"Sandy" Relief Post 22

"Sandy" Relief

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Dear Friends,

Christmas is always wonderful; and for me personally, the best Christmas is written about in the messages below of a loving work given because of a loving savior. May Jesus always be lifted up before men by our lives, no matter what the date, so that all men will be drawn unto him.

Below is a message from Matt Recker, Heritage Baptist Church, New York City, NY; and Brother Farrell Osborne of Grace Baptist Hour in North Carolina.

"Hello, Bro. Jan,
Greetings. I want to thank you for your faithfulness and labor of love to keep in touch with those of us in New York City who are still working through the aftermath of Sandy. Long after news media gives much coverage and pretty much moves on to the next big news story, and overlooks those still struggling to get into their new homes, with their finances, or to return to anything close to normalcy, you have continued to keep in contact with us and to work to help us in New York City.

Thank you for recently connecting us with a dear brother, Evangelist Farrell Osborne, who had a trailer full of supplies, toys, clothes, and even some used furniture to give to those in Sandy. I appreciate your work to put us in touch with each other. Our plan was to meet at 12 noon in Far Rockaway and to distribute the items, and it worked without a glitch. The people of Far Rockaway who are still in a very difficult circumstance, gladly received us, the supplies, Bibles, tracts, and our prayers. (I am attaching a few pictures of our outreach. There are more pictures at our Heritage Baptist Church Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151345666855569.524253.237485640568&type=1)

We appreciate so much how God uses you in a multi-faceted way to bring the hope of the Gospel to those recovering from times of devastation. May God continue to prosper, provide, and produce great fruit through your labor of love! Sincerely in Christ, Matthew Recker"

 

Brother Farrell who gathered and brought the supplies, also sent this message.

"Dear Brother Jan, We made our trip to New York the other day. We met with Brother Matt, and unloaded a truck of goods to his people. Thank you for your help in making the contact for us. We still have some things in our warehouse; I would be glad to take back there or to someone else who needs it...Merry Christmas to you and yours. Brother Farrell. Grace Baptist Hour"

Please go to Pastor Recker's website to see the photos of this good work of love.

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

If you would like to donate by check. Send the check to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309. Mark the check "Sandy" Relief.

For the latest information go to www.orhnews.blogspot.com.

Merry Christmas, the greatest love story ever told.
Jan Milton

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

"Sandy" Relief Post 21

"Sandy" Relief

Thursday December 20, 2012

Dear Friends,

This is a report from Pastor Bob Harrington, Fellowship Baptist Church, Baden, PA. Please take time to read and share this with everyone you can.

"After developing a burden to help our Christian friends who were devastated by super storm Sandy, four churches agreed to contribute financially to help send a team which would provide tangible relief in the form of supplies and labor. They are Bible Baptist Church of Carnegie, PA; Grace Bible Church of Washington, PA; Grace Baptist Church of Monroeville, PA; and Fellowship Baptist Church of Baden, PA

Through their contact with ORH, the connection was made with Pastor Kent Sager, of Grace Baptist Church in Freeport, NY. We learned that the devastation had affected him personally, by flooding the basement of his house with over five feet of water. His garage door (which was partially sandbagged) finally gave in to the unyielding surge of ocean water when the level reached six feet. As the door buckled, the lower level of his home became a complete loss in just seconds. Mrs. Sager remembers standing on top of the basement stairs and watching one of the walls in her basement disappear. It was truly frightening. They had never seen anything like this before.

Due to the generosity of the aforementioned churches, the expenses of the team were met and we were able to labor for a week to repair what Sandy had destroyed in minutes. Our purpose was to free up Pastor Sager and his family so that they could continue to do what God had called them to do—reach their locale with the gospel of Christ—rather than be tied up for several months bothered by incessant repair work. They needed to have their home back.

