LAKE MILTON BAPTIST TEMPLE TESTIMONY ABOUT COVID 19 FOOD PANTRY

Hello Bro. Jan,
Here is our testimony about the food pantry...

Our story for Amazing Grace Food Pantry, ministry of Lake Milton Baptist Temple, begins around 10 years ago. I was pastor at Mountain City Baptist Church where Brother Daniel Jones is pastor presently. Bro. Daniel started going on trips with Operation Renewed Hope and coming back and challenging us that there were two parts of reaching people, Preaching and also Caring. Jesus went about and helped people with the physical and spiritual. We truly only concentrated on the spiritual part.

God began to convict me about opening a food pantry. It did not come to pass in Tennessee, but when God called me to LMBT in Ohio the burden would become a reality. After praying about it for over a year God sent a man to our church that had the same burden. After many meetings we opened our doors in March 2019. 

We knew that they need to hear the Gospel, but also they needed to see the Gospel in us as well. So we treat everyone that comes as an honored guest. They all hear a Gospel message through a video and will be offered Gospel Tracts and prayer. We have had few professions, but we are called to care if no one is saved. No one knew much about our church in the community, but they are slowly hearing about the church with the food pantry that cares. We pray Christ will be glorified!

Since March 2019, we have gradually seen a growth of the number of people coming through the pantry each month. We started with 40 families coming through and last month during the pandemic we had 185 families go through. It is an awesome opportunity for our church family to play a part in outreach. We have on average 30-40 volunteers every pantry day. 

God has been so good to us to bring your ministry into our lives. Thanks for all you are doing here to the uttermost!

Matthew 5:14-"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid."-By God's grace we will be seen showing Christ's love.

pastor Joseph Griffis

ORH - SEE MINISTRY FACE OF INDIA

Tuesday, May 5, 2020 Dear Friends, Go to New ORH Interactive Update https://conta.cc/2yhYKn9 JOSEPH PROJECT - “OPERATION LOVE THY NEIGHBOR” There is light at the end of the tunnel. That light is not the lessening of restrictions, although that is much appreciated and needed; but it is a light shining from church ministries making COVID-19 a ministry opportunity, a disaster with a "Ministry Face." The church is so vital in society! We are the salt and light of Jesus' declaration of ministry principles in the Sermon on the Mount. Thank God, we are more and more allowing our light to shine in this dark period.  Go to the following link to read about “OPERATION LOVE THY NEIGHBOR. https://operationrenewedhope.blogspot.com/2020/04/joseph-project-love-thy-neighbor.html JOSEPH PROJECT – FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST, RALEIGH, NC “Bearing Burdens” Friendship Baptist Church, Pastor Bob Vradenburgh, is engaging in food distribution in the Raleigh, NC area. Through members of the Church, Friendship was able to obtain food to distribute to the school children of Wake County. Over 20 volunteers are manning the food distribution point. They are giving the gospel to many families. A children's daily devotion is being distributed with connection with children's ministries video productions. Go to the following links to read about “Friendship Baptist Church – “Bearing Burdens” https://orhnews.blogspot.com/2020/04/friendship-baptist-church-put-ministry.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX0aAr3-Z6o Joseph Project – Bhadravathi, Karnataka, India, Dr. John Paul Moses, MD "Greetings to you in the Precious Name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, through whom we are saved by Grace and have the gift of Salvation. I trust that all is well with you and your families. I pray that God would bless your hearts as you go through the pictures of the food supplies, we have been distributing through your prayers and to the poor and the needy. There are no words to describe how grateful we are unto you for your prayers. May our Lord enlarge your coast." ORH was able to sent $1200.00 to Dr. Moses for the feeding of the 200 families. Pray we can continue. Go to the following links to read reports from Dr. John Paul. https://files.constantcontact.com/34565190801/e5940919-dcae-4887-b2a2-ec88a226ec9c.pdf https://files.constantcontact.com/34565190801/3f2a6ec8-6b16-4c1e-b0d6-37d0ca96a2f7.pdf Please pray for our Covid-19 efforts in India, Uganda, Ukraine, Liberia, Ghana, Pakistan, Bangledesh, and Peru. Requests are coming each day from others. If you wish to give by credit or debit card, go to www.operationrenewedhope.org and choose “Network for Good.”  Please designate the gift for your specific purpose using “My preference is” then stipulate your preference. If you wish to give by check, please send the check to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309.  Please designate the gift for your specific purpose using “My preference is” then stipulate your preference. God bless you, The Operation Renewed Hope Family Around the World!

(As per counsel, for the benefit of our donor’s tax-deductible donations, Operation Renewed Hope has added the following statement.  The IRS requires that Operation Renewed Hope retain control over distribution of all donations; therefore, please use the designation description “My preference is” before the designated reason for the donation.  Thank you for helping ORH honor you and the IRS.)

