Invisible Neighbor?

Some months ago I had the opportunity to attend a worship service in a large church located in a major southern city.    The minister was away and I enjoyed hearing from the president of the local university.  In the sermon, the president of this large university was talking about homeless people and the need for the Christian church to become more involved.    He gave an illustration from his own local church that is located in the downtown area across the street from the University.      I was inspired by his illustration relating to the fact that homeless people would come into the doors of his local church and worship on Sunday.   The illustration continued to state that the homeless visitors were comfortable on the back pew of the church.   

This story has haunted me for a long time now.   What haunts me is the fact that these people are recognized by this university president as “homeless.”    Apparently the individuals with whom he identifies as “homeless” are in shabby clothes, and appear to be the stereotypical picture of which we have all become accustomed.    This thought has occurred to me.   Why would a regular attender to a worship service continue to look “homeless?”   Is it that we tolerate the “look” and are happy to see a homeless person in our worship sanctuaries but are not willing to do anything about helping that person get some new clothes?   Further why would we allow a homeless person to sit on the back row of our sanctuary without reaching out to that human being?   Why wouldn’t we assist her in finding a place to live so she would not be homeless? 

Here is my struggle today.   Are our Christian antennas that dull to those around us?   Are we so accustomed to seeing that person and recognize them as just part of the landscape?    Have we lost the compassion for helping the human being who needs a place to stay and clothes to wear?   Why is it that there are visibly homeless people attending our churches?    Once we have identified a person in need, why is it we don’t take the next step and do something?    I reflect upon the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan.   Before the Samaritan arrived on the scene of the beaten and naked man, there were two “church” people who came before him; people who were unable to see the need or were too busy to stop and help.   Maybe they just didn’t “see” the man.  He was a part of the landscape.   There is a great book by John Ashman entitled Invisible Neighbors.    I love the subtitle:  “If you don’t see them, you’re not looking.”

LaCount Anderson

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Blanket Bundles

On November 12, WRTP – His Radio,  will sponsor again this year Blanket Bundles.    You are asked to put 20 grocery items in a blanket, tie it up with cord or string, and bring to the Walmart Superstore located at 251 Premier Blvd.  Roanoke Rapids, NC.   The collection will take place at Walmart from noon until 4:00 PM.    Blanket Bundles has been a great help to the ministry of Union Mission of Roanoke Rapids over the past years.   They are in great need of food in that the demand upon food box distribution has never been greater.   Currently Union Mission is distributing over 1000 boxes per month to those who are in need.    The food is distributed Monday – Friday from 1:00 PM until 4:00 PM at 1310 Roanoke Ave.  Roanoke Rapids, NC   

Future Events at Union Mission of Roanoke Rapids, Inc.:

·         Annual Thanksgiving Community Meal November 23, 11:00 AM until 4:00 PM  (volunteer workers needed.   Frozen Turkeys needed)

·         Spring Concert – March 10, 2011   6:00 PM at The Centre.  

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Shelter News

I wanted to take this opportunity to share with you about our two homeless shelters in northeastern NC.

Union Mission of Roanoke Rapids -  Pray for Chad Reed as he works with the homeless men coming to the Mission for help.   Pray that God will use him daily as he teaches the men the Bible, works with them in counseling and goal setting.   Pray for the men that they will see the gift God has given each of them to use this time to know Him better.    

Union Mission is giving out an enormous amount of food these days.   In August the mission gave out over 1000 boxes of food to people coming by for assistance.   Our food supply is running low these days and donations of non-perishable food are needed.   The Mission will host their annual Thanksgiving Community Dinner again this year on November 23 from 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM.   They need donations of turkeys to provide enough food for 900 plates.  If you would like to volunteer or donate please call 252-537-3372.   

Faith House- Under the direction of Gloria Caudel seeks to help women and children who find themselves homeless.   Faith House is in need of facility repair and funds to help the women and children.   To find out how you can help please contact LaCount Anderson :  landerson@thefellowship.info  - 252 537-3372 ex. 28

We welcome Ms. Leah Anderson to the staff of the Eastern NC Poverty Network.  Leah serves as our Woman's Counselor working with the two shelters and our local churches.  She desires to assist women and children.  Her office is at All Saints Episcopal Church, Roanoke Rapids, NC.   Contact Leah at :  leahandreed@gmail.com   - 252-537-3610.

Pray and Act

Back in 1978 while I was a young seminary student I had the privilege of working with Rev. John Grant at Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church in Raleigh. John relayed a story to me while we were experiencing conflict within the congregation.
In the 1950’s John had a colleague in the Asheville area who was the pastor of a church. God was working in the church, change was occurring, and 5 or 6 deacons didn’t like the direction that was being taken. These deacons decided to take action to have the pastor removed from his position thus eliminating the problem they perceived in the direction of the church. They set about a systematic plan to discredit him in the church. Private discussions were had as well as public opposition to the direction of the church was made. Every attempt at moving forward was thwarted by these deacons.

The story goes on to state that one of those deacons became ill and died. Another and then another were tragically killed. Within one year all of the deacons of this mountain church, who had set a course to stop God’s work within the congregation had died; all but one. The pastor received a call that the last of the deacons was in the hospital gravely ill. He had requested the pastor to come to visit him in the hospital. Upon entry into the hospital room this man confessed his sin and asked for forgiveness from the pastor. The pastor forgave this man. Then the pastor witnessed the final deacon’s death right before his eyes.

