Saturday, October 9, 2010
Thursday, October 7, 2010
MULTIHOUSING CONFERENCE/FBC EULESS
Over 70 people came together for the Multihousing Conference at FBC Euless on September 25. We spent the day learnig and ineracting with those who are already involved in Multihousing MIssions. Ronnie Cox came from South Carolina to talk about working with pastors and church members in developing this work. Andrew McElyea talked about "I Am Second" Bible study and disciple making venue. Kenny Price showed how to use the Evangecube in evangelism. Tia Albertson gave ideas of how to begin churches onsite. Audrey Simon and Audrey Gibbs, who are practitioners, talked about long term sustaining of the ministy. One of them has been a missionary to apartments residents for 12 years and the other for abour 4 years. I showed the attendees how to get started if they were really considering this outreach. Jim Burgin came to talk about Mission Arlington and Charles Thornton talked about Apartment Life. It was a day packed with information for those who want to get started and for those who are already a part of reaching this mssion field.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Austin Multihousing Conference
What a wonderful time we had at the Austin Multihousing Conference. We had a good group from several different places such as Corpus Christi, San Antonio, Dallas and even South Dakota. We spent the morning experiencing church as one could in an apartment community. The second session was a discussion on how to approach and work with apartment industry personnel. There were three choices for the afternoon sessions. One was led by the "I am Second" group which showed how to begin Bible studies with the unchurched and lead them to a point of disciple making. The second was a session talking about Church Planting in apartment communities. The third session was a discussion about sustaining ministry onsite in apartment communities for the long term. We ended the day with prayer for each one as they went back to their particular situations at home. We wish all of you could have been there with us to share in the experience.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
FORT WORTH KAREN REFUGEES
God has truly broken my heart. I met 35 Karen families last weekend, anywhere from 3 to 8 in a family. They are living in an apartment complex near the seminary in Fort Worth. They are from Burma and have been persecuted to the point that government sponsors from this country bring them here. The only problem is they have not thought through the entire situation before bringing them. Most of them do not speak English(hard to get a job when you cannot communicate), do not have any transportation, no housing etc. They come with nothing but the clothes on their backs. They are given $1000 to set up housekeeping, get an apartment etc. They are each give one plate and spoon, food stamps for 6 months (which take weeks to get). The kids have medical insurance but the adults do not. Here they are!!!!
I am trying to do 2 thing for them. I have two lists - one general and one specific of things and stuff they need. I am giving this list to all I know to try to help them get set up. I will send the lists to you if you email me for it at barbara_oden@att.net. If you can, pass them out to ANYONE you think might help. Anything given can be given through Texas Multihousing Consulting and can be tax deductable. I have receipts to give. The second thing I an going to begin doing is teaching them English. If you know anyone who might want to assist with that, let me know.
They are such sweet people. I cleaned out my closets and kitchen and took some things to them on Monday. They were eating together when I got there. They immediately gave me a chair and fixed a bowl of noodles and broth for me. They all gathered around me a took a picture. I can't begin to tell you how I felt. One lady does not even have shoes, one man asked is I could find him a medium size jacket. They need blankets to keep warm at night. I felt like I was in a foreign land.
Anyway, if you have some ideas - please let me know.
I am trying to do 2 thing for them. I have two lists - one general and one specific of things and stuff they need. I am giving this list to all I know to try to help them get set up. I will send the lists to you if you email me for it at barbara_oden@att.net. If you can, pass them out to ANYONE you think might help. Anything given can be given through Texas Multihousing Consulting and can be tax deductable. I have receipts to give. The second thing I an going to begin doing is teaching them English. If you know anyone who might want to assist with that, let me know.
They are such sweet people. I cleaned out my closets and kitchen and took some things to them on Monday. They were eating together when I got there. They immediately gave me a chair and fixed a bowl of noodles and broth for me. They all gathered around me a took a picture. I can't begin to tell you how I felt. One lady does not even have shoes, one man asked is I could find him a medium size jacket. They need blankets to keep warm at night. I felt like I was in a foreign land.
Anyway, if you have some ideas - please let me know.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
The Dallas Baptist Association Multihousing Leadership Team had a great meeting on Friday morning. Fonda Koss had not been there for many months due to her surgery and her husband's Cancer surgery and all that followed. We saw some new faces as Pastor Simmons from Hillcrest Baptist Church and Richard and Adam Harris from Lawson Road BC were there too. It is always amazing to me how God brings together the group each month He determines to be there. We had a great time of discovering from each other some great ideas and resources to use in the ministries. We talked about churches onsite also. We missed some of our regulars but know that things come up that just cannot be helped.
One thing we are going to pursue is a night meeting instead of the morning meeting. Maybe more folks could come since many do work during the day. If you read this blog, I would love to have your input into this idea.
Next month will be a special time as one of the kids I led to the Lord in my first apartment ministry in 1986, who is not a missionary with his family in Bangkok, Thailand, will be there to speak to us. We look forward to hearing from one whose life has been changed because someone went to him instead of expecting him to come to a local church already established.
One thing we are going to pursue is a night meeting instead of the morning meeting. Maybe more folks could come since many do work during the day. If you read this blog, I would love to have your input into this idea.
Next month will be a special time as one of the kids I led to the Lord in my first apartment ministry in 1986, who is not a missionary with his family in Bangkok, Thailand, will be there to speak to us. We look forward to hearing from one whose life has been changed because someone went to him instead of expecting him to come to a local church already established.
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