EXCITING NEWS! A NEW WOODSHOP CLASS IS BEGINNING THIS FALL! THERE ARE FIVE TO SEVEN YOUNG MEN WHO ARE INTERESTED IN TAKING THIS CLASS. PLEASE BE IN PRAYER FOR VARIOUS OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.
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| God At Work! Woodshop Student Goes On Mission Trip to Belize! |
Just a short report from the Toolbox Ministry. One of the young men, Michael Shepherd, who has been very active in the woodshop class has had an opportunity to go on his first mission trip to Belize this summer. He spent two weeks there during the summer while a hurricane hit the area. He shared upon his arrival home that it was a great trip, he worked hard (even while raining) and it felt good to work for God. We are very proud of Michael and it is our prayer that more young men/women will be able to follow in Michael's footsteps and share their skills while working for God.
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TOOLBOX MINISTRY - A NEW MINISTRY FOR HERITAGE!
God spoke to Jeff's heart over two years ago that He wanted him to develop some sort of shop class for the men in the area. Over the past two years Jeff has continued to find an avenue in which to have this type of class. In recent months it was revealed to us through a local school that 40% of the boys enrolled were from homes without a father present and therefore these boys and many others from the tri-cities area, are without a a male role model in their lives, and more importantly a Godly male role model. So, the principal of the school asked if we would pray about this matter and see what God would do about it. We did just that and God revealed that now was the time to start up the shop class. We approached the principal with the idea of a shop class and she agreed that it would be a great thing, even if 2 or 3 boys signed up for the class.
The name Toolbox Ministry came from the idea that the first project that the boys would make would be a toolbox that they could take with them when they were through with the class. In the toolbox would be the necessary tools to do carpentry/handyman-type work and a Bible (as their spiritual tool).
The purpose of the shop class would be to help build self-esteem in these young men, help make a difference in their home by being able to do the work their mother or grandmother would hire someone else to do, and also to encourage them with the skills for a future job; all while sharing the love of Christ with them and building them up to be good role models themselves.
After these young men have completed their projects, we would like to have a Project Fair along with a dinner so they can invite their family and friends to see what they have learned and made.
Once these young men have been through the course, they will then have an option to share their skills by becoming a member of the S.O.S. Local Mission Team (see the web page entitled S.O.S. Team Ministry for more information) and working in the community in the homes of those who need help with repairing their homes.
We are excited to see how God is already at work supporting this ministry. We have the first group of boys ready to start. God is providing, through a couple known to this ministry, the tools for the first ten (10) toolboxes and others are already asking what tools we need. We currently need a donation of the wood for the toolboxes or the financial support in order to order the materials. This is our only holdup at this time and we sense that God would have us start the first shop class as early as April 17th
If you, or someone you know, might be interested in helping us with this exciting new ministry, please contact us at your earliest convenience. We would appreciate hearing from you. Please call us at 606-848-0550.
Again, the immediate needs are either the materials themselves or the finances to purchase the materials for the toolboxes. Also we will need a donation of Bibles, a mix of New King James and N.I.V. would be useful. In the future, we will need ladies from teams to help with the dinner for the Project Fair and also men to come and share their skills.
We will provide a list of the tools that will be provided to these young men on this web page and on our Prayer Requests/Needs web page in the very near future.
Please pray for this ministry as God continues to unfold all that He wants it to become.
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It's now October and Jeff has been meeting with the guys from the Saturday class long enough that they have their toolboxes done and they have moved onto making a custom designed horseshoe rack. They really look great! They also have been working with the scroll saw and have been carving a "buck" out of a block of wood. I can't wait to see it finished.
Jeff has also been holding a class for six high school students from Victory Road Christian Academy. They too have worked on toolboxes and are now on the horseshoe racks. They are making at least one rack for a silent auction to be held at the Victory Road Christian school's Fall Festival.
One of the guys went with Jeff yesterday to work on someone's handicap ramp. We are encouraged to see how they want to work with Jeff and it is our prayer that they will want to continue to go with him or teams to help others in the community and give back a little. We heard from one woman from a team, who was here recently, that they had been looking for a ministry that helped the people to help themselves. She stated that it helps the people when teams come in and give but what they really need is to learn how to help themselves and she was glad to see that Jeff was holding a class to help the young men of this area to learn a skill that can be used in many ways. It is humbling to think that something Jeff has done for a lifetime to please man is now being used to please God by helping teach young men a skill that can be used for their lifetime. Please keep praying for the Toolbox Ministry. We thank God and all of you who have donated funds, items and time to help us in serving the Lord and the community in this way.
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It is such a blessing to see Jeff's face light up whenever these young men come on Tuesday and ask him if he is ready to get going. We had set the time at 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. but they always knock on the door early and ask if they can get started. They are so eager and enjoy it so much that they want to spend more time. How exciting is that?
There is another blessing to share. Now that baseball is over, there are several friends of these three young men who want to come and take the woodshop as well. Isn't God good? We are so blessed and all we really have to do is follow Him and give Him the glory.
Thank you for your prayers and support for this ministry. Please keep praying and if God leads you to share about this ministry with others, please feel free to do so. God bless you all.
(We'll try and get some pictures for you soon!)
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