7.21.09

This past Sunday I was privileged to be able to speak to the Otter Creek family on Sunday morning. I talked about how we are instruments of transformation as well as transformed ourselves by involvement within a community - whether that be a church community or our city. Here’s the link if you’re interested in hearing it http://ottercreek.podomatic.com/entry/eg/2009-07-19T09_45_34-07_00. I’d love to get your feedback on what I had to say…

On Monday a number of churches met to discuss plans for the fall at Joyful noise which meets at the Martha O’Bryan Center every other Sunday at 4PM. In one sense this is a church group, but in another sense it’s an attempt to supplement the church family that many of those in attendance already own. With the Center being at the hub of activities in the James Cayce housing projects, they view their role as being light and hope to many of the people and families wishing they could move up and out to another environment. Providing connections with other people who are “safe” and who are trying to live a God-honoring life is a key contribution that Joyful Noise provides. Otter Creek has had individuals, life groups, families, business associates and many others join in the gathering at Joyful Noise to both support and lead different pieces of the service. It’s turning out to have more and more young and middle age children from the project attends so we’re trying to create programs and have our time together be such that the young people will be encouraged and want to invest in building community. If you’re reading this and want to learn more about Joyful Noise – either to attend or to consider participating – email me.

Later that day I attended a meeting with Lisa (see prior posts to catch up on her story). Lisa has just had a baby. During the last months of her pregnancy she seems to have really been broken and decided to change her direction for life. We talked about adoption for the baby and she started that process. She had “friends” keep her 2 year old while she checked in rehab. However, once the baby was born, Lisa has decided to keep both children and raise them herself. It’s hard to support and love when you really feel someone is making a wrong decision, but I’m eternally grateful God continually does that for me so that’s what several of us are doing with Lisa. The good news is that she seems to recognize her “triggers” for relapse and is setting up systems to help her be successful. Once she notified the welfare agencies that she was in rehab they redirected her food stamps to that agency. Within a few days the “friends” keeping the 2 year old called to tell her to come get him!! We have worked with her and she has since placed both children in temporary foster care with a structured permanency plan that makes her accountable for her actions and her progress in getting back on her feet before she gets her children back. We met and talked about all the challenges that journey would put in front of her and how she was going to need real friends and a relationship with God to make it through. She actually seems to get it!! Please keep Lisa in your prayers.

Got a call from an Otter Creek member about a homeless man who was visiting his downtown store. The man needed help and the OC member was not sure what to do. I happened to be in the area so I stopped and was able to get the man in my truck and to the Campus for Human Development where they put him up for the night. Hopefully, he’ll reach out to them in the morning so that they can try to help him connect to some people who can walk with him.

Through the Odyssey program (mentioned in several prior posts) I have met several men who have asked for help with their families while they are in the Odyssey program. I had such a request a few weeks ago from a man who had just become a father. The baby’s mother was having a tough time making it (she has 3 other children) while this man is trying to get his life together through the Odyssey program. He asked me to meet with her and see what assistance OC might be able to provide. He’s feeling really guilty about not being there for the mother and the baby and thinking about leaving the program (which would not be a good thing for him). I met with her and found out that she is has a good job but is really in a tough pinch with her car being broken down and now having to pay for childcare for the baby. She lives in another county so there’s not a lot of resources we can provide. However, we do have several connections with churches in the city where she lives. So in the next few days I intend to reach out to some of those churches and see if any of them would be willing to reach out to her to help. Otter Creek gave her $50 in Kroger gift cards from our benevolence ministry to help her get over the short term need while we try to put her in touch with a closer group. Be praying for her and her family as well. Also keep in your prayers the father in the Odyssey program – that he will be strong and patient as he learns to trust God and others to help him as he tries to help himself and his family.