August 2012

News From: Ryan & Noleen    A2J Year 5 Begins Soon "Building upon firm foundation"
Dear Ryan, "I was like a stone lying deep in mud, but He that is mighty lifted me up & placed me on top of the wall."    I love this poetic picture of God's salvation written by St. Patrick,it reminds me of where I am without God's saving act towards me. This summer I experienced God saving me from a place of deep fatigue and dryness. I experienced deep personal restoration that poured over into my family.  We were able to enter into the joy of being a family. And from a place of clarity we were able to step back and evaluate our priorities as a family.  As we slowed down deep convictions were re-discovered and new ones were formed. The quote on the right speaks poignantly to truth that if we hope to be a source of hope and light to the world around us it starts first in our own families.		"The world today is upside down because there is so very little love in the home, and in family life. We have no time for each other. Everybody is in such a terrible rush, and so anxious...and in the home begins the disruption of the peace of the world."-Mother Theresa
Spotlight on Hospitality We are Embraced and Welcomed Home by our Heavenly Father"How often it seems we find God asking us to do the very things that God has done for us: "In my Father's house are many rooms," said Jesus. "I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you...I will come back and take you to be with me" (John 14:1-3). Hospitality is a command we are given because we have been given a home. We welcome others because we have been welcomed. We build rooms in our lives for strangers, outcasts, and neighbors because we too were once strangers when the Son prepared us a room." Over the past 4 years of the life of A2J we have been able to show hospitality to hundreds of people through our service projects, prayer weeks, celebrations, and retreats.  We have also given long term hospitality to young people looking for hope and a belonging, to young single mothers needing support, to our homeless friends who need a reprieve from the streets. Also to refugees, helping them navigate the tough transition to the US from places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Iran.  And we have given hospitality to immigrant children from Central America, helping them reunite with their families.  Hospitality has been central to who we are!     A2J Hope House?...with your help Shelly and Taryn at the A2J Memorial Retreat We are praying about turning the existing Men's house (and finding a new Men's house) into a permanent place of hospitality for women who are trying to get off the street.  Our dear friend Shelly, who we have known for the past five years and has come to know and follow Christ through the ministry of A2J.  She is homeless and has been living in the backyard of the house next to the A2J prayer house and we want to have her move in to the future A2J Hope House and help give leadership to this new ministry.   She has been faithfully caring for the prayer house and has shown herself trustworthy in our neighborhood through her servant heart and diligent work.  She gives leadership in a lot of our work with the homeless and is very effective because of her own journey. She is excited about the possibility to move into the A2J Hope House and give encouragement and guidance to other women trying to get off the street.   We are in the process of developing a team to oversee this ministry and building partnerships with others who are doing similar work.  One Huge need is to get a team that will pledge to donate the $900 a month, for the next 12 months, to cover the estimated monthly operating costs for the A2J Hope House.   Would you consider committing to give monthly or a one time gift towards this new ministry?  Please email me if you would like more information.  I would love to meet with you in person to discuss this further! With Grateful hearts,