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Tues. 11/1, 1pm
Jeremy and Anouk's blog has three new entries reporting on the projects of the latest Global Grace work team. Their report and photos there can give you an idea how funds and physical resources are helping to meet both practical and spiritual needs in the hurricane-affected area.
Thurs. 10/27, 11pm
Global Grace's 6th work team is our largest yet--13 people left today to work with the Scotts and the Prices. Roger Price writes, "Some
of the men will be helping a local church about 20 miles from us with repairs to its building...severely damaged by Hurricane Rita. Other team members will remain in Lafayette where they will help prepare food for distribution to evacuees and visit with evacuees in motels. As we turn our focus from the large evacuation center in Lafayette (the Cajun Dome) as it empties of its residents, we are finding a tremendous opportunity to minister to evacuees in motels. Please continue to pray for this effort for the glory of God.
Weds. 10/26, 8pm
The people who have come to stay here in Rockford have temporary housing and are seeking jobs. Please continue to pray with us that the Lord will provide their needs, all of our needs, too--both physical and spiritual.
Fri. 10/21, 9pm
Jeremy and Anouk have posted some new updates and photos on their blog.
Weds. 10/19, 10pm
Everyone's back (until the next team departs--probably 10/27), and there are some new faces at Morning Star. The young family and the seasoned street preacher who have made the move up to Rockford are busy settling in, and we are trying to help. There are jobs to find, housing to obtain, medical needs to take care of. Please remember these folks in prayer.
Sun. 10/16, 8pm
The Bixbys and the family they are bringing back to Rockford departed this afternoon and plan to spend tonight in Jackson and Monday night in St. Louis. Please pray for their safety and the continued "health" of the vehicle they borrowed. Tonight, both Ed Foster and Scott Silsbee gave testimonies in church about their work trip and what they learned. They were able to work alongside teams from MI, KY, CA, and FL.
Fri. 10/14, 5pm
Go to Jeremy and Anouk's blog to see photos of the family who is moving to Rockford. They have been hanging out with the Bixbys and the Scotts at the Acadian Baptist Center.
Fri. 10/14, 3pm
Pastor Bixby and Pastor Jeremy went to Baton Rouge today to get the RV--the repairs will cost about $1200. The Scotts got their volunteer passes for work in the Lafayette shelters. The Cajun Dome has been evacuated, but there are about 600 people in the convention center still. The ministry plan for the next couple days is to help a couple people move from Eunice back to their homes in the New Orleans area. The Bixbys and Scotts plan to worship Sunday morning with Acadia Baptist Church, the church plant pastored by BMM missionary Roger Price, at a KOA campground. The Bixbys plan to return to Rockford either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Thurs. 10/13, 11pm
The Bixbys and the Scotts are together in the Lafayette area now, getting to know the young family that the Bixbys will be bringing back to Rockford with them. Photos and more news coming soon.
Weds. 10/12, 11pm
Jeremy and Anouk are making the most of their time while the RV is being repaired: Read their latest news on their blog. In the meanwhile, the Bixbys continued their travels today, and Ed and Scott are slated to arrive home from Pascagoula tonight.
Tues. 10/11, 9pm
The Scotts' RV broke down again, this time in Baton Rouge (only an hour or so short of their destination!), and this time probably the fuel pump. The RV was struggling and stuck in traffic for some time, so they were thankful that the Lord answered their prayers to make it to a mechanic. He has hookup facilities, so they will be able to spend the night there and try to get to Lafayette tomorrow sometime. The Bixbys are en route to St. Louis tonight and then will head to Louisiana tomorrow.
Mon. 10/10, 8am
Following last night's work team reports, the church body dedicated a portion of the service to the commissioning of Jeremy and Anouk Scott to serve as missionary workers for four months in the Gulf Coast area. Several men led the congregation in prayer, and Jeremy shared ministry hopes and specific prayer requests. Out in the driveway afterwards, the Scotts opened up their new 25-feet-long home for a "we're downsizing!" reception--featuring tiny cookies and Dixie cups of pop--so that the church family could tour the RV and talk with them. Check out commissioning service and reception pictures on their weblog. The Scotts have reached 70% of their support, and they leave Rockford for Louisiana this morning. Please pray for protection on the trip and for provision, wisdom, and strength for the work that lies ahead of them.
Sun. 10/9, 8pm
Ed and Scott, two members of Morning Star Baptist, have been working down South since Wednesday as part of the 4th trip sponsored by Morning Star/Global Grace. Luis Paris, a missionary-on-deputation who visited our church last Sunday (10/2) got excited about the ministry opportunity and went home to St. Louis and arranged to be able to join Ed and Scott, so he has been working with them since Thursday. His enthusiasm has been an encouragement to Morning Star. Teams are now doing more spraying, electrical work, etc. (as opposed to the initial "destruction phase"). Ed's tester and electrical knowledge have come in handy. He has been shocked at the extent of devastation and the extent of relief efforts. People are extremely receptive to the Gospel, too, and Scott says he would love for someone to pay him so that he could just stay down there and continue ministering like this!
During tonight's meeting, Amanda and Henry represented last week's work team (5 members total) with a slide presentation and a ministry report. Both of these young people were struck by God's providence and sovereignty on a great scale (like His sparing the lives and property of unbelievers for whom people had been specifically praying) to the comparably small details (Henry's "happening" to notice a screw stuck in the van tire before they departed a gas station). The team felt privileged, too, to be able to see the universal Body of Christ in action and to benefit from the fellowship and hospitality of so many likeminded believers in the Gulf Coast area.
Tues. 10/4, 8pm
Along with an explanation of what living faith "works" look like, Pastor Bixby has enumerated the specific financial needs Global Grace has right now: ["Pitch in! Help us help the poor."]
