Impact: kid-style

Kids at Emmanuel are learning that they can have an impact, too: through the power of a penny or through individual acts of kindness.

Every Sunday, until May 16th, children will be encouraged to give two kinds of special offerings to the Lord: Acts of Kindness & Service to Others, and Gifts of Money.

The children are encouraged to write their act of service toward someone on a piece of paper. They can put these offerings to the Lord in a special offering jug, which will be presented as an offering to God at Emmanuel's Impact Celebration on May 16th.

Our children are learning that anything we offer to God can be used for His glory and purpose!

Command them to be good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 1 Timothy 6:18

Haiti Mission Update

Our missionary, Josh, has landed in Haiti on the weekend with Emmanuel's Wish Foundation (EWF). His initial reaction, he told us, is this:

The kids (at the orphanage) are unreal and it was amazing meeting them. They literally mauled me...they've never seen someone with "rouge" hair before and they noticed everything about me. Chris and Johanne (the missionary couple) are amazing but the condition of this country is horrible, beyond what I ever would of thought. Chris and Johanne are real tight for money and there's a lot of things they need that they cannot get. They live day to day and they need continuous money in order to keep these orphans alive.....

The orphanage is desperate for immediate financial assistance. Here are some of the top needs:

• A generator: This will provide water at the childrens' home as well as provide electricity at the church (one-time cost of $1000);


• 27 Direct-debit sponsors at $35 per month to feed and clothe the children. Download a sponsorship form here;


• An individual, business, or church comittment of $400 monthly to send all of the orphans to school;


• Support for the local missionaries in Haiti: There is currently a $500/month shortfall, and the funds are being taken from other programmes that are also in need.

Christine Eisses, President of EWF, says that "we have a lot of desperate life or death needs over there right now", and has asked for immediate assistance with the above list.

Religion that God our FAther accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27 NIV)

Haiti Response Update

The need is great, but people have been responding as the hands and feet of Christ by donating much of the needed items for Emmanuel's Wish and the emergency orphanage in Haiti.

Much is still needed, however, in order to fill a container to ship to Haiti.

Money is also urgently needed, and can meet emergency needs much quicker than our donated items. Please consider giving to Haiti relief. Here are some options for giving:

- Emmanuel Baptist Church is accepting targeted donations for Haiti in the regular Sunday offering. These funds will be added to the response of the fellowship of churches;
- Emmanuel's Wish is accepting donations online as well as the items listed in a previous post. See our previous posts for contact information, links, and a needs list;
- A special fundraising concert will be held at Mapleview Community Church in Barrie, this Saturday evening at 7:00pm. Paul Turner and Jody Cross will lead worship, and there will be Haiti updates from Compassion Canada and Emmanuel's Wish.

One of our very own young adults is exploring the possibility of responding to the Haiti orphan crisis in a very tangible and personal way: by going there himself. This mission trip will be arranged hastily as God opens the doors and makes the arrangements possible. Please be in prayer for this young man and for the necessary arrangements and funding as he pursues this partnership in service with Emmanuel's Wish.

This crisis in Haiti, along with other critical physical, social, and spiritual needs around the world and in our very own communities, is an opportunity for Christ-followers to "act justly and love mercy" (Micah 6:8), as we shine our light for the world to see (Matthew 5:16).

Perspective

Emmanuel's Wish Foundation is accepting donations for their Haiti container directly at:
The Teamworks Building
164 Innisfil Street
Barrie

Drop-off Saturdays 9:00am - 12:00pm

Donated items can also be dropped off at Emmanuel during normal business hours, or on Sunday mornings.
Emmanuel Baptist Church
4120 Salem Road
at Essa Road
Barrie

The Haiti earthquake is tragic, and the people affected need both immediate and long-term aid. We are very privileged and blessed to be able to respond, especially for the orphans that we have comitted to help.

The Bible says that God "comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Corinthians 1:4 NIV).

Meanwhile, let's not forget this: "As we have opportunity, let us do good to all people" (Galatians 6:10 NIV).

