"Spring" Update

Sun, Snow, and... Baby Showers!!
The snowy weather followed by an unseasonable thaw brought us outside again to serve our neighbors!  Even something as simple as shoveling a walkway and lead to lasting relationships.
As we make ourselves available, God is faithful to bring us His treasures!  A few weeks ago, we met a young pregnant woman.  She had just moved into an apartment walking distance from our Freedom Center.  She was 7th months pregnant and had very little as she was transitioning out of homelessness.  We got to celebrate with her by throwing her a baby shower!  She still faces many challenges.  As we walk with her through these situations, we're learning what we have to offer and where we need to let go and trust that God has this under control.  


The man who stole Mary, Joseph and Jesus at our food outreach last December gave his life to Jesus!  It was an exciting day!  Another nativity has been donated and is in a safe place.

Last week we toured the jail!  We are exploring the possibility of doing services for the inmates.  It is a difficult place to get into, but God is opening doors.  Separately, we expect to be receiving nonviolent offenders as part of a diversionary program where individuals can serve the community rather than serving time in jail.  It is amazing to see how these opportunities are presenting themselves.  I believe God is equipping out team specifically for this work.


Divine Connections
For the last few years, Shepherd of the Valley Church has been very active and invested in Godtown.  Their men's group did a majority of the work transforming an abandoned bar into our Safe City Center while the youth cleaned out what is now the Freedom Center.  In January we enjoyed having a leadership retreat to cast vision for how Shepherd and other churches can be a part of seeing God transform a neighborhood.

Safe City: Before, During, and After

Road Trip to Austin!
I'm driving 17 hours in March to Austin! HELP International is having an outreach to Austin and missionaries from Mongolia and The Philippines are flying in!  HELP has been an incredible connection for Godtown.  They've hosted us and ministered with us across the globe.  They've continued to come alongside our friends who are missionaries in Tondo, the largest garbage slum in the Philippines.  This partnership is significant and I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to connect with HELP.

Mission: U.K.!
We are sending a team to Ireland and Great Britain in June!  Last year we hosted several missionaries from Ireland and now it is our turn to go!  There is a great need for an authentic representation of Christ in Ireland.  The violence between Irish Catholics and protestants has only ended in recent history.  Because of this, many of the youth have been spiritually wounded and no longer see Christianity as relevant to their lives.  We have the opportunity to be a bridge between denominations and present the living Gospel to a largely unreached generation.

Please Pray!
 - Please pray for me as I go to Austin and continue building relationship with HELP.  Practically, that I will have what I need financially and for safe travels as I've never driven this far by myself.  But pray also that I would be a support for the HELP missionaries and that God will use our team powerfully in Austin.
- Pray for our Godtown team going to Spokane, WA to minister at the UnMasked Conference.  Pray the Lord will break through in healing and power.
- Pray for our young pregnant friend and others who we are working with who are coming out of traumatic situations.  Pray that God will give us wisdom and that He will provide for every need.
- Pray for fresh vision for everything God is doing!  He is always doing a new thing.  There are more opportunities coming up than I can keep track of.