Monday, September 13, 2010
The Justice Project has moved to a new site!! www.justiceprojectboulder.org
TJP has moved it's site... Please go to www.justiceprojectboulder.org to keep up with the latest happenings of this ministry.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Street Team Diary
Blog from the hillsong street team
It's so nice to know that we have brothers and sisters around the world joining us each Saturday that we go out doing the same thing! Confirms that God's speaking and we're listening...
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STREET TEAM DIARY
10 Sep 2010
Saturday 8:45 a.m. I slowly drag myself up the stairs to the small meeting room on the second floor of Hillsong Church - the city campus. It has only been hours before that I was vacuuming those same floors after the youth wandered out of their weekly service. Yet this morning, as every Saturday morning, I am met with smiling faces as I enter the room. I greet a few friends as I stumble over to get some coffee and an orange slice and find a seat for the mini talk before we head out for the week.
When I first started helping, a year ago, I wasn’t so thrilled about giving up my Saturday morning, but here I am a year later, and I love going out and seeing my friends in the community. I look around at the other faces in the room. I see a group of students, and other volunteers. Amidst the group are the really committed volunteers, like Catherine, who leads a team and who has come every fortnight for the past six years. She is one of the real heroes. Every Saturday, teams go out into the community showing Jesus’ love through simply meeting the local needs of citizens.
I recently sat down with Gary Farrelly, the leader of Street Teams at Hillsong Church, to ask him a little bit more about how his church is helping more people help more people. Here is what he had to say about street teams and his involvement.
So when did you first get interested in community outreach?
When I was 16, I visited my sister at the L.A. dream center where she was volunteering. I did a few outreached but the homeless outreach is the outreach that really struck me. .. There was such a huge need. I was shocked to see the conditions how people lived in skid row. ...It planted a seed inside of me that I needed to value these kind of people... and [what struck me was] the fact that everyone has a story to tell.
One [of the homeless men] was a famous artist’s son. [I was shocked at] how he got caught up in drugs living in the lime light of his mother. I think he recently passed away, but seeing people like that and seeing that you can’t help them right then and there is frustrating. [His story] urges me to do something for them. To befriend them and to hear their story. To be a listening ear.
How did you get involved with Hillsong Street Teams?
Through my experiences with ministry overseas, this equipped me with the knowledge to do this kind of work. I befriended the guy who ran [Street Teams] at the time and the job opening came up and I jumped on board. It was right up my alley.
What is the main function of street teams/ what do you do during the week?
Street teams as a whole is about meeting needs in communities through outreaches to low socio-economic areas, nursing homes, [and areas with great numbers of] homeless and [therefore] tangibly being a representative of the church and Jesus.
We gather volunteers together on a weekly basis, primarily on Saturdays but also on several other days throughout the week primarily to bring help to people in need whether mobility impaired, isolated, or in need of a friendly chat.
We truly believe that people don’t care about who you are or your experience until they know that you really care.
So we send the bulk of our volunteers out on a Saturday to thirteen different suburbs surrounding our four church campuses. We do random acts of kindness throughout these areas meeting the needs of the local community. Our goal is not to dis-empower the community, but to help work with them to get this area of their life stable. ...We also hold barbeques and other events to bring people together. We also have teams throughout the week who respond to crisis needs throughout our suburbs.
How could someone else start this in their local community?
It is as simple as meeting with the local agencies and stake holders in communities and finding the need. So many people just go ahead and do stuff without first seeking out what is actually needed. We have found it beneficial to have people and organizations behind what we do... Also, find out what is already being done in the community.
When I first started helping, a year ago, I wasn’t so thrilled about giving up my Saturday morning, but here I am a year later, and I love going out and seeing my friends in the community. I look around at the other faces in the room. I see a group of students, and other volunteers. Amidst the group are the really committed volunteers, like Catherine, who leads a team and who has come every fortnight for the past six years. She is one of the real heroes. Every Saturday, teams go out into the community showing Jesus’ love through simply meeting the local needs of citizens.
I recently sat down with Gary Farrelly, the leader of Street Teams at Hillsong Church, to ask him a little bit more about how his church is helping more people help more people. Here is what he had to say about street teams and his involvement.
So when did you first get interested in community outreach?
When I was 16, I visited my sister at the L.A. dream center where she was volunteering. I did a few outreached but the homeless outreach is the outreach that really struck me. .. There was such a huge need. I was shocked to see the conditions how people lived in skid row. ...It planted a seed inside of me that I needed to value these kind of people... and [what struck me was] the fact that everyone has a story to tell.
One [of the homeless men] was a famous artist’s son. [I was shocked at] how he got caught up in drugs living in the lime light of his mother. I think he recently passed away, but seeing people like that and seeing that you can’t help them right then and there is frustrating. [His story] urges me to do something for them. To befriend them and to hear their story. To be a listening ear.
How did you get involved with Hillsong Street Teams?
Through my experiences with ministry overseas, this equipped me with the knowledge to do this kind of work. I befriended the guy who ran [Street Teams] at the time and the job opening came up and I jumped on board. It was right up my alley.
What is the main function of street teams/ what do you do during the week?
Street teams as a whole is about meeting needs in communities through outreaches to low socio-economic areas, nursing homes, [and areas with great numbers of] homeless and [therefore] tangibly being a representative of the church and Jesus.
We gather volunteers together on a weekly basis, primarily on Saturdays but also on several other days throughout the week primarily to bring help to people in need whether mobility impaired, isolated, or in need of a friendly chat.
We truly believe that people don’t care about who you are or your experience until they know that you really care.
So we send the bulk of our volunteers out on a Saturday to thirteen different suburbs surrounding our four church campuses. We do random acts of kindness throughout these areas meeting the needs of the local community. Our goal is not to dis-empower the community, but to help work with them to get this area of their life stable. ...We also hold barbeques and other events to bring people together. We also have teams throughout the week who respond to crisis needs throughout our suburbs.
How could someone else start this in their local community?
It is as simple as meeting with the local agencies and stake holders in communities and finding the need. So many people just go ahead and do stuff without first seeking out what is actually needed. We have found it beneficial to have people and organizations behind what we do... Also, find out what is already being done in the community.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
A21 Campaign - working to abolish injustice in the 21st century
My good friend, Marissa, is heading to Greece in November to make a difference in the lives of women trapped in sex slavery. Check out her website at "I walk for freedom" to read more about sex trafficking and what the A21 Campaign she is working with is doing to rescue girls and, if you're so inclined, please help support Marissa's trip!
And to TJP girls ... maybe we can consider joining alongside the A21 Campaign and supporting them through 1 or more of the 21 ways to help.
Ready to carry His glory into the darkness??
"The Lord of the harvest could bring the harvest in alone by His own might, but He chooses to share His divine nature and glory with us. Enter with us into a world of love, rest and companionship even while buffeted fiercely on all sides by evil storms. In Him we are more than conquerors, shielded through faith by God's power until Jesus is fully revealed. We are ready to carry His glory into the darkness wherever the love of God is wanted!" - Rolland Baker
Friday, August 27, 2010
Our Next Outing Has Been Scheduled!
