[chrio39]

God dropped an apartment complex meeting room in our lap. It was unsolicited. The room is a good size with 24 chairs set up. It has separate mens & womens rooms, a complete kitchen in a hallway off of the main room, with another bedroom sized room with it's own bathroom off of another hallway, which can be used for kids, nursery, etc. It is free - no rent or utilities. We had been praying for a building for some time, but made no effort to secure one. We are a few people.

When I went to Daytona beach, Fla. for a street ministers gathering, God had me fast. I didn't plan the fast, I found myself fasting. The fast lasted 2 1/2 days. While fasting, I started seeing a large childrens ministry there. We had been doing bible studies there for about 4 weeks on Wednesday nights, with nobody from the neighborhood except for one couple one night. I hadn't seen many children there, when I went to Daytona Beach, When we returned, we had an outreach there and served about 100 or so chilidogs and nachos, along with music & testimonies. It was a good outreach, and kids were everywhere. That was probably a little more than a month ago.

Last Saturday myself and Daniel went there @ 9:20 am and began knocking on doors, telling the people we were starting a kids club @ 10:30, and we'd have a lesson for them and feed them pizza for lunch. 10:30 came then 10:35 and only one kid was there. We figured if 6 or 7 kids showed up we'd have a good start. A couple of minutes later a group of 6 or 7 showed up. Before long we had a crowd. Altogether there were 18 children who showed up, 15 black & 3 hispanic. I told them about the true meaning of Thanksgiving, during which they settled down. They participated in the discussion, and were very attentive. Two left during that part. When I finished, the pizza wasn't there yet so I decided to take advantage of their being so attentive. So I began to give them the account of the fall of man, the fact that we've all sinned, & that The creator of the universe came to live as a man to take away the death penalty of our sins upon himself.

When I asked if any of them had lied or stolen or been disobedient to their parents, all but one raised their hands. When I asked them if any wanted to receive Jesus as their Lord & Savior, 14 of the 16 kids raised their hands. I explained that if they said the prayer and meant it, not just repeating words, then Jesus would come into their hearts. After we prayed, I asked how many had prayed that before. To my suprise, none had! Halalujah!!!

I believe the program will grow and prosper. After lunch, none wanted to leave, though they'd been there about an hour & a half. I finally had to tell them that I told their parents I'd have them home about lunchtime, and it was time to go. I'm determined to disciple these kids, and whomever God adds. I do need help, so pray that others will come and help out. I'm believeing that God will send someone in that He has gifted and burdened to take that group over and steward it's growth. I've never actually ministered to kids that age, other than a few here & there.

Daniel and I were excited and filled with joy over how God moved on their hearts. That neighborhood is surrounded with apartments and four plexes. We just need laborers for the harvest.

To think neighborhoods like that fill our cities...

[chinnam naidu]

what a great ministtry my brother,really i appreciate you and your fellow labourers for the kids ministry. yes the kids ministry is difficult than other ministries but there is blessings to you from the LORD. you do great ministry for them and i hope you can ministrered many children there soon.
GOD BLESS YOU and all your TEAM of PASTORS.

[Miche]

David.....

Before you suggest others or pray for others to take over this ministry

remember................

God gave you the meeting room

God brought the crowd of children to you.

Pray about it.


Hugs

[chrio39]

Miche, on Nov 26 2009, 05:34 PM, said:

David.....

Before you suggest others or pray for others to take over this ministry

remember................

God gave you the meeting room

God brought the crowd of children to you.

Pray about it.


Hugs

Miche, I will do this as long as it takes, but my view of ministry based on Eph 4:11-13 is to raise up others to do the work of the ministry, and I'm not gifted and creative with children as many others that I've worked with in several churches. There are those who will bring puppets, drama, a choir, outings and the like to the table. I believe I'm called to start things, and turn them over to those who God has gifted and put the ministry within them.

I'm believing that we'll eventually have a day care, Christian school, homeless discipleship program, crisis pregnancy program, and other ministries. But God will send in those he is equipping/has equipped who have the ministry within them, and we'll cultivate an atmosphere for them to plant, grow and thrive with a support and oversight system. This is how we conduct the orphanages, though with even greater autonomy (by necessity).

I currently have a Sunday Morning worship service in my home, a Wednesday night bible study at the apartments, Friday morning prayer gathering at an abortion clinic (sometimes), Friday night service at a Christ centered drug & alcohol rehab, Saturday morning childrens ministry at the apartments, & Sat evening intercessory prayer meeting followed by street ministry. I lead all of the above except the abortion prayer gathering, and I split the drug & alcohol ministry with Don. Then there's the outreaches & prison work on occaision, and less frequently the Raven outreaches in various cities and storm relief, and last but not least the oversight of the orphanages & moderating duties here such as I can give time. Wanna come to New Orleans and help? You & the kids would be wonderful!

I recently stopped doing the Sun eve at the nursing home, I handed it to Brother Matthew Shropshire, who I think you met. Soon the Sat afternoon radio program will end. But I'll soon start a Saturday evening worship service at the apartments, if God doesn't constrain me.

It isn't as much as it sounds like, and is life giving to me. These are all joys to me to partake of. For years I longed for God to use me more, and He is blessing me with favor and opportunities to serve Him. To God be the glory!

[dgbygrace]

chrio39, on Nov 27 2009, 12:33 AM, said:

It isn't as much as it sounds like, and is life giving to me. These are all joys to me to partake of. For years I longed for God to use me more, and He is blessing me with favor and opportunities to serve Him. To God be the glory!

Amen and praises to hear this!!! How wonderful to see how God is moving. I will keep this one in prayer, happily, because I do have a heart for children. And as a side-note, thank you for what you said above. It was very encouraging to me...I long for God to be able to use me in some way that matters somewhere.

[Miche]

dgbygrace, on Nov 27 2009, 08:07 AM, said:

chrio39, on Nov 27 2009, 12:33 AM, said:

It isn't as much as it sounds like, and is life giving to me. These are all joys to me to partake of. For years I longed for God to use me more, and He is blessing me with favor and opportunities to serve Him. To God be the glory!

Amen and praises to hear this!!! How wonderful to see how God is moving. I will keep this one in prayer, happily, because I do have a heart for children. And as a side-note, thank you for what you said above. It was very encouraging to me...I long for God to be able to use me in some way that matters somewhere.

Dianne,

Maybe you should pray about joing David in New Orleans for ministry. Take your children and start a new life?????? Just a thought.

You would have instant fellowship with amazing believers.

I have met many of them.

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