Jacksboro Jail Visit

I just got an email reminding me to post about my visit to the jail in Jacksboro, TN. In the shock of yesterday's church shooting it slipped my mind. Please forgive me for the omission. Here's the post you were promised!

The visit went well but was not what I expected. In the phone call asking me to come I was told that we would have a devotion and talk with the inmates for awhile. That sounded easy enough. Allie, my eldest daughter was intrigued and decided to accompany us on the visit. (Her job as our Summer Youth Coordinator has her working with our juvenile offenders. The jail visit was a good fit with her activities.)

On the way, we stopped to meet a gentleman with Jacksboro United Methodist Church. He has a heart for jail ministry. Allie and I welcomed him.

At the jail we met three other ladies. Two were from First Baptist in LaFollette, the other was from First Baptist Church in Jacksboro, TN. They are all with the Celebrate Recovery Program at First Baptist here in Jacksboro. (Celebrate Recovery is a popular Christian 12 Step program for people in several areas of recovery. )

It was there at the jail that we found out we would only be working with the women inmates. This made our sidekick understandably uneasy. Fortunately, he got to meet one of the male session leaders so it all worked out.

The visit went so well that Allie wants to go back as soon as she can!

What we didn't know going in is that we didn't just talk with the inmates. We had a church service. It was optional for them to come. Those who did seemed to enjoy it.

Without music, the hymns we sang were enthusiastic even if they were off pitch. When a tiny little oriental lady led the devotion from Stepping Out of Denial and Into God's Grace (one of the Celebrate Recovery program books) all eyes were attentive. A well-liked older lady led the program. Some people brought Bibles that appeared to be worn. If it wasn't for the orange (regular security) or red (maximum security) jumpsuits you could close your eyes and pretend you were at a ladies meeting in any country chapel.

The effect was a bit surreal.

But I can honestly say that when I spoke I could not have asked for a more attentive group.

I was able to tell them some things from the victim's side that left most of the women in tears. One woman visibly broke down. Others, accustomed to abuse in their own lives, nodded their heads as I spoke. All seemed to be moved.

It was tough speaking to them. I wanted to tell the women that in the end everything would be okay but that wasn't true and I wasn't going to lie. Some of them have committed major offenses. Some things are never all right. But, I could reassure them that God's love and His redemption is still possible. That's a message all of us need to hear from time to time.

Knoxville Church Shooting and Faith

Yesterday, a gunman walked into the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church (TVUUC) in Knoxville, Tennessee. Reports say he removed a shotgun from a guitar case and began blasting away as children were on stage to perform the musical "Annie, Jr.". Two people died. Others are fighting for their lives. Knoxville will never be the same.

On Sunday morning church bells across the country ring to call worshipers to church services. This could have been any church, in any town, but it happened here. We can never and should never be the same.

Foster father, Greg McKendry, did not hesitate to put himself between a child and a gunman’s wrath. He was the first fatality. “let people know that Greg McKendry is a hero, an absolute hero” his foster son pleads.

Some people call those actions guts or determination. I call it faith.

Ask anyone at random in Knoxville and they'll probably tell you they know someone who attends TVUUC. Or they'll tell you they have a friend of a friend who does. Personally, news reports are dotted with names I recognize from high school or community meetings. My daughter's high school teacher helped subdue the rabid gunman as did a university professor and the dad of a 2 year old.

It's easy to claim that you believe in God when life is easy. In the US we are free to believe, to gather in worship and carry a Bible. That doesn't make us Christians. Only our relationship with God can do that. Yesterday, we saw examples of Christianity under persecution that should bring us to our knees.

It's unthinkable that someone would engage in an act of violence on a church. It's a new form of home grown terrorism that rattles our senses, shakes our faith and is becoming more common. some shootings, such as the ones in Louisiana and Newport, TN a few months ago are an extension of domestic violence. Yesterday's shooting was not. Only time will reveal the motive behind the shooting. Wrestling with the aftermath will require faith and courage for the family of TVUUC and all Christians.

Are we, as Christians, up to the challenge of this latest threat to our faith? I pray so.

Thankfully, not everyone will be called to lay down our lives in the service of God. But we are all called to develop the kind of faith that will allow us to do so if required. Maybe that's what will ultimately come from this sickening display of evil? A new kind of faith may be born that's stronger, steadier and more secure. As we struggle to make sense out of senseless we can not only hope for a new faith, we can pray for it.

