"Sandy" Relief Post 9

"Sandy" Praise and Prayer

Tuesday November 6, 2012

Dear Friends,

Truck Going to "Sandy"
Anchor Baptist Missions

Anchor Baptist Missions in Mt. Pisgah, NC is part of Anchor Baptist Church.  Dr. Randy Barton is pastor.  We have had the great privilege of working with them over many years.  They have taken materials from their "Disaster" collection and have moved them to Pastor Nate Watkins, Pastor Phil Rizzo, and Pastor Matt Recker.

The truck has 8 pallets of bottled water, 600 blankets, 540 gallons of bleach, and some food.  Michael Blanton is the director of this action and is driving the truck.  I want to thank them for all their efforts.  Also, I want to thank them for stopping in route to the area and purchasing $540.00 worth of propane heaters.  With the storm coming the people will need them.

We are now working with a new pastor in the area.  His home or church was not damaged by "Sandy" so he has begun a ministry to he community.  Below are his first statements to Operation Renewed Hope.

Pastor Nate Watkins
Staten Island, NY

This is a story that Pastor Watkins related to me.  Usually, I ask the pastor to write this for me so I publish his words.  However, Pastor Watkins is so busy this will not be possible.  But, I promise; I will be as faithful to his words as possible.

His house and church were not damaged.  He and his people live on the edge of where there was great destruction by “Sandy.”  He went to this close community and began distributing needed goods including propane heaters which he purchased.

While there he began to tell them who he was and why he was there – the love and compassion of Christ.  A young lady approached him telling him that she was a Christian.  She further explained that she was a Jew who had trusted Christ.  She was excited to see him, a Christian pastor, giving help to the needy of the area.

She explained that this impact area where she lived was entirely a Jewish community.
Later, through her, Pastor Watkins was able to do more work with the people of the community.  The young lady’s mother and father who also were Jewish, but unsaved, came, and Pastor Watkins was able to give them a propane heater and speak to them about Christ.

The young lady told her father that this was the compassion of Christ which Pastor Watkins was demonstrating.  Pastor Watkins said the father almost broke into tears.  The young lady said this is the first time that he had been confronted with the witness that Jesus saves and was so emotionally moved.  She told her father this work of the pastor is the difference between other religions and her faith in Christ.  What a wonderful testimony.

He also related that as he helped one lady she declared, “I am and atheist, but no longer.”
The compassion and love of Christ can change the most hardened heart when our good works glorify our Father.

Again, this is from my recollection of the conversation with Pastor Watkins and by his permission for me to tell this testimony.

Pastor Ken Baker

Pray for Pastor Baker and his congregation.  They have had to lease a new building to replace the old building that was made unusable by "Sandy."  They are repairing this building and getting ready for first services on Sunday.  They need work teams and funds.  The new building is costing much more than the old.  They are stepping out on faith.

If you would like to donate by debit or credit card go to www.operationrenewedhope.org and choose Network for Good.

If you want to send a check, mail it to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O.Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC, 28309.  Mark the check "Sandy" Relief.

Go to www.orhnews.blogspot.com for latest information.

God bless,
Jan Milton
Operation Renewed Hope
4928 Necessary Court
Blue Springs, MO 64015
910-987-5072
www.operationrenewedhope.org
orhus@aol.com