September 2014 - In This Issue:

Jimbo is "in the chair" giving a ministry update to the Cursillo group that meets in Edina, MN, on Friday mornings.

Nikki Del Rio and Jimbo pose with John Sather, National Director of Cru's Inner City Ministry in Minneapolis.

Blessed to see Pastor Steve and Mary Lonetti at Beacon of Hope church in St. Paul, MN.

At the end of June, we sat down and discussed how we would not likely travel as a family to Minnesota this summer or fall to visit the CSM ministry teams and our ministry partners.  Our thoughts were based on the fact that Jimbo had gone to the Twin Cities in June to attend the memorial service of a dear friend.  While there he visited several ministry supporters and touched base with CSM team leaders.  We figured we would wait until 2015 to visit again.  

Well, the Lord had other plans as He often does for us!  "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9)  A call came from Jimbo's family in Montana asking us to come and visit his dad whose health is rapidly failing. We needed to be there over Labor Day weekend.  That sure was a change of plans!  We figured if we were going to drive from Tampa, FL, to Hungry Horse, MT, we should probably visit our ministry partners and teams along the way.  Now, we had about 4-5 weeks to plan and prepare for this massive trip. The Lord was going to have to move in a very tangible way for us to be able to go.  With much prayer and several opportunities to rest in our faith, we watched as God answered prayers, provided funds, arranged ministry opportunities and plotted our travel course.  The love of the saints and their encouragement through petitions on our behalf and practical helps from loaner cars while our van got major repairs (transmission, radiator, water pump and tires) to love gifts to finance our sojourn.  The Lord brought it all together and we left our home on August 7th and returned one month later. During that time we drove over 6,000 miles; visited supporters and churches in Arkansas, Kentucky, Minnesota, and Colorado; connected with family in Montana and Colorado; and experienced God's marvelous creation from mountains to prairies, glaciers to waterfalls, buffalo to elk, and most importantly the many, many people we met along the way.  We are so thankful for the many blessings and opportunities the Lord gave us and look forward to sharing just a few of them with you.

Jimbo baptizes Chris Corbin at Moore Lake in Fridley, MN.

On a Sunday afternoon in late August we had the blessing of witnessing several people who are part of the Christ Satisfies Transitional Housing program come forward and publicly proclaim their faith and trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior in the waters of baptism.  Jimbo had the privilege of proclaiming the Word to the group from CSTH's three transitional houses.  He shared what the Bible has to say about baptism, one of the two ordinances ordained by the Lord Jesus Christ.  He challenged those there to examine their hearts regarding whether or not they are in the faith and to be serious about taking this step of obedience.  

After the message we moved to the lake's edge and several people came forth to take this step of obedience and identify with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  It was a great blessing to be able to witness these individual's steps of faith.  It is our prayer that each one will grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, develop in their individual walks with the Lord, and get plugged into a solid local church.

Christ Satisfies Transitional Housing (CSTH) is a program that provides accountability, mentorship, and spiritual growth through godly disciplines.  CSTH currently has three homes in Columbia Heights, MN. Two of the facilities house men and one is a house for women.  Please join with us in prayer for the residents of this program.  Pray that they will grow in their faith and their practical walk with the Lord. Pray also for Chris & Sara Corbin who operate CSTH.  We are blessed to partner in ministry with them and all those who serve the residents of this program.

Jimbo preaching the Word prior to the baptism service

Two women from CSTH after their baptism.

Our summer journey included almost a full week in the Twin Cities of Minnesota. Even though we arrived with short notice, the Lord providentially arranged for us to have numerous opportunities to participate in ministry while we were in town.  In addition, He also graciously allowed us to visit with many, many friends,  partners and supporters of Christ Satisfies Ministries.  We were excited to be able to see old friends and share with them how God is opening doors for ministry in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida while continuing to use Christ Satisfies Ministries through its various teams in both St. Paul and Minneapolis. 

During our stay, some dear friends hosted a fundraising BBQ for CSM.  We were able to meet several new individuals and families and tell them of our ministry.  The Lord graciously provided opportunities for us to meet some people who are interested in partnering with Christ Satisfies Ministries.  We are thankful for His provision through the body of Christ.

Jimbo & Chris at our BBQ fundraiser in Lino Lakes, MN

In addition to fundraising efforts, which are always an on-going exercise for ministries and non-profits like CSM, we were able to visit with friends from various seasons of our life in Minnesota.  We saw friends from Family Baptist Church on the northside, Bethlehem Baptist Church in downtown Minneapolis, Beacon of Hope church in St. Paul; friends from our longtime Friday night Bible study; friends from Lazarus Auto Detail, Christ Satisfies Transitional Housing, and the jail ministry; and others the Lord blessed us with knowing during our decade in the midwest.  It was a pleasure to meet with them and share how the Lord is working in all of our lives.