Mon. 10/3, 11am
Slated for today, Jeremy and Anouk's departure was delayed to accommodate RV repairs and to wait for more needed support. The church gave $3100 yesterday, and others have pledged help. You can view updates from the Scotts at the new Global Grace weblog, where it's also possible now to subscribe to a notifications list.
Mon. 10/3, 12am
The Myers, Chris Hayes, and Henry Cook have returned safely from a work trip to help contacts in Pascagoula, MS. We praise God for a safe and profitable trip, and we look forward to their report.
Weds. 9/28, 8am
We praise the Lord for the safe return of the men's work team on Monday. The men will give a report tonight at our church's prayer meeting, and another team plans to depart tomorrow evening. Please read Mark Garard's brief essay, "Lanier Street," on the SHARPER IRON weblog. You can view photos there from the trip and learn about Della Leggins, a lady our team was able to help.
Sun. 9/25, 11pm
Our work team was delayed today when their vehicle broke down near Jackson, Mississippi. Having secured another alternator, they are still en route home. They hope to make it in around 3am. Please pray with us for these men, as several of them need to get back to their day jobs in the morning. Jeremy and Anouk have arrived in Rockford, but their RV did not quite make it. It broke down in Michigan City, Indiana, and they need to go back for it. Please remember them, too. In the case of both vehicles, there is much to be thankful for (including safety), and we continue to trust the Lord to provide financially and logistically, as He has been.
Sat. 9/24, 1:30pm
The latest update from Ray Mitchell of the Lafayette-based BMM Katrina Response Team is that Pastor Price and Pastor Swope are heading back to Lafayette today to assess the situation and resume ministry. Reports of the damage to Lafayette are conflicting, and Ray is staying behind in Mobile till they know whether he needs to bring particular supplies, etc. back with him. Three urgent prayer requests from the Lafayette group are:
Sat. 9/24, 12pm
The Global Grace work team was able to deliver supplies to the BMM Katrina Response Team members who had evacuated to Mobile. After that, they were assigned, along with two men from Florida, to travel to Pascagoula and minister as a work crew for a single mom, Della Leggins, and her two girls. (Della's actually been working right alongside the men, and Mark Garard plans to share more of her remarkable story when he gets home.) It's been an emotional and highly profitable trip so far. The team has been burdened by the magnitude of these people's losses. CFBC has assessed the needs of and determined to help 70 families in Pascagoula and Bayou LaBatre, for as long as funds hold out and volunteers keep coming.
Fri. 9/23, 8am
Global Grace, Inc. was formed officially this past Wednesday. [Read Pastor Bixby's report.]
Thurs. 9/22, 2pm
Read an urgent update / prayer requests from our contacts in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Weds. 9/21, 2pm
Read about ministry teams on Pastor's latest posts, "Presence Matters", and another letter from BMM missionary pastor Roger Price.
Tues. 9/20, 7pm
Pastor has posted an update and a letter from missionary Roger Price on his weblog.
Sat. 9/17, 4pm
Last week, Jeremy and Anouk Scott agreed to move South for 4 months to work with Baptist Mid-Missions pastors Roger Price and Ray Mitchell. Read what Pastor wrote this week in his blog entry "People on the Ground" to learn more about this couple and their plans to help us coordinate our work teams, connect with needy people, and allocate our resources.
Weds. 9/14, 6pm
Pastor Bixby spoke at Calvary Baptist Church in Normal this past Sunday evening (a previous engagement for a missions emphasis service), and his sermon is available online now.
Tues. 9/13, 2pm
We're grateful for your support, your offers, and your patience. Look for an update soon--we want to share what the Lord is doing.
Tues. 9/13, 8am
Pastor and Mark presented reports on Sunday, and the interview aired twice. We have republished Pastor Bixby's Tsunami Series messages on Morning Star's resources webpage.
Mon. 9/12, 10am
We are coordinating work teams to go down and help. We are encouraged by other churches' response to the needs. Pastor Bixby spoke at Calvary Baptist in Normal, IL on Sunday evening. Calvary is sending weekly teams down every Thursday, and there were about 150 volunteers after the service Sunday night. Bill Hunt from our congregation has been keeping a list of suggested tools for the clean-up and recovery efforts. If you have tools to give, please check out the Tool List [here].
Sat. 9/10, 5am
For those of you bloggers who've been asking, you may now copy/paste some linkage code into your own html.
Thanks for your patience in waiting or adapting your own version.
Fri. 9/9, 2pm
For those of you who would like to give to this project
via PayPal, you can click on the "Donate" button and do so. We have been working all week to obtain
an account status that allows us to accept payments from non-PayPal members and USA credit card donations. This is now possible! Thanks for your patience.
Thurs. 9/8, 12noon
Pastor and Mark are now on their way back to Rockford and expecting to arrive home Friday night. They're not bringing anyone back with them. There are a few very good reasons why evacuees should try stick as close as possible to the area:
Thurs. 9/8, 11am
"Bad news makes news" has rung true down South lately. Not to diminish the very real presence of danger and violence, but Pastor and Mark have definitely been impressed by the gratitude and spirit of
the people they've met. As Cindy Swanson quotes in her weblog account of
this morning's interview,* Pastor says, "[Anger and frustration have] not been our experience. We expected that. (But) I have been hugged so many times, I mean, I've gotten enough hugs to last me a year--and thanked. Just thanked for coming, even though I had nothing to offer." The depravity of people is evident, but there are also,
in stark contrast, many people who are dealing with their losses quietly and calmly. [*Radio interview details will be posted soon.]
