“Personal ministry is not about always knowing what to say. It is not about fixing everything in sight that is broken. Personal ministry is about connecting people with Christ so that they are able to think as he would have them think, desire what he says is best, and do what he calls them to do even if their circumstances never get ‘fixed’. It involves exposing hurt, lost, and confused people to God's glory, so that they give up their pursuit of their own glory and live for his.” – Paul David Tripp

The team at Michiana Biblical Counseling Center (MBCC) is passionate about this work of “connecting” people with Christ, and equipping believers to do the same. True hope, transformation, and healing is found in Christ alone, and because of that, the counselors at MBCC witness entire family trajectories changed by encountering and following Him in the midst of a broken world.

Deanna Doctor has enjoyed a front-row seat to this amazing work over her last six years serving as MBCC’s Counseling Director. “Sitting down with ‘my people’ (my counselees) and hearing what they have learned about God as they have studied His word that week is precious,” Deanna shared. “Praying with them and problem-solving with them, based upon the sufficient character of God, is life-giving to me! (And the fact that I get to do this alongside our fantastic team of men and women who love people passionately is icing on the cake!)”

Proverbs 20:5 tells us that ,

“The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.”

We’ve “met” some ministries over the past several weeks that meet needs through a coordinated effort to pool and distribute physical resources. Others are uniquely qualified to partner with individuals navigating unplanned pregnancy, addiction, or cancer. MBCC’s ministry is invested in diving deep into the “deep waters” of the heart, the kind of needs that people don’t typically wear on their sleeves. This is patient work, trust-building work, uncomfortable work, hard work, Spirit-enabled work, and 100% “worth-it” work.

Deanna told us about the joy she’s experiencing in this season as she counsels: “Several of my people, this week, confessed sin to God right in the session as soon as God convicted them! I love it when they are moved to action immediately upon being convicted! That sensitivity to the Spirit is something I want to pattern!”

We would probably all agree that it’s nearly impossible to be involved in ministry without being changed ourselves. This has been Deanna’s experience: “I have grown spiritually, relationally, and emotionally over my 23 years of counseling and I don’t have words to express how grateful I am to God for doing that work in my life! God’s faithfulness to use the specific women, families, couples, and teens I meet with to sharpen my faith, and really every aspect of who I am, will never get old to me! I am truly living the dream and am so grateful!”

This is the design of our Father: people indwelt by His Spirit, helping other people to become more like Him, one degree at a time. Paul David Tripp reminds us:

“Embedded in the larger story of redemption is a principle we must not miss: God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the lives of others.”

The ministry here is boundless: One truth shared in a counseling session might lead to one decision in someone’s life that might break off generational patterns of sin and change a family’s legacy for ages to come. Testimonies of crumbling marriages that are restored speak to other relationships in crisis that healing is possible. Freedom from the grip of a lifetime of anxiety declares that peace is not only a possibility but promised in Jesus’ name. Transformation and renewal are sparked horizontally over an endless network of influence and vertically down the generations to come, and it all started in the counseling room.

Ripple-effects don’t get better than this.  

“Pray that God continues to provide passionate counselors to meet the needs of those requesting counseling,” Deanna asked. “Pray that our team stays stirred up in our affection for Jesus and passionate about helping hurting people. Pray that each of us counselors would be humble and teachable to the Spirit in our own lives.”

Not all have been called to walk alongside men and women in trauma every day. But some have been, and their perspectives and insights are usually well worth listening to. There’s something about the stories of first responders, emergency personnel, and crisis counselors that draws us in. Maybe it’s because life and death moments awaken us to what’s truly most important in life. They uncover spiritual realities that are otherwise numbed by life’s distractions.  

These are the moments where Loretta Salchert lives every day. She’s been serving as the Executive Director at Ribbon of Hope for 15 ½ years, where she leads her team in bringing help and hope to cancer patients, families, and caregivers. What does that actually look like on a day-to-day basis? It’s so much more than crisis counseling; along with their team of volunteers, Ribbon of Hope provides:

·      Personal attention

·      Monthly encouragement notes

·      Phone calls

·      Hospital visits

·      Occasional household assistance

·      Transportation to medical appointments

·      Faithful prayers and spiritual encouragement

·      Bereavement care

·      Cancer resource information

·      Child/youth support (parental coaching)*

*List source: https://ribbonofhope.org/patients/

Here’s the best part: God has given Ribbon of Hope a position of influence at Elkhart General Hospital to not only partner with patients, meet practical needs, and provide encouragement, but also to share the message of a Savior who brings hope. “I could tell you so many stories,” Loretta shared. “The unsaved almost always come back with a ‘Why would you do this for me?’ statement. And we get to tell them how much God loves them and wants a personal relationship with them.”

