Yesterday I asked for people to help us shrink wrap stuff at our warehouse: it’s done!  Thanks for your prayers and help.  We are hoping that some of you will have an “extra” one of the following that you don’t really need but one of our recovering tornado families needs in a bad way.

These are the things people are still waiting for and we are praying for:
10 washers and dryers
5 refrigerators
Cool mist vaporizer for 6 month old baby
2 Stoves
1Toddler bed
6 dressers
1 bassinet
5 couches
5 kitchen table and chair sets

The answer to someone’s prayer is sitting in someone’s garage or storage unit. Let us know if God prompts you to help. Email us at mjvolunteers@fpbc.net or call 623-0980. Acts 4:32 says, “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.” We are open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

What a difference a year makes! Last year about this time we had well over a foot of snow on the ground. Schools were closed. All the local stores were sold out of sleds. Joplin was an unknown small city. Mission Joplin was only a dream in the heart of God.  Fast forward to 2012. The weather is beautiful. The high school meets at the mall. Stores have lots of sleds in stock. Joplin is a household name. And Mission Joplin joyfully serves those whose lives are much more difficult than a year ago.

I like the line Tom Hanks says in Castaway: “Never give up because you never know what the tide will bring in the next day.” The Bible says it a little differently, “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23) At Mission Joplin we consider it a privilege to help people hold onto hope. We are open tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and need volunteers, sheets, jelly, flour, sugar, rice, canned meat, canned fruit, socks (especially kid’s socks), underwear, kitchen tables appliances, and a cold mist humidfier. We believe that by helping people get back on their feet and connect with God, by this time NEXT year, we can be rejoicing, “What a difference a year makes!”

Check out this video. Be a part of the life-changing experience! Stop by Kid City today to get involved.

Check out this video. Be a part of the life-changing experience! Stop by Kid City today to get involved.

The Bible is full of numbers. There is even a book called the book of Numbers. Numbers aren’t everything, but Jesus said God even knows the number of hairs on your head. In our membership class I like to say, “We count people because people count.”  Those of you who support us with your prayers and donations might be interested to know that in the last two weeks Mission Joplin helped 492 families. Of these, 273 are tornado survivors and 119 are families with other needs. Every one of them is precious to God. Every one of them needs someone to love them like God loves them. Tomorrow we are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. We need sheets (especially queen and full) bath towels, jelly, flour, sugar, rice, socks, underwear, kitchen tables and appliances. Whether 300 people come by needing help or just a dozen, we’ll do our best to provide individual care for each one. If you could volunteer even for a couple of hours, we could use your help. God counts every time you serve. Serving is a great way to make your life count!

Our One Church campaign was nothing short of a miracle. In these tough economic times, we collectively pledged more than $2.7 million dollars for projects on all three campuses over the next three years. Already more than $638,000 (23%) of the pledges have been received. We have paid back our reserves which were used (along with gifts to Generations) to purchase the former Barton’s Hardware store in Carthage. Now we are saving for the remodeling of that building which will be the new home for our Carthage Campus.

We are the One Church Follow-Up Team and will be keeping you informed as we make progress toward the One Church objectives. Those objectives include:

• Getting everything ready (remodeling, equipment, etc.) for our Carthage Campus to move into their new home
• Improving Mission Joplin for our ongoing ministry to those impacted by the tornado
• Updating the Worship Center on our Joplin Campus
• Supporting the orphanage in Kitale, Kenya (the Student Ministry is raising these funds)
• Improving our North Campus facilities
• Saving for the launch of Forest Park’s 4th campus
• 10% of all One Church receipts setting aside to support missions

Giving to One Church is simple. You may use the building fund box on the regular offering envelopes or go to forestpark.tv and use the One Church option in the online giving tab.

During the One Church campaign, Pastor John got the following email that illustrates the generous spirit of Forest Park: “My wife and I have done as you suggested, and agreed on an amount we believe God wants us to contribute to this campaign, (x) dollars per month, for 36 months. But we hit on a little snag. At our ages we could be dead in 36 months. Or our financial circumstances could change due to illness, tornado, loss of job, etc. So we’re going to give the whole amount this Sunday, as we have money in savings and we’d rather pay up now than worry about it month to month…I don’t want to say God spoke to us in a dream, or whatever, but the two of us strangely came to the same conclusion. Thank you, Lord. And thank you for leading Forest Park, and I hope we’re around for the next campaign.”

