Here comes Summer

Summer Programs at The Connection

Free Programs and Free Tutoring 

Sign up May 19th –

Don’t Miss “Wonderful Wednesdays”

The Connection will host a team of professionals who will answer questions and perform services FREE OF CHARGE every Wednesday afternoon.  Each week professionals from 4 different service areas will be available.  Health professionals, Free Legal advice, Credit and Financial Counseling and Job placement are the weekly topics.  We will also provide free vision tests, Dental exams, and Hospice counseling.  Check with the Connection for the additional services each week. Professionals will be at the connection between 1 to 4 PM each Wednesday.   

In addition to these professionals on the 5^th Wednesday each month, we will have government officials in the connection for you to talk with on a 1 to 1 basis.

Children’s Programs

A number of children’s programs will be offered at the Connection after the school year ends. These programs give neighborhood children the opportunity for structured activity, the development of positive relationships with other children and adults, skill-building, academic improvement, participation in cultural experiences and Christian education. The following programs are currently available:

• Free Tutoring
This program matches an adult volunteer with a child, grades 1-6, who needs extra help with Math, Reading or Language Arts. SIL has placed Mentors at Darrough Chapel Elementary School for the past 3 years.  So we know many of the potential students already.  We have a state licensed teacher supervising the program and we also provide access to the recreation as the students are tutored.   Tutors and students meet on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (1-4 pm) continuing informally during the summer. Additional special events are also scheduled at various times during the summer. The Coordinator will have contact with each student’s school and will provide training, materials and assistance to each tutor as needed.

• Eastside Cafe
This program is for boys and girls in grades 9-12, meeting every Friday evening at the Eastside Cafe (located inside the Connection) for skill-building, friendship, recreation, and Christian education. For more details and the weekly schedule of “live” music, go to the website and follow the links to the Eastside Cafe.

The Artists School program is an eight-week program with T-TH sessions, with 5 grade level classes (grades 1-5). If there are openings in the grade level class, a child may be registered for both sessions. Classroom activities include educational classes, a crafts and music program, and recreation activities. Tuition is Free to Darrough Chapel residents. 

It’s Really Free!!!

Darrough Chapel Day – May 19th   1- 4 PM at “The Connection”  Darrough Chapel businesses and community minded providers have combined for a great day for Darrough residents. 

• Free Haircuts – For the Guys (Don Young’s Barber Shop)
• Free shampoo and style cuts for the Girls (Calliope)
• Free Photo Processing from Walgreens (Goyer and Markland)
• $10 free Gas (at the neighborhood
  Speedway) for the first 50 families
• Drawing (children only, please) for a compact portable DVD player
• Chair Massage (Brooke Horner)
• Spine screening (Dillman Chiropractic)
• Free Summer Fitness package (walking and gym access)
• Free Admission to summer movies at the Connection
• Teens Only – Free admission the Friday Night programs at the Eastside Cafe
• Free Drinks (Coffee, Coke products, water and tea)
• Free Food (Hot Dogs and Chips)

Plan on being there Saturday May 19^th and find out how all of the details of the programs and how you can help build our neighborhood Serving in Love is an outreach of Morning Star Church. 

Our Mission is by word and deed, to love people into relationship with Jesus Christ and to show God’s love in a practical way as we work to give away to the world what we have been given by God. 

Weekly Summer Schedule at the Connection!!! 

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

*Resources

8AM-NoonOpen Gym

8AM-Noon Open Gym  1-4 PM Games Tutoring Artists School

8AM-NoonOpen Gym 1-4 PM“Wonderful Wednesday” * Free Professional Services

8AM-Noon Open Gym  1-4 PMGames Tutoring Artists School

8AM-NoonOpen Gym

* AttorneyNursing (RN)Social CounselorFinancial CounselorJobs and counseling *Various other professionals may be present

For details please click on the link below:

Summer Programs at The Connection

Internet Evangelism Day – 4/29/2007

Click on the links…Join in the Outreach 

So-called ‘blogging’ has vastly grown in popularity over the last few years
– the whole world of blogging is sometimes called the ‘blogosphere’.
It matches (and shapes) the modern desire to receive (and be able to comment on)
information in short personalized conversational blocks. It therefore offers us a
remarkable tool for direct evangelism:
Using blogging for evangelism

Internet Evangelism Day

You already know it.  The growth of the Internet over the last ten years has been incredible. There are now 1 billion Web users around the world.

There are thousands of Christian websites, but the vast majority of these are written only for Christians. Very few are designed to reach out effectively to non-Christians. Yet the potential is enormous.

With this need in mind, the Internet Evangelism Coalition is sponsoring an international focus day on Sunday 29 April May 2007. The Internet Evangelism Day will enable churches and other groups to build this emphasis into their programs for that day.

Serving in Love is a Partner in the IE outreach.  How about you?

It’s Not About Us

We read with some humility the article in today’s Kokomo Tribune about Serving in Love.  