Three men came from western PA and God sent two others from Lighthouse Baptist Church in Michigan. Scott Wolfe (of Zechariah’s Builders) from MI was able to use his construction expertise to act as the team’s foreman. In one week’s time the team was able to accomplish the reinstallation of the electrical, plumbing, and drywall losses (over 20 books of drywall), as well as installing a better, brand-new garage door for Pastor Sager. Although more work remains in the basement bathroom (due to its being enlarged as part of the remodeling project), Scott was able to stay on into the next week and finish up the drywall installation and spackling. It seems the basement is ready for painting. We praise the Lord for what He enabled us to accomplish while we were in New York. May the Lord bless you as you consider helping Pastor Sager put the finishing touches on what may remain to be done. For Christ,    Bob Harrison, Jr., FBC, Baden"

 

Pastor Sager shows water height at his home.

 

 

Work team from churches in Pennsylvania and Michigan

 

I hope this was a blessing. We now need a painting team in January 2013 to go to Pastor Sager and help him. If your church would like to go and help paint the inside of his house, please, contact ORH. We need a church to take up an offering to pay for the paints that Mrs. Sager will pick. Then we need several very careful and diligent people who can paint the bottom of his home.

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

If you would like to give by check, please send the check to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309. Mark checks "Sandy" Relief.

For the most current information go to www.orhnews.blogspot.com.

 

God bless,

"Sandy" Relief Post 20

"Sandy" Relief

December 17, 2012

Dear Friends,

We received this email from Pastor Baker of Victory Baptist Church in the Bronx, NY.  He and his church because of the “Sandy” destruction have been forced to take on a new debt for ministry, if his church is to stay in the area of his old church building.  Below is a report of their current needs for the Christmas season.

“Jan,

Thank you so much for all that you and Operation Renewed Hope have done for us. The fire extinguishers were installed last weekend, and the exit signs (to be compliant with NYC fire code) are being installed today. By the grace of God, all the money has come in that was needed to cover the cost of the renovations on the new building! To God be the glory. In just 4 weeks in our new building, 19 first time visitors have attended our services!

The good news is that our bills are paid off, the challenge that we face is that we have very little funds and we are now facing the holidays. We took a huge step of faith in increasing our rent from $1,400.00 a month to $4,500.00. This is a step of faith that I know God wanted us to take. Our challenge right now is that we are facing the holidays and as a young church, many people go away for this time of year and our offerings drop significantly. We are asking if you could help us with a little assistance for the next month or two as we get through the holiday season and as our church grows in this area.

Thanks again for all you have done.”

This is a picture of the “Exit” signs after the installation.  ORH was privileged to help with the cost of the installation.

Pray that ORH will be able to help this church.  It faced the worst destruction of any church about which  we know.

We have some funds, but we must spread those out among the churches in need.  Pray the money will stretch.  Thank you so much for helping ORH to help these good churches and the people of their communities.

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

If you would like to give by check, please send checks to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309.  Mark checks “Sandy” Relief.

For most current information, go to www.orhnews.blogspot.com.

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

"Sandy" Relief Post 19

"Sandy" Relief

December 10, 2012

Dear Friends,

Dave Gill, a member of Bible Baptist Church in Hampton, GA, went to the "Sandy" impact area to speak with each of the pastors with whom ORH has been working. They gave him video testimonies. We will be making this video available shortly for all who would like a copy.

This is the report that Dave sent to ORH after his weekend trip to New York, City.

"Jan,
God prospered our journey to NYC/NJ. We were able to capture interviews from the pastors who received money from ORH. They all told compelling stories.
We visited the Midland Beach area which was hit hardest and was being ministered to by Repentance Baptist Church. Five weeks after the event, many still do not have electricity. The sanitation department is using earth moving equipment to collect the trash and the Red Cross along with other church groups are still distributing food and other needed supplies. Many homes are condemned. Many were swept off their foundations. Many homes are boarded up. Other places people are living in these conditions because they have no other place to go. Through all this, the Gospel is advancing where it previously would have been shut out. Dave Gill"

Please continue to pray. We could do so much with the gospel in that area. Coats are going to be needed in the cold weather. It will be a hard Christmas for many.

