The Care Mission is looking for sponsors in our 1st Annual Mission Fest on May 17th! Want to be involved?
Please email us @ [email protected], call (706) 638-3664 or
stop by 105 N Chattanooga St, LaFayette, GA 30728
UPCOMING EVENTS
Mission Fest 2014
Joe Stock Park, 10:00 AM-3:00 PM Downtown Lafayette, GA Saturday, May 17th 2014 A family friendly event will benefit our food pantry ministry. Mission Fest 2014 will carnival games, inflatables, a food booth and music! Please join us for some good family fun, good food and even better music! Quarterly Board Meeting April 28th 2014, 6:00 PM @ The Care Mission Open to the Public 9th Annual Day of Praise Saturday, June 28th 2014 TIME/LOCATION TBD Live Music, Testimonies, Food/Fellowship and Praise! This is not a fundraising event. This is a day we celebrate the 9th Anniversary of the Care Mission and give God Praise! |
Food For Thought...
Recently a young man came to volunteer. He was a former drug dealer fresh out of prison, still on probation. He was stereotypical with prison and gang tattoos, and piercings. He was friendly enough and said all the right things, “I’m going straight. I’m not messing up again, etc.”
As he began carrying food out to those we were assisting, he began to ask Kendra questions; where does the food came from, how could we afford to give so much and why were we doing this? Between clients she would try to explain, but as the day went on the young man only seemed more puzzled. Then after returning from carrying food assistance out to a new client and looking completely confused, he told Kendra that when he unloaded the wagon the lady began to weep. She thanked him repeatedly as she cried and gave him a long hard hug when he was done. The young man confessed that he did not know what to do and he had almost cried himself. Wouldn’t you love to have watched as this “tough guy” was being embraced? We later learned that the following weekend this young man gave his life to Christ. We can’t say whether or not his day at the Care Mission helped in his decision, but maybe, just maybe, it gave him food for thought. |
Please keep in your Prayers these concerns:
Our Board and Leadership, our faithful servants and supporters,
all those who enter our doors, and our upcoming events Pray for a spirit of joy, grace, mercy and thanksgiving. And remember to thank God for those He is using to provide for our needs. REMEMBER:
Jesus Study Sundays, 5:00 PM @ The Care Mission (no meetings on 5th Sundays) A Biblical study of Jesus and His teachings. |
Mission News, Jan-March 2014
We never take for granted the opportunity to share what God is doing through the Care
Mission. So we want you to know we greatly appreciate that you have taken the time to read
this newsletter.
Since we opened our doors in June, 2005 through December 2013, God has used the Care
Mission to provide food and/or clothing assist to 35,191 households. Those households
included 93,436 individuals. Approximately 3.2 million lbs. or about 1,600 tons, of food has
been distributed, enough food to prepare approximately 1.4 million meals.
In 2013 alone God used the Care Mission to provide food and/or clothing assistance to
19,837 individuals. That amounted to 6,879 households. For the year we averaged
573 households assisted each month. However, the average number of households receiving
assistance during the last 6 months of 2013 rose to 627. The most in any one month was
August, in which 691 households received food and/or clothing assistance. In 2013 we
distributed approximately 341 tons of food, enough to prepare approximately 292,000 meals.
We do not share this with you to boast, except to boast in the Lord, because we know that it
would not be possible for us to have such an impact without God’s provision.
As impressive as these numbers may be, we who serve at the mission know that they reflect
only a small part of what God is doing. We know that God is using us to preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and most of the time that is being done without saying a word.
The sad truth is that we as “Believers” greatly minimize our witness and do a disservice to the
Kingdom of Christ when we limit our expression of the Gospel to quoting John 3:16 and then
offering a memorized prayer of salvation.
God is using ministries such as the Care Mission to reach those who have become deaf from the
noise of religion. Presenting the Gospel through actions is much more effective, but it is much
more challenging as well. As we strengthen our faith in Christ by trusting in Him to provide, we
also recognize that the way God most often chooses to get us the funds, food and items we
need is through the obedience of those who support us.
During 2013, 44% of our funding came from our thrift store sales, 40% from individual donors,
11% from churches and/or church groups and 5% from corporations and/or civic groups. We
are so grateful to those who patron our store, those who donate faithfully, and those who
encourage your church, your workplace or civic group to support this ministry.
As a supporter of the Care Mission, we feel it is important for you to know that your efforts are
not in vain. Lives are being changed. Through your support and the support of many others,
God is making Himself known to many who had lost hope, lost direction or lost any sense of
worth. Don’t let the enemy fool you. When you support the Care Mission you are not
supporting just another place that hands out food. That is not what we are. We are a place
where God is known. We are a place where the teachings of Christ are seen. We are a place
where the love of Christ is felt. We are a place where the Gospel isn’t just a slogan, but a way
of life. We are not perfect, so we are also a place where the love, grace and mercies of God are
the cornerstone of our ministry. Knowing that God can use such as us demonstrates just how
powerful and merciful He is.
We greatly appreciate your support and your obedience to the Holy Spirit.
And we cannot begin to express how valuable to the success of this ministry are those who give
of their time and talents. We are excited to watch as God is bringing individuals to join those
already serving to strengthen our resolve and deepen our abilities. You are our greatest
blessing and most treasured asset as we move forward. We praise God for you all.
Thank you so much for your love and support!
Deon & Kendra Phillips
FEB 2014
Mission. So we want you to know we greatly appreciate that you have taken the time to read
this newsletter.
Since we opened our doors in June, 2005 through December 2013, God has used the Care
Mission to provide food and/or clothing assist to 35,191 households. Those households
included 93,436 individuals. Approximately 3.2 million lbs. or about 1,600 tons, of food has
been distributed, enough food to prepare approximately 1.4 million meals.
In 2013 alone God used the Care Mission to provide food and/or clothing assistance to
19,837 individuals. That amounted to 6,879 households. For the year we averaged
573 households assisted each month. However, the average number of households receiving
assistance during the last 6 months of 2013 rose to 627. The most in any one month was
August, in which 691 households received food and/or clothing assistance. In 2013 we
distributed approximately 341 tons of food, enough to prepare approximately 292,000 meals.
We do not share this with you to boast, except to boast in the Lord, because we know that it
would not be possible for us to have such an impact without God’s provision.
As impressive as these numbers may be, we who serve at the mission know that they reflect
only a small part of what God is doing. We know that God is using us to preach the Gospel of
Jesus Christ and most of the time that is being done without saying a word.
The sad truth is that we as “Believers” greatly minimize our witness and do a disservice to the
Kingdom of Christ when we limit our expression of the Gospel to quoting John 3:16 and then
offering a memorized prayer of salvation.
God is using ministries such as the Care Mission to reach those who have become deaf from the
noise of religion. Presenting the Gospel through actions is much more effective, but it is much
more challenging as well. As we strengthen our faith in Christ by trusting in Him to provide, we
also recognize that the way God most often chooses to get us the funds, food and items we
need is through the obedience of those who support us.
During 2013, 44% of our funding came from our thrift store sales, 40% from individual donors,
11% from churches and/or church groups and 5% from corporations and/or civic groups. We
are so grateful to those who patron our store, those who donate faithfully, and those who
encourage your church, your workplace or civic group to support this ministry.
As a supporter of the Care Mission, we feel it is important for you to know that your efforts are
not in vain. Lives are being changed. Through your support and the support of many others,
God is making Himself known to many who had lost hope, lost direction or lost any sense of
worth. Don’t let the enemy fool you. When you support the Care Mission you are not
supporting just another place that hands out food. That is not what we are. We are a place
where God is known. We are a place where the teachings of Christ are seen. We are a place
where the love of Christ is felt. We are a place where the Gospel isn’t just a slogan, but a way
of life. We are not perfect, so we are also a place where the love, grace and mercies of God are
the cornerstone of our ministry. Knowing that God can use such as us demonstrates just how
powerful and merciful He is.
We greatly appreciate your support and your obedience to the Holy Spirit.
And we cannot begin to express how valuable to the success of this ministry are those who give
of their time and talents. We are excited to watch as God is bringing individuals to join those
already serving to strengthen our resolve and deepen our abilities. You are our greatest
blessing and most treasured asset as we move forward. We praise God for you all.
Thank you so much for your love and support!
Deon & Kendra Phillips
FEB 2014