministries
1230 U.S. Hwy Six
Corunna, Indiana 46730 USA.
Please put J.H. in the memo line.
Thank You!
Josh
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We give THANKS to the following teachers, churches, and ministries we served with this month.
Tracee Swank, Dr. Kent Hunter, Pastor Jim Kane, Pastor Joshua Henry, Pastor Adam Diehl, Brenda Jank, and Joann Grepke.
New Hope Christian Center, St. John Kendallville, Kendallville Assembly of God, and Destiny Family of Faith.
Stand Courageous and Fight Like A Man Conference. Pastor Dennis Kutzner and the staff of New Hope Christian Center. Pastor Doug Harris, Ark of Avilla and East Noble Ministerial Association. The Prayer Chapel and Rev. Pamela Lash. Jim Baldwin Prayer Walk Ministry. The Holland Rescue Mission. Martha Wing and the incredible servants of The Holland Rescue Mission. Camp Lutherhaven. Destiny Family of Faith. Tom Novi and Presence Sacred Heart Nursing Home, Avilla, IN.
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