C.S. Lewis wisely wrote,

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

The pain and heartbreak of a cancer diagnosis, in the hands of a loving God, can awaken a hurting heart to the goodness of relationship with Jesus Christ. Ribbon of Hope has seen it happen over and over. Loretta gets to watch Christ breathe life into the hurting and restore hope to the hopeless, and that never, ever gets old.

Trauma care isn’t easy. Loretta told us, “I had a professor who warned me many years ago while in class that those who are called into trauma/crisis care are being asked to work in the catacombs of the tombs. This work is dirty, depressing, dark, hopeless, and can be lonely. She charged us with learning to work in the tombs and not live in the tombs.” And while Loretta and her team help individuals and families wrestle with some of the most difficult realities of life in a fallen world, she wants the church to know, “Your support is a great reminder that we are not physically in this alone. Your prayer support is PURE GOLD!”

Local churches like FBC provide many of the volunteers that fuel the ministry at Ribbon of Hope. In fact, one of the things that impacts Loretta and her team most deeply is “watching churches roll up their sleeves through prayer and practical involvement in ways that ‘lift up our arms’ as we serve every day in cancer care.” First time volunteers often respond with comments like,

“I was a little scared when I signed up, but now that I’m trained, I’m ready!”

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“I had no idea it could feel this good to serve strangers.”

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“Serving others for Christ is challenging me to draw closer to Him.”

Loretta shared with us that Ribbon of Hope is preparing to open a second office on County Road 17 near FBC in early 2022! “We need more volunteers who love Jesus to help us bring hope to our community through practical acts of kindness,” said Loretta. “God is letting us ‘meet people at the well’, and we don’t want to miss the chance to do that.”

It’s been said that pain is humanity’s “lowest common denominator”. Whether touched by cancer or another trial, everyone needs the hope that is freely offered in Christ. Loretta reminded us, “Our community is hurting. So much is uncertain: politics, economy, jobs, family, etc. The one absolute we have is Jesus.”

FAITH MISSION

Every day, Vera Swihart looks forward to working with volunteers who, in her words, “feel like they are being just as blessed by serving others as they are a blessing to those they serve.” The outpouring is reciprocal, and Vera has witnessed it firsthand. She’s worn many hats at Faith Mission over the years, including secretarial work in the 70’s and administrative assistant duties in the 80’s and 90’s, before she became Faith Mission’s volunteer coordinator in 2008.

Faith Mission was born out of a shared dream of two pastors in 1956 to serve the homeless community in Elkhart. The space they rented downtown became a haven for those without lodging or food, and the streets of our city became their well-worn routes for carrying the message of hope in Christ.

Today, Faith Mission still operates with the same heartbeat: providing shelter, meals, clothing, programs, and faith-based hope to our community in need. They’ve added long-term residential and life skill programs that help individuals and families build strong foundations for longevity and stability, pursue employment, and experience lasting change. Over the last few years, they’ve partnered with The Crossing School, local businesses, churches (including FBC), and community volunteers to build “Tiny Homes” that provide emergency shelter to individuals and families.

FBC VOLUNTEERS CONSTRUCT TINY HOMES

God has flooded blessing and favor on what began as a nudge from the Holy Spirit on two pastors in a Bible class together. It has grown to truly demonstrate the passage written above the serving counter in their dining room in scripted brushstrokes:

“Feed the hungry and help those in trouble. Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as day.” – Isaiah 58:10 (The Living Bible)

“Generally speaking,” Vera shared, “when an individual is at his/her lowest point, even the basic things we provide at Faith Mission are really appreciated.” By helping Faith Mission meet even basic physical needs, volunteers make a profound impact on lives. What blesses her the most, is her volunteers’ willingness to perform their best as “unto the Lord”.

Matthew 25:35-40

(Holman Christian Standard Bible)

“‘For I was hungry and you gave Me something to eat;
I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink;
I was a stranger and you took Me in;
I was naked and you clothed Me;
I was sick and you took care of Me;
I was in prison and you visited Me.’

Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or without clothes and clothe You? When did we see You sick, or in prison, and visit You?’

And the King will answer them, ‘I assure you: Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of Mine, you did for Me.’”

FEED THE CHILDREN

Across town, Darlene Anderson Wilson spends the best hours of her days at Feed The Children. This location that God has placed “in our backyard” is one of 5 distribution centers where Feed the Children funnels food resources and other essential supplies to families in poverty and affected by natural disasters.

Darlene’s role at Feed the Children as Volunteer Engagement Supervisor has her constantly sharing life with the people that make this enormous operation work, and she LOVES it: 

“I am always touched by the generosity of volunteers’ time to come in. I know how busy my life is and I know many of them have just worked an 8 to 10-hour day and still come in to pack boxes to help others as busy as they are.” – Darlene Anderson Wilson

In addition to guiding Volunteers, Darlene oversees the Teacher Store, which invites teachers to “shop” for classroom supplies at no personal expense. Darlene has seen the way this impacts the hearts of local teachers: “I’ve seen it in something as simple as providing a teacher with a new chair for their desk or having books that are “perfect” for their students,” Darlene said. “The teachers leave here knowing we care about the work they are doing, and some have cried from the generosity they are shown.”

FBC VOLUNTEERS AT FEED THE CHILDREN

The overwhelming pattern in what Darlene shared with us is how God shows up in the moment-by-moment interactions that happen at the Distribution Center.

She treasures her interactions with the at-risk students who come and volunteer, describing the moments when they share with her the things that are important to them, their smiles in response to a “job well done”, and their laughter and camaraderie as they tell stories and even sing while packing boxes. “They come in and help complete whatever task we have for the day with enthusiasm and an eagerness to help out. When they are here, it seems like they forget about their circumstances for a while and are just kids volunteering,” Darlene shared.

Whether she’s helping a driver who can’t find an address or even helping a parent line up community service work for their son or daughter, Darlene understands that each of her scenarios at Feed The Children is an opportunity to spread kindness and grace to others.

As God uses Feed the Children to intervene in the cycle of poverty both domestically and abroad, He is also orchestrating encounters and conversations in a volunteer context to intervene in lives with His love. And that’s pretty incredible.

BRISTOL COMMUNITY FOOD PANTRY

“We get the chance to be in the gaps for people. We have seen where food gives us a chance to listen to people who need a chance to talk and unload from some of life’s hurts and heavy things. That happens quite often as we listen; it’s not unusual for people to cry and release pressures of life as we listen and pray.”

– Chris Garner, Executive Director, Bristol Community Food Pantry

Adopting this role in 2019 enabled Chris to step right into the lives of others, where he has witnessed firsthand the overlap between meeting physical and spiritual needs. If you’ve volunteered at Bristol Community Food Pantry before, you may have been surprised that your main role in helping families was to “listen”, even above providing logistical help. It’s all because this ministry’s passion for meeting relevant physical needs is built upon the desire to meet spiritual ones. Every facet of the experience at Bristol Food Pantry has been intentionally designed to demonstrate the love of Christ, providing nourishment to both the human body and soul.

A bag of groceries may last for a week, but a heart that has been touched is impacted eternally.

This kind of ministry functions on lots of moving pieces, so when volunteers show up with a posture of willingness to do whatever is needed, from handling small to large items, it especially blesses Chris and his team. “Not everything is glamorous and visibly impactful, but it is all part of the wheels that help the ministry run well,” Chris shared.

The Bristol Food Pantry is funded mainly by personal donors. In fact, community food drives hosted by organizations and churches like FBC help to keep shelves stocked, especially during busy times of the year. Chris and his team are also looking for people to help them expand into home delivery, pre-packing, and helping with shopping and food pick up at local stores.

For Chris, it all comes back to this: “When you tangibly see that what you do impacts a life in that moment, it helps you understand how critical it is that we are available to people – how God designed for each of us to be serving, living, and seeing the people around us.”

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RETA

Food isn’t the only drive we’re hosting during this year’s Season of Generosity! Those of you who are kids at heart have our full permission to revisit the toy aisle and bless another local ministry we’re partnering with: Reason Enough To Act (RETA).

