Willow Pond Christmas Party!

Recently, we gave a Christmas party for the kids at Willow Pond.  Thank you to Rickey Fanning (Willow Pond Community Center Supervisor), who hosted the party at his home.  We ate lots of pizza, cookies, and cake to celebrate Jesus' birthday.  After dinner, we moved in to the living room to sing some carols and hear the story of Jesus from a shepherd named Jonah (played by John Wallace).

After our singing and listening, we handed out stockings and Christmas gifts to each of the Willow Pond kids.  We were each blessed in the process, and thank you to everyone who helped make this possible!  Enjoy the pictures below:

 

 

 

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Who would you invite?

We were about to rap up our carol singing with "Silent Night" when Jonah interrupted us.

On the night of Jesus' birth some shepherds came to visit Jesus (see the Gospel of Luke, chapter 2).  Shepherds were outcasts in the time that Jesus walked on the earth as a man.  They were viewed as dirty, good-for-nothing thieves.  When you saw them you were on high-alert, but acted as though you had not seen them.  They never had a chance - shepherds were simply the bottom of the barrel and the worst was always assumed of them.

Well, an angel came to visit a group of shepherds when Jesus was born.  And, unlike what most of us would have done, the angel invited them to Jesus' birth.  Let that sink in.  It should turn your world upside down.

Who would you invite to the birth of your child?  Jesus decided to invite the least, the people no one want.  As a man, he started his life that way (the shepherds), he lived his life that way (read the gospels), and he ended his life that way (the thief on the cross).

The good news is that death didn't beat Jesus.  So, Jesus still lives the same way today and he is still inviting people to join him.

To listen to/watch the story of Jesus as told through the eyes of Jonah the shepherd, see the video by John Wallace below:



-- Will Dowell

Village Oaks Christmas Crafts!

Here are some pictures from the Village Oaks Kids Club. They used a very democratic architectural process to design and build the gingerbread house for all to consume later! Yummy!

We also had a great time making the ornaments for our Christmas Tree for the Village Oaks Christmas Luncheon on Saturday! Enjoy!

 

 

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Village Oaks Christmas Celebration

We were able to host about 600 people at our Village Oaks Christmas Celebration this past Saturday!

Lunch was served, and the Men of Nehemiah choir sang and led us through some wonderful songs throughout the program.  We also enjoyed a Kids Club show that included a poem reading from Jenee.  At the end of the program, John Wallace shared the Christmas story with us and we were reminded of the Gift we have all been offered: Jesus.  We had a great time, there was plenty of laughing, and lots of of new friends were made.

Thank you to all of our volunteers!  Without your help the party would not have been possible.

Enjoy the pictures below!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

He Loves Us

Kyle Jenkins and his team have been working at Willow Pond for a few months. They have helped residents start Bible study/prayer groups in their apartments.  They have prayed with people.  They have laughed with people.  They have gotten to know the stories of residents who we haven't met yet.

Residents are beginning to meet each other.  Interesting, because they have lived next to each other.  Why wouldn't they already know each other?  But, Kyle and his team are helping connect people to each other.  Helping to tear down the stereotypes and judgments that keep people from becoming friends.

Kyle has tried on a promise of God - that He Loves us.  All of us.  So he is telling people that.  He is telling sick people and healthy people.  He is telling the addicts and the sober.  He is telling Spanish speakers and English speakers.  He is telling the poor and the even more poor.  Why?  Because God loves all of us.

One way Kyle is communicating this great love that God has for us is by befriending people.  Turns out, one friend is a wonderful guitar player.  So what do they do?  They go be with him.  Play guitar with him.  Sing with him.  6 months ago this friend was alone: no one to sing with, no one to talk to, no one to play guitar with.  Now, he has friends like Kyle and his team to talk to and play guitar with. And, he has new friends in the apartment complex who he hosts a weekly Bible study with.

Why do this?  Why care?  Why make friends?  Why Love?  Because He Loves us.  That's it - that's the reason!

He Loves us.

-- Will Dowell

Flower Pickers

I came home the other night to a questioning wife: "Why do you have dirt all over your hands?"

That afternoon I was walking out of the Community Center when Miguel, the head of maintenance at Village Oaks, approached me.  There were two boys with him, and Miguel explained that the boys had been pulling up the flowers in one of the new flower beds we planted.

