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Over the past six months, we have not
only seen death by physical nature, but by the spiritual nature as well. We have seen brokenness, hurt, humility, and
life changing moments - all with God's hand in it. But perhaps the thing that hits us most, is seeing how God is molding
all of us into the servants he wants us to be.
He has made great changes with the people involved
in both the manna ministry [The Table] and the home churches.
Bill and Paul installed a water heater at a home in We remember when Bill had his car accident and through the medical treatment he received afterwards, he found out there was something wrong. While we don't recall exactly where it was, it was located somewhere near or on the brain. We all prayed for Bill. Later we found out that whatever it was, it was gone. Praise God!! God used this moment to show how gingerly his mighty hands can reach out and heal, but he also used this moment to reach Bill in a way that is extremely encouraging to us. Bill, don't give up the faith - God will answer your prayers - He will place you right where He wants you. Sometimes we look harder than we should because the answer God gives is not always a comforting one or one we will be satisfied with. We had two individuals who have been incarcerated, whose lives are being turned around and being used for God. Only God knows the full impact of what their incarceration will have on their lives, but both are seeking Him and His will for their life. One has since come home, just in time to celebrate the Easter Holiday with loved ones. The other we are hoping and praying will be out just in time to celebrate Easter with his loved ones. [Editorial Note: He has since been released. Click here to read his thoughts, and allow them to change you.] It will be exciting to see what God does in their lives. Another friend of the Manna Ministry was hurt and taken to the hospital. She has been in a nursing home since. Talking with her and constantly guiding her in the Lord's way has been both tiring and encouraging. It has allowed me to find a balanced ground with being bold in speaking the truth, but by doing so in love and kindness. The Lord is pruning me in being honest in a loving way. That has always been a struggle with me, and now it is being overcome by God's graciousness. I find it coming more naturally - thank God! And who can forget about the computers!!!! Only God knew what he was doing there and it is starting to come together. We will be sending laptops off to a church in Then there is Luis who hooks us up with the computers from Dreager Medical. Having dinner with him and his wife was a lot of fun. He definitely connected with all of us and is looking forward to doing it again. He and his wife are great people and have a lot of potential for reaching others. We need to remember him and keep him in our prayers - we can just see God doing amazing things here! Just last night, I was awe struck at how God was at work once again. It has not been the first time we have seen someone come off the street with an immense amount of hurt, nor will it be the last. But somehow, last night was different. While we were all out in the pouring rain underneath the pavilion, just mingling amongst each other, an older gentleman walked up and started talking with Steve. At first we were not aware of the conversation or even the magnitude of what was going on, but I remember looking up and seeing Steve just embracing this man while he cried on his shoulder. Just by the look on Steve's face, you could tell there was a lot of pain and hurt being released from the gentleman while Steve showed great compassion on him. He was there for this man and for whatever reason (that only God knows), this man connected with Steve. By watching Steve last night, you could tell this would change him and his heart forever. From going to being just the "soup guy" who was dropping it off, then staying, and now, being completely stretched out of his comfort zone - the whole thing has been very encouraging. We pray that God will continue to use Steve and that Steve will continue to allow God to use him for the sake of the kingdom. The last six months have been both encouraging and tiring, but looking ahead is filled with anxiety and excitement. It will no doubt be tiring and exciting looking for a public place of worship, but be well worth it in the end. Word of mouth of who we are and what we are doing is spreading throughout the Love, Paul & Sherri Hmmmmm....my
thoughts.......................... My thoughts: It’s
hard to believe that six months have gone by! In some ways it seems as though we have known many of those who attend "the
Table" for years on end, and yet, there are those we are only just getting to know. The past few months have been very different
than what I expected. You see,
many years ago when I entered this ministry, the majority of those we fed were children. That's easy. The struggle we encountered
was how to reach their parents. Now it’s just the opposite. The area has changed, people have moved out or over a few
blocks and the children we once played with are all grown, some with families of their own, and still struggling. The majority
of the people we see now are adults, many with mental health issues. This
is very challenging. It requires more of me than I ever thought possible. Kids are easy to love and pay attention to. Most
of the time, they welcomed and craved the attention because they didn't receive it at home. Now I see some with hardened
faces, some so hurt they silently shout "I'm not letting you in" and have walls higher than they are tall! As
we stand on the street corner is not always easy to talk to people and get under the surface as it's a flurry of activity.
