church projects: workday with @habitatsrq
We just asked. A quick email to the local Habitat for Humanity office helped us to discover how we can help on a local project. When we asked about who this home was for… The homeowner Lisa is a life-long resident of the Newtown area and has been a school bus driver for 12 years. [...]
paper or plastic? [the grocery store ministry]
![paper or plastic? [the grocery store ministry]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/grocery-store-100x100.jpg)
My husband Rich and I exchanged apprehensive glances as we stood in line at the grocery store checkstand. Behind us, a man flung his order onto the conveyer belt: two rotisserie chickens, a basket of strawberries, a loaf of French bread, a large bottle of cheap wine. His brows met in a deep furrow above [...]
called to be a light
Easter is over. Christ is Risen! The darkness of Lent is behind us. It’s time to rejoice and celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior! Or is it? Homelessness continues. Hunger abounds. Natural disasters destroy communities. Poverty cripples societies around the world. Divorce and abuse rips families apart. The day after Easter, the Washington Times published [...]
rising from the ashes [an interview with bob shirock]
![rising from the ashes [an interview with bob shirock]](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/Spirit-of-Detroit-100x100.jpg)
Something incredible is about to happen in Detroit. This Saturday, 40,000 people from over 500 congregations will gather for a historic prayer walk. Beginning at Comerica Park and walking 2 miles down Woodward Avenue to the Spirit of Detroit statute on the riverfront, Christians throughout metro-Detroit will claim the truth of the verse inscribed on [...]
how to pray for your community
This experience in Santo Domingo was totally unexpected. Our team was down there to see how local churches all across the country are transforming their communities, but this one wasn’t on our agenda. It was our last day in the Dominican Republic, and we had already finished all of our meetings. We were making a [...]
they came for the turkey, and we gave them The Lamb
I had to do it. When I heard what my friends at Harvest Tabernacle were doing for Thanksgiving, I just knew that I had to be a part of it. Every year this church gives away turkeys (and other food items) to hundreds of area families that wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise. The [...]
how to do a #loveblitz
What does love look like? It’s difficult to know where to start with this one. Maybe it’s enough to say that there were two conditions that existed in close proximity to each other… (1) A family with a need. (2) Lots of people in a church who want to love extravagantly because they were first [...]
taking your city…one heart at a time.
The thought of taking your city for Christ can sound awesome and exciting, yet daunting and intimidating at the same time. Can one person’s efforts really have a lasting and rippling effect on their city? I think so. I believe change starts from the inside out. And as we are being changed by the love [...]
[real-time connections] chapter 7: serving together
![[real-time connections] chapter 7: serving together](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/foot_washing-100x100.jpg)
This Chapter has relevance in 2 areas of my Life. 1.) My Church is Also a Missional Church, similar to Bob Roberts- Northwood Church, Focused on reaching outside the 4 walls of our Church, to Reaching the world for Christ, locally, and globally = Glocally My Home church is Lifebridge Church, In Fort Wayne, Indiana. [...]
government health care? why christians shouldn’t be surprised
This whole health care thing has gotten way out of control! And this is something that the church (that means us, the people, not the institution) needs to take notice of and do something about. But what I am about to propose to you may take you off guard. First let’s take a look at [...]
[ministry spotlight] hpc midnight outreach
![[ministry spotlight] hpc midnight outreach](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/hpc-midnight-outreach-thumb.gif)
by Carole Turner, Healing Place Church, Baton Rouge, LA The first time I walked into a strip club, I knew I was doing the right thing. Sometimes I get to answer the question “what is midnight outreach?” I love talking about it because I think it is one of the most amazing outreaches I get [...]
children of microfinance: fernando in bolivia
by Kelli Ross Fernando is proud to walk to school in his brand new shirt and shoes. “My teacher said that I look really handsome — I love her a lot!” María, Fernando’s mom, started a knitting business in Tarija, Bolivia, with the help of a Five Talents’ partner, Semillas de Bendición (Seeds of Blessing), [...]
children of microfinance: irene in kenya
by Kelli Ross Irene is one of the top students in her 4th grade class, and her mother is very proud of her achievements. Without the help of the Thika Community Development Trust, Irene may not have been able to attend – or have had such success – in school. Jane, Irene’s mom, has been [...]
children of microfinance: rosita in peru
by Kelli Ross Before Five Talents helped, Rosita and her family suffered from severe malnutrition. Six-year-old Rosita Elizabeth and her family had moved from a small Peruvian city in the Amazon jungle. And her parents searched in vain for odd jobs – just to survive in Lima. Rosita in Peru Rosita’s mother (Maria) tells the [...]
children of microfinance: akot in sudan
by Kelli Ross Thanks to the income his mother now earns from her small food business, 10-year-old Akot has begun first grade, the first step toward his dream of becoming a doctor. Ahok, Akot’s mother, used small loans to begin selling prepared food items, like vegetable dishes and sandwiches, in Lietnhom, Sudan. With the income [...]
children of microfinance: atupenda in tanzania
by Kelli Ross Twelve-year-old Atupenda hopes to become a teacher one day. This fifth grader attends school in Kilolo, Tanzania. Her favorite subject is English, and she plays netball after school with her friends. Her mother, Atuitie, recently paid back her first loan of $75 to the Mama Bahati Foundation, a Five Talents microfinance partner [...]
children of microfinance: esther in indonesia
By Kelli Ross Five-year-old Esther is thankful for milk. Since her mother, Phiong, joined GERHATI in Jakarta, Indonesia, and expanded her cake business, her family of six can now afford to buy nutritious food and to pay for Esther’s school fees – she’s in kindergarten this year! Phiong owed a loan shark $820. Without the [...]
the way it should be…
While studying the Bible and participating in ministry is my biggest love, I do have to say that I am a bit of a sports fan. Even if you are not a sports fan, I urge you to read continue reading this one. I particularly enjoy sports that involve my local (Florida) teams. I’m not [...]
in the name of love
How do you put love into a Ziploc bag? All it takes is a bottle of water, a tuna snack, a granola bar, a fruit cup, a pair of socks (yes, a fresh, clean pair of socks), and a hand-made ‘love note’. Oh, and LOTS of consistency… This is exactly what the young adults that I [...]
gospel translations :: the open source mission
I really only know one language, and even struggle with pig-latin… But I do know others who are multi-lingual! So when it comes to translating the Bible and other Christian reading materials into other languages, all that I can do is encourage others. So that is exactly what I want to do here! Mark Goodyear [...]
social action :: true condition of the world
As Christians if we are serious about putting our faith into action, knowing that it is what God’s heart is, then we must take an honest look at the world around us. I was recently talking to some friends from Zimbabwe, and I was shocked at some of the things that they shared with me. [...]
social action :: starting the conversation
A while back I wrote a post about “getting uncomfortable.” The Young Adults Ministry that I lead had just gotten done putting together a conference-style event based on the Get Uncomfortable study by Todd Phillips. At that time I really felt like God had rocked my world, as well as several others in our group. [...]