Mr. Tom Carey writes daily on topics of good news to the community and we are truly humbled that he chose to write about us.  His article tells of some of our outreaches and activities in the community and is a welcome report of acts of kindness that have been performed in our neighborhoods.

When he contacted us about covering the Faith Festival, we told him, “It’s about allowing the many gifted artists in the Kokomo area to display the gift God has bestowed upon them.”  When we were asked by the Kokomo Perspective about the Mentors at Darrough Chapel School, we told them, “It’s about touching the lives of children through the God-given gift of teaching through our congregation.”  When we were asked about the many acts of kindness that we help to facilitate, we are reluctant to accept any credit.  

We can’t take credit and we are not responsible.

And the truth is that it’s not about us. It’s about God.  It is far too easy to make the transition from Servant to Promotion Evangelism.  Tell those stories and remind the readers, it’s not about us.  Many of us have relied on self promotion for far too long.

We appreciate Mr. Carey’s work.  In a world where the news is consistently difficult and hard to take, he provides us a breath of fresh air.  We are blessed as a community to have Mr. Carey writing and working in our midst.  Each article is a special gift to us and we have told him how much we appreciate him.  But it’s not about us.

But God has bigger plans for us. God wants to use us to change the world. 

Update – 460 Acts of Kindness and still counting

Update 4/28/2006 -

We just received the 500th act of Kindness….WOW!!

We asked you to send us a description of your SE events.  So far (Counter to the right in the sidebar) you have provided over 460 to our email address.  We shared a few in the comments and many of you have written wanting to see more…here are a few:

From Legacy Church in Dallas (http://www.legacychurch.org/welcome.htm)

Through Servant Evangelism, we can do small acts of kindness in our community in order to touch people with God’s love in a practical way outside the walls of our building.  So far at Legacy, we have done several types of different servant evangelism outreach events. These have included several Starbucks coffee giveaways, free biggie sizing at Wendy’s, and a gas price buy-down/windshield washing at a gas station near Legacy Church.  In addition, groups from Legacy have participated physically and financially in a cystic fibrosis walk-a-thon and a walk-a-thon benefitting a new shelter in a nearby community.  Even a Plano for abused and neglected children.  All of these have had great response from those we touched.  In some cases we’ve just brightened people’s days; in other cases we’ve make a difference in some important causes.  In all of the events we’ve been able to engage out in the community, to talk with some people, and to show them some love and care. 

Building Bridges to the Community
“Kindness in Action” events, service weekends, and short-term mission trips increase in popularity each year. But many of these activities involve only a section of the church—adults and teenagers able to stand in the hot sun, use construction tools, or travel far away from home.From Southern Acres Christian Church (Lexington, Kentucky), (http://www.christianstandard.com/) The SE outreach called “Bridges” is the church’s biggest servant evangelism event ever, with the goal of involving the whole church, from young children to great-grandparents. Bridges required a huge amount of planning. Bridges began by contacting the church-supported missions within a two-hour drive of Lexington, and also asked every widow in the church how Southern Acres could serve them. After learning their needs, they investigated other opportunities in the local community. These included serving lunch and performing repairs at a local women’s rehab facility, assisting Southland Christian Church (also in Lexington) with its Helping Through Him ministry, and painting homes for elderly residents in nearby towns.

From Our Friends and co workers at Kokomo Urban Outreach (http://jeffnewton.blogspot.com/)  

It was like the 12 disciples feeding the 5000. Twelve KUO volunteers helped an endless sea of people put together over 500 Easter baskets. The event began at 11:00 AM, at 9:50 the line began to form, by 10:30 the line was all the way down the sidewalk and had turned down the side-street. Last year we served everyone in about 50 minutes this year it took an hour and a half. By 12:15 everyone was inside the building……finally.The crowd was orderly, patient and appreciative. The volunteers were awesome. We did run out of actual baskets for about the last 30 or so, but we had enough stuff to fill a basket. Just like the disciples we gathered the left overs at the end and realized that we have enough stuff to fill about 100 more. Thanks for your support and Prayers. God is Good!!!!

Darrough Chapel Day at the Connection – May 19th

Partnerships:

“The Connection” Community Center

The Connection Community Center at Morning Star Church 2900 E. Markland Ave., Kokomo, Indiana (www.morningstarkokomo.com) is hosting a series of community opportunity programs as a service to the community. The programs will be listed and describe on this blog beginning in a few days, but that start with a Kick-Off on May 19th (see below).  The Connection is located on the North side of the Morning Star Church (MSC) parking lot.

The goal of the Connection is to encourage people to work together to build a better community. This goal is achieved by providing services that assist people in making positive adjustments in their lives and community. Serving in Love (SIL) is a community outreach at MSC designed to identify and meet needs.  The philosophy of SIL is that we will provide for needs in a fashion that demonstrates the free gift of God’s love.  As a result: ALL SERVICES ARE FREE.  SIL has access to many people who are trained professionally (teachers, lawyers, social workers, nurses, etc.) and in their work they share the common commitment to ministering to the whole person.  So they volunteer their skills and services.