Hi everyone!
The next outing has been scheduled! Saturday September 11th will be our next Saturday out on the streets! We're changing it just a tad this time. We'd like everyone to arrive down at the "Band Shell" area at 2:30pm instead of meeting at the church. The reason for this change is that a couple in our church felt like the Lord wanted them to buy the main items for a BBQ picnic for all the travelers that God's called us to minister to.
They have placed an order at KT's BBQ for the following:
25 pounds of pork/beef brisket
3 gallons of beans
1 gallon of mashed potatoes
We also need help from you all in providing the following:
-Bottled water and canned soda
-Deserts
-Two tables/some chairs (not very many chairs but if you'd like to offer someone a seat - it would be nice! Otherwise, we'll just sit in the grass - which is no problem! Very much like a picnic would be!)
-Frisbees / footballs
Sign up for these things either by leaving a comment with what you'd like to bring or by sending an email to TJPBoulder@yahoo.com.
Also, if you would like to financially help this couple off set some of the cost of the BBQ from KT's, let Haven know and she can get you connected with the couple who is purchasing the meat and sides.
We will meet at 2:30pm, setup, and then Lord willing, be ready to start serving at 3pm.
If you have any other questions, please see Bridget Tompkins, Micah Hayden, or Haven Shank.
As always, please come ready to just love on people with the love of the Lord! This will be a wonderful time of "friendship and fellowship" with all these wonderful people who have asked for exactly that from us - our friendship and fellowship.
Blessings to you all! Have a wonderful week and we'll see you on the 11th!
-TJP
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sex slavery plagues Romania and Bulgaria (Reuters: UK Edition)
(Reuters) - Anca thought girls who spoke on television about being sold into sex slavery were paid to invent such stories to boost tv show ratings.
That was until she answered a friend's invitation to join her in Germany and work as a dishwasher in a town near Hamburg.
When she arrived, her passport was taken away and her captors forced her to work as a prostitute for their clients.
Three months later she slid down two floors on a drainpipe, ran several kilometres (miles) through a forest and finally found a taxi that took her to a police station and safety.
"The girl who invited me won her freedom by bringing in two other girls," said Anca, a quiet 20-year-old from a Romanian village. She asked for her real name to be withheld to protect her from her captors.
As they prepare to join the European Union, Romania and Bulgaria are struggling to contain human trafficking and smuggling, particularly in drugs, which is endemic in the Black Sea region that will soon become the EU's eastern border.
Every year, thousands of women such as Anca, some as young as 13, are kidnapped or lured by promises of well paying jobs or marriage and sold to gangs who lock them up in night clubs and brothels or force them to work on the streets.
Observers say even more women could be at risk after the two countries join the EU in January and traffickers seek to increase business by taking advantage of easier access to western Europe, where most of the victims end up.
"There is a lot of exploitation in Romania and I am sure the numbers will get bigger," said Gina-Maria Stoian, Anca's case manager and the director of The Adpare Foundation, a Romanian organization that helps victims of human trafficking.
"Already there is sex tourism around the Black Sea."
CRIMINAL ROUTES
Romania and its southern neighbor Bulgaria are among 11 countries listed by the United Nations as top sources of human trafficking, based on reported numbers of victims.
Other countries in the region, the poorest in Europe, are also hotbeds for organized crime and illegal trade such as Moldova and Ukraine.
Poverty, disillusionment with the region's slow reforms after the collapse of communism, and a fraying fabric of society following decades of forced repatriation of many communities help gangs flourish and find easy victims.
"There is poverty, dysfunctional families, mentality. The girls have no roots, no self-esteem," said Iana Matei, who runs Reaching Out, a Romanian charity that helps trafficking victims.
"The traffickers now look for 13 to 14 year olds. They are easier to control. They are trained and brain-washed here. They see they can get little help from police, the system. And they think they can make money and become independent," she said.
Geography is also a problem. Bulgaria and Romania are part of the "Balkan route" for transporting heroin from Afghanistan -- which produces the vast majority of the world supply of poppies -- to Western Europe. Eighty percent of Afghani heroin reaches Western users through this route.
"Romania will be the final border, the final frontier of the EU," said Cristian Duta from Bucharest's SECI Center, which supports trans-border crime fighting in southeastern Europe. "It will be the first step for anyone who wants to get into the EU."
FIGHTING ABUSE
Some observers worry that Romania and Bulgaria's membership of the EU could aid the spillover of illicit trade that plagues the Black Sea region into the west.
Bucharest and Sofia governments say they are doing all they can to combat trafficking and abuse. Romania has won praise from Brussels for reforming border controls, combating endemic corruption and improving police cooperation.
But the EU has been more cautious on Bulgaria, rapping Sofia for not doing enough to fight rampant organized crime.
"Our borders are a 100 percent secure," said Dumitru Licsandru, who runs Bucharest's state agency against human trafficking.
The agency's data shows about 1,400 Romanian victims of trafficking, including sexual exploitation and forced labor, were identified in the first nine months of this year, while some 200 perpetrators were arrested.
Sofia's interior ministry's organized crime unit said 4,000-5,000 Bulgarian women are trafficked a year.
"We cannot deny the fact the problem of trafficking exists," said interior ministry spokeswoman Katya Ilieva, adding that the numbers had dropped compared to previous years.
Observers say official figures on the numbers of people trafficked show only the tip of the iceberg.
Aid workers say police work is not enough. Governments need to train judges and prosecutors, better protect victims and fight corruption which still allows traffickers to take women through borders or keep underage girls on the streets.
They also need to change the mentality in the traditional Balkan societies which often blame victims for their plight.
"My girls all knew about trafficking. But they thought it only happened to whores," said Matei, whose charity assists girls caught up in prostitution rings.
(Additional reporting by Kremena Miteva in Sofia)
Monday, August 23, 2010
being willing and ready
As a testimony to the work God has done in me (and in the other participants of the Justice Project as they have similar stories), I just want to share about my experience in giving.
In my natural self, I'm not much of a giver. I grew up with a giving sister and I married a giving man, so whenever I am with them, I am aware and ready that they may stop at any point and talk to someone, give someone something, or just do whatever it is that the Holy Spirit is telling them to do. However, I was never the one who would stop. Yet over the past few years, God has slowly been changing me. As I've prayed for Him to show me His "treasures", to make me sensitive to those around me, and to help me be willing and ready to do what He wants, I've become a new person. I now see the homeless. I'm aware of the fact that I may give up my lunch, may have to stop and say something, may have to give away the money in my wallet. I'm no longer going about my busy day in a rush, but I'm mindful that there might be someone that God wants to touch. And granted, I don't always get it right. I miss it a lot. However, when I do hit the mark, I'm always amazed at how blessed I am.
