PAST: I am very excited about what God has done, in our past. Laying a vision on my heart (2012) to begin a transitional housing ministry for women in need, suppling everything we needed to get it up and running (2016) and continuing to equip us to do what we need to do to fulfill His purposes in this ministry. (2018) I realize that is a pretty broad statement, but we would be here all night if I gave specifics. Let me just say this. We would not be doing what we are doing today if it wasn’t for God continually showing up to keep us motivated.
PRESENT: We have two wonderful ladies managing our homes. Women of faith that are called by God to love, help and encourage the women in our program. We have three residents in our program with another resident moving in this week. We have been working hard to implement the best policies we can to help our residents become financially stable and contributing members of our society. We are networking with other organizations to do for the ladies what we are not equipped to do. I’m excited that Lord willing, beginning in 2019, we will be providing our residents with professional mental health counseling at no personal cost to them. This will mean an additional 5 to 10 thousand dollars in our 2019 budget to cover the expense but we are certain this is God’s will for us. We do what we can do and trust God to do what only He can do.
Last Saturday we had our “Harvest of Blessings Brunch” at Bethany School to raise funds for this ministry and also to give an update on what God has been doing to and through this ministry. We thank each one of you who were able to be there and for your generous donation to this ministry. Those present heard about my vision for the possible next step in this ministry.
FUTURE: At our October Board Meeting I shared with our Board a vision to purchase a property that would house 10-12 residents, this will be phase 1 of our program. We will keep the two smaller residences that God has provided to be a phase 2 of our program. After a resident successfully completes phase 1, we will be able to offer our residents a second phase in which they would continue to be discipled under the umbrella of The Oaks Ministry with less oversight. We are trusting in God to reveal His plan to all of us as we seek His face and prayerfully discern His will. Meanwhile we will take small steps forward to see if the door is left open. I ask all of our followers and supporters to please pray for wisdom and discernment for the Board. That we will not worry about the expenses associated with this but trust in God to provide if indeed it is His will.
I’m excited about the many more women we can help with this potential expansion. Like I stated last month, when both houses are full and we are turning women away, he will provide the next place wherever that may be. Meanwhile he is teaching us how to run a non-profit and how to implement the best program possible to help those who are hurting, hopeless and homeless.
Our God of the PAST, is God of the PRESENT and He is God of the FUTURE…for HE IS the GREAT I AM and always will be! HALLELUJAH!!!
In Him we Trust!
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