Faith On Every Corner_July 2017_CR

Vicki told about how the experience spreads in the
neighborhood. We live near the waterway. There
are people in the community that probably don’t
attend church anywhere. “The last night we had our
Porch Ministry, it was such a blessing. But we had
no idea that the biggest blessing was for the people
across the street and behind us,” says Vicki. The
next day as Vicki was working in her front yard, she
tells us that the lady who lives across the street, who
has had some hardships, came over and said, “Are
you the lady who lives here?” Vicki said, “yes.”The
younger woman, who has young children said, “I
just want to tell you that I sat on my screened in
porch last night in tears, and what you all did was so
beautiful and so uplifting. I had such a bad day and
I really needed that. Vicki asked her why she didn’t
come over. The young woman said she didn’t know
anyone. Vicki invited her to the next dinner and the
lady said she would love to come. Later, the lady
that lives behind them was outside and Vicki started
talking to her. Vicki knew the lady had lost her dog
recently and asked if the dog was found, it was.
The lady also started talking about the meeting. “It
is so refreshing to hear that in this neighborhood at
night,” said the neighbor. Vicki was touched by the
comments from the neighbors. Vicki says, “The
music, praise, and prayer is so nice and she hopes
this ministry is going to draw, convict and touch
people’s hearts in the neighborhood.”
When asked, what are you going to do as you grow?
Vicki and Willie looked at each other and almost in
unison said “Trust God.”
As we talked about the number of people at the last
outing and how they were spread out across the
yard, I asked, “What are you going to do as you
grow? Vicki and Willie looked at each other and
almost in unison said “Trust God.” Willie said, “We
have a big God who can take care of this. If we
need a new place, God will provide a new place.
This is all from God.” Willie went on to tell about a
mother of the Worship Leader who came to the last
Porch Ministry. She came to him and was crying.
She couldn’t believe how God had given her such
wonderful blessings. She was there with her
daughter, son-in-law and 2 grand kids and
continually praised God. “It was really heart
touching when she started doing that,” said Willie.
I asked if people from different denominations
come to the Porch Ministry. There are many
denominations including; Messianic Jews,
Presbyterians, Church of God, Methodist, Baptist,
and Catholic, most of those coming are church
attendees. They told about the couple that are Messianic
Jews. The man brought a shofar and played it
for at one of the dinners. It was enjoyed by
everyone and probably heard throughout the
neighborhood. The couple spoke to the group about
Jewish culture and some of the customs and
holidays that Jesus celebrated as a Jew. Terrie,
another lady who lives nearby, recently spoke on the
difference between simply being raised in church
and actually having a true relationship with Jesus
Christ. Pastor Lew spoke last summer about the
importance of refreshing people with the Good
News. “Refreshing” is the exact word used by the
neighbor who was listening one night.
When asked if they lean on any scriptures, Willie
said yes. “Proverb 3:5-6 says:
Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
I asked Willie if he could tell us how he knows if
he is doing that, leaning on God and not his own
understanding. “We do not try to rush it or push it,
we do not try to direct it in the way the flesh wants
to go but let God tell us,” says Willie.
Vicki said, “I think that we work together, it has just
grown to where acknowledging Him makes it
easier, because we are together. Willie is retired, and
every morning we stand on our walkway together
and pray before I leave for work. When we wake
up, we say, ‘Thank You Father’. It is important to
always give Him thanks.”
Willlie said, “One of the things I see happening
between Vicki and me is that confirmation comes
from each other. Confirmation keeps us going in
the right direction, God talks to my heart. He places
things on my heart, I do not hear an audible voice.
Sometimes when I try to do something on my own,
I know when I didn’t do the right thing, because
no blessings come from it. (Continued)
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