Today was one of those days when I actually hit the mark. :) My toddler and I were out doing our weekly grocery shopping. I knew how much money we had to spend, how we would need to purchase enough to last us the next 9 days, and how we were on a time clock as my boy would be needing a nap. So we hit our first stop, did our shopping, loaded the car, and as we were pulling out of the parking lot, there was a man with a sign that said "food or money for food needed". And we all see these signs everywhere; especially with jobs and finances being hard to come by for many right now. But this time was different. This time I knew I had to stop and give him something. So my brain quickly searched through the list of items that I had just bought. I had plenty of food but nothing suitable to give a man with a backpack. What good would a gallon of milk or a green pepper do the guy? I had no cash on me either. So I prayed about what to do. I thought about buying him a sandwich, then another thought came to me, and I knew it was the right idea. So I decided to head to my next stop and get some cash from the ATM. My boy and I ran in the shop, quickly grabbed the remainder of groceries that we needed, ran to the ATM, then prayed that the man would still be there. We drove back to where we had come from, and yes, he was still there. He was on the opposite side of the street, so I pulled into the other lane, rolled down my window, and frantically waved at him to hurry and come get it. He kindly thanked me, said "God bless you," and I drove off.
And funnily enough, I cried as I drove home. Mainly because I'm just so blessed to be a child of God, to hear His voice, and to obey. Being obedient is such a blessing!! But secondly, I know what it's like to not have money for groceries. I know what it feels like to say, "Lord, we need this amount of money to pay our bills." And I know what it feels like when someone blesses you. Not just by giving you a buck or by saying, "hey, I'll pray for you," but really blesses you!! How can I be out buying groceries to stock my fridge when someone else doesn't have enough to even buy something to eat? How can I not give? Yes, it took part of my grocery money to give to this man, but you know what, who cares.
Lastly, I just want to say that I used to be someone who judged those who stood on the street corners with their signs. I used to assume that they'd spend whatever money I'd give them on alcohol or cigarettes or whatever. But now, I've realized that it's not up to me to judge. It's up to me to obey whatever the Holy Spirit is telling me to do. That's all that concerns me. I do what He says and go on my day. I hope and pray that the man was able to get a good meal tonight and that his life is somehow touched. But all I really know is that I was obedient, and that's what I was responsible to do.
I'm so thankful for the love and grace of God in that He has changed me into someone who can now freely give. The love of the Father has blessed me so much today. And I hope He's blessed you, and others through you, today.
In my natural self, I'm not much of a giver. I grew up with a giving sister and I married a giving man, so whenever I am with them, I am aware and ready that they may stop at any point and talk to someone, give someone something, or just do whatever it is that the Holy Spirit is telling them to do. However, I was never the one who would stop. Yet over the past few years, God has slowly been changing me. As I've prayed for Him to show me His "treasures", to make me sensitive to those around me, and to help me be willing and ready to do what He wants, I've become a new person. I now see the homeless. I'm aware of the fact that I may give up my lunch, may have to stop and say something, may have to give away the money in my wallet. I'm no longer going about my busy day in a rush, but I'm mindful that there might be someone that God wants to touch. And granted, I don't always get it right. I miss it a lot. However, when I do hit the mark, I'm always amazed at how blessed I am.
Today was one of those days when I actually hit the mark. :) My toddler and I were out doing our weekly grocery shopping. I knew how much money we had to spend, how we would need to purchase enough to last us the next 9 days, and how we were on a time clock as my boy would be needing a nap. So we hit our first stop, did our shopping, loaded the car, and as we were pulling out of the parking lot, there was a man with a sign that said "food or money for food needed". And we all see these signs everywhere; especially with jobs and finances being hard to come by for many right now. But this time was different. This time I knew I had to stop and give him something. So my brain quickly searched through the list of items that I had just bought. I had plenty of food but nothing suitable to give a man with a backpack. What good would a gallon of milk or a green pepper do the guy? I had no cash on me either. So I prayed about what to do. I thought about buying him a sandwich, then another thought came to me, and I knew it was the right idea. So I decided to head to my next stop and get some cash from the ATM. My boy and I ran in the shop, quickly grabbed the remainder of groceries that we needed, ran to the ATM, then prayed that the man would still be there. We drove back to where we had come from, and yes, he was still there. He was on the opposite side of the street, so I pulled into the other lane, rolled down my window, and frantically waved at him to hurry and come get it. He kindly thanked me, said "God bless you," and I drove off.
And funnily enough, I cried as I drove home. Mainly because I'm just so blessed to be a child of God, to hear His voice, and to obey. Being obedient is such a blessing!! But secondly, I know what it's like to not have money for groceries. I know what it feels like to say, "Lord, we need this amount of money to pay our bills." And I know what it feels like when someone blesses you. Not just by giving you a buck or by saying, "hey, I'll pray for you," but really blesses you!! How can I be out buying groceries to stock my fridge when someone else doesn't have enough to even buy something to eat? How can I not give? Yes, it took part of my grocery money to give to this man, but you know what, who cares.
Lastly, I just want to say that I used to be someone who judged those who stood on the street corners with their signs. I used to assume that they'd spend whatever money I'd give them on alcohol or cigarettes or whatever. But now, I've realized that it's not up to me to judge. It's up to me to obey whatever the Holy Spirit is telling me to do. That's all that concerns me. I do what He says and go on my day. I hope and pray that the man was able to get a good meal tonight and that his life is somehow touched. But all I really know is that I was obedient, and that's what I was responsible to do.
I'm so thankful for the love and grace of God in that He has changed me into someone who can now freely give. The love of the Father has blessed me so much today. And I hope He's blessed you, and others through you, today.
Friday, August 20, 2010
REMINDER! WE'RE GOING OUT TOMORROW!!
Hey everyone!
Just a quick reminder that we'll be heading back out to the streets of Boulder tomorrow (August 21st!). Please come prayed up and ready to move as the Holy Spirit leads! We'll see you all tomorrow at 3:45pm in the City on the Hill parking lot.
Blessings to you all!!
-TJP
Thursday, August 19, 2010
An Article from the Daily Camera about Boulder's Homeless
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/ci_15821450
That's our friend "Moose" (A.K.A. Brett) on the left side of the picture!!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Bobbie Houston's Sisterhood Blog
Evoke Her Beauty
Posted: August 18, 2010 from Bobbie in Sydney.
Look up "evoke" in the dictionary and it says "To bring or recall to the conscious mind". Search for "evoke" in the bible and you find (in Ephesians 5, Message) the most magnificent of statements... "Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her".
These verses also speak of The Church, in context of a beautiful bride being prepared to one day stand alongside her Saviour King. Heaven delights in this analogy and people who have felt and experienced the warmth of this reality delight also. But let's never forget that those who (sadly) position themselves as "enemies" of this same Saviour, will also position themselves as enemies of His bride. They will never delight or be enthused about her... To them she is an equal threat, no matter how kind and gracious she (continually) shows herself to be.