Weds. 9/7, 3pm
The one main lesson that Pastor Bixby is learning and says that everyone (especially those who have been willing to host evacuees) must learn
is patience. We who live beyond a certain radius have a hard time comprehending why the evacuees aren't here yet. We know many want out, we know that transportation and housing are the
two greatest needs (along with financial gifts). And we're preparing our hearts and homes to help.
The fact is, Pastor and Mark are learning, that even though we're eager, we probably won't be able to start for another couple months.
In the refuge centers, things are very fluid. The number of people in a facility may fluctuate drastically
from day to day. These are free citizens, looking for jobs for themselves first, wanting to stay
close to home. Even cities close to home are filling up fast. Baton Rouge,
which is closest to New Orleans, already has a surplus of 400,000 evacuees. Lafayette had
a population of 110,000; now they have 150,000. There are also problems with establishing
identity, since many evacuees have no ready access to proof or paperwork. And there
are often nuances and emotional stakes that are difficult to discern. Proving legitimate family
units, for example, is a delicate thing. Pastor reported in his letter yesterday
that the Cajundome is still struggling to get things in order. The logistics of transporting
whom and what and where are complex.
Register-Star article on the city's preparation for 200 still-awaited evacuees:
"Rockford's relief efforts put on standby"
Register-Star article on New Orleans evacuees whom a local woman has taken in:
"Evacuees' road leads to Rockford"
Weds. 9/7, 12noon
To get an idea of the kind of situations
that these local pastors are facing, you could view the blog of Pastor Don Elbourne, where
he has posted photos of his church, Lakeshore Baptist in Lakeshore, MS. Their buildings are wiped out. Their
congregation is scattered (all lost their homes). Pastor Elbourne's wife got robbed this week, as well, which added to the losses. Their spirits are good,
but this is the kind of suffering that's going on. These are the kinds of people with whom Pastor and Mark
are attempting to minister. In fact, they were going to try to contact Pastor Elbourne himself, but at the time,
they were heading in the opposite direction, toward a camp full of evacuees.
Weds. 9/7, 8am
Today, Pastor and Mark
will visit churches between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. Deluged with evacuees,
these churches are having to handle overwhelmingly intense
personal work. Pastor and Mark want us to pray that they will continue to be
able to be of help, both to evacuees and workers.
Pastor says: "I still do hope to, but
with all that's been accomplished, it wouldn't feel like a mission failed if we couldn't
bring someone home this trip." So far, they have been able to fill a critical role in
helping missionary Roger Price think through and structure the new kind of ministry he's
going to have over the next year or so. It will involve recruiting more personnel; drafting
policies, opening bank accounts, finding housing for volunteers, etc. It's a massive undertaking,
but a providential one.
Tues. 9/6, 11pm
The team desires to demonstrate
genuine care in practical ways. For example, something they are really
praying about
(as a "side" burden) is the possibility of giving ice. For a while, it was just a
wish -- dreamt up after hearing the account of a pastor in Gulfport --
but they may actually get to carry out "Mission Cold Water."
It is so incredibly hot there. Babies aren't even able to keep down the hot water.
Something as simple as coolers of ice, especially when delivery is as inconvenient as a day's
journey, may seem far-fetched and melodramatic. But it would demonstrate genuine care. Pastor
has a contact in Florida who, if Pastor could regain communication with the Gulfport church,
would be willing to pack and drive a truck full of ice and powdered milk from Florida for the
sake of demonstrating that kind of genuine care.
Tues. 9/6, 10pm
>> click here to read a letter from Pastor Bixby
Tues. 9/6, 8pm
Pastor Bixby has the phone on his ear perpetually. Due to poor reception, they
have to try time and again to get through even to local contacts. So he
walks around with his phone, and they stop in at churches, and try to follow through with
contacts. The mayor in Texas was finally able to get all his evacuees placed, and he called
to thank Pastor for their efforts in general.
Tues. 9/6, 12 noon
Pastor Bixby and Pastor Garard are with Baptist Mid-Missions missionary pastor Roger Price now in Lafayette, LA. 
Please note that we are working with other legitimate Christian aid endeavors, not in competition with them. Yesterday, Pastor and Mark plugged into the all-day efforts of "Operation Renewed Hope" to deliver crucial supplies to believers in Hattiesburg, MS, and on the Mississippi coast. Today, they are working with Pastor Price and other representatives of BMM in order to organize and activate a logistics team. They are setting things up and attempting to get a foothold in the community in order to be a help rather than a hindrance. They are trying to reserve spots at a reverted KOA campground where evacuees are being hosted. They will be taking necessities into the Cajundome today: personal hygiene items, underwear, powdered milk, etc. Lafayette currently has 40,000 evacuees. The Cajundome had been slated to host 5,000. Workers are needed and welcome, but please express willingness to Pastor Bixby (for now, until more BMM staff arrives), and coordinate efforts to help us through this logistics team. Strategic allocation of manpower and other resources is important.
Tues. 9/6, 9am
For donors with PayPal accounts, our PayPal account is able now to accept donations from PayPal users. The account address is sos@wordcentered.org. We had to wait until after Labor Day to open a separate account at the bank, so we are still working toward acquiring the status that enables our PayPal account to accept normal online donations via credit cards, etc. We appreciate your patience with us, and, as mentioned on the how to help page, we do welcome checks. We are encouraged by a constant trickle of enthusiastic church leaders and individuals inquiring about hosting a family (Colorado and Iowa are 2 new states to join our list of willing host churches nationwide). This hurricane was the Lord's work, and He is just as in control of our efforts to glorify Him and help people in its aftermath. The magnitude and nature of this relief work is unknown territory for all of us, so we are not precisely sure yet how our program will look and how it will work once it's set fully in motion. So far, the financial and logistical burdens are staggering. We are confident, though, that God will provide the resources we need (both material and immaterial) in accordance with His agenda for our involvement. We have also registered with the Southwest Emergency Response Network [SWERN] and the Department of Homeland Security's National Emergency Resource Registry [NERR] and have inquired locally about ways to spread the word about our "open arms / open homes" vision. As a part of our state governor's agreement to host 10,000, Rockford itself is preparing to host 200 Gulf Coast evacuees as a city. As a result of this decision and the circumstances, we are preparing our hearts and our resources as a church to invite these evacuees in, beyond our doorstep.
