Speechless

Now that I've begun writing this for the third time I'm going to be honest ... I'm speechless and in complete awe of a Maker who knows every detail of every situation.  The past four months haven't been easy.  We've been walking the road of Childhood Cancer with two kiddos in our ministry ... two kiddos who were diagnosed the same week and two families who in a moment their lives were changed forever.

Throughout this journey there have been moments that seemed hopeless, but in those moments we've seen God move in mighty ways.

One of the things that has happened over the past month has been a simple Pillow Pet Collection.  It began with a 7-year olds dream to give 1,000 other kids at Riley a Pillow Pet ... the same toy that he himself loves to play with and then snuggle during his own treatments.  As I put together the flier to promote to our families that we would be collecting the Pillow Pets I remember thinking "I hope we can help him get to 1,000" ... "wonder if anyone will bring these in" ... "when we collected Build-A-Bears for a local children's shelter we got 75 ... hopefully we'll get at least that many".

I shouldn't have put God in such a small box.

It wasn't long after that day that I was being pulled from our Children's Staff Meeting to speak with a rep from KLOVE (headquartered here in Indy) - as I sat there with another co-worker she explained to me how they had heard about the little boy and the collection, called Applebee's and wanted to know if we would be okay with them helping!


Sure ... why not - it sounded great ... a radio ad here in Indy and then the day after the concert they would talk about Jake and the Pillow Pets and share his story nation-wide on the morning show.

The following Monday I had a txt from my brother in Columbus, Ohio telling me he heard about the little boy from the church ... that was the moment I knew God was going to do much more through this little boy and some Pillow Pets than we had ever imagined.

See what God does in tomorrow's post!

Jake Update

So, you might have seen this post a few weeks ago ... "Jake" ... well, what began as a small, simple way to help a few kids here in Indy seems to be inspiring a nation.  Over the past few days I've been blown away by the people who I've heard from all around the United States!  People starting their own collections for their local children's hospitals, shipping Pillow Pets for distribution, and just being inspired to love others.  It is a story that ONLY God could have ever created or imagined!

Today Jake was featured on local TV here ... http://www.theindychannel.com/news/27052979/detail.html

And on the Pillow Pets Blog here ... http://mypillowpetsblog.com/please-help-our-friend-jake/

And on KLOVE here ... http://www.klove.com/events/detail.aspx?i=148865

Like I said ... only a story God could create.  I don't know why God chose Jake to tell HIS story, but He has and the past few months a simple little boy from a small town has changed my life and reminded me what's truly important.

Jake

This is my buddy Jake. 

Last June, God began to cross my path and his mom's path through a simple conversation about his younger brother.  In July, God crossed another path with another coworker at church.  By October I was standing in our children's ministry hallway looking into the eyes of parents who had been dealt an unimaginable blow.  Jake has cancer.  Without a miracle, Jake's time here on earth will be short.

Through the pain has come perspective.  A perspective on life that I began to peer into four years ago when I found myself holding a four year old in his mother's hospital room as she slipped into the arms of Jesus - it was a time when I began to truly grasp the effects of cancer and the reality that we aren't guaranteed eighty years.  In fact, we aren't guaranteed the next eighty seconds.

Sometimes, I find myself thinking "Jake probably won't experience next year's Christmas, next year's super bowl, etc", but do any of us really know if we'll experience tomorrow?

As I've spent time with Jake and his mom and dad and siblings over the past several months I've not only walked along with them through their journey, but also seen the reality and effects of cancer on many families and many children at Riley.  The 5th floor is the cancer floor - it is a floor that you hope you never have to press the elevator button to ... and when you do, everyone looks at you with a sadness, knowing that you are somehow connected to a child with cancer.

Yet, through the ashes is beauty.  Jake has a heart that is impacting others and helping other children at Riley.  Even as he undergoes his own cancer treatments, he spends a little extra time at Riley handing out Pillow Pets to kids in the hospital, undergoing the same treatments he is.  Not thinking about his own situation, but instead loving and helping others - knowing first hand how each of these children are feeling.

This past weekend on the Northview Blog there was an incredible article posted about Jake and his servant's heart.  He and Northview will be collecting Pillow Pets over the next two months for the kids at Riley - the goal is 1,000 of the plush pillows - so far he has nearly 200! 

As Jake walks this road pray for him, pray for healing, for understanding, and for comfort.  Pray that he has the strength to visit family in Florida in a few months and that others are impacted by his story.

You can read Jake's article here: Jake's Compassion

And if you would like to help, Pillow Pets can be dropped off at Northview.  There is also a fund at 5th/3rd Bank for donations - "Jacob McConahay" is the account name.

