Dear Fellow Servant(s) of Christ:

 

Summer has been a whirlwind and here comes fall!  We must continue to marvel at our Creator, Almighty God, who made the seasons for us to enjoy in this part of the world that we live in.  Acts 17, 26-27 says, “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.  God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

 

Standing In The Gap has been there when people are seeking and reaching out to him for their physical and spiritual needs.  Everyone who gets assistance through SITG receives the good news of his glorious gospel of salvation and redemption!   Although we don’t get the chance to see fruit in every situation, we believe eternity will reveal another story.  A story where you, our supporters, brought hope when despair was about to win.  A story of joy because someone cared enough to provide someone’s need.    Philippians 4:19 - “And my God shall supply all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

 

As we continue to minister to people wherever God sends us, it is amazing to see how He has orchestrated the details to allow us to get into peoples’ homes.  Our Savior often was invited into homes of strangers and hurting people and things were different after his visit.  We are also seeing hearts that are different for Christ’s sake because of our influence in their homes and lives.  A few success stories:  Lauren – We met Lauren through Bethlehem Haven in April, 2007.  We helped her get furniture for her apartment on the Northside.  Since that time, she has decided to live for Jesus and this summer we were honored to go to her church in Duquesne and attend her baptism service!  Tracy -We met Tracy at Bethlehem Haven in March, 2007.  She had just gotten out of prison and was looking for a place to stay.  We were drawn to her and prayed with her that day.  A few months later, SITG received a call from Bethlehem Haven asking to help Tracy with furniture as she moved into a one-room apartment.  We found out that Tracy and Ruth had the same birthday!  We went out together on our birthday and that day we cried and prayed to Jesus that He would let her get her three girls back after not being with them for eight years.  This August, 2008, she called to say that two of her girls are now back with her and she is now looking for a bigger apartment to bring them up for Jesus.  We have been celebrating over our Savior’s kindness to her!  Kathy is one of our ladies that we mentored through Bethlehem Haven.  She has been clean for three years now and this summer she went with our church youth group to a Christian music festival up in New York.  Kathy turned out to be a master helper and encourager in the kitchen with the meals.  Nancy –We met Nancy from Washington, PA, back in April of this year.  She was just getting out of rehab and needed some help with furniture to “start over”.  Just the other day she called to see if we had a bed for an individual she is now helping with rehab.  She gives God the glory and marvels at how He is now using her!

 

God continues to encourage us to step-out in a greater way.  We felt led to begin sponsoring a World Vision girl from India whose name is Jyoti.  We also helped to purchase supplies for a missions trip that went to Haiti.  In addition, we were able to do some targeted fundraising for specific causes – one individual struggling with a life-threatening disease that has resulted in huge medical bills, and a woman whose husband passed away at a young age.   In this way, we believe God is and will continue to increase our borders.  Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no vision, the people will perish.”

 

Your giving continues to provide household items to all of the individuals that are referred to us through agencies, you, and others we know.  As always and foremost, we ministered to the hurting through gas cards, a phone bill paid, some partial rent payments were made, grocery gift cards to people in a bind, a bed for a son returning home after much suffering with a severe illness, groceries for our Tracy you read about above, and a bus ticket for a teenager to get to school, etc.  In Romans 2:4, we are reminded that God’s kindness draws us towards repentance.  As we continue to shine for Jesus through acts of kindness, others will be drawn to repent and turn to God so that their sins will be wiped out!  Praise Him and thank you!

 

 

 

 

Standing In The Gap is a non-profit corporation that has been determined to be exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code.  Contributions, bequests, devises, transfers and gifts are tax deductible.