The Challenges Ahead and the Hope...

I knew it was coming with Circuit City, but until it hits you still don't expect it. 30,000 people will be losing their jobs. Some already have. I worked at Circuit City in Human Resources for 3 1/2 years. Many of the people who work in the Distribution Center in Groveland are people I hired. Some of the Managers have been there since they came out of high school 17 years ago. It is really a sad time for all of them.

I keep hearing about more and more people that I know losing their jobs. My friends and colleagues are feeling the hit. What can we do to help? First all PRAY for our country, our leaders, and our economic health. Second, we need to be there to listen. Third, share your connections. The best way to the next job is through networks.

We hear about Hope of the news and all over the television. Our new leadership is coming in talking about Hope and Change. What does that really mean? Should we put our faith in the government to solve our issues? God is still on His throne and still in control. He provides the Hope that we need through his son's death on the cross. When everything is going wrong and challenges abound, we need to seek His will for us. We need to place our Hope in him.

The bible tells us that "...whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Romans 10:13. This is one of my favorite verses. When all Hope seems gone, we can call upon the Lord.

For those of us who are still employed, we need to think about how we can help our community. How we can be the salt and the light so that others may see Christ in us. While we have great challenges, we still have the Hope that is in Christ.

Today on the National Day of Service we had over 20 volunteers come out and help around the building. They were so full of light and of energy. It was refreshing.

Please continue to lift us up in prayer as we reach out to help others. Helping is harder these days with people more and more in need. We are experiencing some economic challenges. Please help where you can.

Staying Connected

Christmas was an amazing event this year as always. We were so blessed with the outpouring from the community. My hope and prayer is that even after Christmas and the holidays are passed that you will stay connected with our ministry. There are so many families in need as job losses continue to happen daily and homes are lost to foreclosure. We have had several families who were renting lost their homes when the land lord was foreclosed on.

Please continue to share your time, talents, and treasures with us. Let us know how we are doing and how we can help. If you are not already signed up for our e-mail newsletter, sign up at www. christianhelp.org.

We would also like to have you become a fan of Christian HELP on facebook. See the link below.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Casselberry-FL/Christian-HELP/8982234458

Thank you again for all of your support and your prayers!

Blessed

All I can say is I feel blessed. We have had such an outpouring of love from the Christian Community. It has been like manna from heaven as the toys and food are coming in. I am so thankful for the individuals, churches, and corporate partners who have made this possible. I am so amazed by God's people.



Our team of staff and volunteers has been working around the clock to see that other families are blessed with a wonderful Christmas morning. We have even had several professions of faith to volunteer counselors as they prayed with clients and shared their witness.

God never ceases to amaze me. I dreamed for 3 days we would have no toys and now I see Him providing in ways I could never imagine. One family and their friends blessed us with 34 hams today!

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. 2009 will be challenging, but God has shown he is still in control and He will see us through.

We need you!!!

Over 600 families in need are signed up for our Christmas Program this year. The stories are so hard to bear as we hear of families where both parents have lost their jobs, families are losing their homes, and other news of sadness.

At Christian HELP, our pledge is that we will do all we can to help insure that no child goes without Christmas. This year we need you more than ever to help. If you have been blessed, please consider blessing another family. It is not too late to bring in new unwrapped toys to our Casselberry Location. You can also visit one of our drop off locations at Chick-fil-a, Qdoba, or Centra Care.

Families are still available for adoption by contacting Phyllis at 407-834-4022 or e-mail at pjm@christianhelp.org. You can also sponsor a family for $40.00 which will take care of their toys and Christmas meal.

Please help us to bring joy to a child this year as we share the love of Christ with those in need.

The needs are GREAT- we need YOU

Yesterday we had 84 clients. To put that into perspective, we used to see 75-100 clients per WEEK. We saw them in one day. I have to say that we have the best team ever at Christian HELP. Everyone is maxed to the hilt, but we got it done and everyone was given counseling, the food held out (talk about manna from heaven) and we made it through the day. Each day we wonder if it will be the same.

We need your help now more than ever. We need JOB LEADS for our clients to help match them with jobs. If you are hiring quite a few people, check out our job fairs on www.cfec.org. This is an economical way to get in front of MANY job seekers. We need VOLUNTEERS to help in the pantry and employment counseling. We also need people to help with Christmas. We also need donations of TOYS and FOOD to help people in need this holiday season. And last, but certainly not least, we need help FINANCIALLY. Sponsor a family for $40 and they will have a nice Christmas with toys and a holiday meal basket. For $400 you can help 10 families.

We thank you for your continued support. As we go through this tough economy we need your PRAYERS more than ever!

Harvest of Hope

Imagine a community where everyone is willing to help their neighbors. Imagine a town where no one sleeps on the street. Imagine a place where everyone has something to eat.

Christian HELP is getting ready for our annual Harvest of Hope next week. This annual fundraiser is crucial to our operating budget. With unemployment rising, our job fair revenue is down and the needs of the community are up. Fortunately we serve an amazing God and even in tough times, he proves that He is still on the throne.

We have been blessed with food supplies, with many wonderful volunteers, and many terrific partners who have blessed us with pro-bono services. We see God in motion daily as our clients are connected with jobs, kept off the streets, and come to know Christ.

We seek God's wisdom in all we do, and we are so thankful for His guidance.

Will you join us in God's work? We need your prayers, your talents, and financial blessings as you are able.

Thank you for serving the Lord...

Christmas in July and updates

We had a wonderful event on Friday the 18th. It was our 1st annual Christmas in July. Melony McKaye was the mistress of ceremonies, we had wonderful entertainment, and were blessed to have over 100 guests. Metro Life church was a wonderful host.

We are looking forward to being able to bless the community again this Christmas. I know it is early, but we have to plan in advance. Many people are suffering now because of the economy. People I personally know are losing their homes and cars. It is tough out there.

Jobs are harder to come by. Our counselors are working harder than ever. If you love to help people and have the gift of counseling, we could use some help. Employment knowledge is helpful, but the ability to pray with others is a must. Prayer is the first place we need to go in these times.

We know that more people need more help. We pray that those who have are willing to help those who have not. If God has blessed you, please consider us as a place to bless others. $15.00 will feed a family of 4 for a week and $100.00 puts a family on the road to self sufficiency through job counseling, food, and prayer.

Most of all, keep us in prayer and your community in prayer. God Bless-