I am reminded that God is in control and He will not let anything or anyone stop the work of His church. I am reminded that the most important thing we can do is actively pray for God’s wisdom. Then we must be courageous and follow God’s leadership no matter what He asks of us. If we are earnestly seeking wisdom from God, acting with courage in situations that come our way, all will be well. When we take action without His leadership, going our own way, we will surely fall into trouble.

-LaCount Anderson

Christian Woman's Job Corps and Prayer Items

Prayers Answered:
Her name came to us from different sources. WMU contacted us as did a church in Oak City, Raleigh, and Ahoskie. We interviewed Joyce to find out that she was being released from prison in just a few days. Would we help? After Leah talked with Joyce we realized that this lady really desired help for she and her teenaged son. Our answer was YES! Thus begins a story of Christian Woman's Job Corps here in northeastern NC. Today Joyce and her son are in temporary housing and she starts a new job tomorrow. We ask you to pray for our new ministry: Christian Woman's Job Corps. We are two weeks old and are already busy helping people who need help. We point people to God and encourage them to let Him be involved in their lives. If you would like to become involved as a mentor or to be a part of our financial team please contact Leah Anderson - 252-537-3610 or by email: leahandreed@gmail.com

Prayers For:

• Christian Woman's Job Corps - We have not met our start up goal financially. We are moving forward in faith that God will provide. Your help is needed. Please make your check to CBF and mail to LaCount Anderson P.O. Box 165 Scotland Neck, NC 27874 .
• Union Mission - Needs immediate funds for repair to the freezer and a second repair to their air conditioning.
• Faith House - Structure Repair on facility.
• Alton, CJ, Derrick, David, Orlando, Wilson, James, Raymond of Union Mission. Pray for the ladies at Faith House. Pray for Joyce and her son as they begin again.
• We received a gift of a mobile home to be used for someone in transition. Pray that God will show us where to place the home and for someone to live in the home who needs help.

Stepping Out on Faith

This past week a group of teenagers arrived at Union Mission to help us wherever we needed it. There were about 15 or so of these young missionaries. They stayed at the local hotel and came over every morning to work. They stepped out in faith that there was something to do in Roanoke Rapids, NC and traveled to Union Mission in faith.

Right after their arrival on Monday I received a call from a fellow missionary here in the area. He indicated that there was a farmer in Hobgood who was having difficulty in getting in his crop. It turns out he had, on faith, planted several acres of corn, squash, and okra not for the purpose of selling but for the purpose of giving to those in need. He had done this for a few years and for some reason this year he was having a difficult time in getting people to come to the farm and harvest.

I gave a resounding YES to this man and on Tuesday and Wednesday the teens, their chaperones and I drove over an hour to Hobgood, NC and worked in the 100 degree heat harvesting about 1000 pounds of corn. On Wednesday we looked at this huge pile of corn in our pantry at Union Mission and realized that we needed to bag it up and get it to people in need.

On Wednesday morning, I sent the teenagers to Enfield, to give out the corn to the neighbors of Faith House, our shelter in the area. To my surprise came a group of Children on Wednesday afternoon from Roanoke Rapids. They came in faith that there was something to do at Union Mission. They were coming to help wherever they could. I watched these children aged 6-9 years of age work like little busy bees bagging up corn. They bagged it all . Now it was ready for distribution. Over the next day we gave out corn to those who came to Union Mission for a food box, and we sent it out into the neighborhoods through our regular channel of food distribution. At the end of Thursday all 1000 pounds of corn we had received on Tuesday was in the hands of families who needed food.

Steppin out....

Christian Woman's Job Corps Begin

Our ministry with those in poverty will be two years old with the beginning of the General Assembly in Tampa this June. We are excited about the evolution of the work meeing the needs of those who are homeless and near homeless in northeastern NC. We have been working very hard to give organization to this ministry and now are feeling that things are falling into place.

So many stories to tell about how God has met the needs of many people in our area. Last evening Anna told me a story about a lady that had come to her with help for her light bill; her lights will be turned off today if help doesn't arrive. The touching thing that was evident in her request for help is that she is desperately looking for work; any work, anywhere. She indicated that her only talent was cleaning and she talked about the pleasure she gets from cleaning or yard work. Her request also included "can you help me with training on how to get a job?"

Tearfully, Anna related that we are very close to providing training. The frustrating fact is that we could not help her today. We have received approval from the Transformational Development Team to fund a new project. The account is in place at CBF and we are now attempting to raise funds. We need financial help to help this lady and others who for various reasons, due to no fault of their own, cannot help themselves.

In cooperation with WMU of North Carolina we have partnered together to begin Christian Woman's Job Corps in northeastern NC. We plan to expand our ministry, The Eastern NC Poverty Network, to form a physical office located in Roanoke Rapids, NC and fund staff to help us. This is truly a "God-Sized Task" and one that has humbled us greatly. We know nothing else but to ask for funds to reach the people of northeastern NC with more than a light bill payment, more than a bag of food. We desire to develop relationships with these people and find solutions to their problem through the ministry of mentoring and counseling that will take place through Christian Woman's Job Corps.

On the Eastern NC Poverty Network group at the fellowshipportal.ning.com or on our facebook page (Eastern NC Poverty Network) you will find a brochure that tells more about the ministry to those in poverty. We invite you to look at our brochure and if you can print it out and help us raise funds we would be grateful. If you can give, please note the giving form on the brochure. We thank you for any help you might be able to offer to the people of northeastern NC.

Here is the link to our brochure: Christian Woman's Job Corps Eastern NC

LaCount and Anna Anderson
CBF Global Field Personnel serving in Eastern NCemail:
landerson@thefellowship.info