All I know friends, is that this magnificent Saviour King (aka Jesus)... who has done this world no harm, who came to bring life and hope, who laid his flawless life down in exchange for our flawed lives... delights in His bride. She may not (yet) be perfect, she may not (yet) have all her wedding garments adorned, she may not (yet) understand her full authority in the Oneness she shares with her ‘Heavenly Groom’, but SHE IS THE APPLE OF HIS EYE. This life has an eternal factor attached, and no groom who truly "cherishes" his bride allows anyone to touch her in a harmful way without consequence.
I pray that as His bride (the genuine Christ-centred Church) continues to emerge on the earth, as she comes into full view, as her gracious "touch" is felt by broken, hurting, searching humanity... that she will also know that the One who adores her, will never allow anything to ultimately harm her.
Allow His Words to evoke (bring and recall to your conscious mind) all you are and are purposed to be... And as this Heavenly Groom so poignantly teaches, let's continue to love and pray for those who oppose, lets continue to choose the higher road, lets pray for one another (Eph 6) and lets continue to press on to fulfill His great commission of loving humanity into the saving arms of Heaven above.
Evoke... What a word! (thanks Paul and Ephesians)
Love
Bobbie
Posted: August 18, 2010 from Bobbie in Sydney.
Look up "evoke" in the dictionary and it says "To bring or recall to the conscious mind". Search for "evoke" in the bible and you find (in Ephesians 5, Message) the most magnificent of statements... "Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything He does and says is designed to bring the best out of her".
These verses also speak of The Church, in context of a beautiful bride being prepared to one day stand alongside her Saviour King. Heaven delights in this analogy and people who have felt and experienced the warmth of this reality delight also. But let's never forget that those who (sadly) position themselves as "enemies" of this same Saviour, will also position themselves as enemies of His bride. They will never delight or be enthused about her... To them she is an equal threat, no matter how kind and gracious she (continually) shows herself to be.
All I know friends, is that this magnificent Saviour King (aka Jesus)... who has done this world no harm, who came to bring life and hope, who laid his flawless life down in exchange for our flawed lives... delights in His bride. She may not (yet) be perfect, she may not (yet) have all her wedding garments adorned, she may not (yet) understand her full authority in the Oneness she shares with her ‘Heavenly Groom’, but SHE IS THE APPLE OF HIS EYE. This life has an eternal factor attached, and no groom who truly "cherishes" his bride allows anyone to touch her in a harmful way without consequence.
I pray that as His bride (the genuine Christ-centred Church) continues to emerge on the earth, as she comes into full view, as her gracious "touch" is felt by broken, hurting, searching humanity... that she will also know that the One who adores her, will never allow anything to ultimately harm her.
Allow His Words to evoke (bring and recall to your conscious mind) all you are and are purposed to be... And as this Heavenly Groom so poignantly teaches, let's continue to love and pray for those who oppose, lets continue to choose the higher road, lets pray for one another (Eph 6) and lets continue to press on to fulfill His great commission of loving humanity into the saving arms of Heaven above.
Evoke... What a word! (thanks Paul and Ephesians)
Love
Bobbie
Monday, August 16, 2010
my sister's keeper
Am I my sister's keeper? If you had asked me that a year ago, I would have stopped and thought awhile before I answered. And my answer would have been an uncertain one. However, if you ask me this question now, today, my answer is a definite yes.
What do I mean by "sister's keeper"? Does it mean that I care for my friends and am available for them at all times? Or does it expand out to the women that I go to church with? Or possibly even my neighbors? Does it include the young mom next door to me on the left, the young rocker/hippy looking neighbor on my right, the older, Hispanic mother of 4 a few doors down, the widow who is approaching 80 and living 3 blocks from me, the homeless girl that I met a few Saturdays ago while on Pearl Street, the African woman who was recently mutilated due to civil unrest in her country, the little girl in Thailand who was abducted and now forced to live out her days as a sex slave, and the little girl in India who was left in a dump because her mom had no way to take care of her? Are these ladies my sisters? Should I care about their plight? Who am I to be concerned about these women? When do I have time to even think about them, let alone possibly do anything for them? I'm the mom of a toddler, and as if that's not overwhelming by itself, I also take my son to two jobs, plus do everything else that a wife and mom does. Isn't that enough?
Really, the answer to that question is one that each of us has to answer on our own. But I can speak for myself and say that no, it's not enough. Yet if I just sit here and write a blog in which I preach a lot of words yet do nothing, then it's almost worse than doing nothing at all. Honestly, I have not met the rocker/hippy looking chick that lives on our right. I've spoken to her, and she was shocked that I even said a word. Yet I have not befriended her. I have met the mom who lives on our left; she has two little girls. And like me, she is very, very busy. So much so that I rarely ever see her. But has my son met her girls? No. I can say that I have met a few of the former prostitutes who are living in Thailand. I have worked with ministries that were busy in pulling these girls out of that lifestyle and giving them a home, training, and preparation for a new life. It's a wonderful ministry; the girls are beautiful women who have been recreated because of Jesus and His love for them. And our time and fellowship with them was blessed; they were like sisters. Yet am I actively doing anything for them today? No.
However, God is changing that as He knows that it is not enough for me to just sit by and do very little. My passion is to meet these women, to love on them, to encourage them, and to empower them by showing them the love of Christ and showing them what He has done for them. I know that if I don't do my part who will? If I don't offer my gifts in service for Him, then my life will not have fully served its purpose.
The Justice Project is just a little group of women who know that there is more to life than this. We're a variety of women as some of us are married and some are not. Some of us have kids while others don't. Some of us know our gifts and callings while others are just figuring it out. Yet we're committed to coming alongside one another in order to stir up the gifts within us. We know that this life is short; we know that we're called, each one of us, for a specific reason and purpose. And we're determined to help one another fulfill that purpose. We also know that we are indeed our sister's keeper as we need each other. Our world needs us; they need to know the love of the Father through us.
If any of this resonates with you, please join us as we need you. We need the gifts, the passion, and the unique person that you are in order for us to do this life together and to fulfill our destiny.
What do I mean by "sister's keeper"? Does it mean that I care for my friends and am available for them at all times? Or does it expand out to the women that I go to church with? Or possibly even my neighbors? Does it include the young mom next door to me on the left, the young rocker/hippy looking neighbor on my right, the older, Hispanic mother of 4 a few doors down, the widow who is approaching 80 and living 3 blocks from me, the homeless girl that I met a few Saturdays ago while on Pearl Street, the African woman who was recently mutilated due to civil unrest in her country, the little girl in Thailand who was abducted and now forced to live out her days as a sex slave, and the little girl in India who was left in a dump because her mom had no way to take care of her? Are these ladies my sisters? Should I care about their plight? Who am I to be concerned about these women? When do I have time to even think about them, let alone possibly do anything for them? I'm the mom of a toddler, and as if that's not overwhelming by itself, I also take my son to two jobs, plus do everything else that a wife and mom does. Isn't that enough?