Mon. 9/5, 10pm
Our pastors rejoiced to know that the Cessna unloaded the donated items from Rockford and drove them to churches on the Mississippi Coast. After dropping off the generators in Hattiesburg, Pastor and Mark were able to drive down to the coast, see the devastation for themselves, and visit with people there. They weren't able to stay long but used the time to encourage and pray with the Christians there. They were thrilled to have the privilege of seeing our donations placed directly into the hands of needy Christians. They left there to take Highway 12 west toward the originally-intended destination of Lafayette, Louisiana [click to see map]. Lafayette is the first city west of the disaster zone; it's already taken in thousands of evacuees and expects at least 40,000 more, according to an NPR spokesman who relocated there himself from New Orleans. The Cajundome stadium there is full of displaced people [see article]. It is in Lafayette that Pastor Roger Price (former missionary to France) has been ministering to the Acadian community, and that is where Pastor Bixby and Pastor Garard will attempt to help and to collect information for organizing an efficient relocation and hospitality program for evacuees.
Mon. 9/5, 10am
By God's grace, Pastor and Mark (as they shall hereafter be referred to) were able to stay alert and drive straight through the night to Southland Christian Camp, where they met with pastors Guy Altizer (retired pastor of Calvary Baptist in Simpsonville, SC) and Carl Herbster (pastor of Tri-City Ministries in Blue Springs, MO) and missionary pilot Earl Malpass. Todd Sasek of Southland's staff is in one of the hardest-hit areas right now: Hattiesburg, MS (about an hour north of Gulfport [click to see map]). They have some desperate needs that the men can help with, so Pastor just called from the tarmack, where they are loading up a Cessna 206 with all the stuff that Morning Star and other Rockford area churches have contributed so far. Pastor Altizer and Pastor Herbster will fly with Mr. Malpass to Hattiesburg, and Pastor and Mark will leave at the same time (less than an hour) to drive there with generators that have been purchased. It's a 2-hour flight and a 5-hour or so drive into a no-cellphone zone for the most part; contact will be limited, so they are planning rendezvous carefully and praying for wisdom. After dropping off the generators, Pastor and Mark hope to head to Lafayette, LA, and arrive late tonight or early tomorrow morning. There is still a possibility of flying to the small town in Texas and/or sending aid to them some other way. Another couple families have expressed interest (from the UP in Michigan) in hosting some evacuees), and we are excited about what the Lord's doing to provide transportation and opportunities.
Mon. 9/5, 2am
Pastor Bixby and Pastor Garard are slated to meet up with the "Operation Renewed Hope" folks in the morning for breakfast. There is some possibility, since this town is relatively nearby Shreveport, that they will go ahead over there and investigate the situation for themselves. Pray for wisdom. Pray also for health and protection on this trip (they haven't slept much this week and are not normally night drivers in the first place).
Sun. 9/4, 10pm
Three more individuals have contacted us about hosting a family/families. These layman and church leaders are located in New Mexico, California, and Missouri. One had the foresight to suggest the possibility of helping some of these evacuated children obtain scholarship admission into Christian schools.
Sun. 9/4, 5pm
After an afternoon of van-loading and final preparations, Pastors Bixby and Garard departed Rockford around 3:30PM. They took a vanload of gasoline, bottled water, donated non-perishable food items, toys and games, personal hygiene items, etc. They'd been on the road for less than two hours when they received a phone call from the mayor of a small Texas town about 150 miles from Shreveport, Louisiana (which is where Southland Christian Camp and "Operation Renewed Hope" are based. This mayor related his story -- how he was sent 250 evacuees with only 30 minutes' advance notice today. Due to the timing and other circumstances, a woman had just delivered a baby in the bathroom of a church in this town. The mayor asked Pastor Bixby if there's anything our ministry can do to help them organize and meet the needs of these evacuees who have been deposited so suddenly there.
Sun. 9/4, 8am
Bethel Baptist Church in Schaumburg, Illinois (pastored by Brad Smith), has promised the use of their road bus to transport evacuees from the disaster zones to the Chicagoland area. To those of you larger churches with bus fleets or road buses, please note that this kind of willingness to provide transportation is key. Transportation OUT of the danger zones is a more than welcome prospect to most of these needy families. Thousands are ready for a one-way ticket to anywhere. Ready transportation is a crucial element in demonstrating "stranger love" to people during this Christ-appointed crisis. Particularly if you are willing to bus people to areas where they can be accommodated by church families, we would love to load your buses up with needy evacuees. Areas that would be logistically ideal (considering our queries and offers so far for hosting families and churches) would be the Kansas City area, South Carolina, the Detroit area, Arizona, California, Denver, Minneapolis, Indianapolis, and Pennsylvania.
Sun. 9/4, 12am
Two church leaders (one from South Carolina, one from Michigan) have contacted us to inquire about hosting needy families. One of these churches has been working to secure local apartments (5 so far of 10 hoped for) and raising over $30,000 to cover six months' rent for each apartment they are able to reserve for a evacuee family seeking relocation and recovery.
Sat. 9/3, 2pm
First Baptist Church of Rockford will have a truck in their parking lot for a limited time, collecting donations for evacuees struggling to survive in camps. We have been given a list of requested items, many of which are urgent needs: View latest list.
Sat. 9/3, 1pm
Pastor Bixby has written a letter to fellow pastors and believers, explaining the rationale behind our hopes to facilitate the hosting of evacuee families. This letter was posted both on his weblog and on the SharperIron.org website. If you have not yet read this letter, please do. It's a great summary of what we are trying to accomplish with the Morning Star Relief and Hospitality Ministry, and why.
Sat. 9/3, 11am
Kids4Truth, the publisher of the "Why?" tracts (themed to answer questions in the wake of disasters like the World Trade Center bombing or the December '04 tsunami) is going to be able, with gracious help from "Gospel Literature Services" and "Operation Renewed Hope," to design and print a "Why?" tract written specifically with Katrina victims in mind. In addition to offering physical aid, our ministry hopes to be among those who will be able to distribute this Gospel literature.
Sat. 9/3, 5am
The Morning Star Relief and Hospitality Ministry website has been launched, and we are taking steps to clarify and publicize the project.
What's new
New address
Global Grace, Inc. has its own address now:
Global Grace, Inc.
3430 Colony Bay Drive
Rockford IL 61109
Helping in Jamaica
Hurricane Dean's effects were devastating to a population that is already struggling to make ends meet. Global Grace has begun to partner with Southeast Valley Baptist Church in Arizona to provide aid to a couple of local assemblies in Jamaica. Travel costs to Jamaica are affordable, and we are convinced that several work teams could do a lot of good in a couple of needy communities. Chris Metras, Global Grace's director, has made two trips to Jamaica to assess the damages and determine priority projects.
HANNAH'S HEART adoption-financing efforts
Hannah's Heart is the brainchild and burden of the singles fellowship at Morning Star Baptist Church. Learn more about it here. Although it was actually launched just days before Hurricane Katrina hit (August 2005), Hannah's Heart now operates under the auspices of Global Grace Missions. In keeping with the aims of Global Grace Missions, Hannah's Heart strives to facilitate adoptions for Christian families. We've been able to help several families, already, and now we would like to help a Russian orphan stay in the USA with a family who wants to make him their own. Read more about Lyosha's hope here.
Special delivery!
The team is planning to stop in Tennessee on the trip down south, so that they can give Jerrod and Amy Hawkins a large financial gift in person. The men hope to be an encouragement to the Hawkins family, who just moved in to a beautiful new home that was built for them.
Work and survey team
John Iversen, Chris Metras, and Ben Walsh left on Thursday, Sept. 14th, to work on a couple of houses in Bay St. Louis, MS, and to survey the surrounding areas for future ministry opportunities. Please be in prayer for them as they travel and work and seek the Lord's will.
Global Grace has a new director
Chris Metras is planning to stop in Tennessee on the trip down south, so that they can give Jerrod and Amy Hawkins a large financial gift in person. The men hope to be an encouragement to the Hawkins family, who just moved in to a beautiful new home that was built for them.
Donate to the "Thank God for Motherhood" Fund
Alpine Bank is joining efforts with us to help the family of Amy Hawkins, a Rockford native who was seriously injured recently during a tornado because she chose to protect her children. Amy's husband Jerrod is from Byron, and they have lived in Tennessee now for about 7 years. Their sons Jair (6) and Cole (3) were spared when Amy used herself to shield them. A wall fell on her, and she is paralyzed now from the waist down. The Hawkins family have lost their home, and Amy's life will never be the same.
This Mother's Day, we want to honor mothers, and helping and honoring Amy is one small token of our appreciation for the constant sacrificing spirit exhibited by so many mothers. To give toward this fund, you can walk into any Alpine Bank branch location and ask to make a donation to the "Thank God for Motherhood" fund; or you could mail a donation care of Global Grace, or Morning Star Baptist Church (PO Box 71, Winnebago IL 61088).
More current news can be found on the Global Grace Travelogue and News Center, or on the SharperIron.org Hurricane Relief forum.
Tues. 11/1, 1pm
Days packed full
Jeremy and Anouk's blog has three new entries reporting on the projects of the latest Global Grace work team. Their report and photos there can give you an idea how funds and physical resources are helping to meet both practical and spiritual needs in the hurricane-affected area.
Thurs. 10/27, 11pm
The MORE, the MERRIER
Global Grace's 6th work team is our largest yet--13 people left today to work with the Scotts and the Prices. Roger Price writes, "Some
of the men will be helping a local church about 20 miles from us with repairs to its building...severely damaged by Hurricane Rita. Other team members will remain in Lafayette where they will help prepare food for distribution to evacuees and visit with evacuees in motels. As we turn our focus from the large evacuation center in Lafayette (the Cajun Dome) as it empties of its residents, we are finding a tremendous opportunity to minister to evacuees in motels. Please continue to pray for this effort for the glory of God.
Weds. 10/26, 8pm
Our new friends settling in
The people who have come to stay here in Rockford have temporary housing and are seeking jobs. Please continue to pray with us that the Lord will provide their needs, all of our needs, too--both physical and spiritual.
Fri. 10/21, 9pm
Posts and Pix on the G2 Travelogue
Jeremy and Anouk have posted some new updates and photos on their blog.
Weds. 10/19, 10pm
They're here!
Everyone's back (until the next team departs--probably 10/27), and there are some new faces at Morning Star. The young family and the seasoned street preacher who have made the move up to Rockford are busy settling in, and we are trying to help. There are jobs to find, housing to obtain, medical needs to take care of. Please remember these folks in prayer.
