Financial Giving

Ever felt like you wanted to give to God financially, but felt like you couldn't or shouldn't? You aren't alone. Check out Dana (& Tom's) story and what they've learned about giving in the past year:

"Tom and I were DINKS---- dual income, no kids. We were pretty happy with that lifestyle and we were pretty sure we would never have kids. In May 2005 we bought a fixer upper home that needed a lot of work. In August 2005---we had an unplanned pregnancy. Ian's arrival was a path we never expected to go down and when we found out about his medical issues we were thrown into a whole new world.

Babies are expensive----but when you add in daycare, medical insurance, and the doctors visits/ surgeries/ medications------we quickly fell into a very large debt trap.

Over the 3 and a half years of his life we have had to work insane amounts to keep our heads above water. At one point his medications alone were over $250 a month. Tom pulls as much over time as possible and takes triple calls but there have been months that we didn't know how we were going to make it. Mac and cheese and spam were staple meals and considered gourmet if we had a slice of American Cheddar to add in.

We thought about selling our home----but being a fixer upper we haven't had the money to improve it. We also have had to use what little equity we had to pay day to day bills----so selling really isn't an option. Plus, rent would probably be what the mortgage is and we would never ever be able to afford a home in this area again ( we lucked out on the fixer up part).

We have volunteered as much as possible through church as a way to give back to God. When you asked everyone who considered Cnx their home church to commit to participating financially in 2009--- I was thrown for a tailspin.

We were keeping our heads just above water----how could I add another bill? Tom and I prayed separately on it and Tom said it was something we needed to do. I showed him on paper----there was no way to make it work. We prayed some more and finally decided that this was a trust issue and we had to give the control back to God.

We committed to a small amount each month. It probably wouldn't seem like much to some people but to us it was huge. In the 8 months that we have been giving our offering----we haven't missed it at all.

As state workers, we both were furloughed and lost a percentage of our income with little notice. That month I considered not giving but wrote the check and prayed as I tossed it in the offering bucket. We made it just fine.

I am amazed that we seem to have more money at the end of the month than we did before giving. I know part of it is the envelope system, and being more aware----but I also know it is because God will provide.

Tom and I took a leap of faith in August and decided to double our tithe---and here it is 3 days before pay day and we are still okay. We are planning to double the original amount from now on because it's all about putting our trust in the father above."

One More Time (Habitat Work Day)

Saturday, August 15 is your last chance to get in on a Connections work day at Chatham Habitat this summer.

Why should you turn out? Check out Kevin's story below:

I've been blessed to be employed by Habitat for Humanity for the past 21 years and I can say that I still feel God's hand in the work of Habitat every time I visit a work site. Habitat is a ministry and it is all about a partnership between those in need of housing, those with time, skills, and resources to spare, and God. Habitat is truly a hand-up and not a hand out. Families buy the homes that are sold at no profit and get a 0% interest mortgage and are required to invest hundreds of hours of "sweat equity" in order to buy their home.

Recently I was at a Habitat event in Fort Worth, Texas and heard an inspiring story of one of the Habitat homeowners there, Lydia Perez. To keep it short, an elderly gentleman in Lydia's neighborhood experienced a fire that destroyed his home. He had no resources or insurance to rebuild so he began to live on his property in a camper shell that he had on his pick up truck. Within a few months, Fort Worth was starting to experience the heat of the summer and Lydia approached the man and said to him, "You can't continue to live in the camper shell during the summer. Don't you have somewhere else to go?" He didn't. Lydia told him that he needed to come stay in her house. They were total strangers. He an 80+ Anglo WWII veteran, and she a 30-something Mexican immigant. Lydia reached out to Habitat to build him a home and they said they couldn't because he didn't have the necessary income to qualify for the program. Undaunted, Lydia decided to have a yard sale. She reached out to the media--newspapers, TV, radio and the plight of this gentleman became a city-wide cause. The yard sale raised $50,000 in donations in a single day! It was dubbed the "self-perpetuating yard sale". People would come to the sale and buy an item while bringing several other items to donate. Habitat supported Lydia in her effort and found a contractor to agree to build the gentleman a brand new home on his lot. They said he had tears in his eyes the day he moved out of Lydia's house.

I can't promise such a story unfolding in Pittsboro on Saturday, August 15, but it is an opportunity to be part of a huge, worldwide circle of giving that was initiated by God's love for us and perpetuated by thousands of people of faith giving of their time, talent, and resources in response to their faith.

We need at least 15 workers (16 and up) and several people that can provide lunch for 25. Please contact Kevin Camnpbell at kcampbell58@gmail.com if you are interested in being part of the group. We'll leave Connections at 7:30 Saturday morning, begin work in Pittsboro at 8:30, and leave Pittsboro around 3pm. We'll have some exterior siding work and hopefully interior trim work as well. This will be our last chance to work on single mom Shalena's and her 4 year old son Nicholas' home.

Check out the website HERE.

Lending A Hand

On Saturday, June 20 some folks from the Connections Church community went back out to continue to work on a home with Chatham Habitat for Humanity on Acorn Park Lane in the Chatman Oak subdivision of Pittsboro, NC. The project includes construction of five new houses for families eagerly helping make their dream of a home of their own become reality. 22 volunteers plus international and local Habitat directors participated in the event.

Thanks so much to Calvert Cafe and Catering for providing lunch to fuel the workers! The boxed lunches included turkey and havarti on sourdough, roast beef & asiago on rye, ham and provolone on wheat, tarragon chicken salad on pecan raisin bread, baked chips, fruit, and cookies. Needless to say, they were a hit.

We'll be returning to work on the home again on July 18th & August 15th. If you are interested in joining us, contact Kevin Campbell (kcampbell58@gmail.com). To learn more about Chatham Habitat or Calvert Cafe and Catering, check out the info below:

Chatham Habitat for Humanity

Since 1989, Chatham Habitat has worked to change substandard housing conditions by making home ownership possible for nearly 90 families throughout the county. In the process, Habitat is able to transform lives, improve neighborhoods, and most importantly give hope and strength to our communities.