If you would like to help, contact ORH immediately.

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

If you would like to donate by check, send checks to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309. Mark checks for "Sandy" Relief.

For most current information go to www.orhnews.blogspot.com.

God bless,
Jan Milton

Operation Renewed Hope
4928 Necessary Ct
Blue Springs, MO 64015
910-987-5072
orhus@aol.com
www.operationrenewedhope.org

"Sandy" Relief Post 18

"Sandy" Relief

December 8, 2012

Dear Friends,

Great blessings!  Pastor Kent Sager called last week and told us that as a result of all the work that 4 people came to Christ.  This is marvelous and wonderful to our ears.

Pastor Matt Recker received help and support from Auto Racing Outreach.  ARO is a ministry to the car racing sports industry in the Hickory NC area.  I encourage you to go to their web site and learn more about the work. http://www.autoracingoutreach.com/

Greg Berkey, founder and director  of ARO wrote this report.

"Dear Jan:
We appreciate your recent help with our trip to NYC for Hurricane Sandy Relief and Ministry. We were overwhelmed by the generous gifts that came in by those that were burdened to help those suffering in the NYC area because of the Super Storm that hit it. We were able to load up our 28 foot trailer with $ 4,000 of cleaning supplies, food, water, blankets, and clothing to distribute to those in some of the hardest hit areas of the storm. It was great to work with Pastor Matt Recker and his folks from Heritage Baptist Church. Brother Matt prayed with those that came by for assistance, and gospel tracts were lovingly handed out to everyone. Within two hours that trailer was empty except for a few clothing items. Thanks again for your help.  Greg Berkey  Auto Racing Outreach"

ORH offered $700.00 in fuel money for this outreach, but Greg informed us that we could use the money elsewhere because his expenses had been met.  (Praise God)  We sent that $700.00 to Pastor Baker in Victory Baptist Church, the Bronx.  He needed the money to meet fire code in his new facilities which replaced the completely unusable facilities which were flooded.  Pastor Baker wrote the following.

"Jan,
Here is the quote for the exit signs with installation. I think this is a good price. He actually knocked off $200.00 in labor. The total cost of this project is $1143.18.  This is a very reputable company and I did see their credentials and they are licensed in NYC and are approved by FDNY. Thanks so much for your help.
Pastor Ken Baker"

Fairbanks Missionary Baptist Church
Fairbanks, IN
Pastor Larry Gilaspy

Fairbanks Missionary Baptist Church sent hand-made quilts to Greg Berkey of ARO to distribute with Pastor Recker..  Pastor Larry Gilaspy, his wife, Cathie, and the ladies did a great job to provide a wok of love by their hands. The church also made a substantial financial contribution to the work in NY.  God bless our wonderful pastors and churches.

ORH was also able to send to Pastor Jim Bickel of Bethel Baptist Fellowship in Brooklyn $2000.00 for people in need in his church body.  We are hoping at the first of the year to send more for these families that lost all..

ORH was able to send to Pastor Phil Rizzo of City Baptist Church in Hoboken, $2000.00 for work with families in Far Rockaway, NY.  Pastor Recker and Pastor Rizzo are going into the communities and helping the people who are hurting.  Pray for their work.  This is Christ before people who are suffering.  Pastor Rizzo wrote this report.

"Bro Milton,
There are some community needs that would open additional doors of ministry for our church. Some ideas that we have are for blankets, coats & cleaning supplies. Any funds that would be available for these needs would certainly be spent wisely. Thank you again for all you encouragement & support.   Philip Rizzo, Pastor"
Pray we will be able to meet all the needs.  We must not forget to pray for these people because the work has just begun.  I want to thank all the churches for their donations of money, people, and time.

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

If you would like to send a check, send it to Operation Renewed Hope, P.O. Box 43242, Fayetteville, NC 28309.  Please mark the check "Sandy" Relief.

For the latest information go to www.orhnews.blogspot.com.

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