The Mission Is Open! Praise God!

     The Living Water Rescue Mission opened its doors to the public on April 1, 2011, and was ready to take overnight guests on April 2.  Since that time, we've taken in a few men in need of this ministry, and had to turn a few away due to their refusal to follow the mission's guidelines.  Those we have sheltered for a night, or for several nights, have been men who are traveling the country on foot -- one man had sold all his possessions to take up a life of depending solely on the love of Christ.  Each day he stayed at the mission, he was in the Word, studying, making notes, discussing it with others.  He had traveled here to York from Michigan, and left last weekend, heading for a destination to the west.  Chaplain Dave made the comment after a few days spent with this man, that he and Brian Weber may have been entertaining angels.  Another man was simply searching.  He left around the same time to find his way somewhere down the road.  Since that time, we have been blessed with different guests, with different backgrounds, needing to be rescued from the world for different reasons. 

     Another way we have been privileged to be the hands and feet of Christ to those in need, is in providing a food basket and women's chapel service to a woman whose male partner had moved out of their home after an argument, taking nearly all their belongings with him.  If she avails herself to our services, the mission will continue to help her re-establish her household with donated items, and help her with food until she is able to provide for these needs. 

     Every one of these people stands alone as a creation of the same One who created you and me. Every one could really use your prayers. You and I aren't completely aware of how to pray for each of these, but be assured, fellow pilgrim, that the Spirit knows what each one needs.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. (Romans 8:26-27)

     The people of this community of York, Nebraska, as well as the surrounding areas, from as far away as Callaway, Nebraska, have shown a great commitment to joining in this partnership of rescue!  We are so blessed to see the excitement shown by youth groups, service groups, business leaders, and churches -- all of whom want to be a part of the dynamic ministry of reaching out to the hurting around us!  We praise God for the way He is stirring the hearts of His people!  They are coming together from various denominations to work shoulder-to-shoulder -- first in the construction phase, now in the ministry development phase; and all through this, in funding this ministry!

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)

     We are so grateful for your prayers and petitions on behalf of the Living Water Rescue Mission and the men and women who are served there, as well as the men and women who serve.  In your prayers, please also remember that Phase 2 remains to be fully funded.  Please continue to pray for us, and tell other brothers and sisters in Christ our story, share this blog with them, get in touch with us if you would like!  This blog only touches a little of the work that is being done; the hand of God, and the glory of God that is evident in the way the Living Water Rescue Mission has come to be!  Chaplain Dave's monthly letters that are sent to prayer partners and donors give much more detailed information, and our Facebook page also keeps fairly current with photos and posts of happenings at and involving the mission.

     In closing, please accept my thanks for your interest in the Living Water Rescue Mission, and for your prayers.  As you pray, place your trust fully in God, because He is faithful and just, and He will answer.
 

I wait for you, O LORD; you will answer, O Lord my God.  (Psalm 38:15)

He answered their prayers, because they trusted in Him.  (1 Chronicles 5:20b)

Worshiping with Callaway Jr. High Youth Group during their Mission Trip at LWRM April 9-10, 2011.

 

Turning the Corner

The building at 701 S. Lincoln Avenue in York, Nebraska has been under reconstruction for almost a year now, with workers gutting the building, pouring new floors, building new walls, hanging sheetrock on those walls, installing the systems, and so on.  What was once a dairy barn, and an auto mechanics shop, and a car dealership, and more, is becoming a home.  LWRM is becoming a place where people will find rest.  Road-weary travelers will find comfort and light, truth and grace within these walls.  Tired souls, beaten down by the world and dying inside will find new life in Christ and living, growing bits of nature in the garden areas that will await them just outside a couple of exterior doors.  Most of all, best of all, those whose hearts are ready will find themselves at Jacob's well, where they will drink water that will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14)

The sounds you hear at the mission now are the sounds of construction; the smells are that of paint, glue, and new carpet.  There will be new sounds and smells in a few short weeks.  Voices of people coming in to tell their stories and receive help.  Guidance, encouragement, and reassurance from wise counsel, people of God sharing His truth with the lost and the seeking.  Fellowship.  Chapel services.  Babies and little children crying, talking, singing praises to God.  The smells will be of three meals a day, brought in by the people of God, some of it prepared by the hands of those being helped, some of it being prepared by workers from the churches.  All of us working together, to build new life, new hope.  I wonder what grace smells like?

We have been building a building.  We are coming to a corner in the road, where we will be building a ministry.  Won't you come and join us?

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything.  Moses was faithful as a servant in all God's house, testifying to what would be said in the future.  But Christ is faithful as a son over God's house.  And we are his house, if we hold on to our courage and the hope of which we boast.  (Hebrews 3:4-6)

We're Getting There

It's a cliche, but we like to say "half the fun is getting there" when we're talking about the anticipation of arriving at some destination.  That has certainly been true of the process of seeing the mission building come together!  Even though we have yet to provide a warm bed within the mission walls to someone in need, there have been many homeless and hurting individuals helped along the way to a better life by the Living Water Rescue Mission in 2010 and already in 2011!  Praise the Lord for His amazing faithfulness in meeting our needs and blessing us so abundantly with His presence and provision!

Many folks have been given transportation to Columbus Rescue Mission or Crossroads Rescue Mission in Hastings for a place to stay.  Others have received food baskets along with a helping of the gospel to fill their hearts as well as their stomachs.  Still more have received the truth of God's Word in the library of the York County Jail, where LWRM staff and volunteers have chapel every Monday evening.

The staff and volunteers have, in turn, received the tremendous blessing of seeing the Lord's hand in their lives and in the lives of others.  Hallelujah!  I have loved having the fellowship of other believers, getting to know some really wonderful people in the York area and the surrounding communities, who all share a deep desire to serve Christ by showing His great love to those in need.