Jake's Caringbridge (follow Jake's story here!)

Hand in Hand

Each quarter we gather our families together and serve.  The projects range from things around the grounds of the church to our urban church on the near-eastside of Indianapolis.  But, no matter where the project is, its guaranteed to be kid-friendly and an opportunity for families to engage with one another for three hours in a setting and situation that is different from their "normal".

Saturday, was no different than any other Saturday, except that a group of 60 people ranging in age from 2 years to 60+ gathered in Noblesville at Janus Developmental Services to serve alongside the employees there and complete many projects.  Ranging from gardening and organizing to painting and washing windows and walls.  All over the property families were serving alongside one another.

And since I love photos, I think these are the best way to truly communicate the power of families serving alongside one another, so sit back and enjoy...

Nasville

Looking for ways to help the flood victims in Nashville?

Check out this website it includes great information on what you can do with your time, money, supplies ... even the internet!

Living It Out

Ashley Molina is one of my volunteers at Northview.  Currently, she is serving in Nicaragua at a school for the deaf.  Below is an article I featured on Ashley during last month's Volunteer Newsletter.

God, Sign Language, people, children, service – those are just a few of the things that Ashley Molina, an eighteen year old high school graduate, is passionate about. Currently, Ashley is serving for the next three months at a Christian School for the Deaf in Nicaragua – learning Nicaraguan Sign Language, while serving as a dorm chaperon, planning games and meals, and working as a teachers aid at the school, but her story doesn’t begin there. It has been a journey as she has learned to live out her faith and follow the calling that God has placed on her heart.

Ashley’s journey to where she is now begins almost a year ago when she chose to spend Spring Break of her Junior year serving with a team from North Beach in Nicaragua.  It was her first experience with missions, but one that has changed her life forever. While there, Ashley, and fifteen of her peers from North Beach served in a multitude of ways during Holy Week. From handing out rice and beans at a food distribution site to running a sports camp for students at a local school; the teens built relationships with the people in Managua and Los Pricilles.

Upon returning from Nicaragua, Ashley was contacted by K.Paul Maurer, Missions Pastor at Northview, about serving at Brookside Community Church. Ashley said that, “God calls us to serve more than ten days a year – you don’t need to send money, time is more important.” With this in mind, Ashley took the opportunity to begin serving here in Indianapolis with the Summer Program at Brookside Community Church. Over the past eight months, Ashley has built relationships with the children at Brookside while helping with homework, joining them on field trips to the local swimming pool, and eating meals alongside them – all while teaching them about a God who knows and loves them!

Brookside has not been Ashley’s only involvement in Northview’s Ministries over the last several months. In addition to attending North Beach on Sunday evenings, Ashley has served in The Sea with the three and four year olds each Sunday morning at 9 a.m. and with an elementary age child through the GraceWorks Ministry on Sundays at 10:45 a.m.

Over the last several months Ashley has found many ways that God has used her gift of sign language and her love for people to serve others. She has been willing to follow God’s leading in her life and He is using her to accomplish His plan.

Ashley will be spending the next three months in Managua, Nicaragua with missionaries Matt and Eva Barlow. Please join Studio 6.7 in praying for Ashley and her time in Nicaragua. She will be returning early this summer.

Four of Four

I saw this on a friend's blog ... and since I LOVE photography ... I just HAD to join in!

Go to wherever you keep your photos, for me its iPhoto :-) and go to the 4th folder, then open the 4th photo and explain it.

Here's mine...


This is such a cool photo and a memory of a weekend that probably changed myself and my church in unbelievable ways. It was taken from the roof of the Wheeler Building (10 stories) on the near-east side of Indianapolis during Good Neighbor Weekend (hosted by Northview). I was on a video crew that weekend, which is why we made it onto the roof - below us on every story of the building were teams working to paint, carpet, repair, and prepare the building for Wheeler Ministries to use. What's even cooler though is that looking at this photo, there were really thousands of Northview people in it ... spread all across Indianapolis that morning and throughout that weekend in October 2007 - loving people and serving the community.

I'll never forget that weekend. We canceled services, gathered for a moment of prayer and then just spread out all over! There were teams that painted, served meals, landscaped ... did all sorts of things from the south side to way north of carmel ... more than three thousand people serving and serving. What's cooler though is that it didn't end that weekend ... it turned into "Good Neighbor" ... a way of living, a way of loving your neighbor as yourself.

