Those words are on my "war" wall as a daily reminder that while some of the projects Christian HELP is looking at taking on are bigger than we are, they are not bigger than God. I am amazed daily as our prayer of asking God to send the right people into our paths is answered over and over again.
As we research potential programs, initiatives, and ways to better connect people with their next job, we are astounded at how the information is coming together so neatly.
Why are we amazed? God already knows the outcome and He is guiding the way.
I can't help but be excited about how God is working through Christian HELP. My personal faith has grown so much over these past 5 years of working at Christian HELP. Over and over again, we see God answer prayer. Not always as fast as we want or the way we want Him to, but He never lets us down.
We encourage your involvement in His work here at Christian HELP. This month we have matching funds available for all donations made. When you donate $1 it becomes 2, $100 becomes $200 and $1000 is $2000. We are able to meet the needs of so many more families with your partnership.
If you have never donated to Christian HELP, I would ask you to consider donating today. If God has put it on your heart, please reach out. You make the difference.
You can donate online at http://christianhelp.org/donate.htm or by mail to 450 Seminola Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707.
Thank you for being a blessing.
In His service,
Sandi
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Christian. Show all posts
Monday, April 9, 2012
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Christian HELP’s Food Pantry – Reaching Out in a Place of Love and Miracles
One of the most vivid accounts of Jesus’ love and compassion for people comes to life in the Bible story of Jesus feeding the 5,000, (John 6 and Mark 6). Even as a child, I took great delight in picturing that huge crowd assembled on a distant green hill, soaking up the rays of a sunny day, while listening to the loving voice of Jesus. On that particular day, time must have swiftly raced by as the people took in valuable spiritual nourishment for their parched souls. The problem was, no one had apparently bothered to keep track of how physically hungry everyone would become as the day progressed. Jesus, on the other hand, had a very special plan in mind that would ultimately save the day. He knew exactly what his grace and love would soon impart to each man and woman, and every boy and girl. A miracle was in the making…
Can you picture Jesus in high gear as he got to work on that bright and expectant afternoon? Calmly, (he was never panicked), his disciples were instructed to make the people sit down as they rounded up one ordinary boy’s donated lunch of two fish and five loaves. In an instant, the boy’s lunch was transformed into a meal that served the entire crowd of 5,000. That scrumptious picnic feast handily filled every belly, with abundant leftovers to spare. The Bible tells us simply, “They all ate and were satisfied.” (Mark 6:42). Jesus’ actions demonstrated then, as now, that his heart “had compassion on them.” (Matthew 20:34).
Christian HELP’s Food Pantry reaches out to the hungry of Central Florida with a similar heart of compassion. In a world that continues to reel from a troubled economy, Christian Help regularly meets the physical needs of hundreds of families as these individuals go about the big job of seeking employment. With gentle respect for all, people consistently come and receive well balanced food items that are distributed carefully and with love, including bread, meat, vegetables, fruit, cheese, lunchmeat, and dessert. “We show our clients the face of God,” says Food Pantry manager, Mark Blanton, quietly. “We give them all a smile,” he explains, sharing also how incredibly important a smile can be for people beaten down by the multiple pressures of modern life.
The Food Pantry got its start some 20 years ago under the watchful and dedicated eye of Christian HELP co-founder, Madge Wilson. Today her guiding influence is still felt as those who serve in the pantry continue to carry on with high energy, fairness, equity, and stewardship – the very qualities which meant so much to Madge.
Donated food items make the food pantry a center of bustling activity and outreach. All of the food is made possible by generous provisions from community partners such as Walmart, Target, Bob Evans, Pizza Hut, Winn Dixie, and Publix. It’s not a boy’s lunch, of course, but it works in much the same miraculous way, bringing food that tends to multiply as it is given to sustain so many.
There is a poignant side note about Christian HELP’s food distribution team. It seems that as the small army carries out their Herculean mission each day, the team grows ever more united in ministry. They are, quite simply, a modern day version of Jesus’ disciples in motion. Some of the team members are long time volunteers like Gwen, Eva, Miss Annie May, John and Ron. Others are young people doing volunteer community service for school credit, and loving every minute of it. Still others are working off community service hours as they gain powerful lessons in respecting others while also being treated with respect themselves. Through it all, it’s hard to determine who gets more blessed – those who work to give, or those who come to blessedly receive.
Yes, Christian HELP’s Food Pantry is a place of uncommon blessing. Oh, it might not be located upon that same ancient hillside of long ago where Jesus fed the 5,000. But it is still a place of unusual and ongoing miracle. It is that place where quiet spiritual and physical nourishment lovingly reach men and women, and boys and girls each and every day, right here in Central Florida.
By Chris Schneider
Can you picture Jesus in high gear as he got to work on that bright and expectant afternoon? Calmly, (he was never panicked), his disciples were instructed to make the people sit down as they rounded up one ordinary boy’s donated lunch of two fish and five loaves. In an instant, the boy’s lunch was transformed into a meal that served the entire crowd of 5,000. That scrumptious picnic feast handily filled every belly, with abundant leftovers to spare. The Bible tells us simply, “They all ate and were satisfied.” (Mark 6:42). Jesus’ actions demonstrated then, as now, that his heart “had compassion on them.” (Matthew 20:34).
Christian HELP’s Food Pantry reaches out to the hungry of Central Florida with a similar heart of compassion. In a world that continues to reel from a troubled economy, Christian Help regularly meets the physical needs of hundreds of families as these individuals go about the big job of seeking employment. With gentle respect for all, people consistently come and receive well balanced food items that are distributed carefully and with love, including bread, meat, vegetables, fruit, cheese, lunchmeat, and dessert. “We show our clients the face of God,” says Food Pantry manager, Mark Blanton, quietly. “We give them all a smile,” he explains, sharing also how incredibly important a smile can be for people beaten down by the multiple pressures of modern life.
The Food Pantry got its start some 20 years ago under the watchful and dedicated eye of Christian HELP co-founder, Madge Wilson. Today her guiding influence is still felt as those who serve in the pantry continue to carry on with high energy, fairness, equity, and stewardship – the very qualities which meant so much to Madge.
Donated food items make the food pantry a center of bustling activity and outreach. All of the food is made possible by generous provisions from community partners such as Walmart, Target, Bob Evans, Pizza Hut, Winn Dixie, and Publix. It’s not a boy’s lunch, of course, but it works in much the same miraculous way, bringing food that tends to multiply as it is given to sustain so many.
There is a poignant side note about Christian HELP’s food distribution team. It seems that as the small army carries out their Herculean mission each day, the team grows ever more united in ministry. They are, quite simply, a modern day version of Jesus’ disciples in motion. Some of the team members are long time volunteers like Gwen, Eva, Miss Annie May, John and Ron. Others are young people doing volunteer community service for school credit, and loving every minute of it. Still others are working off community service hours as they gain powerful lessons in respecting others while also being treated with respect themselves. Through it all, it’s hard to determine who gets more blessed – those who work to give, or those who come to blessedly receive.
Yes, Christian HELP’s Food Pantry is a place of uncommon blessing. Oh, it might not be located upon that same ancient hillside of long ago where Jesus fed the 5,000. But it is still a place of unusual and ongoing miracle. It is that place where quiet spiritual and physical nourishment lovingly reach men and women, and boys and girls each and every day, right here in Central Florida.