Sun. 10/16, 8pm
Homecomings
The Bixbys and the family they are bringing back to Rockford departed this afternoon and plan to spend tonight in Jackson and Monday night in St. Louis. Please pray for their safety and the continued "health" of the vehicle they borrowed. Tonight, both Ed Foster and Scott Silsbee gave testimonies in church about their work trip and what they learned. They were able to work alongside teams from MI, KY, CA, and FL.
Fri. 10/14, 5pm
"Family photos"
Go to Jeremy and Anouk's blog to see photos of the family who is moving to Rockford. They have been hanging out with the Bixbys and the Scotts at the Acadian Baptist Center.
Fri. 10/14, 3pm
RV pickup and weekend plans
Pastor Bixby and Pastor Jeremy went to Baton Rouge today to get the RV--the repairs will cost about $1200. The Scotts got their volunteer passes for work in the Lafayette shelters. The Cajun Dome has been evacuated, but there are about 600 people in the convention center still. The ministry plan for the next couple days is to help a couple people move from Eunice back to their homes in the New Orleans area. The Bixbys and Scotts plan to worship Sunday morning with Acadia Baptist Church, the church plant pastored by BMM missionary Roger Price, at a KOA campground. The Bixbys plan to return to Rockford either Sunday afternoon or Monday morning.
Thurs. 10/13, 11pm
A kind of reunion
The Bixbys and the Scotts are together in the Lafayette area now, getting to know the young family that the Bixbys will be bringing back to Rockford with them. Photos and more news coming soon.
Weds. 10/12, 11pm
Lemonade out of lemons?
Jeremy and Anouk are making the most of their time while the RV is being repaired: Read their latest news on their blog. In the meanwhile, the Bixbys continued their travels today, and Ed and Scott are slated to arrive home from Pascagoula tonight.
Tues. 10/11, 9pm
Almost, but not quite
The Scotts' RV broke down again, this time in Baton Rouge (only an hour or so short of their destination!), and this time probably the fuel pump. The RV was struggling and stuck in traffic for some time, so they were thankful that the Lord answered their prayers to make it to a mechanic. He has hookup facilities, so they will be able to spend the night there and try to get to Lafayette tomorrow sometime. The Bixbys are en route to St. Louis tonight and then will head to Louisiana tomorrow.
Mon. 10/10, 8am
Commissioning and departure
Following last night's work team reports, the church body dedicated a portion of the service to the commissioning of Jeremy and Anouk Scott to serve as missionary workers for four months in the Gulf Coast area. Several men led the congregation in prayer, and Jeremy shared ministry hopes and specific prayer requests. Out in the driveway afterwards, the Scotts opened up their new 25-feet-long home for a "we're downsizing!" reception--featuring tiny cookies and Dixie cups of pop--so that the church family could tour the RV and talk with them. Check out commissioning service and reception pictures on their weblog. The Scotts have reached 70% of their support, and they leave Rockford for Louisiana this morning. Please pray for protection on the trip and for provision, wisdom, and strength for the work that lies ahead of them.
Sun. 10/9, 8pm
Work team updates
Ed and Scott, two members of Morning Star Baptist, have been working down South since Wednesday as part of the 4th trip sponsored by Morning Star/Global Grace. Luis Paris, a missionary-on-deputation who visited our church last Sunday (10/2) got excited about the ministry opportunity and went home to St. Louis and arranged to be able to join Ed and Scott, so he has been working with them since Thursday. His enthusiasm has been an encouragement to Morning Star. Teams are now doing more spraying, electrical work, etc. (as opposed to the initial "destruction phase"). Ed's tester and electrical knowledge have come in handy. He has been shocked at the extent of devastation and the extent of relief efforts. People are extremely receptive to the Gospel, too, and Scott says he would love for someone to pay him so that he could just stay down there and continue ministering like this!
During tonight's meeting, Amanda and Henry represented last week's work team (5 members total) with a slide presentation and a ministry report. Both of these young people were struck by God's providence and sovereignty on a great scale (like His sparing the lives and property of unbelievers for whom people had been specifically praying) to the comparably small details (Henry's "happening" to notice a screw stuck in the van tire before they departed a gas station). The team felt privileged, too, to be able to see the universal Body of Christ in action and to benefit from the fellowship and hospitality of so many likeminded believers in the Gulf Coast area.
Tues. 10/4, 8pm
URGENT FINANCIAL NEEDS
List of specific projects
Along with an explanation of what living faith "works" look like, Pastor Bixby has enumerated the specific financial needs Global Grace has right now: ["Pitch in! Help us help the poor."]
Mon. 10/3, 11am
The Scotts' progress
Slated for today, Jeremy and Anouk's departure was delayed to accommodate RV repairs and to wait for more needed support. The church gave $3100 yesterday, and others have pledged help. You can view updates from the Scotts at the new Global Grace weblog, where it's also possible now to subscribe to a notifications list.
Mon. 10/3, 12am
Another team returns home!
The Myers, Chris Hayes, and Henry Cook have returned safely from a work trip to help contacts in Pascagoula, MS. We praise God for a safe and profitable trip, and we look forward to their report.
Weds. 9/28, 8am
Meet Della
We praise the Lord for the safe return of the men's work team on Monday. The men will give a report tonight at our church's prayer meeting, and another team plans to depart tomorrow evening. Please read Mark Garard's brief essay, "Lanier Street," on the SHARPER IRON weblog. You can view photos there from the trip and learn about Della Leggins, a lady our team was able to help.