Poverty

The Christmas Messages this month at church have been unlink anything I have ever heard ... yet they have been more challenging than most messages I have ever heard. And I've heard a TON of messages - I went to Cedarville University where you go to chapel every day for four years ... I'm not going to do the math on how many messages that is in four years (just Monday to Friday, not including weekend's at church).

These messages have really challenged me to not just sit tight, but to do something ... anything, for children who don't have a voice. This past weekend (video is available on the website) the message was on poverty and service finished with a powerful video about how much money we spend on things like potato chips and soft drinks a year and how that money could be used to help children around the world. Over the past few days I've been reflecting on what I can do to make a difference and I hope to share a few of these things with you in the future.

For now, think about what you can do to make a difference.

Social Networking

The other night I had a few of my friends' kids over for a little bit. We watched a movie, colored, and ate snacks. Then, it came time to go home and that's when I had a conversation with the two year old that really struck me...

It went something like this...

(After seeing my Macbook laying on the countertop)

2yr old: Where's your big 'puter? ('puter = computer)

Me: What?

2yr old: Your BIG 'puter (now gesturing with arms), where is it?

Me: That's my computer.

2yr old: No, your BIG 'puter (once again motioning with arms)

Me: Oh, that's my computer, I just have a little computer.

2yr old: Do you like your little 'puter? Do you want my big 'puter?

Me: No, I like my little computer!

It was a strange conversation, especially with a two year old, but then I realized ... he only knows a world WITH computers ... MULTIPLE computers. He sees a desktop and a laptop on a regular basis, sitting next to each other many times! Wow how things have changed ... it makes me wonder how fast and far technology is going to go as these kids begin to grow up ... and how the church MUST change the way it communicates as Web 2.0 begins to take hold. I don't think social networking is just online fun, I think its the future and how we utilize it is going to determine how we reach people!

What are you using ... how are you connecting with others? Is your online networking meaningful? Have you ever thought about the potential you have to reach people? The internet is never going to replace real life connections with people - and it shouldn't, but it is going to change the world as we know it.

In the last two days I've seen three examples of social networking and the church at work. People are seeing a need, sharing a need, and being the church to people they don't even know! You can check out some of these examples at the links below...

stuffchristianslike.net ::: raised $25,000+ in less than 24 hours to build a kindergarten in Vietnam (original goal: $30,000 by December 31st)

prayforkate.com ::: collecting Christmas presents for children at Phoenix Children's - already have more than enough Children's Bibles two days after they posted the need

realtimechurch ::: bringing social networking and the church together to share the need and be the church

Maybe one way you can do something this Christmas is by helping someone you've never met by following their story and bringing it into your home via the web, blogs, social networking sites and getting it into your life through prayer and actively doing something to help!

Brookside

At 10th and Olney on the near-eastside of Indianapolis is a light.  It's name is Brookside Community Church, but its shining a light into darkness every week!  Last weekend, about 30 people from Studio 6.7 headed downtown to help out with a couple of the children's classrooms.  One of the rooms was pumpkin orange.  No, it didn't have pumpkins in it ... it was BRIGHT orange!  The other room was a library area that needed a fresh coat of paint.  Nearly 30 people primed and painted both classrooms in about 3 hours time ... which was amazing!  Even the young children got involved painting primer and paint on the walls and helping to move books out of the library area!  Here are a few pics from last weekend's project!

Africa

Check out my friends' blog about their journey to bring home  a baby from Ethiopia.  Also, they'll be running the Indy half-marathon next month and are asking for sponsorships for each mile they run to help raise funds for the adoption!  More info is available at www.longingforafrica.com

McLaughlin - Day 4

Hello all!  I happened to stumble upon an open wireless signal tonight outside the church in McLaughlin!  It has been a tiring couple of days, but everyone is doing well!

The past few days have been very busy!  We have talked a lot about WHY we're here ... which is to encourage the pastor and I think tonight the kids learned a HUGE lesson about what Sonya deals with on a daily basis.

You see, we've worked really hard on tearing out and replacing a sidewalk this week, as well as a few other projects.  We went for a drive tonight and when we returned someone had dug into, drawn in, and scraped up the cement that was still setting and drying.  

At first, there was frustration and anger, but everyone then realized that this is life here.  It's hard and there's a lot of anger.  What we talked about earlier this week about how we're here to encourage the pastor who is in this environment everyday became a real life example to the kids.  They saw an example of life here.  

As a team, we gathered around the sidewalk and prayed for those who had done this, as well as for those here on the reservation and for Sonya, the pastor here who ministers to the people here in McLaughlin everyday.