By Chris Schneider
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Engraved On the Palms of His Hands
One of the most encouraging verses in all the Bible is found in Isaiah 49:15 and 16 where God reassures us that we are all constantly on his mind. “I will not forget you!” he emphasizes. “See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.” Can you just picture the God of the universe with his palms covered, yes saturated with images of his children? Every one of us is right there for him to see and remember at all times. It’s quite a portrait of our God.
At Christian HELP, every person who walks through the door is also highly valued, not forgotten, and treated with genuine care and respect. Men and women discover quickly that they have stepped into a place where the love of God will touch their lives profoundly. They’re in the right place.
Early this week, I had the chance to come face to face with some of these special men and women when they dropped by to seek help with their resumes. Each person got a loving handshake - that universal gesture which communicates instant acceptance and respect. It’s the perfect way to start “resume time.”
As the day got underway, I met Mickey, (name has been changed) an older man with a background in the legal profession and financial planning. His professional world had crumbled, but his faith remained strong, despite poverty and onetime homelessness. Not long ago, he found himself reaching out to a local church and was blessed by a friend there who took him in and became a brother in Christ. Mickey told me that at one point, he lived briefly in an empty, foreclosed house with no water or power, and was grateful to have had a roof over his head to escape the cold. I didn’t detect bitterness as he spoke, only anxious hope for the future. It was a privilege to help him with his resume, and an even greater joy to witness his eyes as new hope began to spread over his countenance.
Next was Susie, (name has been changed) a small woman with a shy yet feisty demeanor who also needed help with her resume. The economy had been hard on this little lady, and she now suffered from dental problems and no job. As we discussed her past employment history, she told me part of her life story and it was a thrill to see her light up when she described how much fun she used to have making ice cream cakes at a local ice cream franchise. “It’s not hard to make one,” she explained knowingly. “It just takes time.” Listening to her and helping her piece together a fresh strategy for her resume was like enjoying a scoop of delicious ice cream! My prayer is that Susie will soon be serving people in the restaurant of her dreams.
Christian HELP is all about providing meaningful help to everyone who walks through the door. It’s about listening well to each person and providing hope, encouragement, love, and prayer – the precious fundamentals of the Christian life.
And so we have a picture to embrace… God engraves our lives on the palms of his hands. He makes a point to constantly remember his people because we are all precious in his sight.
It is also a picture of what Christian HELP is all about.
By Chris Schneider
At Christian HELP, every person who walks through the door is also highly valued, not forgotten, and treated with genuine care and respect. Men and women discover quickly that they have stepped into a place where the love of God will touch their lives profoundly. They’re in the right place.
Early this week, I had the chance to come face to face with some of these special men and women when they dropped by to seek help with their resumes. Each person got a loving handshake - that universal gesture which communicates instant acceptance and respect. It’s the perfect way to start “resume time.”
As the day got underway, I met Mickey, (name has been changed) an older man with a background in the legal profession and financial planning. His professional world had crumbled, but his faith remained strong, despite poverty and onetime homelessness. Not long ago, he found himself reaching out to a local church and was blessed by a friend there who took him in and became a brother in Christ. Mickey told me that at one point, he lived briefly in an empty, foreclosed house with no water or power, and was grateful to have had a roof over his head to escape the cold. I didn’t detect bitterness as he spoke, only anxious hope for the future. It was a privilege to help him with his resume, and an even greater joy to witness his eyes as new hope began to spread over his countenance.
Next was Susie, (name has been changed) a small woman with a shy yet feisty demeanor who also needed help with her resume. The economy had been hard on this little lady, and she now suffered from dental problems and no job. As we discussed her past employment history, she told me part of her life story and it was a thrill to see her light up when she described how much fun she used to have making ice cream cakes at a local ice cream franchise. “It’s not hard to make one,” she explained knowingly. “It just takes time.” Listening to her and helping her piece together a fresh strategy for her resume was like enjoying a scoop of delicious ice cream! My prayer is that Susie will soon be serving people in the restaurant of her dreams.
Christian HELP is all about providing meaningful help to everyone who walks through the door. It’s about listening well to each person and providing hope, encouragement, love, and prayer – the precious fundamentals of the Christian life.
And so we have a picture to embrace… God engraves our lives on the palms of his hands. He makes a point to constantly remember his people because we are all precious in his sight.
It is also a picture of what Christian HELP is all about.
By Chris Schneider
Thursday, October 6, 2011
I have a dream
In 1963 Martin Luther King stood at the Lincoln Memorial and shared his dream for our nation. He shared a dream of equality and not judging people by the color of their skin, but by their character. I too have a dream. I dream that the community will rise up to support their own. That neighbor will love neighbor and that no child will go hungry. I dream of a day when once again everyone who is looking for a job can find one. I dream of eliminating poverty (and yes, I do know Jesus said the poor will always be among us), and I dream we the people, we the church, we the community will care for our own. I hope this is your dream as well. Imagine each one of us in this room knowing we had a part in such positive change.
The number one cause of poverty and homelessness is unemployment. We can’t wait for the Government to figure out how to solve the problems of poverty. We have to work together to solve them ourselves. Crisis and Disasters often bring us together to solve problems around us. 60 minutes brought attention to a crisis in our community back in March when they showcased the problems of homelessness and hunger amongst children in our community. At Christian HELP we responded to this crisis, by working together with the community to form a task force in Casselberry working with the schools to eradicate hunger and homelessness. Eight months later, we are making a difference every day in the lives of children and their families who are in need. This has been a true collaborative effort between churches, businesses, individuals, non-profits, and the schools. By looking at not just feeding the problem, but working with the families, we can see people move ahead. Helping people is messy and it doesn’t always work out the way you want it to, but helping people is good for everyone involved.
When Ben and Mindy needed help, they reached out to Casselberry Elementary. The school reached out to a church, Aloma Methodist, they helped them to get out of their car and into a hotel. We joined in the fight and helped Ben and Mindy move into their new place. Ben is now working 2 jobs and trying to make ends meet. Their story is not over yet, but it is a great testimony to how working together we can change lives for the better.
When John D'Amelio from CBS Sunday Morning came to Christian HELP he said "This agency is different, and I have been to a lot of agencies." He meant it in a good way. In a time of automated voice mail and take a number mentalities, Christian HELP is truly focused on what matters. Clients, Volunteers, and donors are so important to us. Our team is devoted to making the experience of visiting Christian HELP a good one for anyone who might need our help. Someone said Hope, Encouragement, Love, and Prayer sounds like we just give a hug to the unemployed. In a sense we do, but there is so much more.
What makes us different than other agencies? Is it our book knowledge, degrees and expertise? Is it the combination of our services? Is it our longevity? We are unique because we live our passion to serve God and others daily. We hold people accountable, but we deliver services in a loving way. We are compassionate, yet tough. We are willing to work with anyone who needs our services, but we expect they will help themselves as much as we help them. We give respect and we expect it in return. Our goal is to equip and empower and not to enable.
