It was the Little WOW's Bible study and we were studying Jesus feeding the 5000. After we all acted out the story, I sat down on the floor with the girls and asked, "what are you learning from this story for YOUR life?" The hand of the youngest child shot up. She is 6 and new to the Club. "Well," she began, "it means that when you get kicked out of your apartment and your family doesn't have any food and you don't have any money, you ask Jesus and he will give you what you need." I was stunned. I was speechless at the way she spoke from her reality. I was challenged by the faith I saw in her eyes.
-- Suzanne Wallace
Friday, March 30, 2012
Monday, March 26, 2012
March Madness...Village Oaks Style
A great day at Village Oaks! Our 3rd basketball tournament was a wonderful day for the community. It featured 48 players competing in the tournament (we had to turn away 3 teams!), a dunk contest, a half-court shot contest, a "Players Only" lounge, half-time worship music from the Men of Nehemiah, and some worship music from our own Ty Choice. About 250 friends joined us on an absolutely beautiful day. Praise the Lord!
Thanks Jayda, Ty, Will, James Riley, J-Makk, Larry and our Real Men volunteers: Louie, Sherwood, and Larry. Look forward to the next tournament!
And, the winning team:
-- Behind Every Door Ministries
Monday, March 19, 2012
Broken
Broken pelvis, broken leg, broken clavicle, cracked vertebrae, cracked ribs, ruptured spleen. The menu of injuries continued far past these when a car in front of the apartments struck a pedestrian.
After I heard about the event, I tried to find out who the girl was and what had happened. A witness told me that she was thrown 8 feet into the air and that he couldn’t imagine that she could still be alive. Upon further investigation, it surfaced that she was the niece of a Willow Pond resident, and that she was still alive and in the hospital.
With permission from the Grandmother, several of us traveled to the hospital to pray for the young girl. In her hospital room, we asked Jesus to astound the doctors with healing. I received an excited call from her grandmother 3 days later. “From now on, I am a believer in prayer,” she exclaimed. “They were going to send her to a nursing home on the day you all came, and now she is up walking and they are sending her home tomorrow!”
We are grateful for a God who hears prayer and responds. We are thankful for the restored life of this young lady!
-- Suzanne Wallace
After I heard about the event, I tried to find out who the girl was and what had happened. A witness told me that she was thrown 8 feet into the air and that he couldn’t imagine that she could still be alive. Upon further investigation, it surfaced that she was the niece of a Willow Pond resident, and that she was still alive and in the hospital.
With permission from the Grandmother, several of us traveled to the hospital to pray for the young girl. In her hospital room, we asked Jesus to astound the doctors with healing. I received an excited call from her grandmother 3 days later. “From now on, I am a believer in prayer,” she exclaimed. “They were going to send her to a nursing home on the day you all came, and now she is up walking and they are sending her home tomorrow!”
We are grateful for a God who hears prayer and responds. We are thankful for the restored life of this young lady!
-- Suzanne Wallace
Friday, March 16, 2012
Oh Well!
If we put the victories on our blog, I guess it is only fair to also post the less than glorious events. Last week was the worst-ever “Big WOWs,” which is the middle school / high school girl’s Bible Study.
I thought it was a fairly simple concept...and an encouraging one. I explained about when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us to empower us to obey the commands of God.
After the first explanation, I looked up to see every set of eyes giving new definition to “a deer in the headlights.”
“Do you understand?” I asked. Every head shook a slow negative response. “Ok,” I continued, trying to add a chipper tone. “Let me explain it another way."
The second round offered no improvement on the zombie stares. At this point I got animated, desperate to rouse them from their clueless stupor. I ended with a terse, straightforward summary. “Here is my point. The Holy Spirit of God comes to live inside you when you receive Jesus to help you do what God wants you to do. Ok. Who can tell me what my point is?” An eager hand raised, along with my hopes that the simple truth had finally soaked in past the braided hair. “It’s good to read the Bible,” the hand raiser said, with a smile of accomplishment.
“I have a good idea,” I responded. “Let’s go eat pizza.”
You win some. You loose some!
-- Suzanne Wallace
I thought it was a fairly simple concept...and an encouraging one. I explained about when we receive Christ as our Savior and Lord, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us to empower us to obey the commands of God.
After the first explanation, I looked up to see every set of eyes giving new definition to “a deer in the headlights.”
“Do you understand?” I asked. Every head shook a slow negative response. “Ok,” I continued, trying to add a chipper tone. “Let me explain it another way."
The second round offered no improvement on the zombie stares. At this point I got animated, desperate to rouse them from their clueless stupor. I ended with a terse, straightforward summary. “Here is my point. The Holy Spirit of God comes to live inside you when you receive Jesus to help you do what God wants you to do. Ok. Who can tell me what my point is?” An eager hand raised, along with my hopes that the simple truth had finally soaked in past the braided hair. “It’s good to read the Bible,” the hand raiser said, with a smile of accomplishment.
“I have a good idea,” I responded. “Let’s go eat pizza.”
You win some. You loose some!
