Saturday Morning: Going Outside the Gate

Over a year ago I met Betty. Betty has one of these hearts that reaches out across racial, religious, ethnic divides to help people in need. I would bring Betty some groceries. The next day she would call me and explain that she gave some of her groceries to a Latino family that needed some food. I would be out the next day with some more for her and a large box for them. She lived in this small apartment in a complex we regularly reach out too. During the winter, she always had a couple people with no home sleeping on her couch. Others would show up around breakfast or lunch and she would feed them a warm meal.


Well, over the summer she moved. She moved across the street. She now lives in a nice small house with a big corner yard. I was visiting her this weekend. While there she introduced me to a Latino pastor and got me on the phone with a African-American pastor. You see, they were conspiring together with Betty to do some kind of outreach, some time soon in Betty's yard. Well, she figured I would want to be involve. You bet, I would. I love conspiring with others to bring about a demonstration of God's amazing love.

What Betty didn't know was that I was stopping by to see if we could use her yard for our neighborhood party and a Free Market outreach. Who, knew ... God did. Needless to say, we are all joining forces to bless this neighborhood.

So, I hope you can join us. Here are the details for this outreach from an email I put out today....

As part of Outside The Gate we are having a "Neighborhood Party & Free Market". We will be joining up with a couple churches and reaching out to a neighborhood off Walkup in Monroe with 2 apartment complexes and a mobile home park. There will be music, kid fun, free groceries given out, hot dogs, and anything we can do to demonstrate God's love in the area.

We can use your help...
1. We need Spanish speaking people to join us.
2. We need clowns, skits, and face painting for the kids. I may even resurrect an old character I used to play "Farmer Abraham".
3. We need folks to man the "Free Market" & cook hot dogs. As well as to help set up and take down.
4. Items to give away. Small toys, books, personal care items, small household stuff.
5. Folks to pass out flyers during the week to invite folks to the party!
6. We need plenty of arms to pass out hugs!

We will meet Saturday, October 4 at Monroe Christian Worship Center at 9 am for prep and prayer. Around 10:00 am we will head over to the neighborhood, set up, party, & clean up at 12:30.

Outside the Gate is right around the corner. I am so excited. It will be a time of refreshing, encouragement, envisioning, and commissioning for taking up a vital part of God's mission for our community. So don't forget to come to our gatherings on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 7 pm. On Saturday we will share a meal together at 5:30 pm. I hope you will come.

If you have any other ideas or can help please email me at kadams720@gmail.com or call 704-458-3744.