Why are you doing this? What are you doing?

Actually we love these questions.  30,000 times this year your Serving in Love Team created a relationship with someone in the greater Kokomo community and hundreds of times, someone asked the question.  As the year 2007 winds down, we wanted you to  to join us and review what we do and why we do it.  Since thousands of people view out site, we are hoping some of you will join with us.  You don’t HAVE to be a person who attends Morning Star Church (MSC) and you don’t have to be active with our friends at Bridges or Kokomo Urban Outreach (KUO); you simply need to be a person who wants to show God’s  love in a practical way.  We just give away what the Lord provides.  Every month we have at least one event…the Lord provides Mentors, food, skilled workers, gas, wrapping paper (and wrappers),  soda, popcorn, anything we can imagine…..and then he provides people like you to help do incredible things.  How do you join us? 

A  good place to start is to look at our FAQ Page  this page includes our answers to many questions we hear from those who have come out to Servant Evangelism (SE) events to help us.  Ultimately, we know there are needs, and we understand that they must be met but we are a long range SE outreach that seeks to create RELATIONSHIPS and through those connect neighbors with ASSETS.  Look at our Community page to better understand our model.  So often we find the root of problems to be related to dysfunctional and incomplete families.  Relationships are the mortar that cements the blocks which build families.  A genuine act of kindness is like a wake-up call for us to remember our love for one another.   But it is not about us, and so we have a purpose or mission.

So if you love giving, if your heart warms when you see someone open a present they never expected, if you can imagine the joy of receiving a random act of kindness, if you know you are called to serve your faith but haven’t found the way, then try us out. 

Email, call (MSC) or drop in.  Just let us know you want to deliver God’s love in a practical way to your hometown.  He will take care of the rest.

Altogether in 2007 we have performed over 90 events and touched 30,000 people.  We DO NOT have a large budget, we DO NOT accept traditional donations, and we are far too small to do this without faith that HE will  provide.  For over 5 years, (since we began) He has always met our needs and provided abundantly.

If you can’t come to help, pray for us.  The single most effective tool we have employed has been the prayers of our sisters and brothers. 

Something to be Thankful for….

Serving in Love has partnered with area schools and agencies to deliver the “fixins” for a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner to 50 area families.  Four years ago we started the outreach as a result of our relationship with Darrough Elementary School and our on-going outreach in the Darrough  Chapel neighborhood.   But we are not alone in this mission and the phone kept ringing through Thanksgiving…so the need is great and growing.

Whether it’s a turkey leg or a leg up for those in search for their next job, many churches and ministries nationwide are reminding those in need this Thanksgiving that they’re here to help.

Many churches will be joining with local volunteers to offer free Thanksgiving meals to the needy as a way to connect with those in the community.

We believe that God expects the church to meet people in a very practical way.  It’s  about families.   These simple acts support and build families.  The logic is simple from there.   Christ’s Gospel teaches us to serve our neighbors without any strings attached. We are thrilled to be able to do this.  Jesus said, ‘When you do this unto the least of these, you’ve done it unto me. “  So that’s what we’re trying to do, just to reach out and show people the love of Christ.

The congregation at Morning Star Church provided the fixins and turkeys.  MSC volunteers delivered the boxes with love.  Honestly, we were not certain on Monday if and how we could make this happen, but God provided.  It is what it is.

Wrapping Up – Free Christmas package wrapping at K-Mart 

So we turn now to the final month of this years’ outreach.  All together we have recorded almost 30,000 contacts – acts of kindness – in the Kokomo area this year.   As we begin our annual wrapping at K-Mart, we are thankful that we have had the opportunity to show God’s  love in a practical way.

Something Old – Something New

SIL has been busy connecting assets and services in the community.  We are pleased to announce that we are partnering with Kokomo Urban Outreach to allow more faith-based communities to employ “The Morning Star Model” as they become engaged with Community Schools providing mentoring and tutoring.  We have already conducted 2 training sessions with Taylor Schools groups and have 2 more scheduled. 

Also as a result of the KUO meetings, Bridges Outreach has agreed to allow SIL to work under their organization.  That will mean we instantly have an organization, structure, mission and…..WE CAN RECEIVE GRANTS and GIFTS from foundations as well as traditional sources.  It is a prayer answered for SIL.  We look forward to working with Casey and Travis to show God’s Love in a Practical Way.

Finally, we will be delivering some 50 Fresh Turkey and groceries to make Thanksgiving Dinner for our neighbors.  This is the 5th year we have done the program that provides an opportunity for merchants, churches, schools, and neighbors to share our thanks and show God’s Love.  Because small things done with Great Love will change the world.