November 1, 2009
Dear Friends,
God is faithful. God is good.
As we continue to lift up prayers on behalf of the needy in this region, God continues to deliver in big ways. Thank you Gina for your continued prayer support and recent donations of the Kroger chickens. They blessed and will continue to bless so many families and ministries in need.
Thank you Keith for your referral to Matt. Matt is one of the senior chemists at the Hexion Chemical Company in Cincinnati. They are relocating to the Carolinas, and Project 5 2 was called in to take donated cleaning product, first-aide products, and other medical relief goods. Many of these are being shipped to a Nigerian Orphanage, and the remaining products have already been delivered to Jackson, KY, back in October.
Tracy and I are grateful for the continued flow of prayers and financial support through 2009. We especially want to recognize Jay, Rich, Billy, Randy, George, Judy, Steve, Will, Gary, and Mark. Also Mom and Dad who have been faithful through a sometimes unstable economy. But under God’s economy we have been covered through the hardest times. We love you all, and pray for you weekly.
October kicked off a new partnership with Hannah’s Socks out of Toledo. This is a precious ministry/501C3 that was started 3 years ago and driven by a little 4 year olds passion to make sure the homeless people in Toledo have warm socks in the winter. They are getting national press, and have recently signed with the Clorox Company as a corporate sponsor. God is good. God is faithful. This relationship will spill over on Project 5 2, and will net the ministry many children and adult size socks- all brand new I might add. God wants new things “for the least of these.”
We are anticipating much more Avon product throughout 2012 and expect the P & G product to return (after a slight slow down) 1st quarter 2010. God continues to remind me in a soft, subtle way, “don’t worry about product, focus on ME, and I will handle those “little details.” (The Bennett Chapel in Possum Trot, TX shipment is a testimony of that. Thank you for being patient with me Jesus.)
We have connected once again with WCCN (West Chester Church of Nazarene), who have committed to assisting us in collecting coats for the mentally ill in this region. Pastor Bob (senior pastor at WCCN) has a heart the size of West Chester, and under his leadership and congregation’s generosity, should provide “ Hands of Hope Ministry” with many coats. Steve Stuhlreyer is a personal friend and is a managing director of Hands of Hope, and assists over 700 mentally ill patients per week. Both of these men are my heroes of the faith. It is an honor to serve both of these ministries on a weekly basis. (Bob even keeps me physically fit as we exercise together at least twice a week on his basketball court. I’m not as quick as I used to be but my mind would still like me to play like I’m 20- something!)
Our first B.O.D’s meeting occurred August 13th. It was well attended and we are so blessed to have such a supportive and inspiring Board of Directors. Thank you Al ( a Middletown special-ed teacher), Catherine ( a Northern KY nurse), Jay ( a Cincinnati Partner/CPA firm), Denise ( a Lakota School District principal), Shawn ( a P&G engineer), Will ( a San Antonio, TX attorney), and Arlene ( a teacher/evangelist from Monroe, OH).
Our Jackson, KY (Appalachia, KY) trips have become monthly. After prayer a few months back, God impressed on my heart to make that trip once a month. This is truly a joy and I mean that. There are precious Pastors in Jackson that I have grown to love over this past year, and am inspired to see their perseverance and dedication to the children and families in that area, despite great oppression and poverty. Again, God is faithful and always provides. Last month, the items on the top of our list of needs for that trip were beans. Can you guess what was delivered to my door 15 minutes before we left? You guessed it. Two – 100 lb bags of Michigan Dry Navy Beans. Have I mentioned that God is faithful yet in this newsletter?
Speaking of the Happy Church in Jackson, we are in the process of coordinating with multiple churches an “adoption for Christmas” program that would involve pledging to buy Christmas gifts for 80 children who attend the Happy Church in Jackson, KY. Mike, John and their wives are the dedicated servants and surrogate moms and dads to most of these kids. We are assisting them with gifts and food baskets for the families. For more details, please check out our website. If you are lead to get involved as a church or ministry or family, please e-mail us or call. Thank you West Chester Church of the Nazarene, Christian Life Center and Faith Community United Methodist Church for stepping up right out of the gate and partnering with us. It will be a Christmas you’ll never forget!
Keep the prayers and referrals coming. We are always looking for partners that love to share. Read and meditate on Isaiah 58 and be blessed
Love,
Jerry and Tracy
www.foundtionbuildersinternational.org
Project 5 2