Welcome, LaWanda Thompson!

We are thrilled to welcome LaWanda Thompson to the Behind Every Door Ministries Team!  LaWanda will be serving as the Assistant Community Director at Village Oaks.  A short bio is below:

LaWanda Thompson joined the Behind Every Door team in 2012.  A resident of Village Oaks, LaWanda comes from a family of 13 siblings.  As the Assistant Community Director, LaWanda assists during special events, tutors in the afterschool program, and helps to coordinate activities for the Village Oaks community.  On her own time, she volunteers as the Assistant Den Leader for local Cub Scout Troop 3550.  LaWanda has been voluntarily serving at Village Oaks since Behind Every Door arrived in 2010, and is known by the community to host sleepovers and video game nights in her home on the weekends.  Prior to joining the team at Village Oaks, LaWanda served as Community Center Leader for another local non-profit.

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

The First Harvest!

We brought in the first harvest of the year at Village Oaks!  Cucumbers, Jalapeños, and Radishes!  Check back often...we are just getting started!

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Because Scripture Says So

I was in the kitchen at the Kids Club when an elementary school girl asked me to give her something to write.  She handed me a piece of paper and a pen, and I wrote down my theme for the year: Value. Jesus looks at you and sees value.  She took it and wrote on the white board under the TV for everyone to see.

This became a regular thing.  This friend would come ask me for a Bible verse. I would write down a verse, and she would go and write the verse on the board.

One day she came up for our daily routine and said, "I only know one verse by heart."  I looked at her and said, "so, why don't you write the daily bible verse today?"  She started to smile..."Really!" she said.  I shook my head yes. "OK!" and off she went.

Later I walked by the white board and saw: "Matthew 6:8b, 'Father knows what you need before you ask Him.'"  Underneath the verse were the words "BECAUSE SCRIPTURE SAYS SO."

-- Rickey Fanning

Behind Every Door May Update

"Can I see some ID?"

Identification. Identity. At the Real Men group yesterday one of our friends introduced himself and told his story.  One of the central parts of his introducing himself was: "I'm a felon."  Mike Downey was quick to remind him of his ID.  "You are not a felon.  That is not who you are.  You have a felony on your record. But that doesn't define you."

A theme we have been focusing on related to identity is that we are sons and daughters of a Loving Father.  We've been talking about leaving the orphanage behind. The orphan's life is one of fighting. Defending. Trying to handle all of the problems alone. Kicking and screaming.  Employing any strategy to feel OK. The life of a son or daughter of our Loving Father can be so different.

We've been having the young men at the Village Oaks Community Center rehearse "I am a son of a Loving Father" over the last 18 months or so (if they say it when they see me they often times get a dollar bill). And we're focusing on this truth with the men as well.  We are calling it: "Sons of a Loving Father Training Center"...where men can be trainedspiritually, physically and in work.  With all of the training built on our true ID: Sons of a Loving Father.

*****

We were so thankful to hear the news that Behind Every Door Ministries was awarded the $100,000 One Hundred Shares Grant for 2012!  One Hundred Shares is a group of 100 Dallas ladies who pull together their resources each year to bless a local ministry.  Their grant has already provided us with a van (pictured).  The grant will also send kids to Kids Across America camp this summer, provide music lessons in our Community Centers, bring new furniture to residents in need, as well as help us to launch the Sons of a Loving Father Training Center. Thank you, One Hundred Shares, for your partnership in loving our friends and bringing the Good News.

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the mother's out there!  We are very thankful for you!

We were able to hand out some gift bags to many of the moms at Village Oaks.  Thanks to Susan Lee for helping make this possible!  Enjoy the pictures:

-- Behind Every Door Ministries

Covered in Dust

I was walking back to the kids club when one of the residents stopped me.  She started to tell me about the struggles she had that day. Nothing seemed to be going her way.

She explained she had been praying that God would comfort her. Then she saw me.  "You are an answered prayer!  I know God brought you around that corner at this specific time.  Will you pray for me?" she said.  "Sure!" I said.

I asked God to bring peace in this storm, declared the Truth that God is always in control, and thanked Him that we whatever we ask for according to HIS will, believing it would be given to us. I said "Amen" and heard two young girls say "Amen."  I looked up and saw two young ladies behind this woman who had joined us in prayer!  It brought to memory one of my favorite sayings "May you be covered in the dust of your rabbi."

In Jewish customs a desciple who followed so closely behind their rabbi (Teacher) would be covered in the dust kicked up by him.  These girls were a part in reaching into heaven and making an appeal to the Father for this woman.  No one told them to join us in prayer...they just saw me praying and followed.  They got covered in the dust that day.

-- Rickey Fanning