Calvert Café & Catering

Calvert Café & Catering provides NC Triangle-area businesses with exceptional products and impeccable catering service. Specializing in corporate catering at a variety of levels, Calvert Café and Catering offers event services from concept to cleanup.

One worthy gift

God there are days when we gather for worship in this community when it's easy to acknowledge your beauty but nearly impossible to find any within ourselves.

We come to you broken in so many ways. The weight of wrong choices or difficult circumstances, the burden of wrecked relationships or dwindling resources -- sometimes these things make it hard for us to find value and worth within ourselves.

And yet you see beauty within us, Lord.

You have seen us for who we are and loved us in spite of it all, and in this we find so much hope.

We pray today that we might claim that which you love within us, and relentlessly seek out things to love within others. May we see through brokenness and frailty and circumstance and struggle to know others as creatures made in your image, for your love.

May our lives reflect this one beautiful and worthy gift: that we love others as we are being loved by you.

A Psalm Prayer

This prayer comes from Psalm 90:1-6, a scripture which always makes me think of the marvelous passage from Job 38 where God gets lavishly poetic with Job in describing the differences between humans and God.

***********

Our Father, Creator of the Universe,

You have been our help in every generation, and you will be our refuge for generations to come. Through storm and war, in times of peace and plenty, in all the great and small places of the earth, you were, you are, and you will be.

You laid the foundations of the earth while the morning stars sang and all the creatures of the universe shouted for joy. When the sea was born you clothed it with clouds and formed its limits. You know the warehouses of snow and hail, and the ways to the places the winds call home.

A thousand years is a long time for us, but it passes for you like yesterday’s dream. We arrive on earth and then are gone; “Return to the dust,” you say, and we become once again the clay of creation.

Be our guide while this life lasts. Be our hope for this brief span. And one bright morning, when this life is over, welcome us home.

A Psalm and Prayer of Praise

Whenever I'm not sure what to pray before God's people I simply turn to the Psalms and let one of the generations who came before me speak on my behalf. These prayers are like rivers that are still flowing down among us, and as we wade in and out (or merely observe from the riverbank) we can find refreshment and delight.

This prayer comes from Psalm 145; I have changed some of the order and play of the verses, but the spirit of the river of praise remains the same.

* * * * *

We lift your name on high, Mighty God!

We sing your praise today, may we sing your song into all eternity. You are magnificent before us; there are no boundaries to your greatness. Generation after generation stands in awe of your work: they have all told stories of your mighty acts. We know you as One who is slow to anger and rich in love, suffusing all things in your grace.

We give you thanks
for supporting those who are weary
for drawing near to all who call on you
for bringing harvest on the Earth in due season
for lavishing compassion on all you have made

May we speak of the glory of your kingdom.
May we make known to all people your mighty works and loving ways.
Today and all days we lift our voices in worship.

* * * * *

A Prayer for Worship

Holy and mighty God, Maker of all good things, in the full glory of this day you have made and this people you have made, we gather.

We give you thanks for all those along the journey who have been instrumental in bringing us to this holy place on this holy morning: for that early teacher, or family member; for that friend or child or witness... We pray that this church may draw many more to know your love, your forgiveness, and your grace.

We pray also for those who are today burdened by heavy loads: for countries and individuals who are deeply in debt, for those suffering from earthquake and famine, for all subjected to wars, and for displaced people everywhere. We dedicate ourselves again to the works of justice and mercy that make us your hands and heart in this broken world.

We lift up before you all who find life difficult or painful today: those who are hard on themselves and on others, and all who struggle with deep burdens of guilt. May we bring your rest for the weary, your hope for the fearful, your peace to the troubled.

May our worship of you be not just a Sunday-morning gift, but a gift of our lives and our hearts.

Ashley's Story (40 Days of Water)

This past Sunday Ashley Clark shared with the CNX community about a trip to Africa that changed her life and gave her a front row perspective of the dire need for clean water.  Here's a piece of what Ashley had to say about her experiences and the importance of projects like 40 Days of Water.

"In May of 2007 I had the privilege to travel to Malawi, Africa which is located in the southern part of Africa. I went to Malawi through a partnership my church in New York had with World Vision. We visited an Area Development Project founded by World Vision and got to see the affects of clean water in an African village first hand.

"I think one thing that stuck with me the most was not the lack of clean water but the distance they had to travel to get clean water. We met many inspiring women that traveled several miles a few times a day to get clean water so they could meet the basic needs of their families. It struck me because their attitudes were never negative or complaining. These women were constantly singing praises and offering prayers for others who were worse off than themselves. 

They were happy! Happy to have clean water as a resource to them! Happy to be able to provide it to their families! They were happiest of all that people like you were kind enough to give them this simple and incredibly important gift. I cannot tell you how many times people thanked us for what we had done, and for taking time out of our lives to see their struggles and successes. I felt completely unworthy of their praises at times.

So, I want you to know that the sacrifices several of you have made over these 40 days will not go unknown noticed. Yes, we are providing clean water but we are also making life a little easier for hundreds maybe thousands of families. And, amidst the tragedy and hardship that these people face every day (whether they know it or not), doesn’t water seem like something so simple to give? And, maybe they will see Jesus in us the way I saw Jesus in them."

We have a chance to make a real difference for real people.  Every dollar donated will provide clean water for 1 African for an entire year.

If you are a part of the CNX community and want to contribute to the 40 Days of Water Project, we'll be collecting an offering for this purpose on Sunday (4/12).  Please make your check payable to Connections and note "Water Project" on the memo line.  We'll be writing one check to Blood Water Mission and every penny donated will go to this important work.  