Jackie our Ministry Development Director summarized our services this way: "We have had 20 years of collecting resources, 20 years of meeting with clients one on one, 20 years of discerning who is looking for hand outs and who is genuinely in need.
With your help, we continue to feed, we continue to educate, we continue to supply job leads; however our expertise is in providing God's love to those who are drowning in our society, not judging but providing tangible tools to use to navigate and survive in this environment." Christian HELP is able to HELP because our desire is to be a light in people's lives when they are walking through the darkness of unemployment, hunger, and despair.
You are Christian HELP. It is your prayers, your talents, your passion, and your commitment that brings hope to the hopeless and makes a way for people to see there are good people out there who really do want to help.
I have a dream that there will be no more men with cardboard signs on the street that say “will work for food”. I have a dream that parents will not have to choose between eating and paying rent. I have dream that no child will have to say “mommy, I am hungry.” I have a dream that more employers will say, “you are hired”. Will you join me in this dream?
Together we can dream of a brighter future. We can dream about creating a strong community. We can dream about a time when tummies are filled and everyone has a place to call home.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
To whom much is given...
Much is required...
A biblical truth that can sometimes be scary if you don't handle responsibility well. The parable of the talents teaches us that obedience results in the reward of even more responsibility. Why am I talking about this? God continues to bless Christian HELP. Through people like you, we have learned that if we are good stewards of what we are blessed with, God gives us more.
If we handle a few clients well, God gives us more. If we handle food well, God blesses. If we handle our finances well, God meets all of our needs. He does this through people. We are so thankful for all of the referrals, the food drives, and the donations we receive.
Did you know that just $15 can keep a family of four fed for a week? Imagine being like Stacy who is a single mom after her husband decided he didn't want to be married anymore and now she has to find a full time job. She works part time at a department store making just over $8.00 and hour and worries that she will lose her home. Because they are not divorced yet, she is not getting child support. We can help with job search and food because someone cared enough to help.
Your donations make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling. Some have never been unemployed before. Some have been struggling for awhile because their career choice no longer exists. Some work 40+ hours for commission and barely bring home enough for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
When we help people find jobs and get back on their feet, we not only feel good about it, but it contributes to a healthy economy for all of us. We are at a time right now where unemployment is standing still, benefits are being cut, and people who have never reached out for help or relied on "the system" are in need.
Please consider making a donation to Christian HELP for our monthly "fruits and Veggies" giving program. This program keeps job seekers and their families fed with healthy items while they are looking for work.
Thank you for all of your prayers and your help.
A biblical truth that can sometimes be scary if you don't handle responsibility well. The parable of the talents teaches us that obedience results in the reward of even more responsibility. Why am I talking about this? God continues to bless Christian HELP. Through people like you, we have learned that if we are good stewards of what we are blessed with, God gives us more.
If we handle a few clients well, God gives us more. If we handle food well, God blesses. If we handle our finances well, God meets all of our needs. He does this through people. We are so thankful for all of the referrals, the food drives, and the donations we receive.
Did you know that just $15 can keep a family of four fed for a week? Imagine being like Stacy who is a single mom after her husband decided he didn't want to be married anymore and now she has to find a full time job. She works part time at a department store making just over $8.00 and hour and worries that she will lose her home. Because they are not divorced yet, she is not getting child support. We can help with job search and food because someone cared enough to help.
Your donations make a difference in the lives of people who are struggling. Some have never been unemployed before. Some have been struggling for awhile because their career choice no longer exists. Some work 40+ hours for commission and barely bring home enough for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
When we help people find jobs and get back on their feet, we not only feel good about it, but it contributes to a healthy economy for all of us. We are at a time right now where unemployment is standing still, benefits are being cut, and people who have never reached out for help or relied on "the system" are in need.
Please consider making a donation to Christian HELP for our monthly "fruits and Veggies" giving program. This program keeps job seekers and their families fed with healthy items while they are looking for work.
Thank you for all of your prayers and your help.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Are you Re-Charged and Re-Energized?
One hundred and fifty people gathered at First Baptist Longwood for Christian HELP/CFEC's Re-Charge and Re-Energize your job search seminar. Most of the group were seasoned professionals and many were out of work over 6 months.
The participants were given information on creating a job search plan, networking, branding, using the Business Journal as a job search tool, and becoming the best possible you. Dipasqua Enterprises/Subway generously provided sandwiches for the event. Z88.3 positive hits brought the van and provided music during lunch.
Over and over again, people thanked us for putting the seminar on. They came in not knowing if it would be worth it to give up a sunny Saturday to spend time with us. Volunteers came out to offer resume assistance and just guidance through the day. I was so blessed at the generosity in the room.
I watched as Lisa Maile (www.LisaMaileSeminars.com) stayed and talked with every single person in line without rushing a single person. They were important to her and got her undivided attention. One lady was in need of dental work and Lisa gave her some information to follow up on.
I love these seminars because they give people great information to use in their job search and just have a positive feel. One of the volunteers told me she could just feel the compassion in the room from the team at Christian HELP and our volunteer family.
My prayer is the people who were there will take the information they learned and apply it to get a job. One of the volunteers told me he learned how important networking was when he saw a colleague land a job faster than he did because he was well networked.
At Christian HELP we work to equip and empower people to get jobs. We are not a staffing company and we don't send people off to work when they come in, but we teach them how to find a position on their own and give then job leads and help secure better resumes. By teaching people what they needs to know, they can know it was through their efforts they are landing their next job.
Until next time-
Sandi Vidal
Executive Director
The participants were given information on creating a job search plan, networking, branding, using the Business Journal as a job search tool, and becoming the best possible you. Dipasqua Enterprises/Subway generously provided sandwiches for the event. Z88.3 positive hits brought the van and provided music during lunch.
Over and over again, people thanked us for putting the seminar on. They came in not knowing if it would be worth it to give up a sunny Saturday to spend time with us. Volunteers came out to offer resume assistance and just guidance through the day. I was so blessed at the generosity in the room.
I watched as Lisa Maile (www.LisaMaileSeminars.com) stayed and talked with every single person in line without rushing a single person. They were important to her and got her undivided attention. One lady was in need of dental work and Lisa gave her some information to follow up on.
I love these seminars because they give people great information to use in their job search and just have a positive feel. One of the volunteers told me she could just feel the compassion in the room from the team at Christian HELP and our volunteer family.
My prayer is the people who were there will take the information they learned and apply it to get a job. One of the volunteers told me he learned how important networking was when he saw a colleague land a job faster than he did because he was well networked.
At Christian HELP we work to equip and empower people to get jobs. We are not a staffing company and we don't send people off to work when they come in, but we teach them how to find a position on their own and give then job leads and help secure better resumes. By teaching people what they needs to know, they can know it was through their efforts they are landing their next job.
Until next time-
Sandi Vidal
Executive Director
Friday, January 14, 2011
Our cup runneth over
Usually when you talk about your cup running over it is with blessings. Christian HELP is certainly blessed beyond measure. God never ceases to amaze us. This year seems just a little different. We are really starting to feel the crunch. The crunch of wearing many hats, working too many hours, not having an ounce of space to put another person. We feel the tug of our hearts as we moved to an appointment based system just to keep a little control of the flow of people coming in. We hurt when we don't have room for all the volunteers we really want and need to move to the next level.
