New Website!

Living Water Rescue Mission is fully up and running, serving men, women, and families in the York, Nebraska area!  We have a new website that will be our main connection on the Worldwide Web, and you can find us there at this address:

http://www.lwrmyork.org/

You can also find us on Facebook, on our page entitled "Living Water Rescue Mission".  Please keep in touch with us either through Facebook or through our new website, and keep those prayers lifted up to our heavenly Father, who does not change like shifting shadows (James 1:17), unlike the world.

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:3-6

Golfin' for Jesus, 2012!

The Living Water Rescue Mission is registering teams for the 2nd Annual Master's Classic Golf Tournament at the York Country Club!  This will be a 4-person scramble, shotgun start, beginning with lunch on the course at 11:00 a.m. and golfing begins at 12:00 p.m., June 22, 2012.  There will be an open division challenge and church division challenge,  18-hole division, $300 per team or $75 per player.  Your entry includes green fees, cart, team prizes, flag prizes, door prizes, a Rescue Mission golf hat and lunch.  We welcome everyone's participation!  There will be an awards ceremony following play, including testimonies of changed lives at the Mission.

The Master's Classic is a fundraising event for the Living Water Rescue Mission that helps us during a typically lean season, when giving is traditionally lower for all types of ministry.  This event is a wonderful way to show support for the Mission and enjoy a favorite summertime activity!  Your participation in the Master's Classic helps the Mission bring in funding for necessary expenses to continue to operate effectively during this time of year.

Following the golfing, we will adjourn to the clubhouse at the beautiful York Country Club, where the trophies will be handed on from last year's winners to the winners in 2012!  We will enjoy some soft drinks and light appetizers, but best of all, we will be blessed with personal testimonies of how the Lord has worked in the lives of some of His people -- people whose lives have been changed eternally -- through the ministry of the Living Water Rescue Mission.

Here are a few photos from the 1st Annual Master's Classic last year.  We had 11 teams last year, but this year promises to be an even greater event with 14 teams registered nearly a month early!  We hope you'll join us for a fun day of golf in God's beautiful creation with some great fellowship!

Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.  Psalm 105:2

Jesus Makes the Headlines!

The Living Water Rescue Mission was the top story in the York News-Times today!  An excellent article by Rachael Ruybalid, reporter for the YNT:

http://www.yorknewstimes.com/news/article_2ba64f08-4716-11e1-ba16-0019bb2963f4.html

The women and family side of the mission is making great progress, and the supporters of LWRM are to be congratulated for their faithfulness and thanked profusely for their offerings!  The LORD is to be PRAISED for His goodness, His faithfulness, and His abundant provision!

"Is this not the fast I have chosen:

to loose the chains of injustice

and untie the cords of the yoke, 

to set the oppressed free

and break every yoke?

It is not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter --

when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear;

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say: 

Here am I."

Isaiah 58:6-9a

Phase 1 & Phase 2 FULLY FUNDED!

See all those little squares filled in with blue and pink?  That's right -- the Extreme Mission Makeover is FULLY FUNDED!  Phase 1 has been fully funded for quite some time and the construction completed on that phase -- the men's side of the mission, the offices, food prep area, and other main parts of the building.  Phase 2 -- the women and family side -- is now fully funded, and construction has begun!  Construction of Phase 2 had to wait until it was fully funded so we can complete construction without any delays that would effect the rest of the mission, and we are excited and overjoyed to report that the funding is there and construction is underway!

We thank all our supporters out there who have given of their time, treasures, and talents to bring us to this point!  We praise God for His goodness, His providence, His guidance in everything to do with the mission -- may He be glorified!

Construction of this part of the building is just the beginning -- when the construction is complete, ministry begins!  That is when we get to help the hurting and the homeless in the name of Jesus Christ.  Praise God for allowing us to be a part of His work in this vital ministry, and for showing His glory in all of it!