YOUTUBE ORH VIDEOS WATCH ORH PRODUCED VIDEOS TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR MINISTRY.

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH - PUT A "MINISTRY FACE" ON COVID-19

FRIENDSHIP BAPTIST CHURCH, RALEIGH, NC

The distribution of food to children in our community has been a true blessing.  Our leaders have worked to make the distribution go smoothly.  From pick-up of the freshly prepared foods to the actual distribution, the work has been a blessing.   Workers have registered to be available on certain days of the week from 11 am to 1 pm to distribute the food with the gospel. 

Our team secretary has kept the flow of information going between group members.  She has sent  reminders for work days and collects information for briefing.

The church has also engaged in preparing a tract just for this Covid-19 time period.  Our church graphic designer has carefully put all the information for distribution together.  She is making certain that the gospel is well adorned.  She has designed the daily children's devotion, "Jesus Fed the Multitudes", to be appealing to children.

We are thankful that our Spanish Pastor is working with us in the food distribution to make us capable of communicating with the Spanish speaking families which we serve.

The next way our church is putting a ministry face on Covid-19 is our mailout campaign to our community.  The special tract prepared is put in the envelope with other materials in both English and Spanish.  We have made a database of addresses all very close to our Church.  Mailing labels are created and then put on the envelopes as they are stuffed with the gospel materials.  Our first mailout went to approximately 1000 homes immediately around our church.

Beside the food provided for the children, FBC is putting together food sacks for families.  While the food distribution to the children is happening, the sacks are distributed to families who come by the distributions point.  Our workers are also distributing these items to the doors as well.

We are practicing social distancing and wearing PPE gear.  Our church ladies have made masks so we are compliant.

A little boy who has been coming to get the meals provided by the school system brought a special gift with a message.  The picture below is the gift with message.  It is rewarding to see that the families receiving the food do appreciate the effort of our volunteer, even in rain or heat, to constantly distribute the food.

ORH - PUT A "MINISTRY FACE" ON COVID-19

Sunday, April 26, 2020 Dear Friends, Youth Special Operations for Christ YOUTH TRAINING FOR IMMEDIATE SERVICE AROUND THE WORLD Go to http://www.operationrenewedhope.org/contact/index.html and ask for information now. JOSEPH PROJECT – Nehemiah’s Network “Bearing Burdens” Nehemiah's Network directed by Pastor Alan Jenkins is a partner of Operation Renewed Hope. Pastor Jenkin's ministry sent 250 masks to Belvedere of West Lake Assisted Living. He wrote the following: "So far we have given to nursing homes 250 (masks)." Nehemiah's Network received this kind note. (Click on logo to see pictures and more.) "Good Morning Pastor, I hope this email finds you well. Myself and my staff at The Belvedere of Westlake are grateful for the masks that were given to us from Cleveland-West Face Mask Sewing Group and Nehemiah's Network. Please thank the group on our behalf for all their hard labor. The masks are of great use during this time. Sincerely, Lauren Arbogast, Health Care Coordinator" There is more to read and see.  https://orhnews.blogspot.com/2020/04/nehemiahs-network-love-our-neighbors.html. JOSEPH PROJECT – Faith Baptist, St Matthews, SC “Bearing Burdens” Pastor Ernie Medlin has been a great friend to the ministry of Operation Renewed Hope. His church, Faith Baptist, has always extended a gospel reach into his community. They are extremely involved with food outreach. While visiting his church, I saw first-hand the work they do to be a shining light in their community. Please go and read their report about what they are doing during the Covid-19 restrictions to reach their community. There is more to read and see. https://orhnews.blogspot.com/2020/04/faith-baptist-church-st-matthews-sc.html. Joseph Project – Kotvas Family, Deaf Ministry, Lima Peru, “Bearing Burdens” ORH asked the Kotvas family of Macedonia World Baptist Mission how they would use $1000 to minister to their people in Peru. "With 1000 dollars we would buy 10 bags of 50 kilos rice at 40 dollars each..85 chickens at 4 dollars each. And 8 25 kilo bags of beans for 38 dollars each. We are in a crisis here because of the lack of work as the people have been under strict quarantine since the 12th of march. There are many Venezuelan refugees here that have absolutely nothing. We have flour and sugar that we give and as we receive it...vegetables. These would be added into a gift pack and gospel tracts. We also are baking bread to give as we can. We are publishing online for children and teens and adults the gospel message. We are taking bread as well to local police with tracts." ORH, first, sent $500 to help, but after their first report came in the other $500 was sent. ORH is very glad to work with the Kotvas family during COVID-19. More to read and see. https://orhnews.blogspot.com/2020/04/joe-and-lisa-kotvas-report.html. Please pray for our Covid-19 efforts in India, Uganda, Ukraine, Liberia, Ghana, and Peru. Requests are coming each day from others. If you wish to give by credit or debit card, go to www.operationrenewedhope.org and choose “Network for Good.”  Please designate the gift for your specific purpose using “My preference is” then stipulate your preference. If you wish to give by check, please send the check to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309.  Please designate the gift for your specific purpose using “My preference is” then stipulate your preference. God bless you, The Operation Renewed Hope Family Around the World!

