Leah Rade

Rosie - Update

I am touched by so many inquires about Rosie.  If you're unsure what or who I'm talking about, check out my post from yesterday.  I heard from Sherri and Jay today and was delighted to hear that Jay was able to talk to Rosie about God while driving him to the Raleigh bus station.  While I don't know the details, I do know Jay and I'm sure that he shared the awesome Jesus whom he trusts.  Upon arriving in Raleigh Jay bought Rosie dinner before watching him board his bus to Rocky Mount.  After a quick wave, Rosie disappeared into the crowded bus.

While we all believe that we were placed in Rosie's life to help him with the basic necessities of life...I believe that Rosie was placed in our lives in order for us to grow and be blessed by serving him.  Several of our group members shared feelings of being part of something profound.  Want to get closer to God?  Want to be part of something bigger than yourself?  Serve someone.  We serve a monthly meal to 100 men residing at the Main Durham Rescue Mission on the first Sunday of every month and we'd love to have you join us.  Are you ready?  Email me at leah@newhorizonchurch.tv.

Rosie

There's been lots of life-stuff going on in the past couple of months and I have to confess that the blog has taken a backseat to other priorities.  However, I absolutely have to share this amazing story!

Last night our small group met and we used Rob Bell's "Rich" as a great one-time follow up study to pastor Dave's awesome message.  We had just worked through some provocative questions, including: "Do you consider yourself to be a follower of Jesus?" "Do you live the kind of life that Jesus described his followers would live?" "Do you believe everything you own is in some way a gift from God?" "Everything?" "Are you generous? With your money? Your time? Your stuff?" "What can you give? Who are you going to bless?"

As if on cue, the doorbell rang and we discovered Rosie, a homeless man who had traveled all the way from Florida on his way to Roanoke Rapids where he had a brother.  Needless to say, he was wet, cold and hungry.  Our group was now stunned at the timing of the appearance of Rosie.  It was amazing to watch everyone scramble to get him some chili, cornbread, cake slices, water, as well as pack up the leftover carbohydrates for his journey.  The group also pooled together money for a hotel room with the questions, " What can you give? How are you going to bless?" still fresh on our hearts.

Below is an email follow up from a couple in our group and the ongoing story of Rosie.

"Jay and I left Rosie (the homeless man) at the Scotsman hotel tonight after he ate the bowl of Chili and cornbread.  We may never see Rosie again but as Jay said, God may have sent him as an angel to us to see how we would respond.  How appropriate Rosie's timing after just hearing about how fortunate/blessed we are and how God wants us to give to others. It is with Gods love that we were able to pay it forward to one of his people.  Contentment.... I felt very content and at peace by helping Rosie tonight and being a part of Gods ministry. It makes me proud to be with people like each of you to serve God by giving to his people.  We will may never know what an impact we just had on Rosie  but the situation tonight has had a profound impact on me.  We may not be able to save the world but if we can help just one person.... 

 

I thank everyone tonight for another wonderful community group time together and experience!!! 

 

Have a great week and GOD continue to BLESS US...so we can be a blessing to others."

The following email just arrived from the same couple sharing the ongoing story:

"Jay just called me and on his way home from school, guess who he saw walking on the road.... yep Rosie.  He pulled over, called me and we decided to see what was up with Rosie.  Jay is currently on his way to Raleigh bus station with Rosie!!! Rosie is trying to get to family up in Roanoke Rapids area.  I called the Gray Hound in Durham to learn that they leave from Raleigh at 6:30 tonight to Rocky Mount which is the closest place to Roanoke Rapids.  Jay said Rosie smells much better and he is going to make sure he has dinner before he gets on the bus.  Please pray for Jay right now as he is going to share God with Rosie and I ask that you pray for Rosie that if he hasn't accepted Jesus that he will during this ride with Jay.  I told Jay that this is not by coincidence and that God put this man in our path again so that he will know Him.  Wow... I said last night that Rosie has made an impact on me and he continues to do so.  I will keep you all updated about Rosie!"

Wow, is right, Sherri...To be continued.

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

 "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'Matthew 25:37-40

My Friend Laura

And Other Amazing Stories From C. C. Spaulding Local Mission Project

God has been so faithful this week in so many ways and I want to share a couple of stories and photos with you.  I mean, why should I experience all the joy...I need to pass it on.

The wonderful community of people at New Horizon Church have provided backpacks and supplies to an entire school for six years.  Every year we pray during the collection period that there will be enough for all 300 kids.  Each year God makes sure that we have enough.  With the economy being what it is this year, we prayed extra hard, knowing that 300 kids & their teachers needed us.