"Did you boys pull up the flowers," I asked?

"Yes."

Ok, good start, I thought.  "Why did you pull up the flowers?"

"He told me to do it," fired back one of the boys.  "No! It was your idea!"

After a bit of talking, I told them I did not appreciate being lied to.

"Real men tell the truth, and that is what you are going to do.  I want to know why you pulled up the flowers.  Were you bored," I asked?

"Yes."

"Was it fun to pull out the flowers?"  Again, they said yes.

"So, why did you pull out the flowers?"

"Well, I guess because it was fun and we were bored."  Then the other boy chimed in, "and because I wanted to give one to my mom."

I thanked them for being honest with me and told the boys that it was ok to want to give flowers to your mom.  But, the community flower bed was not the place to get flowers for your mom.

"So, what do real men do when they do something wrong," I asked?

"They hug?"  I laughed and said, "yes, they do hug, but what else would they do?"

"They shake hands?"  "Yes, real men do shake hands.  What else?  There is something that a real man would do when he does something wrong."

"They pay for what they broke?"  "Yes - they would pay for what they broke.  But today, I am not going to make you pay for these flowers.  So what else would real men do?"

"They would make it right?"  "You are exactly right," I told the boys!  And off we walked to replant flowers.

The boys did a great job replanting the flowers and have now become the "official police" for that flower bed.  At the end of our replanting effort, there was one lone pansy without a spot.  As the little boys stood there wondering where to plant it, I told them to take it home to their mom.  I like to think it was God's way of showing all three of us His grace.

-- Will Dowell

Eager to Follow

Picture Africa.  Somewhere – right now – on the vast continent, smiling, energetic kids follow behind runners as they train.  You might have seen the pictures.  These children are eager to join alongside the training runners as they travel across the countryside, putting in the miles to become the best.  Last week, we were able to experience part of that.

We left the Village Oaks Community center, asking the kids who were inside to leave with us.  As they inquired about where we were going, it became obvious we would have helpers.  Lots of helpers.

“Can we come?”

The answer was easy: sure!

But, the kids had no idea that “coming with us” was going to be hard.  We were going to be driving all over the property delivering Thanksgiving dinner baskets.  And, Village Oaks is big.  Really big.  29 acres big.

As the golf cart rolled away, loaded down with our first round of Thanksgiving dinners, the kids ran alongside and behind the cart.  It was incredible.

 

After an hour of delivering baskets and then returning to the Community Center to pick up more, the kids were showing signs of fatigue.  They were slowing down and their shirts were covered in sweat.

Was this as great as it sounded when they had first asked, “can we come?”  To a few, yes – yes it was!  The kids had seen the joy and thankfulness on the faces and in the words of the residents who received the baskets.  They were able to share in the joy of giving. 

When the kids asked, “can we come?” they didn’t know exactly what they were getting in to.  They only knew that we would be delivering Thanksgiving dinner baskets together.  They knew they wouldn’t be left behind.

Thanks to all the kids who came along to help us deliver the baskets - we are grateful for your help and enthusiasm!

-- Will Dowell

Thanksgiving Dinners

We were able to hand out 30 Thanksgiving Dinners at Willow Pond and Village Oaks over the last two days.  We had a great time and were able to involve some of the kids in the giving.  Enjoy a few pictures below:

 

 

 

 

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Picture Slideshow!

Thanks to Keith Waggoner for his photography skills.  These pictures were taken at Village Oaks recently.  Enjoy the pictures!



-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Basketball Court "Official First Shot"

We had a great time this past Tuesday with the residents of Village Oaks!  After completing the renovation to the basketball court, we held an "Official First Shot" ceremony to usher in the new court.

We gave each kid from the Kids Club a basketball and let them loose to shoot baskets and run around.  Within 15 minutes, residents young and old had joined us on the court.  From grandfathers who hadn't shot a basketball in years to young men who are growing up too fast: we all enjoyed being kids for an hour.

At the end of our time, we gathered about 10 kids from the Kids Club around one of the baskets for the "official first shot."  At the count of 3, the kids shot their basketball at the same time and helped the Village Oaks community welcome the new court.  See the pictures below!

 

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Transformation of Village Oaks

Village Oaks has seen some transformation over the last month thanks to the help of volunteers, residents, and the owners.  Check out the before and after pictures below!

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-- Behind Every Door Ministries