What is God telling us? This year I keep telling people He is moving our cheese. He is pushing us out of our comfort zone and preparing us for new things. It is exciting and scary all at once.
We are looking at building or moving. We want to expand our services and classes. We are forming new partnerships... but at the same time, we are at capacity. I serve at another non-profit where the new mantra is to maintain and sustain instead of to expand and grow. For us the demand is too high to maintain.
Not only do people need jobs, they need food, they need finances, and they need hope. No matter how busy we get, we always stop to pray and remember who is in control. God has a plan. We may not see the big picture yet, but He does. We always need to make sure we keep our cup filled with His blessings by following His commandments and obeying His will.
Yesterday I listened to John Rivers of 4 Rivers Smokehouse talking about seeking, listening and obeying. We may feel the crunch, but we will still trust and obey.
Sandi
What is God telling us? This year I keep telling people He is moving our cheese. He is pushing us out of our comfort zone and preparing us for new things. It is exciting and scary all at once.
We are looking at building or moving. We want to expand our services and classes. We are forming new partnerships... but at the same time, we are at capacity. I serve at another non-profit where the new mantra is to maintain and sustain instead of to expand and grow. For us the demand is too high to maintain.
Not only do people need jobs, they need food, they need finances, and they need hope. No matter how busy we get, we always stop to pray and remember who is in control. God has a plan. We may not see the big picture yet, but He does. We always need to make sure we keep our cup filled with His blessings by following His commandments and obeying His will.
Yesterday I listened to John Rivers of 4 Rivers Smokehouse talking about seeking, listening and obeying. We may feel the crunch, but we will still trust and obey.
Sandi
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Thank you for your Prayers and Support!
Fridays were a stressful day at Ronnie's company. That was the day layoffs were announced. After making it through a few Friday's of layoffs and even being told he was doing a great job, Ronnie learned on a Thursday 2 weeks before Thanksgiving that his job of 12 years was gone.
Depression, anger, shock, and fear were just a few of the emotions this father of 2 teenagers felt when he heard the news. How would he be able to provide for his family? What was he supposed to do now? He hadn't looked for a job in 12 years.
This year was a tough one for Ronnie. He had surgery on his back 6 months ago and then his wife announced she was leaving and filed for divorce. There was a bitter custody battle resulting in lawyer fees, alimony, and child support. The house was sold for what they owed and all extras were given up. Forced back to work from leave too soon, to take care of the kids, Ronnie pushed himself to make ends meet.
In less than 6 months, Ronnie felt his entire world crash down. As he moved into a small apartment and sold off all of his things, he felt a chapter of his life close. Losing his job was the icing on the cake. At $275 a week (unemployment), with child support and alimony payments there is literally nothing left. Fortunate to have a sister in town, he is moving in to her house in January, but there is not much room for him there.
To make matters worse, his insurance ended November 30th for him and the kids. He is waiting to see what cobra will cost. Trying to be strong every day for the kids, he is melting inside. His role is to be the provider and he is struggling to provide. He has reached out to his networking contacts and is updating his resume and looking for a job. He has heard it takes longer and salaries are lower these days.
Fortunately he has God, some family, and Christian HELP to see him through this time. His kids will have Christmas due to the generosity of strangers. There is food on his table and he can stay in his apartment one more month because of your's and others kindness. It is primarily through the support of individuals Christian HELP can be here to meet the needs of people like Ronnie.
Christian HELP relies almost entirely on the support of individuals, remaining independent of any government money. Please donate now if you can, and help ease the pain of those going through tough times.
Depression, anger, shock, and fear were just a few of the emotions this father of 2 teenagers felt when he heard the news. How would he be able to provide for his family? What was he supposed to do now? He hadn't looked for a job in 12 years.
This year was a tough one for Ronnie. He had surgery on his back 6 months ago and then his wife announced she was leaving and filed for divorce. There was a bitter custody battle resulting in lawyer fees, alimony, and child support. The house was sold for what they owed and all extras were given up. Forced back to work from leave too soon, to take care of the kids, Ronnie pushed himself to make ends meet.
In less than 6 months, Ronnie felt his entire world crash down. As he moved into a small apartment and sold off all of his things, he felt a chapter of his life close. Losing his job was the icing on the cake. At $275 a week (unemployment), with child support and alimony payments there is literally nothing left. Fortunate to have a sister in town, he is moving in to her house in January, but there is not much room for him there.
To make matters worse, his insurance ended November 30th for him and the kids. He is waiting to see what cobra will cost. Trying to be strong every day for the kids, he is melting inside. His role is to be the provider and he is struggling to provide. He has reached out to his networking contacts and is updating his resume and looking for a job. He has heard it takes longer and salaries are lower these days.
Fortunately he has God, some family, and Christian HELP to see him through this time. His kids will have Christmas due to the generosity of strangers. There is food on his table and he can stay in his apartment one more month because of your's and others kindness. It is primarily through the support of individuals Christian HELP can be here to meet the needs of people like Ronnie.
Christian HELP relies almost entirely on the support of individuals, remaining independent of any government money. Please donate now if you can, and help ease the pain of those going through tough times.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Happy Thanksgiving from Christian HELP
Can you believe it is that time of year already? 2010 has been a really difficult year and yet we were constantly reminded how great our God is. Below we wanted to list a few things we have been thankful for this year.
CHRISTIAN HELP IS THANKFUL FOR:
•God - who is the CEO of Christian HELP
•The supporters, volunteers and staff who give of themselves each day
•The Doctor who brings us eggs for our clients
•The Business leaders who spread the word about us
•The Moms who drop in grocery bags, diapers and whatever else they think we need
•Our team who are so close - literally sharing office space
•Churches who invest in our Mission
•YOU!
And lastly we are so thankful we are able to serve those in need and show the love and compassion of our Saviour Jesus Christ!!!
Our Christian HELP staff wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
http://christianhelp.org
CHRISTIAN HELP IS THANKFUL FOR:
•God - who is the CEO of Christian HELP
•The supporters, volunteers and staff who give of themselves each day
•The Doctor who brings us eggs for our clients
•The Business leaders who spread the word about us
•The Moms who drop in grocery bags, diapers and whatever else they think we need
•Our team who are so close - literally sharing office space
•Churches who invest in our Mission
•YOU!
And lastly we are so thankful we are able to serve those in need and show the love and compassion of our Saviour Jesus Christ!!!
Our Christian HELP staff wish you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving!
http://christianhelp.org
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Why Christian HELP is Unique
One of our team members sent this to me as we deal with all sorts of distractions each day as a reminder of why we are so unique.
There is no other like us, and we do what we do to glorify God's name.
We are not just a food pantry.
We are not just a ministry that prays and cares for people.
We are not just a non profit that has a Christmas Program that helps hundreds and hundred of families.
We are not just a placement agency that has employment counselors, computer resource center, job skills class, and resume coaches.
We are not just networking group for hundreds of employers in Central Florida We are not just a ministry that outreaches to central Florida's unemployed through seminars and job fairs.
We are not just a ministry that has an online job board with some jobs and a website with resources.
We are not just a agency that partners to specialize in helping Central Florida residents get back to work.
We are not just a non profit that has hundreds of volunteers who help us with God's mission.
We are not just a ministry that will work tons of extra hours to get God's work done and do all that it takes to get the work done AND help the unemployed feel encouraged.
We are not just a ministry that does all of this with 19 employees where nearly half are part time.
What we are is God's servants who are directed to serve his people and to do it in such a way that glorifies his name and to carry out his vision.
Sandi
There is no other like us, and we do what we do to glorify God's name.
We are not just a food pantry.
We are not just a ministry that prays and cares for people.
We are not just a non profit that has a Christmas Program that helps hundreds and hundred of families.
We are not just a placement agency that has employment counselors, computer resource center, job skills class, and resume coaches.
We are not just networking group for hundreds of employers in Central Florida We are not just a ministry that outreaches to central Florida's unemployed through seminars and job fairs.
We are not just a ministry that has an online job board with some jobs and a website with resources.
We are not just a agency that partners to specialize in helping Central Florida residents get back to work.
We are not just a non profit that has hundreds of volunteers who help us with God's mission.
We are not just a ministry that will work tons of extra hours to get God's work done and do all that it takes to get the work done AND help the unemployed feel encouraged.
We are not just a ministry that does all of this with 19 employees where nearly half are part time.
What we are is God's servants who are directed to serve his people and to do it in such a way that glorifies his name and to carry out his vision.
Sandi
Monday, September 20, 2010
Join in the Harvest
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
We would love to have you join us at our annual fundraiser "Harvest of Hope" this year at First Baptist Winter Park on October 6th from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. It will be an inspiring event sharing the impact of Christian HELP in the community over the past 18 years and looking towards the future.
We need your help now more than ever. Our clients are your friends, and your neighbors. They are the people you sit next to at church. Here in Florida, many people do not have a strong family support system. When they reach the end of their rope they have nowhere to turn.
Christian HELP provides hope, encouragement, love, and prayer. More than just job leads, it is a place of compassion. Christ is at the center of all we do and we do our best to shine His light to those who walk in to our doors. We try to provide rest for the weary and broken hearted through tangible support and prayer.
Please HELP us HELP them. Consider attending our event or donating today. You will be blessed.
We would love to have you join us at our annual fundraiser "Harvest of Hope" this year at First Baptist Winter Park on October 6th from 11:30 am-1:00 pm. It will be an inspiring event sharing the impact of Christian HELP in the community over the past 18 years and looking towards the future.
We need your help now more than ever. Our clients are your friends, and your neighbors. They are the people you sit next to at church. Here in Florida, many people do not have a strong family support system. When they reach the end of their rope they have nowhere to turn.
Christian HELP provides hope, encouragement, love, and prayer. More than just job leads, it is a place of compassion. Christ is at the center of all we do and we do our best to shine His light to those who walk in to our doors. We try to provide rest for the weary and broken hearted through tangible support and prayer.
Please HELP us HELP them. Consider attending our event or donating today. You will be blessed.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Successes
Sometimes we spend so much time thinking about all the people we work with who are still struggling to find a job, keep food on the table, and try to make ends meet that we forget to stop and celebrate the successes.
This week three people I have been working with and praying with landed jobs. One as a bank manager, one in non-profit, and one in marketing. It was so wonderful to celebrate with them as the offers came in.
Our jobs at Christian HELP can be challenging and some days it seems like we can't do enough for people. God always let's us know that He can.
Many tears flow here with sadness, but some days we get to have the happy tears as well.
Please continue to pray for us and help us to chip away at joblessness in Central Florida. Thank you!
Sandi
This week three people I have been working with and praying with landed jobs. One as a bank manager, one in non-profit, and one in marketing. It was so wonderful to celebrate with them as the offers came in.
Our jobs at Christian HELP can be challenging and some days it seems like we can't do enough for people. God always let's us know that He can.
Many tears flow here with sadness, but some days we get to have the happy tears as well.
Please continue to pray for us and help us to chip away at joblessness in Central Florida. Thank you!
Sandi
Monday, August 2, 2010
"God Provides"
I worked in the Pantry on Friday and experienced how the disciples felt when Jesus fed thousands with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish.(Matthew 14) The fridge on the right shows what I saw when filling food orders for our clients. We seemed to be low on food and the clients kept coming and yet no-one was turned away empty handed. I saw how our drivers kept going out in our vans and coming back numerous times with boxes and boxes of food. I worked side by side with volunteers who have served with Christian HELP for 10+ years and who still have that love and compassion for each and every client, a compassion that only can come from our Savior. I asked one volunteer what she felt about being able to help in the Pantry and she gave me the title to this article she said she can sum it up in two words - "God Provides".
One of our clients, "Maria", was so excited as this was the last time she was having to come and get food as her new job was starting on Monday. She had two boys and one of them was having a birthday. We were able to give her Batman Cupcakes and a box of individually wrapped fruities which she was going to give to her son's friends who were coming round to celebrate the birthday.
The hardest part of my day in the pantry was when I had a client's food order to fill who asked me to be careful what I gave her as she came on foot and had to be able to make it back to the bus stop. It felt like a 100 degrees outside and I wondered how desperate one must be to still have to make the trip out to us under those conditions. It is hard to understand the hardship some must endure and I can only turn to God at those times and remember this verse in Psalm 44 vs 3 "...it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them."
We thank all who donate to this humble Ministry! There are many of you out there, from churches, grocery stores and individuals who are affecting peoples lives through us - I hope this gave you a little glimpse of how you are helping our community.
God Bless,
Jackie Normand
Development Director
One of our clients, "Maria", was so excited as this was the last time she was having to come and get food as her new job was starting on Monday. She had two boys and one of them was having a birthday. We were able to give her Batman Cupcakes and a box of individually wrapped fruities which she was going to give to her son's friends who were coming round to celebrate the birthday.
The hardest part of my day in the pantry was when I had a client's food order to fill who asked me to be careful what I gave her as she came on foot and had to be able to make it back to the bus stop. It felt like a 100 degrees outside and I wondered how desperate one must be to still have to make the trip out to us under those conditions. It is hard to understand the hardship some must endure and I can only turn to God at those times and remember this verse in Psalm 44 vs 3 "...it was not their own strong arm that gave them victory. It was your right hand and strong arm and the blinding light from your face that helped them, for you loved them."
We thank all who donate to this humble Ministry! There are many of you out there, from churches, grocery stores and individuals who are affecting peoples lives through us - I hope this gave you a little glimpse of how you are helping our community.
God Bless,
Jackie Normand
Development Director
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Relying on God
Helping people can be tough. The needs are diverse and many times much bigger than one person or one agency can handle. Throw in a wrench like losing a contributing grocery store to a change in company policy or a supporting church to declining donations and it becomes harder. The good news is God is in control and He always provides.
Tomorrow I am speaking about trends in the economy and hiring. In May Central Florida lost 135,000 jobs and unemployment is still in the double digits at 11.1%. We are desparately trying to find a silver lining in the economy and an end to all of the tough times.
