WE WILL GO NEWS November 2014 Volume 3, Issue 11 Jackson, MS is the City of God s Delight by intern Levi Gill A few Sundays back the green car above showed up during our worship gathering. Lacking available street parking, the driver pulled onto the curb in front of a missionary house called the Hope House. Isn t it a beautiful sight? I love my city I love that this in not an uncommon sight. Want to know a fun fact? There are 100s (maybe 1000s) more cars just a flashy and legit as this one all over town. What to know another fact?? God is in hot pursuit of the all the souls who call Jackson home. He loves them and delights in them. Outside our prayer pavilion during worship gatherings, it is not uncommon for people to be milling about, and when this green machine pulled up, it drew the attentive glances of all who were in the vicinity. The driver may have come simply to see family. Regardless, when he pulled up, everyone noticed It s a good reminder that big rims and flashy colors are not a thing of the past. Even more, however, this car screams, Put your eyes on me. Give me your attention. It begs to be noticed. And it was. A visiting friend from Holland took the photo above. His photo reminds me that a car like this is not something you would see very often in Europe. Like most places, Jackson s residents struggle with identity-based materialism. In other words, it s when people link who they are with what they own (or don t own). It happens all over the world. It happens in every culture and within every class of society. When one s sense of identity follows one s material possession, the result is usually that the person s idea of worth or acceptance hinges on acquiring some material thing. It might be clothes, shoes, shirts, or cars. For many in Jackson, the more amazing-looking the car or clothes or jewelry or hair style, they more valuable the person. I m not content with this system of value. I m not content with people perishing in the pursuit of sweet rides. I m not content with identity-based materialism. God s plan is much better. Isaiah 64:4-5 speaks about God s plans for Jerusalem. I believe the message can be claimed for Jackson as well. Never again will you be called The Forsaken City or The Desolate Land. Your new name will be The City of God s Delight and The Bride of God, for the Lord delights in you and will claim you as his bride. Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride. Isaiah 62:4-5 We like to think of ourselves as the children who are committing to Jackson the way a young man commits himself to his bride. We keep investing in Jackson because God keeps investing in us. Our identity is based on the reality of Jesus, not on what we own. Therefore we share freely. We won't stop praying for our city. God has big plans for all the people in Jackson. Thanks for joining us in this journey of delight Keep praying
#1) We practice telling our story / testimony. It s even better when the testimony is up to date. God is always at work in our lives. Every Saturday the missionaries lead teams of volunteers. We always share our stories. We get to lead the Tuesday prayer meeting, sharing important realities of our walk with God. We host overnight guests and talk about how God brought us to Jackson. Sharing is life The Christian Laboratory Our aim is loving God and loving people. We practice it every single day in many ways. Simple & practical ways we love our neighborhood: #3) We work on projects together. See below #2) We are prepared to share our clothing. Below is a word from our clothing show manager, Angie I have the amazing privilege to take care of the We Will Go clothing shop where many of our neighbors come twice a week to get clothes. But this is not just about clothing, Hands and Feet is about developing relationships and growing in the Word of God. find WeWillGo Arts products in WeWillGo Arts exists to: 1) Train, Mentor, & Disciple Men & Women 2) Produce & Sell Quality, Creative, & Practical Creations 3) Share The Gospel In The Marketplace Check out our online store: www.etsy.com/shop/wewillgoarts Email arts@wewillgo.org
We are getting used to God growing our understanding of His plan to restore Jackson. So when a restaurant owner offered to co- sponsor a farming project in our neighborhood, we didn t waste time before giving God the credit. We couldn t make it up. Joseph Simpson, owner of the Iron Horse Grill approached David Lancaster with two simple requests. He wanted to buy local vegetables for The Iron Horse Grill. He also wanted to Gind a way to provide jobs for needy residents. Because WE Will Go ministries is already headed in the direction of discipleship though job training in the WeWillGo Arts woodshop, it was easy to imagine people who would be Git for the job. In During the summer months, the community gardens on base 2 are free sources of food for all addition, the ministry has already had practice with gardens. For the last four years, We Will Go has kept a community garden for missionaries and neighbors to eat from. Our original 2 garden plots are on city property and are open for all to pick from. They ve beautigied the area and served as a practical reminder: downtown is still fertile ground. During the early part of November, with the help of neighbors, interns, and hundreds of volunteers, we completed building a high tunnel house. Many people look at it and call it a green house, and the concept is the same. It s a place to grow vegetables even during the winter months. Constructed behind the Fountain on Farish St., this plastic- walled structure with its arched top will cut the winter chill, making it possible to grow late season greens and early season tomatoes. While in the idea of self- sustainability has become very trendy, it has proved to be very biblical and practical on all levels of ministry. The addition of the high tunnel house is going extend the ministry s outreach in many ways. We Will GROW high tunnel house signals a new step in ministry sustainability by Stephen Gothard For one, it will allow the ministry to grow food in a more secure environment so it can be used to sell. In addition, for neighbors and missionaries looking for work, the green house will serve by providing a couple year- round jobs. For the missionaries who will work at the green house, this will be one source of steady income while they grow in leadership and minister to t h e neighborhood coworkers. Many of the products grown in the green house will be sold to local businesses, giving the ministry an open door to shout the name of Jesus into many new venues and to share about what The Lord is doing in Jackson. The green house will also provide year- round opportunities to minister to our community. David Lancaster made the parallel that the ministry itself is very much like a green house. The plants are grown in a warm, nurturing environment, in It took a team to pull the plastic over the top of the high tunnel house. We are so grateful for missionaries and downtown friends working side by side. safety and comfort, so that they will be ready for when their appointed time has come. In this same way, the ultimate intention of the garden project is to nurture brothers and sisters in Christ and to call them higher. In John 15 Jesus said, When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. He also appointed his disciples to go and produce lasting fruit. When it is time for our garden workers to move on to a better job, better living situation, or whatever the case may be, the goal is for them to be Gilled with the strength that comes through the Holy Spirit. The goal is to make disciples who truly abide in the vine, who are connected the source and who bear lasting fruit.