You do not need to be involved at Morning Star to use these services.  Services at the Center are available without preference to people of all races, creeds, cultures, ages, sex, and handicap. The lack of financial resources will not prevent anyone from full participation in the services of the Center. Please call 765-452-7166 for more information.

Coming Attractions!!!!

Darrough Chapel Day – May 19th   1- 4 PM at “The Connection” Darrough Chapel businesses and community minded providers have combined for a great day for Darrough residents. 

• Free Haircuts – For the Guys (Don Young’s Barber Shop)
• Free shampoo and style cuts for the Girls (Calliope)
• $10 free Gas (at the neighborhood
  Speedway) for the first 50 families
• Drawing (children only, please) for a compact portable DVD player
• Chair Massage (Brooke Horner)
• Spine screening (Dillman Chiropractic)
• Free Summer Fitness package (walking and gym access)
• Free Admission to summer movies at the Connection
• Teens Only – Free admission the Friday Night programs at the Eastside Cafe
• Free Drinks (Coffee, Coke products, water and tea)
• Free Food (Hot Dogs and Chips)
• And many more freebies from businesses and neighbors

Plan on being there Saturday May 19^th and find out how all of the details of the programs and how you can help build our neighborhood  Serving in Love is an outreach of Morning Star Church. 

Our Mission is by word and deed, to love people into relationship with Jesus Christ and to show God’s love in a practical way as we work to give away to the world what we have been given by God. Mark it Down Now!!  May 19^th at the Connection!!!

Now, we are all Hokies

Show God’s love in a practical way.  His Grace is sufficient-

Stop right now and Pray

Showing God’s Love in a Practical Way

We did it!!!   SIL was at the Post Office passing out free stamps to last minute taxpayers.  The event requires 2 stamps (State and Federal) per person and in the past, our supplies have lasted only about one hour. But what a time it is!!

We have been blessed in that hundreds of stamps have been give to SIL for this event.  

We had lots of company, even the local media.  Most of all we had a great time showing people God’s love in a very practical way.  We even noticed people leaving (after mailing their taxes) the Post Office smiling. 

Over one hundred pairs (one for state and one for federal taxes) of stamps disappeared in less than 30 minutes, but it was GREAT!  Almost every person was blown away at the act of kindness and asked our favorite question, “Why are you doing this?”

See you next year.

A Genuine Act Of Kindness

It’s not about us.  We get that, however there are times we need to recognize the sincere gratitude and encouragement of the people who make us successful.  Mary Beatty has been blessed by God with a talent that allows her to show the special touch of the Lord on her life.

  Her art is special and unique.  Moreover, there is no way we could afford to bring her art to the community at Faith Fest.  Fortunately, we don’t have to.  Each year she freely offers her art to the show so that the rest of us can see the gift God has bestowed on her.

She wrote a community “thank you” to us that was published in today Kokomo Tribune.    It’s not about us, but thank you Mary.  We look forward to next year.  Here are her kind words:

Art exhibit ‘special, unique’

Mary Beatty of Kokomo sends this Cheer to those who put together an art exhibit at Morning Star Church: “Cheers to Steve Young, Susie Harrell, Joan Bargerhuff, Sara Smith, Tammy Jarvis and the many people involved in this second pre-Easter Faith Fest fine art exhibit at Morning Star Church: from Tom Carey’s publicity and the hundreds of visitors who responded, to the guys and gals hanging the artwork. Every phase ran smoothly and professionally. As an exhibitor and guest of the church, I was warmly greeted and my new art series was generously welcomed. Having entered many exhibits in my time, Faith Fest is special and unique: no awards, no sales and no entry fees. Just another opportunity to share the gift God has given the artist, tangible evidence that there are many pulpits for sharing the message of his love. I would encourage artists to ‘put that meditating cap on right now!’ and start creating entries for next year’s event. This venture has almost no boundaries!”

Popcorn Evangelism – It’s that time again

 For over 100 years, the Kokomo Park Band has performed a free community concert.  The band performs every Wednesday from June until August.  Four years ago, SIL began serving the thousands of families and neighbors who come to Highland Park every week, free popcorn and cold soda or bottled water.

This year we have been asked to add an early concert – performed by our men and women who have service in the military.  Serving in Love has been asked to provide drinks and popcorn for the Army Reserve Band Concert JUNE 7th.  We will be there!!

Attendance is between 1000 and 1400 each week and everyone get all the popcorn and cool drinks each of them want and it is always free.  We love it when they ask us, “Why are you doing this?”

Check out the Park Band website.  The concerts are a true local treasure, and you just can’t beat the hot popcorn and refreshing soda.

Over 1500 visitors to Faith Fest 2007

Wow!! You really responded!!

Galleries, Story Tellers, Characters, Live Music

Plan NOW for Faith Fest 2008 (March 17-23 2008)

| View Show | Create Your Own

Kokomo’s truly unique festival of the power of faith as expressed by art.

Faith Fest 2007 has encouraged us to begin to plan Faith Fest 2008 – We’ll See you there!!

 

We have so many people and entities to thank.  It was a blessing to work with all of you.