May 14, 2007

Dear Precious Servant(s) of Christ:

 

What a beautiful, exciting time of year it is!   A time to worship our God as Creator ~ The one who brought the universe and all matter and life in it into existence (Psalm 104).  He is the author of life, and He is ours for the asking!  Praise Him!

 

For those of you who are receiving a letter for the first time ~ the mission of Standing In The Gap is to share the love of Jesus Christ through acts of kindness in an anonymous way whenever possible to those who are hurting spiritually, physically, emotionally and financially in Christ’s name.  We have been accomplishing this since October, 2005.  Lord willing, you may want to become a part of Standing In the Gap.

 

Standing In The Gap continues to touch many for Christ because of your prayers and your giving.  We are spreading seeds of hope to individuals, and it is bearing fruit.  Praise God!  Examples:  We purchased household items and groceries needed for two of the women we are mentoring through the homeless shelter – Bethlehem Haven.  One of them wanted a Bible too!  A single woman with children needed some help with her rent; a homeless family that was involved with the Interfaith Hospitality Network needed your kindness.  The dad had heart surgery and was doing well but didn’t have money to get fuel and bus tickets to get to his doctors appointments;  you helped one individual get into her apartment by supplying the funds she needed for part of her security deposit.  Once again you, God’s people, did this in Jesus’ name.  An elderly women in her 70’s lost her job and you encouraged her by getting her out of a jam; a bus ticket was purchased for a women so she could get to her doctors appointments and to the grocery store.  A married couple on the Southside with diabetes and depression were between jobs, SSI and insurances.  You provided a months supply of medicines for them.  These people were affected deeply by this act of kindness.  They said they have never experienced love like that before!  You helped supply undergarments for orphans in Central America.  A Shop N Save gift card was given to a newly divorced, discouraged woman who is starting over with her son.  This woman is now attending a Bible study and is excited about our Lord and Savior!

 

It was a year ago this month that SITG became involved with Bethlehem Haven, a homeless shelter in downtown Pittsburgh for women.  God, in His awesome way, has allowed SITG to help and encourage over 20 women since that time.  We provide them with household items and furniture people have donated to us.  We also give them the gospel of Jesus Christ and pray with them.  Our adventures have brought us all kinds of precious people.  Some of our new friends include a special needs woman and recently we were honored to help a Katrina victim and her husband in a powerful way.   Twanza (her real named used with permission) had these things to say about SITG: “The people were a blessing and angels in disguise.  I went through so much with the flood and I felt loved.”  She said we were an inspiration to her.  She has been a joy to get to know as she loves our Jesus!  On a regular basis, we continue to contact these individuals via phone calls and notes with additional information about our Savior to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of Him. 

 

The word contagious comes to mind as we attempt to bring all of these people to a place of knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.  Some of them are backslidden, some are confused as to who the real Jesus is, and some want Him for the first time.  Our desire is to be contagious for Him in whatever way necessary to reach them.  In John 7:38, it says:  “Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within Him”.   We are experiencing this with some of our contacts.  Praise God! 

 

Recently, we were blessed by God’s favor and were invited to share with a local church women’s ministry what God has been doing through SITG.  This brought more exposure, and we were able to assist someone they referred to us.  Would you share SITG with someone?  Can we help someone you know with an act of kindness in the name of Jesus Christ?

 

Your gifts have been a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God ~ Phil. 4:18.  Together, we will press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us heavenward in Christ Jesus – Phil. 3:14.  Thank you for your faithfulness.

 

                                                                        Because our Savior cares, gives and lives,

 

P.S.  These verses were impressed upon Marsha as she pondered about Standing in the Gap.  When Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath and the scroll of Isaiah was handed to him.  Luke 4:17-19…Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”.