Tag Archives: Faith

Posted
November 5, 2012
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Lelia Moore is News & Record’s Woman of the Year!

“…UNCG graduate and congregational nurse coordinator at Cone Health Systems [Lelia Moore] was announced today as the News & Record’s Woman of the Year during a sold-out Women to Women luncheon…

The event, sponsored by the Women to Women Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, provides help to improve the lives of women and their families…

Moore nurtured the Congregational Nurse Program to life at Cone Health, which pairs health care professionals and faith communities for health education, screenings and consultations. The free Missions of Mercy dental clinics she coordinates locally — where people show up days in advance and form long lines — have provided care for 2,012 people, with an estimated value of more than $1 million.

Recently, Moore used a donor’s gift to Cone Health to help establish Healing Opportunities for People Experiencing Sickness, which provides transitional care to discharged homeless hospital patients — such as nurses and social workers to check on them, hotel rooms and connections…”

>> continue reading “Lelia S. Moore named News & Record Woman of the Year”

I met Lelia in fall 2007, when we were members of the first Guilford Academy of Substance Abuse Recovery Advocates. In the years since then, I’ve been so grateful for the work of Cone’s Congregational Nurses in caring for the homeless people that our StreetWatch team also serves, and the assistance of one of those nurses in particular has been invaluable to us. I’m so thankful to Lelia for her work with the Congregational Nurses Program. What a huge gift they are to our homeless services system in Greensboro!

I recently got to serve on a planning grant committee with Lelia, and it was a blessing to get to see her smiling face again. I’m so pleased to hear that she’s the recipient of the News & Record’s Woman of the Year Award. She’s not the type to seek glory for herself and she works to serve the poor and homeless on their behalf and not her own. God honors that kind of service and that kind of heart. Congratulations, Lelia, and may the Lord continue to bless you and your work and ministry in this city.

I want to also acknowledge Sharon Sumner and Craig Thomas, who were among the finalists for the award, and who serve in Christian ministries to homeless people in Greensboro. From the News & Record article:

Also, Sheron K. Sumner, the executive director of StepUp Ministry, who started the Hot Dish and Hope collaboration of churches to provide fellowship and meals to the homeless or hungry two days a week; and Craig Thomas, executive director of Mary’s House, one of the few transitional homes for formerly homeless women in addiction recovery and their children.

Thank you and God bless you, ladies!

Posted
May 8, 2012
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“Better than dirty laundry”: Today’s StreetWatch miracle

When our StreetWatch team goes to bridges, camps and corners to do outreach with homeless people, God goes with us. And today, He really blessed us. Our newest team member, Kirstin, wrote about it on her blog:

“…So instead of doing laundry, I spent the morning putting together hygiene bags and snack bags and then went out with Michele & Melissa, two of the incredible members of Streetwatch, and visited some of their homeless friends in a tent city. I was beyond bummed when I had to cut out early in order to pick the kids up from school.

And guess what happened while we were out? Something crazy amazing. I knew I wouldn’t be super-helpful today. Most of their focus is on the relationships they build with the homeless people in our community and since I’m brand-spanking-new, it was just my first chance to start those relationships. I guess God knew how much I wanted to be of service today. There was one man at one of the tent cities who only spoke Spanish. He’d only just moved to that particular location three days ago – the only place I was able to visit today. The Streetwatch folks have known about him for much longer and had been really wanting to talk to him. I had never told them I spoke Spanish when I volunteered. It only came up when I was standing right in front of him.

Turns out he’d been wanting to talk to the leader of Streetwatch for awhile. I was brought to tears as he went on and on thanking her, sending her blessings, telling her he prays for her family, how he can tell she has a strong and noble heart. We talked with him for awhile, listening to him. I can only imagine how often he actually gets to have a conversation, given that he’s homeless and we found him today in a tent city where no one else speaks Spanish. Streetwatch provides snacks & basic supplies but also asks people what they need specifically. Guess what he wanted? A Bible in Spanish. He only has an English one. A man living in a tent city when given the chance to ask for something, asked for a Bible in his own language. That’s all. Humbling…”

>> Read all of “Better Than Dirty Laundry” by Kirstin at Our Journey to Africa.

