Norcross First United Methodist Church 
Monday Morning Mission Mailing
Every life without Christ is a mission field; every life with Christ is a missionary.

Action Ministries: Housing Updateaction

 

Charlethia and her children continue to meet their goals and move forward in the program. Charlethia is working close to forty hours with her cleaning job and Demetrius is busy seeking employment and applying to community colleges. They both filed taxes and Charlethia will receive a large refund. The majority of this is going to settle past housing debts. The goal has always been to use this money to remove any barriers she may have to securing permanent housing when she leaves Action Ministries. If there is money remaining after this she will use some of it to finally purchase her business license and for a full tune up on the car. The money Demetrius receives will go towards educational costs. We have also been discussing using some of his money for driver's education classes. Charlethia's fifteen year old son Malik was approved for a back pay of disability benefits. In 2011 she applied for him due to a stomach condition he was suffering. After  many appeals and denials, he was finally approved for benefits and will receive them temporarily for the ten months he was ill. He will also receive a back payment. Charlethia intends to put this all into savings. We will create a new budget once we know how much they will be receiving monthly. The other children are all doing well and her youngest, Jeremiah is enrolled for next year's pre-k program at the local sunshine house. Click here to read full newsletter from Action Ministries

Thru your Faith Promise Giving we are able to support Action Ministries.  
Norcross Cooperative Needscoop

 

The Co-Op is in need of children's clothing and pots & pans! If you can donate any of these items, please take them directly to the Co-Op! In addition, there is a need for volunteers to work at the Co-Op sorting clothing for the Clothes Closet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10AM-4PM and on Tuesdays from 10AM-1PM. To volunteer, call: 770-263-0013

Thru your Faith Promise Giving we are able to support the Norcross Cooperative Ministry. 
Family Promise PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE: familypromisetestim
Stacy's Story of Family Promise

by Chuck Ferraro
 
Family Promise of Gwinnett County is a 30-day recovery and sustainability program for homeless children and their families. Families have a safe place to stay in one of many partner congregations, get resources to find employment and housing, and have an advocate to help them get back on their feet. This is done by providing assistance with vital social services, educational and healthcare services, along with traditional case management.

We also offer the SaltLight Center which is an emergency overnight shelter for women and children in Lawrenceville. It is open from 6:30 p.m. until 7 a.m. Monday through Friday.Since we opened in 2005, we have served 157 families with 318 children. In 2013 alone, we served 38 families. We are able to help up to eight families by using our congregations to house four families at a time for one week intervals.

Since 2005, we have had 82 percent of the families served by our program leave with a job and housing. Over the years we have had numerous success stories. The following is Stacy's story:A recent graduate named Stacy stated,

"I recall vividly the day Chuck Ferraro presented me with the most amazing donation of a 2002 Buick Rendezvous and said to me that he and Family Promise were making an investment in my future. He also stated how he expected me to continue working at and to continue in my efforts to move forward. He then shook my hand and said, 'Good job'."

Chuck asked if I would put my Family Promise experience on paper. I pondered on how I could truly express my sentiment and this is what I came up with:

"The Mission Statement of Family Promise, 'ending homelessness one family at a time' needs an appendage - through compassion, dedication, respect, long hours, and tireless efforts. It is also loving church families who transform their facilities to make a family in crisis feel welcome. These folks give the families a safe and warm environment, prepare the best recipes, and they fellowship with the families every night. It is shown through the quiet but always warm and cheerful Office Angels who come in early and leave late and offer a kind voice and a listening ear."

"It is shown through the director who comes out on a Sunday evening to the church to check on his families and through Laura, the volunteer coordinator, who plans fun gatherings, pamper parties and holiday dinners. Lastly, it is shown through Lakeisha, the case manger, who with strong shoulders and a heart of gold is the family's number one advocate, support system and voice of reason who can also dish out a dose of reality with a pat on the back for a 'job well done'."

