Christian Life Center Update January 2009
WOW! What a year! As we look back to review 2008, we are overwhelmed by a sense of awe. We watched God meet our needs and impact this community in countless ways. One of the biggest surprises was the volunteer turn-out. Can you believe we had more volunteers in 2008 than we did the previous year?! Fantastic! The Lord truly strengthened our purpose through your generosity and support. We are sincerely grateful for what God has done here and continue to be blessed to be a part of the mission He is accomplishing through us and through you.
Many of you are already signing up for 2009. What a testimony of your continued commitment and deep love for the people of Waveland MS. We are excited to see what God will do this year as we offer to Him all that we have.
2008 Construction Update:
Our goal for the 2008 year was to help 60 families get into their homes. Through your remarkable resolve in working to help this community we actually helped a total of 108!! More than that, we are praising God for three new commitments to a relationship with Jesus Christ and four renewed commitments. What a privilege to watch such miracles take place!
With that said, we still have 223 families still not in their homes. The list has grown because many of the relief camps in town have closed their doors. Of the 223 families we now have, there are 110 families who have funds for material but not enough for labor. That makes 113 families still waiting for grants, insurance payouts, and/or private funds.
As you can see we still need your help. Please check out our volunteer registration website at www.campkatrina.com in order to see the weeks available for joining us in this continued effort.
Also, please note that Waveland is having a nationally sponsored clean-up day by “Keep America Beautiful”. It is an all-day event scheduled for March 3, 2009. We would love to contribute as many volunteers as possible to the event. It is a great opportunity to continue witnessing for Christ in this community.
Thrift Store Update:
The Waveland Thrift Store continues to be beautiful story of God’s hand impacting ‘the least of these’ in the community on a daily basis. We see anywhere from 250-500 people a week walk through our doors. There are countless stories from the community as they describe this little store as their proverbial CHEERS- where somebody knows their name.
We are continuing to develop a vision and plan for this ministry. Our aim is to have fully sustainable local ministry. This endeavor will be huge! We will be needing commitments from many of you and your churches to send goods down in order to make this possible. Last year, through this amazing network of churches and friends, we had five tractor trailers of goods donated from all over the country. What an amazing BODY we are a part of! Please accept our continued thanks for these amazing acts of generosity, commitment, and kindness.
Many of you know that our Thrift Store is three Quonset huts in the back of our property. The City has recently mandated that we have all Quonset huts off the property by the end of 2009. With this is mind, please be praying for the leadership as we look at potential off-site locations to relocate the Thrift Store.
What Next? Glad you asked! We need you to do three things:
- First, we need you to pray for the Store and the ministry that takes place there. God is at work in the community of folks that won’t miss a week without swinging by. Let’s battle together for their hearts!
- Secondly, we need you to rally your Church to participate in a donation drive. Please email Mark Young at mark@clcgulfcoast.com for more information. Due to limited storage space on campus we will need to schedule your donation drops so that they are dispersed throughout the year. We are trusting God for an outpouring of donated goods in 2009.
- Thirdly, we need you to volunteer to help us in the Thrift Store. We want people who will help us fold, move things, deliver goods and most importantly just enjoy cups of coffee with our Thrift Store community while listening to their stories! We are praying that the Lord will provide volunteers this year in droves. Be praying about how you can help!
CLC Team Needs:
Mandy Weiser will soon be leaving our Kitchen. I want to thank her for her tremendous contribution to Kingdom work in Waveland MS. She has been our kitchen manager for the past year and has impacted many of you with her love and care. Mandy…we will miss you!
With Mandy off to new adventures, we are in need of a Kitchen Manager. Please be praying about how God might be calling you (or someone you know!) to commit 6 months to the ministry of Kitchen Manager at the Christian Life Center.
Finally, I want to thank all of you for your amazing hearts for this community, for your extensions of grace and love for this ministry, and for your vital partnership. You are our lifeline. Please keep us in your prayers - we are impacted daily by the spiritual battles raging around us. Pray for us, for our families, for our ministry. Pray that we will find rest, that we will be continually rejuvenated. Pray for unity in the team. Pray for provision, for discernment, for strength. Pray that God’s will be done in the hearts and lives of those we touch.
With Kindness and Blessings,
Your CLC Missions Team
Contact Us:
For questions or inquires please email info@clcgulfcoast.com
For questions relating to thrift store donations please contact mark@clcgulfcoast.com
For specific questions relating to the ministry feel free to contact Tom Barbour Tom@clcgulfcoast.com