We are so thankful for the many people the Lord has used to encourage us on our journey.  Please pray with us that the Lord would continue to give us the grace to serve Him through proclaiming the gospel to those on the fringes -- the prostitutes & pimps, the gang members/drug dealers/troubled youth, the homeless, and the urban poor.

Visiting Steve Culley of Rebyl Sports in Coon Rapids, a longtime ministry partner of CSM

Pray that He would bring a revival to the inner cities, and that He would use Christ Satisfies Ministries to that end. Pray that the Lord would continue to raise up new ministry partners to join with CSM and that He would bless those faithful ministry supporters who have been serving with us these past (almost) 9 years.

Jimbo and his dad visiting on the front porch in Montana

A  primary focus of our summer journey was traveling to northern Montana just outside of Glacier National Park way up in the mountains to visit Jimbo's dad, Jim, and his wife, Eve. We had a wonderful opportunity to spend about 5 days with them and other family members some also from Montana and others who joined us from out of state.  It was a long time since so many of them had been all together.  His dad whose health is failing was greatly encouraged by his visitors and especially enjoyed having both of his sons there as well as four of his grandchildren that he met for the first time.  

The Lord was gracious and our time went well.  Papa Jim, as he is called, rallied for the event and participated in many activities that he had put aside for awhile like playing his guitar around the fire pit, taking us on a tour of Glacier National Park, and going along target shooting with the guys.  It was a wonderful time for both Jimbo and his brother, Tim, to fellowship with one another and have some family time with their dad, step sister, and cousins.

The Lord also opened some doors for them to share the love of Jesus and the promise of hope the gospel offers with their dad. Please join us in prayer for his salvation and healing. We are thankful that the Lord provided all that we needed to make this journey -- car repairs, funds, housing.  We are also grateful for the opportunity we had to spend time with our immediate family and the greater Mullen clan.

Jimbo, Uncle Mike, Grandma Eve, Papa Jim & Tim at Glacier National Park

Grandma Eve, Phoebe and Jude playing Scrabble

Jimbo, Nikki and Jason delivering PowerPacks to Tony and his family including six children in North Minneapolis.

Hadassah gives a hug to a PowerPack recipient on the northside.

On a Saturday morning in late August just before the Minneapolis schools opened for class, our family along with CSM Twin Cities' team leader, Nikki Del Rio and team member, Jason Ingebrigtsen, were able to distribute 60 PowerPacks -- 30 for elementary school children and 30 for junior high and high school aged students.

We met for a time of prayer and then took two vans over to North Minneapolis to begin distributing both the backpacks and new Bibles. Several families that we approached were still in need of supplies for Monday's school start date. They were very grateful for the supplies and the encouragements to look to Jesus Christ.  

Jimbo gives a word of encouragement to this young man who just received a new PowerPack.

Jimbo addresses the congregation at Faith Journey Fellowship in Bentonville, AR

Faith Journey Fellowship in Bentonville, Arkansas, has been a Christ Satisfies Ministries' partner for the past several years.  During August as we traveled north from Florida on our way to Montana, we were able to make a weekend stop in Arkansas and minister at the church.  Pastor Dave Hastings invited Jimbo to take the pulpit on Sunday morning and speak to the congregation on the topic of evangelism.

He chose to preach from the Book of Romans, chapter 10, verses 15-17:

He was blessed to encourage the saints about our call to bring the gospel to the dying world around us.  This call was not just for the Apostles.  Nor is it just for pastors or missionaries or elders or evangelists.  The Lord Jesus calls all Christians to be disciples AND to make disciples.  Jimbo encouraged the body of Christ to seek to be obedient to Christ's commands and to love their neighbor by telling others of the soul saving work of Jesus Christ.

We were blessed to see many friends of the ministry, share what the Lord is doing through CSM in both Florida and Minnesota, and fellowship with dear brothers and sisters who encouraged us in our ministry to the lost and hurting people of the inner cities.  We are so thankful for this church's faithful love and support for both our family and Christ Satisfies Ministries.

Pastor Dave Hastings, Jimbo, and Faith Journey Elder, Bill Woodell

Our goal at Christ Satisfies Ministries is to continue spreading the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ to those in the inner city who have not yet come to a saving faith.  We continue to work among four people groups: prostitutes & pimps, gang members/drug dealers/troubled youth, the homeless, and the urban poor.  By God's grace, CSM has working ministry teams in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis and St. Paul) of Minnesota and in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida.  We are humbled by the growth and longevity God has allowed this ministry.  In one month, we will celebrate Christ Satisfies Ministries' ninth year of operation.

For all of those nine years the Lord has provided for the needs of this ministry and our family through the generous partnership, donations, and love gifts of His saints and the church.  We are so thankful!  As we grow in our areas of ministry and as the times bring more and more needy people our way, we reach out to you and ask that you would prayerfully consider joining our ministry team through prayer and financial support. 

Visit the Christ Satisfies Ministries page on Facebook to see what the Lord is doing through CSM during the week in the Tampa Bay Area and the Twin Cities.