Really, the answer to that question is one that each of us has to answer on our own. But I can speak for myself and say that no, it's not enough. Yet if I just sit here and write a blog in which I preach a lot of words yet do nothing, then it's almost worse than doing nothing at all. Honestly, I have not met the rocker/hippy looking chick that lives on our right. I've spoken to her, and she was shocked that I even said a word. Yet I have not befriended her. I have met the mom who lives on our left; she has two little girls. And like me, she is very, very busy. So much so that I rarely ever see her. But has my son met her girls? No. I can say that I have met a few of the former prostitutes who are living in Thailand. I have worked with ministries that were busy in pulling these girls out of that lifestyle and giving them a home, training, and preparation for a new life. It's a wonderful ministry; the girls are beautiful women who have been recreated because of Jesus and His love for them. And our time and fellowship with them was blessed; they were like sisters. Yet am I actively doing anything for them today? No.
However, God is changing that as He knows that it is not enough for me to just sit by and do very little. My passion is to meet these women, to love on them, to encourage them, and to empower them by showing them the love of Christ and showing them what He has done for them. I know that if I don't do my part who will? If I don't offer my gifts in service for Him, then my life will not have fully served its purpose.
The Justice Project is just a little group of women who know that there is more to life than this. We're a variety of women as some of us are married and some are not. Some of us have kids while others don't. Some of us know our gifts and callings while others are just figuring it out. Yet we're committed to coming alongside one another in order to stir up the gifts within us. We know that this life is short; we know that we're called, each one of us, for a specific reason and purpose. And we're determined to help one another fulfill that purpose. We also know that we are indeed our sister's keeper as we need each other. Our world needs us; they need to know the love of the Father through us.
If any of this resonates with you, please join us as we need you. We need the gifts, the passion, and the unique person that you are in order for us to do this life together and to fulfill our destiny.
Machine Gun Preacher
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Go to www.machinegunpreacher.org to find out more about Sam Childers... Word on the street is that his story is going to be a major motion picture (or so Gerard Butler says!) ...
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Supplies...
Hi everyone,
We've had a ton of supplies come in over the last few months and praise God, we've been able to hand out most of it! So now we're back in the position of needing to re-stock on a few items. Below are the items we could really use for our next outing:
-Lip balm
-Shampoo
-Conditioner
-Gum
-Tic Tacs
-Socks (men's and women's)
-Playing cards
-Gallon sized Ziplock bags
-Sleeping bags (These are a huge hit with the Travelers and so very much appreciated by them.)
-Anything else you can think of!
Again, we just want to thank everyone for all of the giving you have already done and continue to do. It's so exciting when the body of Christ unites in one accord in order to further the Kingdom of God. There is no limit to His riches and greatness...
Have a wonderfully blessed weekend,
-TJP
We've had a ton of supplies come in over the last few months and praise God, we've been able to hand out most of it! So now we're back in the position of needing to re-stock on a few items. Below are the items we could really use for our next outing:
-Lip balm
-Shampoo
-Conditioner
-Gum
-Tic Tacs
-Socks (men's and women's)
-Playing cards
-Gallon sized Ziplock bags
-Sleeping bags (These are a huge hit with the Travelers and so very much appreciated by them.)
-Anything else you can think of!
Again, we just want to thank everyone for all of the giving you have already done and continue to do. It's so exciting when the body of Christ unites in one accord in order to further the Kingdom of God. There is no limit to His riches and greatness...
Have a wonderfully blessed weekend,
-TJP
Thursday, August 5, 2010
I do what I see the Father doing
"When Jesus started His ministry He was ready ~ ready to eat and drink with broken & messy people ~ to focus in their heart not on their behavior ~ to heal them all ~ Never pushed anyone to perform, just to have faith & be obedient & humble ~ He gave people time to change ~ never gave the impression that He was perfect when He was ~ He only said "I do what I see the Father doing" & "the ruler of this world has nothing to do with Me"."
This is from my friend Patricia Camu's post on FB today. It is a theme I am seeing on a daily basis both in my life and in the lives of others. God is doing a work. My heart is crying out for more ... more love, more compassion, more mercy, more grace, more kindness. This is what will attract people to Christ and not all the criticism, judging and bickering that is rampant today. With all my heart I want to stay as far away from that as possible.
This is from my friend Patricia Camu's post on FB today. It is a theme I am seeing on a daily basis both in my life and in the lives of others. God is doing a work. My heart is crying out for more ... more love, more compassion, more mercy, more grace, more kindness. This is what will attract people to Christ and not all the criticism, judging and bickering that is rampant today. With all my heart I want to stay as far away from that as possible.
Monday, August 2, 2010
3rd Outing Officially Scheduled!
Hey everyone! So excited... Heading back out August 21st. We'll meet at the church at 3:45pm like usual - spend a quick time in prayer - and then head on down to the Band Shell... Please pass the word along. Let us know if you'd like to come if you are new to The Justice Project (TJPBoulder@yahoo.com). We'd love to have you and your friends... But we'll take whoever shows up. :) Blessings to you all this week... We love you and even greater, God loves you...
-TJP
-TJP
Journal Entry from Outing #2
OH, HOW HE LOVES US!
The words of a song come to mind: ‘Oh, how… how He loves us, how He loves us so!’
I couldn’t get those bright, blue sparkling, tear-filled eyes out of my mind! That 60 something year old gentleman. That’s exactly what he was, a gentleman. Who, when I said, “Oh, isn’t it wonderful how Jesus loves?” said, “You don’t know, you just don’t know!”
I kind of thought he meant that he felt he wasn’t worthy or “you just don’t know how I’ve lived!”
But, no, he touched his heart with one hand and raised his other to heaven, smiled at me with those loving, blue eyes and said, “You just don’t know how much He loves me!” Then my eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t speak except to say, “ Yes, what wonderful love He has for us both.”
He kept turning away to wipe away the tears. How sweet, I thought that You are loving us, Holy Spirit. I couldn’t articulate how the Holy One was enveloping and moving all around us, just loving us, loving us all right there at that moment.
I knew then that it wasn’t what we thought we were there to do: pray, teach or preach. But, we were to just be. Just be with one another, humbled in God’s unfailing, underserved love for all of us there.
I thanked those at that picnic table for allowing us to hang out with them for a while, and they spoke up and said, “No, thank you for spending your time with us.”
How I felt at that moment was pure love for someone else that Jesus loved, that Jesus bled and died for, and oh, how there’s nothing we can do to earn it, and nothing we can do to keep Him away. There’s nothing we can do to stop His everlasting, ever-enduring love from breaking through our pain, our sorrow, our displeasure with one another. His love is truly our breakthrough- for each and every one of us who are created to carry His love and then give it away!
God wants to do something here today! Some of you have broken hearts, brokenness that you don’t know how to repair. There are some of you here that the cares of this world have just weighed you down with: depression, despair, all the stuff that Satan just wants to push you down with and bury you under with such a heaviness that you don’t know how to get out from under.
God wants to release you from all of that weightiness today! If you will just come and bow before Him right now, right where you are, and lay down those burdens, He will take them from you.