May God bring comfort to the people of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Knoxville. May healing come and justice be served. May the light of Christ shine on you and continue to be reflected to Knoxville and to the world at large.

Visiting the Jacksboro Jail

For the first time, I'll be visiting a jail. I got a call from a lady with Celebrate Recovery. Usually, they take a person into the jail with them who can help lift up the spirits of the women who are there. The person was unable to make it this time. Through a roundabout manner they found me and asked if I would come. I was a little hesitant - until I remembered that many of the women who are incarcerated are also victims of domestic and sexual violence. Then I couldn't refuse.

We'll be meeting this afternoon. I'll report back as to how it goes.

Angel Food - New Veggie Box a Hit!

Yesterday's Angel Food distribution went great! About 80 people stretched their food budget yesterday by picking up boxes.

The fruit and veggie box was new this month. I always order for my family and decided to try it. What a value! It came with onions, a watermelon, 6 ears of corn, 6 potatoes, a head of lettuce, bag of carrots and a pineapple and 4 oranges. All were very good quality.

Next month the fruit and veggie box has:4 Red Delicious Apples 4 lb Bag of Oranges, 1 Cello-wrapped Lettuce, 1 Large Cabbage, 6 Russet Potatoes, 2 Cucumbers, 1 Cantaloupe
1 Honeydew Melon all for $18.00.

So, along with the basic $30 box we'll be ordering the fruit and veggie box again.

Thanks to all the volunteers who came yesterday. We appreciate all of your hard work!

Jacksboro United Methodist Church: New Ministries

Jacksboro United Methodist Church: New Ministries

The church my husband is serving has a new blog. Check it out at the url above.
We're excited to be in Jacksboro and look forward to seeing what the future has
in store! Don't worry though. I'll still be driving in to the office 4 days a week. The
other 2 days I'll be telecommuting.

See you online!

Gayle

Bake Sale Photos!

Here's two photos from the bake sale at Wal-Mart. They were taken just before we packed up. Allie, our youth coordinator, is pictured at left. Samantha is shown on the right.

Thanks to all who supported our efforts. We took in just over $80.00 and several bags of groceries.

Good news on the food. The groceries have already been re-homed.

Oak Ridge District Picnic

6:00 pm. Cove Lake State Park.

I'll be there. If anyone needs brochures or information about Hope for Healing.Org just see me. I'll have some information and will be glad to mail out anything else that you need.

See you this evening!

Thrift Shop Yard Sale August 9

Thrift shop yard sale raises funds for Hope for Healing.Org. Come see us at the corner of Hamilton and Old Andrew Johnson Hwy in the historic district of Strawberry Plains. There is something for everyone.

Bargains are just in time for school! Clothing only $3.00 a bag. Housewares, home decor, furniture all at rock bottom prices! School supplies while they last. The sale begins at 9:00 am and runs until 2:00 pm.

Hope for Healing.Org is the only 501c3 charity in Strawberry Plains. Proceeds help us feed the hungry, clothe the needy, provide support to victims of domestic violence, change the lives of first time juvenile offenders and more.

Relax at our out door tables. Have lunch with us while you're here. The grill fires up at 11:00 am. Hot dogs and sodas will be available. Check out our blog for more details or email hopeinfo@hopeforhealing.org.

Do you have a used cell phone or empty ink jet cartridge lying around? Donate it here to receive a $1.00 gift certificate for every cartridge or cell phone you bring. Gift certificate good for day of the sale.

See you on August 9th!

Tell your friends!

Donations are still being accepted for this sale. To donate please call 933.8769.

We Need Your Recyclables!

The downturn in the economy is hurting everyone. Gas is up. Donations are down. Everyone is in a bind. Until the situation improves we are exploring creative ways to generate revenue. Please help us by donating the following items for recycling. Donating these items here will help the needy and allow us to continue serving victims of sexual and domestic violence. Don't toss it! Recycle these items here!

• Newspapers
• Cardboard
• Aluminum Cans
• Scrap metal, old cookpots etc.
• Broken (or working) appliances (small or large)
  
• Used clothing
• Used shoes and sneakers
  
• Empty Ink Jet Cartridges
• Old cell phones

Cell phones and ink jet cartridges can be collected anywhere in the US and sent to the recycler using a prepaid DHL shipping label.

Plans are in the works to begin collecting magazines and steel vegetable cans. Keep checking here for the latest updates!

To put a collection box in your place of business email us today.

