Author:
tim
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Date Posted: 12:38:19 11/26/08 Wed
Date: Wednesday, November 26, 2008, 12:12 PM
Welcome Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Blessings from Montpelier,
I have been moved by the approach of this Thanksgiving Season to send out a praise report to all of you in the Body of Christ from our little outpost of compassion here on Sibley Avenue. Our nickname is New Beginnings, but we are operating under the registered name of Creative Kingdom Concepts LLC. And we are blessed, blessed, blessed!
We opened our 2 bed respite home here on Sibley Avenue in Montpelier this past March for people who are served by Washington County Mental Health and who are in need of transitional support in a residential setting. We have seen many people's lives blessed and changed, including our own, as we have worked together to make it a welcoming place of safety and support for those with special needs.
It has been a real step of faith for myself and for my family to leave the security of a 'regular paycheck.' I certainly couldn't have attempted it without the support of Kathy and Adrienne and Isaac. Each of my family members has played an important part in our development, including often going without the help they are accustomed to!!
Meanwhile, God has responded with many miracles and confirmation over this past year that His grace remains with us on this important project, even though I have not always acted in faith with all of my decisions so far. It has been an amazing ride and despite the mistakes that I have made, God has been merciful and provided some awesome people to help us make this a supportive home.
Without the unflagging support of Jerome Lipani, I would have certainly thrown in the towel long ago! Amy Wales and Jimi Brink have been awesome in their weekend support roles and Dottie has been a dedicated employee. I have seen amazing things take place in the lives of those who the Lord has sent to us over this short period of time, both employees and residents.
I would like to take this opportunity to especially thank God for the Words of Life Ministries and pastor Reggie and Melanie Scott of Berlin, Vt, for their kind and compassionate support of our mission to care for the people who have come and used our respite residence over the past 8 months. The outreach and generosity of this small but powerful fellowship has been a real encouragement to me. They have literally provided the Words of Life that have sustained me through times when I wanted to just give up!
Currently, the ministry is supporting a weekly cell group for scripture reading for women lead by Melanie Scott at our respite home and also helps to transport folks who desire to attend Friday evening services at the Berlin sanctuary at 489 Vine Street.
Creative Kingdom Concepts received two generous donations this year (praise God!) for the purchase of an older but good working 12 passenger Ford van with handicapped lift, which we have used to transport up to 8 people on trips to evening services and other field trips, including a trip to the Godstock concert this summer in Duxbury.
One of the most amazing testimonies has been from one of the ladies who came to us early on for transitional support. She had been having a very difficult time and as a result had lost her housing. After two short stays in residence with us at New Beginnings she began to work (for pay!) with our peer support team, one day a week, to help care for others in residence. Shortly after attending the Friday night services at Words of Life she requested to be baptized and this was performed this summer by pastor Reggie at Wrightsville Dam! She has found a supportive home nearby, is on the payroll now at Creative Kingdom and has been attending regularly the scripture reading group and the Words of Life Services on Friday nights. She continues to flourish in her new found faith in Christ! Praise God!
Another awesome blessing this year has been the SkyAngel TV. I made the decision early on not to install regular cable television in the home due to its high volume of less than therapeutic programming; even the local news can sometimes be triggering for those who come to us. The SkyAngel is an on demand internet service that allows us to watch daily programming by awesome ministries such as Joyce Meyer and Joel Olsteen anytime of day, as well as other wholesome programming such as The Hallmark Channel, Animal Planet and other safer TV choices. We even get to watch episodes of the Beverly Hillbillies, Leave it to Beaver and Dennis the Menace on demand and it's all for only $24/month!
I'm not sure exactly what's ahead for us, but I know it's good. We have been blessed to be able to concentrate on the spiritual needs of those who come to us and who aren't used to getting this kind of support. What a privilege! It is a unique ministry and if I stay out of the way I'm sure the Lord will direct me in the Way He would have us grow. The Lord gives me glimpses now and then, but as Joyce Meyer says, He gives us 'possibilities, not positivelies.'
Some of the things we are believing for right now are the establishment of a men's version of our New Beginnings Home and for the funds to hire at least two more peer support counselors. We are also believing for the funds to finish the upper room peer support apartment, a new driveway and to finally paint the house on Sibley Avenue in the Spring.
One thing is for sure, when you step out to serve God it is not dull. This has been the most amazing adventure of my life so far, and something tells me it is only just the Beginning!
I praise God and thank Him for all He is doing in us, through us and for us in Jesus' name! May all of you be blessed during this Holy Season and in the coming year by the One who provides all of our needs, according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus! Amen.
Tim,
Timothy O'Rourke
Creative Kingdom Concepts LLC
P.O. Box 740
Montpelier, Vt 05602
office 802-223-3391
cell 802-793-7808
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