On Wednesday night 40 volunteers showed up promptly at 6pm and started packing the bags.  At 6:15pm, they were done! Many hands make work light! We had 300 backpacks packed with ALMOST all of the necessary supplies.  While we had an abundance of some items, we were lacking 76 packs of markers.  We had just counted the packs with missing markers and set them aside when Laura Griest walked into the lobby with a tote bag on her arm lamenting, "I'm late and now you're all done and I have all these markers."  Laura had 30 packs of markers in her bag along with as many colored pencils.  Ask her and she'll tell you that my reaction was not what she expected, as I began to do the "happy dance", leaving her thinking that we all had gone crazy.  Everyone else standing there was in awe too.  Laura was so excited when we told her about our missing markers that she promptly exchanged the colored pencils for more makers and picked up the remaining few we needed and provided just the perfect amount!

Laura showed up on Friday too, to help deliver the bags to C. C. Spaulding.  Chris Gilham, Malcolm Hester, Tiara Blount, D. D. Barnes, Kimberly McBride, Randall Poythress & Michael Johns gave up a couple hours of their Friday afternoon to deliver the bags.

We arrived at C. C. Spaulding and were greeted with hugs from Spaulding's principle, Ms. Kelly, along with hugs from many staff, who helped bring in the bags.  That's Ms. Kelly in the picture on the right.  After we brought 300 bags and 10 boxes of additional  supplies into the school, we asked Ms. Kelly if we could pray with her staff.  I was stunned by her enthusiasm as she gathered her staff together, along with our volunteers even suggesting we all hold hands.  It was an awesome moment.  Please join me in continuing to pray for the staff, students & their families, as they begin this new school year. 

Another Win!

We received a written prayer request from a second-time guest and the request was serious enough to cause me to pray, then act.  It was serious enough that I had to call the person and offer help.  When I didn't get an answer, I left a voice-mail, as well as sent an email offering help.

The second-time guest returned my call this morning.  While the conversation was filled with pain, it also was filled with joy and hope.  The caller was new to the area and had been invited to New Horizon Church by a friend (the first win of the conversation).  The caller then shared that Karen, at Next Step(s) had been so helpful during her first visit (win #2). On Sunday, upon her second visit, she shared her delight when Karen remembered her from the first visit and walked out from behind Next Step(s) and greeted her (wind #3).  The caller continued to tell me that she had never experienced this kind of friendliness from a church...win, win, win!!!

The biggest win, though, is that we are equipped with care ministry leaders who can offer help and hope with the pain in her life.  We can connect her this weekend to a small group where she will find care and acceptance from people just as broken as she is, who are relying on God and experiencing restoration.  Did I say, "Win"!  Did I say, "New Horizon Church!"  BTW - Karen Fulford - You're the best!!

Guest Blogger - Beth Bivins

On Saturday we held Activate, our 2nd annual small groups conference, where we equip our small group leaders with the resources to successfully lead their groups.  Since groups are all about relationships, our best resources are our people.

Beth Bivins is a small group member who started attending Celebrate Recovery in the Spring.  Beth shared her life-change testimony with our small group leaders, bringing many to tears, including me.  I was so impacted by Beth's story that I asked her to share it with you.  Here is her testimony of recovery and support found in Celebrate Recovery and through her small group. 

     "I am a grateful believer in Jesus Christ and I suffer from self esteem, food addiction, confidence, rejection, fear, guilt and shame and for many years I thought no one cared..  For years I have felt broken, unwanted, unloved and hopeless.  These feelings have festered like wounds.    I tell myself that these things are the reason that I have had risky and harmful behaviors, the reason that I have had many sexual encounters, the reason that I overeat, the reason that my self esteem has been nonexistent.   I was an unwed mother at 17 years old in high school,   I endured and survived abuse in my first marriage,     I have raised 3 children alone, I have so many stories I could tell you of hurts. I have dealt with  shame and guilt that I felt from my family after having my son and which sent me into years of depression with  low self esteem.            