The spirit of Servolution is to be aware of the social, physical, and spiritual needs around us... to reach out and to intentionally help others in their need, because we want to share the love of Christ with everyone. Don't stop offering a helping hand, a word of encouragement, or a visit or donation to the people and organizations right here in our own communities. Point people to the servolution website, where they can choose to explore the love of Christ further, or even decide to join this revolution of love and get involved! Read the About Us page to find out why we do what we do, and tell us your stories of how God gave you the opportunity to serve someone, or how God used someone to serve you in your time of need.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.

(1 John 3:16-18 NIV)

Relief for Haitian Orphans - Part 2

The people of Emmanuel's Wish Foundation didn't expect to open an orphanage in Haiti! But following the earthquake that devastated Port-au-Prince, the small, impoverished village of Deskotye began receiving refugees.


Chris Reid, a missionary from Barrie, pictured here with his wife Johanne and daughter Hannah, have committed to meeting the immediate and long-term needs of 150 orphaned children.

Christine Eisses, President of Emmanuel's Wish Foundation, said this about the challenges that the missionaries are facing in Haiti:

This disaster has taken us by surprise and all of our resources are tied up right now with the opening of a brand new AIDS hospice in South Africa. We are not sure how God is going to provide for these children but we are trusting that he will.

Emmanuel's Wish urgently requires help to meet the following needs:

1. Emergency funding to feed these children, clothe them and put a roof over their heads. Donations can be made directly to Emmanuel's Wish Foundation here.


2. Long term sponsors are required for these small victims. Many of them are being torn off the bodies of their dead parents, are completely traumatized, and need to see the hands and feet of Christ in action. We are desperately looking for 150 people to sponsor these refugee children at $35 a month indefinitely.


3. We will be sending a shipping container to Haiti to help us out fit the new orphanage and to care for the children. Please see the list of needs here.

Emmanuel's Wish Foundation is a local Christian organization run entirely by volunteer power. Their board of directors absorbs any administration costs in order to ensure that donations go directly to the need, and their offices and utilities are provided at no cost. For more information, see their website.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress... (James 1:27 NLT)

Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. (Jesus, Matthew 25:40 NIV)

Relief for Haitian Orphans

Servolution is responding to an urgent appeal by Emmanuel's Wish Foundation to help homeless orphans of the Haiti earthquake. Will you partner with us?

Busloads of children have been arriving at a Haitian church funded by Emmanuel's Wish, and the church has been recommissioned as a temporary orphanage for children who require immediate need.

Not only do they need ongoing financial aid, but they have provided a wish list to meet immediate needs. Our goal at Servolution is to assist the filling of a 40' Container with the following items:

• clothes of all sizes, especially kid's clothing
• diapers
• formula
• bibs
• soap
• baby wipes
• body wash
• baby lotions
• play pens
• bouncy chairs
• Canadian Tire money
• exersauers
• strollers
• pottys
• bumbo chairs
• high chairs
• carseats NOT expired
• towels
• bed lines for single beds
• bunk beds
• baby toys
• toddler toys
• children's books
• Bibles
• inspirational books for all ages
• black dolls and inspirational books about black people
• children's bikes
• adult bikes
• utensils
• plastic or non breakable plates, bowls, cups
• large cooking pots
• kitchen linens
• non perishable food
• school supplies/office supplies
• pencils
• pens
• paper
• white out
• envelopes
• computer (new)
• computer paper

... and of course, your prayers.

Please bring your donation to Emmanuel or contact us at Servolution.

A final thought from an Emmanuel's Wish Foundation volunteer:

We are also in need of long term commitments to care for these children. When the media coverage dies down and the rest of the world turns to the next news story- we will still be committed to caring for these children.

Please also remember that there will be a special offering for Haitian relief this Sunday at Emmanuel, which will help to support relief efforts through
The FAIR programme and Emmanuel International.
Please prayerfully consider how you can help us to share the love of Christ in this very tangible way.

Haiti

Jesus said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me" (Matthew 25:40).

Here is just one of the many agencies that we can partner with in this time of dire need.

Compassion Crisis Advisory - Haiti

Love the City Event

It's a city-wide movement! Christ-followers from churches across the City of Barrie are stepping up to serve Christ by serving others.

This new campaign is called Love the City.