RETA is located downtown Elkhart and comes alongside women and men in our community who are facing unplanned pregnancy or navigating parenting for the first time. Their annual Christmas Toy Drive allows client families to select and provide age-specific gifts for their kids. It’s an intentional extension of the relationship RETA has been building with each of these families. Joni Bradberry, who has served as RETA’s Client Services Manager for the last 15 years, shared with us her desire to see families blessed physically and spiritually this Christmas season. She would love for our FBC Family to partner in prayer that, “clients would have open hearts and minds to hear the message of Jesus through our Christmas packet and programming.”

Much like the Bristol Food Pantry, RETA’s toy drive brings physical blessing built upon spiritual care. “Several moms going through hard times have appreciated a listening ear and the prayer support we offer,” Joni remarked.

God is undeniably at work in and through RETA. One of our favorite things that Joni shared was the consensus of typical comments or reactions from first-time volunteers that serve at RETA: they feel the presence of Jesus as they serve. It’s easy to see why. After all, the heart of Christ spilled over with love for the little ones He encountered in His earthly ministry:

Mark 10:13-16 (New Living Translation)

“One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch and bless them. But the disciples scolded the parents for bothering Him. When Jesus saw what was happening, He was angry with his disciples. He said to them, ‘Let the children come to me. Don’t stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to those who are like these children. I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it.’ Then He took the children in his arms and placed his hands on their heads and blessed them.”

The desire of Christ was for parents to engage Him with their children. Helping individuals and families to do this is deeply planted at the heart of RETA’s ministry, and the difficult moments of pregnancy and parenting become a ready atmosphere for encounters with Him.

“I am an atheist.” “I have a felony charge.” “I don’t have money. Can I be a part of your ministry?”  

These are just a few of the questions that Carrie Zickefoose, Executive Director of SPA Women's Ministry Homes, is asked from time to time. Her answer is always the same: “Yes, yes, and yes! I want women to know,” Carrie explains, “that regardless of what it looks like, we, the body of Christ, are here to walk alongside them in truth and love. Come, and let me tell you about my Jesus!”  

SPA (Spiritual & Personal Adjustments) Women’s Ministry Homes is a Christ-centered, residential treatment program that empowers women to address the root causes of life-controlling issues and addictions in order to live productive lives of recovery. SPA has been walking alongside women and helping them to find freedom in Christ through a life-on-life ministry context since 1998.  

“I wish more people realized that addiction does not discriminate,” Carrie remarked. “Your friend, neighbor, Sunday school teacher, coworker, etc. May be struggling and may need a safe, non-judgmental, loving environment to share.” Participating in the way that God is transforming women’s lives through His healing and freedom compels her to pour her heart and life into daily ministry at SPA.  

Carrie looks forward to moments like these at the beginning of the day: “I love walking through the door to laughter – undeniable – from the belly – fall on the floor – tears of joy – kind of laughter!” Those who walk onto the campus find a warm, vibrant atmosphere and an unmistakable sense of family and solidarity. Surely, the presence of the Lord is in this place.  

SPA works intimately with local churches in the Elkhart area, and its leadership looks for opportunities to foster that partnership even outside of Sunday morning services. Carrie told us the following story as an example:  

“We recently hosted a pastor's appreciation dinner in our home here at SPA Women's Ministry. While pastors enjoyed a meal that was prepared for them, our ladies shared with them through song, poetry, storytelling, comedy, and art. In that moment, I saw our ladies’ hearts soften as they served our pastors, and our pastors responded with love and appreciation! For some of our ladies, it had been a long time since anyone applauded them and said, ‘well done.’ And the next day, our ladies expressed over, and over again, how much joy it brought them to do something nice for those who pour Jesus into their lives day in and day out!”  

As a church, our FBC Family treasures the opportunity to partner with all that God is doing through SPA Women’s Ministry Homes. We have watched Him pour favor over this local ministry for years, providing resources to serve more women, transforming lives and entire family trajectories, inspiring creative and innovative new endeavors for the ladies in residence, and moving His church to be a part.  

How to Pray Specifically for SPA Women’s Ministry Homes:  

“Please pray for our ladies that they grow closer to Jesus. Pray for wisdom and discernment for our staff, mentors, and volunteers as they speak into our ladies' lives. Pray for our capacity to reach deep into our community to connect with those who are hurting and who could benefit from this ministry. Pray for our benefit service in February, that God's protection and favor is with us. And most importantly, say ‘thanks’ for who He is and His love and grace for us!” - Carrie Zickefoose  

How to Bless & Serve SPA Women’s Ministry Homes: