Mission Blitz 08

My church is a large church and over the last couple of years, our missions area had slowly vanished. We kept up several of our missions areas while other were not able to get the attention they needed. In October the talk came up to have a Mission Bliz on March 8th. No one had tried this and we felt it was important to let our members know what we participated in as mission areas and several of us began to move on the project. It took our partner outreach areas to get list of projects they needed help with and it took a small committee to get the logistics worked out at the church.

We had a dozen or more outreach areas we could assist if only we could get our church members and other volunteers to get fired up about the Saturday Mission Blitz. Yesterday and through much hard work--it happened. We had 85 families represented from our church family and most families had atleast two members to arrive. You figure that was between 170-200 people who came out on a Saturday cold morning to give of there time and talents to work for others. Isn't that awesome.

Here are just a few of the projects that were done in that 41/2 hours:

100 bags of personal care items were sorted and will be given to the homeless shelter, for men and women.

85-90 letters were written to our missionaries, campus outreach, and community outreach centers, and soldiers.

Placemats were colored by adults and children to use for our Kairos prison ministry.

Landscaping was done for Bethelem Center (a community daycare and tutoring center for midtown).

Landscaping was done at the Hospice Hospital in Ridgeland so that the patients and/or families could enjoy the tranquility of a nice garden area.

Painting, sorting of clothes and books were done at the Good Samaritan Center, a clearing house center for nonprofits in the Jackson, area. They have a food pantry, clothes, used furniture etc that benefit the needy.

A full meal was cooked at Stewpot and they feed over 100 homeless or needed people for lunch.

At Hope House (A home away from home for seriously ill patients and their families)a new and installed vinyl flooring was laid.

At Mustard Seed (a school and living quarters for mentally disabled) painting was done.

The McRae House(for unwed mothers)was treated to fresh paint and a new playground will be installed over the next month.

Susanna Stitchers made pillow cases for the Brumfield House (the home for homeless men)

Several people went to the latest Habitat build and assisted with volunteer work.

All in all, the day was full of great sharing and blessings. For those of us who wasn't sure how it would work out,we realized God provided the help all we had to do was plan. What a great blessing.