Sun. 9/25, 11pm
Breakdown(s)
Our work team was delayed today when their vehicle broke down near Jackson, Mississippi. Having secured another alternator, they are still en route home. They hope to make it in around 3am. Please pray with us for these men, as several of them need to get back to their day jobs in the morning. Jeremy and Anouk have arrived in Rockford, but their RV did not quite make it. It broke down in Michigan City, Indiana, and they need to go back for it. Please remember them, too. In the case of both vehicles, there is much to be thankful for (including safety), and we continue to trust the Lord to provide financially and logistically, as He has been.
Sat. 9/24, 1:30pm
Manpower needed!
The latest update from Ray Mitchell of the Lafayette-based BMM Katrina Response Team is that Pastor Price and Pastor Swope are heading back to Lafayette today to assess the situation and resume ministry. Reports of the damage to Lafayette are conflicting, and Ray is staying behind in Mobile till they know whether he needs to bring particular supplies, etc. back with him. Three urgent prayer requests from the Lafayette group are:1. VOLUNTEERS
are desperately needed. They could multiply their ministry's effectiveness exponentially if they could just get more people in there.2. HOUSING
for the volunteers is a practical problem that needs prayer.3. FUNDING FOR HOPE BOXES
is a need as well. The plan for now is for volunteers to be ministering as early as Monday and doing return visits with as many Hope Boxes as possible, as early as Wednesday. The sphere of ministry effectiveness can be as large as the number of volunteers and amount of funding allow it to be.Sat. 9/24, 12pm
Update from G2 work team
The Global Grace work team was able to deliver supplies to the BMM Katrina Response Team members who had evacuated to Mobile. After that, they were assigned, along with two men from Florida, to travel to Pascagoula and minister as a work crew for a single mom, Della Leggins, and her two girls. (Della's actually been working right alongside the men, and Mark Garard plans to share more of her remarkable story when he gets home.) It's been an emotional and highly profitable trip so far. The team has been burdened by the magnitude of these people's losses. CFBC has assessed the needs of and determined to help 70 families in Pascagoula and Bayou LaBatre, for as long as funds hold out and volunteers keep coming.
Fri. 9/23, 8am
More introductions
Global Grace, Inc. was formed officially this past Wednesday. [Read Pastor Bixby's report.]
Thurs. 9/22, 2pm
Fleeing Hurricane Rita!
Read an urgent update / prayer requests from our contacts in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Weds. 9/21, 2pm
Work Teams and Testimonies
Read about ministry teams on Pastor's latest posts, "Presence Matters", and another letter from BMM missionary pastor Roger Price.Tues. 9/20, 7pm
Update and letter
Pastor has posted an update and a letter from missionary Roger Price on his weblog.
Sat. 9/17, 4pm
Meet the Scotts
Last week, Jeremy and Anouk Scott agreed to move South for 4 months to work with Baptist Mid-Missions pastors Roger Price and Ray Mitchell. Read what Pastor wrote this week in his blog entry "People on the Ground" to learn more about this couple and their plans to help us coordinate our work teams, connect with needy people, and allocate our resources.
Weds. 9/14, 6pm
"A Storm of Opportunity"
Pastor Bixby spoke at Calvary Baptist Church in Normal this past Sunday evening (a previous engagement for a missions emphasis service), and his sermon is available online now.
Tues. 9/13, 2pm
Thanks
We're grateful for your support, your offers, and your patience. Look for an update soon--we want to share what the Lord is doing.
Tues. 9/13, 8am
Sermons and presentations
Pastor and Mark presented reports on Sunday, and the interview aired twice. We have republished Pastor Bixby's Tsunami Series messages on Morning Star's resources webpage.
Mon. 9/12, 10am
Needed: Workers and tools
We are coordinating work teams to go down and help. We are encouraged by other churches' response to the needs. Pastor Bixby spoke at Calvary Baptist in Normal, IL on Sunday evening. Calvary is sending weekly teams down every Thursday, and there were about 150 volunteers after the service Sunday night. Bill Hunt from our congregation has been keeping a list of suggested tools for the clean-up and recovery efforts. If you have tools to give, please check out the Tool List [here].
Sat. 9/10, 5am
Blog buttons code
For those of you bloggers who've been asking, you may now copy/paste some linkage code into your own html.
Thanks for your patience in waiting or adapting your own version.
Fri. 9/9, 2pm
PayPal progress
For those of you who would like to give to this project
via PayPal, you can click on the "Donate" button and do so. We have been working all week to obtain
an account status that allows us to accept payments from non-PayPal members and USA credit card donations. This is now possible! Thanks for your patience.
Thurs. 9/8, 12noon
Empty hands, empty van,
full hearts
Pastor and Mark are now on their way back to Rockford and expecting to arrive home Friday night. They're not bringing anyone back with them. There are a few very good reasons why evacuees should try stick as close as possible to the area:
1. Staying "findable" and alert:
Many evacuees have not yet been able to make contact with family and friends, or vice versa. Many are still trying to find and/or identify loved ones.2. Checking assets:
Some of these people still have stuff that can be salvaged. Also, FEMA is in the process of distributing $2000-value debit cards to needy evacuees. People need to stay "findable" in order to receive this kind of help, too.3. Receiving immediate counseling:
Many of these people are, naturally, still in shock. There are various medical and emotional needs that have to be addressed before people can handle more disruption.A surprising story that illustrates well:
Apparently, a church in Washington, D.C., sent 3 buses packed with supplies. After distribution, the 3 buses went around to centers and invited anyone willing to relocate to housing and opportunities in D.C. After visiting multiple shelters, all 3 buses collected only one passenger for the return trip.Full hearts:
This has been a profitable, educational trip; Pastor and Mark know that they were able to be immensely helpful in a number of ways. Even though they decided not to bring anyone home with them, they learned vital information that will help us as a group know better how to help the evacuees.Thurs. 9/8, 11am
Contrasts
"Bad news makes news" has rung true down South lately. Not to diminish the very real presence of danger and violence, but Pastor and Mark have definitely been impressed by the gratitude and spirit of
the people they've met. As Cindy Swanson quotes in her weblog account of
this morning's interview,* Pastor says, "[Anger and frustration have] not been our experience. We expected that. (But) I have been hugged so many times, I mean, I've gotten enough hugs to last me a year--and thanked. Just thanked for coming, even though I had nothing to offer." The depravity of people is evident, but there are also,
in stark contrast, many people who are dealing with their losses quietly and calmly. [*Radio interview details will be posted soon.]