I'll blog more once we get to Rapid tomorrow night ... I have everything in a Word document right now :-)  We will leave here for a 5-6 hour drive around noon tomorrow and then spend a day relaxing before heading home!  See you all in Indy on Thursday!

Family Service Project

What a great morning at Chaucie's Place in Carmel!  We had just over 40 people total come out on a warm and muggy - but beautiful morning to help with landscaping around the property. 

My morning began by fitting almost 65 Build-A-Bear Boxes (donated by Nursery and Preschool families from S67 @ NVCL) into my SUV ... it was a tight squeeze, but I got them all in and 

over to Chaucie's - where the kids helped take them in!

The remainder of the morning was spent working on the landscaping around Chaucie's Place.  Everyone did a GREAT job and really helped things to look wonderful by the time we left!!!

58

The Nursery and Preschool Ministries of Studio 6.7 have been collecting new Build-A-Bears for Chaucie's Place in Carmel, IN for the past month.  All together we have collected 58 brand new bears - which is awesome!  

Families have gone together, built a bear, prayed for the child receiving it, and then given it to Chaucie's Place.  We'll be delivering all the bears this coming Saturday to Chaucie's Place - so if you haven't gotten your bear in yet, but still want to feel free to drop it off at church this week or bring it with you on Saturday.  We'll also be helping with some yardwork while at Chaucie's.  This is a great opportunity for families to see where their bear is headed!

God is good and it's been exciting to see families serving together and learning about giving together!

Build-A-Bear for Chaucie's

The Nursery and Preschool Ministries @ NVCL have a cool outreach going on with Build-A-Bear and Chaucie's Place here in Carmel.  Families are being encouraged to take their child to Build-A-Bear and make a bear for a child who will be interviewed by police at Chaucie's

 Place following a traumatic experience in their lives.  All children in the family receive bears when they visit Chaucie's!  

Families are asked to take a picture of their bear and post it in their home as a reminder to pray for the child who receives the bear.  

I went today with a family from church and made a bear!  It was so much fun ... and knowing that a child would be receiving it made it even better!

Family Service Project

This past Saturday the families of Studio 6.7 spent their morning helping out with some projects around the Northview Campus.

The younger kids (PreK and Kindergarten) spent their morning picking up rocks in a newly seeded area and pulling weeds from the playground - and let me tell you - pulling weeds from a playground is a HARD thing for a kid to do!!! But for the most part ... they pulled weeds :-) And, every now and then, tested the equipment to make sure it was in good working condition :-)


The older kids spent their morning pulling up the stakes from groundbreaking so that construction can get underway in the coming days and painting a wagon for hayrides this fall!


Here's a few pics from this past weekend ... and more by clicking here!

Mitten Tree - 1 more week!

Wow! The Mitten Tree grew by leaps and bounds this past weekend!

This will be the last weekend for the tree...please bring in new hats, gloves, or mittens and place them on the tree during any of the weekend services! All items from the tree will be given to Brookside Community Church - Share the Blessing

The front of the tree...

The back of the tree...


And...just for fun...we've been busy this week! Here's a glimpse of what we've been up to...

Gift Wrapping @ Castleton Mall...

Candy Cane Lane - Gift Delivery and Christmas Party...

I hope everyone is enjoying this holiday season and not letting it get lost in the busyness of this time of year!

Mitten Tree - Update!

The Mitten Tree is growing every weekend with NEW hats, gloves, mittens, and other fun winter items! Don't forget to bring in items to contribute to the tree and encourage the families in your classrooms to do so as well!


If you're interested in helping to wrap and give out the items on the Mitten Tree, as well as the items collected for Share the Blessing - please email me ASAP! We will be helping at Brookside on December 22nd - all day - beginning at 9:30am - you're welcome to come and go as you need to!

Enjoy the coming snow tonight and stay safe!

200 and Counting!

Thanks for your help collecting toilet paper rolls! We only need about 50 more!
If you have any at home please be sure to bring them in this coming weekend (December 1/2)!

Brookside - Share the Blessing Information

Join us on Saturday December 22nd (don't forget there are NO services that day!)for Brookside's Share the Blessing Christmas Gift Distribution

Time: Meet between 9am and 930am (feel free to leave when you need to), they will need help throughout the day until sometime between 2pm and 4pm

Where: Brookside Community Church (downtown Indianapolis)

What: We'll be giftwrapping and then helping distribute gifts to families

***All Mitten Tree Donations will be given out during this time!!!

RSVP: Please email me or leave a comment that you will be attending by December 13th, so that Brookside knows how many to expect!

Families (including children) are welcome to come and serve together!