Many just grab the food and go, which is okay, but it leads me to believe that they are the ones we should be reaching
toward more. There are people whose names I don't even know yet, and find it hard to break away from serving to talk to them.
Don't get me wrong, I love to serve, but when I see the hurting and downtrodden expressions on their faces, I want to
get to know them and draw them into our "family". I know
that the LORD has good things in store for them.... joy, peace, healing, safety, etc.
We have seen it first hand in a few already. I am
amazed at the number of people we are having come out on a weekly basis. The area is not the best of neighborhoods, and many
stay indoors due to fear of what's out there. And it’s still cold at night! I am sure the numbers will rise as
the weather warms and daylight extends. I hope and pray the next six months will be as fruitful as the first, and more. Missy This is an email I sent out Saturday, October 9th. As you all know, there are some very special people that have become our friends on the streets in You all know Jerry and how he is wanting to be "close to God," and how he "loves God." He has made some significant strides since getting out of jail. Francis
and Howard have invited us to have church at their apartment on Monday evenings, and Jerry wanted to be involved with the
church at our house, and the church at Franny & Howard's. He was that enthusiastic
about knowing God and joining with us as family. I just got word from Franny, that Jerry had a fatal heart attack last night.
He was trying to press into God just as evidenced by the way he brought "Cat" out to meet us last week, and how he
took care of her - seeing her home safely, and tell about his concern for her to "come to God." He was not ashamed of talking about Jesus. I am shocked, and my heart is heavy. I am remembering our last
conversation and how close we felt toward each other. We just connected, and
our last words to each other were "I love you my brother," giving each other a hug. Bill, Sherri and I had discussed his salvation and how much he wanted to know God. I fully expect to meet him again.
Until then, I will really miss him. In just the short time
that I knew him, he had really affected me. He wanted to see others grow close
to God too - like I'll keep you all posted as I get more information. In the meantime, please pray and look to God for where He is working through this. There will be talk on the street, and we had seen so much redemption through terrible things like this. I think that God will use this (and is using this) if we will only open our spiritual
eyes to see what He is doing, and join Him as He works. In the meantime we will mourn with those who mourn... (Romans 12,
verse 15) Peace, Kork Jerry was a man that had been coming out on Wednesday evenings to eat with us on the
street. He was a tired guy who had been through a lot. He had been told by different churches,
that he was not good enough for God. Jerry kind of gave up on church and himself. He told me he was trying to do the best he can and he just existed, since getting
out of jail a couple of weeks ago. We had numerous conversations about the Society,
or Country of God (the kingdom of God), and how we enter it now; conversations about who Jesus chose to be with, and why;
conversations about how we are to treat each other within the family of God – I guess I’m talking about vulnerability
and acceptance. Each week we saw him happier, and each week he was telling us more, and more, about those he was helping. On Wednesday evening the 6th, Jerry brought
a woman to us who was very drunk and could not take care of herself. Her husband
is crippled. Jerry was ensuring that she got food. He told me that “she needs to know you people – she needs Jesus!” Jerry took care of her that evening practically feeding her. We stood in a circle to pray around the
table, and when we were finished, this woman continued to pray, snapping us all back into God’s presence. We joined her again. The prayer was a lament, a beckoning,
a prayer of hurt, of longing, simple and profound. I could not help but cry within
myself. As she finished, and without being able to hold her head up, the drool
just continued to run out of her mouth as if she didn’t notice. Jerry,
seeming embarrassed for her, grabbed napkins and gently began wiping her mouth. I cannot tell you what I felt. Here is a man that, only weeks ago was just existing, now with joy, being selfless and seemed completely
Christ-like. I allowed myself to run ahead in my mind with the possibilities
of what God would do with this new man. Jerry died on Friday, October 8th and
I’m missing him. He was a good friend whom I love. But his death (because of his new life
and change of heart) has had the most profound impact on me, this neighborhood, and beyond.
