A lot has happened in the Christmas Season, and I want all of us to be thankful for what has come to be.

On December 13th I loaded a Cruiser bus and Jerry helped and loaded his van as we took 28 Jr. and Sr. High to see the Nativity. We were the last ones in, and filled the theatre with our attendance. Not all of our folks could sit together, but it was a growing experience to say the least.

Over the whole month Troy Oaks has been super generous giving of themselves to come together and provide for our congregation. I want to say a big "THANK YOU" and a big "GOD BLESS YOU ALL" to them for all of the work they did for us.

They raised 51 hats and gloves and sets for the kids, families, and seniors in the area. They also with the help of John Barrett raised all kinds of presents, and walmart gift cards and not a single kid went without recieving something from our partnership with Troy Oaks, they definitely made an impact in our community, maybe making things a little brighter this season.
Also a member from Troy Oaks, Rich Allen arranged for his office to adopt one of the families from the Detroit Hope Congregation, and they met the needs of coats, small presents they were looking for and much more. I was not there to go with them, but Mike Slupinski showed him the way, and He and Rich filled a regularly empty living room full of presents and gifts for a large extended family. Thank you Rich and the Doctors, Nurses and Staff at your office for the support you have given this family in this new season. What a sign of good will and sharing.

Then after Rachel and I returned from Florida, where she grew up, we planned a gathering Christmas Party on December 27th that was awesome and such a warm and welcome sign of peace and sharing throughout the ministries of the church and the world. Thank you. It was capped with talking about the christmas gifts of the wise men, and what gifts we could give and what gifts Jesus would want to recieve and what we can give to others that would make Jesus happy, and how we could change our community and world. Seven Members of Troy Oaks Presented their giving, Pam and her sons, Alex and the gang. Linda, Tim and Theresa Brenner, all came out, and Missy. It was a great time, and it got to show what giving could do, and how it was so appreciated. It also taught some of our folks that we are not alone, and people do care about us out there in the world. Our kids were a little riled up because we had 42 members here, and 6 adults from their families, and 7 new people from troy oaks, and Rachel and I, and with 16 pizzas we were filled and had enough for some to have seconds. What a season of love, hope and giving, I was so proud to be even involved.

More Pictures from Christmas Nativity in Detroit - Pizza Church

CHRISTMAS IN THE AIR AT DETROIT HOPE















These are pictures from our Nativity Service Live at Pizza Church Last night.
I hope you have as much fun viewing these pictures as we did experienceing the story.

Comments are fixed, I found out that in my ignorance, I did not know that the formal default setting on blogspot was the setting of, Members only, so I changed the setting to, ya'all come, now everyone should be able to post a response to any of the writing we post on here.

In other news, Pizza church was great this week, and we had 23 attend, and four adults which was amazing, and we conquered the task of reading Psalm 25 and breaking it into 4 chunks and doing a rap back and fourth using the words from the Psalm. It was a great activitiy, and I think it will be remembered as an important scripture because the kids rapped it and nearly had it memorized by the end of the night, and it was a catchy tune. Then, I took some folks home because it started raining, and then, I cleaned house. Yes we are still taking bids for people to clean, but as of yet, I am bringing back my skills from when I was assistant caretaker at the Guthrie Grove Campgrounds, and I mopped, washed dishes, threw out some bad food, and then vacumed, and then met with one of our members who wandered back in from the cold to talk with me and share in prayer. All in all a great experience. One that I think will help bear fruits in faith.

Six things to pray for:
1. A holiday free from injury in our connections and travels of friends and family this Christmas.
2. For our communities in which our churches serve may find ways to make sure everyone stays warm and has enough food to get them through the winter months.
3.Pray for Membership of Detroit Hope to think about discipleship and baptism.
4. Pray for 1 new cell group this year to grow and be fostered in this neighborhood.
5. Pray for all those who have tests and struggle to stay in class, during this time of year, pray for those who are thinking about dropping out, and pray for their well being and that they might find tutors or mentors to make their studies easier.
6. Pray that we all remember Christ in our Lives during this advent season.

Our Congregation wants to thank Lamoni Congregation for their dilligence and understanding and their unwavering ability to give and help our congregation so much. We thank you for all of your support this season. It will help in our ministry, and in our mission to serve the community. God Bless You!!