Valero Gift to the Mission
We have exciting news, in case you haven't heard -- the Living Water Rescue Mission was recently the recipient of an award of $14,000 donated by Valero of Albion, Nebraska!  Valero employees participated in a fundraiser through sponsorship of the 2011 Valero Texas Open and Benefit for Children Golf Classic in San Antonio, Texas -- Jim Dickerson of the Albion News reports the following quote from Andy Roberts, manager of the Valero Renewables - Albion Refinery:  ""This is just one of several locations that will proudly distribute funds to children’s charities throughout North America this year," said Roberts. "These gifts enable our community agencies to continue their good work for the many children they serve. We appreciate all that these agencies do to improve children’s lives."'  Dickerson further wrote:  "Thanks to the generosity of Valero’s business partners and sponsors, the Valero Texas Open remains one of the most charitable tournaments on the PGA Tour," said Roberts."  We are grateful to God and to Valero for this gift, and we are grateful for the opportunity to partner with other organizations who provide resources for the needs of children.   Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." (Matthew 19:14 NIV)  Some of the ways we are able to help are in providing food baskets to families in need, providing needed clothing and household items, and providing Bible study and chapel services to families coming in to receive food baskets.  We received feedback from one mother who came back to the mission after receiving some clothing and other household items, who said her little girl was so happy when they got home with their bounty of the previous trip, the little girl shouted out to her sibling at home, "look what Jesus gave us!!"  That's the kind of feedback we like!!

2011 Celebration Banquet Just Around the Corner!
We have more fun in store!  On November 14th, 2011, the Living Water Rescue Mission will host its 2011 Celebration Banquet at the York City Auditorium at 6th and Nebraska Avenue!  Seating will begin at 6 p.m., and dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. sharp!!  We'll have a great dinner, great music, testimonies of lives transformed by the love of Christ, and all at no charge!  We will be taking reservations, in order to be sure to have enough food and seating.  Please call the mission at 402-362-0127 to reserve seats for your co-workers, friends, or family, or all of the above!  We are asking for table sponsors -- $125 to sponsor one table, and we hope God will abundantly increase attendance this year from the 300 we served in 2010.  Please consider sponsoring a table.  The banquets are a true blessing to each one who comes and hears all that God has been doing in and through His people!   "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.  And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.  Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:25 

Ah!  Praise the Lord for the warmth of the sun and the coolness of a late summer morn!  We are blessed to receive these gifts from His mighty hand. 

The golf fundraiser was a huge success!  God was faithful, as always, in bringing ten groups of four to five people to play golf for Jesus, and a good time was had by all!  The York Country Club, represented by Barry Redfern, graciously extended the offer to set up next year's event, and the date for that will be published when it is made available.  The golf course there was a beautiful representation of God's handiwork, and mankind's participation in caring for it.

The coming weeks hold more in store for Living Water Rescue Mission!  August 27, 2011, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., LWRM will be involved in grilling and serving burgers at Walgreen's Dawg Days of Summer event, where people will be bringing their pets for a photo shoot - we're gonna put on the dog!  I'm just glad we're not serving hot dogs!  (Groan!)  Anyway, come on out for that and get a burger - bring your pooch or your kitty or your gecko, what have you, and have fun with us!

Yorkfest is only a few weeks away!  September 8 through 11 is the anticipated date, I believe, check the York Chamber of Commerce website for details.  We are planning to have a float in the parade, contingent on the availability of our faithful friends who are gifted in this area!  Contact us at the mission at 402-362-0127, with your information and how you can help.  The theme for Yorkfest this year is Celebrate Family.  We know a little bit about family at LWRM.

Jesus made a startling statement about family during a time when he was inside a house with the twelve disciples he'd just appointed, and a so great a crowd gathered around them that they could not even eat.  The story is told for us in Mark, Chapter 3.   Verse 21 says, 'When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."'  The teachers of the law also spoke against Jesus, saying he was driving out demons by the power of the devil.  Jesus rebuked them, saying there was no way Satan would be involved in the work that he, Jesus, was doing, "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand." (Mark 3:24-25).  By the way, Jesus added, believing such things about Jesus and the Holy Spirit is a sin that cannot be forgiven (v. 29).  So, into this setting come along Jesus' mother and brothers.  "Standing outside they sent someone in to call him.  A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you."  "Who are my mother and brothers?" he asked.  Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers!  Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother."  (Mark 3:31-34).  Wow!  Some might comment, "that's pretty cold, man."  But when we are sold out to Jesus, giving our lives to the Lord, as God commands us to do right there in His Word, over and over again, and our families are accusing us of being a little nutty, or over-zealous, or fanatical, we find acceptance in the body of Christ.  That is what our guests, our disciples in the New Life Program, and our visitors find when they come to the Living Water Rescue Mission.  We are family.  We are brothers and sisters of Christ, together, children of the Most High God. 