I cannot tell you how many people I have heard from, that either knew Jerry and are now changed (or changing) because
of him, and those who have only heard his story, and how God is awakening them to a different perspective. Please read the following. They are responses
to my email and illustrate in some way how Jerry’s story; his life, and death are used by God. The last letter is a continuation from our last newsletter as our story continues. . . -----Original Message----- From: xxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: Jerry Kork, My prayers are
with you and with those whom Jerry's life and death are influencing for God. Praise the Lord! The purpose of his
life is just now beginning to unfold. xxxx xxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: Some Sad News Dear Kork ... I was so sorry to hear about Jerry. I prayed my way through your email,
and am trusting God with you to draw others to Himself through this, and comfort those who knew him. In His love, xxxxx xxxxxxxxx -----Original Message----- From: xxxxxxxxxx Subject: RE: Some Sad News Kork, I am very saddened
about Jerry death. May God use you mightily to encourage this family. What an opportunity to reach out with the gospel. Even
in death...God's truth has an impact. Your friend- xxx -----Original
Message----- Hi Kork, Sorry I didn’t
reply earlier this. It was great being able to spend time together on Sunday. I was moved
by what xxx shared during the service on Sunday regarding Jerry . . . I think it hit me on a few levels. First, the obvious
implication of sharing Jesus with those who are lost is awesome. These are people whom Jesus loves yet (in many ways) the
world has discarded. Being able to stand among them and minister to their needs is definitely “doing for Jesus what
you do for them” and so in that sense the work (as an act of faith and obedience) is both exciting and urgent. The second way in which xxx’s testimony touched me was – as I mentioned at xxxxxx’s – the way that God performs miracles among us each day in changing us incrementally. We do see that amazing overnight transformations occur and we are quick to give God the credit for those. But I see miracles in the way that people’s lives are gradually and patiently changed through obedience to Christ, and those miracles can provide even more fruit and more testimony than the “overnight sensations.” I think that is the type of fruit that your ministry is going to experience – sure, you may see the “fall down and accept Jesus as Lord” type of thing – but more often (and effectively) you will experience the “I want more of this Jesus” attitude from people as you show them Jesus in person. You will have people being touched gradually and patiently through the reflection of Christ that you are able to show. That is also extremely exciting.
The third way
that I was touched by what xxx shared – as well as through recent experience, prayer, and meditation – was this.
How do we as followers of Christ share this Jesus with other believers? I think that we are much more apt to show the virtues
of love to the visibly lost than to those among us who believe in Christ but are maybe not pursuing Jesus with the same fervency
that we do. I think that we need to be as patient with one another as we are with the lost, but we often fall short in that
area. I know I do – how about you? We need to treat one another just as we would a stranger in some respects, understanding
that through our patient kindness and sharing of the way of Jesus, that the lives of those around us will be miraculously
changed. God actually gives us opportunities to participate in His miracles when we passionately obey Him. So that part is
the challenge – can we as believers get to that point with other believers that we seek to be with the lost? I could write
more, but I need to get moving. I hope you are having a great week brother. I look forward to seeing you again soon. Love, xxx -----Original
Message----- Kork,
See Ya xxx Even after death, the heart of a life touched by God resonates with strangers, and
the loved ones they leave behind. Until we see Jerry again, the effects of his
changed heart, continues to give us hope. We love him and will miss him until
our reunion. God bless you. Kork "If you have done this to the least one of these, my brothers, you have done it to me." Jesus
Christ
A STORY Where We Have Been The challenges
that we had faced in 1997 we would never have expected, nor would we have thought that we would have been prepared for, as
Christ’s representatives. And the obstacles that we had thought we would
face had not occurred. That year, we experienced both death and life; both loss
and gain; bad and good; cursing and blessings – and the Lord had proved faithful through it all. From
the perspective of those we served, very little seemed special. We would arrive
at Washington & Chestnut Streets between As we
had told our Church leadership at the time, we had felt the direction to become more vocal
with regard to our faith. Prior to this we believed that we needed to establish
ourselves as “credible;” not looking to condemn those that
we served, or to manipulate them into the "Kingdom" with a false concern for their spiritual condition. But rather, “showing them our religion by what we do.” (Jas. 2:18) Thanks be to God, because He had opened the eyes of the blind and had opened some ears so that they
might hear. He truly had been at work on the streets of With
our natural perception, we had thought this new focus might be viewed as condescending and offensive. We believed that we would find opposition because of our zeal to press-in.