Detroit Hope Giving Opprotunities
Quarterly Response

October -December
Warm Clothing- Including: Hats, Gloves, Mittens, Scarves, Coats, Blankets, Wool Socks, Boots, Bedding, Flannels, Light Jackets or Sweatshirts, Gently used or new.

January - April
Non Parishable Food Items, Canned items prefered, but will find use for anything non parishable. Produce and Meat storage is a little more difficult. Food is used for activities, and food pantry service. Food Pantry Gets depleated between october and January because of the greater needs of the community.

May-June
Outdoor Equipment and recreational supplies to help us with our summer camp programming. Balls, Games, Nets, Bases, Equipment used in Recreational Events for Kids and Families.

July- September
School Supplies: Pencils Pens, Erasers, Glue, Boxes, Folders, Notebooks, and all those types that would help us assemble school bags, and a supply base for our tutoring programs that happen all year round.

Don't let this list stop you from sending supplies or support to us anytime, all of the programs that we have are on-going and frequent. Any help to any of these lists would be appreciated and a blessing to the congregation we work with.

Thanksgiving Festivities!!!
Last Wednesday Night, We had a great turn out for church. Hinged on the fact that it was thanksgiving, we talked about ways we were blessed and the ways we could give to those less fortunate than us. We prayed and we talked about discernment. And how when we pray, we could think about people, and the spirit could help us discern who to contact and help. The kids prayed and came up with 5 new names, and contacts of people who were in dire need of food on that night before thanksgiving, and they were blessed to find that those people were really in desperate need. a lot of the kids came out with me, and witnessed that there was a huge response, a "oh how we are blessed" or "Thank our lord and savior" it was cool. the kids felt really great about having the spirit help them decide who needed the food more than them. The other blessings of the night included Mike Slupinski and Jeff Stoker and Sara and Stacie coming and helping to fix Beef stew instead of pizza this week. A healthy meal of carrots, potatoes, beef and gravy, and we had pumpkin pies for desert. Then we had a poor woman come into the congregation asking for help, and we offered clothing and food, blankets and a hot meal. The congregation saw numerous ways we were helping in the community that night, every time an opprotunity arose, we were there, affirming to the needy. I think this night was a big boost of faith for our new believers.

Young Adult retreat a Success!!!
Thanks to the staff that prepared it, the spirit that was there, and the members that gathered, we had a marvelous retreat at blue water last weekend. There were some great classes taught by Mark and Jacquie Hanton, "Fitness Jeopardy" Julie (Sarahs sister) taught "Giving your Heart to God" An Exercise in spirituality and calling. Khristi Bernhardt-Atkinson gave a great presentation on financial Management and Rachel and I taught about being a timely Disciple and NOW being the time for young adults to serve and feel calling.
It was awesome. i will write more later.
Jacob

Report on a Tradgety

One of our most active young people recently lost a Grandma. She passed recently and asked that the congregation keep her in our prayers.
I also worked with her on and off recently to assemble a slide show for the funeral of music and pictures, and the Funeral is being held tomorrow I believe. I have not been invited but I felt really good ministering to the family by helping scan 40 photos into digital format to help the attendees remember the woman she was. I know it will make an impact.
Pray for this loss, and the family to heal.

Thank you - - Pastor Jacob

LET THERE BE LIGHT!!!!!
Well, two ways I have been enlightened, one the simple solution, I bought a ladder and replaced some bulbs in the sanctuary here and it really made a difference in the members ability to read the scripture during our bible study,-I felt so bad that we had only 2 bulbs remaining when I changed the rest, and now we have 8 bulbs cascading down with light and warmth, and 300 watts of light. (they are old fixtures) But we are blessed because last night at pizza church we had 24 members there, and 10 of them read for us from the bible as we studied about Ruth and her love, and support for Naomi, and being faithful no matter what. Giving us an example of how we can be faithful and how God is there for us. I think this is a miracle because frankly, 2 or 3 usually read. and yesterday, we seemed to whip right through the reading, and the folks understood, and were moved. We are also relating scriptures week to week with our theme "Ways Jesus would want us to be Faithful." I give bonus points (leftover halloween candy) for the people who can remember back to scriptures in previous weeks and remember why we talked about those people and what the lesson was. IT WORKS PRETTY WELL!

Oh I said two ways I have been enlightened. I appreciate all of the concern, for members that I have been writing about. People have been posting comments however difficult, and emailing me, but the most regular response has been that names should be protected. I will be sure to use more pronouns and false names to protect those who I am talking about. Unless permission is provided. I am new at this web based publishing, and I understand now that the world does need to hear the witness of Jesus working here, the world is still enriched by not name dropping. Thank you all those out there for your guidance and direction, and don't be afraid to email if you want to leave comments, I know this blogspot situation is hard to respond to.

Here is my email again for those of you that may want to write to us here.
jacobblakesley@gmail.com

Thank you for being supportive, and if you notice, the names in the testimonies have been changed for protective purposes.

So A long time coming the conclusion of the Halloween Party Festivities.

We had over 100 people, new people, families, children, and good interested people coming into the church, the Cake walk was a huge hit, Thank you Lamoni P.T.A. for introducing that one to me. When I planned this activity I thought back to those P.T.A. Carnivals of my childhood, and I remembered how the kids could not get enough of those cup cakes as prizes on the cake walk. I remembered that, the airwalk, and the dunk tank, and this was the least fuss and most enjoyable. These Urban kids and folks from michigan had never even considered a cake walk to be as fun as it was. I cut out paper pumkins about feet sized 15 of them, and drew carved out looking numbers on them. I taped them in a circle on the floor and played creepy sounding halloween music. When the music stopped, I drew a number out of a bag, and when a person won the event, then they were out for that round, so they could eat their cupcake. That opened up a slot for someone new from the croud around to jump in and take their place. Parents were involved, small children that had to take two or three steps between pumpkins, and everyone loved it. We went through 48 cupcakes pretty quick, I think we had 7 rounds of people. No idea how many people were involved in just that game.

So in the last post I talked about pumpkin carving. That was great, and a suprize like I said. I bought 30 pumpkins and 17 of them got carved, 3 more got painted, and 5 more got these potatoe head looking eyes poked into them. so we only had five left when we were done. Pretty good. I bet our dumpster was a little more heafty this week.

Overall a huge blessing, and what an impact was made in that short time. Halloween was safer and more fun because of the ministry we provided here that night.

Well, I am having technical difficulties showing all of you the pictures of the Halloween Party. I will get them up and going as soon as possible.

Until then, I will tell you about the festivities. We started early, one of our church folks came by and wanted help with his costume. I helped him create a shield and a sword for Link, and burned up some precious time getting decorations up. But That is the ministry. Plans change, things get changed, and we roll with it. So, when he had his armor made from duct tape and cardboard, with colorful duct tape from the summer camp we had left over, he left and got his clothing to match his plan. He left and came back three times, in the time I hung streamers, laid out the festive pumpkin vinil tablecloths, and set 6 pumpkins to start carving. then, I laid out 15 paper pumkins with numbers on them and taped them to the floor. This was our cake walk. Then, I mixed cool aid, and got halloween cups out, laid out the face paints, and as soon as that was set, church folks were showing up, with additional help from Jackuline McKinney and John Barrett and Les Quartier. They helped me staff the event, and there was a constant flow of people coming in, and some stayed a while and did cake walking, painted faces, and carved and painted pumpkins. One testimony I have was that the children, (Senior High and Jr High) saw the pumpkin I had carved that said "Jesus Loves You" and so they were inspired and started to work. However the hang up was they stared carving, and didn't clean out the inside, and when they cut it they cut at a degree angle that allowed the carving tied down with string to drop inside. I asked "how many of you have carved a jack-O-lantern before?" None of them had, and we had 30 pumkins to clean and when I cleaned one, then I put the tea light in it, and lit it up, and the kids were amazed, like they didn't know how it worked, they all said "OOOHHH AHHHH" and this testimony will be continued.

Yesterday, October 30th, 2006

Jerry, Barb and I sat down and hashed out some great progress on writing a Grant for world church. I came home on a high from the spirit working in that meeting, and as if prayer couldn't answer any more that day, it did. My mom called, and even though that is exciting, she said, I have some news for you. Lamoni congregation, with the direction of Tom Morain has raised enough for your congregation to get a washer and dryer combo to put in the church.

Some backstory, it seems like just yesterday, I ran into Tom in the commons at CLW. He said, "If your ever feel like you need something that would help in the ministry you are providing there, just let us know and I will start to work on it." So about 2 or more weeks ago, I emailed him, with the news about this blog, and some current stories I had for him about the ministry happening. The turn around on this story has been amazing, WHAT A MIRACLE they have PROVIDED!!! I am so proud of the congregation I hail from. They have made a big impact. Anyone from there that might be reading this, be sure to ask Rachel when we are in town again, I jumped up and down, and said "God is sure good!!!!" FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART, THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!

But what you ask am I going to use this for? Well part of my interest in a washer and dryer, is that we have facilities to house a clothing closet, and a need to provide the community with warm clothing in the winter time. 3 weeks ago I think it has been now, October 14th anyway, we had a dime sale, I talked about that in an earlier testimony. The outreach it provided really made an impact with our neighbors in restoration towers, and our community at large because we were providing a service. A comforting service to people that really matter in this community, citizens, family, friends, peacemakers, and folks that may be struggling. This washer will do more than just clean clothing for our closet, it will allow us to help members with their laundry, providing ministry that way, also clean towels and rags when we provide meals here in our church kitchen, along with many other ministries that will present themselves.
This is a huge blessing and I thank you all!

Halloween Party-Coming to Detroit Hope

This Tuesday, Halloween Night, we have the great priveledge to host trick or treating festivities. It all came together something like this. About three weeks ago, one of the kids from the congregation asked "what are we doing for halloween Jacob?" I said, " I don't know, we need to plan something shouldn't we?" Having a yup response, I went and thought about it a while. I knew that John Barrett had helped before, and I wondered if he had any ideas for me. I called him and he said, "Jacob I was just going to call you," " And he said he would ask around and find some candy donations from people in congregations. To all you annonymous donors, thank you, and I am sure John will thank you, but the current count to date, he said he has 25 bags of candy. This is a huge blessing, and we will outreach to so many folks. If your still going to donate, don't be detered by this blog I am just singing your praises. We can use all the candy we can get. Providing a safe place in Detroit for trick or treating will be a great example for the community. So, then I got thinking, what else could we do??? how could we do more???? Then I called around, asked Mike at church, asked various others, and then asked Austin, where could I get quite a few pumpkins for the kids to paint on and carve?? He and his co-worker friend recommended Meijer. I thought, great, its close, I could use program dollars, and I bet this week there is slim pickin, and maybe a cut in price, I was right on both counts, and there were enough, I thought, to fill the back of my Jeep, and I did pretty well in price. One thing that was awesome about the ones I found there, was the size!! They were nearly perfect. As I loaded 24 lbs pumkin, then heavier, then heavier, I thought, how are these kids ever going to carry these as far as they walk to church????? So I started searching for smaller, smaller, smaller, each time looking for smaller ones, to be both cute and something they could take home and show their parents, or leave, and it wouldn't be that far or much to the dumpster. We got those non cut pumpkin carving kits, and scrapers, and I bought my favorite designing tools a package of sharpie markers, and I think we have the beginings of a great halloween event. Don't worry, we won't do anything to scare anyone, this will be more of a cellebration, and a safe environment to help support the safe activities of Angels Night here in Detroit. If you are passing out candy this halloween, think about us, and send a prayer of blessing our way to have a blessed evening in our outreach ministry. It should be fun. --Jacob

A Report on Pizza Church

Yesterday, Wednesday October 25th, we had Pizza Church, and it was outstanding!!! We talked about Esther and read from the Illustrated Bible, and shared what else we knew about the story. I asked if any of the kids knew the name of the new movie that represents Esthers life and story we learned about. None of them did, but not a lot of people know about it either. The name of the movie is "One night with the King" and I have not yet seen it.

The real exciting victory that happened was that the kids really retained the story and the lesson, because we asked questions, focused on good answers and sharing it with others by speaking up, and Mike drove some really good points home. Then a man came in, and said, I need to talk with you Jacob. I stepped outside with him, and he told me a story about how he had not made his rent payment, and was now homeless until he could find another place to live. He told me that the area agency on aging could make arrangements, but he was so depressed he needed someone to talk to. He continued to say that I was one of the only ones he knew that would really listen and wouldn't judge. This really made me feel good inside as a servant of Jesus. I continued to listen, and he told me about his wife, and his time in the vietnam, and his loss of his wife, It sounded like she died of some terminal illness, although he never illuded to what that was, I really felt for him. He told me also, that one of the places he could move was all the way over on the east side. He could move there, but they don't have a meal program like our restoration towers did. He told me that he would have to keep on top of his income, and not buy drugs nor alchohol, he illuded then that that was the reason he didn't make his rent payment. I knew that there was not much case for going back to restoration towers because they had given him more chances than he knew what to do with. He continued to talk about how lonely he was, and how good it was to talk to someone about this. He said he wanted to come back and talk with me again, and when he said that, I reacted with a quick thought, almost given to me as inspiration, and I think it was the spirit working in me. I grabbed the paper sign on the door of the church, peeled the tape off, and gave our back door sign to him. It had all the times I am in the church, when our activities where, and when he could find me. It also had times when I would be in the neighborhood, and when he could reach me and I would be within walking distance. It also had my cell phone number on it. I was compelled to give it to him, by a strong power, and then I said, " You know there is someone else here for you besides me, Someone who looks after you and is always with you." He asked, who, and he guessed "Rachel," I said "that was a good guess, and that was true" But I said, "Jesus." I could tell it effected him. Then I let that moment rest, it was nice, and I felt him absorb that. I said, "I am here, but he is the one the one you can pray to always." He then talked about how he is strong, but the Depression gets to him. We talked about how Jesus lifts us up and how he can make us stronger and last longer than we ever could alone. At this point he started to tear. I said, "You can come and talk, or call me anytime, and before you go I want to pray with you." In the prayer, I asked God to send his best angels to look after him, to lift him up to give him strength, to find Allies that God has placed here on earth to help him, to know that there are people out there that will help him at any time. I reminded him that God would put those people in his path, and those angels would direct him, if he was willing to look and listen. I assured him that I was here, and there would be others, and that Jesus our God would share all the love that would sustain him, and connect him to the good memories, and remember the good times. He did say thank you, and tears were streaming down, and he said I had forgotten that I was a child of God, I have not prayed in a long time. He said Amen Brother, and I will be back.

What a experience!!
Thought it was worth sharing.

Detroit Hope Summer Camp
by Rachel Blakesley
The past five weeks at Detroit Hope have been a whirlwind of fun, games, food, learning, and laughter, and there's still one week left!
With 82 kids and teenagers on the attendance sheets, it certainly has felt like a whirlwind. We start each morning out with a Peacemaking class and lunch that is provided by Restoration Towers. Then we split up into Drama, Dance, and Cooking classes. Each of these classes is taught by community volunteers that have graciously given the bulk of their summer to help the neighborhood kids. One of them is a wonderful intern, Ciemantha Stubblefield, who came all the way from Oklahoma to help us out this summer!
In the Drama class, we have been learning about controlling our emotions, creative thinking, and other performance skills. We should record some of the skits the campers have come up with because they will keep campfire goers laughing for years. The Dance class has been working hard on a routine to share with us at the end of the camp.
Some of the staff are going to take the Dance class, but we will have to wait until the campers aren't around or the 11 year olds will show us up! For now, we like to help out with the Cooking class so we can have smoothies, banana pudding, stir-fry, and many other tasty treats. After those classes, the campers enjoy past times such as dodge ball, baseball, and kickball during Recreation.
We settle down in Arts and Crafts and make construction paper masterpieces, t-shirt treasures, and awesome clay creations. The day ends with some computer training and great snacks. Every two weeks we go on an awesome field trip – we've been to Crossroad Village and the Detroit Zoo already!
All of this is made possible by an Old Newsboys Goodfellows Grant. Huge thanks go out to them!
New contacts through the camp gave us a record number of 42 people at Pizza Church on Wednesday night. Yay, God! We have been very blessed this summer and many persons’ lives have been touched.
The camp is almost over but we have activities here at Detroit Hope almost every day throughout the year. Call Pastor Jacob Blakesley at 313-515-8955 and join us in the transforming of lives. Who knows, you may even be the one who is transformed!

Here is some picturea of our Detroit Hope Murals that the kids have helped with since we have been together.

In reading over yesterday's blog entries, I know that there are some historical stories, that I should share with all those who read from this blog. Being a year into this ministry, it still feels like yesterday. - - Jacob

Hello, my name is Jacob Blakesley. I am originally from Lamoni, Iowa. I have come to Detroit because of a calling that I felt, when I came here in the summer of 2004. I worked with then pastor John Atkinson, and I felt the mission and the excitement of this needs based social ministry of church planting. I had been to Chattanooga previously through a winter term with Jimmy Munson, and have searched for something different than the traditional worship style. I believe we haven’t gone far enough with our reach yet. Church planting really is a lifestyle, about going to where people are, making the initial contact, following up with a second and additional meetings, and really establishing a relationship, that our name proclaims. I had the privilege to apply to be a church planter at the same congregation that I worked with for World Service Corps, and I really wanted to come back. I was distracted during my studies at Graceland, because I wanted to serve somewhere else, in a missionary ministry.
My family was concerned, because we have all been from “safe” places, and my mother and father were concerned that I would be 1000 miles from their reach of helping me. The day after baccalaureate my father passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 55. We had services that week, and over 2000 people came to the funeral, supporting him, and celebrating his life. I could have decided to run from this ministry, because it would have been easy, but I decided to get away and pray. As soon as graduation at Graceland was over, I went to Florida with my fiancé where she lives, and her family invited me to go camping. While we were there I prayed every day, and I asked for direction, and healing. Next for Memorial Day weekend, Rachel, Gabriel her brother, and I went up to Chattanooga for their weekend reunion. While I was there, I was administered to during a healing service, and in that administration, I felt as though my dad finally understood the calling I felt, and now, since he was in my heart, and beyond, he could be with me in Detroit. I talked with some church folks, and decided, I would call Jerry and Ed, and interview for this church planting position during the World Conference, in the beginning of June. I hitched a ride with the Chattanooga, and Mid South Region, up to independence, and I applied for the job because of the calling I felt. Ever since that administration, I have felt like my family is supporting me, how ever far it may be, and the allies that have been bolstered here and at headquarters and all over the domestic region, I have been supported through any struggle.
Since then, I was hired in July, and trained for three months in Chattanooga with Jimmy Munson, Kenny Alcorn, Jared Munson, Faith Johnson, and Steve Kohler. Just to mention a few. I have been onsite in Detroit since October and I have been working, networking, contacting, and investing, and diving in to all of the opportunities, and resource gathering I can muster. Now I am pleased to report,
I have some good news from the life of the church plant in Detroit. I wanted to just tell you a few little things about the prayers answered in the Detroit area.
The Bible Study at the Restoration towers has brought the church outreach into the community. The Restoration towers has been grounded and supported by the Community of Christ, for nearly 25 years in 2006, and the residents know that what we are doing is positive and helps them. Just sharing in a once a week bible study, has been a great outreach tool, because their families and friends live close in the community, they have been doing outreach for me. Perfect strangers, people I have never seen nor contacted before are coming forward and saying "reverend blakesley" and I think that is just too formal, so I turn and meet and greet who I am responding to, and then tell them about the church and the ministry, and a brief what we are doing for the community and then, I correct them, and when they ask for my name again, I say you can call me Jacob, or Pastor, and I always say, come by and see me, and give them my card. This has turned many people into great follow up contacts.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from four to six on Tuesdays and Thursdays and ten to one on Saturdays, we have been having tutoring for the elementary school children, especially the 3-5th grades. This is a great outreach tool, that has been funded by the generous re-financing of the Restoration Towers Retirement Home, and Sandy Trombley and Jackuline McKinney run this program, and we have numerous other volunteers, because I want to be involved for the ministry of presence, and I also want to build relationships with great missionaries that these kids can be. So far 25 kids have come from 60 invitations, from the elementary school, and we have an active group, and I feel like they are contacts, and a social ministry that is growing daily. I know all of their names, hobbies, talents, and already who tries to pull tricks, and I feel like connections, and lives are being changed for the better.
For the daily ministry I was a bit discouraged about whether I would be able to reach some of the contacts I remembered from the summer I was in Detroit for World Service Corps until Saturday, when I broke the ice with one such leader from the congregation before, and she welcomed me with a hug, and asked me interesting questions about how much I was committed, and when she approved she gave me a high five, and said, “I will tell the group at school.” I thought it would have been great just having her tell a few, but when two days later, the church had 17 former congregants, and 25 for tutoring, I realized how many I had seen, and contact base, and potential this had for missionary outreach, and identity, and a future here in the church plant, and the neighborhood, I just was
Over-whelmed with joy, hope, and driven with mission and love. My Calling was evident. Because of the outreach efforts of Katrina Bradley, and others she
contacted, Pizza Church happened this Wednesday, the 8th, progress is happening, it is building itself and prayers are being answered. I feel like these folks were waiting for the time when our church would return and bring the same community of love and hope back to Detroit. It brings me Joy and Peace, seeing this community alive again.
With over 300 contacts, and 42 active outreaching youth, this is a thriving
Missionary blessing. Each of you has had and will have a hand in the work that has helped this congregation to live again. Through mentoring, training, support, kind words, encouragement, discussion, behind the scenes, ever supporting, nurturing, answering a question, affirming, sustaining, blessing, and having been witness to this, and your continual prayers are appreciated. We can do it by helping each other, and giving testimony to what has been successful. This is our time to step up and never give up for the ministry of the future.

This was the testimony of how I got to be here. In Detroit in a calling I have really felt, and I feel that we are moving as the spirit has allowed.

Goals for 6 months
One week ago, I sat down at my desk and wrote on a deck of flash cards 100 things that I could do in the next 5 years to help the growth and production of the efforts here at Detroit Hope. I let Mike Slupinski, friend and missionary coordinator, look them over. I am excited about having that imput because he really had a connection to the church plant here when he was thinking about these because it gave me a new list of goals to reach for. We worked out two piles, one if we could do this in the next six months, and the other pile, 6 months-5 year plan. I am going to post the first ones here now, and later when we do some more planning and discernment, then we we will come up with some more to post.

1. Clean and Repair Font because our team has been praying for Baptisms.
2. Work on Construction of an in-ground grill.
3. The built in grill would be an outreach tool to the seniors and people of the community.
4. See if the church speakers still work in the sanctuary.
5. Sell or remove Pianos and Organs that are not working.
6. Post a Sign outside.
7. Put up a Basketball Goal Outside with retaining fence.
8. Work on a Job Description for a part time employee.
9. Get people to pray for Baptisms and bringing people to Jesus Christ.
10. Remove Unneeded Refuge from Old Congregations.
11. Find responsible members for future indigenous leadership.
12. Purchase and learn about more Gospel Music to use in worship.
13. Work on a Visiting Team, or rotating schedule for extensive visiting.
14. Work on building a Prayer Chain / Group to pray intentionally for this congregation.
15. Make the Church Visually Pleasing
16. Sell or Donate Choir Music.
17. Get Church ready for mission trips to come to Detroit Hope.
18. Write down some of my successes and techniques for this type of urban ministry.
19. Use Seventies in the area, get help from more of them than just Mike Slupinski, and help them feel called to the area.
20. Help Jackuline and the Community Technology Center director start adult computer classes to provide outreach, and community services.
21. Leadership from Youth in Detroit Hope that can find some ownership, enough to even invest themselves in being priesthood someday.
22. Send out bids for cleaning services then hire one of them.
23. Buy and keep a water cooler accessable.
24. Work with Margaret or work on future kitchen remodel.
25. Work on Sound Equipment to get it up and running for church services.
26. Artwork fundraising for church.

Just so the reader knows, these are hopes and dreams for the next six months, some of them might be for a later date than that, like the sign and the hoop, because frankly with as cold as it has been, we may not be able to get below the frost line soon, because of how cold it has been getting at the church and up here recently. All are worth praying about, and all would bring worthy ministry to this congregation. Our hope is to get a lot of the goals to be realities someday.

Posted by Jacob

This weekend, I felt the missionary bug as Bob Kyser, Mike Slupinski, Deb Crowley, Barb Borkowski and I all talked about the future of Detroit Hope as a congregation. We talked about how we could apply for grants from World Church, share some designated giving from the Mission Center, and have some new ministries begin here. All thanks to the new ideas flowing out of this meeting we had friday. Then, just when I was on fire, we had a great missionary team weekend in Howell at this nature retreat center. It was very awesome. I was so excited throughout I could not contain myself. I was too excited. Now that the weekend is over, I am trying to find a way to implament every idea that is flowing into my head. I believe the spirit has given me the gift of inspiration after this event. Hopefully Detroit Hope will feel the blessings that bear fruit from these thoughts.