(As per counsel, for the benefit of our donor’s tax-deductible donations, Operation Renewed Hope has added the following statement.  The IRS requires that Operation Renewed Hope retain control over distribution of all donations; therefore, please use the designation description “My preference is” before the designated reason for the donation.  Thank you for helping ORH honor you and the IRS.)

YOUTUBE ORH VIDEOS WATCH ORH PRODUCED VIDEOS TO TELL YOU ABOUT OUR MINISTRY.

Faith Baptist Church St. Matthews, SC - "Love thy Neighbor"

Faith Baptist Church St. Matthews, SC

Dear Jan, I am sure you have heard about Lori  and Oleg by now...we are not trying to toot our own horn, but here is what  we are doing  during the Covid-19 shut down.  Your  letters are  very encouraging  and I pray this will be as well  my friend.

Faith Baptist Church (done by John, Paul, and Gary and Celeste) have been  able to continue their food distribution  in spite of the lock down.

The men  have been supplying the muscle and Mrs Celeste has been  bagging the food and supplies.

The  folks  who receive the food come by, NOT able to come in, but they come to the back of the church and they are giving supplies.

Also, many ladies in the church bought early on lots of medical supplies and  toilet paper to be able to use as outreach  supplies for people who need these in the community.

Also on Sunday  since we have  a  large front yard....we have been able to NOT miss even one Sunday AM service we have a DRIVE IN service like the old  drive in outside movies used to be. It has grown every week with visitors.....from the community.  These  services are also streamed  on Facebook by a lady in the Church (Sharon); Pastor Ernie Medlin

JOE AND LISA KOTVAS REPORT

From: Lisa Sent: Monday, April 20, 2020 2:38 AM To: jan@operationrenewedhope.org Subject: Re: Relief in peru

We wanted to send you an update and praise.  We thank you so much from here in Peru.  The quarantine has been quite crazy here and so many lives affected. We have asked God to use us as His hands here to share with others his great love and care for them in this very hard time.  Each day we have seen Him answer that prayer. A few examples and some pictures:  Wee bought a sack of rice and a smaller sack of lentils and split peas. The supplies are sometimea limited on choices. These were taken to our ministry by the airport an hour away also Efata Baptist Church. There were many blessed by these supplies and they were received with a gospel tract.   We also bought 2 sacks of rice and 2 sacks of split peas here in Villa El Salvador as soon as we were received monies from operation renewed hope.  ORH.  We bagged 100 bags of rice and 100 of split peas and before we finished began

responding to the phone calls and the doorbell.  Filling their market sacks with these as well as a bag of sugar and 2 cans of  cans of chicken  that God sentas well as a few green onions and anything else we could.get together. Each person that came was masked to fulfill the military police's requirements, yet their eyes showed their hearts as they described having empty kitchens and asking God to PLEASE supply the next meal! And how He had....how he just opened up heaven and held out his hand. They thank us and start to reach out to give a hug but remember they can't...seeing us step back and smile regretfully that we can't express our hearts in this way but pointing up and saying oh...thank God! He sent it for you today.  He loves you.   We give them a tract in their bag that shares more and when we can tell them the rest of the story. Saturday was special! Jenny a new middle aged lady from Venezuela prayed with me in this entryway to receive Christ. She said..in really not sure how to pray right but should I just .. Just ask him? Then she asked God to be her

Father and told him she did believe in Jesus and his death burial and resurrection and she cried as she continued and asked Him to forgive her and save her.  She lives close by in a room she is renting she is a widow with her mother and 3 teenagers all living in that room. She said she was going to go tell them what Jesus did.  We thank God that He saw her desperate heart and used us to show her His love. We thank you for the money that you sent so we could buy that sack of groceries.  Thank you!!! Lisa and Joe Kotvas

NEHEMIAH'S NETWORK "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR"

Nehemiah's Network "Love thyNeighbor"

Boxes of food ready to distribute

Alan C. Jenkins, we received this message from one of the Nehemiah's Network deliveries we helped with earlier this week: "I can't believe all the things in the box and bags you dropped off.... what a blessing that was. Thank you!"

A note sent from the nursing home to say thank you!

Nehemiah’s Network had the honor to provide lunch for this wonderful team of servants on the front line of helping coronavirus patients. Praise God and pray for these wonderful people at Marymount Hospital. May their families be protected!

Front line servants of the community at Marymount Hospital.

Today Nehemiah’s Network had the privilege to honor the courageous men and women who serve in the First District Police Headquarters with lunch. Please pray for these 120 who serve during the 24 hours of a day in 3 shifts. They are truly worthy of our respect and prayers that they return home safely each day.