stories
Disaster Relief Team
I don’t know why God allows natural disasters to destroy homes, communities and even lives, but in all my years of disaster relief work, I have come to believe it is to give others the opportunity to serve and minster to those suffering during one of the most difficult times in their lives. It is during these times when people need to know, or maybe just be reminded that God loves them and is still in control.
The Living Hope Disaster Relief team was created just for that purpose – to be a serving ministry to the hurting and to offer relief so they can experience God’s grace and love.
When floods, tornados, hurricanes devastate a community or when there is an unexpected event that damages a home or creates an undue hardship for a family, the DR team responds. We respond to large disasters by teaming up with Samaritan’s Purse and Eight Days of Hope. These organizations identify the need, ask for help and we go. We have worked at disaster sites in Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee….. They provide the resources and we provide workers.
But we are also ready to handle needs in our local community. When homes in Germantown flooded several years ago, we showed up to help homeowners that did not have flood insurance (why would you, its Germantown). We tore out floors, walls, swept debris, just anything that would help the homeowners see a light at the end of a long tunnel.
And just last weekend when the storm threw trees on houses, and entire communities were inaccessible because of downed trees and power lines, the Living Hope Disaster Relief team members showed up to help. We cut trees to clear driveways, cleared yards, handed out food, and contacted community leaders and the mentioned DR organizations to make sure they were aware of the need.
More importantly, we showed our neighbors that God loved them and sent someone to help them, both physically and emotionally. We pray for and with these families. And the blessings flow both ways – being a blessing to those in need also blesses the one serving the need.
Tee Meeks - Disaster Relief Team
Vicki Windham
I was blessed to go on a mission trip August 28 thru September 4, 2021. The team, made up mostly of people from Oklahoma, went to Monjas, Jalapa, Guatemala representing the James Project of Latin America.
We lived on site at the orphanage, Shadow of His Wings. The home currently has 90 children who have come from a variety of difficulties such as physical/sexual abuse, neglect, human trafficking, and loss of both parents. Shadow of His Wings’ hope is that children will come to know Jesus and serve Him. Their hope is that the children will live for Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit and therefore change their community!
Our team had multiple mission activities such as VBS, evening worship services, a Women’s conference, visiting the needy, and working on their multi-purpose building. It was so wonderful to see so many women and children coming to the Lord!
Prior to the trip, we raised funds for food distribution for the needy in the community, including a generous gift from Living Hope. The team bought food and supplies at the local markets and then organized tubs to carry the items. We prayed over each tub and each home where food and supplies were delivered.
Our team worked hard and I felt very thankful that God used me. I would love to visit the friends that I have met there and this wonderful country again.
- Vicki Windham
901 Roasted The Next Chapter: Coffee Sourcing and The Church by Andrew Banker
Since the birth of 901 Roasted in 2016, the focus has been bringing the freshest, highest quality coffee to the forefront of a coffee cup near you. The communities producing these fresh green (unroasted) beans have been on our hearts at 901 Roasted. Pairing our love for fresh roasted coffee and Gospel intentionality has led us to a partnership with Living Hope Church in Memphis, TN. Connecting missions to coffee has been a dream now becoming reality. Through church connections, we met our friend Jared Orrico in 2019. Jared, who also has a passion for coffee and the Gospel, has planted an Acts 29 church in Xalapa, Mexico. He runs a coffee shop Reformanda Barra de Café sourcing coffee beans from local farms to support the local community. After a short pandemic wait, 901 Roasted Founders Andrew and Savannah Banker along with Alan May are going to explore direct sourcing of coffee beans and ministry connections among the coffee growers and their families in May 2022. Each bag of coffee purchased will directly support the channeled relationship to our friends in Xalapa. No need to sugar coat. It’s that good. 901 Roasted is proudly served at Happy Glaze Donuts in Germantown, TN and The Ginger’s Bread & Co. in Memphis, TN.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/901Roasted
Do I Foster or Shepherd Children? What if I Do Nothing at All? - Carla Thompson
My journey with God to foster children started in 2006, in a gas station bathroom. A flyer on the grungy wall begged for people to become foster parents. This flyer caught my attention and broke my heart. In that very moment, I felt God’s nudge to open my home to children in crisis as soon as my two youngest children graduated high school. The heartbreak and desire to help these children never left me, but God’s timing was certainly different from mine.
Due to complicated family circumstances, my two high schoolers and I moved to Memphis in May 2015. We were so broken that I thought there was no way I could ever foster. But in 2018, I started the training to become a foster parent and had to stop. In 2019, I started over and again had to stop. I quickly became discouraged. I began to question if I had heard my heavenly Father correctly so I gave my desire back to God. However, I never stopped going before the Lord and seeking Him vigorously.
In the spring of 2021, God began to speak to my heart in various ways that it was time. I felt His gentle leading to join Him in His work. In July, for the third time, I began the foster training process. After many months, my training is complete, my home study approved, and all the paper work turned in just waiting on DCS. I pray that no child will have to leave their home and parents, but if they do, I have prepared a bedroom to receive them.
I have been asked, “Why are you doing this?” I believe the better question would be, “Why not?” As Gib says, “We are to take responsibility for the brokenness and lost around us.” Many children in our city, our nation, and this world are in a crisis. Our Heavenly Father hears their prayers and cries for help. Do you hear them too?
I recently saw a documentary by the Kendrick brothers that made an impact on my foster journey. It was called “Show me the Father.” The documentary showed how God orchestrates people’s lives so they could see the Heavenly Father. Jim Daly of Focus on the Family was interviewed and he shared his childhood story. When his mom died, he had to go to a foster home. He shared how chaotic and horrible it was. It was so terrible that Jim went back to live with his bad dad when he was in high school. Eventually, Jim had a football coach who taught him about Jesus. Jim believed and Jim’s life was changed forever. Jesus, “Showed Jim the Father!“ Read 2 Corinthians 4:6
Jesus is the Good Shepherd. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” I was impressed to “shepherd” children coming into my home, not foster them. By God’s grace, children in need will come live in my home which I have named “Home of Hope.” The Christ in me, will show them God’s amazing unconditional love in their brokenness. I will tell them about Jesus’s love for them and share how Jesus has a plan for their family. I will watch as the Good Shepherd Jesus does what he does best, “Show them the Father!”
My first foster informational meeting in 2017 was quite eye opening. I glanced across the room at the attendees. Couples of all ages and cultures attended. I sat alone as a single, Christian lady, up in age. To say the least, we were a “motley crew” of potential foster parents. I started silently praying, “Lord, I hope there are many Christians in this room. If not, would you call your people and break their heart for these little children as you broke mine?” - Carla Thompson
November is Adoption Awareness Month. Check out some of the videos of TN children who are awaiting a forever family to adopt them. Adoption is a beautiful picture of what God has done for us.
“His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by sending Jesus Christ to die for us. And he did this because he wanted to!” - Ephesians 1:5 TLB
Please consider joining Tennessee Kids Belong in an Exploring Foster Care informational meeting including a panel discussion and Q&A session hosted by Fatih Baptist Church on Wednesday, December 1st at 6:00 p.m. Register for the event at Exploring Foster Care. - Alan May, Director of Missions and Connections