Upcoming Mission Trips Around the World Every WWG mission trip aims to encourage long-term missionaries and make the Love of God known through words and actions Nov. 11-22: Cambodia (Pray for the team: Amy Lancaster, Bonnie McIntyre, Alicia Kanode, Leigh-Anne Ainsworth., Robin Mabry) Dec. 24 - Jan. 2: Lancaster family in Thailand. See this flier to learn more Feb. 7-16: Puerto Rico Future Trips (Dates TBD) Philippines Mexico Mozambique Middle East Remember, Every Day There are mission opportunities in Jackson. We know the Lord is sending 1,000s of people to His mission field through We Will Go Donna Smith is one of those people. I am so glad that my Savior Jesus Christ brought me to We Will Go ministries about 9 years ago. Through prayer, walking the streets of Jackson, and serving in Hands & Feet ministry, I have seen His hand in all areas of the city. I have learned to love the people here through my Jesus. Some of the sweetest people I know live here. They bless me each time I go. Jesus has touched so many hearts and changed so many lives through this ministry. I am so blessed to be a part of it. He is so awesome, what a might God we serve. My prayer is for God to change inner city Jackson into a Holy city that is free of guns, drugs, and alcohol. It is for the people to love each other, help one another, and for all to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 says "If my people, who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven and I will forgive their sins, and will heal their land." I get such a blessing by serving. So many times they have prayed for me, and I am so grateful. Much love, Donna Smith
Weekly Ministry Schedule Ministry Activity Sunday Worship Service (prayer, praise, teaching, and dinner) WOW Kids Monday The Fountain Women s Discipleship Tuesday Hands & Feet Clothing Ministry Prayer Canned Goods Ministry Time 3-6 PM 4-5 PM 3:00-5:30 PM 6:30-8:30 PM 11:00 AM 12:00 PM 3-5 PM Place Love House Pavilion 799 N. Congres St. Peace House 809 N. Congress St. Peace House 809 N. Congress St. Peace House/Clothing Shop 809 N. Congress St. Peace House 809 N. Congress St. Love House Pavilion 799 N. Congress St. Wanna pitch in? WE are inviting you to join us as we share the love and power of Jesus in downtown Jackson. Please contact us through email: info@wewillgo.org or phone: 601-398-2410 Wednesday Opportunity Center Fellowship The Fountain Men s Discipleship Thursday WewillGo Arts Canned Goods Ministry Hands & Feet Clothing Ministry Bible Study Friday WeWillGo Arts The Fountain 10-11:30 AM 3:00-5:30 PM 6:30-8:30 PM 9 AM - 3 PM 3-5:00 PM 5:30-6:30 PM 6:30-8 PM 9 AM - 3 PM 3:00-5:30 PM Opportunity Center 845 W. Amite St. Woodshop 901 N. Farish St. Love House Pavilion 799 N. Congres St. Peace House/Clothing Shop 809 N. Congress St. Two Locations: Peace House & Restoration House (848 N. Blair St. Woodshop 901 N. Farish St. Saturday Workday (mission teams/ volunteers serving downtown neighborhood) The Fountain 9 AM - 1 PM 10 AM - 1 PM @9 AM gather in Love House Worship Pavilion to break into groups for projects/ tasks on all three ministry bases
INTERN CORNER The Miracle Candle Factory By Angie Anders A big Thanks to UMC Occupational Therapy (OT) for helping to transform a storage room into a place for us to disciple women. Five ladies from UMC s 3rd year OT class took their management project beyond theory and turned it into a reality. The room had served as a storage room at the Fountain, and it was full of outdated exercise equipment just last week. Now it is beautifully decorated and can be used as a sustainable candle making/discipleship area with the freedom to get creative. The possibilities are endless. Part of the assignment for the students was to teach us missionaries how to make candles. The photo to the top right shows the group that gathered to learn. As a therapist myself, it was super fun to be able to pray over these OT students just starting out. It was fun to encourage them to not just look at the disability/injury, but to recognize every patient is an opportunity to share the love of Jesus. We look forward to using the room to make many more candles and train many more disciples. New Interns @ We Will Go Ministries Stephen Gothard Ashley Ruffin Dani Brown We Will Go is a faith ministry, entirely dependent upon the generosity and responsiveness of the Lord s people to the prompting of the Holy Spirit. It is our joy and honor to share the love of Jesus with our neighbors, friends, and visitors for the purpose of making disciples for His glory. Many of our friends are very generous, both financially and through gifts and supplies they donate to We Will Go. We trust our Lord and Savior to speak to hearts to provide. He is faithful Angie Anders Give Online: www.wewillgo.org By mail: We Will Go 799 N. Congress St. Jackson, MS 39202 All gifts are 100% Tax Deductible HERE HERE AM AM I.I. LORD, LORD, SEND SEND ME. ME. ISAIAH ISAIAH 6:8 6:8 CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA.