Neighborhood Parks Ministry
Last Saturday at 19th Ave CFTN, at 11:00 in the morning, we had a wonderful meeting with a nice group of folks showing up for the service. A group of our young people were there to help and it is always a blessing when they come. They pitch right in and help wherever they can. Samantha shared from her heart what God is doing in her life and what a blessing that was. Darren shared also and it was a word that was needed. They had home cooked lunch and just a very nice time of visiting and praying with them. If you like to be blessed come and join us, and bless those that are less fortunate than you are and you will be blessed.
Saturday night at 11 Ave and Hatcher-7:00 PM
This is a new outreach just started and the word is getting out.
Rich has brought his trailer that is a stage and he has the sound equipment for the music, so we can sing and share.
There was a very large group of people who came out to hear the singing, sharing and of course, hotdogs, which we ran out of and had to go and get more. This is going to be a very good outreach, as we are in an area of homeless. We will be giving out clothes here also. A young man needed clothes, all he had was what he had on. We count it a pleasure to help where we can, one on one, as they respond to the love of Jesus, and can come to the understanding that He really cares.
Easter Meeting at the Christian Care Center
We had our Easter service last Sunday, the 8th, and had very good time.
We sang some Easter songs, then Ilona danced to a Easter song. She is beautiful in her dancing and was a pleasure for all of us.. We were honored that she came and did this for our all of our friends. At the end we gave out beautiful red roses. Each person receives prayer from our team. We were all blessed.
Saturday Park Outreach
Pastors Kouami and Essie
We are having very good success with having our main outreach in the multi-purpose room at CFTN on 19th Ave.. We are no longer able to continue in the park we had been going to. This has been a good move for our team. The homeless are coming and seem to enjoy the move. They get to set at tables, enjoy the music, and the word , they also get a very nice meal and good clothes.
Two Saturdays ago Mark Jackson came and preached a very good message. He also told them about some help in being able to get jobs.
Last Saturday Steeve Moser gave the word, they always are very attentive when he ministers. We had a nice size group and everyone had a good time.
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I SAW THE ANGER AND BITTERNESS MELT AWAY!!!
By Linda Beaver
As I sit here this day reflecting on some events of this week so far regarding someone who sat in my class and I know God changed his heart. Then seeing on the news what the charges were, knowing there will be a lengthy prison term for him.
My first thoughts were tears, and saying God this is so hard. My heart hurts for him, and his family.
I was quickly reminded by the Lord that through HIS love this kid’s life is changed forever no matter where he will live, in prison or free.
You see this young man is not a Christian, he is a Kurdish Muslin. I was given the privilege to love on him, and show the love of the Lord to him by letting him be who he is, not trying to change him or convert him to my beliefs. He even requested to pray for the class, as we pray before the beginning of the class, and at the end of each class. I allowed him to do so.
He came into my Character First class with an angry chip on his shoulder. It finally coming out that he hated his father for the abuse of his mother and other siblings. His father had died about 2 months before the class started. Him just stating the father got to Americanized, into the drug lifestyle. The bitterness overflowed in every class. The Lord prompted my heart to let him teach the class I did on the word HONOR. How honor in this country looks very different than in other cultures. You see he was in the states because his family name was dishonored, and the family was kicked out of their village. So he was speaking from the heart. I had a new perspective on honor after that class. The other kids in the class had that same new perspective on the word honor.
The next to the last class was on the word FORGIVENESS. Forgiving yourself first, and then forgiving others that have harmed you in any way. This young man broke in that class. I saw the anger, and bitterness that he wore melt away. He forgave himself for why he was there, and forgave his father. He left that 10 week class a new person. Asking all the kids which class impacted them the most. The majority of the answers were the class on HONOR. His answer was the class on FORGIVENESS.
My heart is so full of gratefulness for the Lord allowing me to make an impact. My heart of heaviness is that I saw this young man on the TV news being charged along with 2 other Kurdish young men for killing his father.
Thank you Father God for your wonderful grace, and mercy that is new everyday. Linda Beaver
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GOD DOING WHAT HE DOES BEST!!
The Lion of the tribe of Judah, and Katiin of the Eritrean tribe from Africa
Joshua Squad has had a high privilege in the last 10 days or so. We have been very excited to see God set in motion a plan for one of His kids, and we have been very humbled that we could be allowed by God to have a part in his plans.
A week ago yesterday, we were at our final stop, inside the shelter known as CASS. One of the female staff came to me, looking close to tears. She asked me if I would go look at a man in Level I on the men’s side, adding that he wouldn’t or couldn’t eat, wondering if we would put together a plate of food and leave it for him. We serve a big lunch meal each Weds. on both sides, men and women, of the day rooms in the shelter. I went with Frances to see this man about whom she was expressing so much concern. I immediately felt I should get a man from Joshua Squad to help me. I pointed out to Frances the man in the red plaid shirt, Gerry, a relative newcomer to us.
Gerry came right in to the pallet & slid to his knees on the concrete floor. The man on the cot fluttered and opened his eyes. It was painful to look into his eyes and see so much fear. By now, we had learned that he spoke or understood no English. Gerry prayed long & beautifully, covering all aspects of the man’s needs.
Wheels were set in motion later that day and many people involved in C.F.T.N.’s “Beyond the Walls” program (all outreaches) became concerned and began trying to be helpful. Kouami and Esse were instrumental in getting this going. Esee went to Central and met with the Eritrean congregation. By then a paper had been given to some involved. From this we learned that the African man’s name is Katiin. A lady at church said she was from the same tribe but didn’t speak the language. She called Luther, also from the tribe. He knew Katiin and was even looking for him. It seemed Katiin’s brother had sponsored his immigration into this country, but soon after his arrival, Katiin was rejected by his brother.
He was lying on the cot, very thin, looking like a true battle between death and life was going on. A staff member was trying to encourage him to eat. He gagged on the American food, able only to eat some yogurt.
Kouami and Luther went to CASS and worked on plans for meeting Katiin’s needs. His vital signs had been checked and were within normal limits, but the light was out in his eyes. He manifested fear. He was very frightened, terribly thin, extremely hungry, and feeling very alone. He had no language except the one of his heart by which he could call out to his God.
CHURCH FOR THE NATIONS (Pastured by Michael and Mary Maiden), is going beyond the walls of our church to reach those who are lost, walking in despair, those with broken hearts, the homeless, refugee’s from other countries, visiting the hospitals, and nursing homes.
Later Luther told Katiin’s story. He was a rich man in their country before suffering from demonic attacks. He lost everything, ending up in the same refugee camp many were in before being relocated here. His brother in Tucson appears to have severed ties w/ him. Katiin had felt too weak to shower, so Luther helped him shower. Katiin still could not stomach American food so Luther brought him some meals. It seemed each member of the Body of Christ was doing what s/he could to help.
By now, today we received information on needs, sizes, etc. I shopped this morning with Joshua Squad funds for some clothing and will finish up with a few more things tomorrow. The Christians in the area have gathered around this precious man and are striving to witness to him of the love of God. All of us Americans here have been delighted to have been included, honored by the Lord, happy to be of any help. We have a handle on some clothes now, but a great need is a mattress, plus blankets. Luther took Katiin to his (Luther’s) home last night. Now Katiin has someone who shares his language as well as gaining shelter. We are far from done helping this man.
So who is this Lion of Judah? We learned something about Katiin of the Eritreans. The Lion of Judah is our strength, the powerful One to whom we can run in any or all kinds of trouble.
We know that it is not any kind of coincidence that all of us have come together on behalf of a person from around the globe. Oh, how He loves us. He will not leave us alone. He will take a thin, starving man who is filled with fear and come upon him in great love and much power and He will turn that life around. God, the Lion, will call anyone He chooses to call, and we who respond are beyond blessed.
My hat is off to Frances, the employee at the shelter, who, along with fellow employee Mary, cared for this man, letting it be known that there were heavy-duty needs. I saw the tears roll down Frances’ cheeks yesterday. I heard the voice of Jesus, “I was a stranger and you took me in”, and they asked Him, “Oh, Lord, when did we take you in” and I hear a roar from the Lion and I see him move in all His majesty and He shouts—hear Him now—
“When you took in and fed and cried and bought clothes for Katiin,
YOU DID IT UNTO ME.”
And I stare into the eyes of the Lion, and I see the power, strength, confidence, but I also see His love, and I fall down and thank the Lion for being allowed to be on “Team Katiin.”
because He came, we go
in the alleys for Jesus
jo ann for the
joshua squad
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We Are a Church Reaching Beyond The Walls
The leaders of our Outreach program is Pastors Bob and Debbie Putnam , who have been involved directly with Outreach for several years before coming to Church for The Nations.
This website is dedicated to inform you of what one church in the Phoenix Arizona area is doing.
CHURCH FOR THE NATIONS (Pastured by Michael and Mary Maiden), is going beyond the walls of our church to reach those who are lost, walking in despair, those with broken hearts, the homeless, refugee’s from other countries, visiting the hospitals, and nursing homes.
We will be covering the many different groups that we are reaching, with the help of volunteer’s who are giving their time, to bring hope and love to many people, who are crying desperately for help.
As Christians, we have the knowledge and the spiritual help that can only come from God, who gave His Only Son, that everyone can walk in freedom from sin and it’s consequences. We know that the price Jesus paid, It has given us every answer for what mankind needs, to be able to walk in freedom from sin and to be made whole.
We are breaking the strongholds of the enemy in many lives that have been so bound by darkness and no hope.
There are many churches that are involved in reaching out to the lost and we hope that the information and testimonies that we will write about will be an inspiration for God’s people to be involved in some way, in the on going battle for souls and to show the love of Jesus to a dying world.
We want to reach our city, communities and the world for Jesus.