If you won't be at Connections on Sunday, consider donating directly to Blood Water Mission. And if you are willing, post a comment here (anonymously is fine) and let us know how much you contributed so that we can see the impact we are making together.

A prayer for worship on our first day in the new building

From Psalm 94

How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts, Shepherd of Israel. Our hearts have longed to be here before you; our spirits sing for joy in the presence of the Living God!

May all your creatures be welcome in this place: May travelers find rest, may the broken find healing, may all who celebrate find songs of joy, and may the outcast know welcome. How blessed we are to live and work and raise Your family here.

And how blessed are all in whom You live -- whose lives become roads you travel. Our strength is in You; may our hearts be highways to the Living Lord.

For better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere. We would rather hold open the door in Your house than live anywhere -- no matter how grand -- outside the shelter of Your grace, Your mercy, and Your favor. You have withheld no good thing from us.

Our hearts are filled with joy.

Today is the 26th day of our 40 Days of Water Project. 45 of us in the Connections community have committed to make water our only beverage during this period. We're keeping track of what we would have spent on other beverages and will be donating those amounts to help Blood Water Mission hit their goal of installing 1000 clean water wells across Africa.

In addition to helping others, we're also challenging ourselves to stretch and grow through this project as well. Here are some thoughts from one of our students, Learyn von Sprecken, about her experience so far:

"Well let's see the hardest thing to give up would probably have to be milk, but whenever I'm with friends and see them drinking soda that's pretty hard too. I only being able to drink water has made me realize and think about how much harder it must be for people who can't even drink water.

I have mentioned it to most of my friends and I have gotten a variety of responses. Most of my friends have found it to be very amazing that I am only drinking water and that I am doing it for the people of Africa and are very supportive. Only drinking water has not only been a good thing for me to do for other people, but also for myself.

I have never really liked water, one of the things that has made this difficult, and as a result of that I don't think I was drinking enough. Since I have started this I feel like I have become healthier. The most meaningful thing for me is now every time I drink water I start thinking about the parents and children in Africa who can't even get clean water and would love for 40 days to be able to drink clean water and then I think how lucky I am to have fresh clean water. Overall this has not been as bad as I thought it would, and I am definitely glad I chose to participate."

Prayer for worship

Holy, Holy, Holy God, you have created all things and made us in your image. We come before you in wonder and awe.

We pray for places where your earth is exploited or marred, where your creatures are abused or misused. We pray for all who lack freedom or are oppressed. Father, strength of all, hear our prayer.

Jesus, Light and Life of the world, we pray to you for all who walk in darkness. For all who feel beyond hope or are outcasts in our world. Healer, giver of hope to the hopeless, hear our prayer.

Spirit of Holiness, you breathe life into all. We give you thanks for your renewal and refreshment. We pray that we and all your church may reach out in love. We pray for Fred and Shawn and Chad and all our pastors, and for the ministry of all your faithful people. Holy Spirit of God, hear our prayer.

May we be bound together in Unity.
May we be bound together in Love.
May we be bound together with those who walked in faith before us, and may our lives bear witness to those yet to come.

(Adapted from Clouds & Glory A, p. 80-81)

Thirsty???

Here's a note that we sent out to the CNX community about our upcoming Easter Clean Water Project.  If you are interested we'd love to have you partner with us.

Dear Friends,

Hope this finds you well in the middle of the week and looking forward to spring.  (It is coming soon, right?)

I just wanted to take a couple of minutes to fill you in on a special project our church community will be tackling over the next month and a half.  As you know, Connections Church has always had a desire to make a difference in the name of Jesus.  We trying to learn to love our neighbors- both locally and globally- as we love ourselves.  With that in mind, we've decided to partner with BLOOD WATER MISSION for their 40 Days of Water Challenge.

You can check out the links above for yourself, but here's the short version:  Over a 40 Day period (March 1- April 9), we're challenging ourselves to drink only water and keep track of what we would have spent on our usual beverages of choice.  At the end of 40 days, we'll pool the money we've saved by forgoing coffee, tea, soda, etc. and send it to Blood Water Mission to help provide clean water for people in Africa.

What will this do for them?

Every $1 we donate will provide clean drinking water for 1 African for an entire year.  (Yes, you read that right.)  Why is this important?

    * About 45% of Africans lack clean drinking water. That's approx. 311 million people.  The total current population of the US?  About 306 million. 

    * Every day in Africa, millions of parents are faced with this choice- Do I give my children tainted water and make them sick- or allow them to die of dehydration?

    * African women and children walk as many as 6 miles each day to fetch drinking water- which is often unsanitary. 

    * Sub-Saharan Africa has 10% of the world's population, but is home to 60% of the people on the planet living with HIV.

    * 15 million children are orphaned by HIV/AIDS each year.

    * Clean drinking water greatly improves the quality of life for everyone and extends the life expectancy for those living with HIV.

It's pretty easy to see why people who love Jesus would want to be involved with this kind of thing, huh?

What will this project do for us?

Or to put it another way, you might be thinking the same thing I did when I first heard about this: "I'm all for helping folks get clean water, but why should I forgo other beverages for 40 days to make it happen?  Can't I just drink what I want and still donate some cash?"  Yes- we absolutely can.  But I think we'll miss out on some real blessings and opportunities for God to stretch and change us.  Here are a few:

    * Self-Discipline.  Is that something you could use a bit more of?  I know I can.  Here's a chance for us to do some work in this area that has a direct impact on our spiritual lives. (Check out Luke 9:23-25.)

    * We are moving towards Easter.  For centuries, Christians have chosen to sacrifice things during this season (some call it Lent) to help them identify with their suffering Savior.  Maybe choosing to deny ourselves the daily pleasures of juice, coffee, soda, etc. will put us in a position to more fully appreciate Jesus' sacrifices for us and His victory over the grave.

    * Because He loves us, Jesus came to walk in our shoes.  He tells all who would follow Him to love each other, to weep with those who weep, and to carry each others' burdens.  By choosing to drink only water, we empathize in some small way with our neighbors in Africa who don't have the choices available to us.  Instead of just sending cash and continuing on with our day, we give ourselves opportunities to think of and pray for them.

Do we have to embrace a water-only beverage fast to be a part of this project?  Nope.  We can donate money and change others' lives regardless of what we choose to drink.  But if we want God to use the next 40 days to change US- we might want to give this a go.

OK, that's probably enough info for now.  We'll be talking more about the 40 Days of Water Challenge at this Sunday's (3/1) gathering.  Please join us if you are in town.

Until then, think and pray about being a part of this important project that will change lives- including ours.  And don't hesitate to holler if you've got questions.

Blessings,

Fred Turner

Lead Pastor

Connections Church

fred.turner@connectionschurch.ws

An Update From Love Wins

We're honored to partner with Love Wins- a ministry that works with the poor and homeless in downtown Raleigh.  They are doing some great work in the name of Jesus.  Check our their latest newsletter update below:

Dear Friends,

Just before Christmas, I was at a meeting of Social Justice oriented pastors. During a break, I was talking with a pastor who works for [Really Huge Denomination] at the Regional level. She is 'over' many churches, and was really interested in what we are doing. She mentioned she would like us to talk about me talking to various small groups and pastors in those churches. Then she asks me "Where is your office?". The conversation lasted about 12 seconds after I told her I work from home, but not before she said "Oh, I had no idea you were so small…".

I have to tell you, that was a little disheartening. In fact, it was downright depressing. Partly because, of course I would like to have an entry to so many churches, with the endorsements of their higher-ups. We have goals we want to accomplish that would be much easier with the support and financial backing a Really Huge Church could give us.

But the most depressing thing was that I had somehow failed to communicate that we see small as a blessing. Small, to quote the title of a book well worth reading, is beautiful.

You see, because we are small, we know the names of the people we buy shoes for. Because we are small, I can blow off the whole afternoon of appointments to go sit in a hospital room with a friend who tried to kill herself. Because we are small, I am welcome in the soup kitchens and the shelters, even if I am not so welcome in the board rooms and the churches. Because we are small, there is no need to make up metrics that justify what we are doing out here. We are free to love people and pray for peace and work for justice and have confidence that God, when all is said and done, bends that way.

That being said, all living things must either grow or decay, and Love Wins Ministries is no different. The last six weeks have found us in conversations about how we can help build more relationships between folks with houses and folks that live on the streets without becoming 'institutional' and stagnant. Or how we can capture the freedom of smallness I just described and yet be acceptable (or at least accessible) to people and organizations like that pastor lady, who values size over substance. 

Over the next few weeks and months, lots of changes will be happening. We will be discussing some things on our blog we have not before, like our boots and shoes ministry, and you will be hearing from other voices over there as well.

In the meantime, keep praying for us as we build, grow and seek the will of God while we, in our small way, keep loving folks most people would rather just went away.

 

Love Wins. Always.

 

Hugh Hollowell

http://lovewins.info

The Archaeology of Christmas

Looking for something a bit more mind expanding to give your time to than "Frosty the Snowman"?   Amy & Regan Barr, members of the CNX community, will be offering a free, online presentation on the Archaeology of Christmas from 8-9:30pm on Wednesday 12/17.  Amy & Regan are co-founders of the Lukeion Project and spent a decade excavating in the Mediterranean and have both done PHD work in Classical Archaeology.  Don’t miss this chance to get some great background on the Christmas story including the latest findings on Herod the Great's tomb, the Magi, the slaughter of the innocents, the unique status of Egypt, Caesar Augustus and more.  Register HERE. 

Christmas Devotionals

Looking for a way to stay focused on God in the middle of a busy holiday season?

Check out Following The Star. This online guide provides daily devotions (w/scriptures, music, reflections, & prayers) for each day between now and Christmas. This 10 minute experience could provide a lot of grounding in the next few weeks. Make sure you check out the “On your first visit” and “About the experience” sections the first time around.

Looking for something even simpler? Stop by the Waiting, Day by Day Advent Calendar. Click on the current day of the month and you’ll find a short poem, prayer or thought about our wait for Jesus’ arrival.

What Is Poverty?

It's that time of the year again when many will be thinking about the poor. Although this should happen all year long, thank God it at least happens between Nov-Dec.

What does it mean to be poor? To address poverty?

Some of our friends who work downtown with the homeless and needy believe ministry to the poor is more about relationships and respect that goods and services. A couple of them pointed me to the video below. Check it out:

Perspective Check

Need to be reminded how good your life is?

Need to get in touch with the resiliency of the human spirit?

Need to leak a few tears?

Meet Jessica Stone.

Catch a slice of her story HERE.

(You may have to push play if the video doesn't launch right away.)

P.S. Jessica did end up receiving a cochlear implant and is a few weeks away from activation.

A Chance Encounter??

A couple of weeks back I went to see a family in our church who had a new baby last night. The hospital they chose is HUGE and has been added on to about 37 times in the last 100 years. The result is not only tons of square footage for first quality medical care, but a seemingly endless labyrinth which doubles as a test of mental and physical endurance for visitors. On the way in I made a complete loop of the facility before I finally found the maternity ward. After checking in on the recently expanded family, I hopped in the elevator to begin my long trek back to my car.

One other guy rode along with me as we spend downward to the first floor. I noticed the wristbands on his arm and remembering that we were leaving the maternity ward, I queried, "Just have a new baby?" He looked at me and said, "Actually we had twins." Seeing my congratulatory smile forming, he added, "And I usually don't tell strangers this. No need to burden them with it- but one of our babies died after four days. The other is alive and strong." "I'm so sorry" were the only words I was able to generate. "That's ok. I don't know why I told you that," he replied. Then the door opened. "I'm so sorry" I offered again. He smiled sadly and then disappeared down the hall.

A flood of thoughts and emotions swam through me as retraced the halls and sidewalks back to my parking place. I thought about my friend's joy as they showed me their new baby, and imagined how conflicted this other couple must be with one baby cooing and the other silenced. Most of all I wondered why this man had apologized. Should someone with such a loss be forced to bear it in secret?

Then his words, "I don't know why I'm telling you this" came back to me. He didn't know me from Adam. He didn't know that I'm a guy who prays from time to time. Or that I've got lots of friends who do the same. But God knew. Maybe God set things up this afternoon so that we'd end up together for those couple of moments. Perhaps the Spirit of God prompted him to open up and share his darkest truth with a complete stranger. Maybe not, but maybe so.

I decided not to take any chances. As I merged my car back onto the Beltline I started praying for this family who are strangers to me, but not to the God who cries with them. And now I'm asking you to join me. Would you offer some words to God on behalf of the man I met today who wears two newborn bracelets, but will only take one baby home? Would you ask God to give this family comfort, peace and healing as only He can?

Thanks. I knew you would.

An Update From Hugh

Friends,

The astute among you will note that the August newsletter almost ended up being the September newsletter. The letter this month has been hard to write, not because I don't have things to tell you but because I have so much to tell you and I try to keep these letters to a reasonable length. Finally I was forced to give up any literary aspirations and just dump it all before you. In no particular order, here are a few things that are going on:

• Last month I told you that we were looking for a place to hold regular meetings, and we found a place that is practically tailor-made to what we are trying to do. Starting sometime in September we will be meeting weekly at the Tarboro Road Community Center, located at Tarboro Rd and New Bern Avenue. It is a perfect location for us, with room for growth, kitchen facilities and in a neighborhood that we would love to minister to and have the opportunity to serve. Watch the blog for more information as to time and dates.

• With that in mind, we are working on ways to impact the poor and homeless in that neighborhood, as well as maintaining our efforts around Moore Square. Over the next few weeks we will be rolling out opportunities for you to help us actively love our new neighbors.

• Recently I have been speaking in churches, spreading the word about what we are doing and trying to raise awareness and support. Last Sunday I spoke at Visio Dei and HomeStar Fellowship, both located near Downtown Raleigh and in both places had people decide to join our efforts. If your church or small group needs a speaker, I would be delighted to come speak at your event. Shoot me an email (or respond to this one) and we will work out the details.

• For a while now, we have been wrestling with the next step as far as our organizational structure. It is expensive (at least relative to our budget) to set up a whole non-profit entity from scratch. We are investigating that, as well as considering partnering with an existing ministry or church, at least organizationally, to make all that easier and, frankly, cheaper. All of this means that I have been in meetings, phone calls, researching online and at the library and generally getting headaches from all this reading because I often forget my glasses.

• We are partnering with other ministries that have similar goals so we can act as a resource for each other. One ministry I am particularly proud to be part of is Jubilee, a faith based organization that works to bring awareness to the problem of human trafficking. In September I will be speaking for them on the subject of building relationships and 'missionality'. Please watch the blog for announcements as to time and location.

Looking over that, it looks like a full plate, and it is. But add to that the day-to-day work of standing in line, taking people to the grocery store, negotiating with landlords, helping people move, praying with people who have no hope, standing in the rain in the soup kitchen line, visiting those in jail, throwing parties for those who got out of jail and what you end up with is one very tired, very drained, but very happy, Hugh.

I am so happy to be out here, working for His glory, to His purpose. That you allow me to be out here, supporting me and our work with your financial gifts and your prayers means so very much. That there is so much to do only serves to emphasize the necessity of what we are doing and the need for your help to accomplish it. Together, we get to be hope to those who have no hope, to speak for those who have no voice and to love those who thought the world had given up on them. Being out here is never easy, but there is good in this world, and it is worth fighting for. Thanks for helping me fight.

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh Hollowell

http://lovewinsalways.org/

Don't Forget

The Connections Community is relocating our Sunday gatherings starting this Sunday (8/31). We'll be just a mile down the road from our old spot. CLICK HERE FOR A MAP. We'll start at the same time (10:45) and will have better areas for kids and lots more room for adults. For more info on the how's & why's of the move, check the post below.

If you live in the Raleigh area and haven't hung out with us before/in a while, stop by on Sunday. God is up to something in our midst- bringing some great people together to do some important work in our world. Maybe you are supposed to be a part of it.

Another Step Of Fatih...

We like to talk about our lives with God as a journey. The language fits for a number of reasons, but that's probably another blog post. Suffice it to say, as a community we believe we are doing more than making plans, setting goals and making things happen. We believe that the God of the Universe is leading our little tribe, often in unexpected directions without lots of advance notice. (Sounds like the God of the Bible to me.)

What do I mean? Here's a recent example, our leadership came to the decision that we'll be moving at the end of August. Not to our new space- although we're hoping to be there by December. Instead, we'll be moving for a few months to a temporary space just a mile down the road from where we meet now. Why would we move twice? I've been asking that question too. The best and honest answer is: God seems to be leading us in that direction.

While we don't claim to have any special ability to decode the movement of God, this time it seems pretty clear. In case it helps, here's a recap of how we reached this decision:

• Our architects told us that we probably won't be able to occupy our new space until sometime near the end of 2008- roughly 5 months.
  
• We're in jeopardy of losing two of the spaces we use for our kids and teens each Sunday. Losing these spaces would put a serious dent in the great stuff happening for these age groups.
  