            All these hangups, habits and hurts made me retreat from God and the world.  I hid behind a mask that made me feel empty and alone. When I attended my first Celebrate Recovery group I was very skeptical and the next day told my colleagues at work  and my small group leader that I would not return to another meeting. My small group leader sent me a long email encouraging me to try again and broke down the obstacles that I put in front of myself and the excuses I made.  But the next week, I was back.  As I sat and listened to the lives of the women that I was among I felt accepted.  I felt a sense of relief coming over me each week as I walked into that room….knowing that I could remove the mask I had long hidden behind.  I didn’t have to try to prove anything to anyone.  I didn’t have to pretend that everything was ok and that I was fine.  I didn’t have to do anything but be myself and for that I was accepted and welcomed with open arms and loving hugs.   I have been in therapy for years trying to break down the walls and barriers that I put up for myself.  I found myself responding to these hangups, habits and hurts and accepting myself for who I am in CR ….. something I couldn’t do in therapy.  Being able to share my thoughts no matter what they are without fear was comforting.  Each week I feel blessed with my fellow CR friends as they reach out to me with a hug, or to just listen, or to check on how I am doing.  I will forever be grateful for finding this group and know that I will continue to grow in the presence of my friends, confidants and sisters that sincerely care about me.  If I am down they are a phone call away and I am so grateful to them and NHC for offering this wonderful program.  It has changed my life and I know it will continue to impact me and my hangups, habits and hurts.  I don’t worry as much as I use to.  I feel comfortable speaking and sharing my life’s experiences, yes, even the bad ones in open share.  Everyone has a story and it is amazing that each week I listen and can relate to something that someone else says.  One time or another, we all suffer from various things that disrupt or interfere with our daily lives.  One week it may be jealousy and the next it may be anger.  I may have problems trying to relate those exact feelings and someone else just nails it on the head and you agree and admit that is what is wrong. It is a judgment free zone. Each week a new revelation about myself emerges.  When I see others in pain it makes me realize how much I have to be grateful for.   We work on ourselves from the inside out.   It is a growing experience and changes, which means that we change…..but as the creed goes “to accept the things I can not change and the wisdom to know the difference.”   CR works, the people make it work and make you better.  Give it a try."

Beth Bivins

 

Life

The past two weeks have been somewhat of a blur and many of you have noticed and commented that I haven't tweeted or blogged much. Life is happening fast and I want to fill you in for several reasons, but primarily so you'll remember us in prayer.

You may or may not know that my mother came to live with us five years ago when her pulmonary fibrosis worsened to the point that she could no longer care for her self.  Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive lung disease that slowly consumes the lungs until oxygen can no longer be absorbed through the air sacks (crude explanation, if you're a doctor reading this).  Last Tuesday evening her fibrosis turned that ugly corner and she was hospitalized for 4-1/2 days.  After extensive evaluation the doctors determined that Hospice should assume responsibility for her care.  We brought her home on Saturday night and met with the Hospice team on Sunday.  I'll be posting more about Hospice, as they have literally carried us this week.  I have told the team they are the "Disney" of care. 

So, if I'm not tweeting as often or not posting as often, know that we're eyebrow deep in life and trusting God more and more than ever.  Thanks for your prayers.

Great Women's Bible

Several years ago my husband gave me a gift that ended up meaning more to me and had even more of an impact on me than what either of us expected.  He gave me the NIV Women's Devotional Bible.  Our kids were in elementary school and I was working more than full-time at the Museum of Life and Science; while trying to balance motherhood, serving at my church and being a good wife.  Over 300 devotions in this now classic version met me at my need as a woman. 

This Bible meant so much to me that when the "New" version was introduced, with all new devotions; a friend presented it to me, knowing how much I would love it.  This Bible lives on my night stand and is the Bible I read first-thing in the morning, knowing that each one of over 300 devotions will speak to me at my need as a women.

The devotions are written by noted women of all ages with biographies of each contributor included in the appendix, where you'll also discover a one-year Bible reading plan.

Got a birthday coming?  Christmas will be here before you know it.  Put this Bible on your wish list.  You'll be glad you did.

Michael's Debut Sermon

Sr. Pastor, Randy Carter, of First Baptist Church, Hillsborough, invited our son Michael to deliver the message during both services on August 9th.  Here is the mp3, Be Holy.  Please indulge a proud mother and listen to Michael's message to Christians.

Make A Difference

This is the 6th year that NHC'ers have impacted an entire school by supplies every child with a backpack filled with all of the school supplies necessary to succeed in school.  On Friday, August 21st, 300 filled backpacks will be delivered to C. C. Spaulding School, located in the heart of downtown Durham.
But before we can can pack the bags for delivery, we need a lot more supplies.  How can you make a difference in several lives at once, including your own?  Print out list list and share it with your neighbors, friends, co-workers and family members.  Ask them to purchase items and bring the items to you or directly to New Horizon Church by Sunday, August 16th or no later than Wednesday, August 19.  We'll be packing the bags at 6pm on August 20, so plan to join us then too.

Make a difference.  You'll be glad you did.

1" 3 Ring Binders - 145

Filler Paper - 0 (we have all we need)

Spiral Subject Notebooks - 220

Hard Shell Pencil Boxes - 200

Packs of Pencils - 185

Pocket Folders - 1077

Pack of Ink Pens - 65

Colored Pencils - 200

Packs of Markers - 208

24 count Crayons - 213

Rulers - 214