Quite the contrary! It had only led to some very real dialog
weekly. We truly saw God eliminate any appearance of “playing church.” Most who came felt very comfortable expressing their needs, both physical and spiritual. This had been most pleasant and unexpected.
It had been thrilling to stand openly with them and point to the Way, even within some very energetic and difficult
conversations. This is not to imply in any way that we were received and liked
by everyone. We have
seen individuals exhibiting very evil spirits – if not down right demonized – giving into the abase-ness of their
very own fallen natures. One of these individuals would try to discredit our
work; discrediting us by identifying himself with us, and vying for attention by performing very loudly as a preacher although
in a drunken stupor. Much like the slave-girl who discredited Paul and Silas
by association while in We had
also lost another “regular” to death. He was known as “Buddy”
and he truly was ours. Buddy was very old and worked up to the moment of his
death for the local “slum lord” and for precious little money. Buddy
was very small and very unimpressive. Drunk most of the time, he was “just
trying to get along.” But you must not view Buddy buy outward appearance. Buddy is not a character in a story and this life that he had come to is not indicative
of his whole life. You see, Buddy had been a highly decorated “War Hero.” At some point in his life he had fallen, and this, I have learned, can happen quite
suddenly to anyone! Buddy’s death shook us because we had no assurance of his destiny after this life and had every reason to believe it was not well with him. Buddy was our friend and I believed this to be a personal failing of ours. We had made an announcement during the prayer circle the following Wednesday evening and apologized for not taking the Great Commission more seriously. We asked them the question, “why were we here with them?” and received varying responses from, “to promote brotherhood,” to “helping others.”
At that we publicly repented to them, confessing our failing, and told them the gospel message
of the kingdom, urging them on to Jesus. That seemed to be a major turning point. Afterward, much light came forth from much darkness.
It seems as though some kind of battle line had been drawn! Truly,
there seemed to be very little middle ground any more. The darkness had become
increasingly “very dark,” while the light became “very bright”.
Of course, on the surface there remained the appearance of the former (because these people had a lot of “past”
to overcome) but it was glorious to see them quite innocent as children. It seemed
as though the greatest light came forth from the greatest darkness, and out of the most terrible and veil circumstances. Several
individuals, that year moved from emptiness to trust in our Lord, while a few others seem to be reestablishing themselves
within the community of faith; and still there are those who were on the fringe testing the water quite obviously with and
open ear. With this new found freedom to be extremely verbal, each week held
new questions and dialog about spiritual and natural matters. The Father was
honored as He broke down walls before our eyes; and He also blessed us by allowing us to witnesses these folks as He worked
for their good; codling them in their infancy. The van was running, collecting
them for Sunday service. So it was in the year 1997. ...and Where We Are Going
Our aim is to set tables of food on the street again.
Setting food and cloths on a street corner/parking lot in a less fortunate neighborhood, loving people into small groups - the Church; helping individuals in their journey, as they discover their place in God’s kingdom, and ministry gifting.
This is loving God.
To help us finacially with this ministry, please click here.
Copyright © 2004-2008 besidestillwaters.net. All rights reserved.
Still Waters is a new Pottstown Bible Church located in Pennsylvania, and is a new way of being
the church. We are with the Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches.
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