• Our adult gatherings have been consistently full over the summer. Even with people gone each week on vacation. With the fall looming, we have no room for growth. The most troubling thing with this is that God keeps sending us new people on a weekly basis. Example: A few weeks back 19 of our 66 adults had been around CNX less than a month.
• Our leaders filtered the above info and concluded that we couldn't stay status quo for the next 5 months. We pro/conned both adding a second service and moving to a new, larger space temporarily until we finish renovations at the Buck Jones bldg. For several reasons, the temporary space seemed like the best option.
• Then we got picky- asking God for the ideal space (w/in 2 miles of our current spot, with great spaces for kids, amenable to a short term lease, etc.). After praying this, I fully expected to find nothing of the sort and to start planning for the less ideal "two services" approach.
• Then we talked with Anne Caspar, the owner of a daycare and events hall that just happen to share the same building about 1 mile from where we currently meet. And you guessed it, she agreed to lease both facilities to us until our building is ready. We get tons of room to grow, first class facilities for kids- and a significant financial savings. Wow!
• God seemed to be leading clearly. After our leaders conferred, we found that we were on the same page: God was leading. We needed to follow.
  
• Announcing this news to our community this weekend confirmed what we had been sensing. We need to get moving!

So, there you have it. Two moves in 5 months. No big deal. As long as God is leading. And everyone is pitching in.

We'll need help getting the word out to everyone who is a part of the CNX community- including the folks we only get to see occasionally. We'll also need help moving things out of our current space and into storage by the end of August. Not to mention setting up and tearing down each week while we're in the new space. Good news- there's room for everyone!

Living Water Update

Last Christmas the CNX community raised some money to help build clean water wells in Liberia. Although it took longer than expected, our giving finally paid off for folks on the other side of the globe. Here's a letter from the guy who led the trip to install the new well we helped donate. There's also a letter from a local, Liberian pastor below.





Hello Friends,

In July I went with a group of 11 young adults to Liberia with the specific intent of ministering to Yangaryah. Yangaryah is a remote village (it took two days of travel to even reach the village), but the both my group and the people of Yangaryah were excited about what God would accomplish during this trip. By God’s grace, much was accomplished. Most importantly, we installed our very first well with a solar-powered pump. The estimated cost of this unusual well was $10k, and I wanted to confirm with you that 100% of the generous donation from your church supported this much needed pump.

Besides being able to provide this village with a constant supply of fresh water, our group had much time to minister to the spiritual needs of the people. Within the past year, the Jesus Video has been translated into Gola, which is the native language of most tribes in the area. Besides the wonder of viewing a movie, the ability to hear and understand the film in their native tongue is truly sensational. News of this “wondrous” event spread quickly, and we were able to show the video to large crowds five times! Many decisions were made for Christ. We also performed four medical clinics and repaired two other nearby pumps that had been damaged. Your donations made a physical and spiritual impact on these lives. Please continue to pray for this village.

This past weekend, we received an email from a Liberian pastor in that area. Pictures are also attached from the July trip. Please let your congregation know that they have made a great impact for Christ in Liberia!!

Roland


Email from Pastor Sam:

Roland,

I visited Yangaryah a week ago, and the people fance the water pump.

They also fance the solar including the pump. The leadership also put in place

security system to keep watch. The people of Yangaryah are so greatful to God, and

the Water of Life family for such a gift. CRCA also say thanks for your good work.

Pastor Sam

7/31/08

God's Name Tag(s)

Recently the Connections' community was discussing what it meant to live and pray this line from the Lord's Prayer:

"Hallowed Be Your Name"

We concluded that we honor God and His Name when we thank Him for who He is and what He has been doing in our lives. To get more hands on with this we grabbed some sticky name tags and used them to write things that would hallow God's name. Here's a summary of the words of thanksgiving or titles for God that came out of our hearts:

God who is loyal, giving and patient
Thank God for what you have done for my family.
I love you.
God of Love
God the Provider
God of patience, love and forgiveness
God of new beginnings
Love, friendship and the sunshine
Entrusted
Ordering/Directing
God of love, friendship and family
God you are so good to me
God you are my all in all
Thank you for life, experiences and people who surround them
Thank you for the life you have given us
Salvation
Majestic Creator of all Beautiful Things
Provider
Thank you for being my father and making me feel loved no matter what
Guide and Affirmer
Faithful One
God of guidance
God who is always faithful
God is good to me because he changed my life
G-d my protector and my provider
Thank you Lord for providing us with a home
Strength
Thank you not just for providing but for satisfying my life
My Healer
Thank you for being my provider and for your mercies
Thank you for providing for my family
I want to thank you for giving me life and a family that loves me
God of Love
Eternal, Perfect, Holy One, Abundantly Patient
God of family
Thank you for loving me and always giving me the chance to come back and make it right with you
Thank you for my daughter
Thank you for family and friends
Thank you for giving me the courage to grow spiritually
Our Father In Heaven
God who is Creator and Lover of all creatures and things He has created
God of provision
God is love
Thank you God for your love Grace & Guidance
Thank you for being my protector
God who listens
God of faithfulness
Independence & Dependence
Thank you for being the God who never leaves
Thank you God for giving me strength to keep going
Comforter
God who never changes
God of Creation
Thank you for loving and providing
God of Safe Passage
God who provides for all of my needs
God of Grace

How about you? If you were to write a name tag for who God has been in your life lately, what would it say?

Joy for sharing

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

What a wonderful gift to the world this guy's (kinda goofy) little dance is! I love seeing the interaction he attracts and the impromptu micro-communities he joins or creates. If I saw him, I would totally get out and dance my own little (really goofy) dance.

Tearing Stuff Up

For a few years now Connections has had a dream to have a physical space that we could share with our neighbors to bless them. A couple of weeks back we signed a lease on a new facility. Now we're starting to clean it up. Last Friday about 14 of us got together to do some demo. We got off to a great start- taking down mirrors and pulling up flooring.