As you do that, as you release that brokenness, that torment, that grief, He will then be able to fill you up with His peace, His love, His joy! He can then replace that broken heart with a heart that is whole again, even better than it was before. God is reaching for you. Reach out to Him as well! You’ll never be the same, never the same!
-Debbie Matthews
The words of a song come to mind: ‘Oh, how… how He loves us, how He loves us so!’
I couldn’t get those bright, blue sparkling, tear-filled eyes out of my mind! That 60 something year old gentleman. That’s exactly what he was, a gentleman. Who, when I said, “Oh, isn’t it wonderful how Jesus loves?” said, “You don’t know, you just don’t know!”
I kind of thought he meant that he felt he wasn’t worthy or “you just don’t know how I’ve lived!”
But, no, he touched his heart with one hand and raised his other to heaven, smiled at me with those loving, blue eyes and said, “You just don’t know how much He loves me!” Then my eyes filled with tears. I couldn’t speak except to say, “ Yes, what wonderful love He has for us both.”
He kept turning away to wipe away the tears. How sweet, I thought that You are loving us, Holy Spirit. I couldn’t articulate how the Holy One was enveloping and moving all around us, just loving us, loving us all right there at that moment.
I knew then that it wasn’t what we thought we were there to do: pray, teach or preach. But, we were to just be. Just be with one another, humbled in God’s unfailing, underserved love for all of us there.
I thanked those at that picnic table for allowing us to hang out with them for a while, and they spoke up and said, “No, thank you for spending your time with us.”
How I felt at that moment was pure love for someone else that Jesus loved, that Jesus bled and died for, and oh, how there’s nothing we can do to earn it, and nothing we can do to keep Him away. There’s nothing we can do to stop His everlasting, ever-enduring love from breaking through our pain, our sorrow, our displeasure with one another. His love is truly our breakthrough- for each and every one of us who are created to carry His love and then give it away!
God wants to do something here today! Some of you have broken hearts, brokenness that you don’t know how to repair. There are some of you here that the cares of this world have just weighed you down with: depression, despair, all the stuff that Satan just wants to push you down with and bury you under with such a heaviness that you don’t know how to get out from under.
God wants to release you from all of that weightiness today! If you will just come and bow before Him right now, right where you are, and lay down those burdens, He will take them from you.
As you do that, as you release that brokenness, that torment, that grief, He will then be able to fill you up with His peace, His love, His joy! He can then replace that broken heart with a heart that is whole again, even better than it was before. God is reaching for you. Reach out to Him as well! You’ll never be the same, never the same!
-Debbie Matthews
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
THE I HEART REVOLUTION
As soon as the I-Heart Revolution Film comes to DVD, The Justice Project will be presenting it to the entire church on a special evening... We'll keep you posted on that... But for now, watch the youtube and let the words and images soak into your heart... This is what it's all about...
Monday, July 26, 2010
Recommended Reading
All recommendations can be purchase from www.amazon.com
____________________________________________________
(Amazon.com Review) Product Description:
Inside of Hong Kong was the infamous Walled City. Strangers were not welcome there. Police hesitated to enter. It was a haven of filth, crime and sin. Prostitution, pornography and drug addiction flourished. Jackie Pullinger had grown up believing that if she put her trust in God, He would lead her. When she was 20 years old, God called her to the Walled City. She obeyed. And as she spoke of Jesus Christ, brutal hoods were converted, prostitutes retired from their trade and heroin junkies found new power that freed them from the bondage of drug addiction. Hundreds discovered new life in Christ. Chasing the Dragon tells the whole amazing story exactly as it happened. Equally amazing has been the reach of this ministry, now detailed in this updated and revised edition. From Hong Kong to the Philippines, Thailand and beyond, the ministry that started with Jackie and her friends taking people in to live and care for them has continued and developed to form the present St. Stephen s Society. Readers will be inspired by this tale of trust and loving as Jesus would.
___________________________________________________
Please watch the youtube below for description of Christine Caine's book.
_________________________________________________
From the Back Cover:
What does it look like to trust God with EVERYTHING?
In Compelled by Love, Heidi Baker gives you a glimpse of total dependence and authentic Christian community by taking a fresh look at the Beatitudes.
In the war-torn, poverty-stricken country of Mozambique, she and her husband have experienced God's miraculous provisions and witnessed the transformed hearts of people caught in desperate life-or-death situations. Join them and discover the reality of God's kingdom here on Earth.
-For anyone wondering if they could truly live a life of radical love...
-For anyone wondering if the Beatitudes mean anything...
-For anyone wondering how to follow Jesus all the way...
"If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work is hopeless. We have no backup plan. We have nothing but Him."
--Heidi Baker
____________________________________________________
(Amazon.com Review) Product Description:Inside of Hong Kong was the infamous Walled City. Strangers were not welcome there. Police hesitated to enter. It was a haven of filth, crime and sin. Prostitution, pornography and drug addiction flourished. Jackie Pullinger had grown up believing that if she put her trust in God, He would lead her. When she was 20 years old, God called her to the Walled City. She obeyed. And as she spoke of Jesus Christ, brutal hoods were converted, prostitutes retired from their trade and heroin junkies found new power that freed them from the bondage of drug addiction. Hundreds discovered new life in Christ. Chasing the Dragon tells the whole amazing story exactly as it happened. Equally amazing has been the reach of this ministry, now detailed in this updated and revised edition. From Hong Kong to the Philippines, Thailand and beyond, the ministry that started with Jackie and her friends taking people in to live and care for them has continued and developed to form the present St. Stephen s Society. Readers will be inspired by this tale of trust and loving as Jesus would.
___________________________________________________
Please watch the youtube below for description of Christine Caine's book.
_________________________________________________
From the Back Cover:What does it look like to trust God with EVERYTHING?
In Compelled by Love, Heidi Baker gives you a glimpse of total dependence and authentic Christian community by taking a fresh look at the Beatitudes.
In the war-torn, poverty-stricken country of Mozambique, she and her husband have experienced God's miraculous provisions and witnessed the transformed hearts of people caught in desperate life-or-death situations. Join them and discover the reality of God's kingdom here on Earth.
-For anyone wondering if they could truly live a life of radical love...
-For anyone wondering if the Beatitudes mean anything...
-For anyone wondering how to follow Jesus all the way...
"If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work is hopeless. We have no backup plan. We have nothing but Him."
--Heidi Baker
Thought for the Day...
"God is not about using the mighty, but the willing. He is not into using amazing people, just ones who are prepared to lay their lives down to Him. God is not looking for extraordinary, exceptionally gifted people, just laid-down lovers of Jesus who will carry His glory with transparency and not take it for themselves." -Heidi Baker
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Calling All COTH Men!!
Men of COTH... We need you!! Please join us July 31st (Friday) at 4pm as we hit the streets to minister to the homeless. We would love for you to join us and distribute care packages to the men as we sit and find out their stories with you. We've found that there are 10 times as many homeless men as there are women out there and we truly believe that God will use you to reach those men. Please let us know if you are interested in going out with us by emailing us at TJPBoulder@yahoo.com or contacting one of The Justice Project team leaders. Look forward to hearing from you!!
