Sunday – Church in the Park

God is moving in very tangible ways in Butler, PA.  The Mission Team has entered a very ripe mission field because of the labor of those before us.  All afternoon as we ministered in the city, we kept saying to ourselves, “It’s only Sunday!”

So many people came out for the Sunday evening worship in the park and Cook Out after going door to door.  We loved on many kids, witnessed to a crack house leader, walked into a Divine Appointment for Acts of Kindness this week, saw one man come to JESUS as his personal Savior and Lord and many, many more opportunities to be JESUS love!

Read the testimony of one of the girls who was really touched by what Jesus did while in the park …

Church in the Park

7/8/2007  By: Hannah Morrison, Missions Participant

Calvary Chapel of Central Bucks-  Chalfont, PA

The week before I came on this missions trip I was very depressed and not looking forward to going on this trip. My thinking was, “Well it’s Pennsylvania its probably just going to be like our home town.” Well I was very mistaken. Tom informed us of major heroine problems within the city. Our whole missions group went to an outreach in a Park and I had gotten to talk to two girls named Tosha and Danielle. They started talking about how they have boyfriends that smoke and they have probation officers and citations they have to pay. I couldn’t believe the things they were telling me. I had later asked them do you attend any church. They answered in a way that completeley took me back. They told me they werent allowed in their church because they didn’t have their parents with them. I was completely astonished and God put this burden on my heart for these girls. The things we take for granted and we don’t see the things others go through and what they have to rise above on a day to day basis. Plus for them not to have the rolemodels they need for parents or the proper love and support from their peers just hurts me inside to know. I have become so grateful for my parents and my good rolemodels and for my leaders who have been put into my life to lead me in the right direction to God. I love and appreciate them even more from just talking to these two amazing girls who even though I dont know I have a love for them that no one can take away. Tom, our missions leader, later said after I had said this that those girls did go to church today and we were the church.

Butler, PA has the largest Heroine problem per capita in the United States.  This Drug of choice is so pure that the individual who takes it becomes immediately addicted after just the first time.  The neighborhood, homes and families are in chambles as a result of this stronghold.  Perhaps the greatest tragedy is that the local churches in Butler, PA avoid any contact with this segment of their community.  Praise the Lord that He has servants like Tom & Sandy Bowser of Fish Bone Minsitries who give of themselves to be JESUS to those in great need of His unconditional love.

As I prayed to the Lord today, I heard Him say for us to raise the banner of JESUS over the neighborhood.  From this worship, the Kingdom of God is being established and the name of JESUS is being exalted. 

It’s only Sunday and God is doing amazing things in people’s lives.  I am humbled to be blessed by God to be the Project Leader of this trip.  Your partnership with me and AIM is reaping great fruit for God’s Name sake.

Take a look at all of the pictures posted for this mission on this blog. 

The Battle is the LORD’S and we are on the winning side!!!