Jesus calls us all to be His family, even our unbelieving brothers, sisters, and friends.  Even the addict at the gas station who can't make eye contact with us for the confusion and chaos in his soul.  Even the rich young ruler or successful businessman who thinks he has better things to do than give up his god, Mammon, to follow Christ.  "And it shall be that whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Acts 2:21), and John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."  (Emphasis added.)  That's why we obey the Great Commission, "Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation of the age." (Matthew 25:19-20 Amplified Version).

This coming together as a family will most certainly bless us in our heavenly home, as we see those we loved in this life meet us and spend eternity with the Lord, but we also rejoice in this blessing here and now!  Not only that, but let's not be discouraged or dismayed when our worldly loved ones roll their eyes or shake their heads over our devotion to our "other" family, that blessed union with all the saints in Christ.   "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!  The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."  (1 John 3:1).

Grace and peace be with you in Christ Jesus.

We're Golfin' for Jesus -- Are You In?

Dear Friends,

Praise the Lord! Living Water Rescue Mission has been open and serving the Lord for over a month now. Thank you all for your part in making Phase 1 come together. We started helping guests within hours of opening and have been ever since. On April 29th we had a huge turnout for LWRM’s open house—around 200 folks came to tour the mission God built. That day is in my top 10 best, what a joy it is to boast in the Lord. In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah. (Psalm 44:8)

There have been some that have blessed to hear my ♫Cookin’ For Jesus♫ song as well as all of the related verses. We at the mission have sung them all—♫Haulin’ for Jesus♫, ♫Sortin’ for Jesus♫, ♫Hammerin’ for Jesus♫, ♫Cleanin’ for Jesus♫ and who could forget that Appalachian favorite ♫Drivin’ for Jesus♫, and many more. The point is that we at the Mission do all things for Jesus, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40) Stay with me now, it will all make sense soon.

We are holding the first annual Golf Fundraiser at the York Country Club, brought to you by our Title sponsor “Chances R”. It will be a scramble starting at 12:00pm on June 24th. Even if it rains, come anyway. We will have lunch and door prizes, and you can pick up your certificate to play your tournament round at the convenience of your foursome prior to July 29th. After that date, we will tally all of the scores, and award the Church Trophy and award prizes to the top three teams in each division. So rain or shine, the game is on.

Ok are you still with me, It is with great joy that I present to you the 34th verse to our beloved song. On June 29th all those participating with the 1st annual Living Water Rescue Mission Golf Fundraiser will be ♫Golfin’ for Jesus♫, Praise the Lord!

In all seriousness, we do need your help. The summer months have traditionally been a famine as far as giving goes. Please support the Golf fundraiser; it is an oasis for the mission. Even if you are not a golfer you can help this effort by sponsoring a hole or half hole. (See the enclosed Flyer) If neither works for you, you can caddy from the couch with a donation of any size. At any rate, I would ask you to pray that God would be glorified in all of this, and the mission would be blessed.

I am so encouraged by God’s faithfulness. The transition of building a mission building to building a ministry has been relatively smooth. Thank you to those that have volunteered and I am thanking those of you that have filled out a volunteer application form in advance. There are some meal times still available for sponsoring. You can call our Meal Coordinator Winnie Callahan at 402-362-3252. For those that have prompted to serve but do not know in what capacity, let us help find our God given spiritual gift. Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

My prayer for you all is that God would bless you in our area of need, that He would guide you in His will, and that the Lord strengthens you for His good purpose. May your Memorial Day be a time of reflection; producing blessed memories.

♫Workin’ for Jesus♫,

Chaplain Dave Martelle – Associate Director
Living Water Rescue Mission
701 South Lincoln Ave
York, NE 68467 Phone: 402-362-0127

Call Chaplain Dave for your hard copy of this sign-up sheet! WE NEED GOLFERS!