But there's still plenty to be done. We'll be having a work party this weekend as well. We're planning 3 sessions (Fri 7-10pm), (Sat 8-Noon) & (Sat 1-5pm) and will have a variety of projects available (from light cleaning to heavy demo). If you're willing to lend a hand, contact Kevin Campbell (kcampbell58@gmail.com). Also, here's a list of the tools we think may be helpful this weekend. Let Kevin know what you might be able to bring with you:

• window scraper/razor
• digging bars
• utility knives (carpet knives esp.) w/ lots of spare blades
• phillips and flat head screwdrivers
• cro-bars
• wonder bars
• water cooler and cups
• pliers
• different sizes of wrenches
• heavy duty large trash bags
• floor scrapers
• wheelbarrows
• step ladders
• large floor/box fans
  

4th of July Picnic Update

Here's the latest status on the picnic for the homeless that our friend Hugh is planning.  There's still plenty of room for you to help out if you'd like.  Give Hugh a shout!

Dear Friends,

Well, our picnic on the 4^th of July is coming together. I have had a lot of response and a lot of people offering to help - thank you all!

This email is to let you know where we are, what we are still missing and how you can help. Many of you have asked for a list of things that are still needed.

Time & Place

Just so you all know, we will be setting up at about 3:30pm on the Person Street side of Moore Square in Downtown Raleigh. We hope to start serving about 4:30pm, but would like all the food to be there by 4pm so we can rush and buy whatever we lack.

Things we still need to have someone bring:

• GRILL: we have one grill lined up, but we need at least one more. If you have a propane grill we can borrow, let us know. If we have to, we can get someone to come pick it up, but if you could deliver it, that would be just awesome.

• HOT DOGS: We have several hundred committed to, but we could use a few hundred more. I have been told that Lowe's foods has them on special, buy one get one free. If you can bring hot dogs (please bring the all beef ones, not the mystery meat pink ones), let me know how many you are bringing.

• Buns: We MAY have a source for these, but if not, we will be buying buns on Friday. If you can bring buns, let me know how many you are bringing.

• Condiments: Mustard, relish, ketchup. Squirt bottles would be easist.

• Watermelon: Again, some are coming, but we are lacking about 10... if you can bring one (or more) let me know.

• Chips: We need 200 small bags of chips, assorted. They are available by the case fairly cheaply at Costco.

• Some more baked beans. I have beans for 100 committed, with some more that may be on the way. I really need to have some assurance on the beans and hot dog counts... we can run out of almost anything but these.

• Cash: If we don't get enough donations and food, we will be buying stuff out of pocket. The pockets are pretty slim... if you want to drop off some cash to buy food with, or a gift card to a local grocery or whatever, please email me asap about where we can meet. A few have done this already - Thank you!

Things we have plenty of (I think)

• Paper products (plates, napkins, cups,etc.) If you are bringing these, please remember plastic forks and black trash bags.

• Lemonade - again, we have plenty committed.

Cool things to bring:

• Frisbee

• Wiffle Ball

• Guitar

The Salvation Army has confirmed that they will not be feeding that night (they had considered it, but with us setting up they decided not to). Therefore, these folks are counting on us... not counting those of us who are reading this email, we can expect about 175 or so homeless and poor to eat with us... with all of us, I am thinking maybe we will be feeding as many as 200-225.

Please email me with specifically what and how many of whatever you are bringing, so I can be sure of what I have before I go to the grocery Thursday night.

Thanks for everything, and God bless you all.

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh Hollowell

http://lovewinsalways.org

Have 4th of July Plans???

What better way to celebrate the freedom that we enjoy and a day off than to use it to love and serve some folks in need. Hugh Hollowell, leader of "Love Wins", is organizing a picnic for the homeless in Moore Square that day and he's looking for help. Check out the info below and contact Hugh if you'd like to get in on this thing.

Dear Friends,

A lot of you have wanted to know some practical ways you can help in our mission of loving the poor, homeless and destitute of Raleigh, North Carolina. Here is your chance.

At 4pm on the Fourth of July, 2008 we are going to have a cookout in Moore Square (click here for a map) in Downtown, Raleigh. There will be hot dogs, baked beans, watermelon and soft drinks and much more (we hope, anyway). If somebody could bring some guitars and such, that would be pretty cool too. We are going to be on the Person St. side of Moore Square, across the street from the Salvation Army.

Some of you just read that and thought "Awesome!" Others read that and thought "Why would we want to do that?' For the later group, I detailed some reasons why on this blog post on our humble website.

If experiencing the Kingdom of God with some really cool folks this Fourth sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we need lots of food and help to pull this off. Right now, this is a preliminary list of things we need. If you can provide any of this, give me a shout back.

• Tables, probably three of the folding type you see in church basements.

• A big grill. Propane would probably be best. We will probably feed about 100-150, although seriously, I have no idea. On a give Sunday, we will feed this many, so it may even be more, given that ya'll reading this letter are going to come out as well, right? I am hoping for 200.

• Hot dogs. Don't get the scrawny pink hot dogs, ok? Remember that we are literally feeding Jesus here (the last half of Matthew 25, if you doubt me), so let's get the all beef jumbo franks that you would feed your family. In addition, some of the street people are from a culture that does not eat pork, so we do not want to be exclusive. Everyone can eat together in the Kingdom of God.

• Hot Dog Accessories. This would be buns, mustard, ketchup, relish, etc.

• Baked Beans. There will not be any where to plug in your crockpot. We will be without electricity. I would ask at least some of you to bring vegetarian beans as well, for the same reasons mentioned above.

• Small bags of chips. You can get big boxes of these for not much money at Sam's, Costco and the like.

• Watermelon. What is a picnic without watermelon?

• Accessories: Plastic forks and spoons, paper plates, salt and pepper, serving spoons, knife to cut the watermelon, napkins, tin foil (in case folks want to take a plate home), all the plastic grocery bags you can spare (like the ones you get at Wal-Mart or Kroger when you check out), paper cups (12oz ones are best).