You are still providing hope, encouragement, love, and prayer to the unemployed. Still providing job seekers with job leads, coaching, skills classes, and free resumes. The pantry may have less some days, but like the loaves and fishes, God stretches what we have and you provide the prayers and the means.
I am encouraged every time a job seeker lands a job. Every time someone gives us good news and lets us know how much your support of Christian HELP helped them. We recently profiled James in our e-newletter. At 59, he thought he would never land a job, but HE DID. He is now on his way back to stability. There are so many others who have landed jobs and we celebrate.
Our work is not done. It is through you and others like you, God provides for Christian HELP. Thank you for your support.
I hope you will join us at Christmas in July on the 23rd. It is certain to be a great event!
Be blessed,
Sandi
Tomorrow I am speaking about trends in the economy and hiring. In May Central Florida lost 135,000 jobs and unemployment is still in the double digits at 11.1%. We are desparately trying to find a silver lining in the economy and an end to all of the tough times.
You are still providing hope, encouragement, love, and prayer to the unemployed. Still providing job seekers with job leads, coaching, skills classes, and free resumes. The pantry may have less some days, but like the loaves and fishes, God stretches what we have and you provide the prayers and the means.
I am encouraged every time a job seeker lands a job. Every time someone gives us good news and lets us know how much your support of Christian HELP helped them. We recently profiled James in our e-newletter. At 59, he thought he would never land a job, but HE DID. He is now on his way back to stability. There are so many others who have landed jobs and we celebrate.
Our work is not done. It is through you and others like you, God provides for Christian HELP. Thank you for your support.
I hope you will join us at Christmas in July on the 23rd. It is certain to be a great event!
Be blessed,
Sandi
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
A note from our Development Director about her day of counseling
I had planned on spending the morning at Christian HELP answering phones to learn what needs were in our community at this time. God had another plan for me.
I arrived at Christian HELP at 9:15am - just in time for their morning gathering round the little table in the kitchen to pray. We lifted each other up in prayer and the clients that would be coming in for various needs. As I made my way to the front desk to man the phones, Kristy Owens, our Director of Operations asked if I would be willing to do some Employment Counseling with the clients as we were short staffed. When something unexpected happens I am keenly aware that God may have something to show me and I jumped at the chance.
I only saw four clients today but what a cross-section of our community.
My first client was a lovely young lady who was attending college to get her degree but was looking for a part-time job to help her with her basic bills. We did a job search and I found two leads for her to walk away with and she was able to get some groceries from our pantry.
My next client was an elderly couple (65+). They had both been out of work for a year and his unemployment checks had once again stopped and they were hungry and scared. They had no family, only each other. We did a job search and found some leads but my hope for them was small. Who is going to hire someone that age? The husband looked frail and was asking for mechanical leads. He had his resume with him and was so earnest about finding something. Our volunteer who assists with resumes was there so I asked him to help my client as well. We prayed and they received bags of food to put in their car. Later I spoke to Kristy saying I felt we were not able to help them and she explained to me that we were. Christian HELP is independent and we have the discretion to serve those who we feel are in need. The groceries that we were able to give this couple was a dire need that we were filling and one we are able to continue to fill, the other need was just spending time with them, listening to them and praying with them. There are not many places out there where this couple can go and receive that much needed attention.
My third client was a lady who was able to help herself but was not doing so. She had been seeing us for over a year and was not following up on the job leads we were giving her. I had to explain to her that we were not helping her move forward and that she needed to seek out other agencies that may be a better fit for her.
Lastly I had a well dressed, educated women who came in for the first time. She had been out of work for 4 months and was feeling a little discouraged. Her experience was good and we were able to find very promising leads for her - it was rewarding to see her leave feeling more encouraged.
I love things to be black and white. I love to know if you are looking for a job we help you - if you are not we don't. Well guess what.....life is gray......there are people out there who don't fall into certain categories. This does not mean they do not deserve to be helped. I am totally against enabling people to be dependant but seeing this need this morning helped me to understand that God has us here for many reasons, not just one and we need to let him guide us to show where He wants to use us.
I also realized our logo - Christian HELP (Hope, Encourage, Love & Prayer) was right on the mark and being carried out every day!
Jackie Normand
Ministry Development Director
Thank You
Thank your to all our donors who make this Ministry possible. Please feel free to visit us to see God's work in action.
I arrived at Christian HELP at 9:15am - just in time for their morning gathering round the little table in the kitchen to pray. We lifted each other up in prayer and the clients that would be coming in for various needs. As I made my way to the front desk to man the phones, Kristy Owens, our Director of Operations asked if I would be willing to do some Employment Counseling with the clients as we were short staffed. When something unexpected happens I am keenly aware that God may have something to show me and I jumped at the chance.
I only saw four clients today but what a cross-section of our community.
My first client was a lovely young lady who was attending college to get her degree but was looking for a part-time job to help her with her basic bills. We did a job search and I found two leads for her to walk away with and she was able to get some groceries from our pantry.
My next client was an elderly couple (65+). They had both been out of work for a year and his unemployment checks had once again stopped and they were hungry and scared. They had no family, only each other. We did a job search and found some leads but my hope for them was small. Who is going to hire someone that age? The husband looked frail and was asking for mechanical leads. He had his resume with him and was so earnest about finding something. Our volunteer who assists with resumes was there so I asked him to help my client as well. We prayed and they received bags of food to put in their car. Later I spoke to Kristy saying I felt we were not able to help them and she explained to me that we were. Christian HELP is independent and we have the discretion to serve those who we feel are in need. The groceries that we were able to give this couple was a dire need that we were filling and one we are able to continue to fill, the other need was just spending time with them, listening to them and praying with them. There are not many places out there where this couple can go and receive that much needed attention.
My third client was a lady who was able to help herself but was not doing so. She had been seeing us for over a year and was not following up on the job leads we were giving her. I had to explain to her that we were not helping her move forward and that she needed to seek out other agencies that may be a better fit for her.
Lastly I had a well dressed, educated women who came in for the first time. She had been out of work for 4 months and was feeling a little discouraged. Her experience was good and we were able to find very promising leads for her - it was rewarding to see her leave feeling more encouraged.
I love things to be black and white. I love to know if you are looking for a job we help you - if you are not we don't. Well guess what.....life is gray......there are people out there who don't fall into certain categories. This does not mean they do not deserve to be helped. I am totally against enabling people to be dependant but seeing this need this morning helped me to understand that God has us here for many reasons, not just one and we need to let him guide us to show where He wants to use us.
I also realized our logo - Christian HELP (Hope, Encourage, Love & Prayer) was right on the mark and being carried out every day!
Jackie Normand
Ministry Development Director
Thank You
Thank your to all our donors who make this Ministry possible. Please feel free to visit us to see God's work in action.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Upcoming Events at Christian HELP
Each month from January to September Christian HELP holds a lunch and tour so you can "Come and See" what God is doing at Christian HELP. The next tour will be June 7th and we would love to have you attend. The lunch starts at noon and ends around 1:00 PM. You can RSVP to jackie@christianhelp.org.
We have the 14th Annual Job fair this week on May 19th Featuring over 70 employers, educational opportunities, and job seeker resources. This is a great way to meet employers face to face. Details and registration are online at http://cfec.org.
