Greetings from warm and sunny Waveland, Mississippi. As we watched the weather reports from around the country we have had even more reasons to thank God for calling us to be part of the staff here. It is in the low 70’s as I write this report. God has been busy at the Christian Life Center. In our last newsletter I wrote about all of the “graduations” happening in the then current staff. John R, Greg R, David B, and Judy L. Since then, God has called some solid new members of the CLC team here. Sherry A., a local Wavelander has stepped up into a significant leadership role at the Thrift Store. Her husband Marty has assumed a support role for her and other activities at the Center. Brian O., has stepped in to handle significant portions of the construction leadership, including among other things, team leading, a good portion of the volunteer scheduling, and site maintenance. You may know Brian by another name, but God has worked amazingly in his life. Now he has moved from his nickname to his given name and is strongly focused on walking in obedience to the Lord. You’ll have to come to CLC to see who this is and what God has done. Bob and Betty P. have arrived as multi-taskers: helping to lead at the Thrift Store, leading some of the devotions, and developing small group activities for the Christian Life Church along with Carlos and Lily. Bob & Betty have been with us on multiple short term trips and have now committed to be with us for a minimum of a year. Del & Peggy B., continue with the CLC, leading the kitchen operations and working on site maintenance until their scheduled annual departure in April. Carlos and Lily are still here and are committed through next fall. They are leading the Latino outreach, as well as leading some of the youth group activities, devotions, and construction activities among other functions. Carlos and Lily, as licensed Workers with the Christian & Missionary Alliance also handle a significant portion of the activities within the Christian Life Church Plant here in Waveland. Under the leadership of Carlos/Lily & Bob/Betty team we are on the verge of launching the ALPHA outreach activity. Please pray for God’s supervision and blessing of their endeavors. As you can see everyone here has a variety of functions. We continue to see God call exactly who He desires to fill the needs at the Christian Life Center & Church Plant. We are praying, for some additional staff for a variety of needs. COULD YOU BE ONE WHO IS HEARING HIS CALL? If you think that you may be, telephone or e-mail me and we can discuss what we see our needs as, what you are hearing from God and what He may be laying upon your heart. God has His way of identifying needs that we have that we have not even recognized and matching them up with just the right person to fit that need. That happens because this is His Ministry and we are His servants, so we do not determine the scope and parameters, He does. Our respective role and function is to respond in obedience to what He wants us to focus upon, you from your end and us from ours here. If you feel that this ministry is on your heart, but believe that you have nothing to offer that fits into our current ministries, take the first step of obedience to Him and contact us to see if there is something here that neither of us may yet be aware of, that God wants to do here. FLEXIBILITY IS A NECESSARY MODE OF LIFE WHEN WE ARE WALKING IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM. One very important thing that you can do to help us currently, even without being here with us, is to pray for a couple who have recently begun discussing coming to be on staff for an indeterminate term to help lead the construction management, prayer team coordination, small group activities and be part of the front desk activities. They are trying to sell their house so that they are freed up from financial constraints. They are willing to leave their current employments if that sale can occur, and sign on for long-term staff. Some of the additional needs that we would like to fill are: 1. Volunteer scheduling and coordination. 2. Construction management. 3. Kitchen management beginning the first week in April. This can be a shared time responsibility. 4. Front Desk and Intercessory prayer coordination. 5. Small group coordination and leadership. 6. Youth group development and leadership. 7. Whatever God decides to call you and us to implement. 8. With each of our staff we encourage active participation in personal ministry within the community and with prayer and the Holy Spirit’s guidance, we have been able to suggest and help provide opportunities that can match with individual skills and abilities. A major area of blessing that we have recently been experiencing is God leading local community members from the Christian Life Church portion of the ministry here to step up and take ownership of portions of both the Church Plant and Outreach activities. This brings us all together, staff and local members into one body and has been a major focus of this ministry from its inception. This does not eliminate the need for our current or future staff, but provides for enhanced opportunities to represent Jesus to this community through the diverse body of believers that He calls from all over. It is a true sign of the health, life and future of our ministry here. There are also some material needs that I want to lift up to you to consider. 1. We really are in need of some replacement vehicles. A. The passenger van we have is in good shape. But the “ELIM” and “LARRY’S 2” work vans are very close to the end of their useful lives. So we are praying for a couple of decent condition replacement work vans that will not have continuous repair problems and expenses. B. Also we could use a decent condition work truck that will not have continuous repair problems and expenses. 2. Our supply of power tools for the construction side of our ministry need periodic renewals and up dating due to the heavy work load that they are subject to. Therefore, we are seeking the following contractor use grade tools: A. A couple of 18v cordless drills. B. A compound miter saw and table. C. A chop saw. D. A pancake compressor. E. A couple of sawzalls. F. Assorted sawzall blades G. A chain saw. 3. Donations for the Thrift Store. Sherry has recommended the following items for consideration: King & Queen size blankets & sheets Towels of all sizes Dishes Silverware and serving ware Crockpot’s Microwaves Hotplates Electric skillets Small kitchen appliances in general Baby furniture, including but not limited to: Cribs Playpens Highchairs Strollers (no car seats) general furniture, including but not limited to: coffee tables endtables dressers nightstands wooden desks beds – all sizes mattresses – all sizes frames, all sizes hutches bookcases wooden chairs couches love seats living room chairs clothing, at this time LIMITED TO: pajamas men’s jeans maternity clothes 4. For other creative ideas and items to possibly donate, please call before sending. We are sure that there are items that would be good ideas that we have not thought of, so we welcome your input. Thank you for your prayers and support. Tom & Barb Barbour Directors Christian Life Center Tom: 856-305-2371 jtbarbour@comcast.net Barb 609-774-4162 barb_1213@yahoo.com