A New Way to Give
Get your Boulder Change
The Carriage House Community Table has an innovative program that will help us and COTH members help the homeless.
"Through the Boulder Change program, you can purchase $1 denominations of vouchers that can be redeemed at nearly 20 local vendors including:
King Soopers, the RTD Bus Station, some Conoco Gas Stations, Boulder Recreation Centers, the Mental Health Center and a number of restaurants.
The vouchers may not be used for alcohol or tobacco products and no cash change is returned to the user. This is an effective way to support the homeless of our community without worrying whether the money will be used for self-destructive habits."
This would be an excellent way for us to give and know that it's going towards things that will nourish and help the homeless that we reach. Please let us know if you're interested in purchasing these vouchers.
for the least of these
I have to admit that I haven't had much of a heart for the homeless. I've always had a heart for the poor but not for the poor of my own town or city. I've always assumed that our poor are there (on the streets or on the street corner) because of choices that they've made. And over the past few years, the Lord has shown me that it's not for me to judge or decide why that person is there. He's not asking for me to differentiate between those that will spend the money that I give them on alcohol and those that will spend it on food. Is He asking for us to use wisdom? I'd say yes, but above all else, He's asking for us to just give His love.
Last Spring a few of us ladies from COTH decided to work through the book, "Compelled by Love" by Heidi Baker. And if you know me at all, then you've heard me say how this book is a must read. I think that all of Heidi Baker's books are worth reading, but this one especially touched me in that she addresses the issue of loving those who will take what you have to give to them and then abuse it (and possibly you) in return. She talks about her street kids and how it takes a lot of time, a lot of love, and a lot of patience and the work of the Holy Spirit to get the habits and the behaviors that these kids have always known out of the kids. And tonight as we met with the other ladies who are involved with the Justice Project, it hit me that it's the same way with the homeless. I can't go out and expect that the people we meet will change overnight. I can't expect that their lives will ever change. However, I can hope and believe that somehow God will work through us to speak to their hearts. And if He can touch them, then that is the best thing that can happen. That is the thing that is most needed. Our world just needs love, and that is what we have to offer.
I'm realizing that the calling of every believer is to go out and minister the love of God. It's not a huge revelation or rocket science; it's just basic. And it may not always be easy. There is the possibility that we may never see the fruit of our pouring out. However, the call is still there. God didn't give His Son so that we'd just be saved, enjoy life, and go to heaven. Yes, we get all that, but we are responsible to tell others. We are responsible to give what we have, and what we have is the love of God in our hearts. So if we can love on others by saying a kind word, by giving a traveler a bag of deodorant, shampoo, and socks, by saying hey, by the way, Jesus loves you, then we are doing what we're called to do. I can't sit by and not do that.
As I end this thought, I want to share a quote by Mother Teresa. Again, if you know me at all, you've probably also heard me talk about this lady. Her heart and her actions inspire and challenge me. She was a woman who absolutely caught God's heart to love the poorest, sickest, ugliest, most abused, most deformed individuals that this world has to offer. And she did it knowing that none of them would ever give anything back to her. She did it purely out of her love for Jesus. And this is the revelation that she received from the Lord many, many years ago while riding on a train in India - "My dear, you must see your beloved Jesus in each one of these miserable people. You must love that Jesus, serve that Jesus and look after that Jesus. Never forget His voice when He says, 'Whenever you did it for the least of these My brothers, you did it for Me.'"
Last Spring a few of us ladies from COTH decided to work through the book, "Compelled by Love" by Heidi Baker. And if you know me at all, then you've heard me say how this book is a must read. I think that all of Heidi Baker's books are worth reading, but this one especially touched me in that she addresses the issue of loving those who will take what you have to give to them and then abuse it (and possibly you) in return. She talks about her street kids and how it takes a lot of time, a lot of love, and a lot of patience and the work of the Holy Spirit to get the habits and the behaviors that these kids have always known out of the kids. And tonight as we met with the other ladies who are involved with the Justice Project, it hit me that it's the same way with the homeless. I can't go out and expect that the people we meet will change overnight. I can't expect that their lives will ever change. However, I can hope and believe that somehow God will work through us to speak to their hearts. And if He can touch them, then that is the best thing that can happen. That is the thing that is most needed. Our world just needs love, and that is what we have to offer.
I'm realizing that the calling of every believer is to go out and minister the love of God. It's not a huge revelation or rocket science; it's just basic. And it may not always be easy. There is the possibility that we may never see the fruit of our pouring out. However, the call is still there. God didn't give His Son so that we'd just be saved, enjoy life, and go to heaven. Yes, we get all that, but we are responsible to tell others. We are responsible to give what we have, and what we have is the love of God in our hearts. So if we can love on others by saying a kind word, by giving a traveler a bag of deodorant, shampoo, and socks, by saying hey, by the way, Jesus loves you, then we are doing what we're called to do. I can't sit by and not do that.
As I end this thought, I want to share a quote by Mother Teresa. Again, if you know me at all, you've probably also heard me talk about this lady. Her heart and her actions inspire and challenge me. She was a woman who absolutely caught God's heart to love the poorest, sickest, ugliest, most abused, most deformed individuals that this world has to offer. And she did it knowing that none of them would ever give anything back to her. She did it purely out of her love for Jesus. And this is the revelation that she received from the Lord many, many years ago while riding on a train in India - "My dear, you must see your beloved Jesus in each one of these miserable people. You must love that Jesus, serve that Jesus and look after that Jesus. Never forget His voice when He says, 'Whenever you did it for the least of these My brothers, you did it for Me.'"
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Purpose
I read an article recently on ESPN.com about a retired female tennis player who's had a hard time with life since she's retired from the sport. She was a child tennis prodigy who won numerous big tournaments in her day... Tennis is all she's ever known... Now that she's retired, she's been asking her friends "Without tennis, who am I?"
My heart was moved with compassion for her as I continued to read the article...
A lot of women ask themselves "Who am I?" It's a common question that all people ask themselves and it usually is associated with a "Without such and such" added to the beginning... "Without my boyfriend, who am I?" "Without my husband, who am I?" "My children are off at school. Without them, who am I?"
I can totally relate to how this tennis player feels...
I was not a pro child prodigy tennis player but I did play sports from the time I was a young child... For 11 years of my life, being an athlete defined who I was and in a lot of ways, it was my identity. Finally, my senior year of college came... I gruadated from college and I could no longer call myself an athlete... I no longer carried that title with me... It was quite a shock to my system... Softball was the one thing in my life that I really excelled at... I had confidence in my abilities and in a lot of ways, it felt like I had worth because of it. It was the one thing I could count on. Who was I without it??