Weds. 9/7, 3pm
Patience and flexibility
The one main lesson that Pastor Bixby is learning and says that everyone (especially those who have been willing to host evacuees) must learn
is patience. We who live beyond a certain radius have a hard time comprehending why the evacuees aren't here yet. We know many want out, we know that transportation and housing are the
two greatest needs (along with financial gifts). And we're preparing our hearts and homes to help.
The fact is, Pastor and Mark are learning, that even though we're eager, we probably won't be able to start for another couple months.
In the refuge centers, things are very fluid. The number of people in a facility may fluctuate drastically
from day to day. These are free citizens, looking for jobs for themselves first, wanting to stay
close to home. Even cities close to home are filling up fast. Baton Rouge,
which is closest to New Orleans, already has a surplus of 400,000 evacuees. Lafayette had
a population of 110,000; now they have 150,000. There are also problems with establishing
identity, since many evacuees have no ready access to proof or paperwork. And there
are often nuances and emotional stakes that are difficult to discern. Proving legitimate family
units, for example, is a delicate thing. Pastor reported in his letter yesterday
that the Cajundome is still struggling to get things in order. The logistics of transporting
whom and what and where are complex.Register-Star article on the city's preparation for 200 still-awaited evacuees:
"Rockford's relief efforts put on standby"
Register-Star article on New Orleans evacuees whom a local woman has taken in:
"Evacuees' road leads to Rockford"
Weds. 9/7, 12noon
Before vs. after
To get an idea of the kind of situations
that these local pastors are facing, you could view the blog of Pastor Don Elbourne, where
he has posted photos of his church, Lakeshore Baptist in Lakeshore, MS. Their buildings are wiped out. Their
congregation is scattered (all lost their homes). Pastor Elbourne's wife got robbed this week, as well, which added to the losses. Their spirits are good,
but this is the kind of suffering that's going on. These are the kinds of people with whom Pastor and Mark
are attempting to minister. In fact, they were going to try to contact Pastor Elbourne himself, but at the time,
they were heading in the opposite direction, toward a camp full of evacuees.
Weds. 9/7, 8am
Prayer requested
Today, Pastor and Mark
will visit churches between Lafayette and Baton Rouge. Deluged with evacuees,
these churches are having to handle overwhelmingly intense
personal work. Pastor and Mark want us to pray that they will continue to be
able to be of help, both to evacuees and workers.
Pastor says: "I still do hope to, but
with all that's been accomplished, it wouldn't feel like a mission failed if we couldn't
bring someone home this trip." So far, they have been able to fill a critical role in
helping missionary Roger Price think through and structure the new kind of ministry he's
going to have over the next year or so. It will involve recruiting more personnel; drafting
policies, opening bank accounts, finding housing for volunteers, etc. It's a massive undertaking,
but a providential one.
Tues. 9/6, 11pm
Going the extra mile(s)
The team desires to demonstrate
genuine care in practical ways. For example, something they are really
praying about
(as a "side" burden) is the possibility of giving ice. For a while, it was just a
wish -- dreamt up after hearing the account of a pastor in Gulfport --
but they may actually get to carry out "Mission Cold Water."
It is so incredibly hot there. Babies aren't even able to keep down the hot water.
Something as simple as coolers of ice, especially when delivery is as inconvenient as a day's
journey, may seem far-fetched and melodramatic. But it would demonstrate genuine care. Pastor
has a contact in Florida who, if Pastor could regain communication with the Gulfport church,
would be willing to pack and drive a truck full of ice and powdered milk from Florida for the
sake of demonstrating that kind of genuine care.
Tues. 9/6, 10pm
Ahead of the game?
>> click here to read a letter from Pastor Bixby
Tues. 9/6, 8pm
Keeping in touch
Pastor Bixby has the phone on his ear perpetually. Due to poor reception, they
have to try time and again to get through even to local contacts. So he
walks around with his phone, and they stop in at churches, and try to follow through with
contacts. The mayor in Texas was finally able to get all his evacuees placed, and he called
to thank Pastor for their efforts in general.
Tues. 9/6, 12 noon
Building a logistics team
Pastor Bixby and Pastor Garard are with Baptist Mid-Missions missionary pastor Roger Price now in Lafayette, LA. Please note that we are working with other legitimate Christian aid endeavors, not in competition with them. Yesterday, Pastor and Mark plugged into the all-day efforts of "Operation Renewed Hope" to deliver crucial supplies to believers in Hattiesburg, MS, and on the Mississippi coast. Today, they are working with Pastor Price and other representatives of BMM in order to organize and activate a logistics team. They are setting things up and attempting to get a foothold in the community in order to be a help rather than a hindrance. They are trying to reserve spots at a reverted KOA campground where evacuees are being hosted. They will be taking necessities into the Cajundome today: personal hygiene items, underwear, powdered milk, etc. Lafayette currently has 40,000 evacuees. The Cajundome had been slated to host 5,000. Workers are needed and welcome, but please express willingness to Pastor Bixby (for now, until more BMM staff arrives), and coordinate efforts to help us through this logistics team. Strategic allocation of manpower and other resources is important.