On May 26th at 3:00 PM at the Christian HELP office, we will have our online search tips class with Michael Johnson as the trainer. The class helps job seekers to prepare for job search online.
The next day on May 27th we have our 4th Re-Charge and Re-Energize your job search seminar sponsored by WESH Channel 2. This seminar will help job seekers with interviewing, job search survival, and image. Job seeker resources will be available. Register online at http://cfec.org.
In July we will have our 3rd Annual Christmas in July event featuring musical entertainment, Melony McKaye from Z88.3 Radio, a Silent Auction, and a Dessert social. All are welcome to attend. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Christian HELP community Christmas Program.
Check our website often for other upcoming events and tell your friends!
We have the 14th Annual Job fair this week on May 19th Featuring over 70 employers, educational opportunities, and job seeker resources. This is a great way to meet employers face to face. Details and registration are online at http://cfec.org.
On May 26th at 3:00 PM at the Christian HELP office, we will have our online search tips class with Michael Johnson as the trainer. The class helps job seekers to prepare for job search online.
The next day on May 27th we have our 4th Re-Charge and Re-Energize your job search seminar sponsored by WESH Channel 2. This seminar will help job seekers with interviewing, job search survival, and image. Job seeker resources will be available. Register online at http://cfec.org.
In July we will have our 3rd Annual Christmas in July event featuring musical entertainment, Melony McKaye from Z88.3 Radio, a Silent Auction, and a Dessert social. All are welcome to attend. Proceeds from the auction benefit the Christian HELP community Christmas Program.
Check our website often for other upcoming events and tell your friends!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Be a lifeline for someone in need...
In our last e-mail newsletter we shared with readers some of the success stories we have experienced recently at Christian HELP, we are so blessed when clients come in and share how our services and our team have helped to connect them with a job, keep food on their tables and provide them with hope.
Behind each success story is another soul who is still a work in progress struggling to make ends meet, wondering if they will make it to their next meal. There are stories of depression and despair, hurt and rejection as they apply for job after job only to hear that they have not been chosen or maybe not even hearing back at all.
Every day we see people like Cora who lost her professional job because she refused to be unethical and was told "there is no place for you here anymore", and Amy a single mom whose husband left her after 20 years of marriage, and she was laid off from her job. We see people like Jennifer who has one more night in her extended stay hotel before she ends up on the street with her 11 year old daughter if they can't find a shelter bed, after she lost her job and could no longer afford the rent.
It is hard to believe that I am officially celebrating my 3rd anniversary with Christian HELP this month. So much has changed with our economy and we have had to change with it. We are continuously working to improve our services to provide our clients with all of the tools we can to help them move forward. We have solidified partnerships with other agencies and resources in an effort to compliment our services. We have engaged the Human Resources community to provide hands-on interaction with our clients to share their knowledge and tips with job seekers. It is such a blessing when a job seeker tells us we helped them to get the job!
In this economy our services are needed now more than ever. It is people like you who provide the majority of the funding for our services. We cannot do what we do without God's blessing and your help.
Just as a reminder, in April your funds will be matched by the Alan S. Feinstein Foundation, Charity Challenge, and a few generous donors. Your donation of $30 will become $60 and will feed a family of 4 for a month, Your donation of $100 will become $200 and will keep the lights on for a family, Your donation of $1000 will help place 20 clients in jobs. Your donation is a a lifeline for a job seeker in need. We cannot thank you enough for helping us to continue to do what we do.
God is in Control and He is active at Christian HELP. We are so glad to have you as part of our "family here". I personally feel so blessed for all of the prayers and support we have received. Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me anytime.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us financially, prayerfully, and with your words of encouragement. We appreciate you.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Behind each success story is another soul who is still a work in progress struggling to make ends meet, wondering if they will make it to their next meal. There are stories of depression and despair, hurt and rejection as they apply for job after job only to hear that they have not been chosen or maybe not even hearing back at all.
Every day we see people like Cora who lost her professional job because she refused to be unethical and was told "there is no place for you here anymore", and Amy a single mom whose husband left her after 20 years of marriage, and she was laid off from her job. We see people like Jennifer who has one more night in her extended stay hotel before she ends up on the street with her 11 year old daughter if they can't find a shelter bed, after she lost her job and could no longer afford the rent.
It is hard to believe that I am officially celebrating my 3rd anniversary with Christian HELP this month. So much has changed with our economy and we have had to change with it. We are continuously working to improve our services to provide our clients with all of the tools we can to help them move forward. We have solidified partnerships with other agencies and resources in an effort to compliment our services. We have engaged the Human Resources community to provide hands-on interaction with our clients to share their knowledge and tips with job seekers. It is such a blessing when a job seeker tells us we helped them to get the job!
In this economy our services are needed now more than ever. It is people like you who provide the majority of the funding for our services. We cannot do what we do without God's blessing and your help.
Just as a reminder, in April your funds will be matched by the Alan S. Feinstein Foundation, Charity Challenge, and a few generous donors. Your donation of $30 will become $60 and will feed a family of 4 for a month, Your donation of $100 will become $200 and will keep the lights on for a family, Your donation of $1000 will help place 20 clients in jobs. Your donation is a a lifeline for a job seeker in need. We cannot thank you enough for helping us to continue to do what we do.
God is in Control and He is active at Christian HELP. We are so glad to have you as part of our "family here". I personally feel so blessed for all of the prayers and support we have received. Please do not hesitate to call or e-mail me anytime.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us financially, prayerfully, and with your words of encouragement. We appreciate you.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Chase Community Giving
As I write this blog, the lobby at Christian HELP is filled with people in need. They have lost jobs or had their hours cut back. Many are hungry, many are tired, and some have even lost hope. Christian HELP is able to provide job leads, coaching, and a listening ear to those in need. We can minister to the hurting and hungry. Please help us to continue to provide these wonderful services by voting for us in the Chase Community Challenge. If you are on facebook, it just takes a moment to vote and share. 100 Charities will recieve $25,000. Please help us to be one of them by clicking on the vote now button.
Thank you!
Thank you!
Friday, October 23, 2009
God is in Control and He is Active at Christian HELP
I just wanted to share my speech from Harvest of Hope- here is what God laid on my heart:
My heart breaks every time I walk through a job fair and see professional people dressed in suits looking for jobs… many times looking for any job that will feed their families and keep a roof over their head.
My heart breaks as I listen to the stories of people who have worked hard all their lives who are now facing layoffs, foreclosures, and health issues.
My heart breaks as I listen to people who have no hope for the future because they cannot see past today. The pain and grief of not being able to provide is just too much to bear.
My heart breaks when a client says save the food for someone who needs it more. I can go without…
A year ago, I spoke at the Harvest of Hope when employment was at 6.4% and we thought things were bad. Now it is at 11.5% and I know it is bad for many people who have never had to deal with job loss before. Some are hopeful, but others are paralyzed. We have had clients who came in and could not speak because they were crying so hard.
The one thing that has remained steady and allowed us to remain positive is that God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
When Debbie needed help with food and bills after not being able to work for several months due to a sore on her foot caused by diabetes, we couldn’t see how we could help, but God did.
When we were nearly out of food and thought we might have to shut down our pantry, God provided manna from heaven so no one would go without.