We look forward to 2011, to the exciting prospects of what God has in store for us!  May you have a blessed year, and know the joy of the Lord in your hearts as you enter into the times ahead!

"Then the LORD said: "I am making a covenant with you.  Before all your people I will do wonders never before done in any nation in all the world.  The people you live among will see how awesome is the work that I, the LORD, will do for you."  Exodus 34:10

2010 Celebration Banquet - A Spirit-Filled Evening

          The 2010 Living Water Rescue Mission Celebration Banquet was held Monday evening, November 15, at the Stone Creek Event Center.  If you weren't there, you missed quite an experience!  Kerry's catered amazing Junction Steaks with mashed potatoes, green beans and salad; delicious cake was served courtesy of Randy and Tammy Obermeier; musical offerings were provided by a talented group from York College, "Psallo"; and best of all, we heard the testimonies of a number of people who came to us from the Columbus Rescue Mission to talk about how Jesus has worked in their lives to bring about new life in Him.  Wonderful evening!  It reminds me of Acts 2:42 through 43:

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." 

          The Lord had already worked in those hearts to bring about His wonders and miracles, as He has worked in my own heart and the hearts of so many of us.  During the evening, an offering was taken, and the Lord provided through caring Christians an abundant provision to do His work!  Praise God!  Clearly, the people of the surrounding communities have heard and taken to heart the instruction found in 1 Timothy 6:17:

 "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment." 

We receive this promise as a result, from verse 19:

 "In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." 

Amen.

          The work continues on the mission building at 701 S. Lincoln Avenue, York, Nebraska!  Brian Weber is living in York now, off-site but working in the building every minute that he can!  Brian can work circles around anyone who's ever worked with him, and it's a blessing to see his enthusiasm and eagerness to do this work that the Lord has put into his hands!  We are thankful to God for giving Brian these gifts, and bringing him to York, Nebraska!!

          We are in the process of working on the electrical phase of the project, and will soon be hanging insulation, and then drywall, and then painting!  If you are skilled in carpentry or if you simply have a heart for the mission and are able to push a broom or hand a worker a sandwich or a bottle of water, we have a job for you!!  Come and help us get this mission ready to take in the homeless and hurting who God will send our way this winter!  Come and help us help those neighbors of ours who are maybe not homeless, but hurting all the same.  Who are our neighbors?  Luke 10:36 through 37 tells us:

 "'Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?' 

The expert of the law replied, 'The one who had mercy on him.' 

Jesus told him, 'Go and do likewise.'"

There's a New Guy In Town (Almost!)

Brian Weber, our night manager, will be moving to York this week!  He won't be living at the mission just yet - he's staying in a place off-site until the building is ready for occupancy - but he WILL be working at the Living Water Rescue Mission on a regular basis assisting with construction and clean-up.  Praise God! 

Brian will be able to help coordinate volunteers on an as-needed basis.  Please call Chaplain Dave at 402-366-7598 to set up a time to come down and work with Brian on any number of upcoming projects! 

(Brian is seen here, standing in his new apartment at LWRM!)

On another note, be sure and call in your reservations for the Living Water Rescue Mission Celebration Banquet coming up on November 15th!  Seating begins at 6 p.m. and dinner will start at 6:30 sharp!  We'll be at the Stone Creek Event Center in McCool Junction this year.  There will be delicious food catered by Kerry's, special music, and live testimonies about how God has touched peoples' lives with His grace, making over those lives into new creations.  Come and be blessed.  To make your reservations and enable us to have the right amount of food and seating, please call us at 402-362-5350. 

Update!

Things have been happenin' down at the mission in York!  Walls are getting framed up, drywall is being hung; and soon we'll have heating and a/c folks installing ductwork!  We are so thankful for your prayers and petitions for this work to continue, and we know that God is faithful to help us in the good work He has given us.  We praise Him in all His wisdom, glory, and goodness; and we thank Him for His ever-abiding love!  He is our God, and we are His people, and we love Him with all our hearts!

Chaplain Dave will be speaking at three area churches this month!  If you'd like to get in on a live, state-of-the-mission presentation, you can catch him on September 12 at 8:15 at the Benedict United Methodist Church, where Dave and Boyd Tietmeyer will speak at their community Bible study kick-off.  After that, on September 19, Dave will speak at the New Life Nazarene Church in York, at 1028 Beaver Avenue, at their 10:45 a.m. service.  Finally, on September 26, Dave will give a presentation at the Baptist Congregational Church during their 10 a.m. service. 

As for the Extreme Mission Makeover, the Lord has blessed us abundantly!  The first phase of the building, which consists of the men's dorms, offices, chapel/dining halls, and food prep area, will definitely be finished this fall!  The funds that have been raised thus far will cover renovation of the shaded area of the attached blueprint picture.  Praise the Lord! 

If you would like a tour of the mission -- either the building that we are renovating in York, or the Columbus Rescue Mission that is up and running, and is a good preview of what we'll be doing here in York -- please call Chaplain Dave (402-366-7598) or Chaplain Ted in Columbus (402-910-0131).  Also, please call if you'd like to get involved in ministry opportunities!  If you'd like to have Chaplain Dave or Chaplain Ted come and speak to your church or any groups you may be involved with, please call me, Jamie, to arrange a speaking engagement, at 402-363-8298.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." (Gal. 6:9)

Stromsburg VBS

Salem Lutheran, Evangelical Covenant, and United Methodist Churches of Stromsburg, NE invited Chaplain Dave to speak to the kids during their Vacation Bible School this week!  They finished up a week of learning about Jesus with a gathering complete with barbeque and music on the courthouse square lawn.  Hearts were very open to the message of the mission, and the kids and their churches greatly blessed us with their love and their offerings. 

"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