Posted
April 28, 2012
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“How He Loves Us,” sung by a vagabond at a homeless tent city in Greensboro

Melissa and I met a new friend at the Freeman Mill tent city on Friday while we were doing StreetWatch. Jeffrey told us that he’s not homeless, “just a vagabond”, and he played and sang music for us and let me film him. The first thing he played was, I think, Ben Harper (top video). But what captivated me and spoke to my soul, was his rendition of “How He Loves Us” (bottom video). He shared with us about his journey in life, and let’s just say, the words of “How He Loves Us” (lyrics below) fit his story… and mine. God is good. I am grateful.

(more…)

Posted
August 11, 2011
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Increasing contempt for the poor will not go unpunished by God

One of the most disturbing effects of the US recession is the increasingly public and brazen contempt for the poor shown by many who begrudge them any form of government assistance. The disrespect, derision and condescension for the poor that is so often displayed during political discussions is being justified as concern about government programs which “enable” bad behavior or dependency.

The harsh words and hard hearts reveal the truth — the concern is not for the poor and any negative effects government assistance programs may have on them, it’s for the pocketbooks of those who oppose them! If they were truly concerned about the poor, they would be spending their energy advocating for positive change and accountability for government assistance programs — not trying to dismantle them! (For those who argue that the government shouldn’t be involved in helping the poor, they would be spending their energy advocating for effective private programs to help the poor — not just trying to end them!)

God is not fooled by any of this. Those who ridicule, scorn and ignore the plight of the poor also mock and blaspheme God! And they dig their own graves. God’s Word is clear. He is the defender of the poor!

“Those who mock the poor insult their Maker; those who rejoice at the misfortune of others will be punished.”
– Proverbs 17:5

“Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.”
– Proverbs 19:17

“Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the hearts.”
– Proverbs 21:2

“He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses.”
– Proverbs 28:27

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
– Matthew 6:19-21

“Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry, and you gave Me nothing to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me nothing to drink; I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.’ Then they themselves also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not take care of You?’ Then He will answer them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
– Matthew 25:41-46

“For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
– 1 Timothy 6:10

Posted
June 15, 2010
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Senior finds a way to serve the homeless

From a commenter:

redwagonHello:

My name is David. I am 69 years old ( I have a hip replacement) and I can’t do very much! I attend Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Calif. I hope you will read this e-mail. I thought it might be of some interest to you. It shows what the Lord can do if we listen to him and then follow what he has to say!

My wife and I belong to what we call the “Red Wagon.” The “Red Wagon” is just a name for our church group that feeds the homeless on Mondays and Thursdays. We feed aproximately 225 homeless people every week!

Over the years, I have prayed for something I could do for the church. I can’t carry a tune, can’t teach, etc. Well, finally the Lord spoke to me! As I was wrapping the forks and spoons into the napkins (Our health Dept. requires us to do this! ) the Lord told me that we are feeding the homeless food so why not give them a Bible Verse to take with them, more food!

Well, I finally found something I can do! I print out aprox. 225 Bible Verses each week, 25 Verses, then change to a new verse! I hand write them, using a colored marking pen. Only three colors. Red (Title I make up ) Blue ( The Verse ) Black ( Where found in the Bible ) I print them on my home printer ( Copier ). I get two on each sheet of 8.5×11 inch standard paper. I cut them in half and wrap one in each napkin with the fork and spoon.

I have been doing this for about six months and so far, no one has thrown them away! One lady found hers. She had accidently thrown it away with her napkin. She says she saves all of them! This is something simple that anyone can do. Maybe you know someone that wants to serve the Lord and doesn’t know what to do.

By taking the first step which was joing the ” Red Wagon,” the Lord showed me what I can do! I AM REALLY BLESSED!!!
Thanks for reading this e-mail. I hope you enjoyed it!

God bless You!

I love this idea! Thank you, David. :)