"The word 'Family' comes to mind when I think of this program and the word 'Promise' of Almighty God who promises to never leave or forsake His people."

"While it might be too much to put on a flyer or business card, it is the absolute truth about my experience at Family Promise of Gwinnett County which has touched and forever changed my life!"

Family Promise of Gwinnett is a community of 35 congregations, letting their faith in God show through their serving the homeless in our own communities.

If you would like to get involved or for more information, go to: www.familypromisegwinnett.org or call 678-376-8950.

People Helping People is a publication of the Gwinnett Coalition for Health & Human Services
Family Promise of Gwinnett County Bed Racebedrace
Saturday, March 29 | 11AM
Gwinnett Historic Courthouse, Lawrenceville

 

Proceeds from this event benefit Family Promise, helping homeless children and their families.

Family Fun Includes: Inflatables, face painting, raffle, food {and more!}

To volunteer, sponsor, participate or for more info contact:
Tom Cioffi:
770-985-7353
Chuck Ferraro: 678-376-8950
Email: cferraro@familypromisegwinnett.org
Web: www.familypromisegwinnett.org


Thru Your Faith Promise Giving we are able to support Family Promise of Gwinnett

Day Work Trip murphy
Murphy-Harpst Children's Home  
Saturday, May 10 tom 

 

We'll depart from the church around 8AM and travel to Cedartown, GA; return late afternoon. All ages welcome. We will paint, clean, perform general maintenance and carpentry, landscape, yard work and groundwork {and play with the children}.

INTEREST MEETING: Sunday, March 30 at 12:15PM in Room A210/212
For info, contact Stephanie Hodgin: hhodgin@bellsouth.net   

UMVIM Volunteer Opportunitiestomumvim 

 

Honduras: May 23-May 31, 2014. Medical Mission to Limon, Honduras. Needs physicians, NP, RN, and other medical professionals. For more information, please email Lou Altman at laaltman@netscape.net

Kenya: July 10-25, 2014. Medical opportunities, construction, afternoon Bible School, sustainable agriculture and more. For more information, email Terry Aust at dr_tobert@yahoo.com

Honduras: August 16-24, 2014. Medical Mission to Yorito, Honduras. Emphasis is medical, clean water, evangelism, and eyeglasses. You need not be medically trained-a heart to serve is necessary. For more information, please email CD Tripp at LMMT4@yahoo.com

Kenya: July 8-24, 2014. Kenya Partners, a faith-based non-profit working with the UMC in Kenya, has a few more openings on their July team to Nakuru, Kenya. Opportunities exist for those interested in medical, dental, construction, teaching (K-12), computer training, counseling, women's handicrafts, pastoral teaching, and for those who just want to serve. Families welcome. For more information, please email Diane Hamrick at diane@kenya-partners.org 

 

We currently do not support UMVIM thru our Faith Promise Giving. 

Charlie Chastainclothes: Save-the-Datecharlie
Sunday, March 30 
Please make plans to join us in the Family Life Center at 9:30AM or 11AM as one of our International Missionaries, Charlie Chastain, shares how God is working through their ministry and his family in Estonia, Russia.

Please pray for Charlie and his family as he travels to bring in new partners to help them press forward in their mission work. He is away from his young family and asks for your prayers for safety, travel mercies, rest and peace for himself, Miki and the kids over this next month.

Thru your Faith Promise Giving we are able to support the Chastains.
Praises & Prayer Requestsnamibia
from Travis & Lorna Curry
Missionaries Serving in Namibia

 

Greetings from Africa!

PRAISES:
  • We just got one of the small baklies back so now we have 2 cars! The 12 seater is still in the shop and probably will be for some time.
  • The river is rising but we are still not flooded!  
  • We met with the governor on Friday and the roads authority has approved to upgrade our road!!!!!! HUGE!

