Ministry Update
Here is just a quick update about the ministry!
First, our next distribution will be June 16. I am attaching a list of nonperishable items we really need. We very much need diapers, especially larger sizes. We also need nonperishable food items.
Second, our outreach to the Reston homeless shelter is going well! We are getting to know these people better and we are having opportunities to share the gospel with them. Several of them attend a Bible study and dinner hosted by Bill and Megan Harris on Tuesday nights. If you are interested in being involved with that outreach, chat with Bill and Megan or just respond to this e-mail. They are going through the Gospel of John this summer. We are looking for men to commit to one Tuesday a month to give people a ride from the shelter to the Bible study.
Finally, our community garden garden is growing! It is even more exciting that some of the people we serve through Mercy Ministries have gotten involved. You can help with the garden by signing to help water it (takes about 30 minutes), and by signing up for our big workdays (June 2 and July 7). Children can help! Here is the signup website: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0848AAAA2AAB9-community.
hidden gardens
I drive on Route 7 all the time. Every once in a while I stop at this awesome little vegetable stand called Potomac Vegetable Farms on the side of the road in the McLean area. This time I pulled into the stand and drove up the little dirt road behind it. Owners of the stand were giving Guilford free vegetables plants for our community garden! It was like driving into another world. It’s all about greenhouses and woods and old farm buildings up there. Route 7 is barely visible and audible. Owner Hiu Newcomb is the kind of person I would like to hang out with. She shared some wisdom from years of gardening in Northern Virginia. She even showed me some rice plants and some cotton plants she is trying out this year! So cool. Thanks, Hiu and Potomac Vegetable Farms for your kind donations!
~Layla
About Homeless Children
Members of our church will be providing childcare for homeless families this Thursday. Pray for these volunteers. They will be playing with children while their mothers attend educational classes designed to improve their lives. Pray we would have an opportunity to invite them to church and share the gospel with these people in the future.
Here are some stats about homeless children in our area in case anyone is interested.
The entire Washington D.C. region conducts surveys of their homeless population on a regular basis. The region’s localities define the homelessness population as people who do not have any access to shelter. People who are living doubled up with relatives or friends do not count as homeless. People who are living in domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters, or in parks or cars are considered homeless.
At a 2011 regional count, there were 1,672 families in the area that were considered homeless, according to the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government. In those families there were 3,249 homeless children. We primarily minister to people in Fairfax and Loudoun counties. Fairfax County had 539 of those children and Loudoun County had 47 of the children defined as homeless in the area last year.
Witnessing to the Mentally Ill
Sadly, some of the people Guilford’s Mercy Ministries serve are mentally ill, sometimes severely so. Mental illness is actually common among low-income populations. Recent psychiatric research suggests that low household income is closely associated with lifetime mental disorders. Serving the mentally ill is a joy. They are normally honest with us about their needs and so are easy to help. But we want to do more than just help them physically. Because of this, I started looking around for guidance on how Christians can effectively witness to the mentally ill.
I am still exploring this topic but this tiny search led me to remember two principles that encouraged me. First, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).” Therefore, all need the gospel. Second, “the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joint and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).” Matthew Henry’s commentary on Hebrews 4:12 expounds on the phrase “joints and marrow” to say this means God’s word penetrates the deepest part of our nature.
For the past two years I have sat through many human behavior classes where mental illnesses are viewed as biological and social problems. This makes it easy to deny the existence of sin and the need for salvation. Popular counseling theories designed to help the mentally ill rely on acceptance and sympathy. But, no matter what biological/social/spiritual struggles we each face, we are all sinners most fundamentally in need of a Savior. The Biblical Counseling Movement by Heath Lambert and David Powlison and How People Change by Timothy Lane and Paul Tripp are two books that have helped me think through how to practically act on this truth.
Mental illness among the low-income is too often a complicated reality. But praise God it is not over-simplifying the issue to say we should witness to the mentally ill with confidence because God can change and heal anyone. I know there are other great books out there on this topic!!? Anyone?
~Layla
“thanks for the Bible”
Today Guilford got a thank you note from a homeless man. It was actually a text that came through one of his friends. The text said thanks for the food we gave him a few weeks ago. He also said he reads the Bible we gave him every night. This message was kind of random. I don’t know know this man’s phone number or even where he is sleeping tonight. Last I heard he was sleeping outside “under a tree.” I haven’t seen him sense he came to church about a month ago after getting into a fight.
Was running on the treadmill when the text came in. I had to stop my run and awe at God’s goodness. The Bible we tossed into the bag of food that day (we totally need to do that more often) was just an afterthought.
Prayed the message is just a small glimpse of the transforming work that God is doing in this man’s life. Our God is able.
~Layla
“Nancy’s” story
This is a personal story from one of the ladies we delivered food to in 2011. She now attends our church regularly. Keep her in prayers.
Hi! This is “Nancy” sharing my story. I am single mom of a handsome 7-year-old son. I am homeless and I am also a recovering addict. Today I thank God for what I have in my life.
My son’s father died when he was 3-months-old. We lost our home in 2011 because my roommate could not pay rent. I did not work. Friends from my son’s school put us in a motel for a night. The next day I met with the school and Loudoun County’s Child Protective Services. I put my son in the care of my brother after that meeting. I am thankful that my brother is helping me. I know I made the right decision with God’s guidance.
I was on my own to get my life together. I also had painful stomach problems that required surgery, leaving me to live on the streets with an open wound. I did not know where I would sleep from day to day for months. Many people from the schools the county, and Guilford Baptist Church helped me. I now live at the Reston homeless shelter and I know I need to keep trying to improve my life.
I am thankful for my best friend at the shelter, my family and son, and also Guilford Baptist Church where I feel right at home because you are like family. I know now that God has given me a lot of good things in life and he only knows what is going to happen next.
2011 Update
In the last part of 2011 we began serving about 100 families a month. Our church also weekly serves people by giving them food, helping them with utilities or rent, or connecting them with other resources in the community. In 2011 we started donating food to families connected with our Hispanic Herndon church plant every week.
Holiday Plans and November Distribution
Thank you so much for your prayers and support for Guilford’s Mercy Ministries. Here are some holiday reminders and an update!
November Distribution
Thank you to everyone who helped execute the November distribution in many different ways. It went very smoothly and we served about 40 families. Please pray for fruit from Fredy’s devotional, and for ways to share the gospel with the clients in the future.
Christmas Service
We will have an Evangelistic Christmas Service will be December 12 at 6 p.m. at the church. This will be a chance for us to share the gospel with the unsaved, including food pantry clients and members of our Hispanic congregation in Herndon. Come, and feel free to invite your own unsaved friends and neighbors! Anyone is welcome.
Christmas Gifts Drive
If you want to participate in our gifts drive or become more involved with Guilford’s Mercy Ministries, just e-mail foodpantry@guilfordbc.org to let us know how you would like to help.
October Distribution
We gave food to about 50 people during our October distribution. Over half of them were new clients. Many of you helped prepare and execute this distribution in so many ways. Thank you very much. The distribution went smoothly and fast.
Please pray for wisdom as we follow-up with clients. In the last couple of months, some people have called specifically asking for prayer for difficult family situations. A couple of people have asked to know more about the gospel and our church. We’ve been able to pray with clients. One lady attended Mission Hispania. It is awesome to see these links between your generous giving and service, and opportunities to share the gospel. By God’s strength and grace, we can develop relationships that will draw people to the kingdom.
If you have additional questions let me know. We still have a few shifts to fill for the November 5 holiday food drive in Reston. Also, stay tuned for a new grocery list and holiday-related plans for the pantry!
