New Community Ministry

"How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help." 1 John 3:17 NRSV

"I desire compassion." Jesus in Matthew 9:13

Many of you have heard about our church's partnership with Wesley House Community Center. During the summer one of our Sunday School classes took the Walking challenge and began to serve in a significant way. Over $50,000 has been raised and a children's ministry area is being constructed as you read this. This has been a mustard seed/grass roots effort and God has really blessed the work. The editor of the Meridian Star called it one of the most compelling local stories of the year. His family has started attending FBC Meridian because of it's impact on his life.

My friend Trey Long has been at the front of this effort and many others have dedicated time and resources. Trey has been asked by a number of people how they can help with the work in the East End area of Meridian. He is working with Wesley House to make needs known through the same mustard seed/grass roots network that raised the funds for Playground for Jesus. We would like to see this network grow. If you would like to hear about local needs so that you can help see those needs met then please read the email from Trey that I include in this post and send him your email address.

Thanks!

Matt

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I have decided to start a new email ministry called the 1 John 3:17 email list.



1 JOHN 3:17 EMAIL LIST

“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?”



Many of you have asked how can I help the Wesley House. I have decided to start getting individual stories of people in our community that you can help if God calls you to. I know everybody has limited incomes, but many people are willing to help if they know who and what their money is going to. I simply cannot afford to do it all, and neither can you. I have a hard time going to sleep at night knowing somebody in this world who is trying their best needs a little help. So in reflecting upon what I could do I decided to start emailing all of you. If you do not want to get emails from me with stories of needy individuals please email me back and I will take you off the list. If you know somebody who would like to be added to this list please send me their email address. The more email addresses I get the better. When I send you an email I will give the story, and amount needed to help in that situation. If you decide to help contact me through email or call me 601-934-9427. The money you give will go in full to the individual if you decide to help. God is so good, and thank you for being somebody God can use. Please pray for each story and see if God gives you the means to help. If God puts it on your heart, please do not use the excuse somebody else will take care of it because it might go undone.



**All donations are tax deductible**



For your information- Any story I email you will be after an individual has been checked out through the Wesley House Clearing Procedure. Each individual must bring proof of I.D., pay stubs, tax records, social security for each member of the household, any child over 18 must provide income information, receiving any subsidy (food stamps, housing allowance, etc.), and proof of all outgoing bills. There is an extensive application that proves who the people are and the situation they face. Phone calls are placed to verify employment and information provided.



Today’s Need - $365.00

35 year old woman with a 10 year old girl. Husband walked out on the family 3 years ago when the woman asked for food. She has done well in providing for herself and her girl, but has recently run into trouble. This woman has never asked for help in the past. She does not live in your typical needy neighborhood. She might very well be your neighbor. She cannot afford to pay her heating utility bill. With the cold weather approaching she is scared her heat might be disconnected. $365.00 would go directly to this woman for the purpose of having heat for the winter. What could you do with $365.00? Provide heat for a 35 year old woman and her 10 year old girl for the winter.



Thanks



Trey Long

Enjoying the Unpromised Day

I lead a bible study every Thursday at the Lauderdale County Boys and Girls Club. It's part of a ministry that our church has been doing for a number of years. I love the kids and the time we share each week. At the end of the bible study a couple of weeks ago I asked if someone would lead us in a closing prayer. Diamond's hand shot up and we all bowed our heads. This sweet little Pentecostal girl began, "Thank you for this day - it was not promised...". I've been thinking about those words for two solid weeks.

Today is a gift, pure grace. We don't deserve it but we should out of deep reverence enjoy it. I pray that you receive this day as the gift it is and use it up for God's glory.

"Come now, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a town and spend a year there, doing business and making money.' Yet you do not even know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, 'If the Lord wishes, we will live and do this or that.' As it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil." James 4:13-16 NRSV

College Ministry Trip to Magee, MS

We will leave FBC Meridian at 4:00 Friday afternoon.

We will be staying at the:
Holiday Inn Express
1591 Simpson HWY 49
Magee, MS 39111

We will eat supper on Friday at 6:30 at:
Fernando's
1670 Simpson HWY 49
Magee, MS 39111

We will be doing construction work at:
Corinth Baptist Church
207 Church Road
Magee MS 39111

If you are going to drive from Hattiesburg or Jackson you can call me and I'll tell you where we are. 601-616-5413

Please make sure to wear good tough shoes. You don't want your toes exposed. You won't need any money but bring any snacks you might want. We will start working on Saturday at 7:00 and end a little before 3:00.

Thanks for serving your sisters and brothers in Christ!

What Could You Do With $10.00?

WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH $10.00?



Go to a movie, put 3 gallons of gas in your car, buy 2 happy meals at McDonalds, treat yourself to 5 snow-cones, get 10 items at the dollar store, play one round of putt-putt, or provide a “Playground for Jesus” to children in a hurting neighborhood.



God is doing amazing things at the Wesley House in Meridian, Mississippi!!!!!!!



Together we can influence the two little boys who were spray painting their guns to better conceal their weapons, the 10 year old little girl who was told nobody cares about you and they will never build you a playground, the little girl who just got pregnant because here cousin was pimping her out, the two men in the van who said they worship Satan, the 80 kids who came to our first movie night, the women prostituting themselves on mattresses in the field, the 15 kids who have been coming to a Bible Study the last two weeks, and everyone who sees God at work in our community.