Thank you for your faithful support of God’s work! Your One Church Follow-Up Team,
Jef and Misty Frost (Joplin)
Dexter and Donna Friesen (Carthage)
Derek and Sheri Towery (North)

From a mom who lost her son in the May 22 tornado:

Dear Pastor John and Forest Park Family,
On May 22nd, the lives of our family were drastically altered along with many others in Joplin and the surrounding areas. Since that day, an event that the “enemy” sought to destroy us with, and our faith in “our God,” God has used many from Forest Park and others to totally undo that! Our faith is just as strong, if not stronger, since that day! I know that my God loves me and holds me as I cry. I know that my God uses the arms of all of you and even the strangers when I have broken down in public, when the grief has overwhelmed like a giant wave in the ocean trying to knock me over.

Since giving totally my heart to God when I was younger, I have longed for a “home” church where it was just that “home.”  A place where I wasn’t looked at for what I could “do” or looked at and judged for what I couldn’t do. A home where I was loved for “me” and the daughter of God and sister in Christ that I am. It has taken until I was 46 years old to find that in Forest Park. I had a preconceived idea that you would not, nor could not feel loved and welcomed in a “large church.” My God has proven that’s not true through my family here at Forest Park. I have girlfriends that actually call me and check on me, even though they were drastically affected during the tornado. 

My son was a Christian.  He loved God with his whole heart and even in his death the gospel has been preached. At his memorial service, an altar call was given, and those who came forward, many were baptized the following Sunday.  Glory to God!  You can’t stop God!  Thank you and to everyone for your faithfulness to God.  In your giving from your hearts.  Sincerely, Pamela J. & Michael L. Praytor.”

Mission Joplin remains committed to helping the wounded in Joplin whether their loss was great or small. We are open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. We need socks, underwear, tuna, bath towels, dish soap, and sheets. Today we learned of a family who lost their home in the tornado and they just had a baby. They will bring the baby home from the hospital tomorrow or Sunday and REALLY need a car seat. If you can help, bring it to Mission Joplin on Saturday or to Forest Park Joplin on Sunday.

On my way out of a store today, a woman read the back of my Mission Joplin hoodie aloud and then gave a one word comment. She said, “‘Hope for Joplin - Glory to God’  AWESOME!”  Only a few minutes later, a women who was sitting on the sidewalk outside the store saw the front of my hoodie and said, “Thanks for everything you all are doing for Joplin.”  It occurred to me that others might be interested in a Mission Joplin hoodie or sweatshirt.  The hoodies at $18 and the sweatshirts are $15. It takes a couple of weeks to get them after we put in an order.  If you’e interested send an email to mjvolunteers@fpbc.net or call 417-623-0980. Pictures are below (I always wanted to be a model.)

We are open tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and need socks, underwear and canned meat. We also need volunteers. Last Thursday we were quite short-handed making for long waits for those needing food, clothing, and supplies. Come on over and lend a hand. And if you get a hoodie or sweatshirt, don’t be surprised if random strangers thank you for what you are doing for God and for our city.

I got a wonderful note! “Even thought I lost so much, I have received much more because so many like you gave your physical, monetary, and spiritual selves. Your giving spirit has lifted me from the destruction and has been a source of comfort, help and encouragement. Thanks for helping me get back on my feet. The devastation not only hurts financially, it hurts emotionally. And when you and others came to my aid so unselfishly and generously, your compassion touched my heart deeply and lifted my spirit. Thank you, thank you for being there. I promise to pay it forward! Love, Cindy.”

This is why we do what we do! If something inside compels you to join us, we need volunteers tomorrow (Tuesday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Serving even part of a day is helpful. We also need mac n cheese, jelly, queen sheets, tuna, socks, underwear, flour, sugar, and vegetable oil.  God supplied all the dressers we need for now! We could use new or used washers, dryers, and refrigerators. People like Cindy tell us that your efforts are making a huge difference!

At Mission Joplin we ask everyone who comes through how we can pray for them. Here are some examples of prayer requests: 
“My friend passed away. I have no job.” 
“Loneliness and making ends meet since my husband died.”
“I need prayer for understanding why the storm hit and prayer for coping. Help to continue my walk with the Lord.”
“My wife is disabled. My 23 year old son is bi-polar and can’t work. My two younger children have issues.”
“I was the telephone operator at St. Johns the night of the tornado. I have trouble with fear and panic. My husband is a disabled veteran and trying to get benefits.”
“My kids and I were huddled in the shower when the tornado hit our home. We are frightened of storms now and need strength. Please pray for peace for me and my children.”
Our volunteers do such a good job of showing Christ’s love and compassion to these and others who come through our doors. Would you join us in praying for the hurting in Joplin? There is still such great need. We are open tomorrow from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our greatest need is for volunteers the next three Saturdays: Jan. 21st,Jan. 28th, and Feb. 4th. PLEASE help us! Email mjvolunteers@fpbc.net to let us know we can count on you. Because we were short on help, some of our guests had to wait over an hour yesterday. Those of you who care about the hurting: this is your opportunity to use the gifts God has given you to make a difference in Joplin!