Jesus in the Park : Homeless Project 2008 Knoxville

Here's a video clip of the Jesus in the Park event that I blogged about a couple of weeks ago. You can see for yourself why participating was so humbling and so inspiring. It was provided by the great folks at Souled Out Ministries.

Several years ago when we lived in North Carolina I worked for a nonprofit that ran a soup kitchen, men's and family homeless shelter and domestic violence programs. There, my eyes were opened on the difference between homeless people and street people. And, I learned that anyone can wind up on the streets or homeless.

Two stories worked their way into my heart.

One day a family walked in seeking shelter. Dad and mom recognized me immediately. I had met them the week before when the family sang for a fall event at my husband's church. They had been hard to get in touch with. Cell phone reception had never been good in our area. No one ever suspected that they were living out of their car.

Communicating with a man who stayed in the men's shelter was tough. His mind was so bad that he would ask our names repeatedly. I'm not sure he ever did get mine straight. We heard different stories about what happened. The only thing we could ever verify came from his sister. She brought pictures to show us. The man in question had, at one time, run a law library for a major university. The photos showed him looking different, happier and more alert.

Somehow, the family had lost contact with the brother. She was glad to know where he was. She seemed very relieved to find out that he would be watched after and fed while she worked on other details of his life.

Every homeless person, every street person is someone's sister, brother, daughter or son. They each have a story. The video above only gives us a tiny glimpse but it's a glimpse worth watching and worth remembering.

Bake Sale Saturday

Bake Sale
Walmart at Knoxville Center Mall
Saturday, July 12 from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm.
Lots of goodies!

Proceeds benefit our general operating budget. Our youth coordinator will also have jewelry available that's made by Hope Youth. Canned goods will also be accepted.

Contact us at hopeinfo@hopeforhealing.org for more information.

Bakers are still needed. Contact us today to help!

Board Meeting Monday

Don't forget the board meeting, Monday July 7 @ 6:30 pm. It's at the office.
You should have gotten an email and a postcard about it.

This is the first meeting of the new year. If you can't make it let us know.

Thanks,

Gayle

Agenda:

Welcome
Minutes
Treasurer's Report
ED Report
Fundraising
Old Business
New Business
Adjourn

This Thing called Grace And Other Uneasy Answers...

If you ask me if I've heard, the answer is yes. I have heard that two of our clients were arrested for theft - of food.

The person who told me this said she didn't think they should be allowed to have food from our food pantry. She's not associated with Hope for Healing.Org. She was stating her opinion.

Would it matter if she knew that an older woman lives with them who has an incurable, disabling neurological disease? Or that the husband of this couple has a heart condition which recently rendered him unable to work? Does it matter that the wife has multiple sclerosis and that health insurance is a dream instead of a reality?

If we cut them off from our unofficial food pantry what will they to do to survive? Would Jesus cut them off? Where is He in this?

And what about taking care of the poor, the widows or the orphans?

I can't find anything in the Bible where Jesus failed to respond to the cry of the needy. If we as Christians are to be His ambassadors, His hands, His feet, are we not also to respond?

What about this thing called "Grace"? Isn't that the answer?

Jesus' grace allows his death and resurrection to bring hope to those who have none. It brings light into a dark world. It is a gift given freely so that everyone - all people - may have a chance to become who God intended. This includes you, me (thank God!) and even "them". As Christians, there's not anything we can do to get around it.

We all sinned. We are all saved by grace. End of story. It's not complicated right?

WRONG!

Understanding it is one thing. Living it can be quite another.

But we try.

Much of what we do at Hope for Healing.Org involves responding to people who have done things that we don't like. We cross the street and pay attention to those we find. If someone is in the ditch, we help them up, dust them off and help them find their way.

Our job is easy when you have single moms coming in with cute little kids. Kids are generally innocent. You can't help but love them and you always are glad to help. We try our best to spoil them when they come in the door!

But our job is harder when the lives lived by our clients are tougher. The questions we wrestle with cause sleepless nights and stress filled days. Sometimes, we don't understand the life choices that our clients make.

Then we realize that we don't have to understand. That's not our job. Jesus calls us to be compassionate and sincere. He tells us to be a "salve to the wounded" and that's what we have to do.

Sometimes, that salve comes in the form of helping a victim of domestic violence navigate a confusing legal system. Other times, that salve means handing someone a bag of groceries - in spite of the life choices he or she has made.

Grace, freely given to us, being freely shared with others.

That's our job. That's our calling.