We are seeking funds and have a line item in the budget at the Wesley House named Playgrounds for Jesus. We feel this will change lives as it already has for five youth who have accepted Christ during the last month. You can already sense the change in the area. We have a vision of fencing in the open field adjacent to the Wesley House, building a basketball court, pavilion, and recreational area. The cost is $45,000.00. Many people think it cannot be done. So far we have painted the exterior buildings, hung a privacy fence, installed a basketball goal, poured a basketball court, and landscaped the entire lot. We are not finished!!! God will provide the $45,000.00 to finish this project. Please join in!!!



How can you join in this effort? Please email this to everyone you know, and make a tax deductible contribution to the Wesley House for $10.00. Please put on the bottom of the check Playground for Jesus. Mail donations to the following:



Wesley House

ATT: Trey Long

4509 7th Ave

Meridian, MS 39305



Skip going to a movie, putting 3 gallons of gas in your car, buying 2 happy meals at McDonalds, treating yourself to 5 snow-cones, getting 10 items at the dollar store, playing one round of putt-putt, and instead provide a “Playground for Jesus” to children in a hurting neighborhood.



If you would like more details you can call Trey Long at 601-934-9427.



Thanks



Trey Long

a couple of things to think about

I ran across two quotes recently that have have helped me think through some things. I think that you will like them. The first is from legendary Mississippi baseball player and coach Boo Ferriss. Here is what he had to say, "I've always thought that the athletic field is a great training field for life. It's the best place next to the home and the church for children to learn. Long after a boy hangs up his spikes or cleats, he'll be drawing on lessons he learned from playing ball."

I'm glad that my friend Timothy is going to play at Delta State this season. He'll get a big dose of this kind of wisdom. Ferriss knows something important. Athletics open big doors and provide opportunities to shape the young.

I love watching my friend Neil gather a group of boys to play basketball. I know what's going to happen. During a needed breather, he'll tell them about Christ and encourage them to be honorable men. A number of boys have given their hearts to Christ recently because of this.

My friends installed a basketball goal at the Wesley House this week. My Pentecostal buddies would call Wesley House a, "Dream Center." It's now a dream center with a court. Why? Because the gospel is communicated through foolish things and foolish people. God's way smarter than we are. He ordains the very things we sometimes sniff at. Keep playing for God's sake!

The second quote is from Steven Smith, College Pastor at FBC Jackson, MS. Here is what he had to say, "We are an old, traditional downtown church, but God has blessed this church because of its commitment to the Great Commission and the willingness to do whatever it takes to reach people. Our church is changing, growing, adapting in many ways so that we can be strategic and effective in reaching Jackson, Miss., and the world with the gospel."

I think that this truly describes a great church in a sister city. I also think it illustrates what is happening in Meridian. We've got to keep moving in the direction of people that need Christ. God will bless when we do!

Just something to think about as you continue to serve Christ and community.

Meridian para Christo - ahora.

We are approaching the end of the "Gathering and Walking Summer Experiment." I stand amazed at the way God has been working in and through our church. My prayer and hope was that a few people would move from pew warmer to servant. I should have prayed bigger. God blew the doors of my vision for what could happen. I'd like to thank you to all of my FBC Meridian friends for hearing from God and acting for His glory.

Many of you said, "Today is my someday." I'd say that today is the day for our church and community. I read an awesome article recently that gave me reasons to dream big. It was about the spiritual revival that is going on in Cuba. I was interested in the content because Greg Massey studied this revival as he was preparing for Lauderdale Baptist Association's engagement in the Dominican Republic.

Here is a guote from the Christianity Today article, "Their current evangelistic zeal is best summed up in the recent modification of a common evangelical rallying cry: from 'Cuba para Christo' to Cuba para Cristo-ahora.' Cuba for Christ-now."

I've been hearing people in our church say - now. Now is the time. I'm ready now. Let's do it now.

I can't think of a better word for the new church year that is upon us - NOW!

Meridian para Christo - ahora!
Meridian for Christ - now!

"Today is my someday."

I gathered with adult SS leaders last night to talk about our church's ministry in the summer. We are going to refresh Wednesday nights and we're calling the mid-week service, The Gathering. We are devoting Sunday evenings to SS class based ministry and mission service projects called, Walking. In defining a win for the SS teachers I said that I really wanted to see a number of our church members get involved in ministry for the first time. Watching church goers become the church for the sake of the Kingdom is one of my great passions. I read something this morning that helped me frame my thoughts on these things.

I got a samply of Mark Batterson's, "Chase the Goose: Reclaiming the Adventure of Living a Spirit-Led Life." I'm reviewing it for our twentysumthings ministry. Apparently the Irish called the Holy Spirit the Wild Goose. Batterson's work is about following the leadership of the Spirit. In the first session of this study he said this,

"In his inaugural address, President Kennedy challenged the American people, 'Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country.'The Peace Corp program emerged from that challenge. In the past year, the number of volunteers in their 50s and older has risen by 50 percent. One of those Peace Corp baby boomers is 64-year-old Loyci Stockey, who said, 'I never forgot his message, and I tucked it away in the back of my head to act on someday. Today is my someday.' That's a powerful statement." Indeed.

Many Christians have a sleeping dream in their hearts - a when I get around to it kind of thing. My prayer is that many of our church members will follow the Wild Goose into their God-given dreams this summer! I'm praying that many of us will say, "Today is my someday."