When I struggled to figure out how WE were going to provide for so many families at Christmas, God blessed us with more toys than we knew what to do with and we were able to bless other ministries.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
Christian HELP was formed in 1992 by Dick and Madge Wilson and their friend Harry Kunish. In over 17 years, Christian HELP has connected over 70,000 people with jobs- enough to fill a football stadium and given away over 6 million pounds of food.
In the past year we added Employment seminars, Job search skills classes, and additional training for our counselors to meet the changing dynamics of finding a job in this economy. We opened 3 satellite offices, strategically placed in South, East, and West Orlando to meet people at their point of need, and provided on-site job skills seminars for several churches.
We serve over 70 people a day in our center who are looking for jobs, food, and hope. We provide a listening ear, job leads and food, and offer hope through prayer. Harry, one of our counselors had a client who cried, when he came in, cried during counseling, and cried as he left because he had put out over 2000 resumes with no calls back. A week later he came back to tell Harry that his prayers had worked and he found a job!
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
As we look at 2010 and beyond, we plan to continue to expand our services to meet the needs of our clients. We will have more employment seminars, expand our job search skills classes, and continue to expand our satellite office locations.
We are still battling with space issues and are working on our plans to expand our space.
We will continue to collaborate and work with community partners to be able to provide holistic services to our clients and meet their needs. We will strive to work on solving root cause issues and giving hope to those with no hope.
Where to do you fit in?
Without you, there is no Christian HELP. There is no hope. God uses people like you and me to help others. In 2nd Corinthians 9:8-9 God’s word says 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
You may be here today because you are passionate about Christian HELP and want to help in any way you can. You may be here because someone invited you and you wanted to know more. Maybe a friend dragged you kicking and screaming… God makes no mistakes. He wanted you here today.
Please prayerfully consider what God lays on your heart as you participate in the program today. He may give you a thought of where you fit in, or a number you should give. As you consider what he lays on your heart, I pray that you will come alongside us prayerfully and financially to continue this important ministry.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
My heart breaks every time I walk through a job fair and see professional people dressed in suits looking for jobs… many times looking for any job that will feed their families and keep a roof over their head.
My heart breaks as I listen to the stories of people who have worked hard all their lives who are now facing layoffs, foreclosures, and health issues.
My heart breaks as I listen to people who have no hope for the future because they cannot see past today. The pain and grief of not being able to provide is just too much to bear.
My heart breaks when a client says save the food for someone who needs it more. I can go without…
A year ago, I spoke at the Harvest of Hope when employment was at 6.4% and we thought things were bad. Now it is at 11.5% and I know it is bad for many people who have never had to deal with job loss before. Some are hopeful, but others are paralyzed. We have had clients who came in and could not speak because they were crying so hard.
The one thing that has remained steady and allowed us to remain positive is that God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
When Debbie needed help with food and bills after not being able to work for several months due to a sore on her foot caused by diabetes, we couldn’t see how we could help, but God did.
When we were nearly out of food and thought we might have to shut down our pantry, God provided manna from heaven so no one would go without.
When I struggled to figure out how WE were going to provide for so many families at Christmas, God blessed us with more toys than we knew what to do with and we were able to bless other ministries.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
Christian HELP was formed in 1992 by Dick and Madge Wilson and their friend Harry Kunish. In over 17 years, Christian HELP has connected over 70,000 people with jobs- enough to fill a football stadium and given away over 6 million pounds of food.
In the past year we added Employment seminars, Job search skills classes, and additional training for our counselors to meet the changing dynamics of finding a job in this economy. We opened 3 satellite offices, strategically placed in South, East, and West Orlando to meet people at their point of need, and provided on-site job skills seminars for several churches.
We serve over 70 people a day in our center who are looking for jobs, food, and hope. We provide a listening ear, job leads and food, and offer hope through prayer. Harry, one of our counselors had a client who cried, when he came in, cried during counseling, and cried as he left because he had put out over 2000 resumes with no calls back. A week later he came back to tell Harry that his prayers had worked and he found a job!
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
As we look at 2010 and beyond, we plan to continue to expand our services to meet the needs of our clients. We will have more employment seminars, expand our job search skills classes, and continue to expand our satellite office locations.
We are still battling with space issues and are working on our plans to expand our space.
We will continue to collaborate and work with community partners to be able to provide holistic services to our clients and meet their needs. We will strive to work on solving root cause issues and giving hope to those with no hope.
Where to do you fit in?
Without you, there is no Christian HELP. There is no hope. God uses people like you and me to help others. In 2nd Corinthians 9:8-9 God’s word says 8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
9 As it is written: "He has dispersed abroad, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."
You may be here today because you are passionate about Christian HELP and want to help in any way you can. You may be here because someone invited you and you wanted to know more. Maybe a friend dragged you kicking and screaming… God makes no mistakes. He wanted you here today.
Please prayerfully consider what God lays on your heart as you participate in the program today. He may give you a thought of where you fit in, or a number you should give. As you consider what he lays on your heart, I pray that you will come alongside us prayerfully and financially to continue this important ministry.
God is in control and He is active at Christian HELP.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Double Your Impact
Unemployment is at 8.9 % in Central Florida. All I can say is WOW. You can get so wrapped up in the numbers- unemployment is up, the dow is down and everything else is spinning around like a tornado our of control.
The blessing is that in the midst of the storm some things get better. Customer Service is better now than it has been in a long time, new ideas and ways of doing business are cropping up, and people are learning what is really important to them.
At Christian HELP we provide employment counseling, but we do so much more. We are able to help with immediate food needs, and also able to provide hope. Our God is so big and so amazing that he can turn any situation into a blessing.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose . Romans 8:28
Many people are looking for ways to get more involved in their community. Some are volunteering, and some are helping financially and with in-kind gifts. For Christian HELP, in March and April, we are able to make your dollars go even further with matching funds. We have several generous donors, Charity Challenge, and the Feinstein Foundation matching the funds we receive during this time.
As we face the downturn of the economy and the fall of our job fair revenues due to less hiring, we pray that you will stand with us financially and prayerfully. You can donate online through the widget on the blog, through paypal at http://christianhelp.org or by check to 450 Seminola Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707.
We appreciate your generosity.
The blessing is that in the midst of the storm some things get better. Customer Service is better now than it has been in a long time, new ideas and ways of doing business are cropping up, and people are learning what is really important to them.
At Christian HELP we provide employment counseling, but we do so much more. We are able to help with immediate food needs, and also able to provide hope. Our God is so big and so amazing that he can turn any situation into a blessing.
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose . Romans 8:28
Many people are looking for ways to get more involved in their community. Some are volunteering, and some are helping financially and with in-kind gifts. For Christian HELP, in March and April, we are able to make your dollars go even further with matching funds. We have several generous donors, Charity Challenge, and the Feinstein Foundation matching the funds we receive during this time.
As we face the downturn of the economy and the fall of our job fair revenues due to less hiring, we pray that you will stand with us financially and prayerfully. You can donate online through the widget on the blog, through paypal at http://christianhelp.org or by check to 450 Seminola Blvd, Casselberry, FL 32707.
We appreciate your generosity.
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