  • Yesterday we took some children to town for shopping. These children are working on art and when we were state side some of you bought their pictures. Now they are reaping the benefits of the cash. (Group picture attached- the smallest one just went along because...)
  • In spite of the rains every day, each day also has some sunshine.
  • Except for a cold here and there, everyone has been healthy.
  • For our volunteer, Laura, who was serving here for the 3rd time. She now made it safely to China to serve with her good friend for 2 months. We are thankful for her and her service at Zion.
  • Last week the President declared a national day of prayer to pray especially for abused women and children. We all joined in that effort here at Zion. We even brought all the children together for 2 hours of prayer. They even volunteered to pray and the prayers were so appropriate to the discussion and so sweet. Stay tuned for a blog on this event.
  • Travis, with the help of friends, was able to secure a doctor for his surgery which will be the beginning of September at St Joes in Atlanta, GA.
  • For our families, our friends, The Mission Society, the COZV stateside board, our home church - Norcross First UMC, for our prayer partners and financial supporters. 
PRAYERS:
  • For Annetty, one of our staff, who is still out of work due to sickness.
  • For this weekend - we pick the children up from the 4 schools on Thursday and return them on Sunday. Friday is Namibia's Independence Day Celebration.
  • For the flood - that our road will stay drivable and we will not be seriously impacted by the rising waters.
  • For all the children. For their hearts and for good decisions.
  • For all the staff and us - that we might have wisdom and be Christ like models for the children and others in the community.
  • For total healing for Travis.
  • For good health for all and for safety in the village as well as when traveling on the roads.
With Thankful Hearts, In HIS Service,
Lorna and Travis

Thru your Faith Promise Giving we are able to support Travis & Lorna Curry. 
National Day of Prayer called by
the President
of Namibia 

 

But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.  Matthew 5:44

On March 6 the President of Namibia called the first National Day of Prayer for the country of Namibia. The focus was on battered women and children. The shops in town were still open but the bars were all closed and if someone was caught drinking they would be fined N$5000 (or about $500 US).

Schools were still open so we decided to pull everyone, including the school children, together. The adults formed a circle of benches to sit on around the children, who sat on the floor in the children's home. We opened with the National Anthem and some songs and the pledges and prayer.

Then there was a program talking about the matters at hand - abused women and children. Scripture was read and talking and praying points were spoken. Then, adults were either appointed or volunteers to pray on certain specific topics that were discussed. Then children could also volunteer. We have to say that these were some of the most sincere prayers we have heard from the children. They were really listening and knew what was going on and the prayers were so on topic. We really know that at such a young age we could have prayed such a prayer.

The day was Glorifying to God and it was so peaceful and refreshing and we were thanking God that there is a president that would call a day of prayer for the country. We are also thankful that we have a Christian school and can freely pray and worship!!! What a Blessing!!!

Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. Mark 11:24

Through Christ I have authority over the devil.  What a mighty God we serve!

Travis & Lorna Curry {click here to follow their blog}  
Donate Clothes & Shoes for Missionsclothesdonateclothesclothes
 
Your donation of children's {and juniors'} clothes, shoes and toys, clean and in good condition, can help someone go on a mission trip when sold at local consignment sales.  
 
You may bring items to the church and place in the collection bin in the Welcome Center Vending Area.

For info email Liz Nauert: liznauert@aol.com 
Donate Old Cell Phonesphone
cellphonescellphones{working/non-working}

This ongoing fundraiser collects old cellphones to raise money for upcoming mission trips. Drop-off in the collection bin located in the Welcome Center vending area.
For info, email Evangelism Co-Chairs Shelley Carr & Julie Eskridge

Pray Simpsonwood UMC willchurchoftheweek
  • effectively reach neighbors in Peachtree Corners with the message the church cares.
  • embrace discipleship and a desire to grow in their faith.
  • have wisdom among the leaders to make necessary strategic
                                                decisions for greater Kingdom impact. 

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Contact:
Pastor Terri Hoye, Pastor of Administration, Missions & Evangelism

770-448-4142, ext 105 | thoye@nfumc.org