This Saturday, December 19th, Servolution is joining with Christians from churches such as Emmanuel, Willow Creek, and Barrie Free Methodist to hand out Candy Canes to unsuspecting shoppers at the Kozlov Mall in Barrie.

We need volunteers! Why not come down and join us, and demonstrate the tangible presence of Christ to the city of Barrie in this simple way!

Where: Kozlov Mall, Zeller's Entrance map
When: Saturday, December 19th, 10:45 am

Love the City servolution

Christmas Toy Drive

There's just nothing better than a Toy Drive at Christmas time!




This year, Emmanuel is teaming up with local firefighters in training to collect new toys and books for children staying at Royal Victoria Hospital.

Our hope is that we will have the opportunity to speak the love of Jesus Christ and His gospel message into people's lives when we lovingly bring Christmas gifts to their children.

Please bring a new, unwrapped Toy or Children's Book to Emmanuel, and look for the giant wrapped box in the Atrium!

Merry Christmas!

<<< Scroll Down through the Blog for additional giving opportunities >>>

Easy Service Ideas to Meet Immediate Needs

Please consider stepping up and meeting these needs for Christmas:

• Bring a new toy or book to Emmanuel this Sunday or next Sunday. Servolution will make sure that your donation will reach a sick child at Royal Victoria Hospital in Barre.


• Make sure some basic needs are met for clients of the Barrie Women and Children's Shelter. Bring the following items to the Servolution desk at Emmanuel by December 20th (special bags are available at the table):
  
1. child's toothbrush and toothpaste;
2. dental floss or floss sticks;
3. kids shampoo and conditioner;
4. wrapped bar of soap;
5. pump hand soap;
6. washcloth.


• Do some extra Christmas baking, and donate it for gift baskets to "Candlelighters", to show some kindness to families touched by cancer.


• ...and don't forget: Friday, December 4th 6:30-10:30pm, Coffee-house style Mission Fundraiser at Emmanuel.

Servolution: radical grace lived out daily.

Current Service Opportunities

Servolution wishes to respond to needs in our communities by providing connections between the needs and people with the resources to respond to those needs.

Here are some current, and some urgent, needs... Please consider how you can use your time or resources to demonstrate the love of Christ. Here are some of the current needs:

1. A donation of a crib for a client of the Barrie Pregnancy Resource Centre;
2. People of all ages to visit with the elderly for a group visitation & hymn sing this Friday, October 23rd (it's a school holiday!) from 2:30-3:30 pm;
3. Winter clothing donations for street outreach to those in need -- bring your donations of gently used Coats, Hats, Mitts, Gloves, Boots etc, in Children's and Adult sizes, to Emmanuel Barrie on October 25th or November 1st;
4. Volunteer once per month (just a couple of hours) with Barrie Out of the Cold. Plan to attend their Volunteer Orientation and Recruitment meeting at the Christian Reformed Church on Shirley Avenue (between Anne Street and Sunnidale Road, Barrie) on Saturday, October 31st, 9:00-11:00 am. Check out the volunteer vacancy chart here;
5. Continue to look for ways to demonstrate the love of Christ daily through simple acts of kindness... Leave a servolution card to point people to the good news on the website!
6. The Barrie Pregnancy Resource Centre needs volunteers -- see below:

The Barrie Pregnancy Resource Centre is a Christian organization that needs volunteers: The PRC is a

non-profit organization offering compassionate support and assistance to anyone facing an unplanned pregnancy or experiencing post-abortion stress. The centre receives no government support, but is funded by churches, individuals, and businesses. This support allows us to offer valuable services at no cost to our clients.

Here are some ways to get involved with the Barrie Pregnancy Resource Centre:

1. Help with the annual Dads 'n' Daughters Fundraiser event: Donate to the silent auction, decorate, serve food, set-up and tear-down... and plan to attend. Planning for this event is happening now, so please don't hesitate to volunteer. Dads 'n' Daughters (8 and up) will be hosted by Emmanuel Barrie in February;
2. Volunteers are need to work at the Centre;
3. The Centre has an ongoing need for a person with fundraising experience.

For contact information for any of the needs listed above, please contact servolution@emmanuelbarrie.org