Tuesday, November 23, 2010

The Addict's Psalm - Psalm 41

Lean on the Word.

As everyone who struggles with addiction knows, the holidays are a minefield.

Got an overeating addiction? Well, here comes Thanksgiving, a day which the world tries to tell you to "pig out!" If you get past turkey day, all of those plates of Christmas cookies are coming.

Are you a recovering alcoholic? The holidays are fraught with peril. Having to deal with relatives who have overstayed their welcome or family members who have hurt you can trigger the urge to drink. And then of course there's New Year's Eve.

Well, hang on. I want to share a lifeline with you, Psalm 41, the Addict's Psalm.

I believe in praying scripture. God's Word is a powerful weapon against the things that bind us. Jesus, the Word made flesh, is the ultimate bondage breaker. We know that the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God is the weapon in the full armor of God. The other elements are defensive, but not the Word.

As you strive to stay strong in these upcoming 6 weeks or so, pray through Psalm 41 each day, to the One who "has regard for the weak" who "delivers him in time of trouble."

Monday, November 8, 2010

Ministry By the Numbers - October 2010

Our "pretty as a picture" Upper Room at the Harrison Homes Satellite Office of South Side Mission, suitable for Bible Study, tutoring or just reading a book.


HIGHLIGHTS FROM OCTOBER 2010

Decisions to follow Christ for the month
300

Number of Homeless Ladies and their Children housed at the time of this writing
43

Families served with free clothing, furniture, appliances & housewares
542

Attendance in our Laramie Street Sunday School, weekly
28

Attendance at our RiverWest Bible Study
4

Children enrolled in our Kings Kids Christian Day Care
25

Elderly Services home, hospital or nursing home visits
65

Formerly homeless women moving out successfully
0

Food baskets given away at our RiverWest Satellite Office
15

Boys Club attendance
58

Number of people completing a discipleship course this month
10

Average attendance at the Lighthouse Diner
28

Girls Club attendance
38

Churches that have Adopted Blocks in 61605
17

Attendance at our Trewyn Middle School Bible Study & Prayer Meeting
9

Food baskets given away through our Garden Street Benevolence Center
610

Attendance at our South Side Manor Bible Study
9

College Club kids enrolled in College
5

Food baskets given away at our Harrison Homes Satellite Office
58

Attendance at our Harrison Homes Bible Studies (2)
15

Daytime In-School Suspension ministry
12

Attendance in our Chapel services, Laramie Street, weekly
38

Attendance at our Harrison Primary School Bible Study & Prayer Meeting
16

Volunteer hours, as a ministry
3,301*

Attendance in our Chapel services, Garden Street, weekly
288

Attendance at our B’Nai B’Rith Bible Study
8

Pastoral care visits & counsels (non-elderly)
53

Attendance at our Hurlburt House Bible Study
5

Attendance at our Manual High School Bible Study & Prayer Meeting
5

Hot meals to the poor
8,354

Mother’s of Kids in the Youth Department Meeting
25

Kids enrolled in After-School Tutoring
75

Attendance at our Pleasant Hill School Bible Study & Prayer Meeting
17

FINANCIALS FROM OCTOBER 2010

Monthly revenue vs. budgeted
$302,881/$365,276

Monthly expenses vs. budgeted
$267,752/$253,088

Positive or Negative on the Month
+ $35,129

Yearly revenue vs. budgeted
$2,203,576/$2,247,760

Yearly expenses vs. budgeted
$2,662,787/$2,700,610

Positive or Negative on the Year
$459,211

How we’re doing versus budget
- $6,361

Through October, we are just about where we thought we would be on the year. Thanks God. We are just one one third of one percent off budget ($6,361). We are just a shade under budget on expenses and a little under budget on revenues. Cash flow has been very squeaky, but we are grateful.

Hope Builders has a new high water mark for number of projects in a year. Minister Craig Williams says they’ve completed 47 projects on the year, at the time of this writing. I believe their goal this year was 37. God is good. Thank you Harold Booze and all our other excellent volunteers!

Vagabond Tours conducts a semi-annual Culinary Tour of area fine restaurants and last month, they included our Chef School on their tour. This was a nice feather in our cap.

[from Director of External Ministries Rev. Bessie Rush’s report] Recently I had the opportunity to talk one on one with one of the students at Manual High School. With tears streaming down her face she open her heart and told me that she was a 16 year old single mother in foster care. Because she was so wayward, she was not sure who her baby’s father was. She went on to say she often sold her body for money to purchase toiletries! Her outlook on life was so dismal that she though there was no hope for her. However after accepting Christ she has learned that God is a God of a second chance! With renewed hope in Christ she now sings praises to God during our chapel service!

Thanks for reading this report and Praise the Lord for all He is doing here! Please find me on Facebook or visit our blog www.southsidemission.blogspot.com, visit the website at www.southsidemission.org, pray for us and support us as you feel led.