-- Suzanne Wallace
Monday, March 12, 2012
Movie Day Blessing
Mr. Emerson Hall of the FDIC and his wife Peggy blessed 40 children and five chaperones of the Village Oaks community with at trip to see the inspirational movie Red Tails. The movie is about the United States African American Air Force (USAAAF) servicemen during World War II. After the children were loaded on the bus and ready to go, Mr. Emerson gave a short speech of encouragement to the children sharing the theme of the movie: "You can be anything you want in this life with hard work and determination."
I was moved to tears as the Executive Coach charter bus pulled away from Village Oaks, full of children that were not only on a charter bus for the first time, but were on their way to a movie theater for the first time in their lives. Mr. Emerson and his wife served the children an early lunch at the community center, and a popcorn/candy/drink snack box while at the movies.
For some, this outing was one of the best times of their lives. And, I made sure that the children knew why they were allowed to go...it was simply because they are loved!
-- Jayda Ekundayo
Friday, March 9, 2012
Helping Those in Need
In the most recent Willow Pond newsletter, one of the residents wrote about a conviction she has: to help those in need. Below is her article from the newsletter:
Can you imagine being in this world alone? Can you imagine having no one to call on when you need help? Well, the Willow Pond Community is going to change that. We are striving to help our residents who are elderly or have physical disabilities. We may do such things as take out trash, run an errand, vacuum a carpet, or bring a meal. A fellow resident, Roxanna, has dubbed the help with meals “Meals on Heels, ” and we already have several people who are interested! If you would like more information and might like to join us, contact Tasha.
Let’s take a stand together for those in need!
"If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything."
-- Tasha Marshall, Resident at Willow Pond
Can you imagine being in this world alone? Can you imagine having no one to call on when you need help? Well, the Willow Pond Community is going to change that. We are striving to help our residents who are elderly or have physical disabilities. We may do such things as take out trash, run an errand, vacuum a carpet, or bring a meal. A fellow resident, Roxanna, has dubbed the help with meals “Meals on Heels, ” and we already have several people who are interested! If you would like more information and might like to join us, contact Tasha.
Let’s take a stand together for those in need!
"If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything."
-- Tasha Marshall, Resident at Willow Pond
Monday, March 5, 2012
A Break-In & a Break-Through!
Rickey Fanning, our Assistant Community Director at Willow Pond, walked into the Community Center Monday morning to find it "in shambles" after a weekend break-in. A list of items were stolen, including several computers, guitars, and so forth.
A couple of days later, Rickey was at the basketball court when he was approached by two young men...one of whom we'll call "Mike." "Mr. Rick, can we talk to you?" Rickey could see tears filling Mike's eyes. He then went on to tell the story of what happened and how he was involved. He told Rickey that he sat in school all day and just couldn't go on without confessing.
Mike's story is a difficult one. He doesn't live at Willow Pond. He jumps from couch to couch. He's been at shelters with his mother at different times. Or he'll sleep outside. But, in Rickey's words, he is "respectful and a joy to be around."
Mike shared with Rickey that the weekend of the break-in he was sleeping outside. Rickey told him he doesn't need to sleep outside...we have places to go. He doesn't need to steal for food...we have food to share.
Long story short. In cooperation with the police, no charges are being filed against Mike for his part in the break-in. Mike was able to lead police to the man who stole everything and earlier today we recovered almost everything.
Another thing. At the moment Mike approached Rickey on the basketball court to confess, Suzanne Wallace was upstairs in the Community Center praying with our young "W.O.W. Girls" (Women of Wisdom)...praying that the person who stole everything would come forward!
As for Mike? He made a courageous decision to do the right thing. And he has been forgiven. And as a side note...he also received a job offer today.
A break-in and a break-through!
-- Dean Wilson and Rickey Fanning
A couple of days later, Rickey was at the basketball court when he was approached by two young men...one of whom we'll call "Mike." "Mr. Rick, can we talk to you?" Rickey could see tears filling Mike's eyes. He then went on to tell the story of what happened and how he was involved. He told Rickey that he sat in school all day and just couldn't go on without confessing.
Mike's story is a difficult one. He doesn't live at Willow Pond. He jumps from couch to couch. He's been at shelters with his mother at different times. Or he'll sleep outside. But, in Rickey's words, he is "respectful and a joy to be around."
Mike shared with Rickey that the weekend of the break-in he was sleeping outside. Rickey told him he doesn't need to sleep outside...we have places to go. He doesn't need to steal for food...we have food to share.
Long story short. In cooperation with the police, no charges are being filed against Mike for his part in the break-in. Mike was able to lead police to the man who stole everything and earlier today we recovered almost everything.
Another thing. At the moment Mike approached Rickey on the basketball court to confess, Suzanne Wallace was upstairs in the Community Center praying with our young "W.O.W. Girls" (Women of Wisdom)...praying that the person who stole everything would come forward!
As for Mike? He made a courageous decision to do the right thing. And he has been forgiven. And as a side note...he also received a job offer today.
A break-in and a break-through!
-- Dean Wilson and Rickey Fanning
Friday, March 2, 2012
Soul Train
The Village Oaks Kids Club getting crazy on a Friday afternoon!
-- Behind Every Door Ministries
-- Behind Every Door Ministries
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