I will be honest with you... It bummed me out for a few years - it didn't make me suicidal like this tennis player but it was a struggle nonetheless... I felt like I was no longer good at anything... I had no title, I was working a warehouse manufacturing job that was not exciting, and I really just had a hard time adjusting to life after college in general. Finally I had to ask, "Lord, who am I?" It was during this season of my life that I really sought the Lord for purpose and really drew closer to His heart than I ever had before. I realized very quickly (cause God will show you quickly if you're willing to seek Him) that I would only feel fulfilled and have purpose in this life if I figured out who I was in Christ. And that all began with knowing who God is... Knowing His character, His true nature... Setting my eyes on Him and who He is and is in me... This took my eyes off of myself and what I felt like I had lacked...
I'm still learning more and more about His loving nature and who I am in Him... There are days and times in life where I really have to take a moment and pause and get back to "OK Lord, remind me who I am in You again cause this situation just totally bummed me out." I've experienced the broken heart of a relationship that didn't work - a love that no longer loved me back - but in the end, I was found still standing because of the Lord and who I am in Him... The more you know the character and heart of God, the more quickly you bounce back from things that would like to devestate and flatten you.
There are so many women asking themselves "Who am I?" So many women in Boulder... So many lost souls that are depressed, downtrodden, devestated by life and the situations they are faced with daily... And you might say, "Well, honestly, I've been asking myself that question for quite some time myself." Be encouraged... God's got the answer for you! He is soo faithful!! As you seek the Lord for your purpose and as you seek to know who He is and who you are in Him, you'll quickly realize that your life will begin to take the shape He's designed for it to take... And I encourage you (even if you're not sure what your purpose is right now) to encourage both believers and non-believers to seek the Lord for their purpose... Being found "In Him" will change your world and it will change their's as well...
The Justice Project is all about sharing the love of the Lord with those around us... Sharing with other's who our God is, both in word and deed... It's our desire not to focus on us (our issues, what we're lacking, etc) but to focus on those around us... To reach out and love on the lost, destitute, downtrodden, hopeless... As we do this, we believe that God will pour into us those things that we are lacking... So essentially, pour out knowing that God is going to pour into us everything that we need to serve Him and those around us... To pour out and be filled up once again... If you don't know what your purpose is in this life, help another find there's... As you do this, God will reveal His purpose for your life to you... He will take you to new heights in Him...
May His love touch the retired tennis player, the fatherless, the homeless, the business woman, the lost... May our purpose be found in Him... For He is more than enough...
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
our sister's keeper
So I hope this isn't a confusing, too much info, kind of preachy type blog. Forgive me if it is, but this is me sharing my heart and sharing what we are learning.
A few of us ladies from the Justice Project have been listening to a series of cd's that are from the Colour Conference, which is put on by the ladies of Hillsong Church. There are 10 cd's, and they are packed full of wisdom. They're a lot to digest. :) This morning, I was listening to the last cd as I was driving into work, and funnily enough, without any of us knowing it, the speaker, Christine Caine, read the verse that we had chosen as our theme verse - Isaiah 1:17. I thought it was so appropriate, and it confirmed the reason that we chose this verse. The point of the Colour Conference has been to challenge the women of the church to realize that we are our sister's keeper. The women of our world need us!! And it made me think about our time on the streets of downtown Boulder this past Sunday night. Bridget wrote below of how we gave out sunglasses to the ladies, and one of them tried them all on before she chose. She was very comfortable in asking us to tell her which pair suited her. It showed me how we as women are indeed in this together. We are our sister's keeper - just as the women of Hillsong have discovered. It is in fact God's heart that we look out for each other. It's His heart that we know what women all over this world are going through and how we can help and support one another.
The other thing that I'm learning is that the bond that we share between us is also recognized by the men in our lives. Every lady that we found in Boulder was accompanied by one or more men; none were by themselves. And each time that we approached these groups of men and women and asked if we could speak to the ladies, the men graciously gave us the opportunity. More than that, they thanked us for giving to the women. They weren't at all offended that we only wanted to speak to the girls. That blessed me so much! It also gave me a heart for the guys too . . . . but really, it showed me that these guys recognized the needs of their fellow travelers. They realize that these women need personal items, need gifts, need encouragement, and more than anything need the friendship of another lady, even if it's a stranger.
So I challenge you (along with me) to ask yourself how you can be your sister's keeper? Do you know what the women in your street are going through? Do you know where the homeless are in your town? Do you know how the immigrant lady down the road is adjusting to this culture? Do you know the lady sitting in front of you at church? Do you know the plight of the women who are trafficked all over the world (even into our country)? Does your heart break for them, and are you doing something to reach them?
-Micah Hayden
A few of us ladies from the Justice Project have been listening to a series of cd's that are from the Colour Conference, which is put on by the ladies of Hillsong Church. There are 10 cd's, and they are packed full of wisdom. They're a lot to digest. :) This morning, I was listening to the last cd as I was driving into work, and funnily enough, without any of us knowing it, the speaker, Christine Caine, read the verse that we had chosen as our theme verse - Isaiah 1:17. I thought it was so appropriate, and it confirmed the reason that we chose this verse. The point of the Colour Conference has been to challenge the women of the church to realize that we are our sister's keeper. The women of our world need us!! And it made me think about our time on the streets of downtown Boulder this past Sunday night. Bridget wrote below of how we gave out sunglasses to the ladies, and one of them tried them all on before she chose. She was very comfortable in asking us to tell her which pair suited her. It showed me how we as women are indeed in this together. We are our sister's keeper - just as the women of Hillsong have discovered. It is in fact God's heart that we look out for each other. It's His heart that we know what women all over this world are going through and how we can help and support one another.
The other thing that I'm learning is that the bond that we share between us is also recognized by the men in our lives. Every lady that we found in Boulder was accompanied by one or more men; none were by themselves. And each time that we approached these groups of men and women and asked if we could speak to the ladies, the men graciously gave us the opportunity. More than that, they thanked us for giving to the women. They weren't at all offended that we only wanted to speak to the girls. That blessed me so much! It also gave me a heart for the guys too . . . . but really, it showed me that these guys recognized the needs of their fellow travelers. They realize that these women need personal items, need gifts, need encouragement, and more than anything need the friendship of another lady, even if it's a stranger.
So I challenge you (along with me) to ask yourself how you can be your sister's keeper? Do you know what the women in your street are going through? Do you know where the homeless are in your town? Do you know how the immigrant lady down the road is adjusting to this culture? Do you know the lady sitting in front of you at church? Do you know the plight of the women who are trafficked all over the world (even into our country)? Does your heart break for them, and are you doing something to reach them?
-Micah Hayden
Girls Like You and Me, No Different...
I had such high expectations on the outcome of our outreach to the ladies and those expectations were far exceeded by what God had done through us. While we had been on the look out for girls, we found them. They were somewhat hesitant on talking with us but opened up like a flower after we let them know that we just wanted to talk with them, and talk they did. We found them to be girls just like you and me, no different. We had some sunglasses to give them and they wanted to know what style suited them best, so like a girl. My heart was overwhelmed by how God moved. We met Christine, from California, who has lived on the street as a missionary for 8 years. These girls and some of the men that we encountered were so open to have us pray for them. ((MORE TO FOLLOW))
-Bridget Tompkins
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