• Cooler: I am thinking a big cooler with lemonade. It will be much cheaper than soft drinks, not to mention easier to prepare and more...picnicy.

If you cannot bring anything, bring yourself and your appetite. Of course, money is always appreciated to help defer the costs and to support our ongoing work. This is a great opportunity to show some folks who get little respect the love of God in the way of Jesus.

I really hope we can get a large turnout for this. If you can come, send me a return email with how many folks you think you will bring (husband and 3 kids, say) and which, if any, items on the list you can bring. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

By the way, if you belong to a church or other house of worship, a Sunday school class or other small group or just know other people who may be interested in coming out and having fun and food with us, PLEASE forward this email to them, would you?

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh

http://lovewinsalways.org

Why We Love Hugh @ CNX

Our little church community has the privilege of partnering with Hugh Hollowell in his mission to love the homeless in downtown Raleigh. If (like us) you're concerned that too many churches focus on themselves and forget about the people all around them, then you'll probably vibe with Hugh. Below is his latest update- which includes a few great stories and a link to his website. Take a peek.

Dear Friends,

One question I get asked a lot, especially by those in traditional churches, is about my statistics. How many people I work with get off the street, how many get sober, how many get 'saved'. I have to tell you up front; I have crummy statistics. But I am OK with that because I have some awesome stories.

Like the young couple I was talking to right after they heard her mother was in the hospital with heart trouble and they had no way to get home (200 miles away) to be with her. They are upset and crying and depressed and really pouring it out to me. While we were talking, an 'evangelist' pressed a tract in her hand and told her that if she gave her life to Jesus, he would change her life. As a result of that day, that couple and I have an ever increasing bond that has led to them making serious changes in their life. That evangelist saw a statistic, but that couple and I have a story.

Or the guy who braved the snow to visit my friend Renee in the hospital, bringing a collection of fruit, peanut butter sandwiches and crackers he took up from the other homeless. When I scolded him for coming, he looked me in the eye and told me, “Hugh, all my life I have not been worth much. I have been in and out of jail, in and out of rehab, in and out of relationships. I am 38 years old and you are the first person my whole life to ever tell me they are proud of me. I love you, man. I am here for you.” All those Social Workers saw a statistic, but he and I have a story.

There is the lady who had to leave her husband because liquor was destroying her life and he refused to quit when she did. She moved into a small hovel owned by a slumlord where she could barely pay the rent. When ends did not meet one month, the landlord filed eviction papers. I went to court with her and all the money but $50. The statistics said we did not stand a chance, but when she showed up in court and he did not, we got the eviction overturned and bought a few more days to raise the money. Now she is still in her house and still tells her friends the story of when she and I went to court.

Stories, not statistics. Names, not numbers. Meals, not metrics.

You see, we operate from this crazy premise we see in the teachings of Jesus that love, once given, spreads and grows (sorta like yeast, or a mustard seed...) and takes hold and, in small ways and in incremental bits, works to change us, then each other, and then, the world, working towards truly making it on earth as it is in heaven.

The way it happens is not through statistics but through stories shared over a plate of food, on a walk through the park together, sitting with them in the living room while a loved one dies in the bedroom. It takes being there.

You guys bless me incredibly by allowing me to be out there, touching lives and building relationships with people the world has written off but God has not. That you support me in doing that with your prayers, your time and your money mean more to me than I can ever say. Because of you, some people who have reason to have a low opinion of the church get to feel what the love of Jesus feels like.

Love Wins. Always.

Hugh Hollowell

http://lovewinsalways.org

Here We Go Again...

Yes, it's true. We have a very strong lead on a new space.

Yes, it's the one you've seen before. (Click the "view all images" button.)

Yes, we all need to pray.

Is this the end?

The online British newspaper The Guardian recently published an article called This is the End, which chronicles the making of an incredible set of black and white photographs taken by German photographer Walter Shels and his partner Beate Lakotta. The photos are arranged in pairs, one taken just before the subject died, and one just after; they are accompanied by short interview-based captions that reveal a bit about how each person experienced their impending death.

The photos are beautiful, poignant, and astonishing. Like the photographer, I found all my fears related to death bubbling to the surface as I stared into the faces -- some peaceful, some angry, all serious -- of his subjects. I wondered how the bodies had been prepared for the photo session. I wondered how I would have reacted as a photographer, an interviewer, or the person interviewed. I marveled at the subtle differences in the pairs of photos. I drew out my understanding of death and examined it once again. And most of all, I thought about God's role in this.

When I went to Digg, a prominent social bookmarking site, to give the photo set my vote of approval, I was drawn in to the strong reactions shown in the comments. A few of the commentors reacted with poor jokes, profanity, and irritation. Some commented on the mystery surrounding the photos and our reaction to them. Many were moved, many frightened. But the reaction that interested me the most was the one in which a conservative Christian used the comments section to preach a short, bible-thumping sermon to all the viewers.

Digg members have the ability not only to vote approval/disapproval on internet articles and sites, but they also register their approval/disapproval to other people's comments. The user called "Indyanna" who posted the sermon was by far the most disliked, drawing a spate of negative "diggs" and comments. Even I was frustrated by Indyanna's inability to understand the situation and respond appropriately.

So I began to think: What would be the best way for Jesus people to talk about this on the internet, in the middle of the whirl of fear, discomfort, and anger that frequently surrounds the topic of death and dying? There's by no means an easy answer. But my first thought is that maybe we should have less to say and more to do. Maybe Jesus people are called to listen before we storm in with our sermons. Listen, sympathize, and really strive to understand where people are coming from. And maybe we've done so little of that over the years that I can't formulate a second step yet.

Go and view the photos yourself. What do they bring up for you? I invite you to share your comments here. I will be honored to listen.